Diary of a farang in Isaan

[DJ54]

Good on ya. … Thanks… 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 04-06-2023 Sunday evening.

 

Late posting again. All Mildred's fault. On Saturday evening she asked me to the coding for quite a complicated web page. Well it was complicated for me. Having been out of coding for yonks. Finished it about 3ish today. Just got back from the farm; so late getting started.

 

Had a decent drop of rain in the week. About 3/4cms I reckon. The two empty ponds - 6 and 7 - then had enough to support a bit of pond-life. And at least there was enough to counter the relentless evaporation in the other ponds; 1 to 5..

 

Pond 6. Leaning tree pond.

 

 

Pond 7. Lovely colour green.

 

 

Other local ponds - especially those with a run off from higher ground - did very well.

 

 

Completely dry before the rain. 

 

Sides have cracked up a bit.

 

 

I'll be keeping tabs on this pond.

 

 

Even the water-less river is starting to look the biz.

 

 

All my talking nice to the rain-god has obviously worked.

 

Mildred's latest. I don't like these noses. Spoils it for me. But to be fair; I'm not in the grove with this stuff.

 

 

Would you Adam and Eve it. On Tuesday. some dip-stick broke the glass bowl covering one of the outside lights.

Soon had it sorted.

 

 

A little bit of jiggery-pokery with the wires. Gonna take the wire support down once the mastic has set good.

 

 

The Mrs was not a happy bunny.

 

 

"You ding-dong farang. Lights not the same. People will not like. I want two same."

"OK teerak. It's only temporary. We can get another jar of cookies the same size."

" I want round lights."

"OK teerak. I'll sort it, soon."

 

Big fix in the week was the roof of the rice-store.

 

 

Took out three panels.

 

 

Soon fixed.

 

Me and Mildred sorted out the decaying ceiling tiles.

 

 

Bought the board in DoHome 10 days ago.

 

 

Looks good.

 

 

I did have a bit of coloured board, and thought it would be fun to do a panel in purple just for a joke. Say nothing and wait for Mrs Owl's reaction. Mildred soon talked me out of it though. Wise head on those young shoulders.

,

Got a few sacks of rice from the store. One for us. One for Pook (the Mrs' sister). And two for the MinL's house.

 

 

The new house in the village is just about finished.

 

 

And Sang's little house job is also done.

 

 

Saw an unusual three-wheeler on the super-highway.

 

 

Mildred vidded me feeding the fish

Have to give her lessons on keeping the camera still.

 

Great to get some rain. I've got 4 inch pipes leading from pond 2 to 3, and 3 to 4. But they will not fill to the brim unless we get some real heavy downpours.

 

Well done City. Someone had to lose. Never mind United. Always next year. And there is talk of United being bought out by the supporters. A while back, a few fans putting in just 1k £s each, could have got the controlling interest, Too late now,

 

No school for daughter tomorrow (Monday). No idea why. I'm happy about it though. Think she leans more by not going there.

 

A few months back, Mrs Owl was on about intruders. So I contacted a pal. and we bought two lovely dogs from his Mrs. They are doing great, and I'm sure that they are a great deterrent to anyone wanting to invade us.

But that is not enough. When last in Bandung Mrs Owl bought a couple of movement detectors; with lights. Solar panels; the real biz. I'll report back on them, and their installation, for next week.

 

Well done The Owls. Unfortunately for their supporters, there will not be Championship 'derbies' for 2023/24., as Utd were promoted. Rotherham? The two Sheffield's could meet in one of the cups I guess.

 

Still very hot. This year - at least since mid-March - has been the warmest spell I've known here in my time.

 

Run out of cheese. Cheddar is just 550 baht a kilo in the 'Cheese to meat you' shop. That's a good reason for a trip to Udon.

 

Have to start the PP renewal process this month. Gonna cost 12/13 k baht. But has to be done. Mildred's English PP will have to wait till next year.

