Diary of a farang in Isaan

[owl sees all]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

I'd just take a hammer along and bang it down myself. Take about 10 seconds.

They (the contractors) have started to take away some of the formwork. The spike is at the end section. Hopefully they will remove it this morning.

[Odysseus123]

Dwarf lady and son at the Warin markets-I have always liked the motto "No Fear"

 

 

Edited May 20, 2020 by Odysseus123

[Odysseus123]

Does anyone recall the name of the photography progam that Asterix* used and recommended?

I  thought that I had saved it but it seems,alas,that I did not..

 

Anyway Michel..wherever you are now-may the slopes be gentle and the views forever enchanting from the top.

[terry Meltham]

Well said

[Andrew Dwyer]

6 hours ago, Odysseus123 said:

Does anyone recall the name of the photography progam that Asterix* used and recommended?

I  thought that I had saved it but it seems,alas,that I did not..

 

Anyway Michel..wherever you are now-may the slopes be gentle and the views forever enchanting from the top.

Faststone photo viewer ( see post #597 )

 

 

[Odysseus123]

47 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Faststone photo viewer ( see post #597 )

 

 

Many thanks Andrew!

[owl sees all]

On 5/18/2020 at 9:18 PM, owl sees all said:

Owl Log - 28-05-2020

 

A week of reflection. 

Just noticed!

 

A week of reflection?! Haven't even got there yet.

 

Sorry guys. Should read Owl Log - 18-05-2020.

Edited May 21, 2020 by owl sees all

[bannork]

8 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Just noticed!

 

A week of reflection?! Haven't even got there yet.

 

Sorry guys. Should read Owl Log - 18-05-2020.

I think you should stop using dates for your log. Life in Issan is governed by the seasons, it appears the rainy season is now underway, so how about 'Rainy Season Day 4'.

 

[HighPriority]

On 5/21/2020 at 9:43 PM, owl sees all said:

Just noticed!

 

A week of reflection?! Haven't even got there yet.

 

Sorry guys. Should read Owl Log - 18-05-2020.

I read it, but obviously didn’t read it... I must have been recovering from reading your profile ! ????

A weighty tome indeed ! ????????

[owl sees all]

17 hours ago, HighPriority said:

I read it, but obviously didn’t read it... I must have been recovering from reading your profile ! ????

A weighty tome indeed ! ????????

Well thanks HP.

 

As you could probably glean from the profile, I've got gradually more procrastinated in recent times. Gathering the necessary enthusiasm for any project is becoming a real challenge. Seem to want to rest more than work now-a-days.

 

I always told my children that the two really bad things that someone could call you is "lazy" and "dead". At least I'm not the latter; yet! Although the wife says "nearly".

[owl sees all]

On 5/21/2020 at 7:23 PM, bannork said:

I think you should stop using dates for your log. Life in Issan is governed by the seasons, it appears the rainy season is now underway, so how about 'Rainy Season Day 4'.

 

Owl Log - 23-05-2020 (Rainy season day 7)

 

Some nice rain, but not as much as some areas. Nong Han and Ban Dung both had enough to flood the towns. But that's the way the cookie crumbles at the start. When the rain season is really here everyone get some.

 

Went to Mildred's school yesterday. Handed in her homework and picked up another week's load. The new school building is doing well. Maybe, with C-19 in mind, it might be open this calendar year.

 

Missed out on a great pic in Ban Dung. Bump-starting a bus. Twenty guys giving it the big one. Arrived a minute too late in the bus station.

 

Still taking customer's temperatures at the door in Big C. Food hall open though . Have to go to see our eucas tomorrow (Sunday), and hand over some dosh. Might call in for a nice meal.

 

********************************************

 

And talking about eucalyptuses, Gong is planting 3000 on her 12 rai. Her farm is on the edge of the village, and slopes down to the little river.

 

 

She is spacing the eucas 2.5 metres across and 2 metres down the slope.

 

 

 

Reckon she has got it about right.

