Start of work

Please note a group of us in our work clothes. The skirts are becoming very comfortable and we did have to hit the shops big time to find them. They are in all the shops but, of course, we had to look round lots before hand to decide what to get. Alos note that we are all connected to the internet and the laptops are just as big a part of our lives as they were at home.

Al Ain and the Hilton

We had 2 days of PD at another city - Al Ain where a number of our people are living and working. It was held at the Hilton where we the Abu Dhabi team also stayed. It is an oasis town which is less humid, much greener and no high rise. Have a look! Oh yes the Hilton was about 13 floors high - but very few high rises.

We visited the biggest Mosque in the world which is about 3 years old (details are probably not quite right). Another amazing place of gold and white and colours. It is out of this world. It took 13 years to complete and the grounds are still being completed.

We had to wear the robes of the moslems and have our heads covered. One of these photos is not me but we all looked the same.

making a beach

These two photos are the before and after of a beach. The first one shows the constuction zone as they "make" a beach from the sea - reclaiming the land. The second photo is what the beach looks like after it is made. Gorgeous.

'scuse the non matching texts / photos

Sorry about the text on the blogs not matching the pictures but I haven't figured that out yet. Please match the text with the pictures.

exploring Abu Dhabi

View from Sheridan Hotel room to the beach

We walk each morning at 6.30 along the "cornich" which is the walkway along the beach. The temeratures are in the high 30s so any later is out of the question. I have to go shopping later as I have not got enough cool clothes. We Have found lots of shops but now I need to buy stull.

We are staying in the Sheradon for a time as our apartments refurbishments have not been completed. Believe it or not but we will be excited to get into our apartments as hotel living is a bit of a nuisance. The food is too good, the pool is too hot and the laundry gets taken care of. It will be nice to have a "home" soon. The apartments that we have seen are quite flash. They are in highrise buildings with no opening windows but great views and air con.

Leaving NZ

I thought I was organised but ... when I got to the airport I was way over weight for the plane. I didn't want to fuss but Sonya decided to challenge this. These photos are of Sonya and Tristan emptying my stuff on the airport floor so I could get on the plane without too much of a penalty. They reduced my overweight costs from $1200 to $600. Well done Sonya and Tristan. They got plastic supermarket bags from a shop stuffed them full and took 9kg home. Great team.

There is a moral to the story – don’t use those suitcases with metal frames but plastic or canvas ones with no frames weigh nothing. This little exercise saved $600. How easy was that!!

Aug 4th

I fly to "the other side of the world" later today. I keep having last phone calls to important people but now I keep saying we'll talk soon. That way it doesn't seem so hard.

I am excited about heading away at last but not about leaving people. So I'll just have to think ahead to what is coming.

I am dying to take some photos to share with you all. Next time I visit this blog I will be able to do this.

Must go and finish repacking and resorting. I've done it a number of times already but once more may make a difference - not likely.

August 1st

This has been an amazing day as we meet and find out so much more than anyone knew. What a huge contract these Cogntion people have got and how exciting to be part of it. It is all very new too. Last year 25 people in the Mid East, now 120 will be there by Jan 2009. The way they have treated us is fantastic and the info really responding to our questions. The business is growing so quickly that they are learning on the trot too.

Tomorrow will be another day and then the first people travel and the Aby Dhabi ones on Monday.

Nice laptop too. I have really missed a laptop. Amazing how it has become part of my extended arm.

I'll have another go at setting up SKYPE now. I have it on the laptop but the headset still is not working.