 

On the world scene, same, same same. Also with Thailand. But should liven up soon in parliament when they vote on a premier.

 

We have a few trees in the yard. I'm thinking to get a big lizard. Not sure what they are called. Live in trees. Mildred's all for it. Not asked the Mrs yet.

 

The air-con is playing up in the pick-up. Works well for a minute, and then blows hot air for 5. More expense.

 

Good luck to City and The Irons in the week. And; come on Djokovic in Paris.

 

England thrash Ireland in the cricket; by 10 wickets.

 

AI, is in the news. I found a programme that merged ideas in pictorial form. So I put in dog, squid and love.

Impressive; or what!!??
 

,

That's it for today.

 

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

 

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

Take a look at Makro ( if Udon has one of course ) for your cheese Owl, i buy a 2 kg block of cheddar for 700 baht ( sure it was 659 last time ☹️ ) Horeca brand.

I used to buy Aro brand for a similar price but that’s disappeared now and looking online I see Anchor cheddar, 2kg for 785 baht, but never seen it at my store.

I cut it into 8 and put in the freezer, seems like it tastes better the longer it’s been in the freezer …. not that it’s in there for long ????

Splashed out on some Branston pickle from Lazada to go with it but usually have tomato or sometimes onion.

Tops have some good wholewheat bread , it disappears fast from the shelves but the Wholewheat bread ( green packet ) from Big C is pretty good toasted .

Mmmmmm , hungry now ???? 

[owl sees all]

6 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Take a look at Makro ( if Udon has one of course ) for your cheese Owl, i buy a 2 kg block of cheddar for 700 baht ( sure it was 659 last time ☹️ ) Horeca brand.

I used to buy Aro brand for a similar price but that’s disappeared now and looking online I see Anchor cheddar, 2kg for 785 baht, but never seen it at my store.

I cut it into 8 and put in the freezer, seems like it tastes better the longer it’s been in the freezer …. not that it’s in there for long ????

Splashed out on some Branston pickle from Lazada to go with it but usually have tomato or sometimes onion.

Tops have some good wholewheat bread , it disappears fast from the shelves but the Wholewheat bread ( green packet ) from Big C is pretty good toasted .

Mmmmmm , hungry now ???? 

This is wonderful news. 2kg of cheese for 800 baht. I must get some.

 

Until covid hit I was getting a regular supply of 'Vegemite'. That's the down-under equivalant of 'Marmite'. But the lady (Mrs Owl's sis - who is married to an Ozzie), stopped bringing it over. And even when she visited in March; she just forgot (she said). So anyone know where the Vegemite hides? Perhaps Makro?

 

Sorry about Leeds Andy. TBH, I'd have been pleased to see Toffees go down instead.

 

I've got a soft spot for Leeds. I was going with a lass from the city. If I kneed on her bed, I could see the stadium. Met her when I was in Africa. Nice lady. Wasn't interested in footy though.

 

 

[MAF666]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

This is wonderful news. 2kg of cheese for 800 baht. I must get some.

 

Until covid hit I was getting a regular supply of 'Vegemite'. That's the down-under equivalant of 'Marmite'. But the lady (Mrs Owl's sis - who is married to an Ozzie), stopped bringing it over. And even when she visited in March; she just forgot (she said). So anyone know where the Vegemite hides? Perhaps Makro?

 

Sorry about Leeds Andy. TBH, I'd have been pleased to see Toffees go down instead.

 

I've got a soft spot for Leeds. I was going with a lass from the city. If I kneed on her bed, I could see the stadium. Met her when I was in Africa. Nice lady. Wasn't interested in footy though.

 

 

Makro Chanthaburi stopped carrying Vegemite a few years ago.

Lazada always has a 2fer hidden away somewhere.

[owl sees all]

Another 3/4cm of rain last night.  Temperature has dropped significantly; about 10c lower than last week

 

Has the 'wet' season arrived?

