Diary of a farang in Isaan

[FarFlungFalang]

Have to fix the trailer.What happened?Don't know!I know exactly what happened, it got the Isaan treatment.Out with the old in with the new.

 

 

I rode over to Koknakoh to buy some new bolts as the old one had been sheared off, how I have no idea.I stopped off at my favourite Char Nom Yen shop for a nod to AT.Turns out the Mrs Char Nom Yen was born the same year as me.Mr Owl isn't the only one with side winks.Ha Ha yes he is I'm just jealous.

 

 

After picking up the new bolts I ducked into the Aunty's place and spotted this growing nearby which is much better than Aunty's.Remarkably I didn't chop the top 2/3 off and do a runner.This proves that some Thais (not Som Chai) can get it right.

 

 

[bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Have to fix the trailer.What happened?Don't know!I know exactly what happened, it got the Isaan treatment.Out with the old in with the new.

But what film is it?

[FarFlungFalang]

2 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

But what film is it?

Nightmare on Isaan Street!I forgot to post the finished product.

 

 

The replace bolts that got sheared off.

 

Maybe some rain latter

 

[Odysseus123]

My Thai family informs me that there are many cases of Covid 19 appearing in my twin home towns of Ubon Ratchathani and Warin Chamrap and I have told them to shut the business down,wear masks and cut down on travel over Songkhran-local stuff only....

 

[FarFlungFalang]

44 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

My Thai family informs me that there are many cases of Covid 19 appearing in my twin home towns of Ubon Ratchathani and Warin Chamrap and I have told them to shut the business down,wear masks and cut down on travel over Songkhran-local stuff only....

 

Ubon eh?Just around the corner then.I might have to pop round for a visit sometime.The official number I saw in Uo for yesterday was 6 cases and the first time I've seen Ubon mentioned during this wave.Did you tell your family to cut down on the clubbing scene which I notice is rampant in Ubon.Apparently our welding gases come from Warin.

[GarryP]

2 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

My Thai family informs me that there are many cases of Covid 19 appearing in my twin home towns of Ubon Ratchathani and Warin Chamrap and I have told them to shut the business down,wear masks and cut down on travel over Songkhran-local stuff only....

 

 

 

What a small world. My late wife was from Warinchamrap, and I spent many holidays in Ubol. Got to know the place very well but haven't been back since her ashes were put in a mini stupa with her mother's about 6 years ago. I will definitely revisit when I retire as I do miss some of her relatives (not many though). 

[Odysseus123]

1 hour ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Ubon eh?Just around the corner then.I might have to pop round for a visit sometime.The official number I saw in Uo for yesterday was 6 cases and the first time I've seen Ubon mentioned during this wave.Did you tell your family to cut down on the clubbing scene which I notice is rampant in Ubon.Apparently our welding gases come from Warin.

Eh?

Clubbing scene?my M-i-L is 80 years old...her sisters are between 68-to 77.

Over the last 112 pages on this thread I have posted many dozens of photos of Ubon and Warin..

 

If you want to see me then you will have to swim a long way...you will grasp the geography of the planet eventually..

 

 

WAFTAM.

 

Edited April 9, 2021 by Odysseus123

[Odysseus123]

44 minutes ago, GarryP said:

What a small world. My late wife was from Warinchamrap,

Yes..quite a pleasant old fashioned regional town...

 

 

 

Edited April 9, 2021 by Odysseus123

[Odysseus123]

15 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

 

 

 

 

Edited April 9, 2021 by Odysseus123
double post

[HighPriority]

8 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Maybe more to this story than you are telling us ...............

 

Mmm... better looking than I imagined... ????

[GarryP]

A couple of photos from Ubol. One under the bridge between Warin and Ubol over the Mun river and another of my son's arm with his number for the conscription draw we had just attended at Warin District office on Saturday 14 April 2012 (we deferred it), Mun River bridge in the background. 

[Odysseus123]

16 minutes ago, GarryP said:

A couple of photos from Ubol. One under the bridge between Warin and Ubol over the Mun river and another of my son's arm with his number for the conscription draw we had just attended at Warin District office on Saturday 14 April 2012 (we deferred it), Mun River bridge in the background. 

