Thursday, November 30, 2006
Friday December 1st - 10 hours to go
Well, this is it. The second time I run past the countdown clock this morning on the Corniche on my way back "home", it says 0000 days, 13 hours and 30 minutes to go. I is 5:30am then. It's hard to imagine that I've got less than three weeks left here. It will all come very quickly now. I don't feel I'll be ready to go then. The end of an event is always so abrupt and final and you move from frenetic business to a kind of void. Everybody leaves, everything comes to an end and you always feel like something is missing. Those of us who have done this many times are used to it although having said that I never quite get used to it. I've become accustomed to it but I don't like it.
Kisane calls last night as I'm battling through the crowds at City Center Shopping Centre where I've stopped at Carefour to buy some Tahini, conditioner and moisturiser. In the middle of this huge shopping complex is a skating ring below where kids ice skate or hockey games are held. Seems quite out of context in the middle of the desert were snow is only ever seen on TV. It was Thursday night which is the beginning of the weekend here and shopping is the thing people do. Kisane wants to know if I want to go to the Sheraton with her for a drink but in the end we both decide not to and end up in the hotel coffee shop on the 29th floor briefly. The decision not to go out comes from a self preservation instinct and the knowledge that tonight is opening ceremony. I may have to stay back if things are busy in the work room and I feel my volunteers won't handle the work room alone. We've all been offered tickets to the opening ceremony but I have not taken mine and won't go. I'm a bit blaze I must say about the opening ceremony. I've seen a few, I've seen the rehearsals of a few as well and now I'd much rather watch 30 minutes on TV and go to bed quite frankly. Plus I'd rather be on hand if needed back at the MPC.
More later...
Well, this is it. The second time I run past the countdown clock this morning on the Corniche on my way back "home", it says 0000 days, 13 hours and 30 minutes to go. I is 5:30am then. It's hard to imagine that I've got less than three weeks left here. It will all come very quickly now. I don't feel I'll be ready to go then. The end of an event is always so abrupt and final and you move from frenetic business to a kind of void. Everybody leaves, everything comes to an end and you always feel like something is missing. Those of us who have done this many times are used to it although having said that I never quite get used to it. I've become accustomed to it but I don't like it.
Kisane calls last night as I'm battling through the crowds at City Center Shopping Centre where I've stopped at Carefour to buy some Tahini, conditioner and moisturiser. In the middle of this huge shopping complex is a skating ring below where kids ice skate or hockey games are held. Seems quite out of context in the middle of the desert were snow is only ever seen on TV. It was Thursday night which is the beginning of the weekend here and shopping is the thing people do. Kisane wants to know if I want to go to the Sheraton with her for a drink but in the end we both decide not to and end up in the hotel coffee shop on the 29th floor briefly. The decision not to go out comes from a self preservation instinct and the knowledge that tonight is opening ceremony. I may have to stay back if things are busy in the work room and I feel my volunteers won't handle the work room alone. We've all been offered tickets to the opening ceremony but I have not taken mine and won't go. I'm a bit blaze I must say about the opening ceremony. I've seen a few, I've seen the rehearsals of a few as well and now I'd much rather watch 30 minutes on TV and go to bed quite frankly. Plus I'd rather be on hand if needed back at the MPC.
More later...
# posted by AdeC @ 8:48 PM 
