Life in the Isaan Boonies.

[SnapDragon]

  On 1/28/2025 at 3:19 AM, AussieBob said:

The post itself maybe has hit a size limit - if that is the case, then it is time to start ----- Part 2 (The Isaan Boonies Strike Back) 

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Tried another post, but the same message popped up. Had this on TV/AN some years ago. Admin simply gave the thread more size.

You are right there Bob. If it can't be sorted I'll do as you suggest. And I'll also look into the file-size reduction programme that was mentioned by @dawg.

[SnapDragon]

Help!!!!!!

I'm fast running out of allowed size. Hope BH can arrive in time to save the day!

[Sotonowl]

As far as the thread goes Owl, is it Roy Orbison?

[SnapDragon]

  On 2/20/2025 at 7:42 PM, Sotonowl said:

As far as the thread goes Owl, is it Roy Orbison?

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Everything sorted Owl. thanks to overseer BH. Have an extra size allowance now.

Posting delay due to the wife being involved in crashing her car. Will post soon. Lots been happening.

[Sotonowl]

Oh dear, hope the tea supply hasn't been affected. I look forward to the next post. Best wishes to her anyway.

Edited February 21 by Sotonowl

[SnapDragon]

  On 2/21/2025 at 12:32 AM, Sotonowl said:

Oh dear, hope the tea supply hasn't been affected. I look forward to the next post. Best wishes to her anyway.

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It's been hectic. However, the major casualty has been my bank-balance. We managed to get the CCTV. I'll try to change format and post it.

About an hour after the crash, Mrs Snaps called me from the police station. She said they were holding her. I went straight there, fearing the worst. The police at reception. said she had gone to the hospital. Went to the hospital. All parties discharged?! Back to the police station. No sign. Went home. Got the full story about 2 in the afternoon, when she arrived back herself. More to it. Save it for Sunday's post.

Owls to upset the form-book tonight?

Clarets 1 - Owls 2.

[SnapDragon]

Trying to upload vid

[SnapDragon]

 

car crash.aviFetching info...

[rattlesnake]

  On 2/21/2025 at 12:41 PM, SnapDragon said:

Trying to upload vid

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It worked a few minutes ago, I watched it (embedded in the post).

[SnapDragon]

  On 2/21/2025 at 1:46 PM, rattlesnake said:

It worked a few minutes ago, I watched it (embedded in the post).

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Thanks Rattles.

New post. What one works? The top (MP4) or bottom one (AVI).

[rattlesnake]

  On 2/21/2025 at 1:56 PM, SnapDragon said:

Thanks Rattles.

New post. What one works?The top or bottom one.

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This one now working fine too.
 

[rattlesnake]

  On 2/21/2025 at 2:02 PM, rattlesnake said:

This one now working fine too.
 

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It's strange that the rider doesn't seem to attempt to brake… Anyway will wait for the whole story.

[Sotonowl]

  On 2/21/2025 at 11:55 AM, SnapDragon said:

Owls to upset the form-book tonight?

Clarets 1 - Owls 2.

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I wish, but you never know.

[Sotonowl]

Wow, that's not good is it.

[Skip]

  On 2/21/2025 at 2:05 PM, rattlesnake said:

It's strange that the rider doesn't seem to attempt to brake… Anyway will wait for the whole story.

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It may be strange, but the car driver was cause and effect for the accident... in a big f***ing hurry to enter the right of way and then can't seem to cross safely.

[cmsally]

Crikey, weren't there any brakes on that motorbike?!

[SnapDragon]

Just a little about the incident itself. The roads around the school are always busy. At pick-up and drop-off times there are dozens of vehicles, and kids walking about. The Camera says three minutes past 8, so it was peak time.

There were two youngsters in the car. Mildred in the front and Adjun in the back. Adjun said she was looking left when the car pulled out to cross the road. She said she didn't see the m/c. It does appear that he was going a tad fast; given the circumstances. And especially since there was a white car crossing the road 80/90 metres ahead.

My take is that the white car did nothing much wrong. Just driving across a road; that is only just a bigger road. In fact three years ago it was not concreted. Why did the m/c not slow down? Seems like there was plenty of time to do so, and if not completely stop; then go round the back of the white car, at a much slower speed.

Found out that the m/c rider worked at Kubota - 6/7 minutes away, the other side of town -  and was due to 'clock-in' at 8. So he was running late.

I look upon the whole thing as a lucky escape for all concerned. Lesson learned. Make sure you have good insurance cover. Drive as if everyone else is nuts, and just not looking and/or paying attention. Or sober! Never know what unexpected wonders await one in the LOS.

