Diary of a farang in Isaan

[bannork]

I don't know about you Owl but I'm fed up with the constant trawling through our village of pickups blaring out the same prerecorded messages for candidates 1 and 2 in the upcoming council election. The same message, the same promises are boomed out day after day. We heard them the first time. We're not thick, you know!

I wish I was an aspiring Thai local councillor. I would hire pickups broadcasting the message that canvassing from pickups would be banned.

Their salary is only 8000- 9000 baht a month, yet they hire all these pickups and people. Something tells me something ain't quite right!

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, bannork said:

I don't know about you Owl but I'm fed up with the constant trawling through our village of pickups blaring out the same prerecorded messages for candidates 1 and 2 in the upcoming council election. The same message, the same promises are boomed out day after day. We heard them the first time. We're not thick, you know!

I wish I was an aspiring Thai local councillor. I would hire pickups broadcasting the message that canvassing from pickups would be banned.

Their salary is only 8000- 9000 baht a month, yet they hire all these pickups and people. Something tells me something ain't quite right!

We are just in a small, quiet soi, but we still get them 2/3/4 times a day.

 

The wages money is not what it's about. Bit like those MPs in the UK; opens doors to lucrative things.

 

Actually our village number two, tried to flog me some health insurance about 8 years ago. Only 30k a year, he said.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 18-11-2021 - Thursday evening

 

Just as @Rickudon said his daughter is doing a split week at St Marys', Mildred is the same starting next Monday. Evidently the word has come down from high, that only 20 at one time should be in a classroom. And there were 36 in her class. So it's Monday, Wednesday and Friday next week, and Tuesday and Thursday the following. She is not unhappy about that; and neither am I.

 

Went to have a look at the huge tree near her school.

 

 

If I'd had a bit more time I would have climbed up it. Time was short however, as I was on my way to see Ting at the Natural Health Shop.

 

 

Went net-fishing this morning. Didn't do that good. Only caught seven pla nin. I kept the biggest and Piapp took the rest to cook up for the workers cutting rice on his farm.

 

 

We have twelve farms bordering ours. Four of them are making charcoal this year.

 

 

The lilies are blooming lovely. At least 20.

 

 

Haven't had a drop of rain since the downpour on October 22nd. So Mrs Owl's garden needed some water. Hadn't started the pump for over six months. Got it going but it stopped after just 20 minutes. Couldn't keep it running after that.

 

 

So it was into the machine-fix shop in Ban Dung. Dropped it off after taking Mildred to school and picked it up in the afternoon. Was expecting a bill of 300/400, so a surprise to get a hit with 920 baht. Paid up with a smile; as you do here. Can get a new pump for 2400 baht.

 

 

Found a few leaks. This one was easy to spot.

 

 

Wire comes in handy.

 

 

But a couple of others only became apparent after the water was running. Used a mix of silver, metal tape and black insulating tape.

 

 

Run the pump, and Mrs Owl spent the next two hours watering. The hose pipe is made up from at least seven lengths. When I've finished paying for the DinL's washing machine. I'll treat teerak to 100 metres of 25mm. Might make a nice Xmas pressie.

 

 

We have three water pumps. One in use, one in the store room and one under the table next to the deep well.

 

 

The road at the end of our Super Highway is having a makeover. It was not heavily used. A motorcycle every 5/10 minutes and a four-wheel vehicle 3/4 times an hour. A good few carts as well though. TBH I didn't think there was anything wrong with it.

 

 

I think it's being widened. What an absolute waste of dosh!

 

 

I escorted Mildred to her bus stop, and caught the twins going to the farm with their Grandma.

 

 

I'd like to get some turkeys. Not for Xmas dinner, or even to sell on, but because they are beautiful birds. "Teerak! What about those turkeys. Have you changed your mind at all?"

 

 

"Don't like them. People will take them." "They don't take the chickens teerak." No response. I'll keep working on it.

 

 

'Batman' has morphed into 'Sugar Duck'. When the little lad realises that it's quicker to sit on it and pedal, he will be terrorising the dogs, chickens and farang.

