An Isaan Pond

[lom]

It is quite telling what kind of massage you guys are used to get.
The brains expectation, eh? Behave yourselves!

[Mendip]

^ Ain't that the truth Lom... there's no helping some people and I've been trying to keep this thread clean.

I've never enjoyed massages and I'm not a 'touchy' person at all which is maybe why I enjoy the company of my dogs so much.

Over the past few years there has been a steady influx of females into the offshore work environment and while some are easy on the eye, many are not. In the old days it would be a firm handshake with your male colleagues when joining or leaving the vessel but these females have introduced these ridiculous 'hugs'. I don't like it all and am hoping that one good consequence of Covid will be to end this practice and go back to a handshake... or hopefully with the girls just one of those elbow bumps.


Anyway, back on topic... during the night one of my pet pla chon sadly passed away. They have food and well-aerated water but maybe the change in environment was too much for it. Despite all the problems these guys have caused me I felt a bit sad at it's passing.

But, the pla chon's bad fortune was of course a bonus for us. It weighed in at 1.3kg and will make a nice Chinese style stir fry for tea tonight (dinner).



Here is it's business end. The top jaw has kind of rough pads made of loads of densely-packed, tiny, needle-like teeth which I guess are used to grip onto it's prey while the big teeth along the bottom jaw do the damage.



And cleaned up... beautiful firm, red-coloured flesh.

[David48atTD]

... or hopefully with the girls just one of those elbow bumps.

Maybe try the chest bump with them!



It's a .gif ... click the image if it doesn't play

[Mendip]

The water level continues to rise... who said Isaan is boring?



I spent an entire afternoon trimming back and pruning these reeds... only to be flattened in 20 minutes of dog play.

The buggers.



It's looking good... another few days and it'll be full.

If I'm not too busy tomorrow I may well sit and watch the water rise for a couple of hours.

The re-potted plants are already sprouting.

[Saint Willy]

Anyway, back on topic... during the night one of my pet pla chon sadly passed away. They have food and well-aerated water but maybe the change in environment was too much for it. Despite all the problems these guys have caused me I felt a bit sad at it's passing.

But, the pla chon's bad fortune was of course a bonus for us. It weighed in at 1.3kg and will make a nice Chinese style stir fry for tea tonight (dinner).



Here is it's business end. The top jaw has kind of rough pads made of loads of densely-packed, tiny, needle-like teeth which I guess are used to grip onto it's prey while the big teeth along the bottom jaw do the damage.



And cleaned up... beautiful firm, red-coloured flesh.

So tell me again, what exactly was the problem?

[Stumpy]

I see now we get the pictures with the mangled toe from various locations around the pond from hell.....

[Saint Willy]

I see now we get the pictures with the mangled toe from various locations around the pond from hell.....

I see a reality show in this!

[helge]

the pond from hell.

the mangled toe

Appropriately wrapped in a white flag

[OhOh]

^

Thais do like the stewed chicken feet.

Is his wife cooking one toe of each foot. Daily photographs to dissuade that rumour are essential.

[beerlaodrinker]

Can I get your wifes sisters phone number.

[David48atTD]

Can I get your wifes sisters phone number.

I was going to ask for a photo first

[Shutree]

Mendip, how goes the toe? No pictures please, I am a bit squeamish.

My ex used to run a lot. Really, a lot. Long distance stuff after she got bored of marathons. One result of running all night in wet shoes was an occasional loss of a big toenail. Must have happened 2 or 3 times. I know it is different from your situation, in her case the nail just gave up and fell off. The point is that it came back naturally and I am confident that yours will do the same.

On another fish pond topic, I remember you having a net trap that didn't seem very successful. The locals use wicker traps for pla chon. I admit I have never seen it done, still they tell me that is the way to catch pla chon. Have you tried the wicker traps?

[Mendip]

I see now we get the pictures with the mangled toe from various locations around the pond from hell.....

Why ever would I start doing that? I'd have to be really bored.

Can I get your wifes sisters phone number.

I can do better than that... why don't I send you the sister? In fact the wife has two... I'll send them both. no need to phone.

Mendip, how goes the toe? No pictures please, I am a bit squeamish.

