Thread: How has Coronavirus affected you ?

Starting to get a bit antsy over all these travel restrictions. Still unable to book flights and even if we could the whole quarantine thing at both ends would make it pretty impractical.

At this juncture I am still working 100% remotely. I have to admit that my 16 weekly standing conference calls is getting a bit mundane. With no technical support being able to fly over I am covering both Ops and Engineering along with equipment expediting. So I am calling all over the world at this time at all times of day and night. My hunch is that this will carry on through at least end of July, maybe August.

On a side note, My father had to be rushed to the hospital for Atrial Fibrillation issue. They had to stop his heart again to basically reboot his rhythm. All went well but in the event it did not go well I would not be able to go see him. We spoke about it on the phone prior to the process. He was quite realistic about it, he said "if I should die, no need to panic and get here, I am dead, I would not be offended" He knows that coming to the states would likely mean I could not return home here in Thailand for quite some time. My wife could not go because she is caring for her Father.

Originally Posted by Edmond

But it's not registering. It's writing down John Smith 0874376381, then walking in.

Hardly worth embarrassing yourself over.

I don't feel embarrassed.
John Smith and his phone number contains exactly the same number of chars that mine do so there's no gain for me in faking - it is not about privacy but about being delayed for no logical reason at all.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

At my local 7/11, They have seen me for years now. They wave me on but still check my temperature as I enter

They know me also and of course they can take my temp, just don't direct me to the log book..

For almost 3 month, ie before the "easing", I could go to Lotus or Big C and buy everything except booze, I could go to Makro and buy anything food but nothing else (which I had to go to Lotus for). Today I can again buy a plastic chair on Makro..
We got less restrictions but a farking log book.
I can accept a delay if I'm doing a 1 hour shopping session at Makro, Big C, or Lotus but not when needing a liter of milk from 7/11. Fortunately my nearest Family Mart hasn't started logging yet.
What's next? Registering at the mom and pop shop? Registering when leaving your property?

Originally Posted by JPPR2

He knows that coming to the states would likely mean I could not return home here in Thailand for quite some time.

I don't think that would put me off seeing off one of the two people that gave me life and raised me so well.

'Sacrificing' a few months in the West, would be a small price to pay to do the right thing.

Glad to hear he pulled through okay. Well done JPPR1

Originally Posted by lom

it is not about privacy but about being delayed

As opposed to turning around in a huff, and going home with nothing.

Thus having completely wasted the 20 minutes or whatever it took to get there, embarrass yourself, then go home again with absolutely nothing?

That's preferable to/better than a 20 second 'delay' and going home with what you want/need?

Glad your dad's OK, JP.

Originally Posted by Edmond

As opposed to turning around in a huff, and going home with nothing.

Read my post again, I went in and got my milk..

Originally Posted by cyrille

Glad your dad's OK, JP.

Yeah ditto that.

Shitty time to be stuck away.

Originally Posted by happynz

So, a quick trip to Jarir for puzzles

...Jarir Bookstore? Been some time since I heard that name...

Originally Posted by Edmond

As opposed to turning around in a huff, and going home with nothing.

Which is exactly what he...err...didn't do?

You're reaching too much for this one, jaunty chap.

Originally Posted by Mandaloopy

Borders will only open here once there is a vaccine: PM: Mongolia to open borders after COVID-19 vaccines launched - News.MN

Here the PM, Ardern, said the country could stay isolated until March . . . utter bullshit and destroying the last remnants of hope many businesspeople have had

Originally Posted by JPPR2

I guess its more for show that "Some type of control" is in place albeit zero value.

Exactly, that's what it's all about.
I'll sign the log next time - LOM without a phone number..

Originally Posted by Edmond

I don't think that would put me off seeing off one of the two people that gave me life and raised me so well.

Originally Posted by cyrille

Glad your dad's OK, JP.

Originally Posted by AntRobertson

Yeah ditto that.

