Diary of a farang in Isaan

[owl sees all]

6 hours ago, Sterling said:

The lady selling the rats reminds of this video of a guy I follow on Youtube.

 

 

Thanks for that Sterling. Watched the vid all through. Great stuff. I'll watch a couple more.

 

We do catch rats on our farm, but not that often. They hang about around the rice store. Not as big as cats though. When I arrived at the village, the locals were amused to see me constantly picking up rubbish. Discarded food containers, bottles, plastic bags etc.. Gradually the rats have gone. And no rats means no snakes. Although I did see one a couple of weeks ago.

 

 

[owl sees all]

Sad in the village since yesterday.

 

The lady next door to us died. She was 42. It seems that she had a liver problem, although getting info is difficult. She was jabbed up but started deteriorating a few months back. I saw her up close on Monday when I went to her mum's shop for something. She looked terrible. I wanted to speak to her, but couldn't.

 

Food being prepared.

 

 

Some big mekongs on the menu.

 

 

Soi closed.

 

 

Not sure of the programme. Maybe today; later.

 

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Sad in the village since yesterday.

 

The lady next door to us died. She was 42. It seems that she had a liver problem, although getting info is difficult. She was jabbed up but started deteriorating a few months back. I saw her up close on Monday when I went to her mum's shop for something. She looked terrible. I wanted to speak to her, but couldn't.

 

Food being prepared.

 

 

Some big mekongs on the menu.

 

 

Soi closed.

 

 

Not sure of the programme. Maybe today; later.

 

 

 

42 , that is sad !

Been to a handful of Thai funerals, some just the burning day but recently followed a death in the family closely from discovery of the body to the fifth day burning, next week will be the 100 day ceremony of scattering the ashes/bones in the river.

My girlfriend’s sister dropped down dead suddenly ( suspected aneurysm ) at age 53. 
She didn’t appear for work or answer her phone so her boss called my gf and another brother, we could hear her phone ringing in the apartment but no other sounds, the brother immediately forced the door open but it would only open a few inches , it was hitting the soles of her feet !!.

We were able to peak round the door and the sight I saw i will never forget, laid flat on her back, fully clothed, with a faint smile on her face, hands up level with her head and her pet canary sat on her chest .

The canary, and deceased, got their 15 minutes of fame as a video of the bird attacking the paramedics quite viciously was shown on a few news channels.

Needless to say we attended nearly all the 5 days ceremony and i was quite surprised by the amount of manhandling took place, especially the rubbing of gold leaf onto the arms, legs and neck of her body . 
I got to meet the last member of the extended family, brother number 1 ( of 10 ) , a long time monk in Roi Et but the star of the show was NASA the ,strangely named ,canary !

 

The partner taking NASA for one last goodbye:

 

 

 

Edited November 3, 2022 by Andrew Dwyer

[HighPriority]

Not many good ages to die I guess, but these both seem way to young.

Condolances Andrew.

[owl sees all]

Back from the burning. Didn't take any pics.

 

Big feast about to begin. Wife playing rummy. Another couple of games in progress.

 

The lady who passed away, didn't have the happiest of lives. In the time I knew her, men drifted in and out of her life. Her young son died at the farm while she was working there, when he fell into a pond and no-one noticed until it was too late.

 

So all that's left to say is RIP dear.

 

 

Edited November 3, 2022 by owl sees all

[rickudon]

5 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Her young son died at the farm while she was working there, when he fell into a pond and no-one noticed until it was too late.

Unfortunately a common occurrence. Happened to a family about a mile away from us - mother planting rice - kid playing nearby, fell into deeper water.

[chickenslegs]

It's incredibly sad to hear these regular stories of youngsters drowning here - sometimes multiple deaths when they try to help their mates.

 

When I visit my wife's village I see a lot of fish ponds with very steep muddy banks. I imagine it would be difficult for a child to climb out.

 

Growing up in the UK we spent a lot of summers playing in canals, rivers, and reservoirs unsupervised, but I can't recall any drownings (although I do recall a few drownings of kids caught in tide currents at the beach, even with their parents nearby). I guess the difference is that most of us could swim. Is there such a thing as public baths here?

 

 

[HighPriority]

8 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

It's incredibly sad to hear these regular stories of youngsters drowning here - sometimes multiple deaths when they try to help their mates.

