Anna the dog

[Shutree]

Shutree, can I ask why you have pieces of paper under your table legs?

The picture is of a sala in a new Jiao Hon restaurant we tried last night. I have no issue with dogs on outside tables, no worse than the rodents and the reptiles that use the same space. No problem in this house because I have no outside table and the dogs are too small to jump up higher than the sofa.

Anyway, I do have a bit of a problem with dogs on restaurant tables. As did the restauranteur, who got the dog running as soon as she saw it. I got the pic just in time, slots nicely into this thread.

As to the paper under the table legs, I have no idea. My best guess would be that it has something to do with stopping the table from slipping about.

Let's try the pic again, from the laptop this time:

[Headworx]

^^If he can swing that without getting his balls removed by a rusty butter-knife he'd need to change his user name to Houdini.

[malmomike77]

A few years ago my wife went through a phase of standing our dining room table legs in bowls of water to stop ants climbing up but I stopped the practice because I didn't think it would do the wood any good long term... and it looked silly.

Maybe Anna is jealous of Maya's ridge?

is she coming into faux season again?

[Mendip]

^ I don't think so Mike, she only had her last one in December and it seems a bit soon. I have a feeling she's a bit of a crotchety female. That's all I need... abladdynother one.

Best to rent on in Bangkok. Would make the passport renewals easier!

Win-win.

Yeah... but it would be too far away to get back home to Korat in the evenings.

Oh... hang on!

Nah, I'd miss the dogs too much. But maybe Monday to Friday would work. It's certainly food for thought.


Our resident golden tree snake has switched ends of the shade cloth frame which is driving Yogi nuts and we're all getting a bit weary of his 'snake bark'. I think snakes must have a very distinctive odour to dogs as Yogi senses the snake but always seems to be looking in the wrong direction.

It's above you!

[Shutree]

It's above you!

That is an amusing pic.

[DrWilly]

Yeah... but it would be too far away to get back home to Korat in the evenings.

Oh... hang on!

Nah, I'd miss the dogs too much. But maybe Monday to Friday would work. It's certainly food for thought.

win win mate

I'm telling you.

You might even begin appreciating the missus again if you only see her for weekends.

[malmomike77]

You might even begin appreciating the missus again if you only see her for weekends.

Would you try that on for size?

[DrWilly]

I dunno her size.

But I have to be honest, my past history is not my pal.

[Mendip]

You might even begin appreciating the missus again if you only see her for weekends.

Yeah that's a point, as they say, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder'.

In fact I've just increased my work trip from four to six weeks so we should be getting on really well soon!

I'll miss sharing my morning coffee with these guys next week.

[Stumpy]

standing our dining room table legs in bowls of water to stop ants climbing up

My wife still does that in our kitchen however they make holders that the wood is not in the water. Its like a moat around it. Pretty nice actually and does keep the ants out.

Having said that most people I know would much rather head to the office than work from home, preferring to keep the work life and home life completely separate. I'm the same and if it became absolutely necessary I'd think about renting a small apartment close-by and setting it up as an office so that I could leave for work and come home again, and keep work completey separate.

I really loved having the condo in Jomtien. Was a nice break for a few weeks out the month not really to get away from the wife, just break up the scenery and routine. My wife came down on and off to relax on the beach and have good seafood while I was at the factory. Sometimes her sister or niece would come and hang out. It was a nice place. Loved the ocean view. That said though I have been working from home now here in Lampang for over 2 years and have grown to really like it. I have my "Office/Man Cave" upstairs and downstairs I have my "Husband Day Care Center" by the pool. My wife is usually doing something so we do not get in each others way during the day and she leaves the house frequently to go to the city and shop etc. The only thing I do miss from time to time is the office camaraderie but not so much here in Thailand as my job is to manage offshore operations at 2 factories and our customers globally. Its an individual contributor role so I could do it essentially from anywhere. Maybe it would be a nice thing to set up a office in downtown Korat somewhere Mendy. Just to get away but not to far away from your daughter and dogs, just in case of an emergency. If you did set it up in BKK you could do it a few days a week or when you wanted a break from the Isaan life. Just really depends on the ROI having an office 4 hours away and that drive back and forth.

