The log cabin

Monday 16th

I didn't sleep too badly although I woke up often and didn't really get enough. I had breakfast downstairs in the main restaurant rather than in the lounge on the 22nd floor and then headed out for a walk. This was about 8:15 and turned out to be quite short since the shops don't open until 10. The photo shows a slightly different view from the hotel, taken at the end of the passage way and showing the office block where my client has its office.

I decide to get back on the net and downloaded a new interface for my MP3 player that I'd read about in a magazine. I then finished packing and headed down to the lobby to check out.

My driver was supposed to be there at 9 but I hadn't gotten a message so I just sat in the lobby, reading and waiting. Eventually he walked in, just before 10. Apparently he'd arrived at 9 but the desk didn't put a message through. We loaded up and headed North. We stopped at a Lotus on the outskirts of Bangkok where I bought a prepaid sim card, a slim mattress like last time and some soft drink. The first time I stayed here I had constant back aches from the hard mattresses so I bought a similar item on the second trip and slept much better. It's worth $20 to get a good night's sleep for a week.

It was after 1 by the time we got to the hotel and I was put in one of the wooden cabins. This one is slightly better than last time, where I moved out after one night. At least it has a small amount of hanging space and after a bit of shuffling of furniture it is more or less liveable for the week.

I just dropped my bags at the time and we headed off to the site office. I have the same office as the first 2 times. It appears to be vacant when I'm not there. Also Nico has left the company and been replaced by a local, so his driver is again available to me. He seemed genuinely glad to see me again and, in fact, most of the staff were friendly and welcoming. Jim is off duty this time so it is Spencer that I will be dealing with. I only met him for a few day on the first trip before his shift finished.

I was originally wondering what they wanted me to do while I was here, and whether there would be enough to keep me busy. After talks with Spencer and then later with Panu and Kattavut (the new guy) I'm thinking I might be pretty busy and wondering if I'll finish it all in time.

The problems seem to be partly due to inaccuracies inherent in measuring, partly due to problems fully unloading tankers due the viscous and waxy nature of the oil and partly due to some misunderstandings about how things work. There are some decision required but also I hope to be able to sort out some speed ups for Pranu who seems to spend hours inputting and validating the data everyday. About 2-30 I went to the lunch room and found they had sent a lunch pack for me - rissoles, broccoli and mash potato, plus fruit and soup (which I skipped) There was also a couple of slices from a fench loaf and a small serving of butter (or similar). It turned out to be completely liquified abd I spilt most of it.

It was nearly 7 but the time I got back to the hotel. After a brief look at the local food options, I opted for the pork chop, chips and salad followed by and Icecream cone. A couple of other service guys were at dinner so I joined them. One I'd met on the previous trips and the other in Spencer's office earlier. I watched a few comdedies on the big TV there before heading back to my room to move furniture and unpack.

Its not even 9 pm yet but already I'm thinking of calling it a night.

Actually, I discovered the update to my MP3 menu included a whole lot of games so I wasted a few hours playing some of them.