What is (or was) your profession or occupation?

[marcusb]

19 hours ago, flexomike said:

 still have my old line gauge, pica stick in my desk here which I use for smashing bugs, 

One of the few things I kept when I sold everything out.   Swat flies, scratch your back, stir your coffee(not the buggy end) and even measure in inches and in points.  I loved the trade, especially the old letterpresses.  I had a few C&P handfeds from late 1800s and my pride and joy was my red ball Heidelberg windmill.  ????  

[Old Croc]

22 hours ago, Neeranam said:

My former rugby team is in the Scottish Premier division but didn't get paid back then. Some friends tried to get me to go to Australia to become an AFL player. Seemingly my height(6'4") and rugby ability would have made me a perfect footy player.

There are many different skills involved, not every natural athlete can master the transition.

A few years back one of the best and highest profile rugby players in Australia tried AFL for the bigger money. They paid him big cash, way beyond his value, and hyped it up for the massive publicity it created.  He never really made it in the game and when the contract ended he went back to rugby.

A couple of US basket ball players (very tall) have had some success, but the most suited to the game have been Irish Gaelic Football players. A number have achieved great things. 

In recent times a few African refugee kids from places like Somalia and Senegal have displayed their natural athletic ability in AFL. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

Been working as a Supervisor, offshore, rig work.

 

I'm the luckiest guy on the planet, I've been everywhere, done it all

Traveled the world, not just for rig work, my company would send me to Singapore, Houston, Aberdeen, Philippines and other destinations for training. Singapore, South Korea for shipyard work/rig commissioning, I would also go to different rigs around the world for work. At times my company would send me back to Australia for a few days to get visas for different countries the rig was working in. It was great back in the day, I used to fly in and out of Thailand on a tourist visa (6 or 7 times a year, can't do it these days), so, only having a Thailand tourist visa (non resident) would not allow me to get a working visa for other countries that I had to work, so I would have to go back to Australia. 

 

What a great job, meeting different people, different cultures, different foods, way of life, many, many great experiences. 

 

It's not for everyone, being away from your family for weeks at a time, horrendous/dangerous helicopter flights (Angola 3 hours, making a few stops different rigs/FPSO'S etc). At times the helicopter would not come due to bad weather, you'd have to stay on the rig and work until the weather cleared and your relief would arrive. Worked with a few nice guys and a few Dodgy (westerners) guys from around the world, the local guys I worked with I enjoyed the most, most of the local guys were hardworking and very knowledgeable, characters with a good sense of humor. 

 

The best part was being an Australian, living in Thailand my travel time was reduced. I was paid every month (on salary) but you had to travel on your time off, so I'm ahead 8 hours living in Thailand. It's a good way to save money, when you're on the rig you don't spend any money, clothes, food, accommodation all free. 

 

My employer sent me to SE Asia for work, I loved Thailand, I was in my 30's, I bought a house 2001, I'm still in the same place, me and most of my family. 

 

Airports..... now we have Survarnabhumi, it's only 1 hour 15 minutes to the airport from Pattaya, before I'd travel to Don Mueang, that was a long trip.

 

I've always worked rotation mainly 28/28 so I would get the 4 weeks on the rig for my liver to recover, my liver is not doing so well these days, Covid has kept me here since late 2019, hoping to get back to work next month or so, been spending too much time on these forums 555.

 

Over the years I've backpacked around the world and worked many countries, 40 total. One place I miss very much is Vung Tau, Vietnam, it was so nice working there, easy flights, BKK to SGN (ho chi minh city) 1 hour. Getting off the plane I then traveled on the Hydrofoil, for an hour and a half, the hydrofoil had a bar on board so a few beers before arriving Vung Tau to get ready to go out with the rig manager that evening, for a steak dinner and a few more beers, in a few of the naughty bars around town, then I'd head back to my hotel room, leave the bar around midnight (early to catch the 6am chopper) waving goodbye to my rig manager (hugging a couple of pretties) standing by the pool table only wearing his underpants. Great days.

 

BTW, the most hated country I've worked was Saudi, <deleted> hole. 

Depending on the rigs location we'd spend the night before crew change in the Mercure Hotel, had a plaque out the front, it said '5 Star hotel', not sure if true, I read a hotel without a wine menu could not be a 5 star. 

Also no pretty females to look at, checkin, reception, room cleaning all men, I was working in Hell. 

[flexomike]

4 hours ago, marcusb said:

One of the few things I kept when I sold everything out.   Swat flies, scratch your back, stir your coffee(not the buggy end) and even measure in inches and in points.  I loved the trade, especially the old letterpresses.  I had a few C&P handfeds from late 1800s and my pride and joy was my red ball Heidelberg windmill.  ????  

