Diary of a farang in Isaan

[owl sees all]

35 minutes ago, faraday said:

Eartha Kitt - sh!t

Now we are going temporally down this avenue; in Dagenham we would say 'tom tit' and 'jimmy' and 'pony'. 

 

https://www.cockneyrhymingslang.co.uk

 

'Cause we didn't pay much attention at school, we didn't even understand what we were talking about. For example Boracic Lint (<deleted>). We would say 'brasic'. We knew about footy (up the Irons) and Ford Cortinas (passion wagon) and Essex girls though.

 

Any way 'toodle pip' as they say in Coronation Street land.

[pineapple01]

Great Road to Drive fast, but one needs to look out for Cycles and the Wobbly Old French Onion Seller on the wrong side of the Road.????‍????

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, Will27 said:

What about, "he got caught having a lamb shank"

I always used the phrase 'J. Arthur'

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, pineapple01 said:

Great Road to Drive fast, but one needs to look out for Cycles and the Wobbly Old French Onion Seller on the wrong side of the Road.????‍????

If he went down too fast, he might end up as a Wobbly Old French Onion Cellar.

[bluesofa]

2 hours ago, Will27 said:

We used to say they've got Jim Nabors.

OK, I'll bite...and please put me out of my misery.

[pineapple01]

More people die in issan from Boredom than Heart Disease. Not a lot of people know that.! 

[Bredbury Blue]

6 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

Until the beginning of the 20 * century, the English aristocracy spoke only French.

Is that what they teach in french schools?

 

- 1066, The Normans spoke a rural dialect of French with considerable Germanic influences, usually called Anglo-Norman or Norman French, which was quite different from the standard French of Paris of the period, which was known as Francien.
- In 10th–13th Centuries in France, Latin continued to be the prevailing language in religion, education and law.
- The Hundred Year War against France (1337 - 1453) had the effect of branding French as the language of the enemy and the status of English rose as a consequence.
- The Black Death of 1349 - 1350 killed about a third of the English population (which was around 4 million at that time), including a disproportionate number of the Latin-speaking clergy. After the plague, the English-speaking labouring and merchant classes grew in economic and social importance and, within the short period of a decade, the linguistic division between the nobility and the commoners was largely over.
- 1362 The Statute of Pleading, made English the official language of the courts and Parliament, and in that same year Edward III became the first king to address Parliament in English, a crucial psychological turning point.
- By 1385, English had become the language of instruction in schools.
- Henry IV, 1399, was the first monarch since before the Norman (norsemen, i.e. vikings) Conquest to have English as his mother tongue.
- Up until the 17th Century, written English was rarely used for scholarly or scientific works, Latin or French was used.
- Most English monarchs spoke multiple languages; for some, English wasn't their first language.
https://www.etymax.com/blog/the-queens-english-the-kings-speech-theres-a-lot-more-to-monarchs-than-meets-the-ear/

 

Edited April 27, 2020 by Bredbury Blue

[pineapple01]

Ive no Idea, but i do know i can understand Native Parisians, but not Farmers from Sothern Provence. Same with Londoners I understand but not  Geordy or Scoots. In essarn my Thai wife relieved a very polite reply for directions

. Where we Go Now i asked.?  Must ask again he spoke Thai Lao. So same for BKK Natives too, dialect probs.

[bluesofa]

4 minutes ago, pineapple01 said:

Ive no Idea, but i do know i can understand Native Parisians, but not Farmers from Sothern Provence. Same with Londoners I understand but not  Geordy or Scoots. In essarn my Thai wife relieved a very polite reply for directions

. Where we Go Now i asked.?  Must ask again he spoke Thai Lao. So same for BKK Natives too, dialect probs.

dialect probs. Others have the same problem too:

 

[Odysseus123]

Isaan-50 years ago..

 

An old friend (ex USAF) sent me some photos from his tour of duty in Udon Thani in 1968..enjoy.

 

 

Edited April 27, 2020 by Odysseus123

[Will27]

2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

OK, I'll bite...and please put me out of my misery.

Jim Nabors played Gomer Pyles in a tv series a long time ago.

 

314 × 445

 

Amazon.com

[Assurancetourix]

1 hour ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Is that what they teach in french schools?

I don't know ..

I left school half a century ago and from what I hear or read here and there, school in France is more and more like that of Thailand;
that is to say that we don't learn much.

[Odysseus123]

Some more photos in honour of my friend-and the Isaan people..

 

[sotonowl]

9 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

and to please sotonowl, I photographed my MTBike in front of the house.

 

LOL, you misunderstood me my old fruit. I don't mind seeing the bike at all. I had gotten the impression previously, rightly or wrongly, that some poster or posters had doubted your integrity by asking to see your bike in the photo's and in so doing casting doubt on whether you had actually been to the location yourself and taken the pic.

I was trying to defend you, I don't need to see your bike in the pic to believe you'd taken the pic. It's misunderstandings like this what are the reason we've been fighting each other for centuries. 

????

