Diary of a farang in Isaan

[GarryP]

33 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Where does it say that?

In the first line of the sign/poster. 

ขายบ้านหลังใหญ่ Sell large house (Large House for Sale)

Nearly 2 Ngan

Starting price 1.5 million

[bluesofa]

36 minutes ago, GarryP said:

In the first line of the sign/poster. 

ขายบ้านหลังใหญ่ Sell large house (Large House for Sale)

Nearly 2 Ngan

Starting price 1.5 million

OK thanks.

Your eyesight is better than mine for sure. I couldn't read the first line due to the way the top of the plastic sign appears to be folded slightly forwards. I could only make out ขาย and ใหญ่

[WalkingOrders]

As someone living in Bangkok, with lovely Issan wife, and saving to buy land and build up there, I just want to say thanks for posting. You lifted my mood, and I wish you and yours well, and your farms too! Sounds like you have a great life!

[Kadilo]

I have purchased this land in the village where my partner lives. 
One and a half rai, looking out onto a lake. 
Not the greatest pic but I will take more next week when I go. 
6 plots in all, 4 sold, 3 ferang have bought. 
 

Even though Its relatively rural location, the amount of new builds has increased substantially since I’ve been going there in the past 6 years. 
 

The second pic is a recent build done for a South African chap. Builder said it was 5 million to build. Photo doesn’t do it justice. Huge inside. 4 bed, 2 kitchens, and a roof top terrace. Looks like an outside bar area. Has a small swimming pool outside too. I had a look inside, very high spec. I’ve a feeling he might open a small restaurant and one of the kitchens looks like a restaurant spec. 

Large double garage out the back. 
 

The land was around 3 million for 3 rai. I was looking at buying one rai of it when it was up for sale. 

[Assurancetourix]

For a week I have been coughing without any temperature and no more breathing difficulties;
Besides, yesterday, I was tired of staying at home and I went for a mountain bike tour;
54 km mainly on asphalt and deserted roads 

 

 

 

A few km on red roads 

 

 

 

The next sugar cane crop is growing again in the sand; it is drought but the water is not far deep

 

[owl sees all]

Back in action!

Some interesting developments since the last pics were posted.

The holes in the road were celebrated, and blessed by a couple of monks (said Mrs Owl), then it was well and truly fixed. Lovely job too. Better than the last effort, just along the same road.
 

 

 

 

I found out that the trees with all the plastic flowers was in response to the end of plastic bag use. A decent crowd attended at the Buddha, balloons, darts and all, but they forgot to take their rubbish away; as usual.

 

 

The pond in our local Buddha has gone. However, the last few inches of water were pumped into a pond just outside the perimeter wall. That's dried up too. And to think I was going to donate a couple of mekons to them!!

 

 

And talking of drying up; the river that flows from the Mekong into our area, has, well, dried up. Not all of it, but enough to stop a boat from floating. I took the pics at the River Market on the 2022 on Saturday last. I reckon the level is 4/5 metres below what it would be at high water in any normal wet season, and 2 metres low for this time of year. The River Mekong is also very low and has an effect on the water table.

 

 

 

Prajek Park Lake, in Udon, is also about one metre down. Spent 60 Baht on bread at 'feed the fish' and hardly saw any. Gave most of it to the pigeons. Waste of money. Didn't go to the Chinese quarter this Udon visit. Have only just recovered from the China virus. Didn't want to catch it again.

 

The ducks are no more but the kittens are fine, although the dogs are outside the gate, resting and waiting for a kitten to venture out without mum.

 

Milly bought a couple of lovely, colourful shirts (have to have a word) at number four market a while back. We call it the number four market as it always on the forth of the month near Ban Dung.

 

 

 

In the pets section there was a really big chameleon, or some lizard or other, and it was free to stroke. Of course it was all about the lottery numbers, and Mrs Owl slipped a few Baht into the donation box. I'm sure she won big on the next draw, but I didn't see any dosh.

 

 

We are doing well with the concrete rings at the farm. Every time I venture out I bring back a ring. One of the lime trees has died already. Don't think it is due to an unlucky ring, could be, but any more bad luck and I'll have a replacement job on my hands. It's hard work filling the bags, loading them onto the cart, bringing them over from the other farm, and then tipping the contents into the ring. Job for younger guys; fortunately.

