Diary of a farang in Isaan

[owl sees all]

2 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

I looked at that cheese monger Mellis website. In Scotland. Been there since 1893.

 

OOPS. My bad. Small print. 1993.

 

All the more reason for me to visit Jerry. Just as soon as Scotland breaks free from the English - or rather the City of London - stranglehold. If they want to of course.

 

[jerrymahoney]

For a while early 1970's in California, I lived near enough to the Rouge et Noir Creamery now renamed

https://marinfrenchcheese.com/

Founded 1865 -- oldest cheese maker in USoA.

[owl sees all]

12 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

For a while early 1970's in California, I lived near enough to the Rouge et Noir Creamery now renamed

https://marinfrenchcheese.com/

Founded 1865 -- oldest cheese maker in USoA.

Thanks Jerry. A small map of the actual cheese factory.

 

 

Only ever been to the US once. And that was the other side of the continent; Maine.

 

Got to know an American girl on a ferry once. Nice skin I remember.

 

[chickenslegs]

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

That great English icon, Cliff Richard, went on a cheese only diet way back. Kept it up for 12 months. Didn't do him too much harm.

Around Christmas of that year he added mistletoe and wine to his diet,

[owl sees all]

8 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

Around Christmas of that year he added mistletoe and wine to his diet,

I remember that song.

 

Where's the sick bucket?

[chickenslegs]

2 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

I remember that song.

Congratulations!

[owl sees all]

2 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

Congratulations!

 

Another one I don't like.

 

Looking back, can't think of any I like now. But when 'Summer Holiday' and 'Living doll' were about, perhaps I was a lot younger.

[bannork]

5 hours ago, owl sees all said:

 

Yes! Yes! And even more yes! Give it to me.

 

There was a shop in Udon that did cheese, and other farang delicatseez, like Marmite and Bovril. But it moved from the Aundulet Road over to near Nong Bua. Never found it again.

 

That great English icon, Cliff Richard, went on a cheese only diet way back. Kept it up for 12 months. Didn't do him too much harm.

 

 

Imo the living doll has been cheesy ever since he left The Shadows 

[owl sees all]

 

Just heard the 'bang', 'bang' 'bang' from the woods.

 

Things will be back to normal now.

 

 

[Lacessit]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

 

Just heard the 'bang', 'bang' 'bang' from the woods.

 

Things will be back to normal now.

 

 

Apropos of that, this photo settles a long-standing question.

[HighPriority]

9 hours ago, owl sees all said:

 

The footy. Just have to comment. Not on the Spain, Germany draw, which really means that they will both go through.

 

No! It's the England shirts. There is me all tarted up in me proper Three Lions shirt and the players are prancing about in anything but.

 

 

Where is the red of England?

 

 

At least they got the Three Lions right; and on the shorts too.

 

Where does all this blue come from? OK, I hear you, Wales play in red also. So why not all white like Leeds, but with a red cross. Seem to recall a shirt like that yonks ago.

 

All this blue is just an insult to us proper English.

 

I thought the English were as hard to insult as us Aussies ?

[owl sees all]

28 minutes ago, HighPriority said:

I thought the English were as hard to insult as us Aussies ?

The two countries that we have had most fights with down the centuries are both in blue shirts. France and Scotland. Don't want to see blue on our shirts, except on the badge; and I'd see that changed if I was in charge.

 

Ireland is about to become united and Scotland is gonna be an independent. All we will have then is Wales and the Isle of Man. But we are still in charge down under.  Our beloved King Charles is boss of many places. Too many to mention.. But I will just say one; OZ.!!

 

Big one tomorrow; Iran vs The US. And who will play in red in the other match?

Lived in Wales many yonks ago. Yakki daa.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sterling]

@LacessitDo you mind sharing more details about your diet?

Ive tried low carb in the past but the cravings usually get me after a while.

I was always told cheese was off-limits, but the delicious cheeses that you and Owl have posted these past few days have me intrigued.

Thanks in advance!

[owl sees all]

20 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

What happened in the French cheese explosion?

 

De-brie everywhere.

 

[sotonowl]

On 11/28/2022 at 2:16 AM, owl sees all said:

That great English icon, Cliff Richard, went on a cheese only diet way back. Kept it up for 12 months. Didn't do him too much harm.

