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  1. #26
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    Headworx's Avatar
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    ^I think we all know where Yogi picked up that sort of behaviour

    Having done the old fly-out routine about a million times for usually undetermined lengths of time, I take my hat off to guys that are married with kids. Must be 100 times harder to do and to be honest, I probably couldn't do it.

  2. #27
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    aging one's Avatar
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    Give your daughter some calls from BKK mate. She is going to miss you terribly. Seriously..

  3. #28
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    If I'm not going direct to the airport I tend to get a bus down to Bangkok... it takes similar time as a taxi and the bus driver doesn't insist on talking to you. And the bus costs 209 Baht compared to 4000 Baht for a taxi. I guess a dishonest person could conceivably take the bus and still put a taxi on expenses. I'd imagine that would pay for an awful lot of cider in the Robin Hood!

    This looks familiar... and not a train to be seen!



    NakhonChai21 again... good aircon, phone charging points and wifi, enabling threads to be added to on the move...



    And social distancing can be marvelous! Two seats for the price of one!



    Incidentally, when selecting seats for my Qatar flights it looked as though all the centre seats in the banks of three had been left vacant, presumably for this social distancing. It makes a huge difference in Economy to have an empty seat next to you.

  4. #29
    Thailand Expat OhOh's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by nidhogg View Post
    I will miss your slice of life threads
    His upcoming thread title list are already pencilled in:

    "Comments from the land of the perpetual sun."(soon to be a short lived LD favourite)

    "Strange goings on from my offshore platform/ship". (Interviews and discreet photos of my fashionable shipmates)

    "Norwegians, how they love to pass the time and their strange eating habits" (Tips on cooking Norwegian marine life)

    "Passing foreign ships and what I wouldn't do for a decent meal" (More Norwegian marine life recipes)

    "AWOL strategies from my virus infected 24/7 lockdown location 1." (Taking your first helicopter in-command flight and successful storm evasion)

    "AWOL strategies from my virus infected 24/7 lockdown location 2." (Taking your first platform lifeboat drop)

    A tray full of GOLD is not worth a moment in time.

  5. #30
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    Mendip's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Headworx View Post
    ^I think we all know where Yogi picked up that sort of behaviour

    Having done the old fly-out routine about a million times for usually undetermined lengths of time, I take my hat off to guys that are married with kids. Must be 100 times harder to do and to be honest, I probably couldn't do it.
    I'm just gonna ignore your first sentence!

    To be honest when you simply have to work it makes it a lot easier... there is no choice. My daughter has known this all her life and she'll bounce back fast. I'll get immersed in the work once offshore and the time will fly. Emails, Skype and the like make things a lot easier these days.

    Although having said that, this time is a bit different because I have no idea when it will be possible to return home again... who knows how this Covid 19 will play out.

    Quote Originally Posted by aging one View Post
    Give your daughter some calls from BKK mate. She is going to miss you terribly. Seriously..
    Yeah, for sure I will. We get on Skype but of course depending on where I am it can kick off a whole load of questions!
    Last edited by Mendip; 23-07-2020 at 12:56 PM.

  6. #31
    Thailand Expat jabir's Avatar
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    ^25

    Dogs always seem to know when you're not coming back for a while, or in my case leaving for the last time, very sad, she stood there in the snow watching, wouldn't budge as I walked off up and over the hill, then I couldn't resist my last look at her through some bushes but she was well anchored for several minutes in case I returned; was a case of who moved first and it was me, not happy at all. Then my sister who had her told me she was whining all the way home, didn't eat for the first few days and just sat by the front door trading squeaks and howls.

    Went downhill from there till one day she was playing in the garden, jumped for a ball and landed dead.

    If you got a dog that's your best mate for life.

  7. #32
    I'm in Jail

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    ^ Agreed, that is sadly why i have not had one in years as i cannot commit to seeing their life out due to work commitments etc.

  8. #33
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    Good luck and safe travels, Mendip! I'll miss your threads as well.

    Btw, I'm surprised at how small your luggage is. To the offshore guys here (past & present) - is that all you regularly take to an offshore place? One backpack & 1 duffel bag?

    Re: dogs, yeah, they know when you're leaving. My mom's dogs act all sad when I say goodbye to them (everyrime I leave after a visit-mom stint).

