Diary of a farang in Isaan

[owl sees all]

1 minute ago, bluesofa said:

I just have to say this: The girl wearing the mask has really beautiful eyes.

Her dad was Chinese. Mother Thai.

[Scottish Thailander]

Ignore my comment. Didn’t finish reading your post before commenting. 

Edited December 25, 2020 by Scottish Thailander

[bluesofa]

Just now, Scottish Thailander said:

I believe the trip to the Wat was for the hair cutting. Everyone snips a few hairs then if I remember correctly a monk gets the clippers out to finish off a No.1 style shearing. 

From what I understand, it's all body hair to be removed?

Can I lower the tone by asking if people can choose which hair they remove?

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - Christmas Day special - Part 2

 

The water leak is no more. Since the leak started - which is when it was last fixed - I estimate that 121,976 litres of water has been lost.

 

 

The first thing is to expose the pipe. The guy from across the road did the donkey work. The technician arrived later.

 

 

He does a lot of work for us. Trim the garden trees. Cut the farm grass. Any jobs that I'm too busy to attend to.

 

 

And there is the culprit. But, the main man arrived and said the water was leaking from another place. So more digging was carried out.

 

 

And he was right. Can't beat experience.

 

So this meant a lot more work.

 

 

 

Mrs Owl looking on. A two man job to connect up.

 

 

Then the bit that goes to our gaff.

 

 

And within two hours; finished. The technician moved on to the next leak to leave the digger to complete proceedings.

 

 

And there it was. Finished.

 

 

I'm impressed. Thai workmanship at its best.

 

In England they would have closed the road off. Probably frozen the pipes. Engaged the police to make sure the workers had their masks on. Local council 'time and motion' executive observing. Local paper's photographer, for next weeks copy, snapping away. The BBC even. The area evacuated. Fire service standing by.

 

That is definitely it for the second of the Christmas Day specials.

 

Now it's time to undo my pressie. What! No! It can't be! Someone's had it away Mrs Owl. "Mildred took it to school!?" Thanks for letting me know Mrs Owl. Never mind. "What's that teerak? "You have a bad belly?" Dear me. Good xmas this is turning out to be.

 

Let's get stuck into some reishi wine, Beng Bengs, and listen to Van the Man and xmas carols. Roll on ten o'clock.

 

I am pondering this today, just as you are.

 

Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons?

 

Stay safe.

 

Bye y'all.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited December 25, 2020 by owl sees all

[Scottish Thailander]

2 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

From what I understand, it's all body hair to be removed?

Can I lower the tone by asking if people can choose which hair they remove?

If it is then the parts other than the head are not open to others to snip.  Maybe in case the ordainee may be doing his penance for sleeping with someone’s wife or daughter and they may “accidentally” slip with the shears.  

[bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, Scottish Thailander said:

If it is then the parts other than the head are not open to others to snip.  Maybe in case the ordainee may be doing his penance for sleeping with someone’s wife or daughter and they may “accidentally” slip with the shears.  

Could be a chance to defect to the Jewish faith if the right part was snipped.

[bluesofa]

7 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

The water leak is no more. Since the leak started - which is when it was last fixed - I estimate that 121,976 litres of water has been lost.

I love your use of the word 'estimate' while quoting such a precise figure!

[owl sees all]

1 minute ago, bluesofa said:

I love your use of the word 'estimate' while quoting such a precise figure!

I was thinking that not all the water was wasted. There are 23 dogs in our soi and they all like to drink from the leak. It they did that for 12 months. Well, that's a lot of water; about 1000 litres.

 

But, as usual, Bluesofa, you are bang on the money. I should have used 'calculate' instead of 'estimate'. I still have 6 minutes left to change the word. I want to!! But, the reishi wine is waiting for consumption. So I'll not bother. No one else will notice.

 

Merry christmas!!

[faraday]

52 minutes ago, owl sees all said:

Did Adam and Eve have belly buttons?

 It seems they did......

 

 

 

[Golden Triangle]

Merry Christmas Owl & the myriad of contributors to this fine thread, here's hoping for a saner and safer 2021.

 

Cheers ????????????????????????????

[GarryP]

3 hours ago, bluesofa said:

From what I understand, it's all body hair to be removed?

Can I lower the tone by asking if people can choose which hair they remove?

