An Isaan Pond

[Saint Willy]

Mate, if it's not too personal a question, how have you prepared your Thai household for your imminent departure?

Specifically, your wonderful Daughter.

Has he not been doing this for 30 years?

What will she eat now that you won't be there to supply a western diet (after you leave)?

She might have to eat, gosh can you believe this? Thai food.

The dogs man ... how do they get taken care of?

Gardner.

Oh, lastly, do pack more than 2 pairs of socks and 3 jocks and FFS, pack/buy a decent shower proof jacket/jumper

Ameen to that!

[Mendip]

Is that the only medical requirement, a negative PCR test, to enter your destination country? What about transit airports?

As far as I know it is... offshore workers joining a mobile vessel have exemption from quarantine (even if unvaccinated) so long as they join the vessel within 48 hours of arrival.

I have no idea what my transit airports will be as yet because I'm still waiting for flight details.

Which way are you going,Mendip ?

Don't know yet, but I noticed that the vessel is currently working way up north at Hammerfest so it's going to be a few flights. It looks like I'll be involved with the same projects as last year but with a different company.

Usually the PCR test is 3 days before you fly. Then you are covered at transit airports as long as within 72 hours from test day

Norway are demanding the PCR test within 24 hours of departure, which ain't gonna be easy. The only way I can see this possible is if I have a night flight out from BKK and can then get same day results from an early morning test. It would be great if the Norwegian personnel department appreciated that not everyone is travelling from Stavanger and sent me some flight details through so I can start organising this. The PCR test needs booking... you can't just walk in. And they're busy.

It would also mean a day or two in Bangkok on my own... but I'll just have to cope.

Mate. that waterfall is looking awesome,

The oxygen levels will be great for the pond.

If it's on a timer, then best to start about 2/3 hours before sunrise because that when the saturated oxygen levels are at their lowest.

Anyway ... top job Mendip.

Thank you David!

I can't put the waterfall on a timer because the intake is so far below the pump it needs priming every time I turn it on, which is annoying.

Mate, if it's not too personal a question, how have you prepared your Thai household for your imminent departure?

Specifically, your wonderful Daughter.

What will she eat now that you won't be there to supply a western diet (after you leave)?

The dogs man ... how do they get taken care of?

Oh, lastly, do pack more than 2 pairs of socks and 3 jocks and FFS, pack/buy a decent shower proof jacket/jumper

Green owed David... you reminded me that I'd forgotten to pack my coat!


This is when the gardener earns his money... he's had it easy while I've been home but the wife runs him ragged when I'm away. At least I leave everything in capable hands... apart from the gardening side of things, of course

The daughter is used to me coming and going, although 4 week and 6 week turnarounds are much easier than 6 month turnarounds. She's very adaptable and can switch to a mainly Thai food diet no problem. Besides, I've made up 12 steak and kidney pies so one a week should cover this work trip.

She's gonna miss our daily Monopoly games but I must admit I'll be glad of the break from that.

Her school should start up on Set 6th so then she'll be busy through to Christmas... if of course the school actually opens which I think unlikely the way things are going. She'll also miss our daily exercise regime but I've got the wife onboard to ensure they continue and have told the daughter at the end of each session I need a photograph from the cross-trainer read-out every day if she wants any pocket money. We shall see.


Anyway, to get back on topic... we had a big storm in Korat overnight. There was lots of thunder and lightning but sadly not a lot of rain. The pond level rose a bit but not significantly.

Yesterday I got the wife to cut my right big toe nail right back to allow it to dry out underneath, as it was coming loose anyway. It seems that the regular saline solution washes and Betadine application has done the trick and it's now dry and almost healthy looking. I'm feeling much better about taking it to work with me now.



A strange thing also happened this morning... alerted to Yogi's barking I found one of the big pla chon on the ground outside the tank. It was lucky the dogs intervened or it could have made it back into the pond... which would have pissed me off immensely. I'm starting to question the wisdom of keeping pet snakeheads... these things can jump!

It's looking a bit the worse for wear now after the dogs had a go and may well end up as a jungle curry.

Are you doing a new thread about your trip back to work ?

I wasn't planning to Helge... the last one became more like a blog and it was hard work... but it did give me stuff to do in the evenings I guess.

However... I have a feeling this year's 'commutes for work' will be a lot more problematic than last year's... I'll think about it.

[hallelujah]

^ It would be great if you did.

[David48atTD]

^^ Mate ... I think most, almost all of the Forum love reading your adventures, specifically the honesty with which you tell them.

We shake our heads, but also warmly smile at your fortunes and misfortunes.

Plus you do things many of us never would/can do.

Start a new thread/s, about your travel to the new work site and your travels while working.


Heck, your big toenail may have re-grown before your return!

[OhOh]

^

[cyrille]

^^ He also clearly paid attention in class when a kid.

That helps.

[Saint Willy]

ditto to Mendy starting a new thread!

It would also mean a day or two in Bangkok on my own... but I'll just have to cope.

I imagine that would be difficult.

[armstrong]

Well everything's fucking closed so it won't be very entertaining.

[Saint Willy]

I detect a note of frustration in your voice...

[bsnub]

Saint Willy

[Saint Willy]

tis true. I have turned over a new leaf.

