Tuesday 18 September 2007 Heard nothing from the gaffer all day, no doubt he is still trying to get the arrangements for the material shipments organised. Ramadan has been running for something like 5 days now and its effect is plain to see. Most of the shops this afternoon had the shutters pulled down and those that didn’t might just as well have had because invariably the proprietors’ were asleep inside. Yet come 1830 tonight (or thereabouts) when to sun goes down they will all be out part... Read Full Story

Today is vegetation day. Since being here I have done nothing but walk, walk and walk. Not having to get up for any reason this morning I relaxed in bed after the alarm rang and suddenly realised just how tired I am. With temperatures’ in the 40’s and extremely high humidity I guess my poor old body has begun to protest. I thought “sod it”, turned over and went back to sleep. It was nearly three in the afternoon when I awoke again so I guess I must have needed it. So here I am making my ... Read Full Story

I awoke to a surprise, finding that Ramadan had started. I was sat in my favourite café in the gold souq waiting for the place to open when a female motioned towards me to put out my cigarette. It was then that it dawned on me that I would have to wait for the sun to go down before any café would open. Back to the hotel to make myself a cup of tea, then out to a supermarket to buy bread, butter and cheese etc; no need for me to fast during the daylight hours. Met with the boss and he asked m... Read Full Story

Nothing to do today so went back to the Gitex Technology show and spent more time in the consumer section. Wish I had thought to bring a load of dollars because the show was closing at 1700 hrs and many exhibitors were selling what they had bought to show at very good prices. I could easily have spent a year’s wages and still been drooling after lots more of the gizmo’s on display. I just wonder how long it will be before I'm able to afford all the things on my wish list. I have got m... Read Full Story

I meet the boss in the Gold Souq. He is still having trouble with the freight arrangements and has nothing for me to do. I therefore decide to visit the Gitex Technology Week exhibition. I hop a taxi out to the convention centre and am amazed at the size of the site. In true modern Dubai style the place is immaculate and every hi-tech vendor on earth has stands to show off their wares. I visit the Next Generation Network boys that I have been dealing with by email and phone for several mont... Read Full Story

Met Haji in the small café in the Gold Souq where I can use the free Hot Spot to check my mail and play on the internet whilst having a breakfast. Most of the day is spent in there whilst Haji regales me with all the business deals he has done over the years. All are described as hugely successful so one wonders if they were so good, why is he out in the field and not directing operations from an office in the Trump Tower or wherever. We eventually go to the airport to meet his friend who is ... Read Full Story

So it’s Sunday today and that is a normal day at work in these here parts. However, the chap I am doing this job for is a naturalised American and I guess he is sticking to the rules from back home. In other words, today is a day off. Having purchased a new camera I decided to act the tourist and see a bit of Dubai. What became apparent was that my idea of seeing the sights is obviously at odds with the more normal tourist from the Northern hemisphere. I worked that out all my own when aft... Read Full Story

Woke up pretty late, the flight and the gastronomic over indulgence must have taken their toll. I keep forgetting that I’m no longer a teenager. No big problem because today we are travelling to Abu Dhabi to buy an airline luggage x-ray machine. This job keeps getting bigger and this is something else I am supposed to be installing and setting up on arrival in Mogadishu. The drive is just a mad charge along an 8 lane highway that links the two cities. The amount of sand suspended in the ai... Read Full Story

The flight from Addis Ababa to Dubai not quite as good as the first leg had been. The plane was not in as good condition as the first one but was by no means an old oiler. Food service included an extra cart coming along between the Hor Dourves and main course which presented a selection of Ethiopian food. When asked if I would like to try any I replied I would like to try the lot. The girl took me at my word and I was presented with a bewildering array of strange looking dishes. Needless t... Read Full Story

The drive to the airport was less traumatic than yesterday. The weather, whilst not perfect, was not as hostile as yesterday; which in turn tends to calm the local drivers from their frenzied approach I saw yesterday. The driving habits here are as bad as any I have witnessed anywhere in the world. On days like yesterday when the weather turns foul, somehow, their driving gets even worse then normal. Also, I left in plenty of time to take care of any eventuality and not be stressed by the ine... Read Full Story