 

Never met Cliff but once bumped into Hank Marvin in a hotel bar. After a few sherbets I asked him what the worst thing about his fame was. Quick as a flash he said, "Without a doubt, it's my name. Everytime I introduce myself I'm offered a sandwich."

[chickenslegs]

1 hour ago, sotonowl said:

Never met Cliff but once bumped into Hank Marvin in a hotel bar. After a few sherbets I asked him what the worst thing about his fame was. Quick as a flash he said, "Without a doubt, it's my name. Everytime I introduce myself I'm offered a sandwich."

Or a Ruby Murray?

[owl sees all]

 

Owl Log - 04-12-2022 - Sunday morning

 

Coming to the end of the rice harvest. Picked up some sacks on Thursday. Mrs Owl informs me that there are just 12 more sacks to come in.

 

 

Neighbour Som, got caught out with a shower, and had to dry out some of his rice.

 

 

Encouraging his grandson to kick it about.

 

 

The twins were out and about.

 

 

One of them - I think it's Nadile is a budding genius.

 

"Is that what I think it is Naddy?"

 

 

"Hi farang Owl. Yes, I practice every day."

 

"But can you do it?"

 

"Oh yes. I did it as you walked over Just takes me seconds."

 

 

Not improved my cube speed PB as of yet. Concentrating now on doing it without looking.

 

Have to watch out with those leccy bikes and scooters. So quiet. Nine year old Apple shows the way.

 

 

When the children were gone on their way to school, she burned up the concrete just for the camera.

 

 

A new vendor started arriving each morning in the week.

 

Fresh meat from the pick-up.

 

 

All we need now is an ATM (after time money). And they'll be no need to go to Ban Dung.

 

The sad passing away of the lady in the downtown village has completely finished.

 

 

All packed away now.

 

 

The Mrs had been a little busy helping with the funeral so I took liberties when she was away. Put a selection of Marie Callas arias on the TV and bought some crabs.

 

 

Kept them secret from her. But she saw me releasing them and I got a 'yak' 'yak'.

 

 

Went to Ban Dung on Friday.

 

Mildred had bought some carp, at a stall, a few weeks back, and I went to have a butchers.

 

 

The market is on every day starting at about 3 in the afternoon.

 

Not as big as it once was. But plenty of customers,

 

 

Number 4 market today. Will @Bannork go to get more trees?

 

The twins cousin just about to get a ride on great-grandma's electric tri.

 

 

A farm boss, next to us, collecting grass to do a roof on a new building.

 

 

Just as Me and Mildred came back from the farm last evening at about 5-40, we got the call to go pick up 12 sacks of rice from Noi's farm. Too dark for pics. Left the rice in the pick-up over night. Will put them into the store later today. This is the last lot; unless we buy some to help someone out with some readies. That usually happens.

 

Footy round-up.

Orient continue their relentless, and unstoppable, march towards the Champions League. Comfortable 3-0 home win yesterday.

Who will win the World Cup? Looks like England to me, now that some biggies have gone. But ya never know; it could be France. Don't want Brazil, Argentina, Spain and especially Portugal to win.

 

I said I would wear my England shirt until we either got knocked out or lifted the trophy. Mrs Owl only went and put it in the wash.

 

Mildred off school tomorrow (Monday). Daddies day! What lovely pressie will I get?

 

World focus.

Still no final result from the US Mid-terms. China faces unrest from 400 million locked-up  people. Young baby's parents are in danger of having baby taken away in New Zealand; unvaxxed blood problem.

Muskie's Twitter threatened with being cancelled by the European Union. Must stop posters saying things we don't like. They implied.

Stew Peter's documentary; died Suddenly - and not Sudden Death as I posted last week - hits 15 million views on the Rumble platform..

 

Palm oil. 12 months ago it was 24 baht a litre. Price on Friday when I looked in Big C; 63 baht!!!

 

A strange twist last week. Bought the cats some tinned food last Friday. They wouldn't eat this particular flovour; Tuna in jelly. It sat there all morning untouched. Finished up giving it to Happy the dog, when I went in the afternoon. He gobbled it down no problem. But! I'd bought the cats some dog food - cause it was on offer at 3 tins for 100 baht - and they made short work of that.

 

Poo is gotten into the habit of not showing until the afternoons. A worrying time until she shows up about 2ish each day. Is someone else feeding her?

 

Hair cut for daughter today. She showed me the style she liked on her phone. Very trendy! The Mrs has taken control, and will take her along to a nearby salon later.

