Diary of a farang in Isaan

[chickenslegs]

Quote

Had to go to Udon on Saturday last. Intended to get a pic of the giant tree at the north end of Adunyadet Road, but didn't manage it due to traffic. Did find a giant bunny though.

 

Glad you posted a photo of the giant pink bunny Owl.

Some of us might have thought you'd been on the wine.

[FarFlungFalang]

1 hour ago, bluesofa said:

Pardon?

I said sorry for interrupting you while you're having sex!

[chickenslegs]

9 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I'm thinking to re-tile the whole base. Have plenty of cement. I'd have difficulty cutting the tiles, but not too old to learn, and I do have a angle grinder. Now pull the old tiles up or tile over the top?

IMHO

Pulling up the old tiles is a horrible job. Some will come up easily, but others will need to be chipped out tiny piece by tiny piece. A lot of the old tile cement will come up with the tiles, then you have to decide whether to take up all the old cement or skim over the lot.

 

If you can get tiles to match, it might be easier to cut out all the broken ones and replace them.

 

If not, tile on tile is the way to go - so long as the increased floor height isn't going to cause problems in doorways etc. (might have to trim/re-hang the doors). There is a special cement for tile on tile, normal cement isn't suitable.

 

Been there/done that each of those ways and now too old to get down on my wonky knees to do it again.

 

Surely there is a local tiling guy who will do the job for a few hundred baht a day if you buy the materials. He (or she) will probably tell you which is the best option.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[owl sees all]

9 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

IMHO

Pulling up the old tiles is a horrible job. Some will come up easily, but others will need to be chipped out tiny piece by tiny piece. A lot of the old tile cement will come up with the tiles, then you have to decide whether to take up all the old cement or skim over the lot.

 

If you can get tiles to match, it might be easier to cut out all the broken ones and replace them.

 

If not, tile on tile is the way to go - so long as the increased floor height isn't going to cause problems in doorways etc. (might have to trim/re-hang the doors). There is a special cement for tile on tile, normal cement isn't suitable.

 

Been there/done that each of those ways and now too old to get down on my wonky knees to do it again.

 

Surely there is a local tiling guy who will do the job for a few hundred baht a day if you buy the materials. He (or she) will probably tell you which is the best option.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fortunately the tiles are in the sink. So no getting on my hands and knees.

 

Decided to fill in the broken bit just with cement. Gonna do it on Thursday evening. Mildred has no school on Friday so I can stay up later, and the cement can dry off thru the night.

 

See how it goes.

 

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, owl sees all said:

Gonna do it on Thursday evening. Mildred has no school on Friday so I can stay up later, and the cement can dry off thru the night.

You're allowed to stay up later when your daughter has no school. Is that some sort of role reversal?

[owl sees all]

42 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

You're allowed to stay up later when your daughter has no school. Is that some sort of role reversal?

I am the first in bed usually. Milly follows and Mrs Owl toddles along later.

 

On Thursday evening I can be sure that I'm the last person to leave the sink. Normally it would be the Mrs.

 

My latest thing for consideration; If you had two numbers to multiply, that are similar to 44 x 77; that is just 4s and 7s, or it could be 33 x 88. The way to go is simply to multiply 4 and 7 or 3 and 8. Take a simple example; 55 x 66. 5 x 6 is thirty. So 50 x 60 = 3000. Add 300 (for 6 x 50) and add again 300 (5 x 60) gives 3600 and then just add 30; 3630.

 

Also; 56 x 65. 50 x 60 = 3000; add 360 (60 x 6) add 250 (50 x 5) and add 30 (5x6); 3000+360+250+30 = 3640. 

 

A learning thing for all children under 10. To get them to use their brains. I get Milly to test out my little sums.

 

This is a sure way to get a child to go to sleep. Forget sheep, the way to go is mental arithmetic.

 

 

Edited September 2, 2020 by owl sees all

[FarFlungFalang]

56 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

I am the first in bed usually. Milly follows and Mrs Owl toddles along later.

 

On Thursday evening I can be sure that I'm the last person to leave the sink. Normally it would be the Mrs.

 

My latest thing for consideration; If you had two numbers to multiply, that are similar to 44 x 77; that is just 4s and 7s, or it could be 33 x 88. The way to go is simply to multiply 4 and 7 or 3 and 8. Take a simple example; 55 x 66. 5 x 6 is thirty. So 50 x 60 = 3000. Add 300 (for 6 x 50) and add again 300 (5 x 60) gives 3600 and then just add 30; 3630.

