My first “international” assignment came in October 1989. I got a call from my boss to say that the head of department would like to see me. Having just spent all of ten pence on a cup of coffee my reaction was “what, now?” – which elucidated the response “If it’s convenient to you”.
In other words get yourself over here. I gulped down the coffee and headed off.
Reaching the “corporate zone” I headed for the corner office where I was greeted by the man himself with a good afternoon and the challenge “How would you like to go to Ireland for me?”
“Where?”
“Cork”
“Where’s that?”
“I don’t know – let’s go see if Inspection know where it is” So we disturbed our head of inspection, rolled out a map, and located the place.
Ireland wasn’t a place that had ever been on my agenda of places to visit. I knew a few folk from “the North” but little about the South. People who had been there assured me that the Guinness was good, the fishing was excellent, the horses ran well and there were some good golf courses.
Trouble is I don’t like Guinness, the only fishing I’ve ever done was for tadpoles, I’ve never backed a horse in my life and golf is way too expensive and middle class for the likes of me.
Nevertheless three weeks later I was being welcomed to “the Emerald Isle” at Cork airport.
It turned out to be some of the best seven months of my life. The people were friendly; the food was good, and the scenery – especially the Ring of Kerry - brilliant,
Amongst the highlights were a Christmas company dinner and dance – where everyone seemed to know someone in every Irish village – a Ceilidh (where even I danced), and an annual football match between Cork & Dublin offices that matched a Leeds Utd versus Arsenal 70’s match in it’s quality of tackling.
And when I left they presented me with two Tipperary Lead Crystal whiskey glasses.
I still don’t drink Guinness, fish, back horses or play golf.
But I do have rather a taste for Jameson 12 Year Old Irish Whiskey.
Monday, 25 May 2009
Wednesday, 13 May 2009
No plan survives contact with the enemy
Up until yesterday everything was going smoothly in the direction of mobilisation to India on 1 June. My CV had been accepted, the contract (or assignment letter) issued (and corrected), the medical done (I’m overweight, blood pressure and cholesterol a little bit high – but so what – I’m fifty) and the visa application was in.
It’s then that my immediate manager says it might be an idea to delay departure a few weeks so as to familiarise myself more with the project here before departing. A large part of my job will be co-ordination of what’s happening in the UK with what’s happening in India so it might be an idea to familiarise myself with the people here.
So departure has been put back to 15 June.
It’s not unusual in this line of work for this to happen. In 2001 as a project was ending in Thailand I was looking forward to a few weeks holiday on the beach before returning to the UK. On 6 September I was informed I was needed in Philadelphia as soon as possible – when could I be there? I agreed on a date of 23 rd September – and despite the awful events of September 11th was on a plane for my first (and last) trip to the USA on that date.
Naturally I thought after my three months assignment there I would go back to the UK. That didn’t happen either – I was sent to Singapore in January 2002 – and in April 2002 to Beijing for six weeks.
I eventually returned to the UK in July 2002.
In the words of German Field Marshall Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke “No battle plan survives contact with the enemy".
It’s then that my immediate manager says it might be an idea to delay departure a few weeks so as to familiarise myself more with the project here before departing. A large part of my job will be co-ordination of what’s happening in the UK with what’s happening in India so it might be an idea to familiarise myself with the people here.
So departure has been put back to 15 June.
It’s not unusual in this line of work for this to happen. In 2001 as a project was ending in Thailand I was looking forward to a few weeks holiday on the beach before returning to the UK. On 6 September I was informed I was needed in Philadelphia as soon as possible – when could I be there? I agreed on a date of 23 rd September – and despite the awful events of September 11th was on a plane for my first (and last) trip to the USA on that date.
Naturally I thought after my three months assignment there I would go back to the UK. That didn’t happen either – I was sent to Singapore in January 2002 – and in April 2002 to Beijing for six weeks.
I eventually returned to the UK in July 2002.
In the words of German Field Marshall Helmuth Karl Bernhard Graf von Moltke “No battle plan survives contact with the enemy".
Sunday, 3 May 2009
Lessons on surviving travel delays
On Friday I got my assignment letter from the company – my start date in India is 1 June 09. The finish date is given as 1 Feb 11. This obviously assumes they can get a visa and I pass the medical.
On Wednesday this week as a preliminary to the medical the nurse did the dreaded blood extraction – and gave me shots of rabies and hepatitis vaccines for good measure. She adopted the trick of keeping me talking so my mind was elsewhere – the topic being swine flu and our chances.
Back in 2003 in the south of China I was, though I didn’t realise it, at the centre of the SARS epidemic. It seems looking back that people back home were more worried about it than we were!
At the time I took a vacation in Thailand – flying business class as (for once!) I could afford to. Having spent two pleasant weeks in Thailand I got to the airport to discover the flight was cancelled. I pondered this a while – then went to see Thai Airways as to how to get back. They put me on a flight to Hong Kong – where I had an eight hour wait – thankfully in the business lounge – for a short flight to my destination in China. I had Allan Bullock’s book “Hitler & Stalin – Parallel Lives” to keep me occupied during my stay in the lounge.
Lessons learnt? Going Business Class offers more options when things go pear shaped. A good thick book is handy for whiling away the time. And don’t invade Russia late in the year lest winter catch you.
On Wednesday this week as a preliminary to the medical the nurse did the dreaded blood extraction – and gave me shots of rabies and hepatitis vaccines for good measure. She adopted the trick of keeping me talking so my mind was elsewhere – the topic being swine flu and our chances.
Back in 2003 in the south of China I was, though I didn’t realise it, at the centre of the SARS epidemic. It seems looking back that people back home were more worried about it than we were!
At the time I took a vacation in Thailand – flying business class as (for once!) I could afford to. Having spent two pleasant weeks in Thailand I got to the airport to discover the flight was cancelled. I pondered this a while – then went to see Thai Airways as to how to get back. They put me on a flight to Hong Kong – where I had an eight hour wait – thankfully in the business lounge – for a short flight to my destination in China. I had Allan Bullock’s book “Hitler & Stalin – Parallel Lives” to keep me occupied during my stay in the lounge.
Lessons learnt? Going Business Class offers more options when things go pear shaped. A good thick book is handy for whiling away the time. And don’t invade Russia late in the year lest winter catch you.
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