I had my head and eyebrows shaved when I entered the monkhood many, many years ago (about 27 years ago).  Was ordained in a famous temple in Phibun Mangsahan, but spent my time in what was then a forest temple in Chong Mek in Sirindhorn District of Ubol.  Only a few weeks there but long enough to confirm that Thai Bhuddism and superstition weren't for me. Been an atheist pretty much ever since.  

Edited December 25, 2020 by GarryP

[owl sees all]

13 minutes ago, GarryP said:

I had my head and eyebrows shaved when I entered the monkhood many, many years ago (about 33 years ago).  Was ordained in a famous temple in Phibun Mangsahan, but spent my time in what was then a forest temple in Chong Mek in Sirindhorn District of Ubol.  Only a few weeks there but long enough to confirm that Thai Bhuddism and superstition weren't for me. Been an atheist pretty much ever since.  

Great post Gary.

 

Can't beat personal experiences.

[HighPriority]

10 hours ago, faraday said:

 It seems they did......

 

 

 

 

Thats up there with the paintings of Two Lions queuing up with the other animals to board the Arc... ????

[chickenslegs]

On 12/25/2020 at 9:46 AM, bluesofa said:

I just have to say this: The girl wearing the mask has really beautiful eyes.

 

From the family photo above, I deduce that she is "Nan" (it's a pain that we no longer have post numbers to refer to).

She also appears in this very unflattering photo ...

 

Correct me if I'm wrong Owl.

[bannork]

Thought I'd post some pictures of the farm as we get to the end of the year.

In October I hired 2 builders to build a cattle shed on our farm so we could graze them in the fields there post harvesting. 

They always have a nutritious breakfast first though of crushed Napier grass.

I built 3 bedrooms for my brother-in- law, the grandkids and myself. We sleep there to deter rustlers, plus it's peaceful. No village dogs though there are some Thai style hyenas/ dingoes nearby which 'chatter' at night.

I planted 240 banana trees in May, they're now coming to fruition literally.

The b-i-l recommended a water tower to irrigate them but once the posts were up I stopped the builders as I realized a submerged pump with sprinklers was the answer ( I've planted sone hardwood trees and vegetables within sprinkler range roo).

So I was left with 4 ugly concrete posts stuck in the ground, a mini Hopewell project for those old hands who remember that case in Bangkok!

Anyway, I asked the builders who built the cow shed if they could make an observation tower from the posts. No problem, 10,000 baht labour costs and 15.000 baht for the materials. They did a fine job.

Now all I need is a gun to shoot the birds ( kayang) stealing my fish from the pond below! 

Merry Xmas to all and a Happy New Year.

[bluesofa]

27 minutes ago, bannork said:

I built 3 bedrooms for my brother-in- law, the grandkids and myself. We sleep there to deter rustlers

I saw the first photo, which is of the water tower and initially thought you meant up there. I was looking for the searchlights and machine gun.

My mistake!

[GarryP]

44 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

I saw the first photo, which is of the water tower and initially thought you meant up there. I was looking for the searchlights and machine gun.

My mistake!

Initially when I saw the cattle shed with two arm chairs and a sofa, I thought Bannork meant those until I saw the next picture.   

[bannork]

2 hours ago, bluesofa said:

I saw the first photo, which is of the water tower and initially thought you meant up there. I was looking for the searchlights and machine gun.

My mistake!

I would love to have a machine gun up there to strafe the wild dogs and fish eating birds. Can't forget those comics I was brought up on in the 60s. Achtung! 

( I'm a Rejoiner by the way)!

 

[Golden Triangle]

@owl sees all just listening to some BBC Radio 2 from Sunday, thought this might cheer you up, Australian researchers have discovered that the leaves on Eucalyptus trees contain Gold, don't tell Mrs owl ???? 

 

Enjoy your new found wealth ????????

[owl sees all]

On 12/27/2020 at 10:18 PM, chickenslegs said:

 

From the family photo above, I deduce that she is "Nan" (it's a pain that we no longer have post numbers to refer to).

She also appears in this very unflattering photo ...

 

Correct me if I'm wrong Owl.

You are bang on the money Chickenlegs.

 

 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - 29-12-2020 - Tuesday morning

 

The 2020 year races to a close. A lot of excitement along the way. Brexit had all us Englanders, on the edges of our seats. Nasty covid bug had a big impact on the western world. But here, a humble village out in the sticks of Isaan, it all just passed us by; and still is. Main worries during the year, for the villagers, was lack of rain and strange lottery numbers, that no-one had thought of. 

 

Last Owl Log of the year. But I'll do a 2020 special on either NYE or NYD. A looking back post; one month at a time.

