An Isaan Pond

[DrWilly]

Doesn’t need the dirty flip flop. We can see how big they are

[Shutree]

Doesn’t need the dirty flip flop. We can see how big they are

Better his footwear than his foot.

[Reg Dingle]

it'll be fish for tea tomorrow. I quite fancy chilli fish with rice but seeing as I don't know how to make it, it'll probably be baked pla nin with peas and sprouts.

Where's this fish supper then?

Have you upset the gardener? I thought he made a nice chili fish.

[DrWilly]

he'll be deep into his lao khao by now...

[Mendip]

^ I assume you were referring to the gardener?

The fish supper wasn't great as we've just acquired a new hob that actually works and I keep burning everything.


Anyway, the pond is looking really good at the moment and comes alive at feeding time.

'Nessie' the catfish comes up every evening to hoover up the pellets. I reckon she must be around 8 or 9 kg by now.



The rain has just been relentless these past few days and the water is well over the pond's concrete lining. All the water butts are overflowing.



This was the level at 06:30am today... if the level goes up much further I'll have to put some sandbags around the chicken run.



It's never been this high before.



And this was the weather radar early this morning... Nakhon Ratchasima in the SW quadrant... right under the yellow area.



True to the forecast it rained all day. It finally stopped in the evening but more rain is forecast later. It's been relentless this year. Maybe the jetty will be submerged tomorrow.

[malmomike77]

whoever designed it and installed it did a great job of allowing for once in a decade rainfall years.

[Mendip]

^ I'm gonna take that as a compliment!

There is an overflow outlet but the land around us is flooded so there's no-where for the water to go. In fact it may start flowing back towards us if this damn rain doesn't stop.

[malmomike77]

I'm gonna take that as a compliment!

indeed and just think if you'd not embarked on the project you'd not have discovered how to slice frozen black pudding

[DrWilly]

The fish supper wasn't great as we've just acquired a new hob that actually works and I keep burning everything.

If only a new hob had some way of regulating or reducing the heat it puts out…

[Reg Dingle]

A good tradesman...

[DrWilly]

Was there yah dong involved in the operation of said hob?

[Shutree]

Maybe the jetty will be submerged tomorrow.

On the plus side, if the water rises enough you'll be able to walk along the just submerged jetty and get some pictures of you walking on water and standing in the middle of the pond.

[Mendip]

^ That's a very good point Shutree.

Wouldn't it be great if I could turn water into Ya Dong as well!

[Shutree]

Wouldn't it be great if I could turn water into Ya Dong as well!

Maybe Jesus got it right, wine is what you need. Burgundy if you can manage it.

And don't forget the loaves and fishes.

[DrWilly]

Wouldn't it be great if I could turn water into Ya Dong as well!

You could probably drink your pond water for the same effect.

[Reg Dingle]

Wouldn't it be great if I could turn water into Ya Dong as well!

Or turn that gutrot into wine.

Have you tried filtering it through a loaf of bread like vagabonds do with their meths?

[ootai]

There is an overflow outlet but the land around us is flooded so there's no-where for the water to go. In fact it may start flowing back towards us if this damn rain doesn't stop.

Just in case anyone doubts what Mendip says I was there yesterday and I went in to his place one way and out another and both had sections of the roads under water.
Then later between Nong Ki and Nang Rong on my way home I had to drive through water at least a foot deep flowing on/over highway 24.
Today for about 2 hours I actually seen the sun shining so there is hope.

[Stumpy]

Maybe Jesus got it right

Well Mendy does wear Jesus slippers as fine attire out and about. Maybe just a robe on the pier would suffice. If he can part the water then we are on to something

said hob?

Had to look up that word. So if I understand it correct, basically Mendy has a plate over open fire in his fireplace? If so, FFS Mendy just buy a damn BBQ pit.

[DrWilly]

A little gas plate one, I’m betting.

[Mendip]

This week we finally had a couple of dry days so I embarked on a project that was long overdue and had been bugging me for ages (it's 21 degrees and constant drizzle again today in Korat... just like the English summer).

Anyway, the mango tree opposite the jetty had grown a huge bulge out to the right which needed pruning. Not only was it hanging dangerously over the neighbour's roof but the lop-sided appearance just bugged me.



I usually like to lead from the front but I'm not great with heights and to be honest I'm probably carrying a bit too much weight for our rickety old bamboo ladder just now, so I let the gardener do his job while I planned the project and made preparations at ground level.

While the gardener chopped away at some growth to allow a clear swing at the branch, I got him to tie a length of rope around the branch as high as he could reach. I was keen that the mango branch didn't fall onto my ornamental reed bed which has taken some months of care to get looking nice... so the plan was I would pull the branch clear as it dropped.



The gardener started up with the saw...



... while I went around to the jetty to collect the other end of the rope. I had tied it to a small branch and hoofed it across the pond. It's not often I find a use for my work related ship mooring skills.



And we were all set.

Frustratingly the gardener kept climbing down while shouting 'mot daeng, mot daeng!' ... and then proceeded to slap his legs. Where's Edmond when you need a translator?

I did notice there were a lot of big red weaver ants around, though.



Anyway, eventually he settled and started some serious chopping.



And suddenly the branch dropped like a stone... and straight onto my reed bed.

HE DIDN'T FUKKING SHOUT 'TIMBER'!



The gardener hit the ground about 3 nanoseconds after the branch hit my reed bed. I'd had no warning at all and didn't get the chance to yank on the rope and after falling out of the tree all the gardener seemed concerned about was slapping his legs again..

So anyway, the best laid plans and all that. I hauled the branch across the pond to be broken up and dumped over the wall. It was lucky the pond is holding so much water at the moment or I think it would have grounded.



I eventually dragged in the branch to the near bank while the gardener was thinking about completing the job... there was still one big branch to go.



But after a while I couldn't help but notice that the gardener had disappeared.



He eventually returned and kept complaining about 'mot daeng, mot daeng' and flat out refused to go back up into the tree, even after I bribed him with a full 100 Baht bottle of Ya Dong.

Maybe he did have a point though!



He even refused the offer of ants eggs, as also did the wife amazingly... so the fish had an unexpected meal.



Meanwhile I was left with a very lop-sidedly shaped mango tree...



And a flattened reed bed.



But does it really matter?

Yogi and Coco didn't seem to think so.

[DrWilly]

Haha.

You do tell a good story!

[malmomike77]

He eventually returned and kept complaining about 'mot daeng, mot daeng'

They are nasty, i've had the odd pruning related moments with them. Once they get riled they stay alert for ages.

[ootai]

Mendip
You are a nasty fukker just like them bloody ants. Why didn't you get some Chaindrite and make up a mix and spray it all over the branches he was going to cut it makes them fuk off really quickly and they don't come back.
And you should know they absolutely love mango trees. I can't believe both your missus and the gardener knocked back the offer of fresh eggs maybe they just prefer the chicken variety.

[Mendip]

Thank you Ootai.

Some valid points but I'm not sure that a mango tree branch full of Chaindrite would do the pond any good... there is method to my madness.

All the gardener had to do was to do it quickly... once the ants are alerted they come at you in droves and he spent so much time going down and up the ladder again to ineffectually swat off a few ants that it was inevitable that he got nailed. Still, hopefully he won't get bitten so much next time!

And as for the ant's eggs... I was also surprised that they were turned down as a culinary treat but I noticed that they were a bit skinny and not plump at all - maybe it's the wrong season? The gardener ain't from Isaan and I wonder if that's also a reason that he doesn't partake? He hails from Ayutthaya originally and maybe they have different eating habits?

I must admit that I've never seen the wife turn down a meal like that before, although she has been in a strange mood lately... for the past 15 years or so.


Anyway, on a wet and cold Saturday afternoon what else was there to do but a spot of fishing?



I could sit and watch a float all day and this always brings back so many memories of fishing on the River Kenn when I was a kid... back when I still had human friends.



They say that dogs are better company than people and I'd have to agree on the whole, but maybe I'm influenced by living in the arse end of no-where? When I lived in the West I generally went fishing with humans. But that's not to detract from the company of Tommy...



Or Yogi and Maya for that matter.



In fact the whole gang love a spot of fishing. Apart from Anna - she doesn't leave her bed when it rains.



The fishing was slow but eventually I caught a decent pla nin...

Doesn’t need the dirty flip flop. We can see how big they are

Better his footwear than his foot.

Well, that was only going one way. Sorry guys but every trained geologist knows never to take a photo without a scale.



After this success I had a very long think to myself. It was 2:30 in the afternoon and after several minutes I just couldn't think of a single reason why not...

So I headed back to the house to retrieve my last bottle of Leo and the third of a bottle of Hong Thong I knew was in the upstairs 'office' fridge.

And after all, this ain't drinking alone... this is fishing with your mates... with a drink!

When I rejoined the pack with Leo and Hong Thong I was welcomed by this sight...

Yes, not only had it finally stooped raining but my bladdy fishing rod had disappeared.

[Stumpy]

I gotta say, A mango tree near a pond seems odd. How much fruit drops in it?. As for Mot Daeng, I hate those fkrs and why I got rid of my Lumyai trees. I support your gardener when he said FO Mendy. If he didn't.....he should have.

Did you wash that table before you sat down? Again, If I was ever to stop by, I think I will just stand......