Diary of a farang in Isaan

[owl sees all]

Getting there. A ball or balls were involved. Why is the lass's mid-region covered? Must slap myself with a wet fish. Enough clues. What could she possibly be wearing? Or not!! There I go again; giving the answer away.

 

But not a snooker player CL. Although he might have had a game or two. More like;y pool.

[chickenslegs]

Black rugby shirt but with red socks??

Last guess - Scottish rugby player, Andy Irvine?

 

[owl sees all]

30 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

Black rugby shirt but with red socks??

Last guess - Scottish rugby player, Andy Irvine?

 

Round ball CL. Is the lady wearing a kilt?

 

Answer Sunday. Keep you all in suspenders til then.

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Round ball CL. Is the lady wearing a kilt?

 

Answer Sunday. Keep you all in suspenders til then.

Got to be Kenny Dalgliesh with those clues ( pool, kilt ) .

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Got to be Kenny Dalgliesh with those clues ( pool, kilt ) .

Far too good for me.

 

 

That's it until Sunday when I play my Thai joker.
 

 

 

[sotonowl]

Tina and Bobby. Bit late to the party I know.

[owl sees all]

 

Due to great demand. Another easy peasy one.

 

One of the most recognizable footy faces. Seven foot tall George poses outside what shop?

 

 

No clues. No hope. Answer Sunday.

 

[sotonowl]

John Collier, it was the window to watch.

[sotonowl]

8 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

 

Due to great demand. Another easy peasy one.

 

One of the most recognizable footy faces. Seven foot tall George poses outside what shop?

 

 

No clues. No hope. Answer Sunday.

 

His own shop.

[owl sees all]

2 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

John Collier, it was the window to watch.

Great shout Owl.

[owl sees all]

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 13-08-2023 - Sunday afternoon

 

The rain has ended for the year. Good job the ponds are filled. Ponds one thru five are all levelled up.

 

 

Did the last stage of the work just as the rain was ending.

 

 

Muddy.

 

 

Run out of 4 inchers, so two 3 inchers did the job.

 

 

 

Have to have a smoke break. Soo always does a great job.

 

And he was at it again (working) on Friday morning. This time in the village right outside our gaff.

 

This was next to our wall in the Shop Lady's drive.

 

 

 

Then it was outside to trim Bella's tree.

 

 

 

He is up there with the bow-saw.

 

 

Main tool of the trade.

 

 

A couple of fruit trees along the way doing well. Yes mangoes!!??

 

 

This silly weather has even the trees confused.

 

Went to Ban Dung on Thursday. Market day. Me and Mildred were off to get some pink catfish. No luck. The fish man seems to have not been about for ages. None of the traders near his old pitch had seen him for yonks. Next market to try, will be the number 4 market; just out of town, on the 4th of next month.

 

Into Ban Dung to pay the interest on the wife's gold. Three different shops. She had told me that it would all come to ''two or three thousand baht''. Well, I could handle that. First shop; 450 baht. Second shop 3,120 baht. On to the third; in the bus station. Sorry dear; you not come for five months. Gold confiscated (according to the rules). So 50k of gold gone. Just like that. At least I didn't have to pay 5k interest.  I'm finding out the truth about all this, in dribs and drabs. Nothing straight at the mo'. Was it ever?.

 

As I wandered back from the gold shop, a pick-up caught my eye.

 

 

Three pigs off somewhere.

 

 

As I passed, I swear, the pig, in the top bunk, spoke to me.

 

''Hey farang. Please help us.''

 

What could I do. A tear came to my eye. Buy the pigs and let them go. like Bill Bailey did in China that time with the Owl.

 

Before I could respond the pick-up was off.

 

 

Sorry Pig. ''Thinking of you."

 

'Mildred's latest art work.

 

 

Saturday arrived.

 

Me and Mildred were going to Udon. Mrs Owl had said she didn't want to go. But that morning she changed her mind. Not what I wanted; as there are always problems. She is not keen on me looking at this and that, and stopping for some snapping. And so it turned out. After visiting 'VP', or is it 'VIP'? I said I only had one thousand baht in me pocket. She had to put half the stuff in the cart back. It was destined to be junk anyway. Not needed, and would never be used. That's the trouble with this huge shop. So much to choose from. Cheap too. It was very busy. The busiest I'd ever see it. The bill came to 955 baht. So just sneaked in under the limit. But she wasn't happy and wouldn't go with us.

 

Me and Mildred went off without her. Had to make her own way home by bus.

 

Next stop was to pick up my 90 day. Shop closed! Due to Queens Birthday.

 

Was gonna go into 'Cheese to meat you' for some cheese. But the big red 'MAKRO' sign caught my eye, and we headed there instead. I remembered a poster, on the thread, saying that Makro had a big range of cheese. Into the car park. Was it busy!! Had a job finding a parking slot.

 

There was indeed a huge range of cheese. Bought 2 kilo of Cheddar for 700 baht. Thanks poster. Andy I think.