[owl sees all]

Found a bit of sketching that Mildred did yesterday while chatting to her friend on the telephone. I recall her doing something with a pen. Thought it was just scribble. Nearly got chucked away.

 

I think it's great. Just a couple of minutes work.

 

 

I'm so proud of her.

 

The HTML that Mildred sprung on me suddenly on Saturday evening, finally got finished. Didn't want to watch the footy anyway. She kept wanting alterations. The thinking behind it was 'mystery'. Put the link below.

 

www.numbervillage.com

 

Comments and ideas welcome.

 

 

[owl sees all]

 

Owl Log - 12-06-2023 - Sunday afternoon

 

I just didn't trust those see-thru roof sections. The week before last we - Yoong and myself - replaced the broken panel on one of the three rice-store compartments. I got to thinking that if they were that susceptible to getting damaged, after 15 years, then why take chances. So I enlisted his help again to do the lot.

 

 

The thinking was, that if one - in the compartment where all the rice is stored - was damaged, and I didn't notice; we would have a catastrophe.

 

 

So; it was out with the old and in with the new.

 

 

Not green in colour like the other panels. I can live with that. Fortunately Mrs Owl has not yet noticed.

 

The mozzie killers were in the village. After the first rains, they get their equipment out and start performing.

 

 

Some chemical, or other, is sprayed all over. Probably a derivative of DDT. Don't want that in yer lungs. Or on yer skin even.

 

 

I was outside - masked up - with Robert and Oscar. Keeping them away from the smoke. What yer reckon lads?

 

 

A Great-grandma out with the little one also.

 

 

 

 

A few weeks back, we were getting the coconuts from the tree next to number one pond.

 

 

Mrs Owl had a hissy fit and chucked the cutter in the drink.

 

 

Yesterday I thought I'd get it out. Took a fishing rod to the farm and tried to hook it.

 

After about 50 attempts I gave up. Miserable failure.

 

 

Casting to it was no problem. But the hook just wouldn't catch the bamboo.

 

Might have a little swim today.

 

Mildred has been moved to the back in the school bus. A new little kid is now in the front.

 

 

Pigeons. And lots of them. Why are they only on this roof in the village!?

 

 

What was spotted in Ban Dung on Friday?

 

The two German cars together for the first time in over a year.

 

 

Just had to stop and investigate. Mrs Owl wasn't best pleased though. "What you take picture for? Just car. Farang ding dong."

 

 

Still not had a paint job.

 

 

Buy a tin of brown paint, and a brush, and get to it.

 

Had some decent rain last week. Not massively heavy, but very welcome all the same.

 

Buffaloes enjoying the water.

 

 

They like to go into the water to give their legs a rest. They can weigh as much as 1500 kilos. They don't have great fat legs like an elephant. No! Generally about the same size as the Mrs' legs. Not the same shape though.

 

Buffs can make a mess of a rice field if they are left to wander.

 

 

And right on cue, the Mrs arrives. "Just been thinking how lovely buffalo's lags are teeerak."

 

 

At the farm, Chai has found a use for the big drainage pipes.

 

 

Obviously something to do with plants. Up high, to stop the chickens, and dogs, getting to them.

 

Mushrooms everywhere at the farm now. The wild ones. Mrs owl says they are not as nice as Big C ones.

 

 

Don't mind people harvesting them.

 

 

Decided to put Mildred's paintings, drawings and sketches on the wall. Started yesterday, by clearing the wall of stickers, and old sticky-stuff. Mrs Owl is not so keen on the idea. "House not big enough for pictures."

To ensure integrity of the paintings I had an idea. More on this in the week.

 

 

The movement defectors that the Mrs bought are useless. I can't get them to work. I'll post the details next week. Hopefully one of the AN members can put me straight.

 

In Big C on Friday, I noticed a whole section of drinks dedicated to cannabis. I bought a couple and I'm sipping one now. Can definitely taste the weed in them.

 

Thinking of Ting. Do I need a new hat? No! But I need some reishi!