 

 

 

Footy starts up again this week. Some very tight matches. Reds v gunners the pick for me. Foxes v Chelski a good un too. Three more points for the mighty Irons at Wolves.

 

Mrs Owl's  daughter sent her mum 5k at the start of the week. Went in Big C this afternoon to do the weekly shop, and she bought a bicycle. I didn't even know she had the dosh. I'm paying 4500 for the loan on the pick-up, and 1k a month for the washing machine. And the wife never told me. That's Isaan for ya.

 

Just waiting for Mildred to say the word about school. I'd much prefer to do home teach for 90 minutes a day. Start afresh next March, when she changes school anyway.

 

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

Edited November 18, 2021 by owl sees all

[HighPriority]

Mrs HP’s birthday today and her family back in the village are celebrating with moogatah (Thai bbq).

Another reason to celebrate is that they have just finished the rice harvest, 80 bags from 14 Rai.

How does that compare to your harvest @owl sees all ?
Family is very happy with life and the youngest one seems to have escaped the Covid scare at her school.

[owl sees all]

On 11/20/2021 at 6:19 PM, HighPriority said:

Mrs HP’s birthday today and her family back in the village are celebrating with moogatah (Thai bbq).

Another reason to celebrate is that they have just finished the rice harvest, 80 bags from 14 Rai.

How does that compare to your harvest @owl sees all ?
Family is very happy with life and the youngest one seems to have escaped the Covid scare at her school.

Happy birthday to the Mrs HP.

 

Rice; 80 bags from 14 rai!?? Are you sure you got that correct HP? That only works out at 6 bags a rai. A really good harvest would see 25 a rai. Average this way is 12-15. Rice harvests have not been good for the last couple of years. Mostly due to the lack of early rain. A lot of the paddies in our parts were over run with grass and weeds.

 

Mildred went back to school last week. Now she is on alternate days. This week; Mon-Wed-Fri. Next week; Tues and Thus. All the children at her school had a covid test. (pics later today) Not heard any news on the testing.

[HighPriority]

Ok, I’ll see if I can dig a little deeper on the rice harvest… I’m sure I don’t need to remind anyone here about how difficult it can be to obtain specific details about, well anything… ! ???? ????

 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 25-11-2021 - Thursday afternoon

 

Mildred has started her alternate days at school. Mon-Wed-Fri this week. Tues-Thurs next. Word on the street is that this on/off will continue 'til next March. We will see.

 

The village kids stocking up with sweets and crisps before the 1-5k bike ride to the local school.

 

 

And talking of bikes. The one that the Mrs bought in Big C.

 

 

Cut the last section of rice today. The yield was terrible. We got just 8 sacks all told. So that's 24 in total. A few years back the same place (just under 2 rai) gave 40 bags.

 

 

Mrs Owl wearing her favourite mask, and her daughter's left over trousers.

 

 

The team at rest; after work.

 

 

Went to have a look at a pond yesterday. Carried on down the dirt road and came out at the other euca farm.

 

 

They have leccy, that drives the Deep Well Pump. They make good use of it too. I'll have to see where they get it from. Not our side anyway.

Must be the Ban Chai side.

 

 

Growing crops in three different fields.

 

 

Just shows what can be done with a guaranteed water supply.

 

 

Jack on the wall.

 

 

Mrs Owl drained all the water from Mildred's tiddler pond. She rescued them and put them into a PVC end cap.

 

 

They all died; unfortunately. Next week on Thursday we will go to the Ban Dung market after school. If the fish man is there, we'll get a few little koi carp for both her blue tank and pond six.

 

Moved the plant from the black bag to outside. Also put seven avocado stones in the same pot. And my little onion; that by this afternoon didn't look too happy. Planting shock!

 

 

The avocado that I was so happy about last month finally kicked the bucket.

 

 

While the one at the farm goes from strength to strength.

 

 

Chai was cutting some of the big tree down.

 

 

He is up there; cutting away.

 

 

Could I be there when the branch fell?

 

 

Just about!

 

 

I've got to watch the water level in pond six. It will be OK this year, but Mildred has claimed the pond as her own, and it's got quite a few fish in it now.

