Well it is a very late start again this year - the latest that I have ever started my blog.
I ended last year 2015 with Christmas and New Years off. I went back to the job in Saudi Arabia in the middle of January 2016. I was supposed to be on this project for only about 18 months and that was 2 years ago. The schedule has slipped so I remain gainfully employed. I have no complaints in that area. My employer has good benefits so I am quite happy to stay on the job. There is the usual political stuff about the job but I do what I can to stay ‘below the radar’.
In late April I went on leave back to Thailand for 3 weeks. The contractor that Tay has sourced for work was back to do the second part of the house expansion. As mentioned in earlier blogs the construction is concrete and rebar so it takes longer to get things
done. The contractor also has other jobs so our house isn’t always first on his list.
I went back to the job in mid-May. I was told that I would be demobilized at the end of June. As it was I was extended to the end of September. So I went the 10 weeks of work and then went back on leave to Thailand in late June. The contractor was still working on the house so the possibility to go any where was not an option as you have to watch the work. There are lots of mistakes to be made and if you are not there to correct them immediately then it can be a real problem later. Trying to get my vision over to the contractor who speaks no English is a problem. Tay speaks good English but doesn’t always understand what I mean so I have to draw pictures and I am not good at drawing. Then there was the usual ‘it is up to you’ on deciding the selection of tile, windows and the like. This exercise in selecting items lead to its’ own issues between us - we will both be glad when the house is completed.
So it is back to work in mid-July for another 10 week round. I have now been extended to the end of October - keep it coming - I like the pay check and benefits as this allows us to pay cash for all the work on the house. During the course of the 10 weeks I was told that I was now extended to the end of November - then told later that week that it was now December 31. Well there is always the possibility that I could get extended again if the project can sort out a contract extension with my employer. It can get complicated at times.
So I went back to Thailand for the 3 weeks break in late September in time for Tays Birthday in October. This time the contractor is making a good push to finish the big stuff. He has laid all the tile, hung new doors for the bathrooms, the floor is laid in the new upstairs master suite, the jacuzzi style tub is in, medicine cabinets hung, shower doors in place, the windows are in - WOW - a lot got done in the 10 weeks I was gone to work and a lot has happened the 3 weeks home. I wanted different doors for the bathrooms so the replacement was a teak door. The contractor used the old door frame but it would not hold the weight of the new solid core door so he had to replace the door frames. This required busting out concrete to fit the new frames then cover it back. Fortunately the builder of the house has excess tile available so we lucked out that we we able to match the broken tiles.
As I write this, the US Presidential campaign is in its’ final weeks. So much crap on Face Book. So much mud slinging and innuendo. My opinion is that if this is the best that the US can produce for candidates - World hold on!!!! I wish that the media could just report the news instead of trying to be the news. I am accused of being that if I support Trump and some thing else if I support Clinton. They both have good points but they really need to both learn how present their message so it is digestible. You can tell anyone to ‘pound sand’ if you have a smile on your face and you present it the right way. I agree with some of Trumps points but not necessarily how it will be done. The same with Clinton - she has some good points but I don’t agree about how to put it into play. I do agree with Sanders and education. The point is that there is no free lunch. I do feel that the US government (as in the tax payers) could provide interest free loans for education. Just my opinion. Enough of the US politics - hey it is all rigged!!!! Just kidding.
If the current schedule holds, then I will not be home for Christmas, but might get there New Years Day. We shall see how this plays out.
I will update this again around the end of the year - so - check back to see if I get extended again.
UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE UPDATE
Well the election is over and still lots of bickering going on - enough said about US politics.
I have been told that I am demobilizing from the project as of December 31, 2016. this means that I am not home for Christmas but will arrive back home on New Years Day 2017.
I have been extended to April 30, 2017 - didn’t I just say demobilized??? - Yup - but they want to keep me so I have to remobilize through an different labor broker - it is complicated as my current employer does not have a contract in place that the client wants to use to retain me through who I am working for currently. Like I said, it is complicated. So this may involve another trip to the USA to complete the new work visa as in Saudi Arabia they will only honor the results of various tests from your home country. This process took 4 weeks the last time so if I opt to return I will be gainfully UNEMPLOYED for 6 weeks or so to get things in place to return to work in Saudi Arabia. If I could find another job I will likely not return.
I have saved well and own the house that Tay and I live in so things should be ok.
Be safe out there and have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Years.
Be careful out there.
