owl sees all

Took this pic of the farm avocado this evening. It's 18 months in the ground and is 1 inch thick at the base. It was a bit dark so enhanced the image a little.

Dear me. Just had a close look at the EPL table. Leeds are in a spot of bother. 16 Burnley 34 points - 15 GD 17 Leeds 34 points - 34 GD 18 Everton 33 Points - 20 GD Terrible goal difference. The other two are gone I reckon.

What is my secret? Dear me. They only get sun up to about 11/11-30. Water them every day. But the soil they are in is about 50/50 worm casts and just ordinary stuff. That could be it. The one at the farm is 18 months old and is also doing well. I'll get a pic in the week. Someone told Mildred that potted avoes start giving fruit after 8 years or so. The one at the farm looks good. If I ever get fruit I'll be thrilled. I like to care for them; fruit or not.

Indeed. I fancied both these to get promoted, but they let Wigan race away early season. Left themselves too much ground to make up. Even the winner has a toughie against MK Dons, who I think will make it through to Wembley.

I agree about being in a different league. The EPL is one of the most un-competitive leagues there is. Not as bad as the SPL when the last club outside Glasgow to in was Sir Alex's chargers 36 years ago. But only a handful of clubs have won the EPL since its inception: United Liverpool Chelsea Man City Arsenal Blackburn Leicester Just to illustrate the point.; a look down the four football divisions to see what clubs are averaging two points a game. Wigan managed to do that with 92 points from 46 games. And Fulham could get 93 points if they win their last two games. But that's it. The top three are all averaging 2 points or more a game. That's not to say it's not exciting at the very top; Even with Chelsea falling away badly and turning it into a two horse race. But Andy - and myself also - we have to content ourselves with an also-ran spot. For half the clubs, avoiding the drop is on their minds at season start Is there a club next season that could do a Leicester? One of the promoted clubs perhaps. Not likely that but that just my opinion.. What about Newcastle, or one of the north London clubs? A chopped up, and put back together United., Not for a while I think. But if we

Owl Log -01-05-2022 - Sunday mid day The avocadoes will soon be as tall as Mildred. Have to find some suitable pots for them. In Ban Dung; the wall around the Police Compound is finished. Fine paint job. Even the kerb-stones get a lick. That's sorted out. Where's the next frontier? That big stone took a fair bit breaking up. Mildred wanted to have a go at it. vid breakbigstone.mp4 There we go. Ready for the wheelbarrow and dips in the road. Buddha build is doing OK. They came with an envelope in the week. We donated a few baht. Very pretty house just along from us. Like the natural look. Mildred spotted an unusual cloud on Monday/Tuesday last. It just looks so strange. Almost like an explosion a long way off. Haven't heard anything unusual happening in Non Han district. Plenty of fires; burning off the stubble. Sometimes the trees get too close. New house planned next door to Mrs Owl's sister, right at the front of the village. 60 lorry loads should do it. It's mango time. The Misses did a bit of picking last evening. Have to say that they look a bit under-ripe to me. But!!?? What do I know. Mildred's latest painting. She called it 'angry lady'. www.mildredart.com England ahoy! That Liz Truss certainly knows how to stir the blood. Gave a rousing speech at the Mansion House a few days ago. Nearly had me saluting and wanting to sing an anthem or two. And that other lady - what's her name now - oh yes Angenla Rayner, was doing her best to make poor Boris stutter, splutter and fluster by showing her shapely thighs as he was speaking. Drop of rain a couple of days ago. It was only a drop though. But welcome all the same. Put the 3 inch pump into the service shop last Monday. Might pop down there today. Either they are waiting for a part, or they have lost the phone number I gave them. Did I write Mrs Owl's number down right? Footy round-up. Leeds met their match yesterday. Puts things into perspective; 0-4. The Owls into the play-off to get back where they belong. Fulham up but not yet crowned champs. Orient win away; too late to put a nice face on their wretched season. Irons came a cropper against the Germans at home on Thursday. Don't look good for them. Mrs Owl made me a cup of Rosy in the week without me having to whistle for it. Must be something afoot. Ordered Mildred two packs of painting pads yesterday. She is enthusiastic and that's all I need to know. Plan to pump out number five pond this week. All the Mekongs are destined for number 4. The carp into pond six and we'll share out the eaters with the helpers. Only one thing left to say; bye y'all.