 

I need to rethink my urine programme. My eyebrows are getting very bushy. And I've noticed a batch of white hair growing on me chest. Also a hair on me right arm has grown to 5cm. All this is is making me think. Could head hair be persuaded to grow? Could this be an earner? Pics next week.

 

Not seen Ting - the hat lady - for over a month now. Must get along to her shop soon.

 

Have to pick up some paperwork from Udon this week. Also have to lay down some stone on the road round the farm. Gonna be quite busy.

 

A couple of light showers last week. We were lucky, as we had put some rice in the store, and it rained on the way back.

 

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

[sotonowl]

8 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Not seen Ting - the hat lady - for over a month now. Must get along to her shop soon

Yeah, she'll only wait so long. She's probably casting her net elsewhere now. Can't let it go hungry Owl, it needs feeding. Please enquire about her Aunty Annie next time you do see her and let us know if getting fed on a regular basis.

[owl sees all]

50 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

Yeah, she'll only wait so long. She's probably casting her net elsewhere now. Can't let it go hungry Owl, it needs feeding. Please enquire about her Aunty Annie next time you do see her and let us know if getting fed on a regular basis.

 

You are so right Owl. Must sort her out.

 

Is it OK to call you blue and white striped owl? Tough game they had at the w/e, and they got a point. Just have to hang in there for the play-offs.

 

Ting is in my thoughts. Especially when Mrs Owl 'yak' 'yaks' me for nothing. Don't fully understand what you are getting at with the food Owl. She said she was gonna save herself for me. And she called me her 'handsome man'.

 

 

 

[sotonowl]

On 12/4/2022 at 2:16 PM, owl sees all said:

 

You are so right Owl. Must sort her out.

 

Is it OK to call you blue and white striped owl? Tough game they had at the w/e, and they got a point. Just have to hang in there for the play-offs.

 

Ting is in my thoughts. Especially when Mrs Owl 'yak' 'yaks' me for nothing. Don't fully understand what you are getting at with the food Owl. She said she was gonna save herself for me. And she called me her 'handsome man'.

 

 

 

Blue and White Striped Owl? I like it.

It was a difficult watch on Saturday, The Owls that is, neither team threatened. We're after automatic promotion Owl, i'd see the play offs again as a bit of a failure as well as a lottery.

I never mentioned food Owl. Not everything is fed food, some things need to be fed other stuff.????

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, sotonowl said:

Blue and White Striped Owl? I like it.

It was a difficult watch on Saturday, The Owls that is, neither team threatened. We're after automatic promotion Owl, i'd see the play offs again as a bit of a failure as well as a lottery.

I never mentioned food Owl. Not everything is fed food, some things need to be fed other stuff.????

Only Barnsley managed a win in the top 8. Ipswich dropped points to lowly opposition, and Plymouth even lost at home. So the draw with the Rams was not that crucial. Can't see Plymouth staying at the top for much longer. Could easily be Tractors and Owls on auto. Long, long way to go yet. Twists and turns inevitable.

 

I do get your jist about Ting. But she seems like a good girl. Never been to Pattaya. Loves her cat. And likes fishing. Learnt her English at Uni'. And I am her 'hansum man'. I think she will save herself for me.

 

Mildred back at school today. I made a mistake with setting the alarm last evening and we all got up late this morning. Fortunately the bus was a little late so all turned out OK.

 

France the next victim for the St George sharp sword.

[owl sees all]

17 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

i'd see the play offs again as a bit of a failure as well as a lottery.

I'm not keen on the play-offs as they are now.

 

I'd like to see the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th places teams playing the 23rd, 22nd, 21st and 20th in the division above. Only the champs, and only the rock-bottom should be on auto. Could be one-off games at a large capacity stadium, or a home and away structure. It means that as many as 5 could go up, or as few as one.

 

Changes are needed. At the moment, it's as you say Owl, a lottery.

[sotonowl]

14 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I'm not keen on the play-offs as they are now.

 

I'd like to see the 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th places teams playing the 23rd, 22nd, 21st and 20th in the division above. Only the champs, and only the rock-bottom should be on auto. Could be one-off games at a large capacity stadium, or a home and away structure. It means that as many as 5 could go up, or as few as one.

 

Changes are needed. At the moment, it's as you say Owl, a lottery.

