My post-lockdown commute back to work

[OhOh]

I had to book the flight to get the CoE, bugger.

The UK embassy will reissue the COE if you send updated airlines, dates or times.

As you have already been issued a COE, all official boxes have been ticked. The ASQ will also reissue the booking if you are a day or so adrift.

The revised COE arrived back the same day as receiving my request for some similar changes on my return.

I would suggest holding off to see which other airlines/countries may modify their UK specific travel rules.

Thailand appears to have revised it's entry requirements on the IATA site:

IATA - International Travel Document News


MK's post on the airline thread also:

The resumption of domestic flights follows the airline’s announcement last month that it would be relaunching scheduled international flights from 1st January 2021 to 27th March 2021.


It will fly one flight every Friday to Frankfurt and London, and a Sunday flight to Copenhagen and Sydney.

[Mendip]

^ Yeah thanks OhOh. There's not a lot I can do about it just now.

Belgium have now also banned all flights from the UK and Germany are considering it.

I'll just have to see how it pans out. My flight's not until early February so hopefully a good lockdown will sort this out.

My visa is only valid until Feb 18, so I guess that could be an upcoming issue...

It has become so complicated just to get back home.

[aging one]

Its all going to work out for you Mendip. Too well researched and planned to even have covid stop it. However what is this thing with trams? Work on those thoughts mate, it will raise your karma level.

[OhOh]

My visa is only valid until Feb 18, so I guess that could be an upcoming issue...

If you're in Thailand,prior to that date, you will get a free 90 extension from the BKK airport IO.

If not:

Ask you wife to visit your local TIO, to obtain the handout of their requirements for an annual extension on your current visa, a NON IMM - O yes? Based on having a Thai national wife and it's the first time time you have requested one.

Subsequent years the rules maybe relaxed, for example there is a requirement to have the house master (HM) to complete a form, supply copies of the house book and their ID card. The first year the HM must be in attendance at the IO the day you apply. If your wife is the HM she will be there anyway, if somebody else, that person needs to attend as well.

Ask her confirm that the list is complete and the TIO officers name along with the office telephone number and email address.

90% you will have but some are only valid for a specific time. For example the residence certificate and Kor - Ror 2.

Once you have that info it's just collecting all of them, copying all of them and creation two sets.

[Mendip]

^ I was more thinking what would happen if my Non O expires before I can get back to Thailand due to flight cancellations?

A condition of the CoE was a valid visa for entry to Thailand.

Hopefully the Cloggy ban on UK flights will be short lived... but it's just been one of those years.

[lom]

I was more thinking what would happen if my Non O expires before I can get back to Thailand due to flight cancellations?

You explain the circumstances to the London Thai Embassy who surely will issue you either a 3month non O or a 60 or 90 day tourist visa.
You can convert a tourist to a non O at Korat Immigration and then apply for a one year permit to stay based on that one.

[Mendip]

^ I hope so Lom... but timing could well become an issue. Fingers crossed flights won't be still affected by February.

But more pressing matters are at hand and I really hope you read this very soon.

I have a sausage emergency. The British Shop was sold out of most stuff yesterday and in fact the only real result for me was a tin of SPAM.

I thought I had a few sausages left but there were only three in the freezer and I had to eat them tonight.



Lom, can you recommend any sausages in Sweden similar to proper British style sausages that would be good to roast around the chicken for my Christmas meal? I guess it goes without saying they have to be pork... the porkier the better to be honest. I have a Co-op and a Lidl within distance, as well as the ICA.

These were from the British shop.



I've got two or three days to sort this out... help!

[Joe 90]

Peas with fried eggs

[Saint Willy]

Peas with fried eggs

You need help, Mendip!

[Mendip]

^ Never will I understand people's reluctance to try different foods!

I needed cheering up tonight so decided to go 'off menu' and add a fried egg. You can take the boy out of Korat...

And after last night's insults I left the peas in the freezer.



And why do I need cheering up? As I watch the UK become increasingly alienated I'm starting to wonder how realistic my return to Thailand is in February... or even my return to the UK in three weeks? We shall see I guess. And I hate to moan, but bollocks to it all.

My French colleague stayed late in the office tonight to have a Zoom yoga/meditation session for the Winter Solstice. Yeah I know... it raised some questions for me as well. I did consider also staying on for a sneaky peak... but that would have been just plain weird if I'd have got caught watching.

I decided to start planning my Christmas meal instead. There's a few obvious essential ingredients missing, but it's coming along.

The main course (with a chicken, sausages, bacon, etc)...



I was considering a Prawn Cocktail starter and a Crepe Suzette dessert, but I left my 1980s cookbook at home. Maybe I can stick the chicken in a basket?

Alexey leaves tomorrow, leaving just the three of us. The plan is for a Christmas drink at the local hotel bar on Wednesday night... I can't see Mohamed joining us!

I've been considering my tactics carefully, and my main plan is to get her rat-arsed. I don't have a back-up plan as yet.

[helge]

I left my 1980s cookbook at home.

Ouch
Cancel Christmas
Where do one find a Prawncocktail recipe just like that ?

Feel for you, Mendip, travel wise

Things are getting complicating and the uncertainty must a pain

[OhOh]

We shall see I guess. And I hate to moan, but bollocks to it all.

Have you thought of skipping the UK and flying direct to Thailand from Sweden.

The COE and flights could be changed. A test done in Sweden ...