 

Also; 56 x 65. 50 x 60 = 3000; add 360 (60 x 6) add 250 (50 x 5) and add 30 (5x6); 3000+360+250+30 = 3640. 

 

A learning thing for all children under 10. To get them to use their brains. I get Milly to test out my little sums.

 

This is a sure way to get a child to go to sleep. Forget sheep, the way to go is mental arithmetic.

 

 

I discovered that all multiples of 9 add up to 9 eg 2x9=18 1+8=9 3x9=27 2+7=9 and so on.I also just worked out just now that starting from the first 3 consecutive numbers that add up to 9 ie 234=9 then the sum of the next set of consecutive numbers will also add up to 9 eg 567 5+6+7=18 1+8=9 and8+9+10=27 2+7=9 11,12,13=36 and so on.9 is a special number.

[owl sees all]

43 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

I discovered that all multiples of 9 add up to 9 eg 2x9=18 1+8=9 3x9=27 2+7=9 and so on.I also just worked out just now that starting from the first 3 consecutive numbers that add up to 9 ie 234=9 then the sum of the next set of consecutive numbers will also add up to 9 eg 567 5+6+7=18 1+8=9 and8+9+10=27 2+7=9 11,12,13=36 and so on.9 is a special number.

Great stuff. Nine is indeed a special number.

 

I had documented this before on TV, but it is good that you bring this to our attention FFF.

 

I'd like to add a couple of things before this stuff thing runs its course (perhaps a maths' thread would be well received).

 

The way squares and square roots are constructed is fascinating. Starting from the very basic; 1x1=1, 2x2=4, 3x3=9, then 4x4=16, and so on. The difference between the squares is always an odd number and is continuous. Starting with 1, then 4, then 9, then 16 etc. We have; 3, 5, 7, 9 etc. This is very interesting, but it helps us with much bigger numbers. For instance; 39x39, not for the average Thai student - let alone an under 11 - but, not so difficult if the squares concept is understood. Now 40x40 is easy (1600), and the 'gap' between the 39x39 and 40x40 is 40+40-1=79. 1600-79=1521. And, correspondingly; 41x41=1681 (1600+40+40+1).

 

A good thing to have in your armoury if, for instance, square measures of land are being worked out.

 

I would make, understanding of numbers, and how to calculate simple sums mentally, a fundamental part of Thai maths' teaching. After all, one could go through life not knowing how to solve a quadratic, but being able to manage numbers easily in one's head would be a good thing.

 

 

Edited September 2, 2020 by owl sees all

[chickenslegs]

3 hours ago, owl sees all said:

My latest thing for consideration; If you had two numbers to multiply, that are similar to 44 x 77; that is just 4s and 7s, or it could be 33 x 88. The way to go is simply to multiply 4 and 7 or 3 and 8. Take a simple example; 55 x 66. 5 x 6 is thirty. So 50 x 60 = 3000. Add 300 (for 6 x 50) and add again 300 (5 x 60) gives 3600 and then just add 30; 3630.

 

Also; 56 x 65. 50 x 60 = 3000; add 360 (60 x 6) add 250 (50 x 5) and add 30 (5x6); 3000+360+250+30 = 3640. 

<snip>

 

This is a sure way to get a child to go to sleep. Forget sheep, the way to go is mental arithmetic.

 

Well I nodded off half way through reading that post, so I think you may be correct.????

[FarFlungFalang]

1 hour ago, owl sees all said:

Great stuff. Nine is indeed a special number.

 

I had documented this before on TV, but it is good that you bring this to our attention FFF.

 

I'd like to add a couple of things before this stuff thing runs its course (perhaps a maths' thread would be well received).

 

The way squares and square roots are constructed is fascinating. Starting from the very basic; 1x1=1, 2x2=4, 3x3=9, then 4x4=16, and so on. The difference between the squares is always an odd number and is continuous. Starting with 1, then 4, then 9, then 16 etc. We have; 3, 5, 7, 9 etc. This is very interesting, but it helps us with much bigger numbers. For instance; 39x39, not for the average Thai student - let alone an under 11 - but, not so difficult if the squares concept is understood. Now 40x40 is easy (1600), and the 'gap' between the 39x39 and 40x40 is 40+40-1=79. 1600-79=1521. And, correspondingly; 41x41=1681 (1600+40+40+1).

 

A good thing to have in your armoury if, for instance, square measures of land are being worked out.

