Eye of the Storm
22nd June
Our day started with an early dash to the office for photocopying (met by large crowd of staff outside, waiting for someone with a key to arrive), then off to run day one of “Training of Trainers” - because I had written this program, it fell to me to stand & talk for most of the day (how do you teaching folks do it?), leaving me pretty fragged by the end. Thankfully, the duo had kept themselves busy by getting started on our joint June report - we used up what energy we had left at the end of the day with some reporting tweaks & compiling the feedback from the training delivered so far...
23rd June
That niggling feeling I’d had in the back of my throat finally bloomed into rasping discomfort & volume death - still I had just enough energy to struggle through the ToT presentations (I’d cheated by making the participants do the bulk of the work on day two) before I was guided home to crash out. I was woken in the early evening with a phone request for advice (& an update on non-Male’ news) by one of my ex-students now in Baa Atoll. Her timing was excellent as it got me up in time to enjoy Nicole’s chilli dish (“gunna flush those bugs right outta my throat...”) & to laugh at Conan the Destroyer’s antics while writing notes for the big meetings of this week. Also, we got an email from Tracey - things are looking OK for her dad but time will tell...
24th June
Having caucused & crammed, we arrived at the office in time to see the last of the potential attendees vanish - apparently the President had called our Minister away & this gave the other Senior Managers an excuse to absent themselves. We passed on our concerns about this state of affairs to Maana & left the staff to try to tee up another meet the following day (ie, before we start touring the atolls). Nic & I went looking at shops briefly but most had closed for prayer time - we headed on to UNICEF where things were not looking any better for this meeting than the last. We diplomatically explained (through gritted teeth) that our chances of achieving much in the next phase of our project would be seriously curtailed unless this meeting of all interested parties happened today - amazing how folks can find the time when they realise you’re talking about the money they are already spending! The meeting itself was relatively painless as we confirmed the allocation of tasks for the next three weeks & reviewed what goals were realistic in the coming four months - one of the duo floated the idea of a student cohort (plus supervisor) being based in Male’, not a bad idea itself but tricky due to the costs to UNICEF & how to decide which of the duo would get the post (I wouldn’t want it). We finished up with a review with our employers over some contract conditions & delays in our pay - suffice to say we were not entirely happy with the result & hopefully UNICEF will be more forthcoming about their take on our entitlements in future. A brief visit home to grab the things I needed for a swim - the ferry ride was rough & there was rain in the air but I didn’t care as gave me the pool to myself! At home, we had found our cable TV had been disconnected due to non-payment (so that’s what that mysterious green note said), giving me a good excuse to chill with old Hours of Slack for the night (raised some questions among the flat mates too)...
25th June
I went visit the bank yet again & changed my password in the hope this would improve my chances in accessing my account. I got breakfast with Heidi & Huxon, then we caught up with Nicole at the Ministry - after a few false starts, I finally sorted out my first rent payment (only three to go). We also got a quick look at the MGF client database - I’d prefer to start the whole thing over & anew but a basic overhaul/patch may be all that’s possible... They got in late (& some key folks remained away) but we finally got the Senior Management meeting done - most of it was predictable but we were caught a bit unprepared when the Minister asked who has been failing in their duties to bring us these problems, then said she would tell the (missing) key person that her services were no longer required (probably good result in some ways but bodes more chaos in the short term & I’m never happy being part of decisions that lead to a dismissal). There was also more talk about the Male’ placement option - some tension (which I am keen to stay out of) building between the two supervisor candidates. We also got asked about next year & future positions - Heidi is keen, Nicole is not & I’m unsure but willing to see what they’re offering... Nicole wanted to make pizza but had other chores (calling her man at home, Shane) so I opted to wander the streets looking for ingredients & any other titbits with which to spoil myself tonight. The pizza was a marvel, especially when coupled with “Family Guy” DVDs & knowing the next day ours to use as we pleased.
26th June
I rose relatively late & went to bank the reimbursement cheques UNICEF agreed to - our first stop (Addu) is going to be the most expensive post outside of Male’ so I wanted make sure I had plenty of cash ready. Ducked back home to try the next rental payment but no luck from our home dial-up connection (damn time-outs) Heidi & Huxon were remaining entwined (he leaves in two days), so I agreed to accompany Nicole on a shopping spree - as it was, I was the getting the best deals, including a Misfits t-shirt (similar to one I used to wear decades ago). Next we took on some bills & trying to get Tracey’s key back from her landlord - these errands involved half a dozen taxi trips (two to the wrong place) & plenty of odd exchanges (I was bemused the hotel built with two trees growing through the lobby but I wouldn’t want to stay there). We visited Tracey’s & Steve’s flats in the hope of broadband access (& possible rental settlings) without luck - in the end, I went to Seagulls & used the public wireless (an option I distrust immensely) to get the deed done... That evening, Nicole & I headed over to Hulhule for a last evening “Western depravity” (ie drinking) before we go to the atolls - aside from the usual ex-pats (Steve, Rhoda, Paul, etc), there was party from Red Cross including Christian & Rawena passing through Male’ (also one of the guys that gave me the creeps way back in March). After dinner, Nicole & I made an attempt for the pool table but the room was packed & competition too intense to make it much fun playing - instead we settled in for more off coloured jokes with Steve & Anne until a latest minute dash for the final ferry of the night. A gentle weave home to crash-down...