 

16 minutes ago, GarryP said:

A couple of photos from Ubol. One under the bridge between Warin and Ubol over the Mun river and another of my son's arm with his number for the conscription draw we had just attended at Warin District office on Saturday 14 April 2012 (we deferred it), Mun River bridge in the background. 

I know exactly where you were sitting..amazing isn't it?

Edited April 9, 2021 by Odysseus123

[FarFlungFalang]

1 hour ago, Odysseus123 said:

Eh?

Clubbing scene?my M-i-L is 80 years old...her sisters are between 68-to 77.

Over the last 112 pages on this thread I have posted many dozens of photos of Ubon and Warin..

 

If you want to see me then you will have to swim a long way...you will grasp the geography of the planet eventually..

 

 

WAFTAM.

 

What does WAFTAM stand for?All I can think of is Women Always Fart To Annoy(or Attract) Men?If it was WAFTEM I would sub Annoy (Attract) with Entice?

[HighPriority]

Glad to see you easing up on the grumpy pills Ody ????????
Nice pics mate.

[GarryP]

19 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

 

I know exactly where you were sitting..amazing isn't it?

 

 

 

It is. The table top is exactly the same. And yes, that is the place. 

[Odysseus123]

2 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

What does WAFTAM stand for?All I can think of is Women Always Fart To Annoy(or Attract) Men?If it was WAFTEM I would sub Annoy (Attract) with Entice?

I spent 30 odd years in Gov't health Depts-including a stint under the WHO-with field trips to Melanesia (Bougainville and Choiseul) Indonesia (Banda Aceh,Sumatra) and Mumbai...

 

Whenever we encountered the usual SNAFU we would deem it a WAFTAM...".waste of F#@5*ng time and money"..Aussies,eh?

[FarFlungFalang]

9 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

I spent 30 odd years in Gov't health Depts-including a stint under the WHO-with field trips to Melanesia (Bougainville and Choiseul) Indonesia (Banda Aceh,Sumatra) and Mumbai...

 

Whenever we encountered the usual SNAFU we would deem it a WAFTAM...".waste of F#@5*ng time and money"..Aussies,eh?

I did get as far as WAFT but the final AM eluded me and AM could also be And Memories or Mammaries.I did travel on a bus for seven hours to travel 200Kms from Lake Toba To Sibolga where we shipped out to Nias.I didn't think much of Sibolga. 

Edited April 9, 2021 by FarFlungFalang

[Odysseus123]

2 minutes ago, GarryP said:

It is. The table top is exactly the same. And yes, that is the place. 

Back in those days I had the idea of doing what Owl is doing now thru photos and spent 5 years being a "river rat" exploring all the villages along the Mun and documenting their medieval lifestyle..which I loved.

 

My house was a kilometer to the left of the bridge and on the river.

 

A little piece of Military lore told to me by an American Phantom F4 pilot.

 

As they took off from Ubon they would sing..

"Mun river wider than a mile

I'm crossing you in style,some day.."

 

In the hopes of returning..

 

 

 

[Odysseus123]

26 minutes ago, HighPriority said:

Glad to see you easing up on the grumpy pills Ody ????????
Nice pics mate.

 

"Forum for room or rent

threads to let for 50 cents..

world news has crashed..and I

ain't got no cigarettes..!

 

I'm a man of means by no means-king of the cloud. 

 

 

[Odysseus123]

35 minutes ago, HighPriority said:

Glad to see you easing up on the grumpy pills Ody ????????
Nice pics mate.

Geez...why?Our thread had descended to a level of discombobulation that would not threaten a lemon meringue pie.....

 

Now we giving it a bit of a kick in the cobblers.

 

No-one wants to die of intellectual inanition.

[HighPriority]

2 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Geez...why?Our thread had descended to a level of discombobulation that would not threaten a lemon meringue pie.....

 

Now we giving it a bit of a kick in the cobblers.

 

No-one wants to die of intellectual inanition.

I blame that French chap, banging on about his banging skills all the time. 

Edited April 9, 2021 by HighPriority

[Odysseus123]

6 minutes ago, HighPriority said:

I blame that French chap, banging on about his banging skills all the time. 

Yes.....I didn't want to tell him that there existed remarkable fecundity on display along the banks of the Mun river..which far and away outmatched those of the Seine.