My ex used to run a lot. Really, a lot. Long distance stuff after she got bored of marathons. One result of running all night in wet shoes was an occasional loss of a big toenail. Must have happened 2 or 3 times. I know it is different from your situation, in her case the nail just gave up and fell off. The point is that it came back naturally and I am confident that yours will do the same.

On another fish pond topic, I remember you having a net trap that didn't seem very successful. The locals use wicker traps for pla chon. I admit I have never seen it done, still they tell me that is the way to catch pla chon. Have you tried the wicker traps?

^ I'm also a bit squeamish with eyes and toes... I'm usually OK with most other stuff. I have in fact taken a couple of photos of the stub while the wife has been re-dressing it and I also have the amputated nail in a small plastic bag for a souvenir but I'll keep all that to myself.

The toe is healing nicely and thankfully the infection seems to have gone and it isn't too painful with no shoes on. I won't get complacent though and will continue the evening Hong Thong as it seems to have done the trick. I have to return to the hospital tomorrow for a check-up so fingers crossed.

It's strange... you really take your toe nails for granted until you haven't got one, but I guess that's true for a lot of things. I am really looking forward to it growing back. What I don't know is whether it will start growing up from the bottom or if the tender area will harden up first and go a bit nail-like. I guess I'll find out in due course.

As for the pla chon... I have a wicker trap hanging from the ceiling of my bar but never thought to use it. If ever I have a pla chon problem again I'll maybe put it into action... perish the thought.


Today I watched the rising water level inundate one of the plant pots. I haven't had this much excitement in Korat since our fridge-freezer suddenly packed up in the hot season a few years ago.

The green scum seems to have gone as well.

[David48atTD]

I see now we get the pictures with the mangled toe from various locations around the pond from hell.....

Instead of 'wheres Coco' ... could be where has my toe walked 500 miles?

[Saint Willy]

and I also have the amputated nail in a small plastic bag for a souvenir but I'll keep all that to myself.

for the love of god, why?

[Mendip]

^ I don't know.

The doc presented it to me after the surgery and I don't really know what to do with it. The daughter didn't want it so I've stuck it in a draw for now.

[bsnub]

for the love of god, why?

It gets weird in isaan, apparently.

This is the first time I clicked into this thread that I did not want to hurl.

[ootai]

I have in fact taken a couple of photos of the stub while the wife has been re-dressing it and I also have the amputated nail in a small plastic bag for a souvenir but I'll keep all that to myself.

for the love of god, why?

It gets weird in isaan, apparently.

Mendip it will grow back from from the base. It will take quite a while to show as when they cut it out they take it all.
Once it shows itself it will seem to grow the rest of the way quite quickly.
At least that was what I experienced when they cut off my thumb nail, which was done here in Thailand a couple of years ago.

Is it still looking good to leave for work in Norway? Or has the toe issue put a stop to that?


KW
I don't know why you have to ask as being a "Pom" like Mendip I thought it was what you people do! I.e. weird shit.

bsnub
Don't bring Isaan into it Mendip is in a league of his own regarding weird shit.

[Saint Willy]

you people

I'm not a pom.

[bsnub]

Don't bring Isaan into it Mendip is in a league of his own regarding weird shit.

My bad. He is a weird one no doubt, but Mendy is ours, and we love him.

[ootai]

I'm not a pom.

Well I apologise for that but what are you then?
Sorry I should be more specific with my question in what country were you born?

[Saint Willy]

Well I apologise for that but what are you then?
Sorry I should be more specific with my question in what country were you born?

that reminds me of a cool TED talk.

Taiye Selasi: Don't ask where I'm from, ask where I'm a local | TED Talk

But I'm from

[Mendip]

My bad. He is a weird one no doubt, but Mendy is ours, and we love him.

Fukkin hell... I don't like where this has gone.

I'm as normal as they come... I just like to keep busy and seem to get a lot of bad luck!

[Klondyke]

Mendip it will grow back from from the base. It will take quite a while to show as when they cut it out they take it all.
Once it shows itself it will seem to grow the rest of the way quite quickly.
At least that was what I experienced when they cut off my thumb nail, which was done here in Thailand a couple of years ago.

Confirming...

[Stumpy]

I'm as normal as they come

Clearly you and I have a very different idea of what "Normal" is..... Saving your toenail in a bag is a good start....