vid breakbigstone.mp4

Come now Mildred. Get off that phone and get ready to go. Now what I'd like you to do is help me reverse the pick-up out of the drive. Take this stick, and stand there (pointing). And as I reverse out, and you see a car or lorry or motor cycle coming along, whack the back with the stick. That way there will not be an accident. Your mother usually does it, but she's in town, and we have to go pick her up. And while we are there we'll get to the dentist to check those teeth of yours. You did clean them dear as I said? Mildred nodded. Good! We have to hurry as the dentist closes at 4. I started to reverse out and immediately Mildred whacked the backt. I stopped and looked in the mirror to see a guy ride by on a cycle a few moments later. Good girl I thought to myself. I moved back a bit and again there was a whack. I stopped and waited a minute. A dog wandered past. Again I moved back, no more than a foot, and again; another whack. This happened a few times. Then, after a particularly hard whack, Mildred shouted out. 'Dad, the stick has broken. I walked into the garden to get a new stick. Found a nice stout one and handed it over. 'Right now dear, let's get going. Time is against us now.' 'Dad I have to go to the loo.' Off she went and returned 10 minutes later. To cut a long story short, it took 20 minutes to leave the drive. We got to town and met an angry wife. 'Too late for the dentist now. What kept you?' I was a little stuck for words, but Mildred chipped in to save me; 'terrible traffic Mum; just terrible.'

I hope it keeps up there for the rest of the year. Get a cut every 3 weeks. IMO, unless the fighting and sanctions end soon, the price of virtually everything in Europe will rise. There will be a knock-on effect in SE Asia. So; although I want the war to end, my selfish view is that the nut price will stay high; and could go higher.

Agree with you there Will. But millions of people lapped it all up. Checked on the price of palm oil nuts this afternoon: 9-50 a kilo.

Watched both parts. Sad.

Thanks for that news Garry. I'll get a call made and report back. Anything over six baht a kilo is good business. Who knows what the future holds. There are analysts predicting diesel prices doubling in Europe. Reckon there will be a knock on effect over here if that's the case. Most diesel engines can run quite happily on 100% palm oil over here. Not so in cooler countries, where they need an additive or require a pre-warm.. Checked on the price of Nitrogen fertilizer today in Ban Dung: 15-15-15 1300 baht for 50kg. 46-0-0 1600 baht. Unbelievable price hikes. Could get 46-0-0 for under 700 baht a sack just a couple of months ago. Also fish food has jumped up from 320 baht (20kg) a sack to 370. The other feeds must have also risen; chicken, pigs etc.

There was a time when I looked forward to the parades and festivals. Girls marching, stuffed horses and ear-shattering music.. Now I'm content to visit, tend the farm, and watch Mildred grow o a lovely, kind young lady.

Saw someone wearing a Villa shirt a couple of years ago. See plenty of Barcelona shirts. I bough a few some years back. AC Milan, Man City, Spurs, Italian national team and a small (kid's size) Liverpool shirt, (which I gave away shortly afterwards). All just 99 baht apiece. The stall had literally hundreds on sale.

It's a lotta dosh. Plus I'd have to get there. Are they the two biggest supported EPL ckubs in Thailand? Reckon they could be. But there ls Chelsea and Leicester. Out of all the EPL and Champ's clubs, there are only a few that I haven't seen play at their present home. WHU, and Arsenal are two. But I also never went to Hull or Posh or St Marys. Did go to The Dell a couple of times though. Can't remember about Bournemouth also. And Wigan. Was at Goodison a few years back and went to see them play Burnley on Easter Monday. Back then, clubs played each other twice over Easter. Two days earlier they had beaten The Clarets away 1-2. Result at home 1-3,. but what a crowd; over 73,000.

They certainly are the yo-yoes in recent years. But any club that is good enough to win the championship as easily as Fulham did should have little trouble in staying in the EPL; for at least two seasons. For me, the worry would be an injury to Mitriivic.

Think it's Burnley or Everton to drop with the two gonners. But you never know?! If Lamps can instill a bit of pride into the once proud Toffeemen, and they win at Anfield, and Burnley pick up a win or two, it could be squeekee bum time for a few clubs. I think Norwich, Watford and Burnley; to be replaced by .Fulham, Bournemouth and - I've got a feeling in me water that it will be - Luton. On a side point. United will be playing Liverpool in Thailand in a pre-season game. Don't know where it will be played. Probably not in Udon Thani though.

