... just another day in paradise

The title of the Phil Collins song sounded appropriate when I typed it for a range of reasons - each day is a new adventure and all my mates from OS all point to the websites that have them convinced I'm doing it "real tough"; on the other hand, as the photos I'm determined to get round to taking and displaying will show, it is a place of contrasts; further, today offered a series of reminders about what is different about where I am.

Today is Eid - the end of Ramzan/Ramadan and so is a public (government/bank) holiday. We worked throughout the day in the office and I had quite a productive time, especially in regard to clearing the backlog of emails that the move and settling in had created. We're getting closer to the completion of the prospectus, getting closure on the logo and sorting out the marketing plan for the next couple of months, so all in all a nice conclusion to the formal working week.

Raju gave me a lift home so that I could finish off any other outstanding bits and pieces and rest up for tomorrow morning's medical - fasting urine and blood tests and the proverbial ECG for insurance purposes.

I have come to the early realisation as to how quickly I had become a creature of habit in just the last week - because it's Eid and because my local eatery is operated by the friendly Muslim guys, The Imperial was closed! What to do for dinner? I had nothing in the kitchen (on the basis of the substantial and sustaining meal that I can usually get at the Imperial, why would I bother?) and so ....

When I was here in June working out whether this was the role for me, Raju had walked me round the corner to the "ChicKing" (yep, India's own KFC/Red Rooster in Macdonald's colours) one night on the misunderstanding that I was "hanging out" for this kind of food. Once we'd clarified my lack of interest in this, we'd gone back to the Imperial for a good biryani. Tonight though I was "thrown" by the Imperial being closed and so I ventured to the ChicKing. I contented myself that, because I was having vege burger I was more "pure" than I could have been, but it's still sitting on my stomach a couple of hours later and I suspect that's the last time I will visit. Again though, I was reminded that I was here, Kerry and Fiona are on their way back from Italy and Luke and the puppies are back in Carlingford keeping each other company. At once I had a strong sense of being alone and far away from loved ones.

I had a positive conversation on Skype with Jay after my bountiful repast and that brought me back to the present, but as I sit here typing, with Bruce Lee's "Enter the Dragon" playing out on the television in the background, I am moved to reflect again on .... just another day in paradise.