Diary of a farang in Isaan

[sotonowl]

14 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Liverpool won the EPL in the week. Good luck to them. Barrow back in the football league for the first time in; must be 50 years. Suddenly Cardiff are 'the team' hitting form in the Championship; just at the right time. And Wolves for top 4?

 

And the Owls had a great win away at Brizzle with the added bonus of the pigs getting dumped from the FA cup, all in all a good day.????

[thaibeachlovers]

On 6/20/2020 at 10:28 PM, sotonowl said:

And along comes the site censor.

Why do people do this? If there's a conversation about something you're not interested in then don't engage, it isn't that difficult.

Start your own <deleted> football thread. The interesting, up till the football started, thread was about Owl's life in Issan- the OP in case you hadn't noticed.

However, I'll take your advice and stop reading this thread. Owl just lost a fan.

[Andrew Dwyer]

5 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Start your own <deleted> football thread. The interesting, up till the football started, thread was about Owl's life in Issan- the OP in case you hadn't noticed.

However, I'll take your advice and stop reading this thread. Owl just lost a fan.

Your team lost this weekend then ??

[owl sees all]

43 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Start your own <deleted> football thread. The interesting, up till the football started, thread was about Owl's life in Issan- the OP in case you hadn't noticed.

However, I'll take your advice and stop reading this thread. Owl just lost a fan.

Don't go. Please don't go.

 

 

[Kadilo]

I just found a dummy.  I think it was thrown from a pram. 

[HighPriority]

On 6/29/2020 at 11:18 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Start your own <deleted> football thread. The interesting, up till the football started, thread was about Owl's life in Issan- the OP in case you hadn't noticed.

However, I'll take your advice and stop reading this thread. Owl just lost a fan.

I couldn’t give a rats about Owls soccer team either, but if he wanted to talk real football... AFL I’d be happy to educate him. 
 

But seriously, what makes this thread so good is it’s rambling nature. 
 

What I’d really like to whine about is something that we are not allowed to whine about... 

I love adverts... ????

We need more of them here on TV... ????

I can’t get enough of em... ????

I really enjoy the 20-40 seconds that it takes to load each page...????

sometimes on other Internet forum the pages load so quick, I think TV has got it juuust riiight... ????
 

 

[HighPriority]

@Andrew Dwyer

thank you very much for your pertinent advice ????????????????????

[Kadilo]

14 hours ago, HighPriority said:

I couldn’t give a rats about Owls soccer team either, but if he wanted to talk real football... AFL I’d be happy to educate him. 
 

But seriously, what makes this thread so good is it’s rambling nature. 
 

What I’d really like to whine about is something that we are not allowed to whine about... 

I love adverts... ????

We need more of them here on TV... ????

I can’t get enough of em... ????

I really enjoy the 20-40 seconds that it takes to load each page...????

sometimes on other Internet forum the pages load so quick, I think TV has got it juuust riiight... ????
 

 

I’ve downloaded Ad Blocker but it does nothing. I’m a techno fossil so what helps? The ads drive me nuts and takes an age to load. 

[faraday]

3 hours ago, Kadilo said:

I’ve downloaded Ad Blocker but it does nothing. I’m a techno fossil so what helps? The ads drive me nuts and takes an age to load. 

I use Brave browser, it stops all ads.

[Odysseus123]

On 6/26/2020 at 12:36 AM, bluesofa said:

As an aside, the locals love the sound of the rain at night - helps them sleep! How they can say it's soothing, I have no idea.

For me, any noise wakes me up and keeps me awake.

I was bought up in a farmhouse with a corrugated iron roof so I loved the sound of the rain drumming along..

The railway line was quite close too so I used to lay awake listening to the goods trains making their way up the steep grade -they had quite a struggle to breast the plateau and coast down to the next station.

 

Lovely sounds from a childhood long ago.

 

Here is the old farmhouse(looking much the worst for wear after a 100 years)-an Aussie version of the Appalachians!