 

 

During the day our soi is very quiet. apart from the occasional veggie vendor, and the pick-ups blaring out their support for this number or that one.

 

 

Rice nearly done. Drove to the farm this morning and going by the farms passed, I estimate that it's 80% completed.

 

Couple of things I'm thinking of. Can bamboo be turned into charcoal? Not the thin walled ones, but the heavy ones with a tiny hole, or no hole. The other thought, is the timing of the rice sowing. Are the farmers starting too early? It's a five/six month turn round. Most farmers - at least those on a one crop - put into the ground in late May/early June. The last few years have seen unreliable rainfall early on. Rice must have water in the first couple of months. If it gets off to a bad start it will not recover. If there is going to be a few weeks without rain, is it better to be at the end on the cycle rather than at the start?

 

The big shop on the corner of the 2022 and our smaller road is up for sale. Sits on 1-5 rai. The lady wants 2-5 million for it. Can do a deal with the supplies inside. I think she is finding it really tough to make ends meet, although she tells everyone business is grand. Probably owes the bank a tidy sum! Going to move the other side of Ban Dung and sell fertilizer and animal food; she says!

 

So Manchester United got jealous of Norwich, Newcastle and Villa. Four EPL sackings in one month. Just goes to show how business now dominates a once 'working mans' sport. Is Big Sam available?

 

I'll get my perpetual water system going at the week end. Now that the rice has finished I've got more time.

 

The bathroom's green water tap snapped off a few days ago. Had to put the pink one back on. The 20 baht, goods shop is letting itself get a dodgy reputation for selling; well shall we say, less than perfect items. Someone else in the village was moaning to Mrs Owl, that a basket they bought there, was not as sturdy as they thought it would be, and the handle broke with water melons in it. Got my eye on the their spanners. Might be able to get a full set for a couple of hundred baht.

 

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

[HighPriority]

Mrs HP claims that the rice is in 40 or 50kg sacks and that her sister grows “special rice” ????????‍♂️
Apparently this year instead of planting rice shoots she broadcast the rice by hand.

She maintains that she’s happy with the harvest… “Great news darling” ????

[GarryP]

1 minute ago, HighPriority said:

Mrs HP claims that the rice is in 40 or 50kg sacks and that her sister grows “special rice” ????????‍♂️
Apparently this year instead of planting rice shoots she broadcast the rice by hand.

She maintains that she’s happy with the harvest… “Great news darling” ????

My father in-law stopped transplanting rice seedlings a number of years ago and went with broadcasting dry seed by hand. While the results are not quite as good, there is a great cost saving, as he does not need to hire anyone to help with transplanting. 

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, HighPriority said:

Mrs HP claims that the rice is in 40 or 50kg sacks and that her sister grows “special rice” ????????‍♂️
Apparently this year instead of planting rice shoots she broadcast the rice by hand.

She maintains that she’s happy with the harvest… “Great news darling” ????

I'm happy that there is 'Great news' in the family HP.

 

I must ask you where can the extra large sacks can be gotten? A 'normal' sack - pig feed sack - weighs 20 to 25kg when full of rice. Never heard of a 50, or even a 40kg sack of rice. Learn something every day here.

 

Isaan; land of mystery.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 02-12-2021 - Thursday afternoon

 

Mildred back at home after five people (don't know if staff, students, cooks or gardeners) proved positive in the recent mass school testing. The children were sorted out in sections. Then they were given a tube. Then they were given the test. Popped the swab into the tube. All done.

 

 

Plenty of vehicles parked up on the footy field.

 

 

While I was waiting, I passed the time walking round the school. Nice to see the pond is being looked after.

 

 

Not put any pics up of the actual testing. Medical history should be kept private and don't want to offend any member, but pics available on PM.

 

Snapped Dino on the way back from the farm in the week.

 

 

Went to my favourite Buddha on Monday. I noticed that the lake next door was being prepared.

 

 

They have big plans. The site at the back of the Buddha was also under construction.