 

 

 

 

 

When I was picking up concrete rings on Sunday, a group of boys arrived, on m/cs (the oldest was 12 years I was informed) with fishing poles.

 

 

Intrigued, I watched them catching lizards and iguanas. Asked if they would sell them for 100 Baht! No problem! 10 lizards for 100 Baht. What a bargain; for everyone (especially the lizards).

 

 

The lads were surprised when informed by Mrs Owl that they would soon be free again. And a couple of hours later they were clambering up the big tree at number 6 pond. Hope they don't fight over their new territory!?

 

 

 

Long post this time and more to follow.

[owl sees all]

Owl log Wednesday 4th March - 3-30pm

 

The rain has arrived. Nothing much at the mo', but welcome all the same. Could do without the gusty wind though.

 

Waiting for the rain to stop and wondering if the number 4 market is happening today. It's a long way to go to find out that the traders have all given it a miss.

 

And to make matters worse there is a hole in the roof. Water dripping everywhere. More work for someone when this wet spell ends. In the meanwhile it's a bucket job.

 

 

Had a tree cut down a couple of days ago. Took 50 years to grow and was felled in 50 seconds. Three days later it was in planks. Originally, Mrs Owl said she wanted to keep it, so I made a classic farang mistake; "anything you decide is fine with me love." Money must have passed over and the majestic tree was no more. But it will provide decent charcoal. No good for anything else I'm informed. Much preferred the tree as it was.

 

 

 

 

Milly bought some ornamental catfish for her little pond, and on Sunday found a nice plant to put into it. The problem with this particular catfish is that when they get to 150mm long they suddenly disappear.

 

So glad she is spending her monthly allowance wisely.

 

 

 

It certainly was a big fire last week. The biggest seen in the area, since, well, the last big fire. The wood next to the Buddha caught alight and was thought to be a big un. Before my time that.

 

 

 

 

Preparing the 30 rai for the eucalyptus tree planting in May. paid 5k deposit on Sunday; 19k to go!

 

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Just arrived home from Bandung market. Almost totally washed out. The tree and plant people were there, as were plastic goods stalls. Replenished my stock of reishi, and also bought a couple of buckets.

 

Couldn't go there without buying concrete rings; and a few more plants.

 

 

The concrete team were laughing about me letting the lizards go. Much better in a garlic sauce they said. Mrs Owl agreed with them. Very sad.

 

More to follow.

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 1/22/2020 at 7:38 PM, Assurancetourix said:

 

In Europe, North, Central and South America, Australia and New Zealand, China (yes in China) and other countries .. a sidewalk is part of the road used for traffic pedestrian, separate from the roadway and from all parking spaces.

Obviously some rare countries (Thailand, Vietnam ...) think that a sidewalk is made to install tables and chairs or stuff for traveling food.
So the pedestrian does not exist, is that how I understand it?

If all the pedestrians in Thailand start walking in the street, I know quite a few who, behind the wheel of their very expensive or not automobile, will not be happy.

A sidewalk is a place where you trot, or walk and where we don't  ride neither with your bike nor with your motorcycle and or do not park your stinking automobile.

Thailand is run by people that would never use an actual pavement. Make of that what you will.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 3/3/2020 at 4:47 PM, owl sees all said:

The pond in our local Buddha has gone. However, the last few inches of water were pumped into a pond just outside the perimeter wall. That's dried up too. And to think I was going to donate a couple of mekons to them!!

Not surprised as it's too shallow. Needs depth to retain water in a drought. Perhaps they can deepen it while empty.

I hope you are in possession of a well, bore or large tank, or you may be posting tales of woe.

 

Isn't the Mekong low because of the Chinese dams, but I've heard the headwaters are declining as well?

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Not surprised as it's too shallow. Needs depth to retain water in a drought. Perhaps they can deepen it while empty.

I hope you are in possession of a well, bore or large tank, or you may be posting tales of woe.

 

Isn't the Mekong low because of the Chinese dams, but I've heard the headwaters are declining as well?

This is the first time the Buddha pond has dried up in my 11 years in the village. Water table is 6/7 metres down at our farm; usually 3/4 in the dry season.