 

[sotonowl]

On 6/29/2020 at 2:48 AM, thaibeachlovers said:

Start your own <deleted> football thread. The interesting, up till the football started, thread was about Owl's life in Issan- the OP in case you hadn't noticed.

However, I'll take your advice and stop reading this thread. Owl just lost a fan.

Wow, I take it that was a drunken rant. I always find it best not to post drunk.

Reminds me of my first wife, she hated football as well.

She came in one evening and tells me she's leaving me.

I say "what for, don't be silly".

Ex says, "its the football, I'm sick to the back teeth with it, that's all you ever do, watch football or talk about it, I'm sick of it and I'm not taking anymore."

"Don't be like that" I say " i'll try harder, we can make it work"

She says "It's too late for that now, I'm moving out, I've got another man".

"Really? Another man? What team does he support?" I ask

[bluesofa]

19 hours ago, HighPriority said:

I couldn’t give a rats about Owls soccer team either, but if he wanted to talk real football... AFL I’d be happy to educate him. 
 

But seriously, what makes this thread so good is it’s rambling nature. 
 

What I’d really like to whine about is something that we are not allowed to whine about... 

I love adverts... ????

We need more of them here on TV... ????

I can’t get enough of em... ????

I really enjoy the 20-40 seconds that it takes to load each page...????

sometimes on other Internet forum the pages load so quick, I think TV has got it juuust riiight... ????

What adverts?

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, Odysseus123 said:

I was bought up in a farmhouse with a corrugated iron roof so I loved the sound of the rain drumming along..

The railway line was quite close too so I used to lay awake listening to the goods trains making their way up the steep grade -they had quite a struggle to breast the plateau and coast down to the next station.

 

Lovely sounds from a childhood long ago.

 

Here is the old farmhouse(looking much the worst for wear after a 100 years)-an Aussie version of the Appalachians!

 

You must be an honorary Thai - liking noise and being able to sleep through it!

 

The farmhouse you were brought up in: 'Here is the old farmhouse(looking much the worst for wear after a 100 years)'

I had no idea you were so old.

[Sterling]

8 hours ago, Kadilo said:

I’ve downloaded Ad Blocker but it does nothing. I’m a techno fossil so what helps? The ads drive me nuts and takes an age to load. 

If you use Firefox or Chrome, try the uBlock Origin Add-On/Extension. It does an excellent job of blocking ads.

[Odysseus123]

4 hours ago, bluesofa said:

You must be an honorary Thai - liking noise and being able to sleep through it!

 

The farmhouse you were brought up in: 'Here is the old farmhouse(looking much the worst for wear after a 100 years)'

I had no idea you were so old.

Umm..err..the farmhouse was built in the 1920's-what was called a soldier settlement block after the Great War-I came along in the early 50's-and yes,damn it,I look far worse than the cottage!

 

No lick of paint and a new roof is going to do me much good..ha..ha..ha!

[owl sees all]

Owl Log 03-07-2020

 

Rain, lovely rain. All last night and some today. I like the rain. Mrs Owl likes the rain. The farm likes it. The fish and plants love it, but the pick-up don't. Went to start it this afternoon and it didn't want to know. Exhausted what charge there was in the battery. Finished up not going to the farm.

 

 

 

Can see where the sprayed battery acid took off the paint-work. New battery next week?!

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Had a couple of parties going on in the village at the same time earlier in the week. At the first, a young chap was going to be a monk and the second was for an elderly chap that passed away (83). The two houses were virtually opposite each other. Did they get together and share expenses? Could have! 

 

 

 

 

I did fear the worst, and had thoughts of 'bang', 'bang' 'bang' into the small hours, but fair play to them, the music ended at about 10ish.

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Found a nice quiet spot for the new plants. At this time in a plant's development, my green fingers usually turn to another colour. But I seemed to have cracked it this time! Both the mango and avocado are growing well. Have to keep the chickens away.

 

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

Charkie's kittens are beginning  to get out and about. The small three-coloured one followed me to the gate this morning. Not good that, with all the dogs. It is going to be a beautiful but tiny cat. Ginger is twice as big and although small, should be average size. The ginger kitten has a dodgy eye, I'll bathe the eye in some lightly salted warm water tomorrow.

