Diary of a farang in Isaan

[bannork]

33 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

No good telling us now you've been released. Could have popped along to see you with some grapes, and a bottle of my reishi wine. And of course some Essex girl jokes to cheer you up.

 

Hospitals give me the creeps. In fact there was a hospital in Romford named 'Oldchurch'. Generally known as the 'place of no return'. Spent ten weeks in there as a kid (one of the lucky ones to get out), before being sent to Dartmoor for the summer to recover.

 

Heathercombe Break School - Dartmoor

 

 

Mildred was born at Ban Dung Hospital, so I can't say bad stuff about that one.

 

Don't let the jabbers get ya Bannork.

I registered for the vaccine but how long is a piece of string? Over a year I reckon. I received good treatment as both an in and out patient, I love the way relatives are encouraged to stay with the patient. Can't do that in Udon.

Where is that temple you recently posted?

School starts on Monday, got to deliver and collect 6 kids. That bridge is not got to be finished on time;

[Golden Triangle]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

No good telling us now you've been released. Could have popped along to see you with some grapes, and a bottle of my reishi wine. And of course some Essex girl jokes to cheer you up.

 

Hospitals give me the creeps. In fact there was a hospital in Romford named 'Oldchurch'. Generally known as the 'place of no return'. Spent ten weeks in there as a kid (one of the lucky ones to get out), before being sent to Dartmoor for the summer to recover.

 

Heathercombe Break School - Dartmoor

 

 

Mildred was born at Ban Dung Hospital, so I can't say bad stuff about that one.

 

Don't let the jabbers get ya Bannork.

I remember Oldchurch hospital, what a grim place that was, I always thought it ironic that just over the road was the local abattoir ????

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, bannork said:

 

Where is that temple you recently posted?

 

 

The temple is 800 metres east of the T-junction going into Sum Sao on the 2022.

 

 

 

The co-ords are:

 

17,34,50 N ---------- 102,59,43 E

 

Have to cut me a bit of slack on this sort of thing. This Linux is doing me brain in.

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, Golden Triangle said:

I remember Oldchurch hospital, what a grim place that was, I always thought it ironic that just over the road was the local abattoir ????

Yes! Squeezed in between the brewery, the gas works, the railway line and the abattoir.

 

I think it's got better in recent years. My sister went in five years ago, with a broken leg, and came out complaining of belly ache. Lovely lad he is. Leg's much improved too.

Edited June 10, 2021 by owl sees all

[Golden Triangle]

8 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Yes! Squeezed in between the brewery, the gas works, the railway line and the abattoir.

 

I think it's got better in recent years. My sister went in five years ago, with a broken leg, and came out complaining of belly ache. Lovely lad he is. Leg's much improved too.

My now brother in law used to live just off Crow lane, his road was a dead end due to the huge railway embankment, the Ahern's ( skip business ) was further down Crow lane, if I remember right the cemetery was on crow lane as well.

[owl sees all]

42 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

My now brother in law used to live just off Crow lane, his road was a dead end due to the huge railway embankment, the Ahern's ( skip business ) was further down Crow lane, if I remember right the cemetery was on crow lane as well.

I remember it well.

 

Didn't an 'Ahern' (Mike Ahern I think) do a national radio show a few years back? Think they came over from the Channel Islands many years back.

 

There were gravel pits (now filled in) to the south of Crow lane in years past. They backed on to the Ford sport's ground where I played footy for some time.

 

But Romford was up-market to us Dagenham Dock lads:

 

"What did you do yesterday Owl?"

"Hi there Jim. I broke a bottle floating in the Thames about 40 metres out. Skimmed a nice pebble. A nice flat, white one."

"What about you?"

"Found some lead. Took it to River Road. Got Fifteen bob. Enough to take out the new girl from Romford."

"How'd ya get on?"

"Done good."

"Where'd ya take 'er?"

"Over the Chase. Caught a nice Roach, just as it was getting dark."

"I meant with the girl."

"She wandered off in the dark. Saved her bus-fare home; so I didn't really mind. A real moaner. Wasn't cold last night was it Owl? Hope she's OK though. "

"Where'd you find the lead?"

"On this hut roof, over the railway line."

 

Those were the days.

 

 

 

 

Edited June 10, 2021 by owl sees all

[rumak]

9 hours ago, owl sees all said:

What is with 'Yinn'? Looked up her profile and saw that there have been no posts this year.

 

I'm not up to speed on this one.

 

       The Ballad of Yinn

 

There once was a contest, 

in the not so distant past

that started out nice and easy

but gradually got going real fast

 

As Proud Mary would say

it got rollin,  rollin ...

