owl sees all

Agree CL. Mrs Owl was so scared last night she got in my bed for protection.

Decent drop of rain last night, along with some violent lightning/thunderclaps. Tons of tree debris to clear up this morning.

Mrs Owl seemed a little happier this morning. The nut cutter man came to give us some dosh. This year we are on a 50/50 basis. In years past I would have handled it all myself but, really I'm not as young as I once was, and it's too hard for me. Have to face it. He handed over 3900 baht. Let me decipher. Weight of truck and nuts: 3600kg Weight of truck without nuts: 2595kg Weight of nuts: 1005kg Buying in price per kg: 9-80 Baht Total sale: 9846 Bhat We shared the cost of the cutters and the truck. Next cut 20 days time. If we could have some rain there could easily be a 5/6 tonne cut in one go. That would be 15k plus in our pocket. Fingers crossed on that. And to think I was busting a gut when the price was 2-20 Baht a kg. If the US led sanctions really bite, the nut price could get to 15 Baht a kg. Then the pump price for diesel will probably be well over 40 Baht a litre. Might then be worth thinking of pressing ourselves. Of course have to pay tax on that. I hear from the cutting guy that the big Ludo farm has already bought an oil presser. I'll get over and try to get some pics.

I agree about the Toffees. Burnley are right in the mix too. Interesting! Getting very hairy down there.

Great pic Andy. Maybe lottery numbers. Or wishing that Leeds will keep up.

Great to get a post from you on this Grin. @Lacessit He used to live in the area and posted some tree pics. There was a big feature on the Owl Log; pages 84/85. Well worth a look back for any tree fancier. They are fantastic; are they not. Also a pic or two of Udon's giant on page 83..

Hit Cambridge for 6, after that terrible showing at Lincoln. Well first things first on the marital front. Might be ages - as in years - before the farms can be sold. By then Mrs Owl could easily have moved on to other thoughts. Could be CL.

Mrs Owl's daughter has two kids with different men and don't live with either of them. Her Dad moves from lady to lady. You are right about the strange arrangements here. The Mrs sister Pook, is the only one that has a stable life in this regard. My achillies heel is my beloved daughter Mildred. I would not consider life without her., so unless I could pitch a tent outside the house I'd have real dilemmas. Of course there would be no farm to move to. Could always move into the MinL's; just 30/40 metres away. I think the Mrs would struggle on her own. Just having to pay bills would catch her out; at least in the short term. At the present time I sort out everything. But I'm sure there would be a sweet talking Thai ready to help her out.