 

Big footy news; Man City do the treble by winning the Ch Lg final game. The Irons also do well, by beating Florentina in their final.

 

Djokovic and Ruud today. I'm rooting for the Serb.

 

Big flood in Ukraine, as dam lets out water. Just as the 'offensive' gets going too. Lady in Mariupol, finds 3 metre long sturgeon in her kitchen.

 

Trump in big trouble again. Secrets in his garage evidently!

 

Boris quits. Word on the street, is that NATO are after his talents. Or would that the WEF? No! That's ear-marked for Tony Blair.

 

Nice drink. Off to the fridge to get another one.

 

Move Forward boss in hot water, because of shares he once owned. When is that PM vote? Keeping with Thailand; big recount underway as discrepancies found in ballot counting.

 

Weather normalised. As it should be during the wet season at the moment, But!!!. Hope there's big rain to come; now I've fixed the roof. Not just because of that. For the ponds and trees too.

 

Can't find those pink Pla dook anywhere. Mildred wants to put 100 in ponds 6 and 7; now there i water for the rest of the year. Might try Phibun Rak (small town 20km from the village) market on Thursday. They have a fish section.

 

Mrs Owl had not moaned any more about the odd lights outside; or the new kitchen sink tap. Think I'll be OK with those two. Fingers crossed.

 

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

 

Think I'll go outside and lay with the chickens.

 

Love ya all.

 

[chickenslegs]

8 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Just had to stop and investigate. Mrs Owl wasn't best pleased though. "What you take picture for? Just car. Farang ding dong."

Tell her you are collecting lucky numbers for the lottery. And, if any combination of 7113 comes wins next week that should shut her up for a while.

[owl sees all]

Just to correct the last Owl Log.

 

Yesterday was the 11th of June. Not the 12th as I posted. Today is the 12th.

 

That cannabis drink was nice.

[owl sees all]

9 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Tell her you are collecting lucky numbers for the lottery. And, if any combination of 7113 comes wins next week that should shut her up for a while.

Good idea CL.

 

I actually bought a ticket with two '3s' in it, that day. It''s sure to be a winner. Now you have pointed it out. What would I do with 6 million baht? Put it in Mrs Owl's account while I thought about it.

[roo860]

17 hours ago, owl sees all said:

 

Owl Log - 12-06-2023 - Sunday afternoon

 

I just didn't trust those see-thru roof sections. The week before last we - Yoong and myself - replaced the broken panel on one of the three rice-store compartments. I got to thinking that if they were that susceptible to getting damaged, after 15 years, then why take chances. So I enlisted his help again to do the lot.

 

 

The thinking was, that if one - in the compartment where all the rice is stored - was damaged, and I didn't notice; we would have a catastrophe.

 

 

So; it was out with the old and in with the new.

 

 

Not green in colour like the other panels. I can live with that. Fortunately Mrs Owl has not yet noticed.

 

The mozzie killers were in the village. After the first rains, they get their equipment out and start performing.

 

 

Some chemical, or other, is sprayed all over. Probably a derivative of DDT. Don't want that in yer lungs. Or on yer skin even.

 

 

I was outside - masked up - with Robert and Oscar. Keeping them away from the smoke. What yer reckon lads?

 

 

A Great-grandma out with the little one also.

 

 

 

 

 

A few weeks back, we were getting the coconuts from the tree next to number one pond.

 

 

Mrs Owl had a hissy fit and chucked the cutter in the drink.

 

 

Yesterday I thought I'd get it out. Took a fishing rod to the farm and tried to hook it.

 

After about 50 attempts I gave up. Miserable failure.

 

 

Casting to it was no problem. But the hook just wouldn't catch the bamboo.

 

Might have a little swim today.

 

Mildred has been moved to the back in the school bus. A new little kid is now in the front.

 

 

Pigeons. And lots of them. Why are they only on this roof in the village!?

 

 

What was spotted in Ban Dung on Friday?

 

The two German cars together for the first time in over a year.

