Zoinks! It's Wednesday night already. One more day and then a full weekend of fun. OK, maybe just one day. Better than nothing, as a man with a wooden willy might say.
Firstly, the moans: I had an attack of the old beast they call Atrial Fibrillation last night. I was actually dreaming that it happened, and at 1 a.m. I woke up and realised it was for real. The familiar flutter in the chest brought all the bad thoughts pouring into my head like treacle, but without the sweetness. I had just been thinking earlier in the day how my heart seemed to have built up some immunity to it, as I hadn't had an episode since January. I'd even managed to have a few drinks on Monday night when we'd all been taken out for dinner by the BIG BOSS (who was visiting from the UK) at the very nice Il Rustica Italian restaurant in Rydges Plaza hotel, and hadn't had a hint of AF. Still, I tried to be Phil O'Soffical about it, telling myself to take another tablet and it should sort itself out. It has done so the last few times I've had it. I also reminded myself that this very thing had happened in my first week in Dubai. The combined triggers of tiredness, stress, moving to a new country, jet lag and sexy camels had probably done for me once again. It had been a strange dream, I'll admit so much.
As it turned out, it was still there at 6 a.m., so I rung 007 and told him that my taking part in the mission was impossible this morning. OK, he shaid. Take it eashy. Then, about half an hour later, as I was just thinking I would have to go through another hospital experience in Qatar, I got up to put the DND sign on the outside of the door, and as I walked back to bed, my heart flipped back into Normal Blessed Sinus Beautiful Rhythm. Oh yes!
I still had no way of getting to work with Mishter Bond on hish merry way, so I rung the Qatar boss to explain. He told me to ring his next in command who was just leaving for Ras Laffan, and he told me to take it easy for the day, as they were already on their way. A day of sleep, then. Wrong! The phone rang again two minutes later and it was the BIG BOSS from the UK this time, who was with Mr. Next In Command in the car. He told me they were turning round and would pick me up in ten minutes. Bugger. At least I wouldn't lose a day's pay, I suppose. As it turned out, the long drive to Ras Laffan went quite quickly as I chatted merrily away to the BIG BOSS about work and different countries, global warming and aliens.
From there, things looked up more and more as the day progressed. I was promised a hire car that would end my reliance on poor old hapless Driver Man, who had somehow conspired to get us to and from work safely, if erratically, all week. He must be sick of being berated by the other passenger with his shouts of, "FOR FUCKSH SHAKE MAN! SHLOW DOWN!" I think the Sean Connery thing has maybe run it's course today, eh? Well, it's still amusing when I hear it. One more journey would have to be endured, though.
Lunchtime brought a nice surprise. The project boss, a dynamic young Lebanese man with an Esther Rantzen smile, treated us all to pizza. It made a change from cold chips. I was astonished that the pizza was still warm, as it had arrived from Pizza Hut, and the nearest one (as far as I know) is in Al Khor, a good 20 minute drive away. Everywhere is a long way away, to be honest. The Ras Laffan Industrial City is huge. I got a good idea of the size of the place today when we left our project and headed towards the port (where the huge LNG tanker ships with domes on top dock to load up) to collect a colleague. We drove past mile upon mile of green, three metre diameter pipe waiting by the side of the road to be installed. Huge chemical plants are being constructed everywhere. I thought Wilton on Teesside was a big complex, but this place is at least 5 or maybe 10 times the size.
So tonight I got a car. I was driven round to the hire place by the company Admin Man, and we endured a frustrating 20 to 30 minutes waiting for the usual arguments about red tape and arguments about arguments to be resolved. I should be used to it by now. But finally, I made off into the Doha night in a very nice Nissan, soon making the adjustment to driving on the right while sat on the left.
Another boost looks to be on the way: I am moving into an apartment tomorrow. Hotels are OK for about up to a week, so it's good timing. I hear it's got a gymnasium, so that fits nicely with my plan. Now if only I can swing working a few days in Doha rather than schlepping up to Ras Laffan every day, things will be really good. And only 30 days till I go home for my first week off.
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