I doubt I will set up an office again as I will likely only go to the factory for a week at a time so I will just stay in nice hotels for a week. Easier.

[Bonecollector]

She'll bounce back very fast mate, in fact with a lamb shank last night she already has. Since my daughter came along I've always tried to work around 150 days a year, ie. 4 to 5 trips and that's all she's ever known. Covid changed all that but as things look just now I think a regular rota will be possible but of course I thought that a year ago as well. I prefer 6 week trips over 4 weeks due to less travel. At one time the travel days were regarded as a bonus but these days they are awful and I'd rather be doing a 12 hour shift.

Well done with your daughter... it ain't easy being away but as you say so much easier now than before. When I started offshore we had a news Telex once a day and took a load of newspapers on board at crew change for the guys not changing out. The vessel I get on next week has Wifi throughout so I can message the daughter on Whatsap.

Yea I guess if she hasn't known any different than it isn't so bad. I always feel that even with this way round, they get the same if not more quality time. I pretty much spend every waking hr with my daughter when I am back + all works out well at the moment because they are both work/ study from home.

[armstrong]

If it makes you feel better an average day if I leg it out of work at 3pm, home by 3:20 and daughter's just finished school so she goes out till 6 in the village with her mates. 6-7 we eat and 7-9 a movie and bed. It's not a whole load of time together!

I guess it more depends on what your daughter does when you're not there. Roblox keeps my daughter sane during home learning but at some point they gotta do something else.

[recon]

The picture is of a sala in a new Jiao Hon restaurant we tried last night. I have no issue with dogs on outside tables, no worse than the rodents and the reptiles that use the same space. No problem in this house because I have no outside table and the dogs are too small to jump up higher than the sofa.

Anyway, I do have a bit of a problem with dogs on restaurant tables. As did the restauranteur, who got the dog running as soon as she saw it. I got the pic just in time, slots nicely into this thread.

As to the paper under the table legs, I have no idea. My best guess would be that it has something to do with stopping the table from slipping about.

Let's try the pic again, from the laptop this time:

Nice photo But I could see a problem in restaurant. Teach them dogs to have leftovers in alley?

[Reg Dingle]

If it makes you feel better an average day if I leg it out of work at 3pm, home by 3:20 and daughter's just finished school so she goes out till 6 in the village with her mates. 6-7 we eat and 7-9 a movie and bed. It's not a whole load of time together!

Are you on the piss all weekend? I was gonna say school hols too but you do get down the beaches, rivers and caravan park.

But judging by your meals, I reckon Mendy just shades the FOTY award, unless the wife does all the cooking.

When my dad used to go on exercise in the army or to join the UN for 9 months, me and me brothers were chuffed to bits to get rid of of the harsh bastard.

[DrWilly]

Are you on the piss all weekend? I was gonna say school hols too but you do get down the beaches, rivers and caravan park.

But judging by your meals, I reckon Mendy just shades the FOTY award, unless the wife does all the cooking.

When my dad used to go on exercise in the army or to join the UN for 9 months, me and me brothers were chuffed to bits to get rid of of the harsh bastard.

Harsh.

[Mendip]

Yea I guess if she hasn't known any different than it isn't so bad. I always feel that even with this way round, they get the same if not more quality time. I pretty much spend every waking hr with my daughter when I am back + all works out well at the moment because they are both work/ study from home.

Boney, I agree entirely.

I have friends back in the UK with demanding jobs who completely missed their kids growing up. They'd left for work before the kids were up and arrived home knackered in the evening just as the kids were fractious and on their way to bed. Weekends are no longer sacrosanct and many use Saturday mornings at least to catch up on admin and correspondence. Sunday afternoon was for preparing for the week ahead.

As you say, we have 100% of our leave time to spend with the kids (apart from the occasional business trip to Bangkok). By and large there are no work distractions while at home, work and home life are completely separate and I wouldn't swap it for a 'normal' job for anything.

But judging by your meals, I reckon Mendy just shades the FOTY award, unless the wife does all the cooking.

I'll take that compliment and no, it's not the wife but me who puts most of our wonderful meals together. And by the way, for my last meal before leaving I've made shepherd's pie for the daughter... Makro had some minced lamb in last week. It's taken me bladdy ages and if I get any negative comments later I'll be well pissed off!


