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Diary of a farang in Isaan


owl sees all

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11 hours ago, sotonowl said:

Here's a pic of my darts, ring any bells with anyone? I reckon you'd all forgot about these.

Screenshot 2023-01-07 at 15.10.03.png

I recall those darts. A step up from the feathers. And feathers were the new plastic.

 

Anyone remember the 'polo mint' challenge? The guvnor of our local banned them. Hundreds of bits of mint on the floor after every opening session.

 

 

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13 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Owl Log - 08-01-2023 - Sunday mid-dayish

 

An interesting week. Didn't get to Udon. Didn't sort out the water pump. Didn't get the stone from the supplier for the road fix. But it was busy!

 

Went to a dog farm earlier in the week. Went again yesterday. Dogs everywhere! TBH, I was just as interested in the farm water set up.

 

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Let it run 24/7. Switches itself on an hour after sun-up, and off about 16-30. Not yet been tested in the rain, cause there has not been any for a coupe of months..

 

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Has the option of filling the pond, watering the garden or filling the house tank.

 

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Cost about 25k baht all told.

 

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Lemon tree.

 

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Can't say the doggies were not nice though. And we (I), finished up buying two. Oscar and Robert.

Do a mini Owl Log later today, when I've sorted out the pics from yesterday.

 

This beautiful riggie caught the eye.

 

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I was wondering why they put the pipes on the surface.

 

Now I know.

 

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A new house is about to spring up. And they have dug out a pond.

 

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Deep!

 

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It seems a bit close to the road to me. Only about 30 metres. Can't be a really big house planned. Watch this space for updates.

 

Talking of dogs. They were at it again on Wednesday night.

 

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I'm thinking that a new bin is in order. One that the soi-dogs can't easily get into for their rubbish fix.

 

But in the meantime a tool to help pick it all up, when it gets scattered all over the place. It's good. Can pick up fag-butts and tooth-pick.

 

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And it has proved its worth at the farm when Mildred does a tidy-up.

 

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The cows are going into the palm farm every day. They can't really do any damage, and their poopoo is welcome.

 

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For quite a while now, I have been feeling guilty about keeping the budgies in their little cage. I spoke to Mildred about letting them go. Mrs Owl said to let them out too. So Saturday morning me and Mildred set them free.

 

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The blue bird didn't get far before he landed. Just over the road into Bella's yard.

 

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Had a look before going off to the dog farm. He was gone. We'll never see them again. Freedom! I feel much better. I hope they do too.

 

Far more farmers are baling their rice stubble this season.

 

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Of course if you are gonna keep a dog or two, they have to be looked after.

 

Two dog-houses to be built.

 

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And!! Don't want them getting out to explore their new village.

 

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A busy week alright. Dogs, budgies, busted roof, farm had a haircut and a nut cut.

 

Footy roundup.

Well done the owls for rolling over Toon. 27k at Hillsborough. Wolves were unlucky. Orient still lead their division by 5 points. Fulham having a nice run. The Bees were outstanding against Pool but not good enough against The Irons. "It's a funny old game." Geavsie was right. And pretender Harry Kane - who couldn't hit a barn-door in the World Cup when asked - is only a couple of goals away from Jimmy's record at Spurs. Gonna lose sleep over that.

 

World focus.

Anyone wanting peace in the Ukraine conflict in the US, is demonised it seems to me.

The house finally voted in a chair. I think the Dems missed a trick early on. MacDonnald was their least worst enemy. They should have voted him in right at  the start. After all, there were a couple of Repubs thay just didn't want. Maths gonna be taught at schools until the kids are 18, according to Rishi Rich. Better to teach about the world banking system and how it works.

 

A decent nut-cut in the week. Put a few baht in me bin. Needed it this week.

 

Mildred back to school tomorrow. Only one day in last week for exams. She said the maths was easy the Thai language so-so, but found Thai history testing. No art or music lessons at the school.

 

The farm has had a make-over. 3k baht plus petrol for three guys to grass-cut it all. So not bad at all.

 

The toilet it giving problems. Need to call out the poopoo wagon today.

 

Darts at the Alley Pally had a fantastic finally. Absolutely outstanding from Van Gerwin and Smith; who was the solid and deserved winner. Never before have I seen four 180s on the trot like in one of the legs (earlier post from Farmer Jo). It was simply great.

 

Bought some metal box-sections at the supply-shop on Thursday and will probably have to get some more to get the two kennels built. Drew up a detailed plan for the engineer/technician/welder. Should be ready in a couple of days.

 

Good to see Poo and Robert are friends already. Not so sure about Oscar though. He has that funny look in his eye when a cat comes close.

 

That's it, until later today.

 

Good job there's no rain!!!! The cat is what done it!

 

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Bye y'all.

Yes, Smith deserved it on the night, even though i'd money on Van Gerwen, grrrrrr.

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5 hours ago, sotonowl said:

Yes, Smith deserved it on the night, even though i'd money on Van Gerwen, grrrrrr.

Same here Owl.

