As we go to print, the Thai Meteorological Department is forecasting an end to the diluvial rains that have been lashing down on us all this month. You may have already celebrated with a season’s change sick day or two, in which case you’re currently enjoying a five-day Chulalongkorn Memorial weekend on a beach somewhere and reading this on your iPad. Well played.

We can’t help feel a bit down, though. We actually like the rainy season. Showing up to work at least one hour late every day is a given in October, when your boss is just grateful for you showing up at all. Giant pipes erupt with grumpy cats and Godzillas, entire trucks are engulfed in water-soaked roads, motorcycles turn into jet-skis. For a few weeks, Bangkok looked like a Roland Emmerich movie, which sure beats what's coming.

The start of the dry season seems to be all about rolling up your sleeves. In November, your boss not only expects you to show up for   work (on time), he may even threaten you with such mumbo jumbo management speak as “end of year budgets,” “fiscal year planning” and “accounts closing.” Not only it’s that uncomfortable time of the year when one is actually expected to perform, there isn’t a single public holiday for the whole month.

Before you go jump into a deep puddle in despair, we have a message for you. It gets better. Sure, the dry season creates this momentary frenzy among senior management, but then the prospect of drinking outdoors and the approaching holidays take over and, soon enough, beer tower-inflicted hangovers become as valid an excuse as any. So use up that annual leave and head up to Chiang Mai. Stop crying. Hang in there. And know that next week’s issue of BK will be dedicated to drinking outdoors. 

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