My post-lockdown commute back to work

[Mendip]

you just need to either shut up or accept their attitude - either way , just take the money

Yes... I need to learn this. I've always freelanced but usually at places I'm established and known... this is different. But all said and done, if they knew what they were doing I wouldn't have had 10 weeks work out of them so far, so I should shut up and be thankful...

Today it's headphones on and radio Bristol all day... and I'll keep quiet.

Mendip, here's a top tip from Nev the spaghetti chef: break the spaghetti in half before you put it in the pan.

Is there no end to your wisdom Nev? I was going down the 'bigger pan' route as I threw that one in the bin last night... I was further pissed off when half of the spaghetti burnt to the bottom. I'll probably get it out of the bin tonight and wash it... it's probably lying in the wrong bin anyway... Sweden has a bewildering array of bins from which to choose.

Let’s hope next year will be different.

Amen to that. I was just feeling sorry for myself last night... it's been way too much work in one sitting and is getting to me. A worse case of course would have been if this hadn't have come up. Then I'd be back in Korat with my daughter and dogs (and wife and gardener) but gradually running out of money. This is the better option of course.

You also display a new winebox, Gato Negro, which is mentioned among the best 2020 red wine boxes and it got 3 + out of 5 in a test.

Gosa Monastrell 2019, SEK 219:-, got 4 +. "A popular wine that goes perfectly with hamburger or grilled meat."

Observant as always Lom. Well I can confirm that the Gato Negro went well with my 'carbonara' shall we call it. Next week a Gosa Monastrell it is then... good price as well. I hope that goes well with a whistling lasagne as they have become a staple of mine. I keep meaning to try the whistling chicken masala but they sprinkle sultanas on the rice and that ruins it for me.

Mendy, would you think of forgetting about Thailand for perhaps 5 years and look at getting the kid, wife and gardener back to the UK as a base for the next few years.

Over a few years it would probably cost the same as you getting in and out of Thailand twice a year. Would be great for the kid educationally and culturally, and would have you back easily between your working rotations.

That has crossed my mind... a big upheaval that would make my life a lot easier. The wife would refuse outright I'm sure, and I'd have no way of looking after my daughter with working away so much. To carry it out would certainly force a few issues which are currently lying dormant, if you see what I mean.

But in all honesty, despite my criticism of Korat I do quite enjoy my secluded life style there during normal times. I find the balance of working away in the west about 5 months a year, regular days out in Bangkok and then quiet family time in Korat suits me quite well... and while it ain't cheap to live in Thailand as most know, the thought of getting back in to the UK tax system is most unappealing... the tax would far outweigh the savings I would make by having education and health laid on by the state.

Not a bad idea lu, but the gardener and wife....

The gardener would stay to take care of my dogs... aah, the wife can stay as well!

By the way, what are you doing for Christmas lunch Chitty?

I doubt it's the first time your valuable advice has been ignored.

Take care and leave your current post with a good reputation. It's always best to have a string of contented former employers to offer as references.

It's most certainly not! The wife ignores me consistently!

Leaving with a good reputation is utmost as despite being pissed off with it now, I'll be OK a week or two after leaving and I may well be glad of this lot again next year. The Swedes are much happier to fly people across borders than the Norwegians are during Covid times.

It does seem to be one thing after another in the oil industry. I'd just got through the 2015 downturn when the West African work died a death, returned to working in Norway, got the day rate built up and the tax sorted, and then bladdy Covid has set it back again. But... I know I should be grateful to be earning anything just now.

Cannot suggest anything that has not been mentioned already apart from finding a 3rd country that you and the family like (and can both enter) and hanker down there for a year or so.

Good luck pal.

Thanks Bogon.

Yes... lots of things are going through my mind... but all said and done if I do end up away from home for six months or so it's not a great deal in the scheme of things. And maybe staying with my mum for a month or two over the winter is the right thing to do. I know that she's been suffering from loneliness with this lock down and isolation this year.

I was just feeling sorry for myself last night... I'm still feeling sorry for meself but with a stonking headache this morning to take my mind off other things. I shouldn't have mixed that Gato Negro with cider and Aberlour.