Diary of a farang in Isaan

[owl sees all]

4 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

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

I was going to do as you suggested TBL. However the contractors were removing the formwork. In the afternoon the end section (stopend) that had the spike, had gone.

 

All finished now.

[thaibeachlovers]

On 5/26/2020 at 12:35 PM, owl sees all said:

I was going to do as you suggested TBL. However the contractors were removing the formwork. In the afternoon the end section (stopend) that had the spike, had gone.

 

All finished now.

If only relationships were as easily sorted................................

[owl sees all]

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If only relationships were as easily sorted................................

What, with a lump hammer!?

[bluesofa]

7 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

2 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If only relationships were as easily sorted................................

What, with a lump hammer!?

I thought cats were more your thing?

 

[owl sees all]

22 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I thought cats were more your thing?

 

Yes!

 

Our cat 'Girly' has gone missing. Not seen her for a couple of days.

[Andrew Dwyer]

3 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Yes!

 

Our cat 'Girly' has gone missing. Not seen her for a couple of days.

Hope she turns up Owl.

i live in a moobahn and there’s a few cats who always like to hang around our house. They do like to khrap in our garden which

I’ve often  thought it a little strange as we never feed them, until......

 

 

I discovered that the nosy neighbour at the back is putting food and water out for the cats but stretching her hand through the gap to put on our side of the divide ??

 

I told the gf and she immediately called to the neighbour and told her she wasn’t happy , which is great, although I did here the name “ falang ” used a couple of times !!

[owl sees all]

5 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Hope she turns up Owl.

i live in a moobahn and there’s a few cats who always like to hang around our house. They do like to khrap in our garden which

I’ve often  thought it a little strange as we never feed them, until......

 

 

I discovered that the nosy neighbour at the back is putting food and water out for the cats but stretching her hand through the gap to put on our side of the divide ??

 

I told the gf and she immediately called to the neighbour and told her she wasn’t happy , which is great, although I did here the name “ falang ” used a couple of times !!

Not been a happy month. What with the terrible news of AT. The kois and now Girly going missing; I reckon she might have had an argument with one of the many dogs. She was a very small cat. A grey tabby.

 

The cat in the pic looks like our other house-cat 'Charkie'.

 

 

Been with us for 10 years now.

[Andrew Dwyer]

1 minute ago, owl sees all said:

Not been a happy month. What with the terrible news of AT. The kois and now Girly going missing; I reckon she might have had an argument with one of the many dogs. She was a very small cat. A grey tabby.

 

The cat in the pic looks like our other house-cat 'Charkie'.

 

 

Been with us for 10 years now.

Yes, the one in my pic is very young, around 6 months I guess.

 

It is a safe haven for cats here, the moobahn has only one entrance and soi dogs never make it very far inside.

There is probably 6 regular cats that come and go at their pleasure to my garden.

 

The gf thought it was a good idea to give one of these:
 

 

a bath with a hosepipe !!

 

5 rabies jabs and hospital visits proved her wrong !!

[owl sees all]

A pic of Girly.

 

 

The only one I could find on the quick.

[HighPriority]

I do hope that you got some of the rain Owl ?

Apparently mums place got a good dump, this time I have photographic evidence not hearsay... ????

 

[owl sees all]

10 minutes ago, HighPriority said:

I do hope that you got some of the rain Owl ?

Apparently mums place got a good dump, this time I have photographic evidence not hearsay... ????

 

We got a fair bit. Three nights on the spin. None during the day though.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 31-05-2020

 

The rain has arrived! Three nights of thunder and lightning, but that precious rain came with it for a change.

 

Spent Thursday afternoon clearing the farm of old irrigation pipes. Went up well in the furnace.

 

 

###########################################

 

I don't know if the lady wants the Kabota. Asking for 12k; get a cart with it too. A bargain, if I do say so myself. Started it up the other day.