27th June
I woke to the quietest morning in Male’ I could remember - a good thing given that my head was slowly gestating the mother of all headaches, not entirely ethanol-inspired either... I put off getting up until as late as I could, then got started into the pre-trip fiddlies & putterings (laundry, battery recharges, test- & repack) as well as catching up on this scribble. Afternoon had us heading into the Ministry to collect our reams of training materials - we also got an update about some Presidential decrees, including “no govt staff to travel to islands unless important (or DRP campaigners)” & taxis fares raised to Mrf25 each! Heidi & I got the copies home while Nicole conferred with one of the staff about a local “daughter in dungeon for decades” case (few options when few/no laws here address the issues involved). Another jaunt to Seagulls to pay rent (part 3) where I appear to be getting frequent feaster discounts. Rejoined the crew to meet up with Laura for a final drink before she finishes up her time with UNICEF - nice to be able to shoot various breezes rather than being bogged in the worker/boss talk of so often. She even came back to admire our (newly badged) executive apartment & the stunning view of the Commercial Harbour loading bays! Heidi & Huxon were in & out a fair bit for errands & “quality time” - Nicole put on more “Family Guy” & I made arguably the blandest risotto ever from leftovers in the fridge. Other than that, the night was frittered away until the long gestation finally bore fruit & I had to shoot a couple of paracetamol to help me get to sleep -I hate painkillers but I’m now packing them for this trip...
28th June
Up OK this morning with vestiges of throat & head dysfunction down to niggling levels (maybe even going finally) - rechecked my packing, then headed into Jade Cafe for brekky & net access (need a change from Seagulls). We head for Addu on the 12.30 flight & I’m unsure about net access there so I’ll post this here & give you all the adventures of our Addu leg next week...
Our day started with an early dash to the office for photocopying (met by large crowd of staff outside, waiting for someone with a key to arrive), then off to run day one of “Training of Trainers” - because I had written this program, it fell to me to stand & talk for most of the day (how do you teaching folks do it?), leaving me pretty fragged by the end. Thankfully, the duo had kept themselves busy by getting started on our joint June report - we used up what energy we had left at the end of the day with some reporting tweaks & compiling the feedback from the training delivered so far...
23rd June
That niggling feeling I’d had in the back of my throat finally bloomed into rasping discomfort & volume death - still I had just enough energy to struggle through the ToT presentations (I’d cheated by making the participants do the bulk of the work on day two) before I was guided home to crash out. I was woken in the early evening with a phone request for advice (& an update on non-Male’ news) by one of my ex-students now in Baa Atoll. Her timing was excellent as it got me up in time to enjoy Nicole’s chilli dish (“gunna flush those bugs right outta my throat...”) & to laugh at Conan the Destroyer’s antics while writing notes for the big meetings of this week. Also, we got an email from Tracey - things are looking OK for her dad but time will tell...
24th June
Having caucused & crammed, we arrived at the office in time to see the last of the potential attendees vanish - apparently the President had called our Minister away & this gave the other Senior Managers an excuse to absent themselves. We passed on our concerns about this state of affairs to Maana & left the staff to try to tee up another meet the following day (ie, before we start touring the atolls). Nic & I went looking at shops briefly but most had closed for prayer time - we headed on to UNICEF where things were not looking any better for this meeting than the last. We diplomatically explained (through gritted teeth) that our chances of achieving much in the next phase of our project would be seriously curtailed unless this meeting of all interested parties happened today - amazing how folks can find the time when they realise you’re talking about the money they are already spending! The meeting itself was relatively painless as we confirmed the allocation of tasks for the next three weeks & reviewed what goals were realistic in the coming four months - one of the duo floated the idea of a student cohort (plus supervisor) being based in Male’, not a bad idea itself but tricky due to the costs to UNICEF & how to decide which of the duo would get the post (I wouldn’t want it). We finished up with a review with our employers over some contract conditions & delays in our pay - suffice to say we were not entirely happy with the result & hopefully UNICEF will be more forthcoming about their take on our entitlements in future. A brief visit home to grab the things I needed for a swim - the ferry ride was rough & there was rain in the air but I didn’t care as gave me the pool to myself! At home, we had found our cable TV had been disconnected due to non-payment (so that’s what that mysterious green note said), giving me a good excuse to chill with old Hours of Slack for the night (raised some questions among the flat mates too)...