 

Seven of our ponds are mud-sealed. The eighth is dependent upon the water table for its level. There is a natural slope on the farm, and I plan to intercept the water run, during heavy rain, and divert it into the ponds. Once they are filled they should be OK nomatter what.

 

They have, in years gone by, all been filled.

 

 

We have 4 deep water wells and one 7 metre deep one. This well has only a few cms of water right now. But has 4 metres depth in a good wet year.

 

 

 

 

 

And 16 rings later; job done.

 

+_+_+_+_+_=

 

The Chinese are constructing a number of dams well upstream from Nong Khai. Hopefully the river will regain its normal level when they are all completed and operational. Don't know when that might be. Years maybe!

 

[Sterling]

@owl sees all Thanks for the updates! Did you end up with a new laptop or was the old one able to be fixed?

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, Sterling said:

@owl sees all Thanks for the updates! Did you end up with a new laptop or was the old one able to be fixed?

The old one was kaput. Not even able to recover the hard drive data. It was a bit grubby, but I cleaned it up like new for the repair shop, with the hose pipe and scrub brush. It had Windows 7 ultimate, which I had mastered over the years.

 

 

This new one is an Acer Aspire 3, with Windows 10, cost 8900 Baht but got a nice bag, which Mildred has already claimed for her school books. I was so used to my old laptop that I'm finding the new one a challenge. To start with I had Adobe Photoshop before and now I'm using paint. Just no comparison!! Mildred thinks 'Paint' is OK though. 

 

But, I'm getting there. Probably just the same as most farang on TVForum, I used the same web-sites all the time (my research days are long gone). And Windows 10; a backward step. Windows XP was the nuts.

[owl sees all]

Owl log 10-03-03 - Tuesday 14-25

The rain has well and truly stopped. Getting noticeably hotter too. Last March (2019) was a scorcher. This year, March has taken a while to get itself together. We were at the farm from 12 'til 6pm on Sunday, and it was the stillest day I can ever recall in Thailand. Not a leaf rustling, not a palm frond swaying; just absolutely still for hours.

In the village, and only 60 metres or so from our soi, there grows the biggest mango tree I've ever come across. It must be 25 metres tall. I've a good mind to climb up it, drop a string down, and establish its exact height. On the other hand; could I pay the wife a few baht to get the job done. Then I thought; is knowing the precise height of the tree that important!? So I thought again. Yes, yes yes!! At the appropriate moment, when she is stroking my thigh, after money; I'll have a quiet word,

 

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Got four new avocadoes started. I'm quite successful at getting them a great start in life. Then early success turns into dismal failure as they wither and die in their pots.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

The villagers were out in force yesterday. Collecting for a new 'something' for the temple. There were a few ladies and children and inebriated guys in front of a tractor that was towing a cart with the sound system. Some boys were sitting within touching distance of the speakers. Fifty metres would be too close for me. The noise was deafening. What a row!

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On a sadder note; our two house kittens have gone. I am particularly upset because I was responsible for their demise. They must have got under the pick-up and were sitting on the spare wheel. We were about to go to the farm and I asked Mrs Owl to check them. She gave me the thumbs up to venture oot of the drive. I found the black one on the way back from the farm. The three coloured one is still missing. The word has gone out, but what with all the dogs, I really don't hold out much hope.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

One of the ponds has a small-leaf plant growing very quickly. Hopefully it will cover the whole pond during the wet season. Good for the fish.

=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=+=

Also good news is that the plant in Milly's little pond has flowered (I'll post a pic next log). But what a casastropy with one of the concrete rings!? Someone reversed into it and rendered it not fit for purpose. (I'll post a pic next log). 'Not fit for purpose'; sounds like the UK Foreign office. Or could it be the Home Office. Perhaps both!

Bought a lovely mask for myself in Phen at the week-end (in fishing colours). Washable and reuseable for 69 goes the sales-lady suggested! Only 15 baht. Also stocked up with garlic and coffee. Couldn't get that hand gel though. Never mind I'll make my own out of Lao Khow and garlic.