 

Mrs Owl is adamant that 2 x 2 metres is the way to go. I would prefer 2.5 x 2.5 metres. Don't think I'm gonna win there, but I'm nearly there on a fire break/dirt road, across the farm. Look as though we are going to use the tractor too. Can't win them all. 'Winning' about one in three or four is par for the course. Of course logic doesn't come into these discussions. What is more important is Chai's deliberations. Although a lorry driver, he is very knowing about all things.

 

********************************************

 

Went to collect 10 sacks of rice hulls in the week. Only 10 Baht a sack, but have to get them filled yourself. A job for all the family. Milly holding the sacks. Mrs Owl filling them. And me acting as recorder.

 

 

The Mrs uses them to top out her plants in the concrete rings.

 

 

 

********************************************

 

The village road is close to completion.

 

On Wednesday they (contractors) dumped piles of soil on the road. 

 

 

Yesterday a tractor bladed it off the road.

 

 

This morning the guys and one lady were putting some tar along the joints and sprinkling sand onto it.

 

 

The MinL's house is just off the road. I've a feeling that some excess rain-water is on its way.

 

********************************************

 

Went fishing in number one pond yesterday.

 

Milly, Boyz and myself caught one each. Only small pla nin. I lost a fairly big un at the net. It was hard fishing and hot too. Too hot. The ladies soon got fed up. 

 

 

Left the rods to float on the water, and went onto more productive stuff (collecting snails).

 

 

 

There are definitely less fish than just 3/4 months ago. I think someone from the Local temple (next to our farm) has been throwing a net. Found a dead nin on the bank last week. Couldn't climb up 4/5 feet without help. 

 

********************************************

 

Another eventful week come to a close.

 

Fixed a couple of things today. The passenger seat in the pick-up wouldn't go back or forward; sorted. And the water heater needed adjustment; sorted.

 

Last night my new 'acer' computer threw a wobble. Message came up that it had to restart. And so it did. But, no WiFi since, and some of the programmes, including one to photo-edit, do not now work. Hard-wired the computer and did a speed test. 220k down and 70 up. That's the best I've got at any time, anywhere. The downside is a cable running from the bedroom through to my comp'. Have to disconnect it to close the door. I was lucky to have a 2 metre ethernet cable in my junk drawer as a one metre one would have meant bedroom computing.

 

Didn't fancy using the computer in the bedroom. Just to easy to lay back and go to sleep, especially when listening to Pavarotti. And with Mrs Owl's little Buddha shrine watching me. I'm gonna try to get a longer ethernet cable or a junction, then I can run the cable through the air-brick, and all will be OK.

 

Mrs Owl accused me of paying women on the internet last night. She knows I have riches hidden away. Secret bank accounts. Piles of dosh; somewhere! Lots of credit/debit cards.

 

Off to farm in about an hour.

 

Bye y'all.

 

 

 

 

 

[bluesofa]

Firstly let me say I'm not a 'nature' type of person at all. I'm into technology.

 

Having said that, what's the interest with Eucalyptus? Is this a new(-ish) thing for you? I've obviously not been paying attention during your broadcast of The Archers recently.

 

The reason I'm asking about Eucalyptus (and this is not a political comment at all) is I remember reading that in Thaksin's time he apparently pushed the cultivation of Eucalyptus as a saviour in areas with very little water in the top soil, as the plant was very good at drawing up water from deeper down.

To start with it was a success, but once the water had been 'sucked up', then nothing else would grow there for (IIRC) seven years?

 

Right, now I've shown my ignorance - what is the reason? Anything at all to do with low water levels?

 

[owl sees all]

4 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Firstly let me say I'm not a 'nature' type of person at all. I'm into technology.

 

Having said that, what's the interest with Eucalyptus? Is this a new(-ish) thing for you? I've obviously not been paying attention during your broadcast of The Archers recently.

 

The reason I'm asking about Eucalyptus (and this is not a political comment at all) is I remember reading that in Thaksin's time he apparently pushed the cultivation of Eucalyptus as a saviour in areas with very little water in the top soil, as the plant was very good at drawing up water from deeper down.

To start with it was a success, but once the water had been 'sucked up', then nothing else would grow there for (IIRC) seven years?