25th June
I went visit the bank yet again & changed my password in the hope this would improve my chances in accessing my account. I got breakfast with Heidi & Huxon, then we caught up with Nicole at the Ministry - after a few false starts, I finally sorted out my first rent payment (only three to go). We also got a quick look at the MGF client database - I’d prefer to start the whole thing over & anew but a basic overhaul/patch may be all that’s possible... They got in late (& some key folks remained away) but we finally got the Senior Management meeting done - most of it was predictable but we were caught a bit unprepared when the Minister asked who has been failing in their duties to bring us these problems, then said she would tell the (missing) key person that her services were no longer required (probably good result in some ways but bodes more chaos in the short term & I’m never happy being part of decisions that lead to a dismissal). There was also more talk about the Male’ placement option - some tension (which I am keen to stay out of) building between the two supervisor candidates. We also got asked about next year & future positions - Heidi is keen, Nicole is not & I’m unsure but willing to see what they’re offering... Nicole wanted to make pizza but had other chores (calling her man at home, Shane) so I opted to wander the streets looking for ingredients & any other titbits with which to spoil myself tonight. The pizza was a marvel, especially when coupled with “Family Guy” DVDs & knowing the next day ours to use as we pleased.
26th June
I rose relatively late & went to bank the reimbursement cheques UNICEF agreed to - our first stop (Addu) is going to be the most expensive post outside of Male’ so I wanted make sure I had plenty of cash ready. Ducked back home to try the next rental payment but no luck from our home dial-up connection (damn time-outs) Heidi & Huxon were remaining entwined (he leaves in two days), so I agreed to accompany Nicole on a shopping spree - as it was, I was the getting the best deals, including a Misfits t-shirt (similar to one I used to wear decades ago). Next we took on some bills & trying to get Tracey’s key back from her landlord - these errands involved half a dozen taxi trips (two to the wrong place) & plenty of odd exchanges (I was bemused the hotel built with two trees growing through the lobby but I wouldn’t want to stay there). We visited Tracey’s & Steve’s flats in the hope of broadband access (& possible rental settlings) without luck - in the end, I went to Seagulls & used the public wireless (an option I distrust immensely) to get the deed done... That evening, Nicole & I headed over to Hulhule for a last evening “Western depravity” (ie drinking) before we go to the atolls - aside from the usual ex-pats (Steve, Rhoda, Paul, etc), there was party from Red Cross including Christian & Rawena passing through Male’ (also one of the guys that gave me the creeps way back in March). After dinner, Nicole & I made an attempt for the pool table but the room was packed & competition too intense to make it much fun playing - instead we settled in for more off coloured jokes with Steve & Anne until a latest minute dash for the final ferry of the night. A gentle weave home to crash-down...
27th June
I woke to the quietest morning in Male’ I could remember - a good thing given that my head was slowly gestating the mother of all headaches, not entirely ethanol-inspired either... I put off getting up until as late as I could, then got started into the pre-trip fiddlies & putterings (laundry, battery recharges, test- & repack) as well as catching up on this scribble. Afternoon had us heading into the Ministry to collect our reams of training materials - we also got an update about some Presidential decrees, including “no govt staff to travel to islands unless important (or DRP campaigners)” & taxis fares raised to Mrf25 each! Heidi & I got the copies home while Nicole conferred with one of the staff about a local “daughter in dungeon for decades” case (few options when few/no laws here address the issues involved). Another jaunt to Seagulls to pay rent (part 3) where I appear to be getting frequent feaster discounts. Rejoined the crew to meet up with Laura for a final drink before she finishes up her time with UNICEF - nice to be able to shoot various breezes rather than being bogged in the worker/boss talk of so often. She even came back to admire our (newly badged) executive apartment & the stunning view of the Commercial Harbour loading bays! Heidi & Huxon were in & out a fair bit for errands & “quality time” - Nicole put on more “Family Guy” & I made arguably the blandest risotto ever from leftovers in the fridge. Other than that, the night was frittered away until the long gestation finally bore fruit & I had to shoot a couple of paracetamol to help me get to sleep -I hate painkillers but I’m now packing them for this trip...
28th June
Up OK this morning with vestiges of throat & head dysfunction down to niggling levels (maybe even going finally) - rechecked my packing, then headed into Jade Cafe for brekky & net access (need a change from Seagulls). We head for Addu on the 12.30 flight & I’m unsure about net access there so I’ll post this here & give you all the adventures of our Addu leg next week...