Back to the office

This morning I went in to the offfice, and what a pleasure it was to have the network up and running again.  It was great to see everyone after my few days working elsewhere.

We had our usual Consultants/Apprentices meeting, where we review the week, and discuss any and all issues that the group has had over the previous five days (from now on I'm going to refer to them as junior consultants [JCs], because they have made great strides since they first started, and I don't particularly like the term "apprentice" in this context).   It's a useful opportunity to pick up early any concerns that they have so that they can be readily dealt.  Overall, this week has been a good one for them, because they're working on a project to organise a seminar for the hospitality sector.  A new consultant, Julie Stuart, is coming out from the UK this week, and she's an expert in the hospitality sector, so the seminar is being arranged as a marketing device to raise interest from hotels, lodges, bars, tourist locations and others.  It will also allow the sector to get some European insights into how to boost revenues and profits going into the future.

The JCs seem to have really enjoyed themselves on this project, because they've had to work hard to produce good ideas for the seminar, as well as learning about how to develop and market an event of this sort.  Nataša is the "owner" of the project, and my contribution has focused on helping the JCs with understanding the marketing aspects, especially with things like brochure design.  It has also been a good exercise for them in working together as a team, and as such has been a very useful activity.

Alas, I'll be gone by the time the seminar actually takes place, but I'm sure it will prove to be a success.

Nataša and I went to renew our visas this morning - quite a moment for me because it's my last visa renewal in Malawi.  Time seems to be flying by so fast right now as my stay in Malawi comes towards its end.  Every day something happens that brings it home to me that I'll be leaving soon, and that just gives me a whole heap of mixed emotions.  I desperately want to see Jan and David again as soon as possible, but at the same time I know I'm going to miss all the friends I've met here.  I know in a couple of weeks time I'm going to be an emotional mess!

Mustang Sally Club

Still, when the office closed at lunchtime, Nataša, Nishi and I repaired to Mustang Sally's for a quick libation. Rob was desperately keen that we should come back in the evening as well, but we are planning to head off to Veg Delight for dinner, so probably won't.

World Cup Day 1

... and we're hosting people from the office for a bbq which was to mark Rick's leaving next week after 4 months on the project, and also (this was a surprise) a welcome to Blantyre for me.  This is a team picture taken on our verandah - all a bit indistinct I'm afraid, but a larger version is available on my Flickr page.

The morning was taken up with a weekly team meeting with the apprentice consultants where we review any issues that may have arisen over the week, and also get any feedback from them on how things are going.

After that I had a financial review meeting looking at the financial analysis that has been done on the project I'm taking over from Rick.  I then got my mobile phone to use whilst in Malawi, and my laptop was finally connected to the shared drive so that I can now access all the project files and the teaching materials for the apprentices' training programme.  Peter Moar, our Programme Manager also arrived back from the UK today, so I've been able to catch up with him this afternoon.

It was then back to the house and set up for the barbecue - chicken, sausages, salads - and there was then a presentation for Rick followed by cake.  In fact there were two cakes - one for Rick's departure and one for my arrival.  They were home cooked and very good indeed.  The barbecue ended at around 3.30 and we then went into town to a bar in the KPMG office building to watch the South Africa v Mexico game.  Great atmosphere in the bar, but a bit weird because they had two TVs tuned into different broadcasts of the match, and there was about a 5 second difference between them - so there was a big shout when SA scored from the people looking at one screen, and the goal went in shortly afterwards on the TV we were watching.  I also met several ex pats that Rick and Sharife have made friends with over the past few months, and many of them are coming to the house for tomorrow's England v US match.

I decided not to stay in town to see the second game tonight, so I'm back here doing this blog and a little bit of work.