 

I would make, understanding of numbers, and how to calculate simple sums mentally, a fundamental part of Thai maths' teaching. After all, one could go through life not knowing how to solve a quadratic, but being able to manage numbers easily in one's head would be a good thing.

 

 

Fascinating and reminds me of an old school surveyor I worked for who had the closest thing I've seen to a photographic memory,he knew all the botanical names of all the native Australian trees.He had also memorised the entire log tables and whilst doing a traverse he would do all the calcs in his head as we went along and would have the answers when we finished,all other surveyors I worked with would have to go back to the office and do calcs for hours using scientific calculators.Not Dashy he would take me on long walks through the bush showing me all the Aboriginal stuff in the area.He was also a direct descendant of the first fleet and it was from him that I learnt that there were Chinese on the first fleet and they were the cooks which is why Australia has a long history with Chinese restaurants,and the "asian invasion" of Australia is as long as the Anglo invasion. 

[bluesofa]

1 hour ago, chickenslegs said:

4 hours ago, owl sees all said:

My latest thing for consideration; If you had two numbers to multiply, that are similar to 44 x 77; that is just 4s and 7s, or it could be 33 x 88. The way to go is simply to multiply 4 and 7 or 3 and 8. Take a simple example; 55 x 66. 5 x 6 is thirty. So 50 x 60 = 3000. Add 300 (for 6 x 50) and add again 300 (5 x 60) gives 3600 and then just add 30; 3630.

 

Also; 56 x 65. 50 x 60 = 3000; add 360 (60 x 6) add 250 (50 x 5) and add 30 (5x6); 3000+360+250+30 = 3640. 

<snip>

 

This is a sure way to get a child to go to sleep. Forget sheep, the way to go is mental arithmetic.

 

Well I nodded off half way through reading that post, so I think you may be correct.

When you do wake up just remember 42. We all know the answer is always 42.

[Sterling]

9 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

When you do wake up just remember 42. We all know the answer is always 42.

But whats the question?

[bluesofa]

33 minutes ago, Sterling said:

43 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

When you do wake up just remember 42. We all know the answer is always 42.

But whats the question?

"What's the meaning of life, the universe and everything?"

[FarFlungFalang]

I took this picture of the ants on the move on the 29/8/2020 with the intention of posting a prediction of forthcoming rain so as it's started persisting down I hereby predict it's going to rain.Bloody Daeng Mots!I took the cows to the rubber farm to eat the grass now I'm going to be in strife for letting them get wet from the rain which means they'll get sick,me I say they need a good wash to clean the cow sh it off them.

Edited September 2, 2020 by FarFlungFalang

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, FarFlungFalang said:

I took this picture of the ants on the move on the 29/8/2020 with the intention of posting a prediction of forthcoming rain so as it's started persisting down I hereby predict it's going to rain.Bloody Daeng Mots!I took the cows to the rubber farm to eat the grass now I'm going to be in strife for letting them get wet from the rain which means they'll get sick,me I say they need a good wash to clean the cow sh it off them.

Professor Pigeon says that if ants were as big as humans, they would take over as the dominant species. They are that intelegent.

[FarFlungFalang]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Professor Pigeon says that if ants were as big as humans, they would take over as the dominant species. They are that intelegent.

I have more ant photos and a video showing an ant column with ants on sentry duty guarding the column which made me wonder who decides which ants do sentry duty and where they are posted.I have long been fascinated by ants and their antics!I remember walking through the bush to my donga and came across an ant over an inch long with large yellow nippers it was the black variety as there are large red ones as well,I stopped in my tracks as did he,and there we stood eyeballing each other so I started edging around to my right and so did the ant still eyeballing each other and when we had completed a 180 degrees of edging around to our right we both turned away and continued along the path in opposite directions.What I found eery about this encounter was the sense of intelligence I felt during the eyeballing.I was once bitten by the red variety of these humungous ants and it was ten times worse than the worst wasp sting I've ever had.   

[owl sees all]

1 hour ago, FarFlungFalang said:

I have more ant photos and a video showing an ant column with ants on sentry duty guarding the column which made me wonder who decides which ants do sentry duty and where they are posted.I have long been fascinated by ants and their antics!I remember walking through the bush to my donga and came across an ant over an inch long with large yellow nippers it was the black variety as there are large red ones as well,I stopped in my tracks as did he,and there we stood eyeballing each other so I started edging around to my right and so did the ant still eyeballing each other and when we had completed a 180 degrees of edging around to our right we both turned away and continued along the path in opposite directions.What I found eery about this encounter was the sense of intelligence I felt during the eyeballing.I was once bitten by the red variety of these humungous ants and it was ten times worse than the worst wasp sting I've ever had.   