First printing job I had was almost all  letterpress machines, had a bank of those windmills, Meihles,  Millers, our company did every kind of printing that you could think of , I worked in the front end composing and doing lockup for the presses

[KhunLA]

27 minutes ago, flexomike said:

First printing job I had was almost all  letterpress machines, had a bank of those windmills, Meihles,  Millers, our company did every kind of printing that you could think of , I worked in the front end composing and doing lockup for the presses

My first real 'paycheck' job, out of high school was Lithographic Printing.  Quite enjoyed that, very interesting, just hated the hours, as an 18 yr old, and thought I had better things to do at night instead of working.  Falls under young & ignorant .... borderline stupid. 

 

Would have been a decent career, for 20 or so years, until things went digital, then they did finally go bankrupt.  Along with 4  other companies I worked for.  3 airlines & that steel works place already mentioned ... ????

[brewsterbudgen]

Full-time TEFL teacher since moving to Thailand in 2005.  Before then, "management".

[redsongthaew]

23 hours ago, simon43 said:

LoL - here is  the microwave antenna of the Envisat scientific satellite that I helped to design and build.  Guess which one of these ice-cream salesmen is me?  (Clue - I'm the handsome one...!).

 

Who cares about a satellite? Your real claim to fame is that you worked with Mr Bean (second from the left).

[simon43]

1 hour ago, redsongthaew said:

Who cares about a satellite? Your real claim to fame is that you worked with Mr Bean (second from the left).

That might be me... ????

[earlinclaifornia]

Purchasing Manager at various high tech companies in Silicon Valley. Rewarding career 

[Paulaew]

13 minutes ago, earlinclaifornia said:

Purchasing Manager at various high tech companies in Silicon Valley. Rewarding career 

Glad to see another ex-Silicon Valley member here. I started my Silicon Valley career as a postdoc at Stanford back in 1987, then moved to Xerox PARC for a while, then a slew of  startup companies.

 

I had the chance to travel all over the world, including my first trip to Thailand in 1989. Once I had to do some product training in India and added some other stops to make it a complete around the world trip. It's how I acquired the travel bug and eventually ended up living in Thailand.

 

Paul Laew

Edited February 9, 2022 by Paulaew

[GarryP]

Having read the full thread, I feel that I haven't done anything really exciting or worthwhile with my life. Came to Thailand when I was 19, nearly 40 years ago, and been here since then. At the end of this year I will retire, having been an employee of the same company for 30 years.  Not sad to be retiring either as I've had enuff. Just hope my savings last until I die, with some left over for my wife and son. 

[VocalNeal]

3 minutes ago, GarryP said:

Having read the full thread, I feel that I haven't done anything really exciting or worthwhile with my life.

A cynic would say that was the point of the whole thread.

[HashBrownHarry]

7 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Been working as a Supervisor, offshore, rig work.

 

I'm the luckiest guy on the planet, I've been everywhere, done it all

Traveled the world, not just for rig work, my company would send me to Singapore, Houston, Aberdeen, Philippines and other destinations for training. Singapore, South Korea for shipyard work/rig commissioning, I would also go to different rigs around the world for work. At times my company would send me back to Australia for a few days to get visas for different countries the rig was working in. It was great back in the day, I used to fly in and out of Thailand on a tourist visa (6 or 7 times a year, can't do it these days), so, only having a Thailand tourist visa (non resident) would not allow me to get a working visa for other countries that I had to work, so I would have to go back to Australia. 

 

What a great job, meeting different people, different cultures, different foods, way of life, many, many great experiences. 

 

It's not for everyone, being away from your family for weeks at a time, horrendous/dangerous helicopter flights (Angola 3 hours, making a few stops different rigs/FPSO'S etc). At times the helicopter would not come due to bad weather, you'd have to stay on the rig and work until the weather cleared and your relief would arrive. Worked with a few nice guys and a few Dodgy (westerners) guys from around the world, the local guys I worked with I enjoyed the most, most of the local guys were hardworking and very knowledgeable, characters with a good sense of humor. 

 

The best part was being an Australian, living in Thailand my travel time was reduced. I was paid every month (on salary) but you had to travel on your time off, so I'm ahead 8 hours living in Thailand. It's a good way to save money, when you're on the rig you don't spend any money, clothes, food, accommodation all free. 

 

My employer sent me to SE Asia for work, I loved Thailand, I was in my 30's, I bought a house 2001, I'm still in the same place, me and most of my family. 

 

Airports..... now we have Survarnabhumi, it's only 1 hour 15 minutes to the airport from Pattaya, before I'd travel to Don Mueang, that was a long trip.

 

I've always worked rotation mainly 28/28 so I would get the 4 weeks on the rig for my liver to recover, my liver is not doing so well these days, Covid has kept me here since late 2019, hoping to get back to work next month or so, been spending too much time on these forums 555.

