Part 1: The Warm Up

Wednesday 28 June

The end of an incarcerated day saw me hanging over the engine compartment of the truck, which had just come from the garage the day before, trying to find where a serious water leak was coming from.

After scalding my hand, I found the water coming out of a small slit in one of the heater hoses. A temporary patch using several layers of ducting tape got me half way to Shahama. Out of the military base at least.

The next hop was not to be so easy. The patch was not holding so, after offloading my two passengers onto some helpful Computer staff, it was decision time: IATC or self repair first.

Bypass surgery was decided upon so for the next fifteen minutes I set to releasing the offending hose and its partner, then used the partner hose to bypass the heater system. A top up with water and I was Shahama bound.

The bypass held and I topped up with water supplies for myself and the truck at Shahama. Was Abu Dhabi worth the risk? Twenty minutes later we were rolling again with another problem looming onto the distant horizon. Fuel was running rather low. A lack of ready cash did nothing to help.

A steady run took us onto the Island and along Salam Street to a petrol station where I joined up with Pen. Petrol purchased and a short hop to Mike the Mechanic where the truck ended this eventful interlude.

With a start like this how will the rest of the holiday go?

Thursday 29 June

Started at the Bank. Full pay again. I am beginning to feel like Alice in Wonderland. Next up to Sharjah to have a browse around its main Souk, giving a lift on the way to Finbar, a colleague of Pen's.

Friday 29 June

A quiet day. The lull before the storm and storm there will be for the days running up to departure are full of things to do and go wrong.

Saturday 30 June

Involved in some dashing about for the truck, which went from Mike's to Pius in Mussafa, but mainly waiting for Richard's late night arrival. Richard arrived on time, but as a consequence of a rapid transit in Amsterdam his luggage did not. That will come Monday.

Also helped out a young German whose company had got his arrival date crossed.

Sunday 1 July

Spent sleeping, returning our young German to his legal fold, shopping, getting Richard signed up for the Club, getting car and travel insurance and generally getting a few more jobs done.

Monday 2 July

Started well with several jobs cleared out of the way. Richard was united with his luggage and subsequently Alexis.

After that the pattern started to unravel.

A call to Bombay and one Mr Jolin showed nothing done. With nobody left to take the truck for registration, it is going to be up in Mussafa for three more weeks. The only possible up was after a second call to Mr Jolin who said he would see what he could do. I will not hold my breath.

Tuesday 3 July

The last full day before departure. All packing and paperwork regarding the holiday is done. What to do? Wake up late then wash the windows! Then the time drags by. Queues at Etisalat daunted the faint hearted when it came to sorting out the various phone bills.

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