It was 07:00 on Wednesday morning, Bangkok, +27°C OVC and I was up for breakfast.
As I am not sure of whether I can come to Thailand again I had two suitcases filled with stuff from the apartment in Chiang Mai, these I had deposited in Left Luggage for a few days while I travelled to Pattaya.
It was an easy walk to Phaya Thai station from the Victory Hotel, then the 45 Baht ride to Suvarnabhum Airport, and an easy check in for Thai TG916 to London.

The flight was 25 minutes late on departure, but arrived early at London Heathrow.
The Boeing 777 was full. A lot of passengers had been previously booked with a stop in the Middle East on other airlines, but these flights were cancelled due to the war.
The lady next to me had been given £300 compensation by her previous Middle Eastern airline, but had to pay for a weeks' accommodation, and 52,000 Baht for the Thai flight (I paid 22,000 Baht for my ticket). There are advantages to booking slightly more expensive direct flights.

I arrived at Heathrow to cold shock.
'Caught the Railair bus to Woking (£15, plus an additional £5 for a second suitcase), and Paul picked me up in the CR-V.

Now I have a lot to sort out... If I am to survive I will have to act quickly to find a way to exist in the future.
Yesterday the exhaust broke and detached the rear box under the CR-V and so I am immediately into an expense!
This morning bronchitis has made itself apparent.

The final days in Thailand

Khun Koi arranged a visit to the Tango Museum for me and two others with Khun Sakorn there to welcome us.

There are no funds available to restore the aeroplanes in the collection.
But the aeroplanes are kept under cover and so they deteriorate slowly.

I had a relaxing two weeks in Chiang Mai, and I have to consider whether it is right for me to be here since there are almost no opportunities to fly here... But will this be important in the future?
I have spent a lot of time in Pattaya where I can fly, and during my last week in Thailand the air here was relatively clean compared to the air in northern Thailand where 'PM2.5' is high due to the burning in rural areas.

My Thai Validation expired, but I could go for rides with Martin and with Som who are both licensed pilots.

Flying Clubs are not allowed to instruct ab-initio students.
But if they had already started before the new rule they can complete their training.
All such PPL applicants must have completed their licence applications by December.

One last flight with Som to do short field stop and go practice.
The rain threatened, but bypassed the airfield.

Back in England I visited my brothers on the south coast.
My older brother has built this live steam 7" gauge locomotive.

Popham on Saturday, White Waltham on Sunday.