 

When I visit my wife's village I see a lot of fish ponds with very steep muddy banks. I imagine it would be difficult for a child to climb out.

 

Growing up in the UK we spent a lot of summers playing in canals, rivers, and reservoirs unsupervised, but I can't recall any drownings (although I do recall a few drownings of kids caught in tide currents at the beach, even with their parents nearby). I guess the difference is that most of us could swim. Is there such a thing as public baths here?

 

 

The dams in the rice paddies are crazily steep and hard to get out of.

I was in the family’s dam a few years ago cast netting for fish (much to my BIL’s amusement I was verry rusty with the net, but I got there in the end ????) 

But when it came to getting out… OMG !! There was no underwater terrace and no ladder running into the water, drownings of poor or non swimmers should come as no surprise, sadly.

[bannork]

Owl, I was in the large car park in Bandung early one morning after dropping off my granddaughter for school, and I noticed a few of the large double bench style school mini trucks parked nearby, the drivers on a mat on the ground enjoying breakfast. 

Behind the car park, near the exercise park, as no doubt you've seen, there are loads of pick-ups, small trucks and vans parked all day for ferrying students to Ban Dung in the morning and back again in the evening.

It made me think, do the drivers hang around in Ban Dung all day? Looks like it to me though it must get pretty boring. Perhaps they're rubik cube, chess, hi-lo or dominoes experts, passing away the time 

[owl sees all]

3 minutes ago, bannork said:

Owl, I was in the large car park in Bandung early one morning after dropping off my granddaughter for school, and I noticed a few of the large double bench style school mini trucks parked nearby, the drivers on a mat on the ground enjoying breakfast. 

Behind the car park, near the exercise park, as no doubt you've seen, there are loads of pick-ups, small trucks and vans parked all day for ferrying students to Ban Dung in the morning and back again in the evening.

It made me think, do the drivers hang around in Ban Dung all day? Looks like it to me though it must get pretty boring. Perhaps they're rubik cube, chess, hi-lo or dominoes experts, passing away the time 

Mildred walks to this area to get picked up to come home.

 

I have seen a couple of the big buses there during the day, but I think most go away to do other things after the morning school run. Mildred told me once that she found a couple of oil nuts in the back. So he could have done a nut delivery on the side. The two big nut wholesalers are both about 25 km north of Ban Dung. So not too far, but would have to take out some seats to load up. Number four market today. I know some take a load of villagers there once a  month.

 

Don't think the drivers are interested in chess or Rubik Cube, but they do like a game of bowles;  I think it is akin to the French game 'boules'. They play in the corner opposite the bus parking area. I've never played the game, but the idea is to smash a little while ball with a big metal one from about 15 metres away. Vous will know. I'll ask him.

 

[HighPriority]

39 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

 

 

I

 

Don't think the drivers are interested in chess or Rubik Cube, but they do like a game of bowles;  I think it is akin to the French game 'boules'. They play in the corner opposite the bus parking area. I've never played the game, but the idea is to smash a little while ball with a big metal one from about 15 metres away. Vous will know. I'll ask him.

 

Be careful with that Frenchman Owl, his name only comes up when troubles afoot...

 

[bannork]

37 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Mildred walks to this area to get picked up to come home.

 

I have seen a couple of the big buses there during the day, but I think most go away to do other things after the morning school run. Mildred told me once that she found a couple of oil nuts in the back. So he could have done a nut delivery on the side. The two big nut wholesalers are both about 25 km north of Ban Dung. So not too far, but would have to take out some seats to load up. Number four market today. I know some take a load of villagers there once a  month.

 

Don't think the drivers are interested in chess or Rubik Cube, but they do like a game of bowles;  I think it is akin to the French game 'boules'. They play in the corner opposite the bus parking area. I've never played the game, but the idea is to smash a little while ball with a big metal one from about 15 metres away. Vous will know. I'll ask him.

 

I really wanted to go to the monthly market but my daughter decided to give birth this morning so I've been hanging round in front of the delivery ward at the hospital. She already has three sons, a boy named Mangkon ( dragon), a girl named Maree, ( my choice, she was born at Sri Racha near the sea/ marine, Mawin ( named after a lotion for aching muscles produced by a student I taught for 22 years) and now Mawel, named after Captain Marvel. Not a good choice in my view, Thais will shorten it to wel and as l is pronounced as n at the end of a word, it will become wen, too near to wain imo  which has bad connotations in Thai- wain kam- bad luck/ karma .

