Diary of a farang in Isaan

[owl sees all]

7 hours ago, sotonowl said:

Not sure about Cherry Cola, not a drink a look for, always been a Dandelion and Burdock man myself.

That takes me back to South Wales. Worked on the open sea harbour and breakwater at Port Talbot. Everyone drank D&B. Ansels beer; wow!

[owl sees all]

 

 

 

2 hours ago, HighPriority said:

 

When I asked my wife for the video she looked at me like I was PeahBah and denied all knowledge.

 

Maybe as my wife says “PeahBah know PeahBah”

 

The saying in these parts is: "Bar, bar, bab boor." Though not sure about the spelling.

 

Never mind HP; you tried.

 

 

 

[bluesofa]

10 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

That takes me back to South Wales. Worked on the open sea harbour and breakwater at Port Talbot. Everyone drank D&B. Ansels beer; wow!

I remember the name.

I was too young to drink, but I used to go to school in Aston, Birmingham. The Ansells Brewery was just up the road at Aston Cross.

When walking to school from the bus stop we could tell which way the wind was blowing, depending if you could smell either the brewery or the HP Sauce factory in the other direction.

 

 

[faraday]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

That takes me back to South Wales. Worked on the open sea harbour and breakwater at Port Talbot. Everyone drank D&B. Ansels beer; wow!

There's lovely....

 

You ever eat Cockles & Lavabread - 'orrible stuff! 555!

 

Did you go to Baron's night club, or Escape in Swansea?

 

Had some somewhat riotious times there long time ago - unmentionable on a " family friendly forum". 

[faraday]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

I remember the name.

I was too young to drink, but I used to go to school in Aston, Birmingham. The Ansells Brewery was just up the road at Aston Cross.

When walking to school from the bus stop we could tell which way the wind was blowing, depending if you could smell either the brewery or the HP Sauce factory in the other direction.

 

 

Changed so much in the last 40 years.

Used to go to Birmingham Town Hall; saw Arthur Brown, Amon Duul & many other bands there. Great times.

[bluesofa]

8 minutes ago, faraday said:

Changed so much in the last 40 years.

Used to go to Birmingham Town Hall; saw Arthur Brown, Amon Duul & many other bands there. Great times.

The only one I can remember is Arthur Brown - Fire. Just looked it up, that was 1968.

Did you live Brum?

[faraday]

1 minute ago, bluesofa said:

The only one I can remember is Arthur Brown - Fire. Just looked it up, that was 1968.

Did you live Brum?

No, I lived in Stratford, but used to go to Brum a lot.

 

Heard a tale from a college lecturer - dunno how true it was though, that the IRA kept ordnance under the Bullring.

 

Then later, there were those horrific pub bombings. Can still remember the shock when they happened.

[owl sees all]

37 minutes ago, faraday said:

There's lovely....

 

You ever eat Cockles & Lavabread - 'orrible stuff! 555!

 

Did you go to Baron's night club, or Escape in Swansea?

 

Had some somewhat riotious times there long time ago - unmentionable on a " family friendly forum". 

Stayed in the Jersey Beach Hotel (not as exotic as what it sounds) on Aberavon Beach for about a year, while I worked on the harbour. Then worked at Baglan Bay.

 

Being a Thames estuary dweller, I was used to cockles; and loved 'em. But lavabread! No thanks. I think up north they call it tatty bread. Didn't like it at all. I can remember being in the RAFA club one day and the manager put a bowl on lavabread on the table and also a plate of uncooked bacon. Soon gone!

 

I was never a night club person, but drank a lot in any pub that sold Ansells.

 

Stratford!? My mate Ronnie Redrup (boxer) came from there.

[bluesofa]

24 minutes ago, faraday said:

No, I lived in Stratford, but used to go to Brum a lot.

 

Heard a tale from a college lecturer - dunno how true it was though, that the IRA kept ordnance under the Bullring.

 

Then later, there were those horrific pub bombings. Can still remember the shock when they happened.

Yes, I remember that too, knowing the area well. However, we had moved to Leicester by then.

[Odysseus123]

Asterix*-remember when we were talking about ruminants?

Here is what an Asian cow looks like when given lots of attention and good pasture..

 

[owl sees all]

5 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I remember the name.

I was too young to drink, but I used to go to school in Aston, Birmingham. The Ansells Brewery was just up the road at Aston Cross.

When walking to school from the bus stop we could tell which way the wind was blowing, depending if you could smell either the brewery or the HP Sauce factory in the other direction.

 

 

I met Fatima, my second wife, in a small social club, opposite the WBA footy ground. Lovely breasts!