Anyway! The Mrs pleaded guilty at the police station. Well before, I got hold of the vid, from Mildred's school. Had to put me hand into me pocket for best part of 50k baht.

Never mind. The durian tree money is gone. No point in crying over spilt milk.

Gonna release the ducks this w/e.

[rattlesnake]

  On 2/22/2025 at 3:05 AM, SnapDragon said:

Just a little about the incident itself. The roads around the school are always busy. At pick-up and drop-off times there are dozens of vehicles, and kids walking about. The Camera says three minutes past 8, so it was peak time.

There were two youngsters in the car. Mildred in the front and Adjun in the back. Adjun said she was looking left when the car pulled out to cross the road. She said she didn't see the m/c. It does appear that he was going a tad fast; given the circumstances. And especially since there was a white car crossing the road 80/90 metres ahead.

My take is that the white car did nothing much wrong. Just driving across a road; that is only just a bigger road. In fact three years ago it was not concreted. Why did the m/c not slow down? Seems like there was plenty of time to do so, and if not completely stop; then go round the back of the white car, at a much slower speed.

Found out that the m/c rider worked at Kubota - 6/7 minutes away, the other side of town -  and was due to 'clock-in' at 8. So he was running late.

I look upon the whole thing as a lucky escape for all concerned. Lesson learned. Make sure you have good insurance cover. Drive as if everyone else is nuts, and just not looking and/or paying attention. Or sober! Never know what unexpected wonders await one in the LOS.

Anyway! The Mrs pleaded guilty at the police station. Well before, I got hold of the vid, from Mildred's school. Had to put me hand into me pocket for best part of 50k baht.

Never mind. The durian tree money is gone. No point in crying over spilt milk.

Gonna release the ducks this w/e.

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The main thing is nobody got hurt (I assume the motorbike rider is okay as he gets up in the video – and at least he was wearing a helmet).

And yes, good insurance (which will pay for your bail if casualties ae involved) is always a good idea.

[dawg]

  On 2/21/2025 at 2:05 PM, rattlesnake said:

It's strange that the rider doesn't seem to attempt to brake… Anyway will wait for the whole story.

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Yes, just totally weird!  ( posting as motorcyclist in my late teen, 20's & 30's ) 

...... perhaps there is some rule in T. that requires m/c- ists to close their eyes outside schools ?

[rattlesnake]

  On 2/22/2025 at 3:05 AM, SnapDragon said:

Just a little about the incident itself. The roads around the school are always busy. At pick-up and drop-off times there are dozens of vehicles, and kids walking about. The Camera says three minutes past 8, so it was peak time.

There were two youngsters in the car. Mildred in the front and Adjun in the back. Adjun said she was looking left when the car pulled out to cross the road. She said she didn't see the m/c. It does appear that he was going a tad fast; given the circumstances. And especially since there was a white car crossing the road 80/90 metres ahead.

My take is that the white car did nothing much wrong. Just driving across a road; that is only just a bigger road. In fact three years ago it was not concreted. Why did the m/c not slow down? Seems like there was plenty of time to do so, and if not completely stop; then go round the back of the white car, at a much slower speed.

Found out that the m/c rider worked at Kubota - 6/7 minutes away, the other side of town -  and was due to 'clock-in' at 8. So he was running late.

I look upon the whole thing as a lucky escape for all concerned. Lesson learned. Make sure you have good insurance cover. Drive as if everyone else is nuts, and just not looking and/or paying attention. Or sober! Never know what unexpected wonders await one in the LOS.

Anyway! The Mrs pleaded guilty at the police station. Well before, I got hold of the vid, from Mildred's school. Had to put me hand into me pocket for best part of 50k baht.

Never mind. The durian tree money is gone. No point in crying over spilt milk.

Gonna release the ducks this w/e.

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Was the 50k an arrangement with the motorbike rider, Snaps? Did some of it go to the cops? Did the fact that Mrs Snaps has a farang husband influence the proceedings?

[Fanta]

  On 2/21/2025 at 1:42 PM, SnapDragon said:

car crash.aviUnavailable

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Rider probably watching TikTok and not the road. Such is life. 

[cmsally]

The motorcyclist had just overtaken the grey Mitsu before he crashed. Presumably he increased speed to overtake and completely misjudged the other car. No speed limits or "no overtaking" signs around? It is a school area.

[SnapDragon]

Snaps here.

Dark and dismal outside, but no rain yet. Last rained during the early hours on the 1st of October. That's 147 days ago. Longest spell without rain since I arrived in Thailand

Two major occurrences this month. The car saga and the release of the ducks.