  9. #34
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    Quote Originally Posted by katie23 View Post
    is that all you regularly take to an offshore place? One backpack & 1 duffel bag?
    Katie, firstly they are blokes with rules on how long between washes you can stretch a set of clothes and secondly there are no black tie events on board, or in some cases ones that warrant a gown.

  10. #35
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    Mendip have a good trip, I understand what you say about spending time with the kids and then having to leave.

  11. #36
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    ^^Exactly, and these days uniforms (coveralls etc) are supplied. Plus there's laundry being done every day so it's possible to go months on end with just 2 sets of clothes.

  12. #37
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    ^^^^ I'm taking more stuff than usual this trip... it's a new boat for me so I have to lug over all my ppe. If I get established on a boat then I can leave stuff onboard to save carrying it back and forth.

    ^ For me it's generally contractual to bring my own ppe... the contractors get pissed off with freelancers taking it away.

    But of course it will be supplied if you have none (or your bag doesn't turn up... etc).

  13. #38
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    ^That was always the best way to go, get established for long term then be able to travel to/from home with just hand carry.

  14. #39
    Thailand Expat AntRobertson's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip
    The daughter came for the ride... but was a bit glum and refused to smile.
    Ahh shame, that's a bit crap.

    It's hard to be away from kids.

  15. #40
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    Quote Originally Posted by Headworx View Post
    Plus there's laundry being done every day so it's possible to go months on end with just 2 sets of clothes.
    You blokes don't know you are born, i have had a couple of times where i had two sets of clothes for 3 weeks and no laundry - its not pleasant living with yourself.

  16. #41
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    ^^^ But as soon as you feel comfortable enough to leave your stuff on a boat... the work ends. Happens time and again, and I must have bags of clothes in the holds of boats all over the place!

  17. #42
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    ^^ If my bag gets delayed I'll be wearing what I travel in until the next crew change!

  18. #43
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    it's a tough one for sure, but for the greater good, as they say. looking forward to more installments. Are you looking to touch base in the Mendips at any point?

  19. #44
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    ^ I'm hoping for a second trip after this one and I'd prefer to return back home to Korat between the two... but it all depends on Covid. There would be no point in returning to Thailand, even if possible, if quarantine was still in place. In that case yeah, a trip back to Somerset would be in order instead.

    I'll just have to play it by ear.

  20. #45
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    Although having said that, this time is a bit different because I have no idea when it will be possible to return home again... who knows how this Covid 19 will play out.
    First of all, safe travels. Make sure you maintain your social distancing in Bangkok ....

    It is a fair question: When will it be possible to return home? What does your contract say if Thailand Immigration is still closed when your time offshore is up?

  21. #46
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    Narvik is in the bladdy Arctic Circle... 8 degrees and raining today! Can't say I'm looking forward to it.
    Ah Softie!

    I had friends live way up in Vadso for quite a number of years and loved it. They eventually moved 'down south' to Tromso but they really missed Vadso.

    Good luck with the work.

  22. #47
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    Quote Originally Posted by Shutree View Post
    What does your contract say if Thailand Immigration is still closed when your time offshore is up?
    If you provide proof of marriage at a Thai Embassy and get their permission to visit Thailand, have a COVID test that "proves" you don't have it and insurance to cover COVID then you can return to Thailand but have to go through a 2 week quarantine in a Govt approved Hotel is my understanding.

  23. #48
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    ^^ It's an unknown... but I can't expect a contractor to cover me taking trips to embassies to sort paperwork, get an invitation to Thailand, or to get a Covid test. That would be a quick way to lose repeat work.

    If I can't fly seamlessly back to Thailand it'll be the UK... So unless things change drastically for the better in the next few weeks it'll be towards the end of the year until I get home... even if possible then. I don't like thinking about it to be honest!

  24. #49
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    ^^ Yes NPT, mine as well. That would mean a stopover in Oslo for the embassy and tests... and then have a delayed onward flight. Then there would be insurance issues. And if quarantine was in place then no point anyway.

    The last thing I want to do is cause problems for the contractor... there's plenty chasing work just now and living a lot closer than me to Norway.

  25. #50
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    Quote Originally Posted by Mendip View Post
    it'll be towards the end of the year until I get home..
    That's when i am hoping things change too but i have a feeling that unfortunately a second phase of COVID will put paid to this......

    ^ Its tough, i suppose you could always look at it as an opportunity to build the bank balance back up and just do extra work.

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