Owl Log - 13-03-2022 - Sunday morning Very warm last evening. Temp' read 31C at nine last night. Had two fans on in the bedroom for the first time since August last. Mildred has informed me that Monday is her last day at her present school. Can't say anything negative about her three year stay there. As Isaan schools go it has been better than average. She has to do entry exams for the new school at the end of the month. She has registered her presence on-line so it all looks good and ready to go. Outside Mildred's school there is a fantastic Yang Na tree. Just come to flower. Took some pics of Mildred's new school. There is a gigantic build in progress. View from the entrance. Went inside to take a look. Talking millions of baht here. Will the newcomer's families be asked to donate I wonder? The building must be 100 metres long. Passed a stall selling cheap clothes. Thought I'd leave for the school early and have a look. Very small sizes. Couldn't find anything to fit. Thought I'd get Mrs Owl a little pressie. But then a second thought; why waste 20 baht? At last the concrete arrived to sort out the farm road. Dogs around, leaving their mark. The containers opposite us are beginning to explain themselves. This one has catfish. Very small at the mo'. Our avocado plantation is starting to attract attention. Seen a couple of villagers looking curiously when they pass. Probably wondering what plants they are. Twins about early this morning. Still in their jim-jams. Nadia - or is it Nadene - always gives the farang a wave. If they had different hairstyles, I could tell them apart. Ah yes! Shoes are the clue. The big mango tree had been cut back to nothing nine months ago. The villagers wait for the fruit and veg man to arrive every morning. Kids on their way to get crisps and cola before getting off to school. Mildred's bus. vid schoolbus.mp4 The ducks are about again. White ones this time. How lovely. Hope they get on OK with the chickens. The twin's grandfather, Yoong, taking their pet pig somewhere. Bye piggy. Eat ya later. Bought Mildred some art paper. Not used the bigger size before. She started drawing the pic yesterday. Painting today. It was time for my monthly haircut. Mil has been cutting it since she was five . Whatever she does is OK with me. But Mrs Owl sometimes says it looks silly. I don't care. Don't tell an artist how to do things. Saved an absolute fortune too. One of the farms next to ours has started growing chilies. This lady 'Rooney' also does massages. While I was over their farm snapping, I found a plough that looked familiar. We lost one very similar about three years ago. The first of the annual charcoal huts was underway. There's me at the bottom of the pic. First nut cut of the year is happening. Pumped three hours of water into number six pond yesterday. Need to just keep the water level up so as not to distress the fish. Had the big rain on 22nd October and a couple of showers in Early Feb'. Nothing since. Looks like this year is going with the recent trend. Mrs Owl says she wants to finish up. Wants to sell the farm, split everything 50/50 and end it. She says she wants to be alone. Her sisters are a strange lot. Don't want to talk to her. But then; they are no good people. Only last month the Mrs wanted to start selling eggs in Ban Dung. And at the end of 2021 it was England, here we come! What next?! Nan's old house is now history. Didn't want to take up the offer to buy. still paying 4500 baht each month for the pick-up. That was to borrow money for the deposit. Things change so quickly here. Lucky Liverpool continue the chase of City. Irons, City and Leeds play later. What is gonna happen to Chelski? Can't call them that anymore. I seem to recall that the supporters actually own the pitch at Stamford Bridge. Is the club gonna be nationalised? Is covid still in Thailand? Or anywhere else for that matter. Pres Putin has been nominated for a Nobel prize in magic. Overnight ended covid in the west. March does not disappoint with the hot weather. Remember last year it was scorching for virtually the whole month. Think sometimes it is hotter than April. Mildred measured her favourite euca in the week. 37. 5 cms. That is measured around, one metre up. Many trees look very spindly though. Early finish today; before twelve noon. Because, I've been sorting the pics out the day I've took them. Who did I inherit my common sense from? Only one thing left to say; bye y'all.

Keep the faith Andy.

My big fight was with the thug teacher. It had started a week earlier when he had hit a little lad. I spoke to my Dad, and he told me; "Don't let that happen to you." i spoke to a couple of the lads, and we agreed that if he (Walker) started hitting anyone in the class again, we would steam in. Well, he did. He whacked a boy over the head with a book. Then, when the lad protested, Walker grabbed him and shook him. Shouting "Don't swear at me." He was a big guy and he never thought he would get challenged. I stepped up and the other three boys followed. I got a couple of decent blows in. Walker went to the door and locked himself out and us in. 20 minutes later the police were in the school. It was said that I started it all. After the police spoke to some of the children, their views changed, and they took Walker away. I got a ride home - about 4 miles away - in a police car. Booted out; temporarily. That night Dad heard the whole story. He put his hand on my shoulder and said; "Well done." Never saw the thug Walker again. The young lad who got the whack lived with his Mum, who didn't want to pursue anything. I had a few weeks off school, and Dad got a letter to get me back for the start of the next term. Everything was smoothed over. As for general fighting,. often fought older boys; mostly losing.

