Me and COVID 19

Its March 2020 and I was in the process of making arrangements fo return to the UK and work for 6 months at Birmingham Airport during the summer season. Its always a stressful process, getting both a Thailand CRC (Criminal Record Check) as well as a UK CRC. the Thailand one is hard as expensive, as it can only be done in Bangkok, an hours plane flight away and a few days wait until its done.

 

I also have to complete a number of in-depth forms, to insure my airport security is happy before I can go Airside. ( Where the Aircraft are )  It’s not helped, by the company being sparse in their communication with you and how the process is on going, if at all.  

 

So once I see the progress of this Covid 19. virus, I started to wonder how this will affect my work , or travel . I completed some checking, I always book a return flight to the UK in advance and this year it will be in May. So on checking the flights to the UK, on the Qatar Airline website, I discovered that Hamid International Airport, Doha, is closed, and the Qatar Airlines are still operating.  So, getting to the UK will be a tad difficult. 

 

I contacted my travel agent and he said it will be all down to Qatar Airlines,  they can either give me a refund or rearrange another flight.  My travel insurance confirmed the same thing.  

 

I got in contact with a few of my friends at my work and was shocked  to find out that the effects of this virus was a lot more than I realised. Now, I knew that flights were being cancelled and airlines were having problems, but as I am in Thailand I did not know how things are in the UK.

 

I discovered that the company I do seasonal work for will not be  hiring seasonal workers. The season normally is from April to November, working to supply and load Aircraft airside.  It was even worse , as my friends were asked to only work 20 hours a week, or be made redundant . Not good.

 

So, i needed to make a decision, I spoke to my son, and it was decided , that it would be better for me to stay in Thailand this year.  Its not that I could not find work, as a HGV driver I could do agency work, but its normally sporadic and not guaranteed, so, do I need the extra stress ?. Emotionally and financially ?

 

I did enjoy working for the company, and the work mates are great. I don’t save a lot of money , as I have to save for flights etc. I really enjoy being back in the UK, as I can buy stuff I cannot get in Thailand and most of all, I spend 6 months with my son. 

 

So, in a lot of ways, the decision to stay here in Thailand, was made for me, and it will be the first year I will be able to taste my mango’s.

 

Overall,  I am still fortunate, a lot of my friends will be in financial difficulty, and we have no idea now long the virus affect us all. 

 

Most of the day we, Nui and I, will spend our time inside the house and unlike, from what I see in the news,  the Thai’s are not panic buying and getting toilet roll, food etc, is very easy.

 

I hope, all will be well with all my friends and those who read this blog, I am sure that in the years to come, when this is read, it will seem not as bad as it seems now.

 

 

The good thing about Thailand and Asia to be honest, is that the Thai do not shake hands, they put their hands together , in a prayer like gesture and bow, its called a Wai. So, no touching of hands, and even before the Virus scare, Thai’s , in Hang Dong , wear masks, at this time of the year due to the burning of fields as the air quality gets worse.

 

So, Be safe , and wash for hands.