We try not to kill ants. Just deter them from coming where we don't want them to go.

 

Use neem leaves at the farm to keep areas free of ants..

 

Been bitten many, many times. There is a little one that brings my skin up in a small blister. The big ones hurt when they bite but not too long lasting.

[FarFlungFalang]

I've been told that welders get the deepest penetration in the root.So when Mrs FFF said come and have a look my crack I was somewhat disappointed that it wasn't what I had in mind.The crack turned out to be in the weld of a major support member of a tractor implement so after some intense grinding I went for the deepest penetration I could.Welding is all about being comfortable and getting your angles correct,oh and breathing.I tried out the stick welding function on my Sumo Mig welder for the first time and after about five attempts at getting my angles and breathing sorted and lots more grinding it finally came together enough for me to consider it a likeness to bird poo.Any way there's enough metal on there to cover up the offending crack into which some penetration was hopefully achieved with a total of five passes.

 

 

 

 

Edited September 3, 2020 by FarFlungFalang

[owl sees all]

Owl Log 04-09-2020 Friday afternoon.

 

Expecting the DinL, and her hubby, to arrive today from Bangkok. They have four days off from their work. Drove overnight I'm told. Nothing yet.

 

Very quiet in the village, and although the kids are off; just no-one around.

 

Did the broken tiles in the sink. Decided to do the simple thing and fill the void up with tile cement.

 

 

Seems to be OK. Early days yet, but if Mrs Owl has learnt her lesson, we should't have more broken ones.

 

 

9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

 

Passing through Ban Dung yesterday, I noticed that the Merc' had left the roadside.

 

 

Probably getting a re-spray.

 

 

 

999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

 

Mildred and I have decided to change our methods of fishing. For years we used the 'lay flat' method, but went and bought a couple of expensive floats in the fishing shop, and our catches have definitely declined since.

 

I've been collecting some decent drinking straws to covert into floats.

 

 

I'll report on catches.

 

9999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999999

 

While not at the farm, or fixing tiles in the sink, I've been looking at many of the vid's on BrandNewTube. Some of the stuff, especially on the US, health agencies, have got me thinking.

 

Milly and Mrs Owl are not best friends; for two days now. The wife wanted M to wash her hair on Wednesday evening and M didn't want to. The Mrs won, of course, but I thought that these times will get more frequent. As M gets older, she will be able to make her own decisions about mundane things like hair washing. Interesting years ahead. Mrs Owl's abrasive manner might upset two of us on a regular basis.

 

Can't wait for the footy to start. Some interesting signings; rather than headline makers. Best deal so far; Doherty to Spurs for a give away price.

 

Does anyone even care about F1? What a boring load of nonsense.

 

I notice that happenings in LOS are making the front page on the BBC website. Wonder why?

 

Visited a friend in Udon recently, and the Mrs has decided that the way to a fortune is to do the same as my mate's wife. Sell fish at the market. We have gone from selling fish, to selling dragon fruit, to selling perfume, to selling rosella, to selling oil palm nuts, to,,,,, and now to fish; again. "Just take it easy teerak." "There is enough dosh coming in for an easy life. Stop being greedy." "I not greedy. Just want more."

 

Gonna relax and enjoy the next couple of days. Have plenty of reishi wine stocked, and there is lots of research to be getting on with on BNT.

 

Enjoy the hol's people.

 

Bye y'all.

 

[Sterling]

2 hours ago, owl sees all said:

I notice that happenings in LOS are making the front page on the BBC website. Wonder why?

My guess would be that the BBC website can see that you are coming there from Thailand so it dynamically shows you articles about Thailand. If someone was going to the BBC website from the PI, they'd probably be reading about Duterte and all the COVID cases popping up there.

[bluesofa]

5 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Owl Log 04-09-2020 Friday afternoon.

{snipped}

 

Visited a friend in Udon recently, and the Mrs has decided that the way to a fortune is to do the same as my mate's wife. Sell fish at the market. We have gone from selling fish, to selling dragon fruit, to selling perfume, to selling rosella, to selling oil palm nuts, to,,,,, and now to fish; again. "Just take it easy teerak." "There is enough dosh coming in for an easy life. Stop being greedy." "I not greedy. Just want more."

The fish my in-laws have been selling took them years just to build up their reputation. They sat on the pavement outside Nong Bua market in Udon city every day for twenty years.