 

Right, now I've shown my ignorance - what is the reason? Anything at all to do with low water levels?

 

Good, thought provoking post bluesofa.

 

When I first cam to Isaan, there were hundreds of farms with substantial numbers of eucalyptus trees growing. Rubber took over as the prices for selling was so good. Everywhere, it seemed, were nurseries selling rubber plants. Eucas were pulled up and rubber tree planted. At that time, about, ten years ago, rain could be relied on. Just to show how much rain, I put pipes in at the top of each pond to let the water out.

 

Then the rubber price crashed and farmers went back to rice and sugar. Cassava also got a look in. But, the weather gradually changed and for the last three wet seasons there has been little in the way of regular rain. Some big downpours, but that water mostly runs off. Harvests have suffered. Sugar and rice yields are terrible recently. Farmers want the best return for their land. So some are turning to the eucalyptus.

 

It's my idea to plant eucas. They are a hardy tree and can suffer a bit of drought. It's true that nothing much grows between the trees. so cover crops are out of the equation. Once they have got to two metres tall they can pretty much look after themselves. If the price stays good (1000 Bhat a tonne) a rai will give 18 to 20 tonnes a rai. Of course, if the price drops to 500 Baht, then the dosh is only half of that.

 

Strangely, a flourishing building environment is also good for euca sales, as Thai builders use the narrow trunks as scaffolding.

 

Just asked the Mrs Owl, and she said 1000 Bhat a tonne at the mo'.

 

The big, managed farms, cut a section of the farm when the price is OK.

 

Fire can be a problem. But it is with oil palm trees. Been lucky so far with them.

 

I could go through the economics, but that's for another post; in a farming thread perhaps.

Edited May 23, 2020 by owl sees all

[bluesofa]

50 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Good, thought provoking post bluesofa.

 

When I first cam to Isaan, there were hundreds of farms with substantial numbers of eucalyptus trees growing. Rubber took over as the prices for selling was so good. Everywhere, it seemed, were nurseries selling rubber plants. Eucas were pulled up and rubber tree planted. At that time, about, ten years ago, rain could be relied on. Just to show how much rain, I put pipes in at the top of each pond to let the water out.

 

Then the rubber price crashed and farmers went back to rice and sugar. Cassava also got a look in. But, the weather gradually changed and for the last three wet seasons there has been little in the way of regular rain. Some big downpours, but that water mostly runs off. Harvests have suffered. Sugar and rice yields are terrible recently. Farmers want the best return for their land. So some are turning to the eucalyptus.

 

It's my idea to plant eucas. They are a hardy tree and can suffer a bit of drought. It's true that nothing much grows between the trees. so cover crops are out of the equation. Once they have got to two metres tall they can pretty much look after themselves. If the price stays good (1000 Bhat a tonne) a rai will give 18 to 20 tonnes a rai. Of course, if the price drops to 500 Baht, then the dosh is only half of that.

 

Strangely, a flourishing building environment is also good for euca sales, as Thai builders use the narrow trunks as scaffolding.

 

Just asked the Mrs Owl, and she said 1000 Bhat a tonne at the mo'.

 

The big, managed farms, cut a section of the farm when the price is OK.

 

Fire can be a problem. But it is with oil palm trees. Been lucky so far with them.

 

I could go through the economics, but that's for another post; in a farming thread perhaps.

Thanks for replying Owl.

 

I didn't know the eucalyptus were used for scaffolding. Is it only these, or are branches/trunks of others trees used as well?

Does it cause a problem with drying out the soil if there's not much other irrigation, or is it not as bad as I read a few years ago?

 

 

Talking about not enough rain, my in-laws have been breeding and selling Bla Nin (Talapia) for over twenty years.

F-I-L said that the past four or five years has been the first time ever there wasn't enough rain in time to refill the ponds (there's about thirty-odd Rai's worth) and so the family have been desperately trying to sell Bla Nin on markets and door to door rather than just let them die in the too-shallow water.

 

As I said earlier, it's not that I know much about it, just what I hear from them.