She rejected Marty or Martin!

Oh well, so far so good, both mother and son are doing well 

 

[owl sees all]

11 minutes ago, HighPriority said:

Be careful with that Frenchman Owl, his name only comes up when troubles afoot...

 

You are not wrong there HP.

 

The less we hear from him the better. But ya never know what way the cookie will crumble.

[owl sees all]

11 minutes ago, bannork said:

I really wanted to go to the monthly market but my daughter decided to give birth this morning so I've been hanging round in front of the delivery ward at the hospital. She already has three sons, a boy named Mangkon ( dragon), a girl named Maree, ( my choice, she was born at Sri Racha near the sea/ marine, Mawin ( named after a lotion for aching muscles produced by a student I taught for 22 years) and now Mawel, named after Captain Marvel. Not a good choice in my view, Thais will shorten it to wel and as l is pronounced as n at the end of a word, it will become wen, too near to wain imo  which has bad connotations in Thai- wain kam- bad luck/ karma .

She rejected Marty or Martin!

Oh well, so far so good, both mother and son are doing well 

 

Congrats are in order Bannork. Also to daughter and new-born.

 

I like the name Apple for a girl. If another came along I'd call her Apple Lesley ??? If  a boy I think Jasper.

 

Will be off to Ban Dung - via the farm - in an hour or so.

 

 

[HighPriority]

Congrats @bannork Party tonight ?

How long do they keep them in hospital nowadays ?

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

 

Don't think the drivers are interested in chess or Rubik Cube, but they do like a game of bowles;  I think it is akin to the French game 'boules'. They play in the corner opposite the bus parking area. I've never played the game, but the idea is to smash a little while ball with a big metal one from about 15 metres away. Vous will know. I'll ask him.

 

Pétanque or Boules is popular near me ( Ayutthaya ) , there’s a place near the old city where they have several “ courts “ and regularly have competitions, also a lot of old sets for sale at the Grand (flea)Market.

We used to go on holiday to France when I was a kid and my parents were Boule mad !!, you could buy a set of plastic balls and fill them with water or sand from the beach, ideal for travelling.

The idea is to get closest to the small white ball and putting backspin on means you can stop it dead in its tracks, sometimes landing on the Jack or cochonnet ( piglet ) as frenchies like to call it .

 

” By the 1920s, the growing popularity of boules in France created a demand that could not be satisfied using the available supplies of natural boxwood root, which were beginning to disappear. Paul Courtieu and Vincent Miles had the idea of manufacturing a ball made entirely of metal. Avoiding steel-based alloys (which were too hard and rust-prone) they developed an alloy based on aluminum and bronze, and (in 1923) patented a metal ball made of two welded-together hemispheres. “.  Wiki.

Edited November 4, 2022 by Andrew Dwyer

[owl sees all]

55 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Pétanque or Boules is popular near me ( Ayutthaya ) , there’s a place near the old city where they have several “ courts “ and regularly have competitions, also a lot of old sets for sale at the Grand (flea)Market.

We used to go on holiday to France when I was a kid and my parents were Boule mad !!, you could buy a set of plastic balls and fill them with water or sand from the beach, ideal for travelling.

The idea is to get closest to the small white ball and putting backspin on means you can stop it dead in its tracks, sometimes landing on the Jack or cochonnet ( piglet ) as frenchies like to call it .

 

” By the 1920s, the growing popularity of boules in France created a demand that could not be satisfied using the available supplies of natural boxwood root, which were beginning to disappear. Paul Courtieu and Vincent Miles had the idea of manufacturing a ball made entirely of metal. Avoiding steel-based alloys (which were too hard and rust-prone) they developed an alloy based on aluminum and bronze, and (in 1923) patented a metal ball made of two welded-together hemispheres. “.  Wiki.

Thanks for that Andy. Interesting. Lidl had sets for sale one year in England. Cheap they were. Didn't last long on the shelf. Popular.

 

Could it be an Olympic sport in the future? After all we have synchro swimming - which started out a men's sport -  and all that horsey stuff. I think darts and snooker too.

 

Wasn't there a drive to make 'sex' an Olympic sport a few years back? There was a UK television programme called "This is the year of the sex Olympics - sex Olympic year." I remember it well. Not that I'd be in favour of anything like that. But then again; artistic gymnastics could be merged in. Perhaps I'm over-thinking.