Mildred has finished school for this year. Only went yesterday for a couple of 'end-of-tear' exams. Evidently everything finished a week early due to virus fears!!?? But!!! I bumped into teacher Tina, at an ATM machine, who was a Philippineo at the school, and she told me that the Philippine teachers had left en-bloc and had taken up with another 'learning establishment' in BanDung. Intriguing that!!

I've done a deal with Mildred over learning during her holiday. Maths, world history and geography (which will be me talking and pointing at the maps), a bit of science and a couple of games of chess; most days. Also she has to write an essay on a given subject (in English). This is not new, as we have been doing this exercise for some time. But, I'm going to up the essay mimimon word count consistenlty during the next six weeks. Starting tomorrow with 'fish' at 50 words. Then I'll rewrite her essay and she'll copy mine to see the differences and understand where the errors are.

Off to the farm later.

More to follow

 

[owl sees all]

Owl log Wenesday 11-03-2020 - 21-00

 
Off to the Farmer Agricultural bank this morning to sort out the last bit of the loan I took out 5 years ago. Absolutely packed out. There must have been 200 customers there. Decided to do our shopping at Big C, have some grub, and return later.

 

I must say the food in Big C is very good; good value too. Three meals and an ice coke for Milly; 148 baht. It's not as cheap as on the street but it's OK every now and again, as a special treat.

Passed a new solar-cell business and couldn't resist calling in for a butchers. I was particularly interested in the deep-water well set up. There was also a lithium battery motor cycle for sale. Just 12,800 baht. Milly had a little go around the yard; and liked it. Maybe too much! Looks like a future birthday pressie is sorted.

 

Back to the bank at 15-20 and it was still very busy. Have to be another time as there were still 50 customers waiting.

Bought another two rings on the way home. Twenty in total this spell. One more to get to replace the broken one, that some twit reversed into.  We will have enough fruit to feed the world soon; hopefully!

 

 

Milly's cat-fish pool is looking good with the flowering plant.

 

 

Bought that fashion mask of a delightful lady and forgot to wear it all day. Why did I buy it?

 

 

Yes; I remember her now.

 

Lovely big sun this evening.

 

 

More to follow.
 

[Odysseus123]

I tried a similar shot once...yours is much better.

 

on the banks of the Mun river..

 

[chickenslegs]

On 3/10/2020 at 2:26 PM, owl sees all said:

In the village, and only 60 metres or so from our soi, there grows the biggest mango tree I've ever come across. It must be 25 metres tall. I've a good mind to climb up it, drop a string down, and establish its exact height. On the other hand; could I pay the wife a few baht to get the job done. Then I thought; is knowing the precise height of the tree that important!? So I thought again. Yes, yes yes!! At the appropriate moment, when she is stroking my thigh, after money; I'll have a quiet word,

On a sunny day when the shadows are lengthening ...

Measure the length of your shadow (a)

Measure your own height (b)

Measure the length of the shadow of the tree (c)

(b) multiplied by (c) then divide by (a) equals the height of the tree.

 

(hope I got this right or I'll look foolish)

[emptypockets]

1 hour ago, chickenslegs said:

On a sunny day when the shadows are lengthening ...

Measure the length of your shadow (a)

Measure your own height (b)

Measure the length of the shadow of the tree (c)

(b) multiplied by (c) then divide by (a) equals the height of the tree.

 

(hope I got this right or I'll look foolish)

Or just download an app to your phone and let that do the Pythagoras thing for you.

[emptypockets]

Mr Owl, this is all great reading, but I am a little confused. You mention all the farms etc but also seem to be short of cash to buy anything. What's going on there? Farms not making money? Genuine question, not being a smartarse.

Don't get me wrong it sounds like a great lifestyle.

[owl sees all]

7 hours ago, emptypockets said:

Mr Owl, this is all great reading, but I am a little confused. You mention all the farms etc but also seem to be short of cash to buy anything. What's going on there? Farms not making money? Genuine question, not being a smartarse.

Don't get me wrong it sounds like a great lifestyle.

Thanks emptypockets.