 

 

Obviously the idea is to make a Buddha complex. Get thousands of visitors, and the patrons will get lucky with the lottery. Like the 'Crocodile Buddha'. That seems to have slipped away, as has Kham Chanod. Might go to the croc place for a bit of solace, but definitely not Kham chanod. They have had enough of my time, energy and money.  Last time I was there, I reckon there were over 80 lottery vendors. All selling their 'lucky' tickets.

 

 

I much prefer this Buddha. Dropped some dosh in the box.

 

 

Twins were in sync at the village.

 

 

Within 50 metres of our house, there are 8 children under the age of 5. All bar one (Poom) are being looked after by grand-parents.

 

The work to stop undesirables attacking the stored rice is finished. The compartment is gradually filling up. Have 40ish sacks in there now, with a dozen to come.

 

 

Picked up 16 last evening.

 

 

Like to meet the rat or bird that can get at our rice. Would have to be 'super rat'. But Mrs Owl now says we have to cover the posts with metal, so that the rats can't climb up them. Can rats climb up smooth concrete? I'll have to investigate.

 

 

Chai has gone crazy with the tree cutting. In Epping Forest (Essex) it's called 'tolling' and the right to 'toll' is enshrined in law. Although it's not a common practice now-a-days.

 

 

Last post, I asked if it could be possible to make charcoal from bamboo. Mrs Owl says 'NO'. It most definitely is though! In the Caribbean it's use is all over. So there we have it. Bamboo is OK; but not good for our area. Shame that. Bamboo is everywhere here. Might save some of the trees being,,,,,, 'tolled' too.

 

 

Every once in a while, I take some pics from the same spot, to show euca-growth progress; a sort of time-line. Regular intervals since June 2020. I'll post them at a later date. But while I was over the far corner I had to admire our biggest euca,

 

 

Had a small problem on Tuesday. Me and Mildred went fishing and my chair nearly put me in the drink. Not going to fix this one. Only 100 baht each. Although, in saying that, the pink one I sorted, is still doing good. Could have been  a nasty one if I'd,,,,,,.

 

 

Went past the University.

 

 

Plenty of students about without masks. Can't make it out here. Land of intrigue.

 

 

I've no idea what is taught here. Probably 'Classics' or 'Thai history'.

 

 

Footy ground looking fine.

 

 

Two very nice stands.

 

 

Back at the village. The cows were on the loose.

 

 

Visited a restaurant opposite the fish market on the 2022. Abandoned and deserted. Another causality of covid? Fascinating! Almost surreal, and definitely eerie. Took a lot of pics. Too many for this post. An 'abandoned restaurant ' special in a couple of days. It was a grand idea. The site covers nearly 100 rai and cost 20 million baht to develop and build. And that's without the purchase of the land factored in.

 

 

I have Mildred back at home with me. I don't think she will be going back to that school in Ban Dung. Talking about 'zoom' teaching. Nothing so far.

 

The rice season is just about at an end. On the whole it was poor. Only a couple of farms got their normal yield; most were well down on previous recent years.

 

Some good news on the oil palm front; nuts now over 9 baht a kilo. And with all the uncertainty around the world, they are likely to stay high.

 

Saw a lottery ticket on a board outside Big C. 333339!!! The lady asked for 100 baht. Didn't Cha-cha sort it, as one of his priorities a few years back? I offered 80 baht. No! "Pay me 100 baht farang, tight ,,,." But it was sure to win, so I parted with my dosh. Sure to be a winner? Not this time unfortunately!

 

Evidently the DinL is in quarantine in Pattaya. Had to send her 2k baht. But finished paying for the washing machine. Only 20 months to go on the pick-up.

 

Into December, and no rain since October 22nd.

 

On the footy front. The Irons - after a promising spell - have taken just one point from the last possible nine. Is Moysee next for the bullet?

 

Mildred published her web site: www.numbervillage.com

 

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

Edited December 2, 2021 by owl sees all

[Andrew Dwyer]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Owl Log - 02-12-2021 - Thursday afternoon

 

 

 

Had a small problem on Tuesday. Me and Mildred went fishing and my chair nearly put me in the drink. Not going to fix this one. Only 100 baht each. Although, in saying that, the pink one I sorted, is still doing good. Could have been  a nasty one if I'd,,,,,,.