 

Thank you all for contributing to 'Diary of a farang in Isaan'. Without your input, I'd have got fed up and stopped long ago.

 

Mildred's school had a Santa theme on Friday. The children could wear anything they wished, as long as it was christmaseeee. So lots of reds and whites.

 

 

 

 

 

'Girls can do anything'. I'll go along  with that.

 

The 'mystery' road markings were put to good use from Friday onwards. There is a daily fruit, and veg, and fish, and meat market in Ban Dung. It was next to the main drag, (2096) and it was a nightmare for traffic, people crossing across the road, and parking up.

 

New location.

 

 

 

We went there last evening. Mrs Owl was off buying her usual things, and I was lucky enough to find a stall, right at the end, that had a few bits of clothing and footwear. Earlier Mildred (on Xmas eve) had her white trainers half-inched from outside the main hall. She takes #39s, (although sizes sometimes bear little resemblance to the actual size) and I bought her a nice pair of white #41s for 80 baht.

 

There was definitely a Xmas feel to it all. 

 

 

At the other end of the market, there were lots of lights.

 

 

Back at the farm, Mildred and myself went on a clean-up jaunt through number four. Picked up a quarter of a sack of rubbish. Mildred did the spiking.

 

 

Found a special euca while we were there.

 

This euca was not in the ground, but was laying in its side growing away.

 

 

The root was as long as the little tree. Looked healthy enough. Put the root to a water bucket.

 

I have a favourite tree. It's in number one, and I'm giving it particular love, although Mrs Owl is getting a little jealous. I spiked holes all around the earth and have been watering it daily. Want to see how quickly and fast a euca can grow under ideal conditions. Pics on this next year; if it's still intact and not fallen down.

 

The avocado that was grown from seed has not got any higher, but has became more robust. Lovely home-grown avocadoes soon.

 

 

Back in Ban Dung yesterday, a man actually tidying up wires. 

 

 

Not much in the way of safety (#Kadilo are you taking note). In fact the ladder was resting on the wires he was tying up. But I think the leccy ones are a bit higher.

 

At the village; the cows had moved in. Their compound is just 25 metres from us. Can hear 'moo, moo' as I type.

 

 

That's it. The worst pics of the year. I'm gonna have to take more with the Minolta. The phone camera just doesn't like low-light or zooming.

 

Newjac, the new cat, has finally become friends with Charkie. Lots of silly fighting initially, but now it's all good.

 

Mrs Owl has just left with a team of girls to go to that special place where they glean winning lottery numbers. I've been there myself a couple of times. but not participated; just observed.

 

The ladies buy a little basket of nails, that are then dropped into the stream* that runs through the buddha compound. The winning lottery numbers are then interpreted, depending on the way the nails have arranged themselves. I told Mrs Owl, after her last disappointment in this escapade, to try to understand Roman Numerals. "What you talk, stupid farang?" "Teerak, Roman Numerals not have so many curves. Look at the clock." She didn't get it. So for all the readers of this humble post, look for tickets without 1s, 4s and 7s, next time contemplating a purchase. Just can't lose (10% donation really appreciated).

 

Hope you all had a great Xmas.

 

Bye y'all.

 

* Let's hope is hasn't dried up.

Edited December 29, 2020 by owl sees all

[Kadilo]

Great post as always Owl. I was taken back last Xmas at how many young uns were dressed up in their Santa outfits going to school in Udon. 

 

Love the street markets, spend hours of my time over there just wandering up and down looking at all the nick nacks. 

 

Yes, the electric man just needs a bolt of electric and he’s primed to look like Jesus on the cross. 

 

My partner has been doing the Buddha rounds. She visited some Premier League monk who is supposed to be the best in the area who previously told her she would be successful in selling some land she owns. This land has been rented by a family who use it to sell rubber as part of their business. They have been renting it for the past 5 years and have now virtually built a home on it for the workers who stay there so I advised her to sell it as it was likely they would buy it and wouldn’t want to leave. Of course it was the PL Monk who made it happen so she has been back with gifts a plenty along with a visit to a couple of Championship and League 1 Monks who “assisted” the transaction. 

 

When she called the the other day she got all excited about a photo she had taken on my land. In case you didn’t know the green dot is a “dragon” so I’m let to believe. To counter this I posted my own piece of good fortune when out walking. Who would have thought that the dragon was watching me too showing all his colours. 

 

Xmas has been lousy over here for me. I won’t bore you with the details but I wish you and all the contributors all the best for the New Year. Here’s hoping there is some good news at the end of that rainbow. 