 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 24-05-2020

 

Wow!!!!! What a day!!

 

Early start this morning. Off to the euca wholesaler at 9am. She had just had a delivery and wanted us to see them. I had to hand over 6k Baht, so her day was a special one. She was so busy. We were there for an hour and during that time her husband dealt with four customers. Each taking about 3/400 trees.

 

 

The misses likes a chat, and the lady likes a chat too. So I rested up and waited; and waited,,,.

 

 

Milly found me half asleep with the camera. And then it was off to Ban Dung. 

 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 

We didn't get far 'cause Mrs Owl spotted a garden centre. She loves a tree or two; especially if I have some money.  It was very busy. Not sure why. Good trees?! Cheap trees?!

 

 

The wife was having a good look at everything it seemed.

 

 

I like plants, but while the Mrs was mooching around, I spotted something more interesting across the road.

 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 

 

Would you Adam and Eve it; another euca seller. And this business were growing them from seed.

 

 

Their fledgling eucas were the same price as down the road; two Bhat each. They looked good. But I was interested in the seedlings.

 

 

I thought that this would be a decent business for a Buddha place to get involved with.

 

They keep the little plastics covered until they are an inch high. Then they are out in the open - but not in the sun all day long - until they are about a foot high, when they are sold.

 

 

Mrs Owl spotted me and shouted to come over to her. "Yes dear, love, darling teelak?" "I buy trees. 1040 Bhat; Have to give lady. You have money? I know you have money,"

 

In the road leading out of Ban Dung to the north-west, there are at least 10 euca sellers in 10 kilometers. Be trees all over soon.

 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 

Then it was a stop at the bus station in Ban Dung. My telephone chip has to be topped up every month, but can be done for the next six months. No idea why that is. I was looking at the flash-drives in the shop and bought a Kingston 32GB for 200 Bhat. A little treat for me, that. 

 

Then it was off to the veggie quarter for some garlic and ginger; and a water melon for Milly.

 

Last call before heading to the farm was 7/11. It was my lucky day! My favourite check-out lady was on a till.  Bought four buns (60 Baht) and paid the leccy bill (very low at 1052 Bhat) and got a free plastic bag. Had to put my phone number into the machine though.  Hope she don't phone me up.

 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 

The oil palm cutters were at number two farm, They had about 3 tonne (3.2 Bhat a kilo at the mo').

 

 

We go on a 50/50 deal in October.

 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 

There were three tractors at the farm.

 

 

They had finished the 26 rai number one farm and were about to start the 4 rai number 4 farm.

 

 

Two orange Kabotas and a cherry red Yanmar. Blackpool and Forest came to mind.

 

 

I had marked out the no-go area.

 

 

There is a deep water well there and also a bucket well, built by the previous land owner. I had never used either but thought they could be useful one day.

 

 

That Yanmar is our old tractor. We bought it new. Sold it three years later at a 400k loss*. Som drove it for us then and he bought it and drives it. Som is the hubby of the lady with the huge mangoes.

 

Now we have worked out that the two tractorins are 3 disk and scarifier. The latter in about 3 days.

 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 

We unloaded the new plants. Don't seem too much for over 1000 Bhat dear?!

 

 

Wifeeee knows best. "Cheap." She said.

 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 

And Milly and Boyz went off to do their snail capturing at number one pond.

 

 

Twenty kilos in about an hour. That is a good pond for snails. And what to do with them?

 

 

Boyz is not sure what it's all about. Milly knows that they help your face complexion. One is trying to escape already. Mrs Owl says 'yum yum'.

 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 

A busy day alright.

 

We want to sell our Kabota and cart. Not used it for a couple of years apart from using the small water pump mounted on the frame. The lady, who wants to buy, sent her son over while we were out and he tried to start it. Could not. I had a go - after all I had started it a hundred times - no problem. Hit my head on the suspended Archimedes pump though. Rotten headache now. Going to shower and go to bed as soon as I post.

 

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

 

Big log in farm 4. Could have done a bit of damage that!

 

 

A few other bits and pieces as well today. Another post. An eventful day.

 

Stay safe.