Owl Log 24-04-2022 - Sunday afternoon Nice surprise this morning. Our nut man arrived and dropped 13k Baht into Mrs Owl's hand. The cut weighed in at 3.25 tonne That's 8475 - wagon fully loaded 5250 - wagon empty 3225 - weight of nuts in kiloes 9.55 - nut price per kg 30799 - total sale. Take off the bits and pieces; just over 26k was left. 50/50; hence 13k. We are talking fertilizer for next month. That has rocketed up in price. So 30 x 50 kg sacks of nitrogen could wipe out the next cut; in three weeks time. The cutters go around to cut, and place the nut bunch along the row. Then a pick-up or cart picks them up, and they are transferred to the wagon. vid load nuts01.mp4 Still not seen a mekong for a while. Mildred's idea of pumping out their pond is playing on my mind. I'll get the 3 incher sorted out. It hasn't run for well over a year. Put it on the pick-up. I'll give it a service in the week. This pump has a delivery of up to 40 m3 an hour. One good day's pumping should droin the water low enough to expose the fish and get them caught. Bought some big plastic bags in Big C on Friday. Need them to hold the fish in order to transfer them to other ponds without harming them. Mildred asked me to move one of the smaller lilies to her pond. Only small but once those roots take hold they take a bit of shifting. Then it was in the mud in pond six. It looks like it's a metre deep in that spot, but there is a lot of mud. Planting finished, it was off to get my floating-away flip-flop. Lost the other one in the mud somewhere. Maybe it will float to the surface in the future. The columns have started on the Buddha pier. Sneaked in the back way for a pic or two. When I came out, the cross-road gang were waiting for me. "Wot ya up to farang?" "Hi guys. Just taking a couple of pics in the Buddha. Is that OK?" "That's fine. but don't touch our dog." "We have put stones in the bottles so we can hear him coming." Sorted out the shower pipe. It had done a good job for 15 years, but it had to be replaced. Put the valve on the outside. Gonna fill the hole in with mastic in the coming weeks. The village road-works have virtually finished. Still none the wiser as to the reason for it. Just covering it over. Can't pass a big stone without half-inching it. This one went about 80kgs. It was as much as me and Mildred could do to lift it. Big hammer will soon have it smashed and then it will be perfect for sorting out the dips in the road. Songran passed without notice in the village. Well almost! A couple of days before the recent shower I sorted out the old pipes. There were a lot. At least 100 metres all told, in six sections. Pond three is smothered in small plant. It's the only one that has this growth. The temperature has returned to where it should be for April. Usually the hottest month in these parts. Did rain a bit in the week. If I'd been fishing at Hainault, I'd have put up the brolly; so next level up from drizzle. I've worked out the rain with an English/Thai slant. Mizzle - not enough for the umpire to take note - soi dogs get off the streets Drizzle - players off for early lunch - crickets start up their chants Rain - pitch covers on - brollies up when riding the m/c Heavy rain - brolly up when fishing - hammock time Big rain - think about going fishing - moan about leaky roof Storm - put off the barbee for another day - ear-plugs in and hide away. Footy round up. The Owls slump to a poor defeat. Fulham promoted. Leeds and the Irons play today. Orient crushed at home. Mrs Owl gratefully pocketed the 13k nut money. But fair doos; she did later give me 2k to pay the leccy. This month ours was 1300 and MinL's 500 baht. So not too much in my pocket after paying those bills. But enough for a new pair of flip-flops. Have got the www.mildredart.com site all sorted. Latest painting: Early days yet. but I can say with some confidence; 'roll over Rembrandt, tell Banksy the news.' Mildred is on the move.' The Mrs had just informed me that there is rain in Trat. "But teerak, China is nearer to us than Trat!" "How you know? You look internet see China lady? You bad farang." No sense of distance these Thais. Been watching 'The Isaan Farang' on YT. Very well done and interesting. Only one thing left to say; bye y'all.

Great post. This is what we want to hear. First hand experiences. I've heard about those Chinese ladies What about bridge and chess clubs?

Do the people of Viet Nam have any resentment towards westerners; especially Americans? And what about the three most important things, Beer, women and fishing? Are there fishing parks like Bansumran? And the ladies? Are they a friendly lot? Price of beer? I was informed that one can get a train from Nong Khai to Saigon. I'll check that out for w/e get away.

Back in the 1970s with Gerry Francis leading them, they were a force in the game.. My top three are: Orient, Irons and - wait for it - Enfield Town.. First game watched live: 2-2 Orient v Sheff Wed.; 1958 I think (I'll check that).. Went to Upton Park at least 200 times. Played for a team from Enfield for a few years, so I like to see them do well. Watched Spurs in the early very 1960s. But, at the first game in the new season 61/62, I arrived to find that 'orrible floodlight pylons had been erected where I normally stood. So divorce was in order! Back to Orient who got promoted, and were gonna take Div' One apart. But no! Then I was sweet on a girl who liked Bobby Moore. So to keep in with her, I started watching The Irons. . Who else? I like Leeds cause of that thing about Loraine's bed and in Scotland I look up Cove Rangers. Back in England, I keep track of Dagenham and Redbridge (one club), and also Aveley Town. A storm last night. Got up at five and sat outside, with Poo the cat, to see the sky being lit up. Went back to bed when it all stopped at 5-30ish. Plenty of rain for a change.

