Yes, just five days to go to
the short spin to the flight line here at Camp Bastion, and the flight to Dubai
and back to “the real world”.
Its a great feeling flying
into Dubai, the flight transits through Kandahar and then turns south west,
over the southern Afghan desert, over Iran and across the Persian Gulf, and
then the outskirts of Dubai become visible, the manicured villas, the sky
scrapers, highways and fly-overs, still a desert but a world away from
Afghanistan. The airline also serve beer on this flight, it will be the first
one since Christmas.....small pleasures.
On this occasion, I’m taking a
detour on the way home to Copenhagen for a few days for work, as our HQ is
there, good opportunity to see “Wonderful Copenhagen” again as it’s a city I
have been to a few times and a country I lived in for a period nineteen years
ago, so looking forward to seeing it again and in a sign of the times, I’m catching
up with another family member over there living a working in the city for the
last year, I will be back “on the old sod” on the ground in Shannon on Sunday
22nd April next.
So three weeks at home to look
forward to, an opportunity to spend time with the family primarily, looking
forward to doing breakfast and the school run (music to Laura’s ears no doubt!),
connecting with the fantastic neighbours we have at home, people who have been
ever-present over the last ten months to help out at home, everything from
looking after our dog, cutting grass, lifts to school to the all important cup
of tea and a chat, and indeed the odd glass of wine. Ireland’s great qualities
of community and neighbourliness is alive and well in Ireland and its fantastic to
see, and from my point of view, I’m incredibly grateful to them all for the
support they have given us, thank you all and looking forward to catching up
with ye all soon.
Friends also to be met with
cups of coffee, pints of Guinness and long chats to catch up on their families,
work and how Munster are doing at the moment !
It’s also an opportunity to
re-connect with business contacts, meeting up with the many small business
owners I have worked with over the years, sharing their successes
and current challenges and helping if I can and indeed vice-versa, I am keenly aware that I need to look at what
is happening back home with a view to looking at opportunities to return home permanently.
I am a true believer in staying connected with all of the broad and wide
business network I had built up over the years as it is more likely that these
are the people that will provide the introductions and opportunities for me in
the future and my route back home. In my years in business, I have always
carried a “Givers-Gain” philosophy to business as it has served me well, there
is nothing more motivating for a business person to help you if you have made
them a crucial introduction that has led to business for them.
I am also interested in the “mood”
of the country in terms of economics and politics, the recent publication of the
Mahon Report has been a reminder of the appalling standards of Governance and “Gombeen”
culture that has prevailed and been tolerated by our Political elite for so
many years back home and I hope a timely reminder that we must get away from
this and forge a new way ahead if we are to stage a substantial recovery in the
years ahead. Irish people by their nature are hard working, resourceful and entrepreneurial
, and I hope that an environment can be provided to allow this to develop and
thrive as that is the how we can rebuild the country.
Most of all, I’m looking
forward to walking in my own front door, sharing a meal with the family,
sitting on a comfortable sofa (not many here !), and weather permitting, having
a Barbeque on the deck with neighbours and friends, with a cold beer !!!
