Mark Dalton

Well yesterday was another very busy day at the office. There is just so much going on at the moment, the day fly’s by. I didn’t leave the office until 19:00 and then I needed to go shopping as I had nothing in the fridge and was starving. Once back at the apartment with provisions. We still had a couple of ongoing issues and I think I finally finished up about 00:30.

Today was a national holiday so this morning I had a lay in. After lunch I went for a walk then returned to the apartment where I commenced laying on the sofa watching films.

That’s it. A bit of a waste really, but I needed the rest.

Okay so I didn’t get around to updating the blog yesterday but it’s been a great weekend and I basically had better things to do.

So picking up from where I left off Friday morning I had my FRRO registration meeting. I was picked up at 10:00 by Rajeev for the 30 minute ride to the Ministry of paperwork. When we arrived it was like stepping back in time. It was just a large non-descript concrete building with rooms in every directions. In the rooms were old school like desks and plastic patio chairs. Outside each of the rooms was a bench that inevitably had somebody asleep on it. I was led up to the 3rd floor, past court rooms (based on the layout), and guards stations to another non-descipt room this time with aluminum dividing walls. You really wouldn’t have known any official went on there except for the armed guards.

We entered one of the aluminum cubicles and I sat for about 20 minutes while Rajeev provided piece of paper after piece of paper, and the man from the ministry read each one three times, shuffled the forms he now had and requested others that Rajeev had to point out he had already handed over. Then he reached for a big book and filled it in before asking me to sign it and then stamping it with over 10 billion rubber stamps (okay, by this stage I was bored and I think he knew because he kept looking at me then the clock).

The next thing I knew is we were off, me, Rajeev, the man from the ministry of paperwork, the paperwork, and the big book were walking back down the stairs. We then approached what looked like an important area. This was apparent by the number of people with guns standing around. It wasn’t until I looked at the labels on the door that I realized we needed to see the Deputy Commissioner of police and that he needed to sign the “book”. We all bowed (well the other two guys bowed and I kind of thought hey this is cool smiled and nodded my head) and went in. The room was a lot more impressive. A single large dark wooden desk surrounded on three sides by green leather backed arm chairs. The book was presented to him, he signed it, they al bowed again and we left. (I think I waved as we came out I’m not sure) and that we all done. So I am now legal. I should get all the certificates this week, but work take care of that, but as far as paperwork goes I am almost sorted (just the UK tax office to go).

Friday night we had the COLT India Annual Event, aka “Spark” (Which I think was the name of the local Ind rock band that had been hired for the event). I must say the setup was very impressive and I would have a lot more pictures to show you if I had remembered to charge my Camera battery before going (I really need to get my act together on photo’s and movies). The facilities guys really did a good job. I have some video footage that I will splice into a short film to give you an idea of the what things looked like, but I think it was agreed that it was a good night. I left about midnight and didn’t need any rocking to get to sleep.

Saturday morning I got up and went to join the gym. After the tour and being told all about the facilities the sales director would not let me join until I has tried the facilities out at least three times free of charge. So I had about an hours work out, and an hour in the sauna and steam room before showing and leaving feeling great. I then headed to the shops and stocked up on a few essentials and then went home and cooked sausages, beans, and Mash potatoes.

After dinner I went for a walk for an hour before settling down with some traditional british rock and a book.

This morning (Sunday) I had a lay in and a lazy breakfast before doing a couple of hours work. I then had lunch and watched a movie (Zoro). About 15:00 Karan (my driver) picked me up and we headed for the Gym where I spent 3 hours. I came out and treated myself to a small domino’s pizza, immediately putting back on the calories I had just burned off and probably a few extra besides, but I did enjoy it.

This week is going to be very busy but I am hoping not to stressful. Lets see.

Okay so Tuesday was a standard busy day at work but nothing worth talking about. Tuesday night, as planned, Simon (The guy out from the UK delivering some training) and myself met up after work and I showed him around a little before grabbing some beers and heading back to my apartment. We chatted for a couple of hours while enjoying a few well chilled beers and then met up with Laurence and headed off to “Berco’s” for dinner. Where we had another great meal. (Berco’s being the place we went to Saturday)

Yesterday was once again busy but nothing out of the ordinary, and I just chilled out in the evening.

Today however was the “Day from hell”. I was supposed to be on the training course that Simon was delivering but 10 minutes in and I was called by the Incident manager and advised we had problems. The rest of the day was a complete blur as we worked with the guys back in the UK to resolve the issue. I didn’t get out of the office until 19:30 and hadn’t eaten all day. So once back at my apartment the first thing I did was raid the fridge. It wasn’t very exciting as I was too tired to really cook but beans on toast with a cheese topping and I felt a lot better.