 

 

That's when I hit my head. No blood. but dislodged a couple of teeth. Didn't damage the Archimedes pipe fortunately.

 

 

Not bothered about losing the odd tooth. My eyes are good, my hearing good (although tinnitus) and most other stuff is working OK. I'm one lucky <deleted>!

 

###########################################

 

Went to Ban Dung on Friday to exchange Mildred's homework. Had a look at the school construction site. Impressed with progress.

 

 

Ate a nice meal in Big C. 235 Bhat for four of us. Four bottles of water in that price too. Very nice meal. Social distancing barriers at each table. A bit of a novelty for Milly and Boyz.

 

Anyone from the UK might remember the clothing company 'George'. I think they ran out of ASDA. Well in Big C there was a stall full of their shirts, 99 Bhat a go. Made in Sir Lanka. Maybe they were rejected at the QC stage? Or over production? All long arm or I would have been tempted.

 

Had to put our names and mobile numbers down at the door (also at PEA).

 

Couldn't believe it!!! Catfood at 17 Bhat a can; bought 10. Never seen them as cheap as that before. And pringles were down to 44 Bhat each; bought two. Milly picked the tubes. She likes the mystery flavour; but I like the original. Boyz, Poom and Bye will eat them all, no matter what flavour. No such thing as favourites with them.

 

###########################################

 

Right out of the blue we got a call from our farm neighbour, on Saturday early afternoon, to say that the wagon had arrived full of eucalyptuses. We were not expecting them 'til Monday.

 

 

Big rush to get to the farm. First trip a delivery of 7k. The second arrived about fiveish.

 

 

Plenty of plastic bags to dispose of at the death.

 

 

This one's for you AT.

 

 

Mrs Owl doing an inspection.

 

 

The second delivery of 5k.

 

Me and Milly's attempt at growing eucas from cuttings has been a dismal failure. Only one take from 70 cuttings.

 

 

###########################################

 

Started setting out once the first eucas had arrived.

 

 

Every two metres; both ways Mrs Owl.

 

 

We couldn't even do something as simple as this without a problem.

 

"You grow the first row away from road. Too far away; nearer." "But love there is a line of buried irrigation pipes along the edge." "Trees not hurt pipes. Only little trees. I not happy." "But teelak, babies not stay babies forever." "What you talking; ding-dong farang."

 

I knew when my twisted logic would hit a brick wall.

 

So we moved them close to the road.

 

"Waraporn happy now."

 

###########################################

 

Today we couldn't do anything with the setting out. Just too much mud.

 

 

Decided to leave it 'til Monday. Strange life! For weeks I have been asking the weather gods for rain and now I don't want any for a couple of days.

 

The pond water had come up nicely. Eight inches in two days.

 

Now will the nets break free from the mud or do I have to go in to release them?

 

 

See how the weather goes this week. But I reckon I'll be swimming soon.

 

###########################################

 

Som (tractor man) borrowed our big ladder today. Doing some work on his house. He recently had it lifted up by a metre. I recorded it and it's fascinating; pics later.

 

I'm back in Mrs Owl's good books; for now.

 

No sign of Girly the little cat.

 

Bye y'all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 05-06-2020

 

Bought a concrete ring on the way back from Ban Dung on Tuesday. Mrs Owl said it was definitely the last one. So, that's 23 we have bought; but one was broken by wayward pick-up driving. Say no more on that!!

 

The eucalyptus tree planters started their work on Wednesday morning. Two days they reckoned. Couldn't see it myself, but once they got past the initial setting out they were fast.

 

The team consisted of three guys and five ladies.

 

 

 

They started in number one farm and did about 60% before dark.

 

The eucas were going into number One and four farms. Total of nearly 30 rai, but a section was set aside for rice growing. This area is wet during the rain season so it was the natural place to put a paddy. Yellow arrow is farm one ponds. Farms two and three are oil palms.

 

 

And below:

 

Red arrows are the new road through the eucas. Four metres wide.

