Diary of a farang in Isaan

[chickenslegs]

14 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

The wall fan went kaput and I bought another. Before I dumped it, I plugged the old one in and the blades tried to move. Put it down and thought I'd have a better look later on. Forgot all about it and we had a welcome shower. Got drenched. Just scrap now.

 

When the blades try to move like that it's often just a capacitor failure. Easy and cheap to fix.

(sorry if I'm trying to teach my Granny how to suck eggs)

[sotonowl]

Ultimately it's always the blades that fail.

We have a few large trees on a local green so I'll be having a closer look for the tags. I'd never noticed the tag on the Euca/Silver Birch until the missus had called it a Euca and I had a closer look.

[chickenslegs]

25 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Tree still standing.

 

 

The search facility on aseannow is a complete waste of time. I tried searching this topic for the phrases "standing", "still standing", and "tree still standing", but no results.

I know you have posted a few photos of the tree over the years, Owl, and I was interested to see its progress. 

 

[chickenslegs]

2 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

Ultimately it's always the blades that fail.

Just got it ????

[owl sees all]

10 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

The search facility on aseannow is a complete waste of time. I tried searching this topic for the phrases "standing", "still standing", and "tree still standing", but no results.

I know you have posted a few photos of the tree over the years, Owl, and I was interested to see its progress. 

 

After any decent wind I fear the worst.

 

The way to sort is out would be to lop off the top branches. But I'm - in a sadistic sort of way - looking forward to the big day; whenever that might be. Been watching the angle of lean change for a few year now. How'd it go; I lean, I lean, I lean for Illean. Of course that's an abomination of that great line; I scream, I scream, I scream for ice-cream.

 

Rotten International week end coming up. Just as we are getting into it, it stops. Don't bother the Owls though, unless they have International players in their team.

 

The sale of a parcel of land fell through yesterday. Just no money about. Banks very reluctant to lend on anything other than first-class security. Desperate times up here. But we did do a deal on some land in the village. Guy is gonna run a 20 baht shop on the land. See haw that pans out.

 

Mrs owl cleared out the rice store Friday. Got 8 sacks of rice. Sold it n Ban Dung; 1910 baht. Just 8 baht a kilo.

 

Still no rain.

[bannork]

Belting it down now Owl, and has been for a while. Any luck your way?

[Golden Triangle]

31 minutes ago, bannork said:

Belting it down now Owl, and has been for a while. Any luck your way?

I bloody hope so

[HighPriority]

Owl just needs to buy an amulet or two, heavens will open ! ☔️☔️

[owl sees all]

50 minutes ago, bannork said:

Belting it down now Owl, and has been for a while. Any luck your way?

Rained hard for half an hour. Good for the trees and plants.

 

Need a prolonged spell to run down the slope and fill the ponds.

 

But welcome.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 01-09-2021 - Wednesday afternoon

 

September has arrived at last. August was not a wash-out, but a dry-out. Come on September. You were always one of my favourite months. I'd always had good things to say about you; now it's pay me back time.

 

Did a fish catch yesterday. Started in number one pond and then moved to number five.

 

Our net had rotted so we borrowed one. And hired a net thrower for the duration.

 

A local net-casting expert.

 

 

The general idea is to throw the net with a circular motion, so that the net spins opens and covers a wide area of water. Depending upon the net, but usually about 5/6 meters across, when it hits the water. The chain at the end sinks the net quickly, the fish panic and get themselves trapped.

 

 

The net is then drawn slowly to the side.

 

 

 

Where the captured fish are released from the net and sorted. Um was helping; as were me and Mildred.

 

 

Um was passing the fish to Mildred and I was taking them to the pick-up.

 

 

After seven casts - and 26 fish -  we decided to move ponds. Beapp arrived on the scene and took over as the main man.

Pond five has a variety of fish; Talapia, mekongs, kois and grass carp. I knew we would have to be careful not to hurt the 'non-eaters'.

 

 

Caught two kois with the first throw; but not biggies. They went into Mildred's pond six. But on the second throw a beautiful big, grass carp of about 7kg (15 lbs) was caught. We carefully put that one back into pond five. Just two throws and 24 decent size tilapia. That was enough.

 

 

Then it was time to share out the fish. Mrs Owl had been taking out ours as we went, so the ones left in the buckets were shared between the three helpers.

 

 

Around 50 fish in all. We took 20 and shared the rest. Also we took a couple of fish to our near neighbours.

