Diary of a farang in Isaan

[Kadilo]

4 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Bang on the money there GT.

 

I have found it difficult to control the keys on my board at times. They seen to have a mind of their own, especially when responding to lies and absolute b@11@cks about covid. Just have to stay away from those threads.

 

Stick to Isaan and footy from now on.

Welcome back. 

Any idea when your next ban starts?

[Odysseus123]

18 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

Good to have you back Owl, I'm pretty sure you either write a script or actually dictate for monsieur Vol au vent, when you are otherwise engaged ???? because the writing style seems to be so so similar ???? 

 

After a couple of terms in jail I had to start to think very carefully about what I want to say & what I actually say, it's very easy to have a pop at some obnoxious oaf of which there are many & then find yourself serving hard labour, anyhow, good to have you back chap ????????????????????

Very,very true...the internet is a most peculiar beast.

For 10 years I was a member of the US Amazon forums with my interests mainly in classical music,history and literature-i made a lot of friends there some of whom I still correspond with today.

 

Nevertheless it was amazing that an interest in say..Bach,Beethoven,Bruckner and Brahms (not to mention Mozart,Mendelsohn and Mahler) could lead to the most fearsome bloodletting..add politics and religion to the mix and it was a veritable Stalingrad where no quarter was given or taken!

 

Eventually Amazon shut the whole thing down-an experiment in civilized discourse gone very,very,wrong.

 

The wonderful amateur photography forum that I have been on for 6 years closed down in August as it had been overrun by the usual suspects and nobody could give a fig for the Trump,Brexit and Covid obsessives anymore and the mods were working full time to contain the damage.

 

Now,I'm no goody-two-shoes and have been sent to jail a number of times but,eventually,the light bulb went off and I am quite content to have a pleasant chat with you chaps and get on with my interests and hobbies-plus my little jaunts to the seaside and the country.

 

Life is good.

Edited February 27, 2021 by Odysseus123

[owl sees all]

Owl Log 27-02-2021 - Saturday afternoon

 

The Buddha, just off the 2022, is looking good. First came to my attention when their statues were painted bright red. Then they faded a little.

 

 

Called in last week end for a butchers. 

 

 

The red must have been the undercoat. Silly me for thinking red was the new gold.

 

 

Although there was still work in progress. Absolutely magnificent!

 

 

Then it was over to the fish pool. Guarded by a goddess and her two helpers. One astride a wriggling koi carp.

 

 

I will admit to being a tad disappointed not to see koi carp.

 

 

But what's a little bit of a downer when one is amongst such artistry?! Definitely my favourite Buddha. I'll visit next time I go that way.

 

(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)

 

Mrs Owl went to a special worship place on the 15th of this month. Our pick-up took a dozen followers to the 'lucky' site. About 20km away. And our village crew were not alone. It was jam-packed. The car park was bursting.

 

 

What was it all about?

 

 

AFAICT* the word was out about a new buddha place where they had a crocodile that was free to walk around the compound; but never hurt anyone.

 

Great tree area.

 

 

Mrs Owl told me that if you stroked the beast it would bring good luck. Just so happened that the following day was lottery day. This was the first of the twice-a-month open days.

 

 

There was other stuff like 'wheel of lucky' and lottery sellers.

 

 

"Did you see the croc' teerak?" 

"Not see crocodile; sleeping."

 

The upside was that Mrs Owl actually won. She returned with the numbers '3' and '9'. The following day the two digit number came up; yes;  39.

 

So the lucky croc' done good. The Mrs explained to me that she had laid out 400 baht. Yes! 100 on 39; 100 on 93; 100 on 38 and 100 on 83. "Why 38 and 83 teerak. Why not 04 and 40, 0r 92?" 

 

"If crocodile not perfect. Why you want know? You not believe. You stupid farang. Never win money; football."

 

The PSP** was; got back 2000 baht. Paid for mother's losing gamble (400 baht), Um (SinL) 200, 'cause she couldn't bet, 'cause she never pay, and no one will take her numbers, and two hundred for croc' food. Anyway, not want to rubbish a 1200 baht day out. Again tomorrow?. Might go myself, just to look at the beautiful trees; and search out the elusive reptile.

 

(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)

 

Ah yes! Valentine day. 

 

Mildred's school used the day as a learning theme.

 

 

 

I got a card from a special person.

 

 

Lovely. Nice to be loved.

 

(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)

 

On the way back from the farm in the week.

 

 

Gave her a bit of help.

 

 

(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)

 

Book finally arrived.

 

 

Nearly 800 pages.

 

(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)

 

Another gem at the 20 Baht shop. Same thing in Big C for 79 Baht.

 

 

(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)

 

Been gradually outing the nuts that were not taking and putting up new.