Can't see top a 4 in the EPL now. Spurs, United and Gooners will have to battle it out for 4th spot. Think The Irons are pinning their hopes on winning the Europa League.

MK Dons are a decent team. Owls did well. I'll have look at all the goals on YT. Can't see it here. Darren Moore liked it a lot.

Owl Log - 17-04-2022 - Sunday afternoon Had a visit from an old friend. Not seen her for two years. Has been doing the 'Grab' delivery on her new m/c for the last 3 months. Working out of Udon. She was always helping me at the farm when she was younger. Together, we once bagged up over 200 sacks of cassava waste in a day. She would have been about 15 then. I also helped her with her maths and English when she was at college. She always had a good work ethic. Finished Uni' and straight into entrepreneurship. Well done Nut. The village road wor.ks are progressing nicely. Still not sure what it's all for. Not come any closer to us yet. "Eh oh Nadia. On ya own? Where is Nadine?" "Hi farang Owl. She has gone with Grand-ma to collect snails. I didn't want to go." Every day we have loads of fruit falling from the trees in the yard. Put it into sacks and take to farm. Then it's time for Mildred to do her stuff. vid - fruitfall.mp4 Seems like a lot of fruit, but after a minute or so it's gone, we hardly scratched the surface. But better on the ground in the farm than in the bin. Mildred has a favourite tree, and so do I. We had a measure up in the week. We did mine first; 37cm. Then on to the other one. Mildred's fav' measured 38cm. Or so she said. I never checked. And the pic was inconclusive. Early days! June will see them in the ground for two years. This area of number four farm has the best trees. Although they are not all monsters, they average out around 25 to 30cm. Happy, next door's dog, soon comes over for a bit of grub, when he sees us. Sometimes he is in luck and gets a few bones; or even meat. But we have some dog-food as back-up He just wasn't hungry one day. But it didn't go to waste. Carp just love dog-biscuit. Mango time is almost upon us. Mangoes for brekkies, lunch and supper soon. This tree in the village is a stonker. And the Big Mango ladies' big mangoes are looking good. Even though the tree is just 5 feet tall. Really pleased with the lilies. The ones we put into Mildred's number six pond are simply fantastic. While number seven pond is doing well, since we put a couple of hour's water into it from pond 3. Might put the little one (right) into the pond next door before it gets too big to handle. Our avocado plantation is stunning. Soon be time to repot them. Drove through a section of oil-palm farm number 2. Don't think we are gonna get a great yield next time; but the time after that should be good, especially if we get some down-pours. Have to teach Mildred how to hold the camera steady. vid - ridethrupalmfarm.mp4 I'll have as much rain as we can get. Big hopes for this evening and in the night. Really worried about the mekongs in pond 5. Neither Mildred or me has seen even one for over a week. They are a timid fish, and if scared, hide away for a while. Mildred saw me looking sad, and suggested that we drain pond 5. Put any carp into her pond 6, and the mekongs into pond 4. I like the thought of that, but I need to get some giant plastic bags to catch the 4/5 foot long mekongs. Also need a couple of trusted helpers. They must want to love the fish, and not hurt them when I'm not looking. The 3 inch pump needs a bit of maintenance too. It might all happen soon, maybe next week, or next month. Footy round up. Fulham still not up for certain. Beaten for the second game running. The Owls look good for the play-offs. Leeds resting. What a load of rubbish the fixture list is!!! Lucky Liverpool on track for the four-timer. The irons put Lyon to the sword, and are fave's to lift the Europa trophy. Mrs Owl has not spoken to me for a few days. Can't find my favourite shorts anywhere. Another death in the village. This time a very old guy of 98, who I can't remember ever seeing. Not been to Ban Dung since last Owl Log. Interested to see how the wall-painting is coming along. Bought a new www in the week; mildredart.com. Gonna move all her images over. Over 40 in all.; and 40 thumbs. Working on the HTML coding. Be finished in the week. Only three things left to say; thanks, happy Easter and bye y'all.

Fulham up and Derby down. 21 points too many to make up. The Owls had a good away win last evening.