owl sees all

Owl Log 28-11-2019

Yesterday (27th) was spent at Mildred's school. Parents, grandparents and friends were invited along to see how the students had progressed in the arts. And! Also to hear the school director speak about his projects and plans.

We were bang on time. Eight sharp. Tried to position myself where the speakers would not hurt my ears. Sat and watched as the equipment was tested; drop down screen OK, microphones OK, candles in place and the little flowers on the side tables for the expected dignitaries. Then it was all go at nine.

The Thai anthem struck up. We stood, as is the way. Being very tall, I had the advantage of seeing a few of the ladies still checking on the emails, or playing 'jumping bean', while the anthem was playing. Reminded me of a time in London - at a swimming gala - when some kids from East Ham were given a rollicking for dancing to 'God save the Queen' (English national anthem).

The English teachers spoke one at a time in English. I understood a little of it, and I wondered where Ozzie Shawn was. He was the only teacher last term who I could hold a conversation with. Then it was the school director's speech; in Thai. Time to grab a coffee from the table at the back. I knew I'd have about 45 minutes or so before he finished up. Thought I'd have a wander around and look at the new building. I was nicely surprised at progress and felt proud that my donation of two years ago was being well spent.

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At eleven it was the English students time to entertain us. Really good and heartwarming. Mildred was in the 30 strong choir that sang 'together we can make it' and about 10 other teams did their stuff. Nice. My favourite was the 'gummy bears' song and dance.

Then it was time for food. Milly's class had been promised pizza as reward for the show. So while she waits for the goodies to arrive, what's most important?

After a slice or two of somtan pizza, we were out of the school. But! Cannot escape that easily. No! We had to buy a green dress for the parade through town next week. So it's off to the special dress shop for a look round. 300 baht! Fortunately we already had a metal stick with a green top from way back; so a 200 baht saving there. The march through town officially opens the school sports day. All the schools do this marching it seems.

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Called into Big C on the way home. Cat food on a 'special' buy 2 get one free. Bought 18 cans. What a bargain! Pringles were back to normal price though.

Found a nice cycle for Mildred's new year pressie. Somehow I've got to get it home without her noticing. Will hide it at her Grandma's; just two doors away from us.

What to get the wife at that special time? I'd been thinking a new handbag, but she had a new one today at the school. Anyway, she has been giving the old ones away recently. Maybe gone off bags? It's a dilemma! What could you give a lady who has everything? Maybe top up her telephone with 500 baht. Gold even!!

Arrived home at four. Too late for farm visit.

And the day came to a gentle close. Time to get my new book out and delve into the dark secrets of 9/11.

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The water leak outside has got considerably worse (this morning). I think the village odd-job man and his Lao Khow drinking buddy, will sort it soon. Hope so. The leak is ruining our water pressure and the water heater will not always work.

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Waiting for one of the water pumps to be repaired; has a petrol leak somewhere. The repair shop is 8km away, and does a good job.

Planning to pump water from the deep well. As long as the water table keeps high we should be OK. At the mo' it's at 4.5 metres. If it drops to 6 metres the pump will not handle it.

I was thinking about a gentle 10k ride on the bike, but Mrs Owl has informed me that the pump is ready for collection.

Got to go. More to follow.

I really don't get the argument that a baby can be born into a religion. It could be said that a baby is born into a family with Jewish parents. The same as many babies can be born into families involved in some religion or other. You wouldn't say that a baby was born to be a football fan of a particular club, or dstined to like a particular method of fishing.

it's all rubbish.

IMO, it's one of the dangers of the world. Science should have kicked these religions into the nonsense bin yonks ago.

This Chief Rabbi should be keeping his nose out of politics, stop spewing out claptrap, and concentrate on doing some good in the world.

17 minutes ago, toast1 said:

There have been hundreds of reported incidents of antisemitism in the Labour party in the last 2 years. These have been widely reported in all areas of the press and admitted by the Labour party its self.

I have not heard of these 'hundreds of reported incidents'. I don't use the word anti-semitism myself. IMO, that is a nonsense, and the next thing you know someone will insist that being anti Israel is somehow racist.

 I am talking anti-Jewish incidents; not what someone has tweeted about Israel.

17 minutes ago, vogie said:

9 Labour MPs have left the Labour Party due to the way Corbyn is handling the antisemetic problem, I have never known so many MPs and ex Labour MPs and Labour peers telling the voters to vote Tory, it's never happened before. At the end of the day Corbyn is the leader and with him the buck stops, he is to blame whether directly or indirectly.

Something very bad is happening to the Labour Party, it will take it a very long time to get back on track, if ever.

Here is lifelong Labour supporter and Jew Maureen Lipman giving her interpretation of what Labour has turned in to.

 

You are right when you say something very bad has happened to the Labour Party; the shift away from the blue collar workers into the middle ground. Hopefully Jeremy can change this, but not without ditching the Blairites, and returning to grass roots.

It's not anti-Jewish to dislike the actions of Israel, or to disagree with one of the many pro-Israel groups.

Chris Williamson was treated disgracefully by the party, as was Ken Livingstone before him. The real enemies of the Labour party within, are the likes of Maggie Hodge (Dame M H) and it's lack of accountability at NE level.

I've been a vice chair in a London constituency, and have campaigned alongside Ken L and George G.

Although i've been in Thailand for some years now I still keep myself informed. I'm a fully paid-up Labour member.

The amount of anti-Jewish occurrences in my time I could count on one hand.