 

Then it was off to DoHome. Had a meal in the eatery, and bought the boards for mounting Mildred's paintings.

 

Called into Sum Sao Wat on the way home.

 

The huge rear build had not seen any progress, so didn't go over there. But took some pics anyway.

 

 

A couple of new things.

 

 

Baby crocs in the water.

 

 

 

 

 

Don't think Mildred was enthused with the place.

 

 

 

 

The sun was just right for a nice pic.

 

 

Another traumatic week passed.

 

Clarets 0 - City 3.

 

The opener of one of the best week-ends of footy.

 

Toffees lost at home. Leeds got done at Brum, and Owls lost their second match. As did Leyton Orient. I'm beginning to lose confidence that they will gain promotion to the Championship. Gonna be a toughie that. Some decent teams in that third tier. Two games; two defeats. Saints and Canaries share 8. Both these two for the top 6.

 

Have to speak about the German DFB Cup. Eleven matches. Home goals scored all told; 7. Away goals scored; 45. Including a 9, an 8, a 6 and two 5s.

 

Fed up with add sprawling across my work space. Can't easily get them off.

 

So ends a week where it began raining as though it was never gonna stop. And the last three days; not a drop. At least the ponds are filled. Dry season has started.

 

Thanks for viewing guys.

 

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

 

Nearly forgot the quiz.

 

I liked her a lot.

Strong willed lady.

Changed her name to a long name for lucky; 31 letters

Born 1984 in Nakhon Sawan

Height 1.57cm (5ft 2in)

Weight 52.72 kg.

 

Who is she?

 

--------------

 

Sum Sao Wat donation centre.

 

[DJ54]

Thanks for sharing Big Owl.. great pictures….

[sotonowl]

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Owls lost their second match

Worrying times Owl, we were absolutely garbage.

[sotonowl]

4 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I liked her a lot.

Strong willed lady.

Changed her name to a long name for lucky; 31 letters

Born 1984 in Nakhon Sawan

Height 1.57cm (5ft 2in)

Weight 52.72 kg.

 

Who is she?

Thaksins sister? I know that is wrong as the birth year doesn't match but it's the taking part that counts isn't it?

[sotonowl]

4 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I liked her a lot.

Strong willed lady.

Changed her name to a long name for lucky; 31 letters

Born 1984 in Nakhon Sawan

Height 1.57cm (5ft 2in)

Weight 52.72 kg.

 

Who is she?

Just thought, is it the hat lady?

[owl sees all]

26 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

Just thought, is it the hat lady?

Not Yingluck or the 'Hat Lady'.

 

Her original name was much shorter than the 31 letters it is now. She went to see a fortune teller who told her to change her name; which she did.

 

Big clue.

 

 

[owl sees all]

50 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

Worrying times Owl, we were absolutely garbage.

The most concerning thing for me after two matches are the stats.

 

Saints game.

 

 

Against Hull

 

 

Strikes me that they have difficulty holding onto the ball.

 

Lots of work to do; and better now than later.

 

 

 

[sotonowl]

27 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

The most concerning thing for me after two matches are the stats.

 

Saints game.

 

 

Against Hull

 

 

Strikes me that they have difficulty holding onto the ball.

 

Lots of work to do; and better now than later.

 

 

 

Yes, very poor. Calls for the managers and the chairmans head already. Maybe the owner should sell up and return to Thailand and concentrate on the family business, selling tinned tuna.

[sotonowl]

I didn't have a clue Owl so I did a search on Gooble Images and it turns out it is, 

Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon

Weightlifter

And indeed, 31 letters.

 

[owl sees all]

9 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

Yes, very poor. Calls for the managers and the chairmans head already. Maybe the owner should sell up and return to Thailand and concentrate on the family business, selling tinned tuna.

A bit early for sacking Owl.

 

But!!

 

Don't want to get stuck at the bottom after a just a few games. Those stats are a worry, They have to get the midfield sorted. Can't win many games with less than 30% possession. Maybe the odd game. But that's it.

[Isaan sailor]

Thanks for the story.  Isaan wife and I spend most of our time in Isaan.  But when rice harvest finishes—we’re off to the coast.  People seem much friendlier here in farm country.

[owl sees all]

14 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

I didn't have a clue Owl so I did a search on Gooble Images and it turns out it is, 

Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon

Weightlifter

And indeed, 31 letters.

 

Bang on the money there Owl.

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/205571-weightlifter-prapawadee-wins-first-olympic-gold-for-thailand/

 

 

[owl sees all]

28 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

Yes, very poor. Calls for the managers and the chairmans head already. Maybe the owner should sell up and return to Thailand and concentrate on the family business, selling tinned tuna.

It's not all doom and gloom. Did have a nice win against Stockport in the week.

 

Stats read much better that match.

[sherwood]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Not Yingluck or the 'Hat Lady'.

 

Her original name was much shorter than the 31 letters it is now. She went to see a fortune teller who told her to change her name; which she did.

 

Big clue.

 

 

I once knew a girl many years ago who was told by a monk to change her name. She never did marry him.