I'm a bit traditional Owl, I'd happily go back to 2 up and 2 down but I understand that just like the pussy needs feeding the cash cow needs milking. If these things don't happen, all sorts of stuff starts breaking down and going haywire. If the pussy is not fed, who can blame it for seeking nourishment elsewhere. And the cash cow? If it isn't milked, it will stop producing.

I always thought the third placed clubs got a raw deal. They finish third, over 46 games and usually someone who finished below them gets promoted. This article is 6 years old but reckons 3rd placed teams have a 40% chance of going up, whilst the other 3 places have around a 20% chance. Still 40% against 60% though.

[sotonowl]

6 hours ago, sotonowl said:

I'm a bit traditional Owl, I'd happily go back to 2 up and 2 down but I understand that just like the pussy needs feeding the cash cow needs milking. If these things don't happen, all sorts of stuff starts breaking down and going haywire. If the pussy is not fed, who can blame it for seeking nourishment elsewhere. And the cash cow? If it isn't milked, it will stop producing.

I always thought the third placed clubs got a raw deal. They finish third, over 46 games and usually someone who finished below them gets promoted. This article is 6 years old but reckons 3rd placed teams have a 40% chance of going up, whilst the other 3 places have around a 20% chance. Still 40% against 60% though.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/10275474/football-league-play-offs-is-third-place-a-curse-or-is-that-a-myth

 

Forgot to post the link.

[HighPriority]

15 hours ago, sotonowl said:

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/10275474/football-league-play-offs-is-third-place-a-curse-or-is-that-a-myth

 

Forgot to post the link.

You two bird brains… ????

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 11-12-2022 - Sunday morning

 

The wife's brother Oodd, has moved to the village from Chaiapoom. I think his wife kicked him out for being useless. He has moved into the MinLs; just 40 metres away. He was last in the village as a monk a couple of years back.

 

He started like a whirlwind, cutting down trees and generally getting things in order. Not keen on picking up rubbish though. His exuberance showed yesterday.

 

 

Looks like he has spiked a water pipe.

 

Had a look at the Buddha project. Looking good, except for the walkway.

 

 

Has the tree been put in place to deter farangs from walking out there and taking pics?

 

 

Or has it just fallen. I didn't go any further.

 

Went to Ban Dung twice in the week. On Wednesday Mildred called me around 12ish, and said she had finished school for the day. A big teacher's meeting in the afternoon, I was told.

 

Just me and Mildred; no wife. Took the opportunity to have a look round and get some nice pics.

 

 

Couldn't resist viewing these two beauties.

 

Someone is maintaining this bush outside their house.

 

 

Just great.

 

 

Not all beauty though.

 

 

This could be beyond repair!! Real shame. Must be a story there.

 

 

Activity at the Ban Dung footy pitch. Grass cutting in progress. Chopping more soil than grass.

 

 

 

Back at the village, Young took a couple of logs home.

 

 

The twins and their cousin holding on.

 

 

Rice is all gathered in. Took the last sacks to the farm rice store.

 

 

That's it. Sixty six sacks.

 

 

Had to fix a little hole. Can't give those rats any edge.

 

 

Mildred got her haircut. Girl about town. I offered to cut it for her, but she wasn't so keen on that.

 

 

And her latest art-piece. Called 'Aunt Sally'. She must have been watching Worzal Gumage on her tippy tappy.

 

 

Did our weekly shop on Friday. The cat-food in Big C is an absolute joke. All the flavours that the cats really like are gone. They will not touch the new 'Tuna in jelly'. As I type they are me-owing for attention, even though there is food in the trays. I think it's all a ruse to put a cheaper food in the tins. The days of fish and shrimp might have ended.

 

I've suggested to Mrs Owl that she can make some food for them. "Get a chicken in Big C for 129 baht. Take the chicken off the bone. Shred it. Mix it with a few cornflakes and there you have it. Enough to last the cats for a few days. What you say teerak?"

 

"Farang stupid. I not like cats. Waste food."

 

That's another good idea buried. I'd do it myself, but I don't like going into the kitchen.

 

On the way out of Big C I noticed a special Toyota Yaris. I had a 'Yaris T Sport' back in the day, but this one was special.

 

 

An 'E' Yaris. The first one I've seen in Ban Dung. In fact the first leccy car I've seen anywhere in Thailand.