Now they sell a few days a week at other local markets, but there's always customers who know them from Nong Bua market.

[FarFlungFalang]

5 hours ago, owl sees all said:

 

Being a Vee Dub man I was admiring this little beauty with white walled tyres no less and looks to be post 1967,any idea what year it is? 

[FarFlungFalang]

5 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Visited a friend in Udon recently, and the Mrs has decided that the way to a fortune is to do the same as my mate's wife. Sell fish at the market. We have gone from selling fish, to selling dragon fruit, to selling perfume, to selling rosella, to selling oil palm nuts, to,,,,, and now to fish; again. "Just take it easy teerak." "There is enough dosh coming in for an easy life. Stop being greedy." "I not greedy. Just want more."

 

7 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

The fish my in-laws have been selling took them years just to build up their reputation. They sat on the pavement outside Nong Bua market in Udon city every day for twenty years.

Now they sell a few days a week at other local markets, but there's always customers who know them from Nong Bua market.

Something fishy about these posts which reminds of the blind guy who walked past a fish shop and says "evening ladies".

[owl sees all]

7 minutes ago, FarFlungFalang said:

Being a Vee Dub man I was admiring this little beauty with white walled tyres no less and looks to be post 1967,any idea what year it is? 

I could be nosy and ask about the VW. 

 

If I pick up Milly from school next week, on my own, I'll stop and ask. There are musical instrument boxes on top. My feeling is that it's a live music guy. But the car hasn't moved for yonks.

[owl sees all]

19 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

The fish my in-laws have been selling took them years just to build up their reputation. They sat on the pavement outside Nong Bua market in Udon city every day for twenty years.

Now they sell a few days a week at other local markets, but there's always customers who know them from Nong Bua market.

Mrs Owl'a fish plan is simply something that she has seen others do; and thinks it is easy. We live 15 km from the Ban Dung market. We have to get the fry, raise them, catch them, and take them to market. Too much like hard work; when you don't need to do it.

 

We were fortunate that it was very wet in August. Been a poor level of rainfall in recent years. I just have to nod, and wait for the next idea, to come and pass.

[FarFlungFalang]

4 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

I could be nosy and ask about the VW. 

 

If I pick up Milly from school next week, on my own, I'll stop and ask. There are musical instrument boxes on top. My feeling is that it's a live music guy. But the car hasn't moved for yonks.

If I remember correctly if you look closely in the corner of the windows there's some text stamped there with a small dot above one of the letters which indicates the year it was made if you count the letters from the start of the text.Also being guitar inclined myself I noticed the case on the roof out in the weather and assume the owner keeps a sharp eye on the weather. 

[bluesofa]

On 9/4/2020 at 8:40 PM, FarFlungFalang said:

If I remember correctly if you look closely in the corner of the windows there's some text stamped there with a small dot above one of the letters which indicates the year it was made if you count the letters from the start of the text.Also being guitar inclined myself I noticed the case on the roof out in the weather and assume the owner keeps a sharp eye on the weather. 

'being guitar inclined myself...... assume the owner keeps a sharp eye on the weather.'

A sharp eye, not flat or natural?

Also, just how inclined is your guitar - is it one in ten, or steeper at one in three?

[FarFlungFalang]

46 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

'being guitar inclined myself...... assume the owner keeps a sharp eye on the weather.'

A sharp eye, not flat or natural?

Also, just how inclined is your guitar - is it one in ten, or steeper at one in three?

Touche!Sharp definitely.My preferred inclination is definitely a sliding scale of one in three.

 

 

Edited September 7, 2020 by FarFlungFalang

[HighPriority]

On 9/1/2020 at 1:42 PM, owl sees all said:

I use a chopping board when I'm preparing the ingredients for my reishi. But Mrs Owl is Thai old skool.

 

I'm thinking to re-tile the whole base. Have plenty of cement. I'd have difficulty cutting the tiles, but not too old to learn, and I do have a angle grinder. Now pull the old tiles up or tile over the top?

If the tiles are already loose in places, please tell me you’re jesting about tiling over the top Owl...

If Mrs HP wanted to destroy our knives and floor tiles I’d probably drop a large wooden chopping board on her foot... ????

[owl sees all]

On 9/8/2020 at 5:27 AM, HighPriority said:

If the tiles are already loose in places, please tell me you’re jesting about tiling over the top Owl...

If Mrs HP wanted to destroy our knives and floor tiles I’d probably drop a large wooden chopping board on her foot... ????

Job done HP.

 

Looking good.