Stage 10 - 10th March to 27th March 2014

So, back to Dubai. I had some work this week for Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank cancelled so decided to have a few days break at the Dusit Thani hotel - they gave us our usual room! But on Wednesday 12th March I had a workshop for senior managers on Values Deployment for Dragon Oil - the company who's oilfield in Turkmenistan I spent some time at last December. I had further work booked with ADCB at the Crowne Plaza, Yas Island, Abu Dhabi from the 18th March so decided to relocate there for a further break before starting the work on the 18th so a car picked us up and took us to Yas Island - a 90 minute trip.

The Crowne Plaza on Yaz Island is next to the Radison Blu hotel where I stayed last year. It's across the road from the F1 circuit and near to the marina and other attractions. We upgraded so we could use the Executive Lounge and they gave us a great room with a view over the golf course to the gulf, looking West so we could see some fabulous sunsets.

We spent most days at the pool but did a trip to the Marina one day - free bus - and spent one day on the beach before I had to start work again.

I did a three day workshop for ADCB managers on Service Excellence, had the weekend off, then did two, two-day workshops for some middle managers - the last work of the trip.

The 27th March is our wedding anniversary so we booked a meal at the Filini restaurant in the Radison Blu and had the one of the best meals of the trip - and great service too.

On the 27th we had an email from the car park who had our car saying the car won't start so we booked into the Sofitel for the night, not wanting that sort of hassle late at night.

A car picked us up late morning at the Crowne Plaza and drove us to Dubai airport where we caught the plane home - it was delayed so we were glad we'd booked the night at the Sofitel.

The next morning I was picked up by the car park people and taken to the pound where the car had been kept for nearly 3 months. I don't believe what they told me about trying to start the car because the AA guy started it first time! Hey ho.

So back to the real world of Swanage - it's good to be back.

The End.

View looking west from our balcony

Watching the sun go down over downtown Abu Dhabi from Yas Island

An unusually low sunset

View of the golf course from the hotel

The swimming pool at the Crowne Plaza, Yas Island.