 

 

(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)(@)

 

Big day on the footy this Saturday. The two form teams going at it. City v the Irons. Can't wait.

 

Watched a DocU on the PDC darts history in the week. That Phil Taylor was some guy. Put everything on the line for principles and belief. Should be compulsory watching for all politicians. And Eric Bristow came out with a brarmer; "You have two choices in life. Either go up the pub for a game of darts, or stay at home and watch Coronation Street." A bit cryptic that. But I think I know what he means.

 

Not yet got the roof tiles for the fix. I found out where to get them. But! Shouldn't have gone into the shop alone. I'm sure they doubled the price. 100 Baht a tile!!!! I'll keep looking around.

 

Dr Gundry keeps on about not eating nuts. I'll cut them out from today. And I'm still looking for a cheap(ish) source of olive oil. "A litre a day, keeps the doctor away. Pour it on everything," (the Doc' suggests). Heard something similar before when I was a kid in Dagenham. 

 

I had a second episode of elevated heart beat. Stayed with me for a couple of days this time. I did notice that doing strenuous activity, while with the elevation, led to shortage of breath. Make sense, as a elevated/fluctuating heart rate does not pump as much blood as it would normally. Not yet found out what sets it in motion though.

 

A lot of villagers got in on the 'lucky' lottery number last time. Mrs Owl has not said anything, but I'm sure they will be off to the special place tomorrow. This time I think number eleven. Just happens to be my favourite number. Easy money!

 

More to follow.

 

Bye y'all.

 

* AFAICT - As Far As I Can Tell

** PSP - Pound, Shillings, Pence. 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 27, 2021 by owl sees all

[FarFlungFalang]

47 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

 

Ah yes! Valentine day. 

 

Mildred's school used the day as a learning theme.

 

 

 

I got a card from a special person.

 

 

Lovely. Nice to be loved.

Isn't it wonderful how many people celebrate my Birthday!

Don't know about the value of olive oil, apparently it is why people who use it live to be much older and if you are much older you'll die from covid so I can't really recommend such a dangerous product! 

[owl sees all]

1 minute ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Isn't it wonderful how many people celebrate my Birthday!

Don't know about the value of olive oil, apparently it is why people who use it live to be much older and if you are much older you'll die from covid so I can't really recommend such a dangerous product! 

Your birthday is on Valentine day FFF? Wonderful!

 

I make a point of listening to all the people on the fringe with a voice. The good doctor has some, shall we say, different advice to many.

 

First rubbished and ridiculed.

Then locked up, sidelined or shot.

Then acknowledged as being right.

Then said to be years ahead of time.

 

Just ask Galileo or David Icke.

[FarFlungFalang]

25 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Your birthday is on Valentine day FFF? Wonderful!

 

I make a point of listening to all the people on the fringe with a voice. The good doctor has some, shall we say, different advice to many.

 

First rubbished and ridiculed.

Then locked up, sidelined or shot.

Then acknowledged as being right.

Then said to be years ahead of time.

 

Just ask Galileo or David Icke.

I had a whole post about your book and some of the stuff I've heard and thought very clever but error 502 keeps hitting me,I wonder if it's because of my anti Thai covid and transparency postings.

[owl sees all]

2 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

I had a whole post about your book and some of the stuff I've heard and thought very clever but error 502 keeps hitting me, I wonder if it's because of my anti Thai covid and transparency postings.

Of course FFF.

 

Algorithms are all around.

 

PM me please.

[faraday]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

had a second episode of elevated heart beat. Stayed with me for a couple of days this time. I did notice that doing strenuous activity

 

You must go & see the doc, don't hang about, get it done.

[owl sees all]

5 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Of course FFF.

 

Algorithms are all around.

 

PM me please.

Forget PM FFF. I'll take my chances:

 

https://whatreallymakesyouill.com

 

Monsieur Vous; sorry to disturb you.

 

[owl sees all]

Another short Owl Log for Saturday afternoon.

 

Finished the drive opposite and put enough stone down on our side to stop it getting too muddy in the coming months.

 

 

The new built house is just about done. Just a lick of paint to finish.

 

 

 

Off to fam in a minute. Not a work day. Just tend the plants, feed the fish and look at the eucas. And as with every visit simply admire the beauty of it all.

 

Still not got the bottles sorted that are feeding the avo' and mango trees. Either running through too fast or not at all.

 

 

If I can, I'll get a short vid of me and Mildred walking through part of the euca farm tomorrow.

 

That's nearly up-to-date with the pics for the last 14 days.

 

Bye y'all.