Shitty time to be stuck away

Thanks for all the kind wishes. He is 86 now and this is the 2nd time he has had to have this process. Initially I was chasing a few flights to go but then when I did a vid call with him and his cardiologist by the time I got there, the process would be done with 1 of 2 outcomes. Fortunately it was the positive one. Also to mention, my mom nor brother were allowed to go in and see him before or after. Only after she took him home at his release. Weird times. He went golfing a day later....He said, "Hey they Bill Gates me. You know, Reboot and it fixes everything"

Originally Posted by lom

Read my post again, I went in and got my milk..

Did the detour to the Family Mart take less than the 10-20 second delay to enter the 7-11?

Originally Posted by Edmond

Did the detour to the Family Mart take less than the 10-20 second delay to enter the 7-11?

There wasn't any detour to Family Mart, are you daft?
I bought a quick lunch sandwich in Family Mart and later in the evening a liter of milk in 7/11.
Are you going to dob me in to the BiB's for not signing the log book? or maybe to the immigration?
You seem really concerned about following the rulez Lulu..

Looks like my visa will be going though with no issues, so that is a positive. Today's task is to tour some local import markets to pick up the basic dry goods needed for Thai cooks as I won't be getting a fix of that anytime soon. I am relatively hopeful the country will be open in 2021- the only way out at the moment is a private jet to South Korea, which is well above my budget haha.

Originally Posted by JPPR2

At Central Mall you have to do the QR code scan entering the mall plus a temp scan and a hand sanitizer splash. But what is odd is you have to do another QR code scan to enter each store inside the mall or fill out a log if you do not have a phone. Then you have to QR code scan as you leave the mall. Again, no idea where that data is going and how it has any bearing on virus control.

Yup, same here in NZ.

If there's an outbreak it allows the government to pinpoint where you were and send you a warning

Went out for a meal at Central Rayong at the weekend. Was told we (me, missus, and son) had to site apart at separate tables.. Notwithstanding that we live together, and had traveled together in the same car to get there, ffs. Told them to go stuff it. "Making This Shit Up As We Go Along #632".

It's the poor bastards that are given the task to enforce the rules on the moaning farang that I feel sorry for.

All the students are back at my school now. Most classes are back to the normal seating arrangements and about half the students wear the mask all the time.

Life is back to normal in the parks and malls. No QR codes required anymore.

I'm just waiting for Thailand to open up the border to China so I can leave in July.

In my neck of the woods, north Nonthaburi, they had closed Westgate Mall where we paid our bills and grocery shopped at Tops. Tops remains opened but as we can’t pay our bills its more convenient to shop at Makro and Tesco Lotus and pay our bills at 7. A bit closer drive wise.

Tesco Lotus complex initially had a girl check your temp and squirt hand sanitizer the first trip or two. Third trip on just a table with a bottle of hand sanitizer on it. Use as you see fit.

Similar at the 7.

They opened Westgate Mall on the 17^TH but we haven’t been there yet.

Went to Tesco a couple days ago. Hand sanitizer bottle is accompanied with a log in, log out book along with a sign instructing patrons to log in and log out. Ignored, saw one or two scribbled entries as I, and everybody else, just walked on by.

Same at the DIY stores log in book, I did log in. It had about a dozen entries, log out book had two plus mine - number three. Dozens of patrons walking in and out, nobody cares. Even the attendant who played the charade of vaguely gesturing towards the sign in table as folk entered without looking at him.

Log in and out already ignored and soon to be forgotten.

On the pro side 100% face mask compliance.

Originally Posted by bowie

Went to Tesco a couple days ago. Hand sanitizer bottle is accompanied with a log in, log out book along with a sign instructing patrons to log in and log out. Ignored, saw one or two scribbled entries as I, and everybody else, just walked on by.

All the more time for Mao to write down his details, interests, availability etc.

Originally Posted by armstrong

the moaning farang

Yes, it's amazing the level of angst that writing a random name and 10 digits causes some.

Probably the same that scream and shout about Somchai not having change, when all they have to do is take out xx,900 when they use the ATM instead of xx,000.


Perhaps the angst comes from something deeper.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I feel like this is the perfect opportunity for one of Jeff's insights.