 

 

 

You should probably invest in some Kevlar undercrackers if you are considering using that chair !!

 

Looks like it would play havoc with the low hanging fruit !! ????

[owl sees all]

43 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

You should probably invest in some Kevlar undercrackers if you are considering using that chair !!

 

Looks like it would play havoc with the low hanging fruit !! ????

Bang on the money there as usual AD.

 

A close one. It opened up quite a lot when I sat on it.

[HighPriority]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Bang on the money there as usual AD.

 

A close one. It opened up quite a lot when I sat on it.

Are we still talking about the mysterious hatlady ?

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, HighPriority said:

Are we still talking about the mysterious hat lady ?

She is on my mind HP.

 

Things are difficult at the mo. Don't get to town so much on my own. I've been pondering the situation. Ting - the hat lady - wants to do some exploring with me. But I want to stay true to Mrs Owl. It's a dilemma. The way I'm being treated over the DinL might be the decider.

 

Will I be overcome with melancholy?  Will there be regret? Time will tell.

[HighPriority]

Stay tuned…

Same owl time…

same owl channel… ????

[HighPriority]

Very clever page the young lady has, I’ll pop back later for a better look ????????

[Sterling]

Owl, is this the abandoned restaurant: https://goo.gl/maps/ygBzDMRDukvLyDwf8

Looks like a decent location. What are the pagoda-like buildings in the background?

 

Good job to Mildred on publishing her website. Are you going to have her get an SSL certificate for it? Lets Encrypt has them for free.

[owl sees all]

Abandoned and deserted restaurant.

 

9 hours ago, Sterling said:

Owl, is this the abandoned restaurant: https://goo.gl/maps/ygBzDMRDukvLyDwf8

Looks like a decent location. What are the pagoda-like buildings in the background?

Yes! That's the one. Think they started building in 2015. Finished in 2018. I knew a couple of people that ate there. They said the food was good but the 3 mile walk back along the wooden walkways was a bit precarious after a a bottle or two of Lao Khow.

 

First two pics; view from the bridge (the 2022).

 

 

 

The entrance (on the 2022).

 

 

 

 

The walkways have deteriorated somewhat, but I'm sure they would have been properly maintained if the eatery had stayed open.

 

 

 

 

 

It all had an strange feel to it, as I walked around. No dogs. No people. Just nothing.

 

 

 

 

 

In the original post I got carried away with the scale of it. Now I think it's around 16 rai.

 

It's opposite the busy 'fish' market. I can see the thinking behind the project.

 

 

 

That's about that. I'm sure there are other projects that have bit the Thai dust like this one.

 

An inglorious end.

 

Edited December 3, 2021 by owl sees all

[owl sees all]

9 hours ago, Sterling said:

Good job to Mildred on publishing her website. Are you going to have her get an SSL certificate for it? Lets Encrypt has them for free.

The web site was a bit of a joint effort:

 

www.numbervillage.com

 

I think it would be a help to her in the future if she could understand HTML, and other languages, behind the pages that we look at virtually every day.

 

The project was actually started in the summer of 2019. It was Mildred's idea to write about a village in Thailand. It gradually morphed into what it now is. It opens up learning possibilities for her. Imaginative stories. Artwork. Writing in English, and as said, understanding a little of the internet.

 

Really, I'm trying to equip Mildred with knowledge and understanding, through a range of things, that will help her in the future. It's a tough world out there for Thai youngsters growing into adulthood; especially those from Isaan.

 

Hopefully the number village project will lead into other avenues; music, cartoons and games. We have already designed a working game. I've done the coding, and hopefully it will be put up on the site soon.

 

As for an 'SSL certificate',,,,,? Perhaps later. Thanks for your interest Sterling

[GarryP]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

The web site was a bit of a joint effort:

 

www.numbervillage.com

 

I think it would be a help to her in the future if she could understand HTML, and other languages, behind the pages that we look at virtually every day.