Now I'm not gonna say that I paid for it..but I did settle a heck of a lot of electricity and water bills...????

 

Gawd..if I didn't have a titanium leg i'd still be paying those damn bills now..

[HighPriority]

8 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Yes.....I didn't want to tell him that there existed remarkable fecundity on display along the banks of the Mun river..which far and away outmatched those of the Seine.

Now I'm not gonna say that I paid for it..but I did settle a heck of a lot of electricity and water bills...????

 

Gawd..if I didn't have a titanium leg i'd still be paying those damn bills now..

In the words of the equally debonare Maxwell Smart “...and loving it !”

[Kadilo]

15 hours ago, owl sees all said:

 

I've not been to either Oxford or Cambridge. Others; but not those two. However, I knew a mature lady who went to Oxford back in the 50's (pillow talk) and I used to go fishing near Cambridge town.

 

But you raise a good point. Why did I ever watch stuff like the boat race or F1? With F1, I wanted to see fires in the pit-lane, fisticuffs at the hair-pin and races where more than two cars have not been lapped.

 

But back to more probable thoughts. Want to see Orient back in the top-flight (soon) and The Irons to get top 4 (this season). Also Liverpool, Man U and Arsenal all to be relegated next season, to be replaced by Accrington, Gillingham and Crewe (bit of a long shot with Crewe; I know).

 

Now back to Essex. When you are back in beautiful Essex; whether walking or riding your bike, along the Thames or Blackwater or Crouch; take care.

 

 

 

 

They are everywhere in our county Kadilo.

 

I only ever seemed to meet the subtractors ????

 

My father worked for the water boards and had to go to the many Essex Sluices and warned me to keep on the lookout along the footpaths. They can often be seen sunbathing on the grass bank. 
 

Talking of the Crouch. Last week I cycled to Pagelsham via Hockley and then onto Wallasey via Creeksea from my folks home. 

Loads of memory’s from days gone by. Pub at Pagelsham called Plough and Sail. A popular haunt in the summer. And then the Creeksea Ferry Inn at Wallasey Island.  Both closed of course due to Covid. 

Any views on the current Covid situation ????

I then took in a walk around the creek where the ferry goes across to Burnham on Crouch before Cycling back via Canewdon.

 

Anyone who thinks  Essex doesn’t have countryside hasn’t been down these parts. 
 

Anyhows back on topic. A pic of the other half trying to convince me she is digging up some weeds on the land when it looks more like she’s taking a dump. 
 

Edited April 9, 2021 by Kadilo

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 10-04-2021 - Saturday evening

 

Very quiet around the village. A few people arriving for the hols. No talk about covid at all. Have to go to Ban Dung to see anyone wearing a mask.

 

Went fishing with the two lads in the week. Snack caught the second biggest at about 600gms. The biggest was a nice one kilo fish. Three of us had a hand in it. I hooked it, gave the rod to Snack to get it in close, and Mildred netted it.

 

 

That fishing spell was Thursday. Not seen them since.

 

 

Snack has the makings of an decent angler.

 

 

Tang gets fed up so quick. Best if forgets fishing and saves himself for the girls.

 

 

 

Mrs Owl is throwing stones at the chickens. Milly and me are throwing food.

 

 

 

One in particular follows me everywhere.

 

 

Went back from the farm a different way tonight. I was on my own so did a detour.

 

 

After all I've said they are still dumping rubbish at the edge of the wood.

 

Cut a really good bamboo yesterday. About five metres long and nice and straight. Gonna make Mildred a longer fishing rod. The longest fixed-line rod she has is three metres long. I'm letting the bamboo dry out. Will take a some pics to show how it's done. I've made dozens of rods in the past, but mostly from fibre-glass.

 

Planted the avocado from the black grow bag to a concrete ring in the week.

 

All my pics taken since Wednesday got wiped from the phone-camera. Went to download them this evening to find that suddenly there was 2.5 gig spare capacity. As I pondered on this Mil told me she had found a way to 'clean' the phone. I'll retake some and post next week.

 

I hear Phillip has died. Just shy of his 100th birthday. Not a mention on RT today though. BBC are doing a round the clock channel for a few days.

