Mark Dalton

Well it’s only now I feel that I have truly settled into the pace of things here in India. The reason I say this is that I have been sat here for 10 minutes trying to think what I have done, both at work and outside of work.

On the work front all I can say is I did stuff for about 9 hours a day, and lost a day in the process. The new Bangalore site and interviewing has taken up the cast majority of it, but the rest I can only describe as “doing stuff”. At the time they are most important issues known to man, but when you look back and try to identify them they mainly translate to removing barriers, making decisions that nobody else wants to make, and sorting out personnel issues. It would be unfair to say that the individuals are harder work than anywhere else, it’s just they have different priorities and values than I am used to. It really is a question of me adjusting some of my views than simply imposing my will. It’s interesting however, and I am constantly learning as are my team and those individuals in other teams I interact with. On more than one occasion now somebody has said to me they hadn’t thought it about it in the way I presented it and that it was a better idea.

On the personal front I went out on Wednesday night with Laurence’s CMS (COLT Managed Services) team. All part of breaking down some of the cross team barriers and to explore some of the opportunities that they may have for my team, in terms of career progression. We kept it rather high level, but it was very positive. It wasn’t all work however. Laurence’s Mum Marie is over and it was the first time I had met her. A very nice lady, like Laurence, she slipped straight into the spirit of things and I think enjoyed the evening.

Today I had a well earned lay-in, getting up at 10:00. Then it was time to catch up on some washing (very exciting) and then a few hours work. 16:00 Karen picked me up and took me to the Gym where Amit (My Trainer) once again did his best to make me sweat (which he did) but he did say that he wouldn’t try killing me until tomorrow.

Tonight I am meeting up with some of the guys that are over from the UK working on setting up and transitioning a new system.

Other than that I will take my leave, but I will just point you to a new gallery. My friend Christine completed a sky dive for the Welsh Air Ambulance service, a very worth while cause for anyone that is familiar with some of the terrain in Wales.

Well this week has been just a hectic as normal but things are a lot more settled. The general atmosphere has improved in the office and people are a lot more content with what they are doing, we still have some way to go but it’s great to see people discussing issues between themselves before escalating. My main body of work this week has been around setting up our new office in Bangalore, and recruiting staff to replace those that have left over the last 6 months. We have some very aggressive time-scales for the Bangalore site and an awful lot to do.

The most frustrating aspect has been trying to negotiate our own processes and systems, but by Friday we had made some positive advances. I think I am going to have to spend a few evenings this week making sure everything is in order, but I am looking forward to the challenge of bringing all the pieces together.

I managed to get to the gym Monday, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday this week, and today enjoyed a Swedish deep tissue and Indian head massage after a good workout. I know I will have no problems sleeping this evening. Today I honestly thought my trainer was trying to kill me. After doing a 20 minute run and some weight training he had me doing abdominal excercises. I soon realized just how unfit I am, but Amit was pretty confident he could get me into shape. Simon, the Root Cause Analysis Trainer, has been over from the UK this week and we made some good progress on incorporating the training into our existing processes. Tuesday and Thursday we took the work back to Simon’s hotel and ironed out some of the creases over a few beers. The 20-20 world cricket has been on and the Indians love there cricket so after a while we had to put the work to the side as we couldn’t hear ourselves over the cheering.

Saturday night I met up with some of the Windows team as it was Parvinders (The Windows Team Leader) birthday. We headed in the new friends colony in New Delhi about 17:30 and met up in a one of the restaurants for some snacks and a few beers. The guys had strategically placed themselves right in front of a large TV screen so we could follow the India / Australia. At 20:00 we had to move on as there was a 1000 Rupee per head surcharge (because of the cricket). We soon found another restaurant that was showing the match and settled in for a few more beers and some more food. This morning I woke up and could still taste the green chillies I had eaten, and it took about a pint and half of water before I could feel my lips.

Well I know I have been quiet this week, but after a nice relaxing Sunday last weekend I decided I needed to concentrate on getting my head into gear. I have been spending between 12 and 18 hours a day working, and I knew I just couldn’t keep the momentum going any longer. Monday and Tuesday were very busy days, but with Vikram on board they were much more manageable. Monday was the worst, I woke up with Delhi Belly and despite trying everything I knew I just couldn’t shake it. I tried to get out of the office early but it just wasn’t happening. I eventually left at 19:00 but I was still working at 02:00 Tuesday morning. Tuesday my stomach still hadn’t settled down and I struggled through the day before declaring myself out of action at 20:00, opting to go straight to bed.By the time Wednesday arrived I felt much better, aided I think by a full nights sleep and all day I felt more in control, and although busy the rest of the week felt much more organized.

