cmjc

Blimey, 3 pages of noise, and the answer is simple.

Get a source of genuine wholewheat flour, (or wheat grains plus a mortar and pestle) ... and make your own sourdough bread.

Once you learn the knack of making the sourdough starter mix, and build a wood-fired outdoor bread oven, you won't buy another loaf of bread.

Much better taste, texture, and your gut biome will flourish, keeping your insides tickling along.

40 minutes ago, LosLobo said:

Good idea.....

They're ไม้พายไม้ไผ่ (mai paai mai phai)

A new แอกตะกร้าไม้ไผ่ is guaranteed to make her eyes sparkle again especially if you add a couple of these as well;

Just be careful not to spoil her, or she'll be asking for new Wellingtons next!

Spotted here yesterday;

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PxAzzsXMdkM8qua76

On 6/11/2025 at 3:36 PM, TigerandDog said:

With painting we used Dulux paint, BUT if you use that paint you MUST insist on NO watering down of the paint, as Thais love to add stacks of water so the paint goes on easier, but that then reduces the life span of the paint.

Ahh that explains why all the white emulsion paint in side and outside of my rented house is flaking in platefuls. Plus no dampcourse was used, and we live right next to paddy rice fields!

You'll have used a proper dampcourse I'm sure? 

The world has found its voice at last.

Ahh! How refreshing to read decent brick-chat.

It's wonderdful to create something... anything... from bricks.

Excuse me whilst I muse on a new folly or two.

PS. The business in the original post has built a tall brick house behind the shop, and it has a lovely fireplace. He showed me inside... superb.

I built my own outdoor bread oven and rocket stove using handmade bricks from this place in Maechan, Chian Rai. 

The area is noted for the high quality of red-bricks local artisans make by hand.

My oven is already years old, and bakes bread using these "fire-bricks", and they are still just like new. (From memory pennies each!)

DtaangDee Brick and Tile Factory

https://maps.app.goo.gl/kkeRb7nMLAvRro8g7

Here's the location on G maps...

Lorng's Metal Fabrication Workshop

https://maps.app.goo.gl/BYw81Z7RYKHcB4hy6

One-man business, please give him your support

Like most, I've used Wise for many years with no problems... BUT

I've ceased using them now, after trying to update my residential address.

No utility bills have my name on them, so are no use for ID.

So I presented to Wise the Thai Immigration form, "Notification of Change of Address" properly stamped and accepted by Imm.

Wise info says they accept Government docs as proof of address.

The proof of change of address was rejected without explanation.

When I contacted Wise about it, they simply ignored my polite and patient query.

Repeatedly!

My Wise account still shows the original (now wrong) address.

With customer service like that, these folks cannot be trusted, though I've never had any problem with transfers of funds.

Shame, but can do better.

A Swiss friend crashed his bicycle, injuring himself, whilst avoiding a chicken in the road, which I thought surprisingly noble of him.

The other day, I passed a mother-hen attentively gathering her brood of chicks off AH1 onto the grass verge, and my heart was warmed by her tender care, at the risk of her own life.

Therefore, I've decided our garden must have some chickens to remind us daily what's most important in life.

I shall build a secure coop to protect them from marauding Tom cats, dogs and Mongooses, but where do I get live chicks locally? Bantams, Hi-sex Browns, Japanese Quail etc., all will do.

Enter fowl innuendoes stage left, followed hopefully by a useful response in pursuit.

Quote

Drum roll... I say, I say, I say... Why did..

.
 

In the monsoon flooded town of Maesai, Chiang Rai today, I spotted a truck with the tailgate painted as a Palestinian flag, and snapped a picture of the Thai owners.

What a wonderful idea... Free Palestine!

1 hour ago, novacova said:

If you’re in cm, from the center junction at kad mai north on the main alley to the first left alley near the corner on the left is where the vendor is.

Thankfully, not in CM, but I've seen what looks like that in packets in Lotus (or as they misspell it Lotus's).

The dreaded Grocer's apostrophe strikes again.

1 hour ago, Crossy said:

 

Shellac comes from the "lac bug" Kerria lacca, different animal.

Yes, I was aware of that, I painted my bicycle basket with Shellac to weather-proof it.

Here's the chap in Baan Huai Khian who made the baskets.

I was suggesting Cochineal as the other ingredient you mentioned with an insect connexion.

So are you saying this is; Shellac, plus filler such as sawdust and charcoal?

That makes sense, being readily to hand.

8 minutes ago, Crossy said:

 

The shellac / insect connection is good.

That brings this to mind...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochineal

But no mention of their use in glue, only those sticky RED lips, we all know to beware of, don't we Lads?

3 minutes ago, novacova said:

I don’t know the recipe, we get it at the local kad

Thank you, I'll try and get some to taste.

I love sourdough bread, and so do my tummy-bugs!

However, my attempt at home-made cider-vinegar was a complete failure.

3 minutes ago, novacova said:

 

1 minute ago, Crossy said:

 

I know, but I'll let others guess first

My guess is Shellac and fish bones... but it doesn't smell, even when alight.

10 minutes ago, novacova said:

Fermented tamarind 

edit…wrong answer 😀

Can you tell me the recipe, sounds wonderful.

To explain myself.

Clearing the woody shrubbery this morning the machete blade flew from the wooden handle for the umpteenth time.

Grasping my small but trusty axe, the head flew off after two blows.

Tired of Araldite, and various Chinese epoxies failing, then jamming nails, screws and bolts into the gaps, I decided to take it to the local Artisans to fix for me.

The first shop I tried was a sweet lady of at least my age (70) who instantly had the cure for the ailing machete and axe..

She rummaged around the back of her shop, and pulled out the brown flat object pictured, calling it, "Khao Kaang", with precise verbal instructions how to use it.

I took it home, set fire to it, and dripped the molten goo around the shafts, as well as around the handle holes, and tapped in some slivers of teak.

Fixed the Thai way!

Now for the purpose of posting here...

What does the "Khao Kaang" consist of?

I don't know, it burns readily and is brittle, so suspect it is largely Shellac.

Anybody know?

3 minutes ago, Dmaxdan said:

The resin that thais use to fix the handles to their machetes?

CORRECT!

Buffalo hide is another good guess, but no Ma'am :)

I too would not have known what this is, until this morning.

And I've been here for three decades.

1 minute ago, Dmaxdan said:

Last night's dinner that you left on the barbecue?

They do look like bite marks, come to think of it, but no Sir.

Just now, Baht Simpson said:

Fossilized wood?

Like it, and there's plenty of that around North Thailand.

But sorry, incorrect.

All very valid suggestions, especially the suggestion of...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auriculariaceae

But surprisingly, incorrect.

For the impatient, here's a clue...