I am pretty shot of Gatwick airport and BAA's incompetence at dealing with large numbers of passengers delayed because of silly security measures that make no sense and slow everyone down. And I am also (already) tired of all those well-meaning holiday-makers taking the plane for the first (or is it second?) time , who do not seem to understand clear instructions and panic as soon as something new comes up. There should be a separate security zone for frequent travellers who have everything down to a T, thank you very much. Ah well, isn't it easy to be an airport snob?!
Seriously though, I am going to look into other flights because the whole experience is so tiring I was ready to go back to bed when arrived in the office. BA/North Terminal is sadly not affordable so it's going to have to be something quite different...anyone have a spare private jet???
Monday, July 30, 2007
Anniversary weekend
Well, unbelievably, this Monday (23rd) was our 2nd wedding anniversary. I can't believe how fast time has flown.
This also means that we have had the flat in London for 2 years and yet it has only just started to feel like home!
Friday night in Den Haag, a friendly guest came to stay for the weekend, while Allison and Malcolm were back in Blighty...Gracie-Wuff, take a bow :-)
So I had fun playing with the dog on Friday evening, although I was also trying to quickly read lots of old Harry Potters to refresh it all before getting the new one. To no avail...I managed to read the 1st one then about half of the second one, at which stage the new one had been sitting on my table for 3 hours and I just couldn't resist anymore...accio book!!
On Saturday Matthew came over (and picked up HP at the airport before they ran out); I had signed up to a visit of something called a Monotower, which is basically an offshore platform which is being finished off before being taken out to the North Sea. This open day was an opportunity to visit it while it was still being finished off on land in Rotterdam-this particular platform is a pretty advanced new design which is completely unmanned-once the well is producing, people only need to go out every 2 years for maintenance (or in case of an emergency). Here are a few pictures I took around the yard, where there were also some abseilers showing how rope-work can help with maintaining structures and buildings. Although quite developed in the UK, this is a pretty new concept in NL so the chap who set up the company is doing very well out of it.
When I got back we went for a nice long walk in the Haagse Bos with the dog...we were very lucky with the weather as it was actually sunny that day, so walking in the woods was really enjoyable :-)
Sunday we had a relaxing lunch with Simon and Nova in town before dropping Gracie off back home and heading out to Maastricht, to celebrate in style with a lovely dinner and stay at the Chateau St Gerlach The Michelin-star restaurant served fantastic food and wine, which we really took our time to enjoy. The Chateau is set in lovely grounds and we were lucky to have the sun when we arrived...but not the next morning, when the weather became decidedly miserable.
We made the most of the pool and sauna facilities before heading off to explore Maastricht.
Maastricht is quite a pleasant town but nothing to write home about...quite small and the usual set of shops. We were rather tired which didn't help, and neither did the rain, so after visiting the St Servaas Basilica and a quick boat trip up and down the Maas, we retreated and journeyed all the way back to Den Haag (not the smoothest trip, problems with trains etc :-( Got home in time to enjoy the evening though so that was nice.
Well I just had to :-)
This also means that we have had the flat in London for 2 years and yet it has only just started to feel like home!
Friday night in Den Haag, a friendly guest came to stay for the weekend, while Allison and Malcolm were back in Blighty...Gracie-Wuff, take a bow :-)
So I had fun playing with the dog on Friday evening, although I was also trying to quickly read lots of old Harry Potters to refresh it all before getting the new one. To no avail...I managed to read the 1st one then about half of the second one, at which stage the new one had been sitting on my table for 3 hours and I just couldn't resist anymore...accio book!!
On Saturday Matthew came over (and picked up HP at the airport before they ran out); I had signed up to a visit of something called a Monotower, which is basically an offshore platform which is being finished off before being taken out to the North Sea. This open day was an opportunity to visit it while it was still being finished off on land in Rotterdam-this particular platform is a pretty advanced new design which is completely unmanned-once the well is producing, people only need to go out every 2 years for maintenance (or in case of an emergency). Here are a few pictures I took around the yard, where there were also some abseilers showing how rope-work can help with maintaining structures and buildings. Although quite developed in the UK, this is a pretty new concept in NL so the chap who set up the company is doing very well out of it.
When I got back we went for a nice long walk in the Haagse Bos with the dog...we were very lucky with the weather as it was actually sunny that day, so walking in the woods was really enjoyable :-)
Sunday we had a relaxing lunch with Simon and Nova in town before dropping Gracie off back home and heading out to Maastricht, to celebrate in style with a lovely dinner and stay at the Chateau St Gerlach The Michelin-star restaurant served fantastic food and wine, which we really took our time to enjoy. The Chateau is set in lovely grounds and we were lucky to have the sun when we arrived...but not the next morning, when the weather became decidedly miserable.
We made the most of the pool and sauna facilities before heading off to explore Maastricht.
Maastricht is quite a pleasant town but nothing to write home about...quite small and the usual set of shops. We were rather tired which didn't help, and neither did the rain, so after visiting the St Servaas Basilica and a quick boat trip up and down the Maas, we retreated and journeyed all the way back to Den Haag (not the smoothest trip, problems with trains etc :-( Got home in time to enjoy the evening though so that was nice.
Well I just had to :-)
Friday, July 20, 2007
Back at work
Day 3 back at work and I finally have a project ...at least I managed to get through a fair amount of paperwork over the last 2 days!
I have been given a job on the Tunisia team. We have just signed a "Prospecting Licence" agreement, which means we want to understand the geology better before agreeing to sign up to drill a well.
The new boss and his second-in-command are both on holiday for respectively 5 weeks and 2 weeks, so I am effectively in charge of the team, which currently consists of Ulli (new guy) and me :-) Great, this really does appeal to the slave-driver in me :-) What's more, I have my new boss' office for 2 weeks, which is rather nice really. Still in the same awful building, but this bit actually has aircon AND a good coffee machine...what more could a girl want :-/
So that's the plan for the next half-year or so, then we will review the situation depending on how this project goes and what else comes up. I am basically part of the Africa organisation now so it could be anywhere on that continent (though I will just NOT go to Nigeria).
So for 2 weeks I am going to be reading papers and trying to work out what on Earth is going with the geology in this part of the world.
That's it for now...
I have been given a job on the Tunisia team. We have just signed a "Prospecting Licence" agreement, which means we want to understand the geology better before agreeing to sign up to drill a well.
The new boss and his second-in-command are both on holiday for respectively 5 weeks and 2 weeks, so I am effectively in charge of the team, which currently consists of Ulli (new guy) and me :-) Great, this really does appeal to the slave-driver in me :-) What's more, I have my new boss' office for 2 weeks, which is rather nice really. Still in the same awful building, but this bit actually has aircon AND a good coffee machine...what more could a girl want :-/
So that's the plan for the next half-year or so, then we will review the situation depending on how this project goes and what else comes up. I am basically part of the Africa organisation now so it could be anywhere on that continent (though I will just NOT go to Nigeria).
So for 2 weeks I am going to be reading papers and trying to work out what on Earth is going with the geology in this part of the world.
That's it for now...
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