 

 

 

[bannork]

Welcome to Ban Dung, Mawell. You don't know it yet but you've arrived in one of the best districts in Thailand. Fresh air, plenty of space, no traffic jams and hospitable people.

 

[bannork]

In our village at the base of the Yorkshire Wolds ( sounds impressive), we had a tennis court, occupied in the summer months by the able bodied ranging in age from teens to late fifties. I enjoyed many a moment as a ball boy, admiring the ladies' tennis skirts as they flicked upwards hitting a return volley 

Next door was the bowls club. A perfectly kept lawn with shiny, heavy black balls plus the target, a small white ball. In the summer it was abuzz with the over 60s, they loved it. Looking back the long winter must have been a real drag, there were no community activities to compete with this.

And being on the edge of the Wolds, winter arrived early and left late. Only later on did I realise that spring arrived earlier in the Cotswolds whilst winter announced itself later.

 

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, bannork said:

1 hour ago, bannork said:

Welcome to Ban Dung, Mawell. You don't know it yet but you've arrived in one of the best districts in Thailand. Fresh air, plenty of space, no traffic jams and hospitable people.

 

Also dry as a bone. But you'll not let that bother you for the next 20 years.

Fantastic!!!

 

Thanks for sharing Bannork.

 

Good luck to all concerned in this new life.

[Sterling]

Congratulations @bannork!

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 08-10-2022 - Sunday morning

 

The activity due to the passing of the poor lady next door to me has virtually ended.

 

 

Started packing away this morning, but still have the important job of giving a final blessing. As Mrs Owl puts it "sending her to the moon."

 

Earlier some guys were busy constructing a delicate item.

 

 

And the number one craftsman, cutting the polystyrene.

 

 

All was revealed some time later.

 

 

I quite liked it all for a change. No dancing girls or really loud music. Just a respectful expression of love.

 

 

 

Time to pack away.

 

 

 

And with that it was out of the soi and into the village store a further 100 metres away.

 

 

I can't help thinking that the lady - just 42 - deteriorated very quickly. Going back into my memory bank and there was an event that that I was concerned about a couple of months back. They were doing mozzie spraying and she walked into a cloud of the poison. I'll try to find the vid.

 

The big mango lady's big mango tree is no more. Gone forever.

 

 

Mildred has been working hard with the art.

 

 

Latest painting. www.mildredart.com

 

 

This is George! And he has gone missing. Can't say I understand it.

I'm trying to get Mildred to practice the art rather than just produce one every week. Artists say that hands and faces are the most difficult to master. When we went to Ban Dung on Friday, I bought her some small art pads. She has taken to them OK. Already produced a couple of faces.

 

Really must sort out the avo' trees. The big one is as tall as me and has the biggest leaves I've seen on a avo' tree.

 

 

I have done the Rubik Cube twice now. But in the week; a calamity.

 

 

Sent away for a really good one. Should be with me this week. then I'll go for the Thai Allcomers Speed Record.

 

Also found a shop that actually had all Lilin's books, that Mildred wanted for her birthday. We got one from Shopee and one from Lazada. But 'Siam inter shop' had all 4 in the series. Had to pay up-front. Don't like doing that here. Hope they are delivered soon.

 

It's the chicken season. The guy opposite - Bella's husband - breeds the super-chickens at the farm. I've probably been feeding them every day. Then they get sod to the guys that enjoy this fighting spectacle. That's the chickens not the guys.

 

 

Selecting a champion.

 

 

These chickens are absolutely beautiful.

 

 

I was informed that a good prospect goes for as much as 3k baht.

 

 

Next door's garden was open for the food preparation.

 

 

Had a sneaky look at the failed rat business.

 

 

Another venture that bit the dust.

 

All the children back at school.

 

 

Mekongs thriving.

 

 

Rice harvest is gradually picking up pace.

 

 

Some already been cut. A small farm next to us, saw action last week.

 

 

Weekly look at the delightful twins.

 

 

The village Buddha's roof is finally painted up. What's next?

 

 

Bought some crabs and as usual let them go.

 

 

The sad event next door took precedence towards the end of the week. Rightly so. Everything back to normal this week.

 

Plan to buy some stone this week and sort out the farm road. Also I need to think about making the floor of the rice store rat-proof. Thinking of wire mesh or plywood.