Till many got into the fray

( and i ain't trollin

 

Words were flying like arrows

a real lively free for all

The meek flew away like sparrows

but there were two who refused to fall

 

Yes, the 2019 Poty

(poster of the year, for those in the dark)

brought out Poets and Punsters,

guys who made love in dumpsters,

but now has been erased from our history

 

So Superman was slain by a Lady 

or was it really a she ?

I could tell you for sure

cause i stood at their door

But really,  why kill the mystery ??

[Golden Triangle]

8 minutes ago, rumak said:

 

       The Ballad of Yinn

 

There once was a contest, 

in the not so distant past

that started out nice and easy

but gradually got going real fast

 

As Proud Mary would say

it got rollin,  rollin ...

Till many got into the fray

( and i ain't trollin

 

Words were flying like arrows

a real lively free for all

The meek flew away like sparrows

but there were two who refused to fall

 

Yes, the 2019 Poty

(poster of the year, for those in the dark)

brought out Poets and Punsters,

guys who made love in dumpsters,

but now has been erased from our history

 

So Superman was slain by a Lady 

or was it really a she ?

I could tell you for sure

cause i stood at their door

But really,  why kill the mystery ??

I think you missed your vocation, am I allowed to say that I also heard that it was a bloke but for me origin unknown, I think the idea was to kill the POTY competition, it seems to have worked ???? please tell me if I need to delete this post ????

[faraday]

Probably a Rooster.

[champers]

1 minute ago, faraday said:

Probably a Rooster.

Agreed. Got overwhelmed with Covid news so something had to give.

[rumak]

4 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

I think you missed your vocation, am I allowed to say that I also heard that it was a bloke but for me origin unknown, I think the idea was to kill the POTY competition, it seems to have worked ???? please tell me if I need to delete this post ????

 

I am certainly NOT the one deleting posts about this subject.   There are a few very sensitive folks who may have had "unpleasant interactions"  with this young lady  person.

 *this post will self destruct in 20 seconds *

[Golden Triangle]

2 minutes ago, rumak said:

 

I am certainly NOT the one deleting posts about this subject.   There are a few very sensitive folks who may have had "unpleasant interactions"  with this young lady  person.

 *this post will self destruct in 20 seconds *

I was more concerned about broaching a taboo subject, I wish mine would self destruct sometimes ????????????

[faraday]

Let's change the subject, eh? We all know what'll happen after all. 

 

This is on topic - sort of, coz there are monkeys here.

 

Matty Hancock says there's an outbreak of Monkeypox in the UK.

 

Vaccines at the ready boys....????????????

[rumak]

Just now, Golden Triangle said:

I was more concerned about broaching a taboo subject, I wish mine would self destruct sometimes ????????????

haha    only once or twice i could not get to "edit"  in time.     I clicked on report and asked for it to be deleted.

 

[rumak]

Just now, faraday said:

Let's change the subject, eh? We all know what'll happen after all.

 

[chickenslegs]

11 minutes ago, faraday said:

Let's change the subject, eh? We all know what'll happen after all. 

 

This is on topic - sort of, coz there are monkeys here.

 

Matty Hancock says there's an outbreak of Monkeypox in the UK.

 

Vaccines at the ready boys....????????????

I thought you were joking so I looked it up. Bloody hell, I think I'd prefer covid ...

 

 

 

Looks similar to the cattle disease that's going around just now.

Edited June 10, 2021 by chickenslegs

[Golden Triangle]

5 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

I thought you were joking so I looked it up. Bloody hell, I think I'd prefer covid ...

 

 

 

Looks similar to the cattle disease that's going around just now.

Oooh that don't look nice.

[Odysseus123]

On 6/8/2021 at 3:19 PM, owl sees all said:

I'm really annoyed with myself, that I'm not able to post decent pic's.

Hi Owl,

Has the photography improved?

Have you been able to tweak Linux a bit?

[owl sees all]

3 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

Hi Owl,

Has the photography improved?

Have you been able to tweak Linux a bit?

I'll do a log later this today.

 

Our visitor, Snack, Mrs Owl's Grandson, has been constantly on the tippy-tappy that I use to take pics. I wrestled it off him yesterday to go to the farm. Took some pics, and did a vid'; although I've not been able to put one up since the change over to Linux. Went to transfer them onto the comp' last night, only to find they were not there.

 

Experimented with some of my older pics. As soon as I reduced them down to 800 x 600 the quality deteriorated massively. That was using the default format 'jpg'. I found out how to change the 'jpg' to 'PNG' and they did improve. We will see.

 

Miss the 'easy use' of Windows, but Linux is at least 37 times faster. Not yet managed to get the 'Brave browser' up and running. Early days yet though. Perhaps next year?