But anyway, back on topic and you have to question the wisdom of a rat who decides to pass through a garden containing seven dogs.

As is my habit on my last day at home I have just wandered aimlessly around the garden, thoughts distracted by the upcoming job and my itchy eyes and stinging arms and legs... when I noticed a rat scamper past the pond. We regularly get mice due to the chickens but this is the first time I've seen a rat on our property, and probably the last. I then witnessed a fascinating little episode.

It was first Maya and Coco who spotted him and they chased him to the edge of the pond, where upon the rat leapt in the water and started swimming for it. Maya leapt in after him, tossed him maybe 2 metres into the air and after landing back in the water he just disappeared. I had a look around and then noticed the rat just drifting around almost completely submerged but with just his nose above the water. I thought he was dead but then noticed his eyes blinking and his nose twitching. I reckon he was acting dead until the dogs lost interest... and they certainly didn't spot him.

I went off to get my landing net, thinking to release the rat unharmed over the wall... and when I got back he had disappeared. Well, at least I thought so as then I saw him clamber out the side of the pond having come from no-where... the rat had swum underwater to get to the edge of the pond. Rats are fascinating animals... I used to encounter them regularly when ferreting for rabbits and they are clever and brave. But this one wasn't so clever as he tried to climb a tree but Tommy, who had joined the hunt, got in the first crucial attack and then it was all over. Even Coco got involved...



But it was Maya who delivered the coup de grace.



One proud moment... Maya's first rat. And she's supposed to be our most highly bred dog!




It's not a great feeling on the last night before leaving for a few weeks work but it has to be done. On my return I'll be fascinated to see how Anna has developed relationships with the rest of the pack; she still has a long way to go before she's fully integrated. Tonight, Yogi continues to show off to her but she doesn't seem overly impressed.



That reminds me, unfortunately I have to spend tomorrow night in Bangkok!

[Reg Dingle]

Where was Anna during all this?

I think you're gonna find her chased off by the upcoming table topping matriach Maya when you come back or at best sleeping with wingnut

[Reg Dingle]

I'll take that compliment and no, it's not the wife but me who puts most of our wonderful meals together

I was referring to Armstrong

[Mendip]

^ You bastard!

[DrWilly]

“That reminds me, unfortunately I have to spend tomorrow night in Bangkok!”

unfortunately? It’s like passport renewal. Perfect!

[Headworx]

Hopefully he won't be taking any of the dogs with him this time to pick up on things where he takes them in Bangkok

[Mendip]

^ Yogi would have that thing for breakfast.


OK, so I'm well pissed off today... I discovered that due to an error in calculating dates and the PCR test, I was scheduled to leave home a day early. That's the problem when you have a flight just after midnight... it gets very confusing. But what can ya do once you've booked up a taxi and packed your wash bag? There was no going back so I'll just have to make the best of it.

Here was my send-off two years ago prior to my first work/commute thread.



And here was my send-off last year prior to my second work/commute tread.



And don't worry, I'm not going to do another work/commute thread, but here was my send-off this morning. Each time I come home for leave I seem to acquire another dog. This could become a real problem now that I'm hoping to be on a regular rotation!



I decided not to mention to anyone about my mix-up with the dates as it would only cause confusion.

[armstrong]

You must be gutted.

See you in the Red Lion at 5?

[katie23]

^^safe travels, Mendy. Good luck on the RT-PCR test & departure stuff.

Re: confused dates for flights/ tests, my mom had a similar experience. Her flight was at 1 am and she thought she still had another day to spare, so took it easy that day and didn't go out to buy giveaways for family. It's good that my cousin (mom stayed at the house of my aunt+cousin) asked her re: the flight & checked the printout of the e-ticket. They were all surprised (I think it was late afternoon) and my mom had to pack her stuff in a hurry. She took a taxi to the airport after dinner (~ 1 hour drive) and just bought food souvenirs at the airport (which are generally more pricey). But hey, what's important is that she didn't miss her flight.

Re: Maya, she looks proud of herself in that pic with the dead rat.

Always nice to see "family pic" of your dogs. I like how Dan looks happy and Maya is peeking from the corner.

[DrWilly]

So an extra day in bangkok that no one else knows about? Well played, Sir.