 

Footy round up.

All the English clubs got through the initial stages of their Europe competitions. Great game in Sheffield yesterday. Two top teams in the Championship getting stuck in. Blades 5 - Clarets 2. Another 7 goal game in the Premier. Leeds 4 - Bournemouth 3. Fulham unlucky in Manchester. Orient knocked out of FA Cup, but Dagenham go forward. My favourite Highland League team - Bank's O'Dee - score 7 away.

 

World focus.

The western world in recession. Dollar US, Euro and Pounds all slip against the almighty Baht.

 

Have to go to Udon this week to sort out my visa. I'll leave early and visit a couple of my favourite places.

 

My urine programme is yielding spectacular results. Better than I ever expected. Still on stage one, and I'll keep there until I want to progress to the next level.

 

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

 

Edited November 6, 2022 by owl sees all

[owl sees all]

 

Just goes to show how the mind can play tricks.

 

I was sure that it was the daughter (recently died)  that walked over to the shop front when the mozzie spraying was in progress.

 

.

 

I was wrong it was her mum.

 

 

 

 

[HighPriority]

Silly old farang, go back to pulling your cube apart and putting it back together… ????

Sorry Owl ????

????

[owl sees all]

19 minutes ago, HighPriority said:

Silly old farang, go back to pulling your cube apart and putting it back together… ????

Sorry Owl ????

????

You are bang on the money as usual HP.

 

Can I look into the future? Wish i could; but no! So why did I jump forward a couple of days in the last Owl Log? For anyone reading the post and adjusting their watch, thinking it was two days out; it is the 6th today, not the 8th. Sorry! Very sorry!

 

The American Mid-terms are not today. They are on Tuesday. That's Wednesday to us clued in people.

 

Can't wait to get my new cube. Being Thailand Speed Champion on the Rubik Cube would really give Mrs Owl something to brag about round the village.

 

 

[owl sees all]

On a different note.

 

What is the best was to sharpen a ceramic knife; anyone?

 

[Golden Triangle]

I don't know the answer to your question, sorry. Are they any good ? been thinking about getting one.

 

 

Ive just googled it, there are such things as ceramic knife sharpeners.

Edited November 6, 2022 by Golden Triangle
Clarification

[owl sees all]

13 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

I don't know the answer to your question, sorry. are they any good ? been thinking about getting one.

I bought mine over three years ago.

 

Only recently has it gotten a little dull. Tried to sharpen it the same way as a metal knife; with a electric stone. Definitely got sharper, but not as good an edge as when I first bought it.

 

Read on the internet a couple of years back that they were best 'chemically' sharpened. That poster suggested using vinegar, and leaving the knife in the solution for 24 hours. I've not tried that as yet. Not sure if it would do any good anyway.

 

But going back to your question GT. It was on a special in Big C; wish I'd bought two more.

 

Edited November 6, 2022 by owl sees all

[owl sees all]

21 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

Ive just googled it, there are such things as ceramic knife sharpeners.

 

I'll take a look too.

 

Not that I'm keen to spend dosh sharpening a knife that only cost me around 50  baht. I'll keep trying things; but I will have a butchers though.

Edited November 6, 2022 by owl sees all

[bannork]

Owl, I wonder if your missus follows this website? Run by the son of a comfortably off family in Ban Dung, he helps all those people who fall through the cracks and are never reached by the Social Welfare department.

https://www.facebook.com/100046227534746/posts/650331243184454/

This story, for instance, about a woman, mentally impaired, walking along a road at night. 

There was another story last night about a woman in our village.

A nice woman, she lived with her partner, a Laotian, aged 35, who had lived here all his life. The police don't bother these people providing they stay in their province, he had no Thai ID card.

Anyway, as my daughter and I turned into the road towards our village, we saw it was blocked by an accident, a motorbike and the ice truck. It was obvious the motorbike had cut right across the truck which has right of way. I know and see this truck driver every day, he's easy going and never speeds, you can't in villages if you want business and to be liked .

Anyway, it was the Laotian and our villager, she was okay but he was rushed to Udon where she was told an operation to relieve the bleeding on his brain would cost 100,000 baht. He had no cover so he died.

The website I refer to above went to Udon to bring back his coffin and his distraught partner. She said she herself had no living relatives and was now alone. 

Poor woman, she's always shown signs of bi-polar, this could tip her over the edge