So now I am going to grab a shower, chill out for an hour, and then grab an early night. I have my meeting tomorrow at the police station (to register) so want to make sure I don’t look and feel like crap. We also have the COLT annual event, a company party at the Crown Plaza Hotel, tomorrow evening and I want to enjoy it and meet with a lot of the people that I haven’t had a chance to meet or talk properly to yet.

So for now I am going to sign off, and my next update will probably be Saturday.

So I am into the second official week of my assignment and its been another busy day, but more about that later.

This weekend was time to catch up with some sleep and get a little me time. It was nice having the time back in the UK but I really didn’t stand still, and having Wednesday off really just allowed me to avoid the jet lag and sort the apartment out.

So Saturday after a nice lay in (10:30). I had a spot of breakfast and watched a movie before heading to the office to check on some work that was being done. It was quick 30 minute visit, and then I headed to one of the many malls to meet up with Laurence and get some shopping. We both needed different things so we went our separate ways agreeing to met up at my apartment later so Laurence could check out the Apple TV.

There are malls everywhere in Gurgaon, and one of the most popular past times on a saturday in India is to shop. However Gurgaon is one large building site and

everywhere you look they are building more apartments or malls. Everything is done by hand, you will very rarely see a wheel barrow let alone a JCB. The only time you see any real heavy plant is on the major office blocks or roads, which are usually backed by foreign investors. The throng of shoppers also brings out the beggars, but there are generally just ignored unless they get in the way of a police man or security guard. [More Photo's]

Laurence and I met up a couple of hours later and spent an hour messing around with the Apple TV, before agreeing to meet up for Chinese later that evening, after Laurence had finished at the gym.

Laurence’s driver Naveen turned up at 18:00 (We have arranged to share drivers at the weekend if we are hanging out) and took me to the Chinese / Japanese restaurant where Laurence was waiting. We ordered some beers and some starters and then started chatting to the waiter and supervisor and asked them for recommendations. They immediately went off to find the chef who we were then introduced to. The chef after exchanging pleasantries described the ingredients he had, there origin, and suggested a chicken based course cooked in a variety of spices, but not too hot. We both enjoyed the meal and after 6 beers, two bottle of water, two starters and a main course for two we were happy to pay the £13 it cost and even left a tip. We then returned to my apartment to drink the beer I had left in the fridge before it went out of date.
.
Sunday was another lay in and a chilled out morning. I went out for a slow walk around Essel Towers and up to the malls after lunch. I leant Laurence my driver so he could go to the gym while I chilled out and called Katrina. We had agreed to meet up again that evening so I could get some information on gym membership, which I did, and then went for dinner at Harries (A revolving restaurant). Once again the food was good, but not as good at the previous evening and a little more expensive. After dinner, about 21:00 we headed home.

Once back in the apartment I wasn’t particularly tired so I sat and started to watch a movie, but by 22:30 I was ready for bed.

So this morning my driver picked me up at 08:30 and we headed for the office. The work that was going on over the weekend had all been completed (Setting up a new NOC) and three new NOC (Network Operations Center) staff had started there induction courses. I had a full day of meetings, including one with the UK division of Price Waterhouse Coppers who are handling my UK tax return, which turns out to be a lot simpler than I thought it was going to be. I am however scheduled for a meeting with the Indian division tomorrow to confirm my Indian tax status which should be interesting to say the least.

Tonight I made myself cheese on toast, after eating midday at work, and have now settled down for a quiet evening. Not sure yet if it’s a TV or book night. I need to check what’s on. Tomorrow we kick off some more training and I have agreed to meet up with the instructor and show him around a little and grab a beer.

Okay so Friday is here, and after having Wednesday off I can say it has been a pretty good week. It was another busy day at the office, but that seems to be par for the course and to be honest I would rather that than be bored. I need to pop into the office tomorrow and check on some work that’s being done over the weekend, otherwise I intend to get out and about. As I said yesterday I am thinking of heading into Delhi but will see how things go. Otherwise I might just have a better look around Gurgaon.

This afternoon I did take another trip to the shops to pick up a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) as the power cuts out here were starting to become annoying. I am using my laptop which has a battery so isn’t affected when the power does go off, but of course my internet line drops every time which is really rather annoying especially when trying to upload or download anything. I also managed to get hold of a component cable for my Apple TV although I am still trying to get the sound to work.

Otherwise nothing more to report, so I am going to open a beer and try and sort out the Apple TV then listen to some music and read.