 

Over the years I've backpacked around the world and worked many countries, 40 total. One place I miss very much is Vung Tau, Vietnam, it was so nice working there, easy flights, BKK to SGN (ho chi minh city) 1 hour. Getting off the plane I then traveled on the Hydrofoil, for an hour and a half, the hydrofoil had a bar on board so a few beers before arriving Vung Tau to get ready to go out with the rig manager that evening, for a steak dinner and a few more beers, in a few of the naughty bars around town, then I'd head back to my hotel room, leave the bar around midnight (early to catch the 6am chopper) waving goodbye to my rig manager (hugging a couple of pretties) standing by the pool table only wearing his underpants. Great days.

 

BTW, the most hated country I've worked was Saudi, <deleted> hole. 

Depending on the rigs location we'd spend the night before crew change in the Mercure Hotel, had a plaque out the front, it said '5 Star hotel', not sure if true, I read a hotel without a wine menu could not be a 5 star. 

Also no pretty females to look at, checkin, reception, room cleaning all men, I was working in Hell. 

Unfortunately the 'good days' have gone in the oilfield and everything is a hassle now, most of the enjoyment has gone.

 

As i approach 50 i'm putting up with it for a few more years till i pull the pin.

 

Also enjoyed VT, had 3 good years there.

 

The west african countries, well yeah.......hmm.

[VocalNeal]

56 minutes ago, HashBrownHarry said:

The west african countries, well yeah.......hmm.

Yeah, well, "the worst" is where the money is. ( A quote from a Star Wars film.)

[SAFETY FIRST]

1 hour ago, GarryP said:

Having read the full thread, I feel that I haven't done anything really exciting or worthwhile with my life. Came to Thailand when I was 19, nearly 40 years ago, and been here since then. At the end of this year I will retire, having been an employee of the same company for 30 years.  Not sad to be retiring either as I've had enuff. Just hope my savings last until I die, with some left over for my wife and son. 

Wow, your comment reads exciting. 

 

What brought you to Thailand at 19yo?

 

What type of work were you doing for 30 years? 

 

If you're worried about having enough money to retire on why don't you stay employed for a little longer just in case. 

[SAFETY FIRST]

37 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Yeah, well, "the worst" is where the money is. ( A quote from a Star Wars film.)

Yep, too right. 

 

Our company would pay us $1000 a month extra, 

sub saharan African bonus 

[ripstanley]

On 2/8/2022 at 12:09 PM, Dazinoz said:

I used to go holidays at times on Norfolk Island in the middle of the pacific ocean. About 6000 residents. They asked your profession on arrival card and I wondered why. One trip I asked a local official and he said sometimes they needed specialised work on the island and sometimes they called upon visitors to help.

Norfolk Island is only 1000km from Australia. That is not in the middle of the Pacific. It also a part of Australia. 

[GarryP]

8 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Wow, your comment reads exciting. 

 

What brought you to Thailand at 19yo?

 

What type of work were you doing for 30 years? 

 

If you're worried about having enough money to retire on why don't you stay employed for a little longer just in case. 

Had a job offer in Singapore, but flights to Thailand were much cheaper so I decided to have a holiday here first and catch the train down to Singapore. I just never got to Singapore until about 15 years ago, by which time the job offer was no more. It didn't matter really as the trip to Singapore was a business trip for my Bangkok employer. ????

 

My job title includes the word "manager", but it is not really a managerial position. I was just given the title as a way of saying thank you for such long service, and to justify a decent pay increase. I am a jack of all trades in my department which involves intellectual property. 

 

As to staying on, it is not up to me. I hit 60 in December and the office policy is retirement at 60, except in special cases if they want to keep you on. In which case it would be on annual contracts. But I really have had enough. I have had some good times but the past 4 or 5 years have worn me out.    

[Denim]

I was a Thoracic surgeon at Harefield hospital but  I gave it up. My heart just wasn't in it. Only stayed as long as I did on account of the many hot Filipino nurses who worked there at the time. They put the N in NHS and naughty.

[VocalNeal]

2 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Wow, your comment reads exciting. 

 

What brought you to Thailand at 19yo?

 

What type of work were you doing for 30 years? 

Exciting. Are you kidding.

 

And why all the questions? What he did is irrelevant, to his statements.

[BangkokReady]

On 2/7/2022 at 7:01 PM, CharlieH said:

" I didn't accomplish much, but I have financial security and good health and a nice family."

 

That right there is an admirable achievement, and a damn site more than many have achieved. ????

 

It's sad that people don't realise how big a deal that is and how unachievable it is for some.  Really has to be above average to have all four (I'm classing family and them being nice as two). ????

 

Edit: Having read a couple more of the OPs comments, he seems to have a Doctorate and then used that to enter a career.  Unless he's simple, he must know that he is a high achiever.  I would assume, therefore, that his "all I've done is..." mock humility is to hide that fact that this is likely a post aimed at bragging.