Ah yes! Entry exams. From what I can glean from the conversations with Mildred in the last couple of years, most boys have no chance of passing any subject, for any school entry. She informs me that there is just one boy in the top ten of her class; and he has an Aussie farang Dad. Reminds me of when I was at school. Took home my end-of-year exam results. Dad perused them. "I see you only scored 1 out of a 100 in the RI exam?" "I don't know how I scored anything. I left the paper blank, and just sat there for an hour or so, before the early finishers got to go." At open day Dad spoke to the RI guy - or was it RE then - who also doubled as a Scout and Cub leader in his spare time.. "He only got one in the exam; how come?" "Scored one for putting 'name', 'class' and 'date' at the top. Dad seemed satisfied with this. Some years later, when I was at University, I heard that the RI teacher, Mr Otag I think his name was, had been sent down for five years for abusing boys. And to think he led the morning singing in assembly. He wasn't the worst though. There was a History teacher; Mr Walker. He could best be described as a thug. Big fight in one of his classes once. Police involved. I got expelled** along with a couple of others, and Mr Walker was quickly moved on to another school before the end of term. ** Let back in the following term, if it was agreed that the matter could be forgotten about. The other lads involved in the fight went on to other schools, and it was just me who returned. I was certainly looked up to in later terms, until the fracas gradually drifted into school folk-tales.

I reckon it will be Norwich for sure. Watford have a new canny manager. Leeds need to keep the faith. Everton need help; can Frank lead the way. Burnley look in big trouble too. Geordies looking much better. Interesting down there. .

I reckon it will be Norwich for sure. Watford have a new canny manager. Leeds need to keep the faith. Everton need help; can Frank lead the way. Burnley look in big trouble too, Interesting down there.

Leeds are hot having much luck. It will soon change.

Not a single drop here Garry. It's disgraceful. But to be expected. The rain don't like coming north of the Sakon Nakon highway. Will be pimping water into pond six again this week end.

Talking the other day about Ms Niniwan. I was asking if anyone had seen her perform at The Roost. My favourite action starts at 11-40 Enjoy. And and absolute stonking duet at 11-00. Can't wait for her to come to Ban Dung.

