September 2005 Bangkok Thailand

My mum holding Oak her grandson

 

 

 

2007 March Oak finally

consented to a hair cut

before going to the

 village fair in Thailand

 

 

August 2005 England.

Last days of Lek and Oak’s 3 month

holiday with my parents and family.

 

Please help

by writing

to your MP

May NEWS!!

 

“The little Terrorist”?

One month past the time I had hoped to be in the relative comfort (compared to here that is) of Her Majesties Prison England, yet I am still here in the stinking heat of Bangkwang Prison Thailand.

The latest news from my Embassy is, my transfer will most likely take place sometime in 2008. There’s been no word or paperwork returned from the Home Office London.

So now I am thinking, Shit!, I will be lucky to be home for my 5 years anniversary. I can surely forget about any hopes of a white Christmas in England, the goal post’s shift yet again!.

I assume that the 2 Local Leicestershire MP’s sent letters to the Home Office, my cousin I know for certain has been bombarding them with letters, emails and phone calls. Eric McGraw would also most certainly have sent a letter on my behalf requesting at the very least an up date and stressing the urgency of a speedy transfer fro me.

Shit! I hate this waiting game and constant shifting of the goal posts.

If prison teaches you almost nothing, it teaches you patience, still don’t make it much easier to deal with though, helplessness and frustration of being so heavily reliant on others outside the prison are your constant companions here.

With letters sometimes taking 3 weeks and more, some not reaching their destination at all, and the same time frame and problem with the replies coming back. It often feels like a life time in getting the answer. 9 times out of 10, it’s old news and no longer relevant or letters have crossed in the mail and my questions have been answered before being asked, or I have already forgotten my question when I get an answer reliable and quick are words that no longer exist here their opposites are our frustrating enemies.

With all my plans up shit creek now!

Oh yeah! I didn’t tell you my plans did I?

Actually the plan was not mine alone!, our plan, that is my parents and my wife “Lek” (who’s Thai if you had forgotten) and still lives in the North East of Thailand with our son “Oak” also known as :- “The Little Terrorist” (A name he earned from The British Embassy Staff in Bangkok). After Lek and Oak had visited their office, Oak was in fine form that day and made his presence known to all. He went through their Office like a small hurricane, a one child riot!, he wrecked the place!, bless him! For once “The Bureaucrats” were no match for this little chap!! And still they said “The Little Terrorist” was adorable, cute and such a handsome little chap. (A Politician or Prime Minister in the making?) Oak sure has great potential!! After coming out of that incident smelling of Roses! I am so proud of him.

Yeah! Right! Back to the plan of 4 years in the making!

We had all planned my transfer (around my 4 years anniversary mark) would coincide with Lek and Oak immigrating to England to live with my parents. Don’t worry readers!, my mum and dad had Lek and Oak over to England prior for a 3 month stay with them, so they’ve had a taste of the Hurricane about to blow their way.

Like all grandparents my mum and dad love Oak to bits, and the same goes for Lek.

2 years back they all had 3 very happy months together, of course mum and dad spoilt them both rotten, with 3 separate holidays with them to various places within England, untold gifts and proudly showing them off to all our close family and friends.

There must have been so many family visits, poor Lek’s head must have been in a right old spin, trying to remember who they all are, as my mum has 3 brothers and 11 sisters, (no TV in those days). My cousins and 2^nd cousins I’ve long since lost count of. At least my dad’s side of the family, quite the opposite is the case with my dad an only child.

It couldn’t have been an easy task for Lek, daunting to say the least, with her knowledge of the English Language limited to probably no more than a few hundred words, and Oak he knew not a single word of English. With Oak there as a great ice breaker, the Language wasn’t a major barrier as Oak his actions speak louder than words and the whole family took to them and love them to bits. The 3 month stay with my parents was a dream come true all concerned, bringing them all so much closer together.

Back to the present!, Shit!, this writing lark, it’s easy to get side tracked! With Oak fast approaching 4 years old (October 8^th ), it’s imperative he goes to England now! Giving him at least a full year to learn not only to adjust to a completely different culture and environment, but a totally new Language as well.

Ideally we would like him in a pre-school in England for sometime before starting proper school at 5 years old. Oak is the most “Hypo Active” little chap you ever set eyes on to say the least and as wild as they come! The way he is now, I wouldn’t give him more than a few hours before being expelled from an English School, but he is “adorably cute and handsome”!

I recently received a letter from Osama Bin Laden requesting! Oak’s” services.

Sorry readers that was really in bad taste in the present climate, I suppose my humor is a little on the dark side after all these years in here!

I and Oak are obviously both English Citizens and both English passport holders, but even though I am leally married to Lek, she still needs a visa to go to England.

With the latest news from my Embassy, that my transfer will most likely tale place next year 2008. Far too late for the 3 of us to go to England at the same time, when you consider Oak’s time needed to adjust to life in England.

So we made the decision for Lek and Oak to go before me and immigrate to live with my parents around July 20^th 2007, obviously I would follow as soon as possible.

Not to worry readers! There’s still hope the people pushing for my transfer could get a result and I could still be on my way sometime this year, who knows?

On May 28^th 2007 we submitted my wife “Lek” application here in Bangkok for a settlement Visa for England, with my parents as the sponsors. An incredible amount of documentation in support of the application had to be submitted as well as the outrageously expensive fee of five hundred pounds. None refundable I should add if a visa is refused.

With the visa submitted I felt mixed emotions:- Relief they where both going to a much safer environment, and where schooling and medical are far more superior than the rather remote Thai Province they now live. They would be under the watchful eye and care of my parent’s house.

A new life, a new beginning that’s kept us all going for the past 4 years. The start I’ve always dreamt of for them both.

Yes! Relief and Happiness after 4 long years, things were finally taking shape!

Sure sadness in the same breath, I wasn’t going with them, but hopefully I wont be far behind.

Shit!! I am going to miss their monthly visits, but they couldn’t be in better hands of my parents to care and love them.

Yes! Relief, Happiness and sadness, but 100% peace of mind! Next month they will be safe and well living in Leicester with my mum and dad.

Look out!! Mum and dad a small Hurricane is coming soon!!

Tidings over until next time readers, good night and thanks for reading to the end

 

                                             Best Wishes

                                                         Steve Willcox