 

 

Charkie is always ready for a bit of tenderness and love.

 

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

The Buddha construction has been put on hold until late this year, maybe even next. At least well after the wet season ends.

 

 

Is it the plan to get people (visitors?) to walk out over the pond to feed the fish, eat a meal and do whatever? Or is it just for the monks and villagers? Hope to find out one day. Will it be finished in my lifetime?

 

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

 

The school journey is ridiculous. Say goodbye to Milly at 6-30 and she gets back home for 17-30; eleven hours away. I'm sad about it and want changes, but Mrs Owl thinks it's OK. Milly is the first to be picked up and the last to be dropped off. I did try to explain to the Mrs that a fairer way would be first on, first off.

 

Milly is not due to go back to school until Wednesday. The weekend, and then a couple of 'special days' off. In the English lesson today, the students had to spell an English word and write next to it what it meant in Thai. sixty minute test. She scored 70 and got the second highest. The top girl, a new young lady from Bangkok, got 125. One lad managed just 4. A bit diverse is her class; at least in written English.

 

More to follow.

 

Bye y'all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[HighPriority]

My wife’s daughter and nephew have started secondary school this week, they also get picked up at 6:30 and get home @ 5:30pm, they’re not just picking on Milly, Owl.

Mum apparently shared the rain with you, she’s happy too.

Their village is on the 2267 road that exits Phon Phisai, about 10km away from the river.

 

No rain here in Darwin, nice dry season, although cool, not cold... we did get one night that dropped to 14 deg.

Tomorrow will be our first “Total Fire Ban” day for the year, I guess there’ll be plenty more to come in the next 4 months.

 

 

[owl sees all]

51 minutes ago, HighPriority said:

My wife’s daughter and nephew have started secondary school this week, they also get picked up at 6:30 and get home @ 5:30pm, they’re not just picking on Milly, Owl.

Mum apparently shared the rain with you, she’s happy too.

Their village is on the 2267 road that exits Phon Phisai, about 10km away from the river.

 

No rain here in Darwin, nice dry season, although cool, not cold... we did get one night that dropped to 14 deg.

Tomorrow will be our first “Total Fire Ban” day for the year, I guess there’ll be plenty more to come in the next 4 months.

 

 

I know Phon Phisai quite well. There used to be an oil palm whole seller about 7k west of the town (towards Nong Khai). There was also a Buddha place where families would take their drunkard members to for curing; that was just outside in the opposite direction. Took the BinL there once. But he has been to a couple of those.

 

He just loved the Listerine!

 

[chickenslegs]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

The school journey is ridiculous. Say goodbye to Milly at 6-30 and she gets back home for 17-30; eleven hours away. I'm sad about it and want changes, but Mrs Owl thinks it's OK. Milly is the first to be picked up and the last to be dropped off. I did try to explain to the Mrs that a fairer way would be first on, first off.

I have the same issue with my 8-year-old (almost identical times too), it's a hell of a long school day for a youngster IMO.

However, when I suggested that I could drive her to and from school each day, which would shorten her day by about 2-3 hours, she said that she enjoyed the time on the bus with her friends - also, she gets most of her homework done during the journey home. So, I'm leaving it be.

 

[owl sees all]

4 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

I have the same issue with my 8-year-old (almost identical times too), it's a hell of a long school day for a youngster IMO.

However, when I suggested that I could drive her to and from school each day, which would shorten her day by about 2-3 hours, she said that she enjoyed the time on the bus with her friends - also, she gets most of her homework done during the journey home. So, I'm leaving it be.

 

If Milly was to go to the local village school she wouldn't have to get up til seven and would be home just after four. BUT!!! One of her friends in the village goes to the school and has only just - this week - started on multiplication. She is two years older. However, on the upside, she can heard buffaloes.

