December 3
First day at work. The offices are a five
minute walk from the hotel and they are right on the seafront. I was collected
by the administration manager, a giant of a man. The offices are part
of a little complex of cafes and restaurants and very much more pleasant than
the area around the hotel. I did not even realize how close to the sea we are.
I have met Jerzy the Polish photographer and off-road specialist who took me
out in his four-wheel drive to see some ruins and to off-road on the nearby
sand dunes. That was a pleasant surprise. The sense here is that it is up to us to set
our agenda, which is liberating.
Jerzy gave me the lowdown on what happened
to the old team. Suffice to say that the emergency team brought in includes
some very good journalists, including Jamie who I worked with today, a travel
journalist with a great track record. He gave me some writing assignments. He
also told me how the press day did not finish until 1 am. That could prove
tricky if it happens every week. It’s not how things were described to me on
the phone.
The offices are very pleasant with a
balcony overlooking the waters of the Gulf. Sutton or Hammersmith this ain’t. I
have been given a new Mac, some pocket money and in general I feel pretty
positive about the new beginning. I still can’t get onto a proxy for Skype. Jamie
suggested one but it is taking time to let me use it. Meanwhile my new Sim is
not working so I have gone back to my British one. Return to my hotel in
improved mood. It feels less like a dream now.
I fell asleep at 830 but was awoken by
pumping techno at 11. Another broken night’s sleep.
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