 

 

The whole project took just over an hour. Everyone happy.

 

New news with the DinL saga. Mrs Owl told me this morning that Nan just can't live in the MinL's house. Too many squabbles she said. Take that with the salt it deserves. More likely money has gone walkies. I mustn't keep over-thinking these things, but I did pass over 500 baht to the MinL yesterday evening. Nowhere to be found this morning; maybe dropped it somewhere! I'm standing firm on me not wanting Nan back at ours'.

 

Richie Allen is back on the air after his three week holiday. But, the most Independent radio show in Europe lost its Pay Pal account while he was away. Richie was moaning about it this morning (Last evening's broadcast in England). Great show though. Listener numbers in the UK, put Talk Radio, LBC and Five Live to shame. Wonder who complained?!

 

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

 

 

Edited September 1, 2021 by owl sees all

[Andrew Dwyer]

Some great pics there Owl , I love to watch the guys with the nets , certainly my type of fishing, never was the sitting all day with a rod and reel type .

[owl sees all]

33 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Some great pics there Owl , I love to watch the guys with the nets , certainly my type of fishing, never was the sitting all day with a rod and reel type .

Thanks Andy.

 

I like fishing. Trying to outwith the fish. Thinking like a fish. Hoping that I've presented the bait so well that the fish can't refuse it. Watching the float or dolly all day. Hooking the fish. Playing the fish. Netting the fish. Carefully taking it out the net and weighing it. Photographing the beastie. Lovingly watching it slide back into the depths.

 

Re-bait, cast out, and relax in the bivvie, waiting for the next giant to be tempted. Think about the world events. Think about the weather. But then a kingfisher lands on the rod, and you think of the wife back home in the kitchen. A wry smile.

 

Time for a snooze.

Edited September 1, 2021 by owl sees all

[GarryP]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Thanks Andy.

 

I like fishing. Trying to outwith the fish. Thinking like a fish. Hoping that I've presented the bait so well that the fish can't refuse it. Watching the float or dolly all day. Hooking the fish. Playing the fish. Netting the fish. Carefully taking it out the net and weighing it. Photographing the beastie. Lovingly watching it slide back into the depths.

 

Re-bait, cast out, and relax in the bivvie, waiting for the next giant to be tempted. Think about the world events. Think about the weather. But then a kingfisher lands on the rod, and you think of the wife back home in the kitchen. A wry smile.

 

Time for a snooze.

I miss fishing. Will definitely get back into it when I retire to your neck of the woods.  For me it will probably mostly be in the Lam Pao Dam. Only 16 months away. But the first few months will be overseeing the building of our new home - not supervising as I know very little about construction, but would know when they are cutting corners or not being careful.   

[owl sees all]

12 minutes ago, GarryP said:

I miss fishing. Will definitely get back into it when I retire to your neck of the woods.  For me it will probably mostly be in the Lam Pao Dam. Only 16 months away. But the first few months will be overseeing the building of our new home - not supervising as I know very little about construction, but would know when they are cutting corners or not being careful.   

The ressie is huge. Thousand of little hide-a-ways. but can't always get a pick-up close.

 

 

Beautiful area. Try a bit of raw meat for the snake-heads.

[GarryP]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

The ressie is huge. Thousand of little hide-a-ways. but can't always get a pick-up close.

 

 

Beautiful area. Try a bit of raw meat for the snake-heads.

A dream of mine is to make a stitch-and-glue kayak and go out fishing on the dam. I don't think that I have the skills to do it though and sourcing good quality marine ply in Thailand can be a pain apparently. We'll see. I may get bored out of my head and give it a try to keep myself occupied. 

[owl sees all]

Went to the farm this afternoon. Pleasantly surprised to see that the water in number one pond had risen about half metre.

 

Now that the water level in the rice field is very high, another decent downpour will see the pond filled. And a very big downpour will fill ponds one. two and three; as they are linked together.

 

So there is hope yet.

[Golden Triangle]

45 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Went to the farm this afternoon. Pleasantly surprised to see that the water in number one pond had risen about half metre.

 

Now that the water level in the rice field is very high, another decent downpour will see the pond filled. And a very big downpour will fill ponds one. two and three; as they are linked together.

 

So there is hope yet.

Thank gawd  for that Owl, here's hoping you get plenty more, time to maybe bore a well as a standby. ????

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, Golden Triangle said:

Thank gawd  for that Owl, here's hoping you get plenty more, time to maybe bore a well as a standby. ????

