What to do when you kill a cow

Driving through Hua Hin and we see this:

This reminds she who must be obeyed that there are similar signs with cows on them, and I need to be aware of the implications.

“If there is no cow warning sign, and you hit a cow, then the owner is responsible and he has to pay for damage to your car”, she advises me solemnly.

“Interesting”, I observe, not really interested. “So, what should I do in these circumstances; assuming I am not dead having had a cow come through the windscreen?”

“You should go and find the owner and get him to give you money. But if there is a warning sign and you hit a cow; then you are responsible and have to pay for the cow.”

“I see; so what should I do if there is a sign and I kill a cow?”

“Drive away as quickly as possible!”

“But I thought you said I was responsible?”

“You are; but a cow could cost you ten thousand baht and you don’t want to pay that; so disappear!”

“But isn’t that morally wrong? The poor farmer has lost a cow.”

“Don’t worry about him, he now has enough meat for weeks of meals.”

So there you are, she who must be obeyed’s not entirely moral, but very Thai, guide to killing a cow. Probably works for horses too.

Comments 🔗

2011-09-10 | JB says

Sounds like the same rule they use when they hit people, disappear… If he has no money he could pay you in steak.

2011-09-10 | genuinej says

SWMBO’s logic sounds spot on to me. Shame you’re contemplating letting the side down through your built-in Anglo-Irish guilt complex. Unfortunately I’m stuck with one too. p.s. Is that equine playing football or polo?

2011-09-11 | Spike says

Irish? I’m a Geordie.

I don’t think horses play football. The only horse we could find was down a side-street, grazing next to the railway track

2011-09-11 | Barry says

I ’d guess that if you’re a Geordie and we met I wouldn’t be able to understand a word you say. I worked with a Geordie for a brief period, and me being a Cockney we had a bit of a communication problem. We each had to say everything about three times. I wonder how SWMBO understands you. Or maybe she doesn’t and just nods to keep the peace. As for the cats, it doesn’t bear thinking about…..

2011-09-11 | Spike says

Wey I’m a geordie, but I divvin have the accent, ye buggermar.

Left for the deep south (Middlesbrough) when I was four, and me Da spoke all posh like, so I copied him.