it used to be that people would give up their life for their country and their fellow countrymen, they would throw themselves on a grenade. Now they are not even willing to wear a face mask for a few minutes while the go shopping to pleasure themselves. And then they devise all sort of excuses to rationalize their selfishness.
The sooner you fall behind, the more time you have to catch up.
Hard to believe it’s 14 months since I started this thread.
my business has gone, returned to Australia to work, not overly impressed !
What a difference a year makes.
Start of this thread the answer was ‘not a jot’ and now ‘a fuck tonne’.
Still working online, still in lockdown, this one quite strict. Would not recommend pandemics.
Covid really screw me up. I mean really screw me up.
The last couple of years at work had become a grind. I mean waiting to retire was like waiting for water to boil, it seems to take for ever.
When I retired I was going to do all the things I did not have time to do while working.
And about a year and a half ago I finally had all my financials in order and I put my retirement papers in. I was going to come in Thailand and stay there until I got tired of Thailand, Travel to all the countries in the region, visit my nephew in Australia, Go to Greece and get my Greek passport, do the OPA OPA, travel Europe, stay with my sister in Italy.
Instead all I have done in the past year and a half is make bread, get fat and work in my garden. Grrrr.
Actually very little.
Other than socially and going out, which wasn't affected too much until recently.
Wearing a mask and checking temp while entering a shop.
Everything else is pretty much the same for us.
Oh yeah, rental income is down 70% with no sign of recovering anytime soon.
Besides that, not much.
Seems like a lot more positives, which is good!
----
As for me, it has been a crazy year, mostly my own doing though. I quit my online job in February and moved an hour away to a bigger city where I lived 15 years ago. I got a full time job here, but in the schools as opposed to online. Now, the third wave in my province is out of control and the boy I live with has tested positive for covid a week or so ago. His mom has tested negative though which I find very odd as she has been staying with him in the basement.
I have been tested for Covid and should know my results tomorrow. It has been ten days since he's had it (asymptomatic) and I haven't had any symptoms either, so I may be ok. We are on March break (that was moved to April), but are in full lockdown as of April 1st. What an unforgetable year! The boy caught if from a boy in his class. Many young students are getting it now.
...^thanks for the update...stay healthy...
It has been up and down for me now after what nearly 1.5 years. Living here in Thailand hasn't been that stressful or bothersome compared to numerous other places. In fact with all the tourists locked out, most of the beach resort locations have been absolutely outstanding. Working remotely for the last year hasn't been to bad in the big picture. It saved on commuting and flying back and forth and saved money. I really do not mind the mask and like others, only wear it when entering businesses however one thing that it has changed for me is not seeing people smile and laugh. Its all covered with a mask now. I used to enjoy my bicycle ride to various coffee shops and chat with folks but now its all about get the coffee and go.
For me the biggest impact is not really being able to do my annual trip back to the states to see family and friends for a month. I mean its doable but the path back to Thailand is complicated and problematic and until they have a clear protocol on a return process I will stay put. I had hoped to fly back with my wife and land and get the Pfizer vaccine shots done while there but that too is shelved for now as my oldest daughter announced her marriage plans a week ago towards the end of this year so I am hoping things break and we can do it then but I am not counting on it. Coupled with that my Mom was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer last week. No idea on all the info yet, Doc consultation in a few days. Normally I would be on a plane but not now. Its too complicated. The world is a different place now that's for sure.
Now with this recent resurgence of the virus from BKK, it's back to staying home as my wife is very fearful of it and with my FIL we have to be cautious on entertaining friends. So all that was planned about a month ago was shelved. IMHO and not being pessimistic here, but I think that the "Waiting until Covid is gone" or the "After Covid" days are not realistic. The med community might find a way to reduce it and manage it but its here for a long time. Just like the flu, it mutates every year and there is no "Cure" for the flu and it kills thousands every year. I am however certain they will come up with some sort of vaccine that can stabilize it.
^^Thanks, tc. I'm hoping for the best! Also, there have been no teachers being vaccinated yet. Canada is so behind the curve on vaccination for a 1st world country! Sad!
Yeah what a joke that list turned out to be.
Just learned we will have to quarantine for two weeks on return to CNX. :/
Little change for me, apart from more and more demand for my online science lessons I'm up to about 163 young students, each taught 1-to-1, so my lesson calendar is fully booked for about 2 months in advance.
Life in Luang Prabang is.. well .. totally normal, except for the absence of foreign tourists. The lock-down ended last March. I wear a mask when in the supermarket etc, but that's all I do, and it's not a rule anyway. Zero Covid deaths in Laos, very little cases, vaccinations have recently started, thanks to generous vaccine donations from Russia, China and Covax.
Groping women when you're old is fine - everyone thinks you're senile
COVID for me started late December 2019 when I believe I caught it from a sick homestay guest. At the time I thought it to be a weird flu and put myself to bed. After a decidedly unpleasant 4-5 days I recovered reasonably quickly and only decided it may have been COVID many months later after I read all of the symptoms and the fact not all folks get all of them. I'd say I recovered 99% but at least once a week I do get a shortness of breath briefly not associated with exercise or other exertion. The wife's homestay business had a net benefit last year, she lost mid-March to April bookings but business took off in June, way earlier than expected. This year she has lost all her April-May bookings because of the Nan province quarantine requirement. Not devastating because this is a hobby.
I was unable to get to Australia for my father's funeral last year. My mother is also reaching end of life and I'm resigned to the likelihood of not seeing her again in person. Additionally my Australian drivers license has now been expired too long to renew which may present some challenges in the future. Atm I don't think I'll be able to visit Australia until mid next year. Need to be vaccinated and do not want to risk getting stuck outside Thailand since my home/wife are here, nor do I want to risk the Australian states closing borders and stuffing up what will be my first trip back in more than three years.
Don't mind wearing a heavy mask and all-in-all, have not got too much to complain about.
You're doing well, given that the morbidly obese are such high risk.
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