 

 

Some people visited us in the week. Music and a dancing girl.

 

Couldn't make out what it was all about. The Mrs told me to give them a sack of rice. She explained that they were helping the poor people. Thought that's what Buddhas were for. Anyway they got the rice and moved on down the soi.

 

 

Gave them the rice and they were off.

 

 

A bit of chili drying.

 

 

Highlight of the week was the village school marching through the village.

 

 

 

The week never went as planned. Didn't get the trip to Udon done. Didn't get the stone to sort out our road round the farm. Perhaps this week. But Pook wants to borrow 20k baht so I'm a bit short of readies this month. Get it back in a couple of weeks she said. So the stone might have to wait. Perhaps next year for the road fix.

 

Footy round up.

Well done Morocco. 100-1 just two games ago. I fancy them to beat the Argies in the final. Had my wallet stolen in Tangiers a long time ago. Don't hold bad feeling for them. Good to see the back of Portugal and Ronaldo. England undone by penalties again.

The Owls get a point at Exeter. Orient's game at Crewe postponed due to a frozen pitch. In my day a frozen pitch was relief from playing in mud.

 

Would focus.

Nothing much going on. Andrew Bridgen put Richie Rich on the spot in the UK Parliament. Asking about jabs and the compromised MHRA (Medicines And Health Products Regulatory Agency). Muskie unloading truth-bombs on Twitter. The dollar losing value fast.

 

Came across an interesting www. Thinking of signing up.

https://humanmeatproject.com

 

When I went to pick Mildred up in the week, I visited the ATM to get a bit of dosh.

Card rejected?

Phoned up the help-line when I got back to the village. Must go to a bank they said. Went on Friday afternoon.

It's turned out that I am too old for the card. Although it has another 12 months to run, I had to get another one. 500 baht!!!!! Also, the old card insurance had been cancelled. It can be a tough world out there for us elderly farangs. But at least we are not freezing to death in Europe.

When we were outside I asked the wife if it was for all, or just for farangs.

"You fault. You too old for old card. Must have new."

 

Mildred off school again tomorrow. That's two Mondays running. I'm not unhappy about it though. Don't even know what they learn at the school.

 

I showed Mrs Owl the long hair on me arm. She took hold of it, and pulled it out. I have another that I've not shown her. Pic next week. Brings me onto the urine challenge. I've had a sore left eye for a couple of days. Am I doing something wrong? I've emailed Amandha about it. No reply yet.

 

 

Pook came over and the Mrs gave her a plastic bag full of hand-bags. Out with the hand-bags and in with sandals. Ordered another three pair on Lazada. Should be with us today or tomorrow.

 

There is another dog at the farm. That's three. Mildred asked Bella about it. They have called the new one 'Milo'. Don't know where she came from. Nice little dog all the same.

 

The light in the bathroom has gone kaput. Fortunately I bought a plug-in LED lead a while back. Thank to the thread's posters. Works OK.

 

No rain for a month now.

 

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

 

[owl sees all]

 

That left eye of mine is so sore.

Made a patch, so as not to stress it. Went and had a lie down. Mildred wondered where I was and took a quick snap.

 

 

I'll keep it on for a day or two.

 

[owl sees all]

 

Thailand 6 - Burma 0

 

I'll have a tickle on the Thais for the 2026 World Cup.

 

Easy money.

[sotonowl]

14 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Couldn't make out what it was all about. The Mrs told me to give them a sack of rice. She explained that they were helping the poor people.

Could you make sure you tell them i'll be out all day on Thursday please Owl?

 

14 hours ago, owl sees all said:

The Owls get a point at Exeter.

The Owls got lucky, got the equaliser well into injury time.

As far as England go, I reckon it's all that kneeling that's messing them up. Why don't they just concentrate on the football.

[owl sees all]

6 hours ago, sotonowl said:

The Owls got lucky, got the equaliser well into injury time.

As far as England go, I reckon it's all that kneeling that's messing them up. Why don't they just concentrate on the football.

I don't mind Exeter at all. They are one of the few clubs in the 4 divisions that are owned and run by the fans. Manchester United supporters missed out on being able to buy the club. It was on offer for 12 million a while back. Should have put their money where their mouths were. Derby are in the same place now. A few thousand supporters putting their hands in their pocket would secure their beloved club's future.

 

Make you right about the kneeling. Where is a Stan Cullis when he's needed?