[Mendip]

Well everything's fucking closed so it won't be very entertaining.

I'm surprised you say that Armstrong... I've been reliably informed there are places to go... but I won't be dining out, don't want to risk the Covid at this stage.


The jobs continue right up to the end.

I'd like to see the pla chon jump out of their tank now!



The dogs continue to destroy my carefully manicured reed beds... but I do like to watch them play and only half-heartedly tell them off. The reed's will grow back.



Yogi kept me company tonight... he's been acting strangely and wouldn't leave me alone. In fact all of the dogs are unsettled and they've obviously picked up my mood and know that I'll be leaving soon. Dogs pick up on very subtle human body language and can even 'smell' your mood. I'm unsettled while waiting to get moving and the dogs are following suit.



I'm still waiting for travel details which is incredibly annoying because it'll be tomorrow until I can act on anything... even if they do arrive overnight from Norway. I just want the flights, book up stuff and get moving.

Maya attacked the outside sofa for the first time in over a month... she's been really good lately and I thought she'd grown out of this shit. I gave her a bollocking but my heart wasn't in it... I don't like to leave on bad terms.

Looks like I'll be sewing on another patch in the morning. A patch on a patch.

[Saint Willy]

Bugger

[Edmond]

I wasn't planning to Helge... the last one became more like a blog and it was hard work... but it did give me stuff to do in the evenings I guess.

I have a feeling this year's 'commutes for work' will be a lot more problematic than last year's

What do we want?

A stop off in France.


When do we want it?

When Moroccan Bloke is away.

[David48atTD]

I'd like to see the pla chon jump out of their tank now!

Why are you keeping them alive?

While you are gone, you have no control over them.

Knock them/it on the head, have it for dinner and reduce by one your problems.

[Stumpy]

Good Luck Mendy.

Crazy travel times and quite frankly not very fun.

[helge]

I wasn't planning to Helge... the last one became more like a blog and it was hard work... but it did give me stuff to do in the evenings I guess.

Understand

Just didn't want to pollute the "Pond Thread" with travel advisory, if you'd start another marathon commuter thread.

[Mendip]

Why are you keeping them alive?

While you are gone, you have no control over them.

Knock them/it on the head, have it for dinner and reduce by one your problems.

They're pets David! This tank is now a kind of aquarium.

With the cage roof there is no way even these buggers can escape... but I'm under no illusion that they'll stay pets for the duration of my absence.

Good luck...

Good luck and stay safe, I will miss you pond thread.
I know you will miss your family, dogs and home, but a few months away always helped recharge my batteries, and made me appreciate them more when I got back to them.

I will miss you too BB, but I have to go.

And your wish is my command... a final update on the pond thread for now.

And yes, I definitely need to get away. The few days before leaving are always bad but once I get on the boat and back into work mode it will be better for all concerned. Much as I love being home I also need to get away for my sanity and to get stimulated. I'm no good at home if I get grumpy and Hong Thong saturated.

He’s doubtless been called worse, but…

Ain't that the truth!


This was the pond yesterday morning before I left home.



It should be full in a few days and I'm expecting a big water bill this month. Just when we really needed it the previously regular rain just disappeared.

And from the opposite direction. It'll be interesting to see how it has developed when I get back home.



And most of the gang. I've impressed upon my daughter the need to maintain our early evening sessions sitting in the sala by the pond. The dogs love the company and it gets my daughter off the screens for a while... ha... who am I kidding, she'll take her phone.

This photo has reminded me that I meant to re-paint the jetty legs before the pond filled with water. Next time...

[Mendip]

While you are gone, you have no control over them.

Well, good luck indeed. That didn't take long.

The wife just sent me a couple of pics... this was the pla chon that leapt out of the tank and got attacked by the dogs a few days ago. Apparently it died during the night.

To be fair it hadn't been looking very well for a couple of days but the timing of it's demise is very suspicious.



I've never felt sorry for a snakehead before. There's only one big one left in the tank now and I think it highly unlikely that I'll ever see it again.

[lom]

There's only one big one left in the tank now and I think it highly unlikely that I'll ever see it again.

I think you are right.

[Saint Willy]

Well, good luck indeed. That didn't take long.

The wife just sent me a couple of pics... this was the pla chon that leapt out of the tank and got attacked by the dogs a few days ago. Apparently it died during the night.

To be fair it hadn't been looking very well for a couple of days but the timing of it's demise is very suspicious.

I've never felt sorry for a snakehead before. There's only one big one left in the tank now and I think it highly unlikely that I'll ever see it again.

that looks delicious!

[Mendip]

It seems there's been a fair bit of rain in Korat over the past weeks and my lovely young daughter sent me a few pics of the pond today.

It's filled up nicely and I'm very pleased with the colour of the water.



It made me a bit home sick... there's Maya on the jetty!



And some of the others mooching about.



Fukk knows what the gardener's been doing, but it isn't cutting the grass... that's for sure.



And where my Leo should be resting...

[malmomike77]

^ good to see they have finished getting rid of those unsightly reeds

[Mendip]

^ Yes, the dogs are more effective than the gardener!

[helge]

And have more taste than the owner.




Nah