 

I guess when some people retire they miss the status that came with their position and feel the need to inject their past achievements into general conversation. ????

Edited February 9, 2022 by BangkokReady

[MajorTom]

11 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

so, only having a Thailand tourist visa (non resident) would not allow me to get a working visa for other countries that I had to work, so I would have to go back to Australia. 

I have been in a similar position for many years. I have acquired work visas at various embassies in Thailand, last one only a few weeks ago. Before covid i used to come and go visa exempt, buy the odd extension when needed. I have never been asked to show residency in Thailand to apply for a visa at a foreign embassy here.

[habuspasha]

On 2/8/2022 at 1:27 AM, wwest5829 said:

Emeritus Professor of History and International Programs (taught US undergraduate survey courses in American/European History and directed our city’s “Sister Cities” program). I rather enjoyed a colleague having teasingly introduced me as a bon vivant, raconteur and man about town … but I was much younger then …

Another Professor of History.  Also specialized in teaching undergraduate courses--in my case, world history.  Wrote textbooks to figure out how to do it.  Now 60 years later it's time to retire and enjoy Thailand at least half-time.

[Yellowtail]

Traveled with the circus circumcising the elephants. It didn't pay much, but the tips were big...

 

 

[GammaGlobulin]

Rather than bragging about what I did, I would prefer to mention what I did NOT do.

 

My mother wanted me to become a proctologist, after studying medicine.

 

Instead, I studied human behavior, and resultantly became completely disillusioned with my findings.

 

Consequently, these days, I am spending my days working on ways to create a pill which, when consumed with one's meal, will turn one's waste into nothing more harmful than Swiss Chocolate.  

[SAFETY FIRST]

4 hours ago, VocalNeal said:

6 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Wow, your comment reads exciting. 

 

What brought you to Thailand at 19yo?

 

What type of work were you doing for 30 years? 

Exciting. Are you kidding.

 

And why all the questions? What he did is irrelevant, to his statements

Chill dude, why the hostility? 
Sorry if I offended you. 

You read his comment and don't feel it's exciting, how many other AN members arrived here at 19yo and still working here, not too many I reckon. 

You don't feel arriving Thailand at 19yo and spending your whole working life here is exciting? 

 

Imagine the changes he would have seen over the many years, I still remember the many changes that I've seen over the 20 years I've lived in Pattaya. Infrastructure, police, shopping malls, beaches, people, neighbors, it just goes on and on. 
 

[GammaGlobulin]

13 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Chill dude, why the hostility? 
Sorry if I offended you. 

You read his comment and don't feel it's exciting, how many other AN members arrived here at 19yo and still working here, not too many I reckon. 

You don't feel arriving Thailand at 19yo and spending your whole working life here is exciting? 

 

Imagine the changes he would have seen over the many years, I still remember the many changes that I've seen over the 20 years I've lived in Pattaya. Infrastructure, police, shopping malls, beaches, people, neighbors, it just goes on and on. 
 

When you say, "many years", how many years do you think would be "many years"?

 

Yeah, Dude, young guys like you seem to have no real conception of TIME.

 

And, no conception of Father Time, nor no conception of the Grim Reaper, which is bearing down on young people just as is the case with old people.

 

Sometimes, it freaks me out that young people no longer read books.

 

And that, young people like you, who address people as DUDE, are just so......

 

....what is the word?

[StreetCowboy]

4 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

When you say, "many years", how many years do you think would be "many years"?

 

Yeah, Dude, young guys like you seem to have no real conception of TIME.

 

And, no conception of Father Time, nor no conception of the Grim Reaper, which is bearing down on young people just as is the case with old people.

 

Sometimes, it freaks me out that young people no longer read books.

 

And that, young people like you, who address people as DUDE, are just so......

 

....what is the word?

Forgetful?

Condescending?

-so?

phisticated?

apy?

fa?

 

If you're struggling to find the right word, like money, it's worth having a look down the back of the sofa.

[Yellowtail]

53 minutes ago, StreetCowboy said:

Forgetful?

Condescending?

-so?

phisticated?

apy?

fa?

 

If you're struggling to find the right word, like money, it's worth having a look down the back of the sofa.

Careful, we don't want dude freaking out any more than he already is. 

[Yellowtail]

7 hours ago, GammaGlobulin said:

Rather than bragging about what I did, I would prefer to mention what I did NOT do.

 

My mother wanted me to become a proctologist, after studying medicine.

 

Instead, I studied human behavior, and resultantly became completely disillusioned with my findings.

 

Consequently, these days, I am spending my days working on ways to create a pill which, when consumed with one's meal, will turn one's waste into nothing more harmful than Swiss Chocolate.  

Why is it when old dudes start off saying something like "Rather than bragging..." they most always come around to bragging about something?