 

Watched a fantastic Shaun Attwood interview with Norman Baker this morning (PM for link).

 

Still no rain!

 

Take care out there.

 

Bye y'all.

 

 

[Golden Triangle]

Radio 2 are playing some nice music today, normal programming has been cancelled till maybe tomorrow, currently got Steve Wright on in the background as I surf the net.

[FarFlungFalang]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

One in particular follows me everywhere.

 

This one has revenge on it's mind for his plastic yellow friends butchered in previous logs.I'm reminded of the plastic yellow spastics as I saw one in the hands of a toddler at our local Friday village market.Yes we now have a village market, things are booming here in Thailand at the moment but I fear it's built on a bubble. 

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, FarFlungFalang said:

This one has revenge on it's mind for his plastic yellow friends butchered in previous logs.I'm reminded of the plastic yellow spastics as I saw one in the hands of a toddler at our local Friday village market.Yes we now have a village market, things are booming here in Thailand at the moment but I fear it's built on a bubble. 

The butchered chicken is still active. He is however more careful not to squawk too close to Mrs Owl's ear when she is sleeping. He has a twin brother ready as a reserve; hidden away.

 

I find chicken really handy for two important squawks. One is when I want a cup of rosy. I used to whistle, but a short, sharp squeeze saves energy. The other time when chicken is invaluable is for Mildred's bed time.

 

Seeing the chickens at the farm, especially this chicken, is somehow comforting and caring.* As Monsieur Vous says when a lady falls asleep at an intimate moment; "she trusts me."

 

There is nothing in this feeding the birds for me or Mildred. No eggs, no feathers for fishing floats, or Sunday roasts. Just friendship. Their food is just waste vegetable that would be thrown into pond one anyway.

 

The Mekons were very active tonight at feeding.

 

* Probably sussed out that I usually have a bit of food for him.

Edited April 10, 2021 by owl sees all

[Odysseus123]

On 4/10/2021 at 4:34 AM, Kadilo said:

 

Anyone who thinks  Essex doesn’t have countryside hasn’t been down these parts. 

Wasn't John Constable's 'The Hay Wain' set in Essex?

 

Which brings back fond memories of my first visit to The National Gallery 50 years ago and standing there absolutely floored by J.W.M.Turner's 'The Fighting Temeraire','Rain,Steam and Wind' and,of,course,the Constables.

 

There were quite a few tropical sunsets in Thailand which I dubbed "Turner sunsets".

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

Wasn't John Constable's 'The Hay Wain' set in Essex?

 

Which brings back fond memories of my first visit to The National Gallery 50 years ago and standing there absolutely floored by J.W.M.Turner's 'The Fighting Temeraire','Rain,Steam and Wind' and,of,course,the Constables.

 

There were quite a few tropical sunsets in Thailand which I dubbed "Turner sunsets".

Indeed.

 

There are many lovely areas in Essex. My favourite place is Hainault Forrest. A lake was developed in 1911 to give unemployed east-enders some work. The small valley was dammed and an overflow installed. Everything done by hand; no machinery.

 

The source(s) of the stream that run into the lake is debated. But, I think there are two; Rose Well and another about 300 metres from the lake (both marked in black). The small weir is in red. The square is a small cafe/kiosk/restaurant, which has been there since about 1975. Also in the forest is a deer park and a sacred animal enclosure.

 

Next to the forest is a golf course, (two actually, but only one boarders the forest) that made big local news in 1976, when some despicable Dagenham louts chopped the pipes leading from the lake that were bing used to water the golf course. The fish were really suffering, with low water and diminishing oxygen.

 

That year the water was so low that the island could be walked to without getting wet feet.

 

 

I have a collection of pics of beautiful Hainault - mostly of the lake area - going back over the decades.

 

A selection:

 

1925.

 

 

A winter scene 1969.

 

 

More recent; 1984.

 

 

As for the fishing. Back in the 50s and 60s it was tench, crusian carp and rudd. A few pike terrorised the silvers. It was later, around 1970 that carp were showing in large numbers. My biggest carp was just over 20 pounds; caught in 1979.

 

John Rogers has filmed a documentary of the forest.

Edited April 11, 2021 by owl sees all