Mildred had to go on a scout day. So no morning bus as usual. The Mrs picked the daughter's friend, Adjung, up on the way to Ban Dung.

Went to drive across a road, to go into the car park, when a m/c hit the near-side rear. Vid in earlier post.

Fortunately no one was hurt.

Lucky escape all round.

The m/c damage has been sorted with a donation of 13k baht. Injuries to ther rider 3.5k baht.

Biggest problem is the rear light assembly. 

Need a new bumper too.

Offside rear OK.

Gonna have to wait a while for the repairs to get done. Getting the two smashed bits (rear light and bumper) will be  a challenge. Not a new car. Have to look around the scrap yards.

We had the ducks for 10 weeks. Started with a dozen. 6 died and one mysteriously escaped. Time to build them a nice house and let them free.

Brought pipes back from Ban Dung.

I had already made the skeleton waterproof. It was broken in a couple of places. Had to fix them. No good if it don't float.

Cut the 1.5 inch PCV pipes up and glued a cap on each end to make them watertight.

Put them in place with cable ties, ready for proper securing.

Bound them up good with plastic string.

Coming along.

Put on the braces for the roof covering.

Same fixings with the bamboos as the PVC before. Bound them on tight with plastic string.

Time for the covering.

Plastic string again.

The floor had been bought off Lazada. 200 baht for 10 metres.

And all was set for launch.

Got 5 sacks of straw for bedding. Leftovers from the rice harvesting.

Have to keep it away from the edge in case dogs nose around.

Secured both side with light rope.

And it was all done.

The last day for the ducks, before letting then go into pond 5 (next post).

Somehow the camera went missing. Was it in the car, which was in the garage? We called them to check. No! Not there.

looked everywhere. Mildred found it under the seat of the Mazza. Dear me! Started processing all the pics for posting. Have over 200.

+++++

Liverpool have it all sewn up. If they don't win the EPL, it'll be the biggest collapse since building 7. That Championship is a real yo-yo. Three clubs especially, are having nightmares. The Black Cats were running away with it in November. Now they are 13 points behind The Peacocks. The Rams (do they want Rooney back), stuck at the bottom, with just 2 points from the last 18. And Boro. Looked good at before Xmas, now lost their last 5.

+++++

Someting is going on down the soi. A new house?!

We had our final soil drop last week. An ordinary soil load is 500 baht. Stony soil 700. Very stony soil 900. Get the use of a tractor with those.

What a mess. At the rear of the Ma in Law's place. One of Mrs Snaps' brothers responsible. I'll not be clearing it up. Got enough to do keeping our soi clean and tidy.

That's good boys. Your food will come soon enough.

Robert has a new pal.

Wagger and Mimi on the rear wall.

And they are best mates with Robert.

Main bus stop.

Pigeon take over.

Next post: Tobacco plants all over the place. A vinyard I didn't know about. Mildred goes to Khon Kaen Zoo.

Only one thing left to say. seez ya next post.

[IsaanJeeperCreeper]

Driving in Thailand is a mad house. Mr. Owl 50k Baht seems ludicrious...you sure the Ms didn't take some extra time to get her cut too?

[SnapDragon]

  On 3/1/2025 at 3:43 PM, IsaanJeeperCreeper said:

Driving in Thailand is a mad house. Mr. Owl 50k Baht seems ludicrious...you sure the Ms didn't take some extra time to get her cut too?

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A good point IJC; worth considering for sure.

When I first heard from the Mrs about the crash, she was calling from Ban Dung Police Station. It all sounded so terribly drastic. Pulled out onto a main road in front of the m/c. She basically admitted that it was all her doing and agreed to pay all costs. Don't know whether she signed anything. The Mrs says she can't remember.

Later that day, I recalled being at a school open day a couple of years back, when they announced that they had 'real time' vid cameras at places around the school. I spoke to Mildred, and she did the biz and got a copy from 'Camera 1'. Passed it on to me. That's how I got it.

It showed a different story of the incident. Another camera - 'Camera 2' - is set up on the far corner where the m/c first entered the road. That one was pointing down the main road where the school back gates are.. But not so applicable, except it could have shown excessive m/c speed perhaps.

So the dosh breakdown is this: 13k to fix m/c. 3.5k for injury. And, an estimated 25k+ baht for car repair. Paid 15k down to the garage, and waiting for the final bill. So final costs could be approaching 50k.

As with a lot of Thai ladies, getting to the bottom of money transactions can be sometimes difficult, and often exasperating. But in this case - for once - I think it's all above board. If not fair and square. All history now. Lucky escape for all parties.