Owl Log 06-03-2022 - Sunday afternoon It didn't take long for March to chuck out the cold weather. 31C as I type. The warmer weather has also woken up the ants. Everywhere they are bursting from their hide-outs and coming to the surface. This eruption is just outside the gate next to the avocado plantation. New plants doing well. In the rice-store at the farm we have a small problem; that has not yet been sorted. I reckon there are a bag or two up against the wire cage, and the rats have found out. Have to sort it this week. Bought some dog-biscuit for 'Happy' at the farm. We don't always have any meat scraps for him when we go, so he will have to get used to eating biscuit sometimes. Also have some for the ginger cat. Have not seen 'Ginger' for a couple of day though.. No more fish for Mildred's pond. Keeping quiet and patient. The traits of a top angler. She was moaning that the new net didn't have a handle. I'm sorting that for next week. Back at the village I was trying to make out what water pipe went where. The twins were out and about with their cousin. Grandpa (left) has built a prison for them. To stop them getting out? Poo taking great interest in something. Much improved after that nasty wound. Just across the soi from us there is some interesting action. I had to investigate. Who let the cows loose? I think it's gonna be a frog farm. I asked Mrs Owl; "I think they are doing a commercial frog farm, across the road teerak." "What you saying bad farang. You like lady feed frog?" The really bad road leading down to the farms had its second dollop of material. This time sand. Keeping tabs on this stretch of road with curiosity. Found a new handbag stall. Fortunately Mrs Owl wasn't with me, or that would have been the end of my 2k 'escape' fund. Not just handbags. Leather goods; belts and wallets. The guy told me he is there every Wednesday. Have to remember that. Also in Ban Dung, the wall is making steady progress. No mercy for the trees. The form-work has a pretty sign built in. Gives a nice feature. Obviously will be painted in West Ham United colours. Also, I simply had to drive down the side street that was being warned about on the main drag. Seems like an over-kill to me. Thousands of baht being spent. The side street has no mention of ''''Major road ahead - beware''''. Or similar. Not even a sign. Early days yet though. The village has a couple of herds of buffs. This one about 50 metres from us. If there is no-one policing them, they can wander off. They often do. Dogs at it again. Unlike a few of the other houses; our rubbish gets picked up. So much conflicting imagery and narrative on this Russia, Ukraine conflict. Examples of war-planes on recckies that were taken from a video game. Casualties that were recognised from a couple of years back when there was a gas explosion. What media can we trust to tell the truth? And there has been a change in the pronunciation of Kiev. No longer is it Kee-evv; but Keev. As Bob sang; 'The times, they are a'changing'. Lucky Liverpool march on. The Irons should have got a draw yesterday. And The Owl's came unstuck at Lincoln. Fulham march on. Mildred has bought a new phone; 'Infinix 11'. 4k baht. Said she will reimburse me when she withdraws her bank money. I'll be interested to see if I can wheedle the pics off this new mobile onto the comp. Has 16mpix resolution. Union Bank of Thailand. Don't know if there is a branch in Ban Dung. She has three years of savings in there. Anyway; I;m informed the phone is great. I think we must go back to twice a week Owl Logs. Just so many pics. And it wipes out a good few hours on a week-end getting the pics ready. Might start off with two hundred and whittle them down to 20/30 publishable ones. Then putting then into GIMP to downsize and crop. RIP Shane Warne. A true cricketing great. Big debate last week about which school Mildred is gonna go to when she leaves later this month. Her mum says the 'Swimming Pool School' (south-east Ban Dung) but Mildred wants to go to the school next to the one she is at now. Gonna go into that school and have a mooch around. I know they have a major build project progressing right now. Be interesting to see how clean it is. The hall-mark of a good schools is its positive focus on trash. I want her to have a happy school experience. Unlike my own, many moons ago. Mrs Owl has just bought a bag of snails for 20 baht from a street seller. I had to tell her that it's not good to eat them. "They eat all the debris from the bottom of ponds and rivers. teerak. Any insecticide or herbicide that finds its way into the pond, gets into the snail and goes into you. Don't want you to get sick." "You just want scare me. Throw snails into your pond. I sell you; 1000 baht." "I give you 200 baht teerak." "OK. Give me now. Or I will cook." Blackmail! I'm never gonna get rich here in Isaan. Clouded over big time in the last 30 minutes. Is that rain a'coming? Keeping 'em crossed. Only one thing left to say; bye y'all.

Well! If it goes to zero; I'll sell all my gold and buy a shed load.

Not wrong there CL. Talking about music. Has anyone out there seen 'Niniwan' perform at 'The Roost' in southern Thailand? Bladdy fantastic!!!!

Fantastic Andy. I'm learning new stuff here.

Too often the case that these clubs - after a run of a few bad results - panic, and dump the manager. Or what seems to have happened; undermine the coach's confidence and cause him to depart of his own accord. I'm sure Leeds will not or wouldn't have gone down. A bit of practice, in kicking the ball straight, during the coming close season, would have set them pretty for 2022/23. As any regular viewer will know, I've got fond memories of Elland Road; for non-footy reasons. Just as a side thought. I think they should return to their blue and yellow halved strip. Look at it like this. Blue and yellow halved strip at home, and the choice of blue with gold trim, or yellow shirts away. What can you do with all white? If they must wear white. save it for the Ch Lg like Spurs.

Thanks for that Kokesaat. Now you have got me thinking that there could be one on the 2022 near Ban sat-at. I'll go along and get some pics.

Thanks for that Andy. Wot! Nuttin in der Ski-jump? Come back Eddie; all is forgiven.