 

The euca' trees are one year old this week. The biggest, that would be about 20%, are fantastic. The bottom 5% are struggling (although still growing). And the 75% are doing just fine. Pics next log.

 

Been quite wet here. Dull and damp. Just like Lancashire in the summer I'm told.

[Bredbury Blue]

23 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Hospitals give me the creeps. In fact there was a hospital in Romford named 'Oldchurch'. Generally known as the 'place of no return'. Spent ten weeks in there as a kid (one of the lucky ones to get out), before being sent to Dartmoor for the summer to recover.

I've been lucky to date, only been in hospital twice, once age around 6 for tonsils removal and early 20s for wisdom teeth removal.

 

My dad loves to remind me that the Sister who checked me in to the kiddies ward for the tonsils job was a big fat black woman, and I apparently was terrified as I'd never seen a black person before. All I remember is I refused to take off my underpants under my pyjamas for some reason ????

[RobMuir]

21 hours ago, rumak said:

 

       The Ballad of Yinn

 

There once was a contest, 

in the not so distant past

that started out nice and easy

but gradually got going real fast

 

As Proud Mary would say

it got rollin,  rollin ...

Till many got into the fray

( and i ain't trollin

 

Words were flying like arrows

a real lively free for all

The meek flew away like sparrows

but there were two who refused to fall

 

Yes, the 2019 Poty

(poster of the year, for those in the dark)

brought out Poets and Punsters,

guys who made love in dumpsters,

but now has been erased from our history

 

So Superman was slain by a Lady 

or was it really a she ?

I could tell you for sure

cause i stood at their door

But really,  why kill the mystery ??

 

She posted on another forum as Yinnluck.

 

Was hugely popular with the masses, voted in democraticly in a landslide.

 

But...

 

Some of the old dinosaurs were not happy, and she was removed before serving out her term.

 

She posts from Dubai these days.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 11-06-2021 - Friday afternoon

 

Snack still with us. How is he gonna get home to Phitsanulok? I'm keeping my head down. Wouldn't like to get pulled over by some over-enthusiastic peeler and have to spend the next ten days quarantining  in the pick-up.

 

Been very dark and dismal most of this week. It may well be raining in other parts, but the amount of wet stuff falling here is not so much. A little bit of wind plays havoc with the pears though. There doesn't seem to be a pear season. No sooner do they fall off and another lot grow.

 

 

The twins and their cousins go to the farm most days. Their farm is behind ours and they use our road to get there. Of course they take adults with them.

 

What is the difference? Top one has been cut down to 800 x 600 and comes in about 900K

 

 

This one is untouched. Better, but a huge 2.5m.

 

 

Never had this problem with 'Paint' on Win10. Have to keep trying. As my English teacher at school was always writing in my report book: "Must do better."

 

Mango looking good. Only in the ring 'cause the avocado went brown bread.

 

 

The eucalypti are one year old this week.

 

 

The biggest tree in number one farm has been trimmed or cropped, not sure of the correct term (in Essex we might say 'tolled').

 

 

And after the cutters have been to work.

 

 

Mildred is getting on with the mini-saw just fine. A good work-out for her.

 

vid - M cuts with saw

 

Can't get the vid' to upload. More Linux investigation needed.

 

Just checked on my latest reishi brew. Put a bit more charcoal on.  I'm a bit bothered that the reishi strips have the weevil in them. Gave the strips a good shake, but I'm sure they didn't all come out. Ting, the hat lady, gave me such a huge amount for my 100 Baht. I thought she was sending me a sweet message, but perhaps she knew something I didn't. I thought she was the owner of the shop, but now I think she is the manager. Looking good though. I like Ting's eyebrows. No tattoos. I like natural. Should I ask her? She has a nice orange trilby hat for sale outside the shop on the rack; 129 Baht. I'll have another look on Tuesday, when I pick Mildred up from school. If the hat fits; I'll wear it.

 

Mildred is playing footy with Poom (lad from across the road) outside right now. I would join them but farm awaits. Snack is playing computer games on the tippy-tappy. Don't like too much exercise. He certainly knows how to eat.

 

Tennis in France coming to a climax. I'd like to watch both semis. Not a great player myself, but a did serve an ace once playing against Fatima.

 

I notice the Notts' Police have dropped the charges against Alex Belfield. Leaves the door open for Alex to sue a few people.

 

Anyone listen to the interview; Julia Hartly-Brewer and Charlie Mullins on Talk Radio yesterday? Very funny, especially when Charlie told her not to shout; "I'm not your husband Julie" he said. Highlight of my radio week. Tony Gosling tonight. Pick that up tomorrow morning.