 

Green arrow is number five fish pond, with the kois and mekongs. 

 

Yellow arrow is the rice area.

 

Farm four is 100% eucas now, although it was predominately sugar for many years. The guy we bought it from lived there and the land had a small house and pond. All gone now.

 

 

And so the work started. 

 

 

 

On Wednesday afternoon we had a short sharp downpour of 30 minutes or so, and the team adjourned and congregated under the farm house. It messed up their plans of finishing in two days but the newly planted eucas welcomed the drink. I wasn't unhappy about the rain; nor Mrs Owl. She seems to be even smiling; at times.

 

A lovely rainbow too; looking east.

 

 

 

Fish pond number five gradually filling. If no rain overnight, or Saturday daytime, I'll give the water pump a run for an hour, That will put in 2/3 inches.

 

 

 

Rain stopped and it was into number four farm. Only 4 rai but am odd shape, and being smaller they had to slow a little.

 

 

 

Mrs Owl had made sure they were well watered before being carried over to be planted.

 

 

 

 

They finished at seven; virtually in the dark. So it was two full days and a bit. Not bad that, at all.

 

 

 

 

Next day (Friday) finished in three hours. Picked up all the plastic too. Great job! Gave them a bit extra dosh.

 

Have about 1000 trees left. Some of the planted ones will not make it, and we have people asking to buy our surplus. So no money wasted. 

 

Total cost: 51000 Bhat.

 

24000 Trees

15000 Tractor

11800  workers

   500  extras; Lao Khow, rope etc 

 

##########################################

 

Went into Ban Dung today to swap Mildred's school work over.

 

No buns in 7/11, either at the Hospital site or the Petrol Station. Tried at Tescos too. Bought four burghers at 7/11 for a snack. One for each of us (me, Mrs Owl, Milly and Boyz). Absolutely horrid!!

 

Been so busy this week myself and Milly haven't had a game of chess. Try to get a couple in over the weekend.

 

The farm over the back is digging a pond. I'll have a butchers tomorrow.

 

More to follow.

 

Bye y'all.

 

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

9 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Bought four burghers at 7/11 for a snack. One for each of us (me, Mrs Owl, Milly and Boyz). Absolutely horrid!!

IMO one buys things like hot dogs and burgers at 7/ll because they are ready to eat, and fill the hole rather than because they are nice to eat. Same as any fast food, though Maccers must, IMO, put some sort of chemical in them to make people go there in preference to a decent food place when they have the time. It's not even as if they are cheap, which they ain't.

Having said that I used to enjoy the hot dogs in Dairy Queen, but they stopped selling them long ago.

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

IMO one buys things like hot dogs and burgers at 7/ll because they are ready to eat, and fill the hole rather than because they are nice to eat. Same as any fast food, though Maccers must, IMO, put some sort of chemical in them to make people go there in preference to a decent food place when they have the time. It's not even as if they are cheap, which they ain't.

Having said that I used to enjoy the hot dogs in Dairy Queen, but they stopped selling them long ago.

I agree TBL. Fast food is just that. Fills the hole as you say.

 

There was a fast food place on the North Circular Road (London) near Spurs FC. It was called 'Hamburger Halt' and was on the anti-clockwise side. Their food was not bad at all. Then one day, right out of the blue, it was gone.

 

I've not been to a McDonalds in Thailand. I know there is one in Udon; and Khon Kaen. Don't know any others.

[thaibeachlovers]

46 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

I've not been to a McDonalds in Thailand. I know there is one in Udon; and Khon Kaen. Don't know any other

Don't bother. Way too expensive in comparison to restaurants that sell proper food. In the west they are places to go for food in a hurry, but strangely Thais seem to think they are upmarket places. A horrid cheeseburger with no salad costs as much as a proper rice dish in a cheap restaurant. In malls I'd always use the food court rather than Maccers or KFC etc. Better and cheaper food. In NZ food courts are where people go to have a choice of all the fast food chains- I really miss LOS food courts. As for restaurants here, I'd never even bother. If you think under 200 baht is too expensive you'd have a coronary at restaurant prices here.