Edited February 27, 2021 by owl sees all

[FarFlungFalang]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Forget PM FFF. I'll take my chances:

 

https://whatreallymakesyouill.com

 

Monsieur Vous; sorry to disturb you.

 

Thanks for the link Mr Owl, I had a quick look but I'll try and post what I was trying to say earlier from what I can remember anyway.My mother told me about a book called Love Your Disease which she said was about some people who liked to be sick because they got more attention, I also remember a Chinese doctor who said most diseases can be controlled or I'm sure he said cured by what we eat.I also remember hearing about the Laughing Doctor who would do a full belly laugh each morning for a minute,he said that just the act of doing the belly laugh produces good chemicals and made them circulate throughout the body, and he went around to hospitals setting up laughing rooms and said laughing was the best medicine because his research concluded that people heal better and faster if they feel good and that the negative effects of doing stuff that was not necessarily good were negated if they made you feel good was I thought was pretty cluey.My mother was a nurse before she married and had a healthy mistrust for doctors and their meddling ways.One example was me and another kid who had hearing problems, well the other kid went under the knife and had never ending problems the same doctor wanted to do the same to me but my mother told where he could stick his knife and it wasn't anywhere near me.So I read one line in the link so far about doctors and their medicines which I instantly related to so it sounds like it will be an interesting read.Now back to the link to find out if what " I " know about disease is wrong as the title suggests.Although I have inherited my mothers mistrust of doctors I know there are many of them that do incredible things so it's the old double edged sword syndrome and the good advice is always get a second,third or however many it takes second opinions.

Edited February 27, 2021 by FarFlungFalang

[FarFlungFalang]

So I wrote the above post and hit save and got hit by error 522 but this time I copied the post and tried again isn't tech wonderful!Ha Ha!Take that error 522 you scumbag!Am I going on holiday now?

[sotonowl]

5 hours ago, owl sees all said:

AFAICT* the word was out about a new buddha place where they had a crocodile that was free to walk around the compound; but never hurt anyone.

I hope the crocodile was aware of this.

[owl sees all]

40 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

I hope the crocodile was aware of this.

They are definitely going tomorrow. Too many for our pick-up, so I think Pook's as well.

 

It's gonna be jam-packed. I'm not going. But Mildred might. 

 

 

She can get a few pics. I'll warn her not to get too close if the croc actually shows.

[sotonowl]

4 hours ago, owl sees all said:

They are definitely going tomorrow. Too many for our pick-up, so I think Pook's as well.

 

It's gonna be jam-packed. I'm not going. But Mildred might. 

 

 

She can get a few pics. I'll warn her not to get too close if the croc actually shows.

The way I first read your post Owl was that the Croc was free to roam around as long as it gave an undertaking not to bite anyone. I was half asleep though when I read it.

[Kadilo]

On 2/26/2021 at 1:43 PM, owl sees all said:

Yes! They are not doing so well at the present.

 

The club moved into their hew home (Roots Hall) in the mid 50s. What I think wonderful is that the supporters themselves mostly paid for the grounds development, and many supporters actually did the work.

 

I don't support them particularly but they have a proud history and of course they play in Essex, so I have an eye on their progress or otherwise. As you say sanuk711 at the mo' it's very otherwise. Just typing this and thinking of the beautiful county makes me home-sick.

 

For those not into footy it's Southend United FC. I stopped watching them when they left the Kursaal.

 

And always a good pub-trivia question: Which manager was hired and resigned by the same club; three times?

I was at a few games last season. They are still makin a fight of it to stay in the league. Shame they will prob never get to their new promised stadium. 

[owl sees all]

6 hours ago, sotonowl said:

The way I first read your post Owl was that the Croc was free to roam around as long as it gave an undertaking not to bite anyone. I was half asleep though when I read it.

 

That's the way I understood it. The croc would be able to wander about not concerned about the people.

 

There were hundreds of people at the opening.

 

 

Lots of mask wearing in case covid was about.

 

 

Some brought camera and recording equipment. And food for the croc.

 

 

A lot of ladies there.

 

 

But the croc didn't show.

 

Is there even a croc there? Maybe there is, 'cause the people were encouraged to give 200 Baht for 'croc food. So 'yes', there must be one. Mrs Owl says it was sleeping. Better luck today with the spotting. But if it gives winning lottery numbers; I'll not complain.

 

Just spoken to Mrs Owl. "Teerak, can you get a close up shot of the croc when you go today?" She nodded.

 

Watch this space later today.

 

 

[Peter Denis]

7 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

...

Watch this space later today.

 

[FarFlungFalang]

32 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

 

In a while crocodile?

[faraday]

Be careful Mr Owl......

 

 

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

That's the way I understood it. The croc would be able to wander about not concerned about the people.

He surely would have assumed it was a free buffet?

