I have recently had the opportunity to spend some time aboard working. It's really the first time that I've done this in the past 7 years other than a brief 3-day visit to Copenhagen. This was a two-week stint in Johannesburg, South Africa. Well - I found that the preparations were familiar to me - but strange things like trying out the modem on the work laptop. Hearing those dial sounds brought back quite distant memories - my oh my haven't we moved on here in the UK. As it turns out I didn't use the modem. But still it was good to check out the laptop. Also intriguing that my personal MacBook doesn't even have a modem.

Anyway, I was to travel out alone and the project manager would join a day later. The main frustration was with our internal company bureaucracy in getting the flights organised and then the hotel. Sometimes I'm sure that the main reason that these departments exist to stop the very things they are meant to do. I was happy to fly business class both ways and with the airline selected (Emirates) it flew from Manchester to Dubai and then a brief stop before another flight onto Jo'burg. Emirates is neat as they include, for business class, free pick up and drop off on each journey. No travelling by train or car and parking. That's such a help and lessens the cost.

Business class has changed a little since my last trips in 2000-2001 - more in-flight entertainment, somewhat better seats. What I did notice is more people travel business class. Other than that - they little else different. And the prices were about half. Though I'm not sure whether that is our company discount levels.

There are much more people using the business lounges - they are filling up. At Dubai I managed to find the showers and grabbed one - thanks to a colleague for suggesting that - a wonderful improvement. After 7.5 hours, though somewhat pampered, to have a shower in the business lounge was a good move.

So how was flying? On these flights it was pretty much as before - there are distractions such as films etc. and food. Even so I didn't expect much difference.

I considered the whole flying thing. When you look at it you see historical continuations from the shipping business - given away in the terms: captain, hostess, steward, purser. Maybe as early flight and even later flight was a rich person's mode of travel that it included such things as food, drink (why serve alcohol that dehydrates in a plane that has an atmosphere that dehydrates and then causes behavioural problems with no escape?) I guess when Virgin get their tourist spacecraft up and working then it'll be similar. I wonder what the difference between business and coach classes will be like on those flights? Comfortable space suits versus one size fits all for coach? It's not how I read most SF books when I was younger. There were lots more individuals flying about (Note to self - good time to re-read the Larry Niven belter series) or very much the commodity stuff.

The main point of this ramble - was to say how much I dislike being in a hotel. I'm sorry to sound very ungrateful - but 15 nights in the same hotel - even though it was 5 star - are mind numbing, soul destroying, and drives me stir-crazy. It was made worse by two facts: 1) the hotel was part of a complex that had two other hotels, a casino complex with several restaurants. 2) for our personal safety we didn't go out or have our own transport. I know a bit like an animal in a zoo - all the food you want, the bed is made, etc. but I want to get out, explore and meet real people - not employees who say Morning Sir!

I'd better stop - as I am sounding very ungrateful. But I was glad to get back home - detox on normal food - like baked beans on toast and fish & chips. It was a good reminder to really enjoy and be thankful of where I live and how I live.