[owl sees all]

11 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

Thanks for the story.  Isaan wife and I spend most of our time in Isaan.  But when rice harvest finishes—we’re off to the coast.  People seem much friendlier here in farm country.

I love it here. Not without it's strange and unpredictable moments.

 

Is there a better place to be in the world?

 

 

[owl sees all]

1 minute ago, sherwood said:

I once knew a girl many years ago who was told by a monk to change her name. She never did marry him.

My wife missed me. I'm sure she'll have another shot.

[sotonowl]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

It's not all doom and gloom. Did have a nice win against Stockport in the week.

 

Stats read much better that match.

It's terrible Owl. We were getting beat for most of the game and just managed a draw and beat them on pens. Not convincing at all.

[rickudon]

Wow, just realised 3 weeks or more since looking at the thread. So much happening.

For me a few mishaps. After the fantastic UK family holiday, got back on the 11th May, just in time for daughter to start school. First, my one remaining Avocado, 6 years old, which i had given explicit instructions to be watered, was dead. Typical. Hard to rely on extended family here.

 

Next, was told the old rice field next to the pond was going to be ploughed. I had left some piles of branches there left over from the Eucalyptus harvest (another case of the land being left in a mess), so i went down to clear them; trod on a rock and felt a sharp pain, thought it must be a long thorn or nail. Upon investigation, so signs of a wound. Thought nothing of it, expected it would be back to normal in a couple of days. How wrong i was! Couldn't walk on it for more than 5 minutes and pressing the clutch pedal on the car was painful. Took 5 weeks. I had broken a bone in my foot I think.

 

followed by - management light on car engine came on - 24,000 baht to fix. Air conditioner died in bedroom, another 6,000 to repair.

 

Then ... Toothache. Antibiotics, visit to dentist and root canal treatment (2 sessions). Crown to follow. Decided it was also time for some blood tests, went to Nong Prajak hospital - result - wouldn't let me leave until i had seen 2 doctors. Chronic Kidney disease (CKD) is getting worse. 

 

Finally, due to not working on the farm, and wet season, the grass was growing a riot, so contractor employed by wife to cut it. My instructions - "careful of my Date palms". When i went to check, already finished - but so were 3 of my date palms (i have spent two and a half years rearing them from seed), only 2 left. They were about 75 cms tall and about 5-8 cms thick at the base, how can you think they were grass?

 

I have lost more young trees butchered by  Thai bush cutter/tractor idiots over the last 10 years than i can count.  My M-in-L also helpfully weeds out any of my vegetables i plant if she thinks they are sick, weeds or anything else. Our garden is nearly a desert because she digs up the grass (lawn) and chops down trees and shrubs just because she doesn't like sweeping up leaves. Just about ready to retire to a bar for the rest of my life and drink! 

 

So have been a bit depressed of late. 

 

 

[chickenslegs]

24 minutes ago, rickudon said:

Wow, just realised 3 weeks or more since looking at the thread. So much happening.

For me a few mishaps. After the fantastic UK family holiday, got back on the 11th May, just in time for daughter to start school. First, my one remaining Avocado, 6 years old, which i had given explicit instructions to be watered, was dead. Typical. Hard to rely on extended family here.

 

Next, was told the old rice field next to the pond was going to be ploughed. I had left some piles of branches there left over from the Eucalyptus harvest (another case of the land being left in a mess), so i went down to clear them; trod on a rock and felt a sharp pain, thought it must be a long thorn or nail. Upon investigation, so signs of a wound. Thought nothing of it, expected it would be back to normal in a couple of days. How wrong i was! Couldn't walk on it for more than 5 minutes and pressing the clutch pedal on the car was painful. Took 5 weeks. I had broken a bone in my foot I think.

 

followed by - management light on car engine came on - 24,000 baht to fix. Air conditioner died in bedroom, another 6,000 to repair.

 

Then ... Toothache. Antibiotics, visit to dentist and root canal treatment (2 sessions). Crown to follow. Decided it was also time for some blood tests, went to Nong Prajak hospital - result - wouldn't let me leave until i had seen 2 doctors. Chronic Kidney disease (CKD) is getting worse. 

 

Finally, due to not working on the farm, and wet season, the grass was growing a riot, so contractor employed by wife to cut it. My instructions - "careful of my Date palms". When i went to check, already finished - but so were 3 of my date palms (i have spent two and a half years rearing them from seed), only 2 left. They were about 75 cms tall and about 5-8 cms thick at the base, how can you think they were grass?

 

I have lost more young trees butchered by  Thai bush cutter/tractor idiots over the last 10 years than i can count.  My M-in-L also helpfully weeds out any of my vegetables i plant if she thinks they are sick, weeds or anything else. Our garden is nearly a desert because she digs up the grass (lawn) and chops down trees and shrubs just because she doesn't like sweeping up leaves. Just about ready to retire to a bar for the rest of my life and drink! 

 

So have been a bit depressed of late. 

 

 

But, other than that, is everything okay Rick?