 

 

Just had to stop and investigate. Mrs Owl wasn't best pleased though. "What you take picture for? Just car. Farang ding dong."

 

 

Still not had a paint job.

 

 

Buy a tin of brown paint, and a brush, and get to it.

 

Had some decent rain last week. Not massively heavy, but very welcome all the same.

 

Buffaloes enjoying the water.

 

 

They like to go into the water to give their legs a rest. They can weigh as much as 1500 kilos. They don't have great fat legs like an elephant. No! Generally about the same size as the Mrs' legs. Not the same shape though.

 

Buffs can make a mess of a rice field if they are left to wander.

 

 

And right on cue, the Mrs arrives. "Just been thinking how lovely buffalo's lags are teeerak."

 

 

At the farm, Chai has found a use for the big drainage pipes.

 

 

Obviously something to do with plants. Up high, to stop the chickens, and dogs, getting to them.

 

Mushrooms everywhere at the farm now. The wild ones. Mrs owl says they are not as nice as Big C ones.

 

 

Don't mind people harvesting them.

 

 

Decided to put Mildred's paintings, drawings and sketches on the wall. Started yesterday, by clearing the wall of stickers, and old sticky-stuff. Mrs Owl is not so keen on the idea. "House not big enough for pictures."

To ensure integrity of the paintings I had an idea. More on this in the week.

 

 

The movement defectors that the Mrs bought are useless. I can't get them to work. I'll post the details next week. Hopefully one of the AN members can put me straight.

 

In Big C on Friday, I noticed a whole section of drinks dedicated to cannabis. I bought a couple and I'm sipping one now. Can definitely taste the weed in them.

 

Thinking of Ting. Do I need a new hat? No! But I need some reishi!

 

Big footy news; Man City do the treble by winning the Ch Lg final game. The Irons also do well, by beating Florentina in their final.

 

Djokovic and Ruud today. I'm rooting for the Serb.

 

Big flood in Ukraine, as dam lets out water. Just as the 'offensive' gets going too. Lady in Mariupol, finds 3 metre long sturgeon in her kitchen.

 

Trump in big trouble again. Secrets in his garage evidently!

 

Boris quits. Word on the street, is that NATO are after his talents. Or would that the WEF? No! That's ear-marked for Tony Blair.

 

Nice drink. Off to the fridge to get another one.

 

Move Forward boss in hot water, because of shares he once owned. When is that PM vote? Keeping with Thailand; big recount underway as discrepancies found in ballot counting.

 

Weather normalised. As it should be during the wet season at the moment, But!!!. Hope there's big rain to come; now I've fixed the roof. Not just because of that. For the ponds and trees too.

 

Can't find those pink Pla dook anywhere. Mildred wants to put 100 in ponds 6 and 7; now there i water for the rest of the year. Might try Phibun Rak (small town 20km from the village) market on Thursday. They have a fish section.

 

Mrs Owl had not moaned any more about the odd lights outside; or the new kitchen sink tap. Think I'll be OK with those two. Fingers crossed.

 

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

 

Think I'll go outside and lay with the chickens.

 

Love ya all.

 

Robert and Oscar look well, 2 handsome fellas gone to an excellent home!!!!!!

[owl sees all]

18 minutes ago, roo860 said:

Robert and Oscar look well, 2 handsome fellas gone to an excellent home!!!!!!

 

They are doing OK. About 8 months old now.

 

I think Oscar will be the enforcer, and Robert the romantic.

 

[bannork]

One of the delights of the rainy season upcountry is the number of butterflies flitting here and there amongst the flora. A true delight with the lower temperatures.

Owl, last year I used to pass the green Volkswagen daily taking my granddaughter to school. We used to enjoy guessing about its parking habits, on the pavement, road or diagonally on both!

And why was there a guitar case left on the roof overnight sometimes? Was there a guitar inside?

 

[chickenslegs]

3 minutes ago, bannork said:

And why was there a guitar case left on the roof overnight sometimes? Was there a guitar inside?

