Day 15 13th August
Not surprisingly, I was awake and up early, even though they were not coming until 9am
I passed on the breakfast, because we were heading to Khoonsin restaurant as soon as we got away from the hotel.
Reception called to check the time and would get the porter to collect the suitcases.
I packed my few belongings back into my 2 suitcases, made my coffee and called PJ on skype.
They had just set off!
My mental clock had them arriving at about 9.10am, what's 10 minutes!!?
I had the bath, double-checked the room for anything i might have missed. yes... I definitely had the laptop this time, unlike at Suvarnabhumi!
Everything was rounded up, everything was packed. I was ready.
At 8.30am, I called reception to tell them I wanted to vacate the room, and wait downstairs.
The guy came for the cases, and with a last look at my home for 2 weeks... we went to the lift for the last time.
I got to reception and.. Martin and Dan were already there!
I did the check-out, paid my room bill for those coffees, bingsu and pizzas.
Then we all sat, looking at the car entrance for our pick-ups.
Martin's wife arrived first. The car swept in, and parked up and Martin was straight out. Assistance was given for his cases, and he came back to the steps of reception with his wife for a last goodbye.
At that point, a white Ford Focus pulled in, driven by PJ's friend.
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
I'm going home. I'm not ashamed to say...the emotion of the occasion overcame me at this point. The hopelessness in Dubai, the hope when it was announced that i could apply. those F.....ng hoops to jump through. the tight timescales. the chance of the COVID test being positive, or the result not coming back in time. 3 months of stress. The sheer effort to get to this point.
The emotion passed, thankfully and I was able to compose myself. I went out to the car, rather than them coming up the steps. the ported loaded my suitcases, 1 in the back of the car, and her friend asked if I wanted to drive? Oh boy! did I!?
We said our goodbyes and then I was straight into the drivers seat - keep my mind occupied, as we slowly pulled out from Siam mandarina and into the streets of KingKeow., and freedom.
Finally, I was home to Thailand for real.
So ends the tale of my return.
Yes... we went to Khoonsin for breakfast, where i was greeted by the staff and owners, interested to know how I got back!
Then to the local salon where i have been going for 8 years, for haircut and nails (yes, nails, alright!?)
Next was Ang Sila, for seafood for my coming home dinner
Then we drove back to Chonburi, stopping at Tesco Lotus on the way for supplies.
And, at last, I was back in the house in Bo Kwang Thong by mid afternoon!