 

As a younger person living in Dagenham Dock, I was very close to 'May and Baker' at Dagenham East. They would have pallet loads of opium delivered at night to make their pills. You could almost taste the stuff in the air at times. Also famous for the sound of howling dogs in the night.

[bluesofa]

6 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

I met Fatima, my second wife, in a small club, opposite the WBA footy ground. Lovely breasts!

 

As a younger person living in Dagenham Dock, I was very close to 'May and Baker' at Dagenham East. They would have pallet loads of opium delivered at night to make their pills. You could almost taste the stuff in the air at times. Also famous for the sound of howling dogs in the night.

I remember the ground on the Birmingham Road, Smethwick. I know nothing of football though, or any sport.

I didn't remember the Hawthorns had lovely breasts though?

 

I asked a friend who had been married a few times how many wives he'd had. His reply was, "What, my own or other people's?"

[owl sees all]

12 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I remember the ground on the Birmingham Road, Smethwick. I know nothing of football though, or any sport.

I didn't remember the Hawthorns had lovely breasts though?

 

I asked a friend who had been married a few times how many wives he'd had. His reply was, "What, my own or other people's?"

Oh bluesofa! You are such a silly-billy. I meant Fatima had lovely breasts, not anything to do with the footy.

 

Off to town at 2 o'clock. Probably Ban Dung rather than Phen as we need to go to Big Care.

[bluesofa]

18 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Oh bluesofa! You are such a silly-billy. I meant Fatima had lovely breasts, not anything to do with the footy.

 

Off to town at 2 o'clock. Probably Ban Dung rather than Phen as we need to go to Big Care.

I notice you often refer to Big C as Big Care, is there a reason for this? Or is it another shop completely?

[owl sees all]

1 minute ago, bluesofa said:

I notice you often refer to Big C as Big Care, is there a reason for this? Or is it another shop completely?

Big C is Big Care.

 

Taken over from Tesco and 7-11 at the most caring store.

[bluesofa]

48 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Big C is Big Care.

 

Taken over from Tesco and 7-11 at the most caring store.

Is the Big Care your description or has it been used elsewhere, even by Big C?

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

Is the Big Care your description or has it been used elsewhere, even by Big C?

Not my description bluesofa. I saw a board outside one of their customer service counters saying:

 

Big C - We care - Big Care

 

I thought; 'that's good'. 'Big Care', has a ring to it. Thais will take to that.

 

Also Big Care invites their customers to take cardboard boxes to help with the purchased goods. Bought three buns today at 7-11 and had to ask my favourite check-out girl for a bag. She gave me a small one rather than the bigger (bin size) one. Going off her. Her mate is better looking. A change is due.

 

Televisions are on sale again at Big Care. Pringles still 3 tubes for 110 Baht. Cat food back to 34 Baht a tin (bought 4).

 

Off to the farm shortly. Have to water the plants and trees; no rain. Was gonna stitch up a  hammock that got torn, but will not have time today.

[bluesofa]

20 hours ago, owl sees all said:

They do use a vibrator/shaker machine down the west country (Somerset way) when they harvest the cider apples. These machines come into their own when there is a small window for getting in the fruit.

 

I used to like cherry cola. In fact it was my favourite drink straight from the fridge; no ice! Not seen it for years, let alone tasted it. Is it still about?

 

All this stuff about ladders. Just have to be careful, and come down (rather than just hang on) if you are overcome with dizziness.

Overcome with dizziness? I think I must hold the record for a fast descent.

When I worked for a church bell foundry about forty years ago, I managed come down the church tower in record time - straight down the middle through some open trapdoors. 45 feet onto a stone floor.

I managed to only dislocate one shoulder, apart from plenty of cuts and bruises.

 

My odd and weird posts on TVF are probably explained by my head injury. Only joking, no real head injury - well it's no worse than it was originally anyway.

 

[bluesofa]

7 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Not my description bluesofa. I saw a board outside one of their customer service counters saying:

 

Big C - We care - Big Care

 

I thought; 'that's good'. 'Big Care', has a ring to it. Thais will take to that.

 

Also Big Care invites their customers to take cardboard boxes to help with the purchased goods. Bought three buns today at 7-11 and had to ask my favourite check-out girl for a bag. She gave me a small one rather than the bigger (bin size) one. Going off her. Her mate is better looking. A change is due.

 

Televisions are on sale again at Big Care. Pringles still 3 tubes for 110 Baht. Cat food back to 34 Baht a tin (bought 4).