[owl sees all]

On 5/9/2020 at 10:30 PM, thaibeachlovers said:

Are you able to siphon the water from one pond to the other? Save on electricity. I used to do that to fill the fish pond by the house from the swamp, when things were very dry.

I did a lot of siphoning one particular year. Can't recall what one; or why.

 

Used the black 2 inch pipes.

 

 

Was putting it into the bucket to disperse the water. Think I must have done it previously, left it overnight, and washed half the bank away.

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 06-06-2020

 

Back to normality after the eucalyptus planting chaos.

 

Made a batch of Reishi this morning. Half for long drinks and the other half to make reishi wine. Lovely!

 

Milly has been neglecting her cat fish pond. I’ll have to help her clear the overgrowing plants.

 

 

Same as kids all over I think. Full of enthusiasm at first, then leave it to the elders after a month or so.

 

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

Still no sign of Girly. I’d just like to know she is safe with another family.

 

Charkie had three kittens yesterday; prematurely. I didn’t think they were due for another few of weeks.

 

They are very small, and we have lost one already.

 

Charkie hid the kittens behind a dressing table in our bedroom and Mrs Owl heard their little sounds this morning.

 

 

A terrible pic' that. I'll post better another time.

 

Took the little Charkie look-alike to the farm this afternoon and the children gave it a nice burial.

 

 

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

Set the pump up and gave the koi pond a two hour burst of water this afternoon. Didn’t think it would rain, but as we got home a small storm started up. And turned into a bigger one at eight.

 

While the water was pumping, I got on with a couple of things. First I put the 200 metre setting-out line onto the winder. That was a lot easier said than done. Knots, tangles and twists.

 

 

Then set the fire to burn all the euca plastic and old, broken irrigation pipes. The pipes burnt OK but the plastic bags were just too damp and dusty, from the euca soil, to really get going. Another day for that; especially after the rain tonight.

 

 

 

Mrs Owl thought the trash would burn fiercely but it struggled. No need for the plant protection.

 

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

Went over to the farm at the rear to see how they were getting along with their pond. About a quarter of a rai; and deep. This land was ours a couple of years back, and it is quite low at the far end. I reckon one and a half metres lower than our main farm. So although it will fill nicely they will be forever having to pump water uphill.

 

 

 

Water coming in already.

 

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

The poopoo wagon decided to leave the road and run over the pipes outside. Water leaking out big time; again.

 

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

Snapped something unusual yesterday. A farm that is half rice and half sugar.

 

 

They must have made the decision to chop the poor sugar and put in some rice. Sugar harvests will be poor this time around. Not nearly enough rain for the fledgling sugar from October to May.

 

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

Right out of the blue an avocado seed began growing. I'll keep an eye on it. When it gets to about 8 inches I'll pot it. Sooner or later I'll actually grow a tree from seed.

 

 

 

Lovely roots on this one. I think I'll add some sand into the potting mix, when it's time. And keep it out of the sun for a month or two.

 

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

 

Mrs Owl's sister has had a pond dug out. Their land is bordered - in part - by a river, and it didn't dry up this year. Can't ask too many questions 'cause Mrs Owl will get a strop on. But I'll take a sneaky look tomorrow.

 

Put a fan on the box where Charkie's babies are, when we went out this afternoon. Cats are really funny (strange) with their young. They will carry them off to the most unlikely places if they feel their currant location is not safe or to their liking; for whatever reason.

 

Charkie is a very gentle and loving cat. A couple of years back, I wasn't feeling the best, and Mrs Owl went to Phen in the pick-up. Had a lay down and woke up with Charkie laying asleep next to me. I left her there, but an hour later the Mrs came home and went bananas.