[chickenslegs]

5 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

If Milly was to go to the local village school she wouldn't have to get up til seven and would be home just after four. BUT!!! One of her friends in the village goes to the school and has only just - this week - started on multiplication. She is two years older. However, on the upside, she can heard buffaloes.

I don't know Milly, except from your posts here, but I'm betting she can do multiplication AND also be competent at herding buffaloes.

Seems to me that kids with Thai/Farang parents have the best of both worlds.

 

[owl sees all]

23 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

I don't know Milly, except from your posts here, but I'm betting she can do multiplication AND also be competent at herding buffaloes.

Seems to me that kids with Thai/Farang parents have the best of both worlds.

 

Not sure that is right chickenlegs. She can multiply numbers in her head OK, but she is not confident around buffaloes. We went to a farm near Kohn Kaen a couple of years back and she didn't want to sit on a buffalo for a trip around the paddock. Neither did me or the wife. 

 

I think she has the best of both worlds; as you say.

 

Just as a addendum; when my grown-up daughter visited us last year, we went to the big Buddha place in Nong Khai. We were chatting in English and the lady wanted to charge Milly the farang price to get in. Mrs Owl told her she was Thai. The lady would have none of it. Lady thought the daughter from England was her mum. Milly had to speak in Thai to get in cheap.

 

[samsensam]

On 6/28/2020 at 7:54 AM, owl sees all said:

Owl Log - 28-06-2020

 

The man who was to buy our Kabota couldn't raise the dosh. So that fell through, but word had got around and a new guy appeared on the scene. Started it up for him, and pointed out the extras; a single plough (unused) and a scarifyer (1.5 metres wide with 15 points), with heavy duty chain still in place.

 

 

We - or rather Mrs Owl - struck a bargain. 12k. Had to take our water pump off the Kabota frame. That was easier said than done. Finished up cutting the through the holding bolts.

 

 

Three hours later the Kabota was on its way to a new home.

 

 

The money would help to pay a few bill; that's for sure. "When's he gonna pay the 12,000 baht teerak?" "After rice, cut and sell." "Right, but roughly when?" "He not plant rice yet. Why you want to know many questions?"

 

Not worth getting any further into the discussion. So it's later this year I guess.

 

Now we have a new parking spot for the pick-up.

 

 

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

 

I decided to plant the avocado and mango trees. Mango on the left; avocado right.

 

 

They are doing well in water, but it's time to pot them.

 

 

I put some sand and rice hulls into the mix. Can't leave them on the table. That's asking for trouble, so I'll move them later.

 

The avocado next to the one potted, had a great set of roots but no stem. Avocados lay dormant for ages then shoot into life, so I'll keep an eye on it.

 

 

Daughter loves to help, as long as it does not clash with her internet research.

 

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

 

Eucalypti doing OK. Fish are happy and Mrs Owl has just made me a cup of Rosy. Things are ticky-boo in the Owl domain.

 

But, Mildred has to go back to school on Wednesday. Not looking forward to it. She leaves at 06-45 and gets home at 16-45. That's a long time to be away from my best mate. Just had a word with the Mrs and she says that not so many children are doing the school run in the pick-up-bus. So it could be a much later leave and an earlier get back. Soon be able to see what's afoot.

 

The kittens are getting about now. Still very small, especially the three coloured one. Curley-wurley, the dog opposite has spotted the kittens and is hanging about. He knows he can't come past the gate but he might not have passed that info' onto his mates. I don't think the little cats will be going out of the house (open section) for a couple of weeks yet.

 

Liverpool won the EPL in the week. Good luck to them. Barrow back in the football league for the first time in; must be 50 years. Suddenly Cardiff are 'the team' hitting form in the Championship; just at the right time. And Wolves for top 4?

 

Rain is on its way. Thursday I read.

 

Bye y'all.

 

 

The money would help to pay a few bill; that's for sure. "When's he gonna pay the 12,000 baht teerak?" "After rice, cut and sell." "Right, but roughly when?" "He not plant rice yet. Why you want to know many questions?"

 

i dont think you've sold it, sounds more like you, or your wife, has given it away...

