I am now approaching the end of my fourth week working with Weir Oil and gas over here in Dubai. I have just finished my stint in the workshop and will be moving into the offices to work on the tendering. I don't really know much about this, so it should be quite interesting to learn something new. Now after four weeks I feel much more settled, and have got myself into a decent routine. However, I doubt I will ever get used to getting up at 6 in the morning! I have even found myself coming in from work and having an hour’s sleep before making tea.

 At work I have mainly been observing the work that goes on for stripping pumps and turbines. The hardest thing with work over the last few weeks has to be the heat the workshop as the air con hasn’t been working and one day the temperature reached 40C!! I am somewhat surprised I haven’t drowned due to the amount of water I have been drinking. It is a good experience to work in these conditions; it at least helps me to appreciate the cooler weather back home in Scotland. One thing I have realised while working over here is how hard the local guys work. Most of them are working 12hours a day, 6 or 7 days a week. I am not even sure if that would be legal back home.

On the social side of things, I have been quite busy. I haven’t really done anything out of the ordinary, but have kept myself busy, by trying to see as much of Dubai as I can. I took a trip to the Dubai mall which is massive. I didn’t think it would be possible to be any bigger than the emirates mall, but I was soon proved wrong. I was there for the best part of a day and didn’t even scratch the surface!! I was quite impressed with the famous water fountain show, but I am going to try and go for a night time show, because I heard it is much more impressive. I went for my first brunch last Friday, which was a really good day out. I am looking forward to getting along to another one.

So almost four weeks down and another four to go. It really isn’t that long so I am determined to make the most of the time I have left over here.