Things to do over Christmas:

1. Check flights are available
2. Check ASQ is available
3. Contact Thai embassy in UK to confirm it's OK
4. Locate a tester in Gothenburg
5. Recalculate countdown

Seems to be a possibility.

[Mendip]

^ This has been crossing my mind as well.

I've got my bladdy DateJust to pick up in the UK but that can wait I guess.

My ASQ is flexible, but I don't know by how much.

PCR test probably easier to sort out here than in the UK (where I'm still having issues...)

Flights with SAS via CPH will probably not be a problem. Or THAI via Oslo or Stockholm. I'll end up with KLM vouchers but I can use them for our European summer holiday when Covid has gone and everything is back to normal!

But, I thought you had to apply through your embassy of nationality? I'll inquire anyway a a first step... all through this the London and Stockholm Thai embassies have been extremely responsive and helpful.

[TheMadBaron]

As I watch the UK become increasingly alienated I'm starting to wonder how realistic my return to Thailand is in February... or even my return to the UK in three weeks? We shall see I guess.

The word from TheProphetOfDoom @ ground zero:

I've got to be honest; the weather's terrible here down south, and doubtlessly a great deal worse up north. A lot of people were about to get sick even without COVID-19 and it's lovely new variant.

There could be further lockdown restrictions. There are going to be food supply issues. People might start panic buying again. Londoners are going to get restless. All hell might be about to break loose. Airlines? Not a chance.

All of this will affect me almost not at all, but then I'm not going anywhere. I honestly doubt you're coming here any time soon, though I wish you the best of luck.

You might want to focus on Plan B for a bit.

[OhOh]

^ This has been crossing my mind as well.

KLM - BKK flights via Amsterdam! 400 GBP mid Jan.

I thought you had to apply through your embassy of nationality

I'm presuming you are a UK CITIZEN (your preferred meals suggest so) = UK Embassy, box ticked. What with the UK being grounded, what's a man desperate to get back to his Thai family to do! Pictures of a crying wife and daughter, plus three sad dogs might help.

Best not include any pictures of your garden...

I'll inquire anyway a a first step... all through this the London and Stockholm Thai embassies have been extremely responsive and helpful.

As you've already been OK'd by the UK and presumably Bangkok I would try the UK first. It is after all just flights and dates. Your actual AMS - BKK flight number may even be the same.

[Mendip]

^ Of course... could still use the KLM AMS to BKK flight, just originate from GOT instead of BRS. Why not?

I can probably rustle up at least 7 sad dogs with a crying daughter. The gardener can take the pic!

[Saint Willy]

I thought that was an obvious option to ask? Get onto it Mendip. Forget the UK.

[lom]

om, can you recommend any sausages in Sweden similar to proper British style sausages that would be good to roast around the chicken for my Christmas meal? I guess it goes without saying they have to be pork... the porkier the better to be honest. I have a Co-op and a Lidl within distance, as well as the ICA.

British style sausages are quite different from northern Europe sausages and I have no idea where you can find the British ones.
Lidl might be your best chance for the Lincolnshire or Cumberland ones or maybe they have the German Nurnberger sausages which are similar to Cumberlands.

I was considering a Prawn Cocktail starter and a Crepe Suzette dessert, but I left my 1980s cookbook at home.

Is google blocked at your workplace?

[ootai]

Mendip
You have probably said already in a previous post why you planned to fly home in February, I think it was so you could go and see your Mum.
But if it were me I get out of Sweden and back to Thailand as soon as you work there is completed. When is that by the way?
Just as others have suggested fly straight back to Thailand.

I would want to get out ASAP because of what's happening in Sweden, UK and Thailand. Thailand had several hundred new cases the other day so they could quiet conceivably close the place up again if it looks like getting a bit out of control.

I feel for you as if it were me I don't think I could handle the stress of the rapidly changing situation.

[bsnub]

Never will I understand people's reluctance to try different foods!

This from a guy who has never taken food pics of the local fare be it Europe or LOS and your meals are all basically a variation of the same dreary British cooking. Live by your own words and branch out a bit.

[Joe 90]

^peas in Somtam is perfectly acceptable

Baked beans in thai green curry probably not.

[bsnub]

He needs to find a nice Swedish smörgåsbord for his Christmas dinner.

[aging one]

He needs to find a nice Swedish smörgåsbord for his Christmas dinner.

Lom "The Swede" kind of nipped that in the bud a couple of weeks ago.

Lom Posted,

Swedish christmas buffet:




Various kinds of herring (pickled herring, onion pickled herring, mustard herring, garlic herring, tomato herring ) smoked salmon, collared brawn, head cheese/fromage, meatballs, small sausages, homemade sausages , christmas ham, smoked pork belly, spare ribs, Jansons temptation, beetroot sallad, seafood sallad and various kinds of bread to mention some of it.

I checked a few restaurants, they don't serve it as buffet this year but instead serve you at your table, I would choose Fiskekrogen (not far from The British Shop) 695 or 895 SEK. Yes I know but there's only christmas once a year.
Some restaurants have home delivery for the lonely souls but then you are not able to eat as much as you want..

[David48atTD]

He needs to find a nice Swedish smörgåsbord for his Christmas dinner.

Damm, I need to know, and demand why Anna Nyström doesn't have her Port and Starboard indicators visible!

[lom]

Damm, I need to know, and demand why Anna Nyström doesn't have her Port and Starboard indicators visible!

If unsure then go in the middle of the fairway!