The start of my journey

My numerous children often asked what I do at work, apart from drinking coffee and reading the newspaper. I guess the answer is (hopefully) learn from my mistakes. So here is the start of a rose tinted view of how I got here.

Having drifted through school and University it was time to get a job! On leaving university in 1982 the UK civil engineering was in quite a depressed state so I managed to secure a job in South Africa with the Department of Water Affairs. Unfortunately I was only 20 and as such was unable to sign my contract (you had to be 21). So my first challenge was to ask my mum to sign for me. She did but then realised that it meant I was disappearing for at least 3 years (or five if I wanted the Department to pay to fly me home).

So one month later, having turned 21, it was the train down to London and time for my first ever flight!

Many hours later, having stopped once to refuel (no non-stop flights being available) I landed in Johannesburg and was met by a chap holding a sign with Hobson written on it. We met, shook hands and headed off the the car park. On the way he asked about the trip and whether I was looking forward to working with the bank - a clue something was wrong! Apparently Hobson is not an uncommon name - so back to the airport to find the right greeter.

Once that was sorted it was into the right car and off to Pretoria to be dropped at the hotel. "Pick you up on Monday at 6h45 we start work at 7h15 -enjoy the weekend".

So there I am, miles from home, no way to phone home (due to cost) and knowing no one.

Next morning after a slow start its off the the shops around 11h50 to find out everything shuts as 12h00 and reopens on Monday. So, following my usual habit, it was off to the hotel bar in the evening. A couple of lagers later (surprisingly you couldn't get brown ale or bitter) I was starting to relax when the chap next to me put his hand on the knee and asked if I fancied going to a club - had I made the right decision to leave home?

Monday came and off to work. "Here's your desk - the boss will be in shortly"

•               Lessons Learned:

•               Make sure its a soft landing

•               Check the accommodation so see its safe

•               Meet the right person

•               Look after them if its a weekend

•               Arrange a buddy/greeter in the office

•               Have a plan for the first few days

My first year began. It was to cover water resources, dam capacities, feasibility and concept designs for weirs and dams and computer flow modelling with most of the information in Afrikaans.  It would prove interesting as none of it had been covered in University and I only spoke English. so onwards and upwards!