 

Bye y'all.

 

* Did acquire a bit of land in the deal. Complicated!!

Edited May 24, 2020 by owl sees all

[chickenslegs]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Som is the hubby of the lady with the huge mangoes.

Tell us more.

[chickenslegs]

On 5/23/2020 at 2:47 PM, bluesofa said:

Firstly let me say I'm not a 'nature' type of person at all. I'm into technology.

 

Having said that, what's the interest with Eucalyptus? Is this a new(-ish) thing for you? I've obviously not been paying attention during your broadcast of The Archers recently.

 

The reason I'm asking about Eucalyptus (and this is not a political comment at all) is I remember reading that in Thaksin's time he apparently pushed the cultivation of Eucalyptus as a saviour in areas with very little water in the top soil, as the plant was very good at drawing up water from deeper down.

To start with it was a success, but once the water had been 'sucked up', then nothing else would grow there for (IIRC) seven years?

 

Right, now I've shown my ignorance - what is the reason? Anything at all to do with low water levels?

 

City boy here, so I'm entirely out of my depth, but I was told that the eucalyptus tree is popular because it is suitable for coppicing and/or pollarding. In other words (unlike many species of tree) it can be cut down (harvested) and will grow again, and again, and again quite quickly. 

[Kadilo]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

 

 

 

The misses likes a chat, and the lady likes a chat too. So I rested up and waited; and waited,,,.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Must of been a long one........you were clean shaven at the start 

Edited May 24, 2020 by Kadilo

[sotonowl]

On 5/23/2020 at 8:17 AM, owl sees all said:

Mrs Owl accused me of paying women on the internet last night. She knows I have riches hidden away. Secret bank accounts. Piles of dosh; somewhere! Lots of credit/debit cards.

 

I'm waiting to find out who these women are you've been paying on the internet.????????

[pineapple01]

Mangoes have become a prob. Now even at 2.5 Bht a kilo the trucks are not turning up for their minimum 1000 kilo loads to Bkk or points NE. According to Mrs Pineapple the big plantation are looked after by elderly parents who rely on them being picked for them and are now being left to fall n rot, causing smelly orchards. I am not brave enough to question this info but it sounds logical, and its the first year ive never chased Old Ladies away from our few trees............. Is there a Go Fund Me for Rain its getting silly now in North Central.

[owl sees all]

On 5/23/2020 at 8:49 PM, bluesofa said:

Talking about not enough rain, my in-laws have been breeding and selling Bla Nin (Talapia) for over twenty years.

F-I-L said that the past four or five years has been the first time ever there wasn't enough rain in time to refill the ponds (there's about thirty-odd Rai's worth) and so the family have been desperately trying to sell Bla Nin on markets and door to door rather than just let them die in the too-shallow water.

I am interested in the Talapia.

 

Breeding them for market size is difficult. If left in a pond they breed like mad but finish up stunted. They are definitely the most prolific breeders I have come across.

 

The trick to keep them a reasonable size is firstly to only keep males. Another tip to keep in mind is to keep them in nets until a month before harvest. If the males can't make their homes in the pond bottom it take away their mating instincts. 

 

I did successfully grow them to 2 kilos a piece.

 

 

Takes about 10 months to get them to that size, so a decent drop of water in the ponds is needed.

 

However, in saying all this, it's essential to get a decent strain of male only fish.

[owl sees all]

32 minutes ago, pineapple01 said:

Mangoes have become a prob. Now even at 2.5 Bht a kilo the trucks are not turning up for their minimum 1000 kilo loads to Bkk or points NE. According to Mrs Pineapple the big plantation are looked after by elderly parents who rely on them being picked for them and are now being left to fall n rot, causing smelly orchards. I am not brave enough to question this info but it sounds logical, and its the first year ive never chased Old Ladies away from our few trees............. Is there a Go Fund Me for Rain its getting silly now in North Central.

This year has been a disaster for the mango growers. The big plantations have had trouble getting workers to pick. The price has dropped, everyone, it seems has a few trees. A plantation near us has been selling around the villages for 5 Bhat a kilo.