 

We have 4 farms; approximately 70 rai. Most of my early money was spent on farm development, and buying the farms. I mostly pinned my hopes (foolishly) on palm oil. When planted, the price was six baht a kilo. All was good when the trees first gave fruit, but after the military arrived  the price dropped to a little over two baht. It's hard to get info' in Thailand, but feeling, among the growers, was that the gov' had done a five year deal with Malaysia for a million tonnes of oil each year. That knocked the stuffin' out of the Thai palm farmers. At two baht the nuts are hardly worth cutting. But!!! Oil palm growing is complicated, and neglect now means poor production 18 months down the line. There were 950 trees but we chopped 192 last year. However, the price recently has risen to near five baht, and we have a team looking after the plantations. I've taken a back seat on things. Gives me more time to feed my koi carp.

 

I've done lots of dosh all right. On 2200 rubber trees that finished up being burnt for the local salt production, And we have never seen any real return off the farm's other ventures. Sugar, broke even, cassava, don't talk about it. Also bought a new tractor that was sold for a loss of 400k. But I obtained four rai off the deal.

 

In recent times I've scaled back both expectations and expenditure (mostly because I'm skint). Have settled into a more easy-going mode. There is also the age factor. A lot of things that I would take in my stride just a few years ago are now a struggle. I'd think nothing of climbing up water tower to check on things but now I'm reluctant to get too physical (even the Mrs has noticed).

 

Have to go with what we have got from now on. Mrs Owl isn't keen on that of course, as she likes new things (cars, handbags, shoes, houses etc), but I'm standing firm. 

 

I've never been a money person; so to speak. Given away more than I care to recall. Gave my house away to the ex, when I could have had an equal share (no regrets on that though). I believe in the three 'Hs'. Health (mental and physical), happiness and humour. My daughter is my inspiration, and I try to tread that delicate path between my atheism and the Isaan version of Buddhism. I tell her "treat others as you would like to be treated." A well trodden line that, but I'm proud to know she has taken it on board.

 

Life in LOS can he challenging at times; but I'm giving it a good go.

[owl sees all]

11 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

I tried a similar shot once...yours is much better. On the banks of the Mun river.

 

 

Absolutely beautiful. The sun looks OK too. And the river. And the sky.

[owl sees all]

11 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

 

 

Should be attached to the last post.

[Andrew Dwyer]

Great read Owl, glad to see you are back on track with the new laptop, also glad to see you have abandoned your experimentation with the new font !!, while obviously a pleasant change from the common font used daily I found it very difficult to read on my phone ( even with my 69 baht readers ????).

 

Always a pleasant change to read a daily log of a down to earth lifestyle, including the trials and tribulations , of someone who comes across as a “ nice fella “ getting by in Isaan.

 

I wish you well and hope your farming ventures take a turn for the better.

[owl sees all]

34 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Great read Owl, glad to see you are back on track with the new laptop, also glad to see you have abandoned your experimentation with the new font !!, while obviously a pleasant change from the common font used daily I found it very difficult to read on my phone ( even with my 69 baht readers ????).

 

Always a pleasant change to read a daily log of a down to earth lifestyle, including the trials and tribulations , of someone who comes across as a “ nice fella “ getting by in Isaan.

 

I wish you well and hope your farming ventures take a turn for the better.

Thanks Andy.

 

Yes the font. Comic Sans; my favourite font. But, at 11 (my favourite number) pixels it was too small; 12 would have been OK. Sorry about that.

 

Talking of numbers; strange how 69 keeps cropping up. I like 69 for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it can be turned through 180 degrees horizontally and still read the same. Also it can be divided exactly by 23. And, perhaps most importantly, it's easy to enter, without looking, at an ATM machine.

[Odysseus123]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

 

Life in LOS can he challenging at times; but I'm giving it a good go.

Yes,indeed you are!

 

Well done.

[owl sees all]

51 minutes ago, Victornoir said:

The farm may not be worth much, but it gives you the inspiration to tell about a healthy and simple pastoral life.

Thank you for these sheets, Owl, a real pleasure to read.

Thanks Victor.

 

It hasn't always been 'healthy and simple'. There was a topic on TVForum a couple of years back; The poison BinL. Well worth a read.

 

My ambitions have been tempered somewhat in 2020. Earlier this year I caught what can only be described as Issancoronavirus 20. Didn't eat for four days, headaches, fatigue and skin turned very dry on legs. A reminder to slow down. 90% recovered now after two months. Plenty of reishi tea saw me through, and an injection from the local doc, who was in the army (not sure of his status).

