Wu Wei

Plans A-G at least

Still waiting to hear about the Ukraine project. Two weeks late and counting.

The firm already making contingency plans for me to go to Syria (much more important now that Russian gas is unreliable). And some short project on import contracts for Albania. Well if they think I can do it!!

And in Kosovo the team leader was kicked out as predicted, so I am in the running for that too, as well as some of the more detailed project work. Everyone was really glad to see me back and is so friendly, it would be a shame to leave them just when they are getting their act together. But it's always the way.

Persuaded a friend with children that she should not go to Afghanistan with one of them, however desperate her home life and financial situation was. Never sure about that sort of thing. Might have been the making of her and the teenager, but then they might have both been killed. I think it only hit home when I told her she needed yo be paid 100,000 in life insurance.

It seems like I won't starve, but it would be nice to know what I am doing at the end of April. Busy writing the final report on my current project.

Two weeks and no time to blog

Ministry is now actively working and I have been allocated a new gue to work with directly. It's always hard training people on the job at first it's quicker to do it yourself! But now we are a good team. We are now installed in our new building in Lagja Pejtona, or Peyton Place as some expats call it. The power in the Ministry is on and off, and with no ups, and a generator that kicks in only after a couple of minutes, those with desktop computers lose their work. At the same time the wiring for the lighting is strange with fluorescent lights flashing on and off.

So far we've had an electricity crisis, when the plant was flooded and the coal stocks suddenly vanished. Power cuts even for the A customers were back in force. Then just as suddenly the coal stocks reappeared and the power cuts disappeared for us at least. Dire warnings about power off, water off and heating off recede.

Add to that a government crisis as the Prime Minister resigns (he was pushed) and then ministers panic as they realise they will have to be reconfirmed in office or possibly reshuffled.

There was a big demonstration planned for March 5-7 with rather scary posters and TV advertising. A friend in Britain was telling me there were reports of violence, but in fact a very heavy snow storm "snowed" off the demonstration and we all were too busy battling the snow, ice and slush to think of anything else. Luckily the snow has all gone.

The in your pocket team came and went having scoured Pristina and found plenty to write about and even surprised themselves. Had a weekend off and went to Peja by bus, my first trip outside Pristina. We tried in vain to find a map of the town, situated up near the mountains dividing Kosovo from Albania. We did find a really nice restaurant, but without an address which made it hard to track down. The bazaar was much more interesting than in Pristina. Photos will be in the guide.

Be interesting to see the reaction to Milosevic's death.

Norway to join South East Europe?

Energy Community Treaty

At least so says the new EC Green Paper.

/Energy Community Treaty/