 

Off to the farm shortly. Have to water the plants and trees; no rain. Was gonna stitch up a  hammock that got torn, but will not have time today.

Thanks for the explanation. That's pretty good Engrish for here.

 

Interesting about (some) electrical goods on sale in Big C.

Our electric hot water jug broke and I was going to get another in Big C. Wife told me they had closed all the non-food sections in Udon.

 

I phoned Big C call centre, they confirmed it, said I could order one for home delivery though. I didn't go down that route, as I wanted to see one before purchasing it.

 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 16-04-2020

 

Farm work goes on as usual.

 

Did a deal with the wife about watering. On one day we water the trees at the end of the ponds and the new eucas along the road. This is about a hour's work. The following day we water the garden and around the house; again about an hour. "Alternate days Dear." Obviously I didn't speak English - or Thai - well enough 'cause we watered everything from a late start. Didn't finish 'til seven. Milly was bitten in half-a-dozen places, and even I got bitten, which is unusual for me. I like to clear the farm just before dark or the mozzies make us sorry.

 

Not a big prob', but goes to show; 'lost in translation' comes to mind. Should not have said 'alternate'.

 

Got a shock when on the way to the farm.

 

 

Big pile of rubbish and also some palm leaves. The palm fronds were chucked over one of the new trees. Didn't clear the rubbish as the wife wanted the village boss to see it. I'll sort it tomorrow before a snake, and a million ants, make it home.

 

 

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Into Bandung to get some bits and pieces and a bit of shopping. Got a couple of packs of dried reishi mushrooms. Can't face life without the reishi fix!

 

Very, very quiet in Big C. Actually found a parking place in the shade, so I knew it was gonna be that way. Must wear a mask and have temperature taken on the way in. 36.6C for me. The lady showed me the digital reading. Mrs Owl said that if it goes to 37C; entry is refused.

 

Both the gold shops were empty of gold. They cannot lock up the shops, so they probably got a few of the unused Big C bags, from the warehouse, filled them and carted the gold away. Would have liked to have been there.

 

Bought our usual stuff and asked the thermometer lady to do me on the way out. This time 35.2C. Must have been the air-con!

 

Ban Dung was quietish. 50% had masks on. Some ATMs were out of action. I tried three before success.

 

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Had a few mango shells in the kitchen and sorted them out yesterday.

 

 

My method is to carefully cut around the edge of the shell, prize open, and expose the seed.

 

 

One of them is kaput already. Now it's a case of shallow planting them in a tray. And add a splash of water.

 

 

And when they get big enough; pot them.

 

I'm no green-fingered horticulturalist. In all the years I've been growing Mangoes and avocadoes from seed, I think I've had less than a 10% success rate. But!! Now I've found the secret; talk nice to them! Are you reading this log Charlie? You woz right all along.

 

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Think I'll start a cycle junk yard.

 

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The two containers together hold 300 litres. Less 10% for slopping over. So the little eucas got plenty tonight. Pond water too; the best.

 

 

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Should have done a bit of needlework this evening but run out of time. Caught Milly red-handed ruining the blue hammock.

 

Poom got in on the pic.

 

 

This hammock is about 5 years old but if people do not tear it there are plenty of years in it yet.

 

 

I'll have to start charging for the repairs. Take it out of her allowance.

 

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Right now Mrs Owl is writing out a message to the fly-tipper.

 

"No dumping trash - 10,000 Baht fine"

 

Or something like that. I'll put it up tomorrow.

 

In a lighter note:

 

We have been doing trig' areas, angles and circumferences for a couple of days. Today Pythagoras.

 

In a right-angle triangle. The sum of the two shorter sides (each) squared is equal to the the hypotenuse squared. Or a2 + b2 = c2.

 

Got it Mil? That's good.

 

"Dad, can I ask you a question?"

"Sure."

"This man Pythoras. Did you know him?"

 

I am getting on a bit,,,,, but!!

 

Life's too short not to laugh at life.

 

More later.

 

Bye y'all.

 

 

[Odysseus123]

9 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Life's too short not to laugh at life

Indeed...

 

My congratulations on your wonderful thread of "seeing" and "being" in Thailand.

 

 

[owl sees all]

1 minute ago, Odysseus123 said:

Indeed...

 

My congratulations on your wonderful thread of "seeing" and "being" in Thailand.

 

 

Thanks for those kind words Ody.

 

Why are you up so late? Should be curled up with the good lady.

[sotonowl]

16 hours ago, owl sees all said:

That takes me back to South Wales. Worked on the open sea harbour and breakwater at Port Talbot. Everyone drank D&B. Ansels beer; wow!