A signal to his gik perhaps? To indicate whether his missus is away or not.

[bannork]

1 minute ago, chickenslegs said:

A signal to his gik perhaps? To indicate whether his missus is away or not.

So why was the Volkswagen sometimes parked on the road, the pavement, or both?

Alcohol would be the obvious cause;

[HighPriority]

34 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

A signal to his gik perhaps? To indicate whether his missus is away or not.

I believe on Australian Army bases the code was in the form of laundry powder, OMO or FAB brands, Old Man Out or Flamin A holes Back…

????

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, bannork said:

One of the delights of the rainy season upcountry is the number of butterflies flitting here and there amongst the flora. A true delight with the lower temperatures.

Owl, last year I used to pass the green Volkswagen daily taking my granddaughter to school. We used to enjoy guessing about its parking habits, on the pavement, road or diagonally on both!

And why was there a guitar case left on the roof overnight sometimes? Was there a guitar inside?

 

Make you right about the wet season B. I just love it.

 

I took a couple of pics of the owner getting into the VW. He didn't mind at all. I think he is the DJ at the big bar at the rear.

 

Real shame about the Merk. Just hand paint it. Sooner or later the body will beyond a paint job .

 

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, bannork said:

So why was the Volkswagen sometimes parked on the road, the pavement, or both?

Alcohol would be the obvious cause;

I've noticed the VW parking.

 

The Merk was outside a repair shop - on a back-street  - for at least a year. At least it goes. Unless it is towed about. Never seen it moving.

 

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, HighPriority said:

I believe on Australian Army bases the code was in the form of laundry powder, OMO or FAB brands, Old Man Out or Flamin A holes Back…

????

OMO! Reminds me of years long gone. Is it still about?

Surf and Tide too.

Don't recall FAB though.

[chickenslegs]

6 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

OMO! Reminds me of years long gone. Is it still about?

Surf and Tide too.

Don't recall FAB though.

Plenty og OMO in Thailand

[HighPriority]

7 hours ago, owl sees all said:

OMO! Reminds me of years long gone. Is it still about?

Surf and Tide too.

Don't recall FAB though.

Not so sure about tide here in Oz.

[DJ54]

Big Owl…. Looks like you’ve got some competition…. 

[owl sees all]

6 hours ago, DJ54 said:

Big Owl…. Looks like you’ve got some competition…. 

 

I'm not up to his standard yet.

 

My best; just over 3 minutes. Mildred is a minute quicker than me.

 

Can't see myself getting any faster TBH.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 18-06-2023 - Sunday afternoon

 

Plenty of rain last night and early this morning. Hope it was enough to fill the rice field, which will then overflow into ponds one and two. From there, water can flow through 4inchers into other ponds. They need that, as rainfall on its own nowhere near enough to fill them. I'll see later today.

 

Ponds 6 and 7 were dry last month. Now!! But the shape of an empty pond means that it gradually fills slower as water goes up. But not complaining.

 

Pond 6.

 

 

Pond 6 again

 

 

Pond 7

 

 

Mildred wants to put catfish in these two. I'm not so sure. Without rain for 4/5 months, ponds 6 and 7 dry up so easily,.

 

Don't look as though we are getting any water from the deep water community well.

 

 

This month's rain has turned everything beautifully green.

 

 

Went also to see progress on the temple over the pond.

 

 

Building construction seems to be finished.

 

 

Painting underway.

 

 

Time to go back across the bridge.

 

 

The beginning.

 

 

 

Saw a lovely dog in Ban Dung. Mrs went into the shop for some dog eye-drops.

 

Very cute. The lady said it was a French Pug. Looked more like a Colorado Terrier to me. But what do I know?

 

 

Perfectly normal. Dog eats dog food, and chickens eat their food.

 

 

Role reversal.

 

 

Curly Wurly on his way over.

 

 

Had a decent cheese delivery in the week.