 

 

[Odysseus123]

2 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

LOL, you misunderstood me my old fruit. I don't mind seeing the bike at all. I had gotten the impression previously, rightly or wrongly, that some poster or posters had doubted your integrity by asking to see your bike in the photo's and in so doing casting doubt on whether you had actually been to the location yourself and taken the pic.

I was trying to defend you, I don't need to see your bike in the pic to believe you'd taken the pic. It's misunderstandings like this what are the reason we've been fighting each other for centuries. 

????

 

 

Nah..you have got it all wrong.One poster who has never-as far as I know- posted a photograph on this forum was objecting to having the bike in the photos..

It's been a bit of a running joke ever since...????

[Assurancetourix]

9 minutes ago, sotonowl said:

LOL, you misunderstood me my old fruit.

I understood you very well and Odysseus answered perfectly.
In fact it was I who made the mistake of forgetting one or two smileys to make you understand that it is a game;
it was initially a response to a member who..as the writing odysseus ....

and you you added a layer without knowing it.

I stop now bothering you with that ...
and please ,accept my apologies, 

[bluesofa]

14 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

Nah..you have got it all wrong.One poster who has never-as far as I know- posted a photograph on this forum was objecting to having the bike in the photos..

It's been a bit of a running joke ever since...????

A running joke? Wrong sport. Surely you mean it's been continuously recycled.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 4/27/2020 at 9:47 PM, Odysseus123 said:

Some more photos in honour of my friend-and the Isaan people..

Great pics. Love the one of the girls in the photo of the band with towels over their mini skirts. Females never change- wear exposing outfits and then try to cover themselves so the boys can't see.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 4/27/2020 at 10:46 PM, Odysseus123 said:

One poster who has never-as far as I know- posted a photograph on this forum 

Just because you've never seen them! I've post(ed) on more sub forums than the ones you go on.

 

On 4/27/2020 at 10:46 PM, Odysseus123 said:

was objecting to having the bike in the photos..

Lovely photos, but the bike does not add anything- just the opposite. It's like a selfie obsession, but with a bike.

[Assurancetourix]

24 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Lovely photos, but the bike does not add anything- just the opposite. It's like a selfie obsession, but with a bike.

As far as I am concerned, I often put my MTBike on the photos because many members do not believe that I am going with it.
Obviously, a tortuous mind could answer me: "you just got off your mountain bike from the bucket of your pickup and you make us a" fake "photo.

It would be something to try on some roads visible on Google-map and which are in reality almost impassable even at the wheel of a 4x4 vehicle .

Never trust Google Map if you don't know the area where you are.
You will very often have very unpleasant surprises.
There, I can not answer anything .. to these "St Thomas" ..
The Farang and Thai friends with whom I cycle know very well what and where  I go on a MTBike .

[pineapple01]

MTBs are easier on the Eye for us Motorists than those Race Bike things ridden by Bum Waggers. One is ridden by Gentle Folk enjoying life gracefully, the other ridden by Me Me LOOK At ME show boaters.Sorry but those Swerving 3 abreast Clowns are my Pet Hate here.

[EVENKEEL]

2 minutes ago, pineapple01 said:

MTBs are easier on the Eye for us Motorists than those Race Bike things ridden by Bum Waggers. One is ridden by Gentle Folk enjoying life gracefully, the other ridden by Me Me LOOK At ME show boaters.Sorry but those Swerving 3 abreast Clowns are my Pet Hate here.

Bum Waggers ahahaaa I'll be stealing that one.

[Odysseus123]

3 hours ago, Assurancetourix said:

As far as I am concerned, I often put my MTBike on the photos because many members do not believe that I am going with it.
Obviously, a tortuous mind could answer me: "you just got off your mountain bike from the bucket of your pickup and you make us a" fake "photo.

It would be something to try on some roads visible on Google-map and which are in reality almost impassable even at the wheel of a 4x4 vehicle .

Never trust Google Map if you don't know the area where you are.
You will very often have very unpleasant surprises.
There, I can not answer anything .. to these "St Thomas" ..
The Farang and Thai friends with whom I cycle know very well what and where  I go on a MTBike .

Asterix* me old Gallic cock...don't keep falling for it..and enjoy your bike rides and photography.

 

"Vive la farthing du penny!"????

[Assurancetourix]

3 minutes ago, Odysseus123 said:

"Vive la farthing du penny!"

I had forgotten this coin that I used when I was in the Republic of Ireland in 1966;

I also ate Gye there for breakfast; product which has also disappeared; it looks like " marmite " .
I sent 5 years ago, 5 years already, a letter to the Guinness company in Ireland and a person very kindly answered me by sending me a document on this subject:
GYE = Guinness Yeast Extract

[Assurancetourix]

3 hours ago, pineapple01 said:

Bum Waggers.

Is it the sexy outfit that makes you write that? 

I always say that I dress like a clown;
when you are on a bike on the leftmost side of a busy road, it's very good to be dressed in "multicolor" I think .

[Odysseus123]

23 minutes ago, Assurancetourix said:

I had forgotten this coin that I used when I was in the Republic of Ireland in 1966;

I also ate Gye there for breakfast; product which has also disappeared; it looks like " marmite " .
I sent 5 years ago, 5 years already, a letter to the Guinness company in Ireland and a person very kindly answered me by sending me a document on this subject:
GYE = Guinness Yeast Extract

Yes mate-the first bicycles in Britain were called "penny farthings" on account of their large front wheel (penny) and their very small rear one (farthing).