 

No chess with Milly again today. It'll keep though. I'll try to sort out a junior internet chess club for her. At least that will stop her from watching too much Tom and Gerry cartoons. She puts on her ear-phones and sits quietly, but I know what she's watching; cause she will say she feels sorry for the cat and "I hate Rats."

 

Mrs Owl bought these 'lovely' shoes a week ago. Only 250 Bhat. Dear me!! She chucked them out yesterday. Spent a half hour with some latex adhesive fixing them. Shoes and handbags!! The downfall of mankind; well in Thailand at least.

 

And while I'm on a moan; put the little green bike into the pick-up when we went to Ban Dung yesterday. I couldn't fix the brakes on it, and decided to take it to a shop for fixing. Should have heard the criticism!?

 

"But teelak, I don't spend anything on myself. Let me fix Neil's bike. I'll pay from my own pocket." "So you have money! What you want money for?" It quietened down. I murmured "Internet ladies." Big mistake. "What you say?" "Interesting places. dear." All quiet again. Can't even crack a funny!

 

Bye y'all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

On 6/7/2020 at 3:02 AM, owl sees all said:

A terrible pic' that. I'll post better another time.

Reminded me of when our hamster had babies. It was so nice seeing them grow up. Sadly, hamsters won't live together once get old enough, so have to be put in separate cages. It was too hard on my wife when they died so we never got more ( I gave the breeding pair to the hamster man at the night market ).

On 6/7/2020 at 3:02 AM, owl sees all said:

Then set the fire to burn all the euca plastic and old, broken irrigation pipes.

Mistake putting that on here. The eco warriors will be on your case.

On 6/7/2020 at 3:02 AM, owl sees all said:

Can't even crack a funny!

In my experience Thai women don't have a western sense of humour and visa versa. One GF I had used to laugh hysterically at those stupid comedy shows on tv involving fake ladyboys and such like. I just didn't get the humour at all. Having said that US and British humour is completely different too.

[HighPriority]

21 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Reminded me of when our hamster had babies. It was so nice seeing them grow up. Sadly, hamsters won't live together once get old enough, so have to be put in separate cages. It was too hard on my wife when they died so we never got more ( I gave the breeding pair to the hamster man at the night market ).

Mistake putting that on here. The eco warriors will be on your case.

In my experience Thai women don't have a western sense of humour and visa versa. One GF I had used to laugh hysterically at those stupid comedy shows on tv involving fake ladyboys and such like. I just didn't get the humour at all. Having said that US and British humour is completely different too.

Please tell me that you named at least one of those Hamsters “Basil” ????

And yes, I was a little saddened to read of Owls attempted burn off, glad he failed... ???? I guess the planting army probably tore most of the bags otherwise they could have been returned to the supplier and reused.

US humour...? Unheard of since the days of “Get Smart” unless you’re counting potus...

 

Owl, what is your intention for the eucas ? And at what size/timeframe do you expect to harvest ?

 

[owl sees all]

There was me saying (a few posts back) that I had extensive pics of Som's house when he decided to lift it up one metre, and I could only find one. 

 

Windows 10 will not let me open one of my memory sticks where all the others must be stored.

 

 

This was a popular scene around the villages when I first got to Isaan. Haven't seen a house lifted for at least five years.

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

In my experience Thai women don't have a western sense of humour and visa versa. One GF I had used to laugh hysterically at those stupid comedy shows on tv involving fake ladyboys and such like. I just didn't get the humour at all. Having said that US and British humour is completely different too.

I agree about the Thai women. I also can't see the funnyness in some of their shows. I was at a show a couple of years back and the joke that got the most laughs was about a ladyboy who thought he would go to Bangkok. But finished up in Ban Dung (local town).

 

Yes! The American's (although not sure about Canadians) is different.

 

A great story of Tommy Cooper when he went to the US to perform. His English agent and the American promoter were in the wings watching Tommy perform on stage. After a few minutes the promoter said to Tommy's agent, "Mr Cooper's tricks don't seem to be working."