Friday night was Saurabh’s Wedding, and I was determined I was going to make it. I finished work at 18:00 and headed home for a shower and a change of clothes. At 19:00 I headed back to the office to pick up three of the guy’s and we headed into New Delhi. We arrived about 21:30 and felt like we were the first ones there. Saurabh arrived about 22:30 and things started to develop from there. I had to leave before the main ceremony, but Indian weddings are very long events and by 01:30 I was shattered and still had a 2 hour trip home. Not to mention my driver had to then drive back to Delhi.

The wedding itself was amazing and very colorful. The reception was held out doors and must have been at least the size of a football pitch. Everything was lit up and every color you could imagine was in is use somewhere. It’s funny because in the UK we talk about colors clashing, but out here anything and everything just seems to work. The event was “dry” but Saurabh knew his audience and had catered accordingly. So about midnight we retreated to the comfort of the car park and enjoyed a couple of beers, before heading back for something to eat.

Check out the Movie Gallery for the video I shot. It’s not quite BBC material but I am still getting used to the camera. It doesn’t really do it justice but I think it gives a good insight.

Saturday I was up about 10:00 and Laurence and I headed into Delhi to do some shopping just after lunch. I picked up another UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) as I am fed up with the electric going out at the good part in a movie. Saturday evening I finally joined the gym and committed to giving up smoking again. As part of the membership I get full use of the Gym, Sauna, Steam room, Jacuzzi, foot spa, and nine free massages, which I think I will need given the amount of time that has lapsed since I did any real exercise. It’s a new gym and all of the equipment is the latest, and best of all the gym is very quiet. After a workout and Sauna we headed for Berco’s and grabbed dinner, before heading home about 22:00.

Sunday morning I was up at 09:00 and Karen, my driver, picked me and Laurence up for another gym session. We headed down about 10:30 and finished about 14:00. I am pretty sure tomorrow I will ache from head to toe, but it did feel good. After the gym we grabbed some lunch and did a little shopping before heading back to our respective apartments.

It’s just coming up to 18:00 now and I am going to catch up with some personal email, before settling down with my Lonely Planet Guide to India. I am going to start planning out some weekend sightseeing, starting I think in and around New Delhi and then start looking further afield. I’ll let you know what I come up with.

Okay once again another busy week, but I think this is all part of the new role. The good thing is I feel that I now have more control.

On Tuesday my new manager, Vikram, started, and I think we hit it off straight away. The week really has been a blur since then.

Friday however I got the best invite I could receive in India, and that is a wedding Invitation (Not mine, I hasten to add!!!). My Workplace Technologies team lead, Saurabh Sharma is getting married next Friday, so standby for the pictures. Friday night we said enough was enough and needed a beer. Chris had organized a night out with the testing team so I decided to tag along (Invited or not). It was an early night for Chris as he had to return to the UK, but Vikram and I sat at the bar and sang along with the karaoke, while solving most of the world problems.

Saturday morning I was up bright and early, well about 09:00 to be honest, and then spent the day catching up with the work I had neglected during the week.

Sunday however Laurence and I were both in need of some serious R&R. So we we headed for the “Grand Hyatt”, visited by members of the Indian cricket team (We won and this will help in all discussions for the next week at least) but we needed some pampering.

A wonderful day sat doing nothing, except listening to some traditional tunes on the iPod and reading books. We left about 17:00 and headed for the nearest (Read cheapest we have found so far) beer shop. We are now enjoying a couple of cold ones and timing our pizza delivery.

Okay so yesterday was another very busy day and by the end of it I was in desperate need of a beer. So about 19:00 Chris and I headed for the Park Plaza hotel and a couple of cold Kingfishers. We did have some work to discuss but neither of us could even start to think straight until after the second.

Once we had work out of the way we grabbed another beer or two before ordering some food. Sandra then joined us and the conversation turned to holiday’s. Something I am in need of right now. I got back to the apartment about 22:00 and then had to catch up with some email and close down some outstanding issues. I got to bed about 02:00 this morning.

Today was a little more relaxed and tonight I have settled on a quite night in. I have fixed myself a nice salad and am going to watch a movie. Life in the fast lane!