 

It is a very narrow window; about three weeks. I don't know how the huge commercial plantation near Kalasin got on. They would normally send their harvest straight to China. Bad news all round.

 

 

This particular farm normally sends a couple of million mangoes to China in just 4 days. Has a workforce of a hundred during this time.

 

I visited there a couple of years back. Decided against planting them in numbers. Glad I made that decision.

 

Edited May 25, 2020 by owl sees all

[bluesofa]

6 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I am interested in the Talapia.

 

Breeding them for market size is difficult. If left in a pond they breed like mad but finish up stunted. They are definitely the most prolific breeders I have come across.

 

The trick to keep them a reasonable size is firstly to only keep males. Another tip to keep in mind is to keep them in nets until a month before harvest. If the males can't make their homes in the pond bottom it take away their mating instincts. 

 

I did successfully grow them to 2 kilos a piece.

 

 

Takes about 10 months to get them to that size, so a decent drop of water in the ponds is needed.

 

However, in saying all this, it's essential to get a decent strain of male only fish.

Having consulted the oracle, my wife said the following. Not that I know anything, Mr Fawlty:

 

The fish in your photo is female, around 1 - 1.2kg

 

If you grow them to 2kg, they're not so easy to sell, as people like the taste of the younger fish.

 

Growing them to 10 months old you'll also spend too much on fish food than you need to.

 

My family sell them at no more than six months old, around 500-800g, 80% of which are female.

 

They don't separate the males from the females - apparently they won't really start breeding at six months. So there's no need for nets except to 'harvest' them.

 

If you need any more details, just ask/pm/email/whatever.

 

Edited May 25, 2020 by bluesofa

[owl sees all]

5 hours ago, bluesofa said:

Having consulted the oracle, my wife said the following. Not that I know anything, Mr Fawlty:

 

The fish in your photo is female, around 1 - 1.2kg

 

If you grow them to 2kg, they're not so easy to sell, as people like the taste of the younger fish.

 

Growing them to 10 months old you'll also spend too much on fish food than you need to.

 

My family sell them at no more than six months old, around 500-800g, 80% of which are female.

 

They don't separate the males from the females - apparently they won't really start breeding at six months. So there's no need for nets except to 'harvest' them.

 

If you need any more details, just ask/pm/email/whatever.

 

Thanks bluesofa. Great reply.

 

When we were doing a commercial fishery we would try to buy either male or female, depending on price. Never mixed sexes in one pond though; well not deliberately.

 

Younger fish are sold for soup dishes. Restaurants buy the talapia from 800gs up. Our fish, of over one kilo, were very popular. But!! Knowing the market is essential and working out whether the growth from 600gs to 800gs is worth the feed costs.

 

The best harvest I got was 800 fish at just under the kilo each from one pond. All males. When they get to that size the males have reddish heads and lips so easy to spot.

 

Started buying fish originally from the government stocking centre in Udon (just off Prajek Park ring road). Cheap, but very disappointing results. Next we bought bigger fry from Nong Khai, near Si Chang Mai. These were fantastic growers but expensive at 2 Bhat each; although they were 2/3 inches long. After a couple of seasons I found a specialist breeder. Good fish, fast growers and at the right time of the year 3 for one Bhat.

 

As for feed. Can be expensive, but I had one pond with automatic natural feeders. Cut the cost down by half. Also talapia can be trained to accept shredded leaves and fronds. I did go through a season making my own feed to cut down costs. All in the past now. Pilfering was always a problem for me. Although it never goes away unless one lives on the farm. Worse if it is known as a farang farm.

 

Water has been our biggest bugbear in recent years. As it stands at the mo' I couldn't raise fish at all. I'm struggling to keep one pond healthy.

 

Strangely, Mrs Owl mentioned fish for the first time in about 4 years this afternoon. She is very knowing. Been speaking to the right weather people.

 

 

Edited May 25, 2020 by owl sees all

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 25-05-2020

 

Another busy day. 

 

The three tractors were hard at it again and finished scarifying at about 4 this afternoon.

 

 

That's it then!