 

 

 

 

 

[HighPriority]

Xmas...  bah bloody humbug !

 

Thanks for your entertainment Owl, I hope that you and all the mob that read, contribute and lurk in this thread stay safe, sane and happy.

[Odysseus123]

5 hours ago, HighPriority said:

Xmas...  bah bloody humbug !

Ha..ha..ha..yet another "Grinch" trying to steal Christmas!

 

I like the Thai approach to Christmas as they just absorb it into their eclectic approach to religious festivals and have some fun and add some colour to their lives (as per Owl's photos above).

I have often thought that there was some form of universal animistic connection between the Christian manger scene and say..this..

 

[owl sees all]

Ah yes! Animals over Xmas. Specifically the two legged ones, with feathers.

 

As I walk Mildred to her bus in the mornings, we pass the duck compound. When they see me they get agitated and start panicking. I stop and have a quiet word. I explain that we - farangs - are more interested in turkeys than ducks at this time of year. This seems to calm them.

 

A turkey is for life; not just until Xmas. Can veggie meat be bought in Isaan?

 

 

[Odysseus123]

4 hours ago, owl sees all said:

A turkey is for life; not just until Xmas.

Which reminds me of that famous Isaan saying...

 

"What's good for the goose is good for the farang..."

[bluesofa]

1 minute ago, Odysseus123 said:

Which reminds me of that famous Isaan saying...

"What's good for the goose is good for the farang..."

Let me 'ave a look, I'll take a gander...

[Odysseus123]

5 minutes ago, bluesofa said:

Let me 'ave a look, I'll take a gander...

Only if you pay for it..you wouldn't want to end up like our Norwegian kick-boxer in Warin Chamrap,would you?????

[Odysseus123]

Just now, Odysseus123 said:

Double post.

 

[owl sees all]

Owl Log - TWTYTW* - A Look Back Over 2020 - Jan, Feb, March, April

 

I've gone back over the months and selected a few pics and words, that I feel reflect both the posters and the thread. Please forgive me for reducing the size of some pics.

 

January saw me off thread action due to computer and internet problems. The posters did fantastic to keeping the topic on the go, especially AT who posted some great pics.

 

AT was a cycling  enthusiastic. He was always willing to take a break for some snapping.

 

 

Two of his many great pics.

 

 

Kadilo's house in Isaan. Wife waiting for him. Difficult times.

 

 

Another AT pic. 

 

 

Ody's birthday bash.

 

 

And just to remind us of how beautiful the Oz countryside can be.

 

 

Stubble burning at the farm.

 

 

The local rat-catchers had a good day.

 

 

High Priority net fishing.

 

 

Mango time.

 

 

The village pond had been deepened and there was nothing left but to get the place blessed. Plenty of donations. I spotted a couple of 500 baht notes that I recognised. But; only those we didn't want, so everything cool.

 

 

The seasonal strong winds came and went; as they do. Not too much in the way of destruction in 2020.

 

 

Some untidy sod had dropped his rubbish onto our farm. Mrs Owl put up a threatening sign:

 

"Drop rubbish here again, and we will not let you steal our fish."

 

 

It must have worked. Nothing since. Only the once.

 

ooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

First four months saw the covid bug sweep first through China and then through the western world. All the up-to-date news was on the official UK Government web-site. It was gonna be all over by the summer. Covid was also down-graded to 'flu status', and mask-wearing was unnecessary. 'Herd immunity' was the in-phrase throughout the western world. And everyone became aware of the 'H' word. No sooner was it published then it changed. Things were slowly becoming more urgent and serious. Vaccines were gently mooted through the media as the future utopia.

 

Thailand breathed a big sigh of relief. Covid had passed the country by. Seemingly! Although second to China in the very early days, the cruise ship rose in the rankings and we were sent down the case listings. Been near the bottom for months now, but in the first quarter, we were up there.

 

The Thai authorities were up-beat about future tourism. It was being badly hit by lack of visitors, but deals, amnesties and quarantine began to surface.

 

In our village nothing much changed. Some young cashiers and motor-cycle riders returned to the village from Pattaya and other sea-side places. A mask become necessary to get about in the local Isaan towns.

 

But!!!! The big question was still in farang's minds; what was to become of the footy? It was all up in the air.

 

Bye y'all. 

 

More to follow.

 

 

* That Was The Year That Was

 

Edited December 30, 2020 by owl sees all