[owl sees all]

4 minutes ago, faraday said:

Be careful Mr Owl......

 

 

Mrs Owl has left. Mildred didn't want to go.

 

I asked teerak if she could get a close up of the croc's nose. She said she would try.

 

She took my phone to get some pics.

[bluesofa]

3 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Mrs Owl has left. Mildred didn't want to go.

 

I asked teerak if she could get a close up of the croc's nose. She said she would try.

 

She took my phone to get some pics.

'She took my phone to get some pics.'   A misprit surely - She took my phone to trade for a handbag.

[owl sees all]

1 minute ago, bluesofa said:

He surely would have assumed it was a free buffet?

Animals are not stupid Bluesofa. They soon learn what side their bread is buttered. Why waste energy chasing humans when a guy in a robe chucks it food every day; and the occasional careless dog.

 

The problems arise when someone does not do their job.

 

"You fed the croc today number two."

"Oh <deleted>. I forgot."

"Never mind, that newbe will sort it. Just gone to the pond for meditation."

 

 

[bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Animals are not stupid Bluesofa. They soon learn what side their bread is buttered. Why waste energy chasing humans when a guy in a robe chucks it food every day; and the occasional careless dog.

 

The problems arise when someone does not do their job.

 

"You fed the croc today number two."

"Oh <deleted>. I forgot."

"Never mind, that newbe will sort it. Just gone to the pond for meditation."

the newbe thought it was going to be meditation, the croc knew it was a boil-in-the-bag meal.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 28-02-0221 - Sunday afternoon

 

Went to the farm on my own yesterday afternoon. Took the opportunity to have a mooch around.

 

New mushroom business in the down-town part of the village.

 

 

Next it was a check on Gong's euca farm. She planted two months before us.

 

 

Too early IMO. They are slow to get going. Only the odd tree doing the biz.

 

 

She has also given 60-0-0 a few times. Too much vitamin makes the trees lazy.

 

Then it was off to SinL Pook's farm. She is OK, and although a bit of a liberty taker, she don't owe me any dosh.

 

Her water is very low. Might see the plants through to rain time.

 

 

 

Fair play to her; she's giving it a good go.

 

 

Bought Mildred a joystick in the week.

 

 

I'm not in the race in technology. I was thinking; just plug into the USB port and we would be away. No! Had to download a driver from a site 'cause the mini disc with it couldn't be put in. OK! So we are up and running! No! Three hours wasted. How can anyone get such things to work?

 

Mrs Owl went to the croc Buddha place in the daughter's car. "Benzine low. Can put 200 Baht in for me?" Let's hope she returns with the winning numbers.

 

The Irons couldn't quite manage an upset in Manchester yesterday. Wasted two squids on correct score 0-2 (40-1). Will I ever learn?

 

Ordered another book from bookdepository.com. Might be with me late March.

 

Chickens had moved on at the farm.

 

Sat down at number five pond for half an hour. Is there a better place in the world to be right now? Maybe Dagenham Dock; skimming stones off the beach?

 

 

Bye y'all

 

Edited February 28, 2021 by owl sees all

[sotonowl]

13 hours ago, owl sees all said:

The Irons couldn't quite manage an upset in Manchester yesterday. Wasted two squids on correct score 0-2 (40-1). Will I ever learn?

It is at this point I have to inform you all I have a confession to make. I was watching the Owls live on TV yesterday, I fear we will be going down this year but at half time we were 0-2 up away to Luton. I just couldn't resist speculating 25p on Wednesday messing up like they usually do although I really wished the bet had lost.

[sotonowl]

21 hours ago, owl sees all said:

She took my phone to get some pics.

Shouldn't that be snaps?

 

I remember an old trade union rep addressing his members. "There's been certain allegations made about me and I'm determined to find out who the alligators are".

 

And then there's the, get me a crocodile sandwich and make it snappy.

 

I'm here all week. I don't tell jokes, I just refresh peoples memories.

[owl sees all]

6 hours ago, sotonowl said:

It is at this point I have to inform you all I have a confession to make. I was watching the Owls live on TV yesterday, I fear we will be going down this year but at half time we were 0-2 up away to Luton. I just couldn't resist speculating 25p on Wednesday messing up like they usually do although I really wished the bet had lost.

 

Good to see you are in the money fellow Owl.

 

At the mo' it doesn't look as if the stripy blues will be playing the stripy reds next season. That's a shame.

 

Refresh my memory please; did The Owls get to two cup finals in one season a few years back?

 

[FarFlungFalang]

On 2/28/2021 at 8:31 AM, Peter Denis said:

 

Sorry Peter I should have watched the video before posting.I was going to edit but i'm being absolutely plagued by error 522.