Life in the Isaan Boonies.

[Sotonowl]

  On 3/25/2025 at 9:27 AM, SnapDragon said:

She looked at me - what to  say - nostalgically. 'Long time no see', she whispered.

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Does she speak English Owl or did she say it in Thai. We need a pic of her.

  On 3/25/2025 at 9:27 AM, SnapDragon said:

Put the Mazza through the MOT yesterday.

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Now that's a coincidence, got mine MOT'd yesterday as well. £183 mine came to as I had an advisory from last year to sort. He collected and returned, I gave him £190 he said he didn't have change so I told him I wouldn't have expected him to and to get himself a pint. All heart I am.

[SnapDragon]

  On 3/26/2025 at 9:01 PM, Sotonowl said:

Does she speak English Owl or did she say it in Thai. We need a pic of her.

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She's a very educated lady Owl. A chemist. She sells hats and a few toys outside her shop. Knows a few sentences. I'll get a pic soon.

''Now that's a coincidence, got mine MOT'd yesterday as well. £183 mine came to as I had an advisory from last year to sort. He collected and returned, I gave him £190 he said he didn't have change so I told him I wouldn't have expected him to and to get himself a pint. All heart I am.''

Seems a lot? £183. My bill 2267 Baht. And got two hand towels as a customer gift. And a lovely smile for the admin lady.

£7 a pint? Wot? Why so high? And why are they not working in litres? Behind the times over there. When I first went into a pub a 'pint' was two and 5 pence. That would be about 8 to the pound. My first week's wages were £4; at the Aquarium in Southend. Got a job as a chainman on the building of the Victoria Line in London. Wages jumped up to £7. That's a fair lick of beer. And when I turned 18 the wages upped to £12.

Merseysiders were top doggies then. Toffees and Pool winning in successive years. My bestist team - Orient - had gone up with Liverpool, but came straight back down. Tractors won after being promoted the previous season. Only happened once since.

[Sotonowl]

  On 3/27/2025 at 3:47 AM, SnapDragon said:

She's a very educated lady Owl. A chemist. She sells hats and a few toys outside her shop. Knows a few sentences. I'll get a pic soon.

''Now that's a coincidence, got mine MOT'd yesterday as well. £183 mine came to as I had an advisory from last year to sort. He collected and returned, I gave him £190 he said he didn't have change so I told him I wouldn't have expected him to and to get himself a pint. All heart I am.''

Seems a lot? £183. My bill 2267 Baht. And got two hand towels as a customer gift. And a lovely smile for the admin lady.

£7 a pint? Wot? Why so high? And why are they not working in litres? Behind the times over there. When I first went into a pub a 'pint' was two and 5 pence. That would be about 8 to the pound. My first week's wages were £4; at the Aquarium in Southend. Got a job as a chainman on the building of the Victoria Line in London. Wages jumped up to £7. That's a fair lick of beer. And when I turned 18 the wages upped to £12.

Merseysiders were top doggies then. Toffees and Pool winning in successive years. My bestist team - Orient - had gone up with Liverpool, but came straight back down. Tractors won after being promoted the previous season. Only happened once since.

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Funnily enough I watched Orient on Sky last night. They beat Stevenage 1-0.

[Sotonowl]

  On 3/29/2025 at 12:35 AM, Sotonowl said:

She's a very educated lady Owl. A chemist. She sells hats and a few toys outside her shop. Knows a few sentences. I'll get a pic soon.

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What sort of toys would they be Owl?

Pic would be great, believe me, I speak for everyone on here.

[Sotonowl]

Did you feel the earth move at all recently Owl? No, not talking hat lady here, more like a tremor from the earthquake. Did you feel anything at all. 

Them poor people, god bless them. May they all RIP. Really sad.

Wife told me husband and wife working somewhere and had to take their baby which died, not sure what happened to husband and wife though, very sad.

[SnapDragon]

  On 3/29/2025 at 12:40 AM, Sotonowl said:

Did you feel the earth move at all recently Owl? No, not talking hat lady here, more like a tremor from the earthquake. Did you feel anything at all. 

Them poor people, god bless them. May they all RIP. Really sad.

Wife told me husband and wife working somewhere and had to take their baby which died, not sure what happened to husband and wife though, very sad.

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Didn't notice anything unusual up here. Think it's too flat in these parts.

[SnapDragon]

Snaps here.

It's Sunday the 30th March. Soon be April, and hopefully, the slow start of the wet season. Fingers Xed.

This March has been a strange month. We have had scorching hot weather during the day. But only a few sticky nights. Most un-March like. Even a period of cool days and nights.

Gradually getting the ducks to relinquish their fears. I've got within 2 metres now.

As long as Robert is not with me. I'll try to hand-feed them soon.

Done the MOT. Picked up the paperwork. Lovely place if you like creatures.

There are two lizards in the cage.

This one spoke to me. ''Hey farang. Set me free, and I'll give you lottery numbers.''

Brought some fish food with me.

Lovely.

In Ban Dung, the build next to Tesco is coming along.

No idea yet, what it is gonna be. But plenty going on.

Went to Ban Dung Bus Station to get some plastic bags. Thought I'd pop into Ting's shop. Just to say 'hi' of course. She was busy, but handed me a little something. It was a Romantic Moment.

The elephant team arrived when i was there.

Gave the beast some sugar cane.

And it was off.

A bit of something going on outside town.

Thought at first it was tree trimming.

Probably fixing damaged cables.

Kun and wife Rooney doing more charcoal.

First load in the logs.

Seal it up with special mud.

Mrs Snaps watching me intently. Sure to get a whacking later. ''You look charcoal lady!?''

Have to light the fire inside. And a few days later, it's ready for charcoal harvest.

Oscar relaxing. He is putting on a bit of weight.

Corn harvest near us.

The cobs have been cut off.

The vegetation is for cricket food.

Big demand for cricket grub in these parts.

The village held their annual music festival. For the last couple of years it is daytime only. I didn't go. Mildred with the camera.

A few dancers braving the heat.

Top Isaan singers.

Plenty of goodies on offer.

Let the fish go into different ponds. Pla nin into '1' and '2'.

Mekongs into '5', '6', '7'. Minar and Wow doing the honours.

The new solar set-up next to us is complete. somewhere to live is next on the agenda.

From this point, 7 solar systems can be spotted.

4 in this pic. White circles are ours.

Went along to the grape farm.

Not plastic sheeting. A very fine polyester netting.

Pick up yer basket.

Cut off the grapes that take yer fancy.

Go and pay. 200 Baht a kilo.

I got the best ones.

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Footy back. Well sort of. EPL postponed because of the FA Cup quarters. Never heard anything like it.

Well done Forest and Palace. I'll be rooting for the  North Enders and Cherries later today.

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Mrs Snaps saw me with the little bouquet of wild flowers. ''Where you get them farang?'' ''I found them on the side of the track teerak.'' ''You sure lady never gave?'' Whack! ''Would I ever lie to you teerak?'' Another whack from the the back-scratcher.

i didn't feel anything. Nor did the Mrs and Mildred. People felt the tremors as far away and Chiang Mai. Just goes to show. As dominant as we humans think we are, nature can bring us down to earth in an instant.

Going fishing later with Mildred. Very dull today. Perfect for catching fish.

Been asking around about where to get ducks. No one seems tp know. Can get turkeys and  goats but not ducks. I'll keep asking.

Will gold get to 50k Baht a baht this week?

Pound v Baht is gradually creeping up.

That's it. Getting ready for a bit of fishing.

Take care out there. And stay away from those earthquakes.