 

Every day this week we have dispensed with the home-teaching and replaced it with a painting and a story. Yes! Mildred has to paint a picture, and write a short story (100 words plus). Topic today was 'fish'. Every mistake she maks made cost a % point. 87% in all. So thirteen mistakes. Getting there! Her art is quite good too. Unfortunately she is not interested in the guitar I bought a while back.

 

Off to farm shortly. A bit late tonight. Just feed the fish and look around to make sure all is OK.

 

Only one thing left to say; bye y'all.

 

 

 

[Odysseus123]

9 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Only one thing left to say; bye y'all.

 

I think that the photos are improving OWL...which is good to see as they are essential to your narrative.

The format is quite revolutionary in its own way and a very enjoyable read.Many thanks for your time and effort....

I guess these eucalypts have contrived a Darwinian response to the threat of your secateurs????

 

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, Odysseus123 said:

I think that the photos are improving OWL...which is good to see as they are essential to your narrative.

The format is quite revolutionary in its own way and a very enjoyable read.Many thanks for your time and effort....

I guess these eucalypts have contrived a Darwinian response to the threat of your secateurs????

 

 

OK then Ody. That pic (above) is a stunner. It weighs in at 2.3meg. I copied it and put it through 'pix'. Reduced down to 800x600, with the highest quality. This 800x600 size I have used for thousands of pic's with 'paint' and achieved very good results.

 

 

Just not good enough to post. I don't want to doubt myself. I think the Linux app 'pix' is simply not good enough. I'll try 'shutter'; which is also in the Linux bank.

 

If anyone can give me an insight into 'pix' I'll be more than pleased.

 

[Odysseus123]

6 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Well I think 'The old Dinasaurs' did a wrong un.

 

Yinn was a good read. Made things interesting. Some of the more 'unique' posters have gone walkies; Even Stevens, Ray2702, Zerchnov and Scottie John spring to mind.

 

 

 

 

I thought that the poster who compered that election did a very good job-but I have forgotten his name-certainly the whole thing was quite ferocious and POTY seems to have disappeared.

 

The World News has also gone and I miss "Morch" and "Simple1" as they were excellent posters.

 

The photo of the eucalypts was taken from a car at speed..but these two are static.(the usual slight drop to the right)

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

6 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

I thought that the poster who compered that election did a very good job-but I have forgotten his name-certainly the whole thing was quite ferocious and POTY seems to have disappeared.

 

The World News has also gone and I miss "Morch" and "Simple1" as they were excellent posters.

 

The photo of the eucalypts was taken from a car at speed..but these two are static.(the usual slight drop to the right)

 

Geronimo was the guy, did a good job trying to keep it interesting but it just became a bickerfest !!

He tried to drum up interest in another POTY last year but the powers that be were having none of it !!

[faraday]

Perhaps we could have a WOTY? ⚓

 

There are many candidates.

 

Or TOTY....best trolling story?

 

On another forum, many years ago there was a thread from a guy who alleged he'd bought a new Audi.

 

It was all bolleuax, but made for interesting reading.

 

Back on topic....????????

 

Still raining, but it's nice & cool.

 

Allegedly, the builder is coming round tomorrow to sort out the drains, which don't do their job properly.. i.e, drain. ????

 

Doubt he'll come though....????️

[RobMuir]

19 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

 

He tried to drum up interest in another POTY last year but the powers that be were having none of it !!

 

So you are saying the popular democraticly elected leader was stripped of her title, silenced and sent into exile by a small but powerful minority that we are not allowed to name?

 

And they are now refusing a new election using the reason the yellow side and the red side bicker too much and they just want to bring peace to the people? 

 

That is really funny.

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

2 minutes ago, RobMuir said:

 

So you are saying the popular democraticly elected leader was stripped of her title, silenced and sent into exile by a small but powerful minority that we are not allowed to name?

 

And they are now refusing a new election using the reason the yellow side and the red side bicker too much and they just want to bring peace to the people? 

 

That is really funny.

 

 

Not sure if you are using some high level strength sarcasm to gain a laugh or you truly do not know who is being discussed here ??

[RobMuir]

24 minutes ago, faraday said:

Perhaps we could have a WOTY? ⚓

 

There are many candidates.

 

Or TOTY....best trolling story?

 

On another forum, many years ago there was a thread from a guy who alleged he'd bought a new Audi.

 

It was all bolleuax, but made for interesting reading.

 

Back on topic....????????

 

Still raining, but it's nice & cool.

 

Allegedly, the builder is coming round tomorrow to sort out the drains, which don't do their job properly.. i.e, drain. ????

 

Doubt he'll come though....????️

You have my vote for MOTY.

After you finish your traineeship that is. 

 

Ask you builder to show you his spirit level. They are too lazy to use them, always do the drains by eye, and the result is, the drains don't drain.