 

Right from the start I fancied Van Gerwen and that German guy, who was beaten in the semis. Smith played exceptionally well and got better as the show went on.

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22 hours ago, owl sees all said:

Same here Owl.

 

Right from the start I fancied Van Gerwen and that German guy, who was beaten in the semis. Smith played exceptionally well and got better as the show went on.

I had him at 11/4. It was a free bet so no actual money lost fortunately.

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On 1/5/2023 at 7:43 PM, Mutt Daeng said:

I would always opt for two dogs, so they can form a tag-team which is very useful when dealing with snakes and other interlopers. Also, they keep each other company.

Here are my two: Leo & Chang

 

The one thing better than two dogs is....

 

four dogs ????

 

 

Thai babies.jpg

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32 minutes ago, bannork said:

Owl, the temple in Saraburi for rehab is well known. The monks use herbal mixtures to purify the body, coupled with teachings. I'll send you a video of a UK junkie going there, he really is a case! 

The Ban Dung Update website I told you about regularly sends amphetamine/ meths/ lao khao lovers there in their minivan.

It took one of our villagers last week. I hold out no hope of him changing his ways because he only went under duress from relatives.

Lots of addicts come out clean, it's a rigorous 3/4 week regime, they may have the best intentions, but if they return to their old haunts, hanging out with riff raff, then they often fall back into their old ways. And you can't go back to Wat Tham Krabork. When they leave, the cured must swear to never go back to their old ways. If they do, tough titties, there's no going back whining they'll do better next time.

Talking about alcohol, I'm thinking of making mango wine from our massive oversupply of fruit. 

What do you think?

Southampton on the rise. Could it be another miraculous escape from relegation?  Far better to be at the top or bottom section of the league. It adds to the suspense. Mid-table is so boring.

Apologies for black text, no idea what triggered that, probably a clumsy finger.

 

 

This is a fantastic post Bannork. I've learnt more about the place by reading it, than the wife has told me in 24 hours. We did take her other brother to a place in between Udon and Khon Kaen many years ago. That's the one I suggested when he started to cut loose in the village a week ago.

 

Do the herbs do an Iowaska job on the subjects? Always wanted to try that out myself. But I've no addictions; not counting being the family  farang <deleted>..

 

There are two ways of making the wine. I prefer getting the juice and mixing it 50/50 with Lao Khao. The other way involves fermenting. Bit scared of that since I blew up the kitchen 50 years ago. That was banana wine though.

 

I always look out for the saints scores. I like the way they play their football. And one of my all-time footy heroes, Matt Le Tissier, played for them all through his career. A great advert for English footy; both for player and club.

 

Fans have a sense of humour too. When they were getting tanked by Leicester a couple of years back (0-9), they started up the chant; '''All we are saying is; give us seven goals'. When the 7th went in. And they changed the words when the 8th and 9th went in.

 

Went to see them play at the Dell a couple of times,; but not at St Marys.

 

As I said in the Owl Log, it's so close down there. Just 2 points separate the bottom 7.

 

 

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50 minutes ago, HighPriority said:

So, old dogs (Owlhounds ?) can learn new tricks !!

Im impressed Owl, well done ????????

 

Of course, I would have got up there and got the Mrs to mix up the cement.  But I couldn't have trusted her to mix it good.

 

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1 hour ago, bannork said:

Owl, the temple in Saraburi for rehab is well known. The monks use herbal mixtures to purify the body, coupled with teachings. I'll send you a video of a UK junkie going there, he really is a case! 

The Ban Dung Update website I told you about regularly sends amphetamine/ meths/ lao khao lovers there in their minivan.

It took one of our villagers last week. I hold out no hope of him changing his ways because he only went under duress from relatives.

Lots of addicts come out clean, it's a rigorous 3/4 week regime, they may have the best intentions, but if they return to their old haunts, hanging out with riff raff, then they often fall back into their old ways. And you can't go back to Wat Tham Krabork. When they leave, the cured must swear to never go back to their old ways. If they do, tough titties, there's no going back whining they'll do better next time.

Talking about alcohol, I'm thinking of making mango wine from our massive oversupply of fruit. 

What do you think?

Southampton on the rise. Could it be another miraculous escape from relegation?  Far better to be at the top or bottom section of the league. It adds to the suspense. Mid-table is so boring.

Apologies for black text, no idea what triggered that, probably a clumsy finger.

 

 

They used to say that after swearing not to go back on drugs or alcohol, any one who broke their promise would soon die. Not sure if its the same now but I knew someone who went to Wat Tham Krabok who swore off alcohol and what kept him sober afterwards was the fear of breaking his promise and dying, not really the realization that he was so much better after giving up alcohol. It was not unheard of westerners with drug/acohol problems also staying at this temple. 

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9 minutes ago, GarryP said:

They used to say that after swearing not to go back on drugs or alcohol, any one who broke their promise would soon die. Not sure if its the same now but I knew someone who went to Wat Tham Krabok who swore off alcohol and what kept him sober afterwards was the fear of breaking his promise and dying, not really the realization that he was so much better after giving up alcohol. It was not unheard of westerners with drug/acohol problems also staying at this temple. 