A farthing was a quarter of a penny and could still be seen in Australia during my childhood before we switched to decimal currency.

Edited April 29, 2020 by Odysseus123

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 29-04-2020

 

Internet went down at 14-30 yesterday. Just back on. Big refund expected.

 

Still no rain. I'm seriously thinking of pumping out a pond to boost pond five (koi carp pond). I'll give it til the weekend and look at the weather forecast.

 

Mrs Owl and myself are still very unfriendly over my decision not to plough up the farm. Only basic pleasantries being passed between us.

 

Now, rural Thailand being what it is, funds have become available to concrete a 150 metre section of the village; although it has hardly any traffic use. In the region of one vehicle an hour. I think this is where money can go walkies. Cost 300k Baht? No paper work! Cash contracts? Not in our village's case of course,,,,,,, but elsewhere! Only one local villager has any input on the manual side.

 

A lorry load of gravel and a few willing hands would have sorted out the little holes and dips. Runs next to MinL's house and land.

 

 

 

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Disconnected one of the big water holders. Had a leak and it needs repairing. Letting it dry out before I fix it using two methods. Firstly, by welding the edges together with a very hot iron. Then superglue a patch onto that. I'll cut off the cap, so it's precisely the same material.

 

 

 

Don't look much but when the holder is the right way up and filled, there is a lot of water trying to find a way out. Might do that tomorrow (Thursday).

 

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Got to cut new euca sprigs today. The little eucas have started to do the bizzo. Only four so far, but it gives me heart to see the little growths.

 

Out of the 140 we started with, there are just 50 left after culling. So today, me, Mildred and Wow will replace the rejected ones.

 

Pics later as they get a little bigger. And also, one of the avocadoes has started rooting. Exciting times! More exciting than Mrs Dale's Diary.

 

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Picked up the dumped trash in the pick-up yesterday.

 

 

There was a bag amongst the rubbish that I thought could do someone a turn. 'Cause i'm not speaking to Mrs Owl for now, I didn't ask her if she wanted it. Just chucked it on the fire. Her loss!

 

 

Went up nicely. Still have the sign if the dumping happens again.

 

$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$%$

 

It's mango time.

 

 

 

Burnt trees from the big fire give little fruit. And, the fire didn't do my pipes any favours too. Have a fair section to replace later.

 

 

 

Picked 200 yesterday and 200 the day before. Mrs sliced a lot of them up to dry in the sun. Some will will be turned into jam and the others get given away and eaten. After two in the afternoon I'll only eat mangoes; washed down by reishi wine. That's for a month or so.

 

 

 

Milly's cherry tree. Sour!

 

 

Mangoes forever.

 

 

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Busy at the farm for now. I've lots of jobs to catch up on too. A couple of dips in the road have to be sorted. I have the stone so it's an easy job to fill up the wheelbarrow and dump the smalls stones into the dip. Then level it all out. When the children are helping, it pays to make the work sound exciting. Then they want to help a lot.

 

Also I have to get up into the water towers to sort out some pipework. Not really looking forward to that much.

 

Buddha work at a standstill. Run out of money is the common view. I'm watching with interest.

 

More to follow.

Edited April 29, 2020 by owl sees all

[pineapple01]

. My Issan Dairy entries. April 18. No Rain.19. Slept all Day 20. Power Cut.21 Came back on.22.Watched the Sunset.23.Went Guarantor for Her Dads new MoCy. 24.It Rained.25 It Stop Raining. 26. Tractor passed the House..27. Vallium Tablets arrived. 28. Resisted Temptation to swallow them all.29.Just heard about Covits.

[owl sees all]

12 minutes ago, pineapple01 said:

. My Issan Dairy entries. April 18. No Rain.19. Slept all Day 20. Power Cut.21 Came back on.22.Watched the Sunset.23.Went Guarantor for Her Dads new MoCy. 24.It Rained.25 It Stop Raining. 26. Tractor passed the House..27. Vallium Tablets arrived. 28. Resisted Temptation to swallow them all.29.Just heard about Covits.

Very similar to my days Pineapple. Except no rain. And we know about C-19; but don't let is spoil our days. Vallium Tablets! We make our own. No power cuts, but Internet down (back now). Tractor passes the house twice a day now the road repairs are underway.

 

Watch the sunset every evening, but from slightly different angles so it doesn't get boring.

 

Exciting times in Isaan!!

Edited April 29, 2020 by owl sees all

[bluesofa]

10 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Very similar to my days Pineapple. Except no rain. And we know about C-19; but don't let is spoil our days. Vallium Tablets! We make our own. No power cuts, but Internet down (back now). Tractor passes the house twice a day now the road repairs are underway.

 

Watch the sunset every evening, but from slightly different angles so it doesn't get boring.

 

Exciting times in Isaan!!

I know what you mean.

This is me watching the sunset from a different angle: