An Isaan Pond

[Mendip]

^ That was an old one... Dan clocked Helge a long time ago.


The thing with these throw nets is that they are an absolute b@stard to cast. I wasn't helped by buying this Chinese piece of shit that took at least 10 minutes to untangle between casts. I know that a bad workman always blames his tools and all that, but these nets are absolute bollocks. I'm starting to think that buying fishing equipment based on how pretty the girl in the advertising pic is, isn't the way to go.

I wasn't helped by the dogs stepping on the net to eat the dropped fish pellets.

But you have to press on...

[lom]

Today I finally had some time to start sorting the pond out.

You are not on a fishing vacation so start pumping out water until you see the fish.
A scoop net will then be handy to have.

[Mendip]

Behind the scenes I was getting well pissed off with this... the piece of shit net tangled up every time, got caught on any snag on the ground and the weights dropped through the netting and I just started ripping them out. I also trod on my new glasses which I'd carefully laid on the ground while untangling the damn net.

Lucky the waterfall drowned out any bad language... I hate to swear in front of the daughter but driving through Korat rush hour traffic and casting this damn throw net could try a saint.

[Mendip]

I've been a life long fisherman, and it's amazing how often you get your catch with the last cast of the day.

I'm not normally a moody person but by this point I was so pissed off with untangling this piece of shit net you wouldn't believe it... I was still hungover from my Friday night Leo guzzling session with my Welsh mate and my wife's antics yesterday did nothing to improve my mood.

Oh... did I mention I went for my first marriage visa extension yesterday... they won't extend with less than than 6 months left on a passport, I'm still waiting for the replacement and they won't consider transferring to my second passport which has five year left.... because... can you believe it... I don't have a receipt for that passport.

But anyway... onwards and upwards... fish to catch and all that...




And finally... some peace...

[strigils]

I'll say one thing, you're a man who likes to get his money's worth

[OhOh]

The grenade option is becoming increasingly attractive.

I don't have a receipt for that passport.

Do you have a receipt for passport number 1?

[helge]

The grenade option is becoming increasingly attractive.

Voltage

[CalEden]

The grenade option is becoming increasingly attractive.




Do you have a receipt for passport number 1?

Grenade! Don't forget to ask for your receipt

[helge]

^

I kind of like it

And her name is Dan

Flattered actually, and now to something less flattering


Rule Britannia

Priceless

No wonder you would prefer the entire Northsea to yourself

[Mendip]

But the good news... fish and chips tomorrow night.

A fine pla nin!

Has Maya learnt to fish?

Maya's a natural mate.

She caught a fine pla sawai this morning... the gardener's well chuffed.

[strigils]

Righto, so now if you could turn her into a Pla Chon homing ridgeback all with be right in the pond world.

She doesn't look like a pup any more.

[OhOh]

None of my bitches would wear a hat for me.

[Shutree]

Oh... did I mention I went for my first marriage visa extension yesterday... they won't extend with less than than 6 months left on a passport, I'm still waiting for the replacement and they won't consider transferring to my second passport which has five year left.... because... can you believe it... I don't have a receipt for that passport.

Like you, I lead a blameless life, which doesn't mean that Immigration will treat you reasonably. When it happened to me I used an agent who, in a couple of hours, simply rode over all the bumps that had blocked my progress. Not cheap, all the other options hadn't worked out, it was a last resort. The agency has a broad reach across Isan. Everything was sorted out, smiles all round, and I renewed my visa independently this year with no problems at all. PM me if you need a contact.

[Neverna]

Oh... did I mention I went for my first marriage visa extension yesterday... they won't extend with less than than 6 months left on a passport, I'm still waiting for the replacement and they won't consider transferring to my second passport which has five year left.... because... can you believe it... I don't have a receipt for that passport.

You might have a hefty overstay charge when you do finally get your visa extension. 500 baht a day.

[Mendip]

^ I'm stamped to the 14th May while my extension application is sent to Khon Kaen for consideration. My hope is that when I return to immigration then, I will also have a replacement passport... but a new worry is travelling back and forth to Bangkok to collect it when it eventually arrives... which surely can't be far off. I'm finding it very difficult to determine the exact rules for travelling between Korat and Bangkok, two red zones, with the inter-provincial travel restrictions.

If all else fails, it seems a 2 month Covid extension is another possibility which should tide me over until my passport issues are sorted out.

^^ Thanks for the offer Shutree... it seems that things are progressing now but there were certainly appeasement measures to make, which I guess it what also smooths the way for an agent. It's a tired topic I know... but I cannot say how much it pisses me off to have these hoops to jump through just to stay with my child and dogs... oh, and wife. I will certainly never put another satang of investment into this country while things remain like this.

Rant over!

[Shutree]

I'm stamped to the 14th May
My hope is that when I return to immigration then, I will also have a replacement passport...
If all else fails, it seems a 2 month Covid extension is another possibility which should tide me over until my passport issues are sorted out.

May 14th is not far away. You don't really want to arrive at that date and then have an awkward discussion with an awkward IO.
I have never heard of a receipt for a passport. Is there such a thing? What happens if the new passport doesn't have one? (This all sounds like a contrived piece of awkwardness.) I can say that I have never in my life offered money to an official in any country. I don't dwell too much on what agents do, except to say that they would only be assisting you get something to which you are legally entitled. It's just a professional service.

Who knows, maybe the Covid problems will actually make some parts of government easier to deal with as they struggle to attract foreigners to live and work here. The Immigration online reporting system is back up and running and the issue of 90-day reports was apparently discussed at senior levels recently.

[Neverna]

I have never heard of a receipt for a passport. Is there such a thing? What happens if the new passport doesn't have one? (This all sounds like a contrived piece of awkwardness.) I can say that I have never in my life offered money to an official in any country. I don't dwell too much on what agents do, except to say that they would only be assisting you get something to which you are legally entitled. It's just a professional service.

I don't know about a receipt, but when I got my new passport, the IO said I had to have a document from the British embassy to say that the person in the new passport is the same person as the person in the old passport. Daft, I know, but that's what they want. The good thing is that when you pick up your passport from Trendy, they will give you such a form. You just have to fill out your own details on the form and give it to the IO when you get your stamps changed over. Job done.

[Mendip]

^ Yeah, that was another issue... they wanted my new passport linked to the expiring passport with a letter stating as such... ie that Passport No. such and such was replacing Passport No. such and such. I guess this is the form you refer to. This was one of the reasons they wouldn't transfer visas to my 'second' passport that has around 5 years to run.

I guess I should put any developments into the 'Visa extension' thread.

But to get back on topic, this morning there was a big dead frog in the swimming pool. I stuck it on a hook with a ledger weight and cast it out into the pond.

I'll check in a minute... maybe these pla chon have finally met their match.

[OhOh]

travelling back and forth to Bangkok to collect it when it eventually arrives..

The UK Embassy used to mail them out, if it's them you're dealing with.

The last official letter I received was an email which one printed out for TIO usage.

[Joe 90]

But to get back on topic, this morning there was a big dead frog in the swimming pool. I stuck it on a hook with a ledger weight and cast it out into the pond.

I'll check in a minute... maybe these pla chon have finally met their match.

What did you catch, apart from sunstroke?

[Mendip]

^ Nothing else!

But today was a different matter.

Forget the snakehead, we wanted a plan nin for fish and chips tonight.

I love watching fishing programmes such as River Monsters with Jeremy Wade and Extreme Fishing with Robson Green.

I take my fishing hat off to the cameramen working on those series. This took us all morning to put together!

[strigils]

That whole pier is going to disappear with you on it

[Saint Willy]

That will be a good dinner, your camera-person did a great job!

And yes, that pier is about to go!

[Mendip]

^ Now that I'm planning to lose major weight I don't think this will be a problem. We'll get another year out of the jetty no problem.


This should have really gone on the dinner thread but seeing as we had that pla nin for tea tonight it seemed fitting to keep it here.

You don't get fresher than this!



To liven it up i made mushy pea fritters. How on earth do you keep a ball of mushy peas together to coat in batter and then fry up?

Hal or Joe will surely know about this?

I rolled up the mushy peas in some dry batter mix before trying to coat them in batter... but I just ended up with balls of battery peas.



But two clean plates nonetheless!

[Headworx]

I love watching fishing programmes such as River Monsters with Jeremy Wade...

Quite disappointed then that you didn't scream FISH ON!!! FISH ONNNN!!!! when you hooked up