Where have I been for 15 years?.

 

This place sounds exciting. Now what can I get addicted to?

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25 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Where have I been for 15 years?.

 

This place sounds exciting. Now what can I get addicted to?

Dam, can't find the video now though there are plenty in English about Wat Tham Krabok in English on YouTube. 

The UK guy I was referring to agreed to fly to Thailand to rehab at Wat Tham Krabok. He had a couple of NGO  minders with him.

Unknown to them, the incorrigible junkie smuggled some heroin on his flight into Thailand, ' Just to keep me going till I get there!'

So he's out of it, slurring his words in the minibus from Bangkok to Saraburi. 

Amazingly, the monks still accept him. He lasts, I think three weeks, and vows he won't go back to his former ways. 

Wish I could find the video.

 

 

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13 hours ago, HighPriority said:

Thai ladies… ????

We all know it. 'Breaking rocks in the hot sun - I broke the law and the law won'

 

Falang in Thailand.

 

'Making love in the hot sun - she burnt her ears and I burnt my bum.'

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19 minutes ago, rickudon said:

Mango wine ....... Had a friend made some a few years ago. He just fermented it then bottled it up into the 1.25 litre coke bottles. Was OK (certainly strong) but wine stayed cloudy and did have a slight bitter taste. Could have maybe done with a while maturing, but didn't last long enough!

 

Other things .. Plaa jeramid (Pacu) caught from one of our fishing ponds by a customer - 16 kg !

 

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Mango wine is very difficult to clear. I suppose it is due to being a very fibrous fruit. But it can be cleared with finings (or egg whites, or many months of standing).

When I tried it I gave up at the cloudy stage (I also used coke bottles) and called it cloudy mango cider. It was around 10% ABV and I sweetened it slightly with Equal.

And, yes, my 20L did not last long as it was very tasty.

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11 hours ago, chickenslegs said:

Mango wine is very difficult to clear. I suppose it is due to being a very fibrous fruit. But it can be cleared with finings (or egg whites, or many months of standing).

When I tried it I gave up at the cloudy stage (I also used coke bottles) and called it cloudy mango cider. It was around 10% ABV and I sweetened it slightly with Equal.

And, yes, my 20L did not last long as it was very tasty.

Could it not be put through a filter?

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12 hours ago, rickudon said:

Mango wine ....... Had a friend made some a few years ago. He just fermented it then bottled it up into the 1.25 litre coke bottles. Was OK (certainly strong) but wine stayed cloudy and did have a slight bitter taste. Could have maybe done with a while maturing, but didn't last long enough!

 

I was an expert on wines a few years back. People would come to me for advice and to learn. Sadly, I've forgotten most of the little knowledge I did have. Just get the juice and mix it with a decent alcohol of choice. So easy. This fermenting stuff is a waste of time for me.

 

I can still recall me mum, being woken up in the night by my bottle of banana wine exploding at 3 in the morning. She told me to clean it up next day. All over the ceiling and walls.

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12 hours ago, rickudon said:

 

 Plaa jeramid (Pacu) caught from one of our fishing ponds by a customer - 16 kg !

 

.322415972_1600665153703170_5968296203583060145_n.thumb.jpg.dcb37d9322d9d6c8861f9c288e3fd807.jpg

That is the biggest Pacu I've ever seen. 16 kg. Wow!!

 

Must be a world record. Much bigger than the ones I used to catch in Jamaica; although maybe nor the same strain.

 

Did have some in Pond One a few years back, but they never grew more than 2.5/3 kg.

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On 1/10/2023 at 12:38 PM, owl sees all said:

Dogs come to village.

 

Saturday was the big day. Went to the dog farm and had a good time with the puppies.

 

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Robert left and Oscar right.

After a 40 kilometre trip back, it was the new home.

 

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Cats said "Hi puppies".

 

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The doggies houses should be ready later today.

 

Just came back from the general store with the last bit of material.

 

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Did you get the Ridgebacks from Michael and Mem? I have followed them for a long time on YouTube, quality dogs they breed!

Just watched the video, you did buy from them, I remembered the names of the pups!

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4 hours ago, roo860 said:

Did you get the Ridgebacks from Michael and Mem? I have followed them for a long time on YouTube, quality dogs they breed!

Just watched the video, you did buy from them, I remembered the names of the pups!

Yes!

 

They have some pups for sale now. They have so many that I was temped to get a couple more. but we don't live on the farm anymore, and it would have been just too difficult in the village.

 

Beautiful dogs they are.

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2 hours ago, HighPriority said:

Owl, I think adding juice to alcohol is called cocktails, wine (as you well know) is a different beastie.

Ive never been turned on by fruit wine (other than grape ????) or beers.

I think the word you are seeking is 'blended'.

 

I mix with Lao Khao, but a decent vodka would be OK. However, since the Ukraine conflict, vodka has been difficult to buy.

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