 

 

Nothing stopping us now. Sounds like that Queen song; ''cause I'm having a good time."

 

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

 

With the tractor work finished we set about clearing the water drain pipes under the road.

 

 

And here's one we did earlier.

 

 

Find all sorts of creatures in these pipes; snakes, rats. bar-girls and plenty of creepy-crawlies. Only jesting about the bar-girls!

 

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The snail girls were at it again.

 

 

Someone has had the fish away but left the snails.

 

 

This pond is particularly productive 'cause (I reckon) I've been throwing food waste - mostly veggies and fruit - into the pond since it was last emptied 4 years ago.

 

 

Milly and Boyz are the snail experts. What is that hanging from your north and south?

 

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Had a problem with the water pump this afternoon. The pull-cord broke. Fortunately I only lost 6 inches or so. Easily sorted; if one has the tools!

 

 

Fortunately I had a socket connector to do the job.

 

 

Run it for over an hour before a threatening storm ended the day early at 5-30. (Just past eight now. No storm. No rain.)

 

 

Plenty of turbulence for the fishes to enjoy.

 

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Passed a couple of very poor rice farms today. Some farmers are ploughing up the rice and starting again.

 

 

Just terrible. These farmers scattered rice after a downpour in mid-April, thinking that the wet season had started. Then nothing for a month. I really feel for these people. Life is hard enough for them, without the weather-gods turning their backs. They all seem to owe the farmer's bank a small fortune. This year will make things worse for them.

 

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Mrs Owl was putting the rice hulls around her plants. Got ten sacks the other day from the rice miller.

 

 

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Our road is popular with the locals now.

 

 

Because I maintain it. Not a word easily translated, and definitely not overused in Thailand. At least in these parts.

 

Another busy day ends. And it's going to get busier in the days to come.

 

No more fish deaths. In fact the Mekongs are populating the shallow end at feeding time. They appreciate the extra depth, and the improved quality of the water.

 

Spent an hour with Mildred this morning revising conversions from fractions to decimal to percentages; and back. Think I'm getting the hang of it.

 

Headache much better today, but, hurts if I move about too fast. Must be more careful; or invest in a crash helmet; or look where I'm <deleted> going!

 

Bye y'all.

Edited May 25, 2020 by owl sees all

[chickenslegs]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Spent an hour with Mildred this morning revising conversions from fractions to decimal to percentages; and back. Think I'm getting the hang of it.

At school I used to think that I was being taught things that I would never need in real life. Yet, here I am 50+ years later, teaching my 8 year-old, finding it invaluable.

It's amazing that it all comes flooding back (well, trickling back).

However, some things do baffle me ...

Today we had to learn "science of living things"

Q1: Living things grow, move by themselves, respond to stimuli, reproduce and ______ .

Choose the correct answer from these options:

A. sleep

B. play

C. live

D. die

[bluesofa]

18 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

At school I used to think that I was being taught things that I would never need in real life. Yet, here I am 50+ years later, teaching my 8 year-old, finding it invaluable.

It's amazing that it all comes flooding back (well, trickling back).

However, some things do baffle me ...

Today we had to learn "science of living things"

Q1: Living things grow, move by themselves, respond to stimuli, reproduce and ______ .

Choose the correct answer from these options:

A. sleep

B. play

C. live

D. die

Assuming it's a question regarding Thailand, it must be A.

[Sterling]

@owl sees all How are things with Mrs Owl now? Has she seen the error of her ways?

[thaibeachlovers]

On 5/23/2020 at 7:17 PM, owl sees all said:

The village road is close to completion.

Unless I missed it, what happened to the bit of steel sticking up?

[owl sees all]

7 hours ago, Sterling said:

@owl sees all How are things with Mrs Owl now? Has she seen the error of her ways?

Since we have now ploughed and rotivated the land ready for eucalyptus planting she seems much improved.

 

It's just a spell she is going through. Started when she was about three years old. She's trying hard to mature; I'l give her that.

 

I've not had a cat thrown at me for a number of years. Although I got threatened with a heart-attack two weeks ago.

 

Things are looking good in the Owl household.