 

one thai friend 'sold' her travel profitable agency to a 'friend' when she married and moved to aus. the friend was going to pay her monthly, i advised her this was not a good idea but she went ahead. she never saw any money, and the friend ran the business into the ground through laziness so she'll never see any money...

[Andrew Dwyer]

8 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Not sure that is right chickenlegs. She can multiply numbers in her head OK, but she is not confident around buffaloes. We went to a farm near Kohn Kaen a couple of years back and she didn't want to sit on a buffalo for a trip around the paddock. Neither did me or the wife. 

 

I think she has the best of both worlds; as you say.

 

Just as a addendum; when my grown-up daughter visited us last year, we went to the big Buddha place in Nong Khai. We were chatting in English and the lady wanted to charge Milly the farang price to get in. Mrs Owl told her she was Thai. The lady would have none of it. Lady thought the daughter from England was her mum. Milly had to speak in Thai to get in cheap.

 

Don’t worry, that dual pricing is soon to be a thing of the past !!

 

 

 

 

 

Oooo look, a flying pig !

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 05-07-2020

 

The last of the rice is being planted. Gonna be a very late harvest this year. This team is planting straight into the paddy. Others. like us have sown.

 

 

As soon as the rice shows we have to get it to prosper, in a couple of inches of water. Not quite ready yet; but a week or so. I'm gonna block the pipes at the end of the farm, which run under the road. Then let water out, or contain it as we go.

 

 

Very hit and miss this way, but much cheaper. I reckon 30 sacks from our little area; Milly says 25, Mrs Owl says 35.

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

 

A bit upsetting today. Me and Milly went fishing in one of the ponds for a couple of hours yesterday. Caught 8 lovely pla/bla nin (talapia). All between 600 and 700 grammes. Fat fish; perfect for eating. The Mrs didn't want to kill and gut them yesterday 'cause it was big Buddha day. I had a holding net and said to Mrs Owl that we would keep them in the net overnight. She said she would do it as I went off to get 2 bags of rice from the store. Picked her up on the way back to go home. "Everything OK teelak?" "Yes!"

 

Today, when we got to the farm I saw that the fish had not been put into the holding net (a big keep net) but had been put into a 200 litre tub full up with a

water. All had died. 

 

 

They had floated to the top and the flies had got to them. Just so cruel!

 

The Mrs put them into her garden as 'vitamin', so they were not completely wasted.

 

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

 

The tree overlooking #6 pond has still not fell. Perhaps it will stay like that for years yet.

 

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

 

The biggest net in #5 pond has broken free from the bottom mud. I still have to sort them out, but the original plan to breed Koi and keep the tiddlers in the nets didn't materialise due to lack of water. And to compound my problem, I lost a number of breeding females earlier in the season.

 

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

 

Moved the little mango and avocado trees to the farm. I've got four to look after. The two eucas that were grown from cuttings and now these two.

 

 

I'm full of hope with these four.

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

 

I took a couple of pics from the furthest corner of #1 farm. One looking north, one east, and the other pointing directly at the farm house.

 

Not much to see at the mo', but I'll take the pics from the same location every couple of months to measure growing progress. Looks like a grass farm at the present. Can hardly see a euca!

 

Looking north.

 

 

Looking east.

 

 

Directly at farmhouse; north east.

 

 

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

 

Milly goes back to school Wednesday. We have already agreed that I will pick her up from school on Thursday. Plan to visit the big Thursday market at Bang Dung and do shopping; also a battery for the pick-up (2400 baht).

 

No maths, or homework for Milly yet this term, but when we are together chillin' - or fishing - we set each other little teasers. Mine are usually math based. One of her question to me was say 25 Thai words. But not using numbers. I did it!! 

 

I have difficulty coming to terms with certain things Thai: I find Thais (in my small circle) don't say they do not want to do something, but rather do not do them and say nothing. The fish deaths were typical. Rather than say she didn't (or didn't want to) put them into the keep net; Mrs Owl gave the impression that she had. Of course she hoped that they would all be alive today. But the fish died agonising deaths unnecessarily. Is straight talking just with my lot, or do farangs elsewhere find similar?