 

Gonna start riding my bike very soon; that's a good way to gauge my well-being. Our village is on a hill and the approach from the farm side is a half-kilometer drag of about 5%. When I've not been at my best I've had to walk the top bit.

 

Then there's the wife. Mrs angry Owl! re: Poison Brother-in-law.

 

Life's great, but it can be quite challenging.

[bwpage3]

Three meals and an ice coke for Milly; 148 baht. It's not as cheap as on the street but it's OK every now and again, as a special treat.

 

What is so special (special treat) about a 148 baht meal for three people?

[Sterling]

@owl sees all Is this the topic you were referring to:

 

[owl sees all]

41 minutes ago, Sterling said:

@owl sees all Is this the topic you were referring to:

 

Yes Sterling; that's it.

 

Enough in that thread for a good book about Thailand.

[owl sees all]

9 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

Three meals and an ice coke for Milly; 148 baht. It's not as cheap as on the street but it's OK every now and again, as a special treat.

 

What is so special (special treat) about a 148 baht meal for three people?

Well we went to the bank yesterday, and again it was busy. Decided to eat at the restaurant opposite.

 

Three meals, two bottles of coke; 140 Baht. Food was not as clean, and fresh, as it should have been. No tissues on the table; or any table. Water in the jug warm. No tooth pics. Toilet hadn't been cleaned for about 11 years. Mrs Owl didn't even eat her pork balls soaked in dead fish sauce. Certainly not a 'treat' of any sort. But par for the course in these parts.

 

We don't eat out so much. I know it's cheap and cheerful(ish) in Isaan, but I prefer to go hungry at times.

 

Back to Big Care at the week end for another special treat.

 

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A really interesting development at the service station in Bandung. Outside Amazon coffee (never set foot in there), in the pool where the water fall discharges, they have put 10 lovely koi carp.

 

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Went to the oil palm distribution centre near Fao Rai on our travels. Price now 4.80 baht a kilo. Cassava was 2.05 a kilo.

 

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Called Into a eucalyptus wholesaler on the way back. Couldn't believe the prices! Ranged from 3 to 6 Bhat per tree. Didn't look that good either. Most were root-blown (too much root for the pot) and were probably last years stock; or the year before. 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log 14-03-2020 - Saturday 11.00

Poster, thaibeachlovers, suggested that the Buddha pond was too shallow, He must have contacted our local monks 'cause they are depening it. They, as we all do in these parts, think that the coming wet-season will be a big flop again. There is little that can be done. Everyone is suffering. The way we are going, it's going to take years to refil it.

 

 

 

 

They were offering the soil (mud) to anyone for 300 Baht a lorry load.

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Been doing road repairs. Enthusiastic Milly is helping me. She is the only person that can play games on her telephone while filling in the holes. Although as soon as she realised a pic was on its way, it was slipped into her pocket. Talented or what!!

 

 

That broken ring came in handy.

 

 

Back to base.

 

 

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A pic of the road leading up to the village. It's not a big slope, just a drag really, but goes on for about 500 metres.  Can be testing for the unfit, elderly and sick. I've been all three, at the some time, and had to walk the last few metres.

 

 

And, at the top!? That's not buffalo poopoo, it's mud that has fallen from the lorry working with the digger. Will be there until the rain(?) does it's tricks.

 

 

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The team are cutting in Number three farm at the mo'. And to think I was doing it just two years ago! Stopped on my 70th. Spent the time since moaning that they are not doing it right.

 

 

I've had words with them about placing the fronds across the irrigation pipes. Dear me. Perhaps they didn't notice them.

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Mrs Owl has decided to put a row of eucalyptus trees along the road side of Number two farm. She asked me how many trees would she need if planted two metres apart. I told her that the front was 220 metres, and that would be approximately 110 trees. She said that I was wrong; only about 60 or 70 she said.

 

See!! That's what happens when you don't pay attention at school. When the maths lessions were on the go, I must have been studying the crumpet.

 

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Made a batch of reishi yesterday. No local Lao khao at the mo, so it's neat. Very strong brew this time.

 

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Devastating news about the footy in England. Never mind Liverpool. There's always next season to get your first EPL win.

More to follow