 

The project was actually started in the summer of 2019. It was Mildred's idea to write about a village in Thailand. It gradually morphed into what it now is. It opens up learning possibilities for her. Imaginative stories. Artwork. Writing in English, and as said, understanding a little of the internet.

 

Really, I'm trying to equip Mildred with knowledge and understanding, through a range of things, that will help her in the future. It's a tough world out there for Thai youngsters growing into adulthood; especially those from Isaan.

 

Hopefully the number village project will lead into other avenues; music, cartoons and games. We have already designed a working game. I've done the coding, and hopefully it will be put up on the site soon.

 

As for an 'SSL certificate',,,,,? Perhaps later. Thanks for your interest Sterling

You are doing great for your daughter. I envy people like you who are able to invest so much of their time on their children's development. If I have another child (my wife wants a child but we are not sure it is going to happen because of age), I will try to spend much more time with him/her, which may be possible as I will be retired by then. I didn't give my 32 year old son (different mother) as much personal help as I should have. I did instill him with a love for reading and a hardworking attitude though, so not a total failure. 

[bannork]

Owl,regarding the deserted restaurant, on the Ban Dung- Phen road, right? A great drive in places, reminds me of French country roads lined with tall trees, but can be suddenly dangerous with tractors pulling out on the narrow two lane road and pick-ups haring along.

Regarding the failed restaurant project, what was the investor thinking? Folks from Ban Dung, Udon and the surrounding area would be attracted by the river/ waterway and restaurant? But it's no easy ride from any urban location, could it even have been a money laundering scheme?

My youngest daughter was working in Udon recently, going to see her on her day off, we drove up the Udon-Nong Khai road in search of a restaurant. A few miles north of Udon we found this restaurant in the fields east of the road. Bamboo huts with good service and tasty food amid rice fields and banana trees. It was midweek and busy. No need for fancy decorations, a pleasant natural open air atmosphere and good food was enough. Sukjailand restaurant.  สุขใจแลนด์ อุดรธานี

 

 

[Sterling]

11 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Really, I'm trying to equip Mildred with knowledge and understanding, through a range of things, that will help her in the future. It's a tough world out there for Thai youngsters growing into adulthood; especially those from Isaan.

Yeah, thats what im trying to do with my kids. Expose them to a bunch of different ideas and projects so they can see some of what all is available to them and see what interests them.

 

Anything computer related should be a good basis for future job prospects. Anecdotally, I've heard that employers in the US are having a hard time finding people with "computer experience" that's more that just using a phone or a tablet. A lot of younger folks know how to use those but not the network or server infrastructure on the back end that makes all of the online services possible.

[owl sees all]

11 hours ago, bannork said:

Owl,regarding the deserted restaurant, on the Ban Dung- Phen road, right? A great drive in places, reminds me of French country roads lined with tall trees, but can be suddenly dangerous with tractors pulling out on the narrow two lane road and pick-ups haring along.

Regarding the failed restaurant project, what was the investor thinking? Folks from Ban Dung, Udon and the surrounding area would be attracted by the river/ waterway and restaurant? But it's no easy ride from any urban location, could it even have been a money laundering scheme?

My youngest daughter was working in Udon recently, going to see her on her day off, we drove up the Udon-Nong Khai road in search of a restaurant. A few miles north of Udon we found this restaurant in the fields east of the road. Bamboo huts with good service and tasty food amid rice fields and banana trees. It was midweek and busy. No need for fancy decorations, a pleasant natural open air atmosphere and good food was enough. Sukjailand restaurant.  สุขใจแลนด์ อุดรธานี

 

 

Some new news on the failed Restaurant Project.

 

 

The Mrs saw the pics on the computer, and expressed some surprise that I was only now discovering the mystery. She, and everyone else, in her Thai circle that is, knows the story.

 

The whole area was developed with no channot on the land. Indeed it was 'Government' land. There was some 'argee bargee' and the developer was forced to close. The Mrs informing me that he was ex-government and rich. The total loss was in the region of 40 million baht.

 

No way of verifying the 'facts' of the case. But an interesting saga. I pass that way about once a month. I'll keep an eye on things.