 

My favourite English sketch:

 

 

[bluesofa]

18 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

I agree about the Thai women. I also can't see the funnyness in some of their shows. I was at a show a couple of years back and the joke that got the most laughs was about a ladyboy who thought he would go to Bangkok. But finished up in Ban Dung (local town).

 

Yes! The American's (although not sure about Canadians) is different.

 

A great story of Tommy Cooper when he went to the US to perform. His English agent and the American promoter were in the wings watching Tommy perform on stage. After a few minutes the promoter said to Tommy's agent, "Mr Cooper's tricks don't seem to be working."

{snipped}

I know where you're coming from regarding the promoter's comment, and the difference between UK/US humour (for the hard-of-learning: humor).

To be fair, I suppose if the promoter was seeing Tommy Cooper for the first time, I can see why he was confused.

 

Hmm, I wonder why that's your favourite English sketch, ha ha!

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, HighPriority said:

I was a little saddened to read of Owls attempted burn off, glad he failed... ???? I guess the planting army probably tore most of the bags otherwise they could have been returned to the supplier and reused.

 

Owl, what is your intention for the eucas ? And at what size/time-frame do you expect to harvest?

Thanks for that HP.

 

What to do with bags and bags of plastic bags!? It's a dilemma. I was considering buying one of those machines that compress everything down - in my case with over 10k bags - to a lump the size of a house brick. Then, afterwards, I could hire the machine out to the local Thais who wanted to clean up their farms. After thinking about it for absolutely ages, I decided against it. So I attempted the burn instead.

 

I watched one lady removing the euca from the bag. She rolled it in her hand for a couple of seconds, and the root-ball just lifted out without damaging the little plastic sleeve. Now you have pointed it out to be about reusing them HP, I wish I'd told all the girls to do the same. I could then, have simply turned them inside out, washed them, and, they would be ready to go again.

 

The time frame is pretty much dependent upon the prices. Not being a seasonal crop, they can wait and wait until the time is right. The plan is to cut about 25%, each year, after 4 years. That way there is an income each year. If this thread is still going it will be interesting to do a time-frame with the pics taken at about 3 month intervals. However Mrs Owl threatened me with an ugly death last night; so who can tell!? She seemed much happier this morning though. Got a nice cup of Rosy with some sugar and not salt. Things are looking good!

[owl sees all]

2 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Hmm, I wonder why that's your favourite English sketch, ha ha!

Our little secret bluesofa. Maybe because I could have been an Olympic champion if I'd been able to get my timing right.

[bluesofa]

6 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

{snipped}

However Mrs Owl threatened me with an ugly death last night; so who can tell!? She seemed much happier this morning though. Got a nice cup of Rosy with some sugar and not salt. Things are looking good!

I didn't realise sodium chlorate tasted sweet?

[bannork]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

I agree about the Thai women. I also can't see the funnyness in some of their shows. I was at a show a couple of years back and the joke that got the most laughs was about a ladyboy who thought he would go to Bangkok. But finished up in Ban Dung (local town).

 

Yes! The American's (although not sure about Canadians) is different.

 

A great story of Tommy Cooper when he went to the US to perform. His English agent and the American promoter were in the wings watching Tommy perform on stage. After a few minutes the promoter said to Tommy's agent, "Mr Cooper's tricks don't seem to be working."

 

My favourite English sketch:

 

 

Not a tight sphincter in sight (incontinent race).

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, bannork said:

Not a tight sphincter in sight (incontinent race).

Talking of which, I remember a book (one of many) about graffiti by Nigel Rees.

A road sign which said 'Harwich for the continent', had underneath the graffiti, 'Frinton for the incontinent'

[sotonowl]

11 hours ago, owl sees all said:

My favourite English sketch:

And this is mine,

 

 

[HighPriority]

I guess while we’re at it...