 

Did a transfer afternoon; 38.8 baht to the pound. Gradually slipping away. Where are those 70+ days?

 

Bye y'all

 

 

 

 

 

[robblok]

On 7/3/2020 at 9:42 PM, chickenslegs said:

I have the same issue with my 8-year-old (almost identical times too), it's a hell of a long school day for a youngster IMO.

However, when I suggested that I could drive her to and from school each day, which would shorten her day by about 2-3 hours, she said that she enjoyed the time on the bus with her friends - also, she gets most of her homework done during the journey home. So, I'm leaving it be.

 

Always did my homework in the train or bus. Its useful as you cant do anything else anyway. Not the writing part though. 

 

Good thing internet was not a big thing then or i might have studied less.

 

Nice that you offer to be the driver. ????

[bluesofa]

5 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

A bit upsetting today. Me and Milly went fishing in one of the ponds for a couple of hours. Caught 8 lovely pla (bla) nin (talapia). All between 600 and 700 grammes. Fat fish; perfect for eating. She didn't want to kill and gut them yesterday 'cause it was big Buddha day. I had a holding net and said to Mrs Owl that we would keep them in the net overnight. I went off to get 2 bags of rice from the store and left her to it. Picked her up on the way back to go home. "Everything OK teelak?" "Yes!"

 

Today, when we got to the farm I found out that the fish had not been put into the holding net (a big keepnet) but had been put into a 200 litre tub. All had died. 

 

They had floated to the top and the flies had got to them. Just so cruel!

The Mrs put them into her garden as 'vitamin', so they were not completely wasted.

{snipped}

Hmm.

We had a similar conversation yesterday.

Two Buddha days and not selling any fish, even though they desperately want to.

 

I asked why they couldn't sell the fish on these two days. The answer was people don't want to kill anything on these Buddha days.

 

I can't help myself, being atheist and having absolutely no respect for any hocus pocus (which it all is). I said if they sold more fish the day before and people killed them then, was that OK?

My wife understands that I think it's all rubbish, and said that would be OK.

 

My son, now 16 and being contradictory regarding anything I say, told me it was illegal to kill the fish and you would be fined, which just made me laugh at him. The thought of the fish police netting illegal fish killers.

 

A bit sad that your fish died pointlessly in the name of religion, even though they weren't supposed to.

 

[robblok]

3 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Hmm.

We had a similar conversation yesterday.

Two Buddha days and not selling any fish, even though they desperately want to.

 

I asked why they couldn't sell the fish on these two days. The answer was people don't want to kill anything on these Buddha days.

 

I can't help myself, being atheist and having absolutely no respect for any hocus pocus (which it all is). I said if they sold more fish the day before and people killed them then, was that OK?

My wife understands that I think it's all rubbish, and said that would be OK.

 

My son, now 16 and being contradictory regarding anything I say, told me it was illegal to kill the fish and you would be fined, which just made me laugh at him. The thought of the fish police netting illegal fish killers.

 

A bit sad that your fish died pointlessly in the name of religion, even though they weren't supposed to.

 

Atheist too have long given up making sense of religion.

 

I let it be as long as it does not affect me. You cant convince religious people with facts or reason. Its pointless they have faith.

[robblok]

@owl sees all

 

Your fish probably died from lack of oxigen. Used to fish with live bait we would keep fish under a running tap (not opened too much) before going fishing the next day.

 

Wish i could enjoy eating fish like pla nin. Ita cheap. But in general i dislike fish. Salmon tuna and cod excluded.

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, robblok said:

@owl sees all

 

Your fish probably died from lack of oxigen. Used to fish with live bait we would keep fish under a running tap (not opened too much) before going fishing the next day.

 

Wish i could enjoy eating fish like pla nin. Ita cheap. But in general i dislike fish. Salmon tuna and cod excluded.

I'm with you on the fish you like. I'm exactly the same.