I’ve reached that point in any project where, knowing that you can’t stay any longer (not that I’d want to) and knowing that I’m unlikely to complete what I set out to do (through no fault of my own) I’m starting to loose interest………this is not a good thing from a PR point of view, or for future employment prospects, but having had another obstacle thrown in my way today, and having another of my line-managers (this one is the third, although to be fair, he has done it twice…..) go on leave until after my end date, it’s becoming very difficult to stay focused.
My current line-manager is very spreadsheet orientated, which usually results in endless, and largely pointless, questions so that he can fill in boxes on programmes and project overview reports etc.
Today he rang me to ask me if I was still going on leave next week ? The silence that followed was deafening…..turns out he was looking at Version 4 of my project plan (which was written when I was asked to solve a problem by coming back here in July and going to another city to finish that work) – we’re on Version 9 now and that was finalised on the 5th May……so much for spreadsheets !
He then proceeded to inform me that my last day in the desert would be a Tuesday and that I would hand all my stuff over on the Wednesday and I could do what I liked on the Thursday. I didn’t want to add any more confusion to an already confused mind so I just thanked him politely and planned to sort it all out when he’d gone on leave. Frankly hanging around Abu Dhabi or Dubai for the day before I go back will be quite relaxing, and I might actually get some of the souvenir shopping done that I’m supposed to (assuming I actually get paid on time……..)
There are more and more of my colleagues leaving by the week as they are finishing (or not actually finishing, but hitting the strict “End of Programme” dates set and agreed by the client – who then fails to keep to any of their side of the bargain and wonders why people are drifting off with the job not completed. We have a team of graduate completers in place, to get the last signatures on bits of paper so that the company can get paid…….. good luck is all I can say ! Annual “pre-Ramadan” holidays are being lined up by the Arabs for most of July and then Ramadan is for most of August when most of the Arabs might as well be on holiday !
Enough about work, or lack of it, it’s boring enough having to try and wade through it every day without actually having to try and articulate it so that it makes sense to you lot – frankly, most of the time I have trouble understanding what it is I’m actually supposed to do !
The storms (or I suppose high winds would be a better description) continue to rage. The obvious problem with high winds in the desert is that sand gets blown about. This has various connotations, not least that every time you go outside you get a full exfoliation treatment for free – this sounds great except that at this rate I won’t have a sun tan left (and you can’t go out in the sun because there isn’t any, it’s all obscured by dust !). Another unforeseen consequence of the wind is that we very nearly got “sanded” in – this is the desert equivalent of snowed in, where the sand drifts across the road at such a rate that the little bobcat things that rush about trying to clear it, can’t. It’s generally not a problem for the better off Arabs because they all drive Landcruisers and the like (4x4s). Me, in my little Honda, hasn’t got a chance in a soft sand drift. I’m fully expecting to get up one morning (if this wind keeps up) and not be able to get to work……shame…… (I bet I can find a shovel when I need to get to the airport !).
I also had to go to the gym with Psycho last night because there was no way we could cycle of run outdoors, and the pool was closed because it had an inch of sand in the bottom. I supposed to be going circuit training in the park tonight (apparently it’s quite sheltered……..). “Why didn’t you go to the park last night” I hear you ask. Because it was Tuesday, obviously……… (Ladies only night……don’t you know anything !). I’ll let you know !
I’m also getting sore throat from all the dust as well !
Tomorrow I have to go to Head Office to sign my demob forms and hand over my passport so that my Visa can be cancelled in plenty of time for me to leave the country legally (if I leave before it’s cancelled then I’m deemed to have absconded – if I stay to long after it’s been cancelled then I’m deemed to be an illegal immigrant !).
I think I can spare a few Dirham to toast Abu Dhabi
I’ll let you know……
No comments:
Post a Comment