Once the water level in the paddy is high, any more will go down the overflow into the pond.

 

The first pic was taken Saturday.

 

 

This one today.

 

Level up a good half metre; perhaps more. Just one 30 minute downpour at the right time.

Edited September 1, 2021 by owl sees all

[sotonowl]

On 8/31/2021 at 3:47 AM, owl sees all said:

Don't bother the Owls though, unless they have International players in their team.

Our games off Owl, mainly due to the Sunderland players on International duty though I think we have one as well.

[sotonowl]

OK, they both had tags on them but I only got a pic of one tag, thought I'd done both of them but evidently not. Good Old English Oak Trees if i'm not mistaken.

 

[Odysseus123]

A forest of English oaks..????

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=hms+victory+photo+gallery&rlz=1C1JZAP_enAU902AU902&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=4OWuoL3oJILWLM%2CR4kiSxgyPjJCw

[sotonowl]

13 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

A forest of English oaks..????

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=hms+victory+photo+gallery&rlz=1C1JZAP_enAU902AU902&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=4OWuoL3oJILWLM%2CR4kiSxgyPjJCw

I've been aboard HMS Victory a couple of times now, once as a tourist and once on the lash at a retirement do for a serviceman. They reckon over time every bit of timber on her has been replaced, so begs the question, is it the same ship.

Bit like triggers broom.????

[Odysseus123]

1 hour ago, sotonowl said:

Bit like triggers broom

I would imagine so....

They say that Admiral Cuthbert Collingwood would carry acorns about with him and toss them into handy hedgerows as he was concerned at the loss of the oak forests due to over usage.

 

I think the 'Victory' used 3,600 trees...

[owl sees all]

Ah yes! Beautiful trees.

 

When I was not fishing I would be walking through Epping Forest day-dreaming about one of three things; throwing bottles into the Thames at Dagenham Dock, fishing and Dorothy's hair.

 

 

 

 

[Odysseus123]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I would be walking through Epping Forest

Well..my goodness..there are some beautiful old trees there...

 

The photos remind me of Rudyard Kipling's 'Puck of Pook's Hill'.

[GarryP]

12 hours ago, sotonowl said:

I've been aboard HMS Victory a couple of times now, once as a tourist and once on the lash at a retirement do for a serviceman. They reckon over time every bit of timber on her has been replaced, so begs the question, is it the same ship.

Bit like triggers broom.????

I used to spend the summers, and a few other holidays, with my mum who lived in Sandown Isle of Wight. She took me on a trip to HMS Victory in Pompey at the naval base there. Still remember it clearly. It was the place where I saw a brass monkey for the first and only time in my life.  The source of the phrase "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". 

[Golden Triangle]

1 hour ago, GarryP said:

I used to spend the summers, and a few other holidays, with my mum who lived in Sandown Isle of Wight. She took me on a trip to HMS Victory in Pompey at the naval base there. Still remember it clearly. It was the place where I saw a brass monkey for the first and only time in my life.  The source of the phrase "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". 

Not ex Royal Navy, ex Army, a few old Navy mates told me a few years ago what a brass monkey was, very interesting.

[sotonowl]

4 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

Not ex Royal Navy, ex Army, a few old Navy mates told me a few years ago what a brass monkey was, very interesting.

 

6 hours ago, GarryP said:

I used to spend the summers, and a few other holidays, with my mum who lived in Sandown Isle of Wight. She took me on a trip to HMS Victory in Pompey at the naval base there. Still remember it clearly. It was the place where I saw a brass monkey for the first and only time in my life.  The source of the phrase "Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey". 

Yes, quite a few sayings come from the old seafarers. The guide on HMS Nelson describes quite a few although the only one I can remember now is getting caught between the "Devil and the deep blue sea".

[Golden Triangle]

15 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

 

Yes, quite a few sayings come from the old seafarers. The guide on HMS Nelson describes quite a few although the only one I can remember now is getting caught between the "Devil and the deep blue sea".

Do tell, heard the saying but not really thought about it, ????

[sotonowl]

4 hours ago, Golden Triangle said:

Do tell, heard the saying but not really thought about it, ????

With all these old sayings there can be different points of view on how they actually came about. The guide on the Victory reckoned, rightly or wrongly that the devil was a joint around the ships hull. If the ship started leaking, some poor <deleted> had to go over the side and caulk the joint, hence he was caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. It's a lovely story, whether it's true or not, I wouldn't know.

Edited September 5, 2021 by sotonowl