 

 

[ColeBOzbourne]

On 12/2/2021 at 3:03 PM, owl sees all said:

Last post, I asked if it could be possible to make charcoal from bamboo. Mrs Owl says 'NO'. It most definitely is though!

Maybe you're already aware that putting bamboo on a fire can be an explosive experience. Each section is sealed tight and full of air, sounding like a gun when it goes off. To make charcoal you might have to chop or grind the bamboo first before burning intact sections???

[owl sees all]

42 minutes ago, ColeBOzbourne said:

Maybe you're already aware that putting bamboo on a fire can be an explosive experience. Each section is sealed tight and full of air, sounding like a gun when it goes off. To make charcoal you might have to chop or grind the bamboo first before burning intact sections???

You are right about the bamboo when it's being burnt. It gives off a loud crack that can be heard miles away. A lot of the bamboo in our parts have a tiny hole; or even none at all. Maybe they would sound even more like a 'firecracker'.

 

Strange that I should have asked the bamboo charcoal question, as I lived in Jamaica for a long time due to my wife's heritage. Should have taken more notice when the 'Jerk Pork' was being prepared.

 

 

 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log Special - 07-12-2021 - Tuesday afternoon

 

The eucalypti were planted in June 2020. At the far corner of number one - which is also the highest point of the farm - pics have been taken pretty much from the same spot; roughly 2/3 months apart.

Took them facing East, North-east and North. This set is the time-line looking North.

 

First pic is July 2020. One month in the ground. The planted eucas are only a foot (30cm) high and hardly noticeable; although the grass is.

 

 

Second pic; late August. Note the change in terrain. Or were my snapping skills failing me once again?

 

 

October. Not much action.

 

 

First time since planting where the eucas seem to have woken up and decided they could be big; or very big. Late November 2020. Nearly a full year ago.

 

.

 

Well into the 20/21 dry season now. Just one shower since the start of November. Pic taken January 2021.

 

 

Growing seems to have slowed a little. Pic taken early March this year.

 

 

Pic taken June this year. Only occasional rain since the start of the wet season. But it has definitely perked them up.

 

 

Late August pic. No rain to speak of. But what there has, the eucas have gratefully lapped up, and are looking good.

 

 

last pic taken in early November. Another one due at the end of this month; maybe Xmas day!

 

i

 

Compared to number four farm - where recently me and Mildred have found 5 trees with a circumference of over 30cm**** - this lot seem slow to get going. Grass is growing too. But has slowed recently. Last rain was October 22nd; six weeks ago.

 

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

 

**** measured one metre up.

Edited December 7, 2021 by owl sees all

[farmerjo]

On 11/25/2021 at 8:07 PM, owl sees all said:

I'm happy that there is 'Great news' in the family HP.

 

I must ask you where can the extra large sacks can be gotten? A 'normal' sack - pig feed sack - weighs 20 to 25kg when full of rice. Never heard of a 50, or even a 40kg sack of rice. Learn something every day here.

 

Isaan; land of mystery.

I'm doing some rice cleaning at the moment.

The bigger sugar bags max out at 40kg for us.

 

 

[HighPriority]

3 hours ago, farmerjo said:

I'm doing some rice cleaning at the moment.

The bigger sugar bags max out at 40kg for us.

 

 

Thank you farmerjo, I was having no luck with my questions @ my end.

Maybe Owl needs to pay a closer inspection to his stores… maybe there are farangsacks and thaisacks, farang are so easy to trick…

[farmerjo]

On 12/9/2021 at 7:29 PM, HighPriority said:

Thank you farmerjo, I was having no luck with my questions @ my end.

Maybe Owl needs to pay a closer inspection to his stores… maybe there are farangsacks and thaisacks, farang are so easy to trick…

I think a lot comes down to what screens the thresher has installed.

I just had the mother in law out watching me clean rice,she said i waste to much when in fact some grains are smaller and called screenings even though they look like rice.

Come time to mill your just giving them to the miller for free and losing sack weight.

A question for Owl,can i ask the dimensions of your rice shed and how many bags it holds.

I don't have one and just store in my ground level shed which will be prone to rat carnage later on.