Owl Log - 27-02-2022 - Sunday afternoon Cold spell seems to be behind us now. Was sunbathing on Thursday, Friday and yesterday. Not today though, as it was a bit cloudy. Bright sun now. Temperature at noon today 23/24C. Saw the delivery wagon in the week. Guessed he did a drop for the Buddha on his rounds. Went in the Buddha compound to see what was occurring. Shuttering in place. Waiting for concrete. I'll keep looking in. It's all happening in the village. No sooner did I say the road leading down to the farms was a disgrace, than they fixed it with a couple of trucks of soil. Is that the finished job? Could be! The ginger cat is making itself comfortable in the farm It's very shy. Put some cat biscuit out a couple of times. Takes ages to get a cat's confidence. That other four legged creature made a right mess of the soi. But which one? There are so many. At least 10. Cleaned it all up in 10 minutes. No sweat. Went and had a butchers at Pook's second pond. It's a good size; about a quarter of a rai.. Her hubby said it was nearly four meters deep. They want to sell it. Interesting! Been wearing my latest Ting hat each time I go out. Wore it to bed during the cold spell. She would be proud to know that. Have to tell her; next time. The pond is only twenty metres away from the river, so there is no problem keeping it full. As long as the river has water. A little low but still plenty of flow when we were there. Checked on progress with the build on our bit of village land. The dog wasn't pleased to see me. Guy's wife had to hold it back. As soon as Guy starts to make some dosh; he will pay us. Guy's wife is not a local lass. From Khon Kaen. On Friday we pumped water into pond seven for over three hours. And on Saturday, it was pond six's turn. Nearly four hours. Raised the level about 6 inches. I look after the pump and Mildred sorts out the pipes. Pond four has a great growth of small pond plants. There are only a few fish in pond three and four. Stopped commercially rearing pla-nin a few years back when it was obvious that the rain just wasn't there. It's OK to moan about the lack of rainfall, as I do, but when there are 20,000 nin relying on it; that's a different ball game. In Ban Dung I found a nice pretty thing to stop and snap. No idea what is is. Our avocadoes are blossoming. I reckon a couple are ready to be transferred to the farm. Looking great! What I did, was to wait until roots started to show - with the water-tooth-pick method - and then planted them. Seem to have got it just about right. Noticed a few cable posts had been dropped along our farm super-highway. Does this mean leccy later this year? Had a look at the Amazon Coffee pond. I had some fish food and got them rising for a lovely vid. vid - amazon koi.mp4 That's the Amazon in Ban Dung south. The northern one's fish cannot be seen; maybe gone. Mildred is doing a couple of paintings a month now. Nothing up with her imagination. Her buildings are very two-dimensional. Early days yet. Couldn't get her interested in the guitar or chess or HTML; but the art has hit a chord. Is she ready to move to canvas? At the mo' she draws/paints on artist's paper. Still getting those little oranges. Bought 10 kilos yesterday. Mrs Owl has a squeezing tool that extracts the juice. I just peel them and pop them in. Can eat up to 7/8 for tea. However! I have been counting the pips, and one - no bigger than a large golf ball - that I ate this morning, had 25 pips. I'm so silly. I told the Mrs, and she jumped up saying 'lucky lottery number'. I must learn to shut it. Another 500 baht wasted. Mildred had that covid test three weeks ago. On Wednesday, when I picked her up from school, she gave me the good news. School closed 'til Monday (tomorrow). Two positive tests last time around. A teacher and a student evidently. Did say I was listening to Russian marching music a couple of weeks ago while I typed the latest Owl Log, Any Russian viewers of the thread, or indeed anyone just wanting the link, please PM me ????. What has happen to Leeds? Everyone's favourite second team last year. Now falling down the table; fast! But will they go down? Don't think so. How did we do in the Winter Olympics? I've no idea if we (England and Thailand) won all the golds; or didn't win any. Can't be bothered to even find out. Sad I am. Mrs Owl sent away for two leather handbags on Lazada. Just under 1200 baht. Cannot I find the words to say to her 'stop'. With Europe perhaps on the brink, and the pound/baht rate dropping, must think 'conservation'. Keeping my eye on the fuel prices. Got three big diesel containers at the ready. A pick-up came around selling ducks. I wanted to get 4/5 for the farm. the Mrs wouldn't here of it. I had to back-peddle. Not for the first time, but getting more frequent. Only one thing left to say; bye y'all.