 

2 kilo for just under 800 baht on Lazada. A really handy poly container too.

 

 

Not bad at all. A bit mild. But!! Cheese and Thailand don't mix so good.

 

Also got me dates and cranberries. They turned up last night at 19-20.

 

The Mrs is paranoid. Not only have we two big dogs, now we have intruder detectors at the back of the house.

 

But do they work? Put one at the front so I could test it.

 

 

They do work. Range of about one metre.

 

 

That's sorted then. No need for a safe now; to keep all my gold and gems in.

 

Beautiful sky as I returned from the farm yesterday.

 

 

The buffs are on their way down the soi.

 

 

A farm near us cut their eucas.

 

 

They didn't want them to grow again. The white stuff is hard salt. Stops growth; allegedly.

 

 

Our eucas are 3 years old this month. Every three months I take pics from the same spot. That spot is the far corner of farm one. About 300 metres (diagonally) from the farm house.

 

To north.

 

 

Look east.

 

 

Looking north-east, towards the farm house.

 

 

The trees are mostly between 2 and 4 inches across. That's averaging out at about 7cm or so.

 

Farm 4 has some crackers. I'll post some pics next week.

 

Back to Big C on Friday. The cannabis drink section is growing.

 

 

We bought a few different bottles.

 

I'm careful when I drink any. Don't want to be doing anything important - like last week - when I swig away.

 

 

 

 

Bought everything we needed to put Mildred's painting and drawings on the wall. No sooner did we put the first 4 up and our minds were changed about presentation. Decided to put them onto big boards. Will get to it as soon as the Owl Log is posted.

 

Champs Man City go to Burnley first match. Chelsea host Pool. Newcomers Luton have a real tough one at Seagulls down the coast.

 

Anyone watch the darts international between Poland and Lithuania? What a match!!!!!

 

Tennis man Novak Djokovic triumphs in France.

 

Can't get excited over F1 and cricket like I used to.

 

Glad I fixed to roof on the rice store. Rain quite hard on Friday afternoon.

 

We have new people cutting the nuts for us. They did farm 3 yesterday and we finished up with over 4k baht. They gonna do farm 2 today.

 

World news; Boris and Donald sick as pigs.

 

Nigel Farage (Brexit man) wants to team up with Boris to form a new 'Ensure Brexit is Done' party.

 

Ukraine and Russia still fighting.

 

Still doubt about Move Forward Party in Thai parliament

 

Only one thing left to say; thank you and Bye for now.

 

[owl sees all]

 

Had trouble with the editor today. What with adds sprawling across my workspace and editor playing up; not an easy post.

 

No! Not been on the weed drink; yet!

[HighPriority]

28 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

 

Had trouble with the editor today. What with adds sprawling across my workspace and editor playing up; not an easy post.

 

No! Not been on the weed drink; yet!

Your second and last pics aren’t loading for me Owl, but a very pleasant read anyway ????????

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, HighPriority said:

Your second and last pics aren’t loading for me Owl, but a very pleasant read anyway ????????

Thanks for the encouragement HP.

 

I was only looking at you this morning.

 

 

Sorry about the missing pics. They are pond 6:

 

 

Didn't go to the farm today. Mrs Owl and Mildred did; on their bikes.

 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 25-06-2023 - Sunday afternoon

 

Very lightweight Owl Log this week. Last went to Ban Dung on Monday gone. Not been to the farm for 5/6 days. TBH I haven't got any enthusiasm for any of it; with a few exceptions. Mildred, the cats and dogs.

 

In Bang Dung, in a soi leading to the daily market, I parked up and waited for The Mrs and Mildred to return from their shopping. Mildred had a small problem at school with her ID card. We had to go to the Government office for her to get a new one. That done we went to the market.

 

What caught my eye was a young lady on a tri leccy bike. She was obviously helping out with the moving of market goodies. Lifted my heart to see.

 

 

And she was off with the cucumbers and chilies.

