My post-lockdown commute back to work

[Mendip]

Like many others I suspect, I am on a Non O visa based on marriage to a Thai national. I last entered the Kingdom on February 21st and my 90 days were up on May 20th. I guess I should be covered by the amnesty but I never trust anything here until it happens.

I last worked in November 2019... and apart from a trip to Singapore and a couple of trips to Bangkok have been at home in Korat for months... and months. Covid killed my work stone dead... oil price crash and impossible travel. But... of course a wonderful opportunity to spend months of guilt-free time with my wonderful daughter and my pack of lovely street dogs.

But does the money ever disappear fast with nothing coming in and 38 Baht to the pound!

Anyway... with the gradual opening up I've picked up work with a new contractor back on familiar territory in Norway, with a Swedish outfit of all things. After so long off work this is fantastic news for our finances and for my sanity... but as you know, once it's confirmed it'd be nice to get another couple of weeks off... just to get ready!

I have a confirmed flight out of BKK 02:10 Sunday morning, heading to Narvik/Harstad (EVE) to join an offshore survey/construction vessel, and after eight months off it feels weird! This is my last evening in Isaan...

So, first up... get rid of this bladdy thing! My lockdown moustache.... bye bye...



I don't mind looking like a twat walking the dogs around Isaan but next week I'll be talking to people with more on their minds than where the next som tam's coming from, or what the next story line of some shitty soap opera is... I'll be expected to know what I'm about and sound vaguely intelligent... so I at least want to look the part!

There... that's better!



A bit symbolic to be honest... that's lockdown finished with, now out to the big wide world again!

Although of course I'm under no illusion that my 4 to 6 week trip offshore will mean a lot longer duration away from home than that... I'm expecting a couple of offshore trips out of this work, maybe more... but with the travel restrictions currently in force on entering Thailand I won't be returning home between trips. What's the point when most of the time off would be spent in quarantine...? So I'm full of trepidation about this work as well... when will I see my daughter again... maybe next year? Who knows what will happen with this bladdy Covid... second waves... etc etc? What a horrible year.

But... I have to do it, no choice.

I'm spending my last night at home in Korat as I've spent so many... sitting with the dogs as my daughter plays on Roblox inside. I'm having a few ciders with Ya Dong chasers... and what says it's time to get back to work more than that! I'll try and get a BUS down to Bangkok mid morning tomorrow and to be honest I'm getting a bit melancholy about it all... I'll miss the daughter no end... and I hate starting with new companies on new boats with new people... but it'll be ok I'm sure... and Narvik is in the bladdy Arctic Circle... 8 degrees and raining today! Can't say I'm looking forward to it.

But the dogs take me mind off things... I notice that Yogi, after disgracing himself this morning, is now trying to shag his 14 year old step mother Dan... but she can handle herself.



Anyway, in this Covid 'new normal' world, I thought a thread of air travel may be of interest... to see what's going on and how the visa situation is approached.

Sunday morning I have BKK - DOH - OSL - EVE, and I'll try and give some idea of how things are (if I stay sober! ).

But for now I have a couple of ciders to finish!