Owl log 26-11-2019

A bit quiet on the Isaan front. A few little fires this morning first thing.

Mildred off to school OK. Wife has gone to a special Buddha with a dozen others. They have hired the local school bus, and were off as soon as it returned from the school run.

I've been to this particular Buddha place myself many moons ago. There is a stream that runs through their compound. Followers are invited to throw nails into the stream. The nails fall in certain ways and the thrower/chucker can interpret their positioning in the water. On her return she will have the winning numbers for the next lottery, and be telling me what she will do with the millions. I can guarantee the number to include a '1' or '4' or '7'. '11' is popular too, with this method.

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I've planted my two avocado trees. Just looking at the pic reminds me to get on with house maintenance.

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I'm trying something different with the mango seeds this season. Although i've had fair success in the past, the early stages are very slow.  They are being wrapped in paper, wetted, and hung in a plastic bag for early growth (i hope). I'm using a 7/11 'super green' plastic bag for environmental reasons.

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The postman just delivered a book I ordered from Amazon 12 days ago. 'The Trigger' by David Icke. Just had a quick look; nearly 900 pages. Bedtime reading! Give me something to do during those dodgy days.

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Off for a ride on my Carrera mountain bike later this morning. Not too far; about 20k metres.
 

I thought the TM30 had been kicked into touch

Our local Kubota dealer has less new tractor sales this year, since he opened up 8 years ago.

Here in Isaan the situation is desperate. Poor rice harvest and low fruit yealds.

No-one has any money.

Owl Log 23-11-2019

Mildred back from her trip to the historic Ban Chiang, and also a Buddhah museum close to it.

I was thinking she would not have a fun day but she did (she told me), and anyway, it's better to get out and about and see for yourself, than sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher go on about maths or plant biology. And judging by the pics (148) and vids (11) they had a good time.

Ban Chiang itself hadn't changed much from when I visited 12 years ago.

But I got a couple of surprises. The pond holds a crocodile (kid you not see vid'). Pur your ears on.

And the Buddha museum was one that I visited during my early days, 12 years ago; but what a contrast!! Hope my donation at the time helped.

I also discovered that the Ban Chiang gift shop also sells magnets. Another two for my collection. Just can't have enough now-a-days.

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We got up this morning to some bad news. The police had raided a house, first thing, on the outskirts of the village, and arrested 5 ladies for playing cards. OH dear! One was the wife's sister-in-law. Good to see the lads getting to grips with the rural problems though. I reckon the ladies must have been bubbled by some frustrated or hungry hubby. Such is life.

Don't know what's happened to the S-in-L; now 12-40). Keeping my head down on that one, in case it costs me some do dosh.

Off to the farm this afternoon.

To be continued!!!

59 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

 

..fisherfolk on the Mun river..

 

Some pic's I took a few years back. I was going to enter this one into this year's pic' comp', but it's too old now.

And a different view of a bridge that many will know only too well. Thailand near; Laos far.

I think it was about where I was snapping, that Jeremy Wade got arrested by the Thai border police.

1 hour ago, Odysseus123 said:

Isaan-As the ages roll by,,,.

 

I think there is little doubt that my buffalo is more handsome than yours.

But that's of little importance. What we want to know is; can it pull plough? Or even better; will it taste good in a beef stew?

Owl Log 22-11-2019

Early start this morning. School trip. 05-30 get up; wake up cold wash, feed Charkie, put the rubbish out, the kettle on, and it's time to get the ladies up.

A 30 minute journey to the school, and Mildred is nagging all the way for fear of being late. It's not until we pull up outside the school that she relaxes. Then it's find her class, and wait, and wait, and,,,.

And, just as I'm thinking that I could go sleep in the pick-up, it's action stations.

Hope they get on the right bus.

Bye Dad, sees ya later.

And they are off to UNESCO World Heritage Site Ban Chiang.

Went there myself 11 years ago. Very interesting, especially for the Darwinists. How much fun will it be for a bunch of 10 year olds? Can see some school homework for me to do on this soon.

I'm sure she will spend her 200 baht wisely in the gift shop though. Last trip to Khon Kaen zoo, I got a maget. Useful I thought.

More to follow!?

Colour show.

15 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Thanks for your ongoing posting.

I'm not quite sure if your comment above "Health and safety is always considered" was tongue in cheek?

 

There was a sign hanging up that read; "Keep head, arm and foot away when working machine, progress." In Thai (translated by wife).

But it fell off once it started up.

Owl Log 21-11-2019

Nothing much going on in the village at the mo'. Everyone involved with rice harvesting. The late rice is being cut and threshed now.

On a big harvest there can be as many as 20 people at work, and 400 sacks of rice is not unusual. The last part of the rice cycle, with the men throwing up the bundles of rice into the machine and the ladies bagging up at the back is underway.

Around our area, the farms tend to be small, family affairs, so the yields vary between 10 and 200 sacks. We achieved 270 sacks a few years back, but only 25 this year.

Although there are many varieties of rice, the two that predominate are 'thai' and 'isaan' or 'sticky'. The labour at this stage is free and moves from farm to farm. Just have to supply a bite to eat, cola, beer and lao khow.

Health and safety is always considered.

This morning Chai borrowed our big net for his farm. He got 65 sacks of sticky today (last year 105). He owed us 13 sacks, but we only got 5. That's about par for the course here.

The tree that I thought would fall across pond 6 18 months ago,  is still standing. Maybe next big wind will see it fall.

Pond 5 with the mekongs and kois.

That's about that for today folks.