 

 

On the way back from the farm in the week. I couldn't resist stopping and taking a couple of pics of the beautiful countryside at sun-down.

 

 

And from the other side of the road. Little did I khow what was waiting for me.

 

 

At the village Sang has removed his little Buddha house thingy.

 

 

It is no more. Asked him what happened. Did he drive into it and cause damage? He mumbled something in sort of Englishee that couldn't understand so I left it there.

 

Probably gonna replace little Buddha with a 10 metre high owl hide.

 

 

The Mrs and me had a tiff. She casually told me that she had borrowed 100,000 baht off the big mango lady and needed my help to pay the interest. We had a nut cut last week end with different people. They pay any dosh due straight into ya bank. My bank. Not a great cut; just over 4k baht. So as we normally do, I sent her 50%. She complained that she needed more to cover her outgoings. But things seemed fishy to me. The big mango lady was just 40 metres away, and these sorts of loans are normally cash. So my questioning of the situation led to a row. A little row.

 

The dust settled and I sorted out some of Mildred's paintings.

 

Put a board up and stuck on 6. Also three on the window wall. That I don't now like and will take them down as soon as I get more board.

 

 

Fist job in, doing it this way is to cut plastic sheet out the same size as the painting. Then cover the face in industrial 'cling-film'. Put taunt and sick the film on the back with 'selo-tape'. That done, it is then a job of setting the pic into position using 'double-sided' tape.

 

The idea is that no sticky or tape actually touches the paintings.

 

View from my spot.

 

 

Absolutely beautiful. I especially like 'Greeny' (bottom right).

 

 

Was that an attempt at a selfie? Artist's licence!

9 on the wall. 70 to go.

 

I stood on the settee to do the biz. Put my foot through the corner section.

 

 

Another job to sort out. But it's the corner section so 'Heath Robinson' is called for.

 

The bank account that I sent the 2k to came up as a Thai name. I asked the Mrs about it. It turned out that it was her maiden name of 30+ years ago. And she had both an 'App' on her phone and a debit card. This was all new to me. Getting truth here is like getting Champagne out of a brown ale bottle.

 

I was not best pleased. Now we had a debt of 100k baht at 5% interest that I didn't know about, and the new bank account. I'd only - in March - finished up paying for the pick-up loan for over 100k..

 

I pressed further. Turned out that two of the farms were in hock. Her gold was in hock. And Nan hadn't sent any dosh for a year. Nan!!!!! The wayward daughter. I am informed that Mrs Owl got this money to give to her for various reasons. One was that she could win big money on 'Internet Casino'. Strange that she should lose money playing on internet games. Everyone else wins!!?? A medium size row ensued.

 

So in what was a traumatic week; I was not feeling too good. Spent Thursday and Friday basically feeling sorry for myself, with regular trips to the loo, and I still didn't have the full story. But then!! The truth???

 

The Mrs has borrowed over 600k baht in the last two years. I had already sorted 106k baht. So only 500k - plus interest - to go. A monumental row.

 

Farm for sale. Must go quick (hot sale). Going cheap.

 

Right at the present I seem to be in a numb, can't be bothered mode. Trying to look at it all in a realistic way. My aim is to get Mildred as much as I can. See how I feel later in the week.

 

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

 

ps. Mrs Owl's birthday yesterday. Mildred had picked out a very nice hand bag the week before last. We went 50/50. After my prompting. Mildred handed it to her mum at 7 last night.

 

Been in touch with Key for my PP renewal. Details next week.

 

[Andrew Dwyer]

Blimey, a tough week Owl !!

Finding out stuff like this after many years of marriage is devastating ( been there with an ex wife myself ).

Wish you all the best in your decision in which way to go with this news.

 

On the good side, Mildred continues to impress with her artistic talent, hopefully she can take this further. My 15 year old step son has started computer graphics at a community college after failing to pass the entrance exam for a local school.

His attempts at freehand drawing are woefully pitiful compared to Mildred.