The Last Day

That is today, tying up some loose ends, leave for airport tomorrow at 04:30 GMT. (yikes!) Return book to the library, drop off the electric kettle at house 29. Turn in the radios and dsl modem. Cell phone down to zero credits, buy N200 for any last minute calls.

In the news, one building collapsed last night during heavy rain. The trouble in the Delta has entered an ominous new stage, now the rebels are blowing up the oil wells. This results in a huge fire that can burn for days, fed by the escaping gas and oil. (Remember John Wayne in Hellfighters?) Chevron had one blown up last week, Shell two more over the weekend in the Forcados estuary (picture). Shell has suspended all operations in a large area. Recent estimates are that about 500,000 barrels per day of production has been shut in.

I kind of picture the plane taking off through the fires and explosions and then we are into the clear air. Actually, with the recent rains, it'll be more like soaring over a soggy mess. Impromptu lakes everywhere, some have become permanent enough to be growing cat tails along the banks.

What's the difference between a lake and a pothole?
When the lake is in a road, it's a pothole. Or is the road then in the lake?

Had a little get together saturday evening to celebrate the various comings and goings in the neighborhood. As the government and unions continue to reduce the number of expats in the oil companies it seems like just about everyone I know is headed somewhere else. Some to cushy locations like Perth where there are massive gas fields being developed, a lot back to Houston and then maybe another posting if things pick up again, some staying here for another year or two anyway. The way this all works, there's a kind of inevitability that you will meet again, so there aren't any really permanent good byes, just so long for now.

So, so long to: Jesse, Tina, Moses, Ishmael, Lucky, Monday, Precious, Iloho, Martins, John, Cindy, Joie, Hugh, Roger, Debbie, Harold, Ken, Greg, Jeany and Jay, and Joy and Ryan and to all the others whose names I am forgetting. See you soon.