Ah, ah, Port Toilet, I knew it well. LOL

[Kadilo]

Loving the read and feeling very envious and jealous 

Missing everything about my Issan trips so reading and looking is helping lots. 

Life is a million miles away over here from what I left in Thailand. 
I am currently offshore in the cold and windy North Sea. We are social distancing here, eating apart, separate rooms and cleaning like I’ve never seen. We had our first suspected COVID case and he was airlifted off so every one was worried it was the first of many. I flew out on the chopper with him so if anyone was gonna get it from him I guess I was in the frame.

 

It turns out he was negative so panic over even though all the controls stay the same and getting worse.

 

It’s no where near over here and just announced another 3 week at least lockdown so no sight of being able to travel anytime soon. 
 

Owl mentions May and Baker. My brother worked there in the laboratory for many years til it it got took over by Rhône Poulenc and he  ended up getting punted from there. I spent many a day travelling up there to their club house and it was an easy journey on the tube opposite Dagenham East station. 
 

Keep it going chaps. Loving the pics.......you’re on a death mission on that wonky bamboo ladder Owl. ????

 

Take care all. 
 

 

 

[faraday]

11 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Thanks for the explanation. That's pretty good Engrish for here.

 

Interesting about (some) electrical goods on sale in Big C.

Our electric hot water jug broke and I was going to get another in Big C. Wife told me they had closed all the non-food sections in Udon.

 

I phoned Big C call centre, they confirmed it, said I could order one for home delivery though. I didn't go down that route, as I wanted to see one before purchasing it.

 

Yes, they've closed the non-food sections, but I have no idea why. However, about 4 days ago we needed a new fan. When we went into BigC, at the top of the escalator on the left, there was one girl who was able to show us & 'demonstrate' the fan. 

 

This is BigC nadee.

 

[owl sees all]

3 hours ago, Kadilo said:

I am currently offshore in the cold and windy North Sea. We are social distancing here, eating apart, separate rooms and cleaning like I’ve never seen. We had our first suspected COVID case and he was airlifted off so every one was worried it was the first of many. I flew out on the chopper with him so if anyone was gonna get it from him I guess I was in the frame.

It's a small world.

 

I was a warehouse man in Lowestoft serving a couple of rigs. I spent some time on the Mr Louie (spelling) rig, although I was never a roughneck or roustabout (again spelling). When my placement for REME came through I left the supply company for Arborfield.

 

My first ex still lives near the old May and Baker works. Howling dogs at night would keep us awake if the wind was in the wrong direction.

[sotonowl]

9 hours ago, owl sees all said:

It's a small world.

 

I was a warehouse man in Lowestoft serving a couple of rigs. I spent some time on the Mr Louie (spelling) rig, although I was never a roughneck or roustabout (again spelling). When my placement for REME came through I left the supply company for Arborfield.

 

My first ex still lives near the old May and Baker works. Howling dogs at night would keep us awake if the wind was in the wrong direction.

Now during my many travels at work I finished up working on the Humber Bank a few times. I was lodging in a village called Kirmington and got to know some sort of services manager at the local Humberside Airport. Now this airport also flew workers to offshore rigs. He (the services manager) had a bloke visit the airport to top up the Condom machines, the bloke had a round. Whilst chatting to the condom bloke it came to light that his busiest machine, the one that made the most money was the machine in the helicopter departure lounge, where they only flew to the rigs. Read into that what you will.????????

[thaibeachlovers]

On 4/17/2020 at 2:22 AM, owl sees all said:

Mrs Owl said that if it goes to 37C; entry is refused.

That's insane. 37 is normal adult temperature taken in the mouth. Is it because their machines don't read properly?

[thaibeachlovers]

On 4/17/2020 at 2:22 AM, owl sees all said:

This hammock is about 5 years old but if people do not tear it there are plenty of years in it yet.

When I have something like that I reinforce it ( after repairing ) with duct tape across ways and around the item, both sides. Wonderful stuff, duct tape.

[Andrew Dwyer]

On 4/16/2020 at 7:12 AM, owl sees all said:

That takes me back to South Wales. Worked on the open sea harbour and breakwater at Port Talbot. Everyone drank D&B. Ansels beer; wow!

I spent a week in Port Toilet ( sorry ???? ) working at British Steel ( now Tata ).

Stayed in a pub in Porthcawl ( ? ) , an old place right on the cliffs overlooking the sea. One night had a hell of a storm, shutters banging and wind howling etc, swear I thought we were gonna end up in the sea !!