Trans Americas 2009 - The Blog

Another early start despite the excesses of last night, as I woke at 5.30am (!) and decided to get up and start sorting out my chores for the day. Jim's also an early riser, so he was up and out of the room by the time I was showered and dressed, so I logged on to check my email and managed to catch Tracy online. What a joy it was to see her smiling face on my computer screen – the combination of Skype and a webcam enabling the sort of video-phone-calls that a few years ago were the realm of science fiction. It's odd that we don't exploit this technology more when we're geographically close (preferring the traditional you-can't-see-me phones), but it certainly worked for me. I don't feel quite as remote now...

After we'd had a chat and I'd said “Hi” to the boys (who being a much younger generation were less impressed by the technology) I went and grabbed a waffle for breakfast before returning to the room to start sorting through all the work-related stuff I'd been sent.

I'm not sure if I explained this in a previous blog, but following the takeover of HBOS (where I work in the IT department) by Lloyds TSB, there is a lot of re-structuring going on. As part of trying to deal with integrating the 2 banks, and their massive IT operations, it's necessary to combine the 2 IT organisations and that inevitably means that there will be some removal of overlap between certain roles, including mine (I'm an “IT architect” responsible for defining how certain parts of IT systems should be constructed). I was hoping to have this all resolved, or at least the information I need to provide, sorted out before I set off, so I can concentrate solely on the trip, but the new structure was not announced in time. On Monday I received an email from my manager containing the new structure and since then have been sending emails back and forth trying to get sufficient information so I can state my preference regarding the role(s) I'd like to be considered for. I also have to state whether or not I'd be interested in voluntary severance, should the opportunity arise (as long as they get the cheque to me before I leave Buenos Aires, what do you think?!). As you can imagine, this is somewhat distracting me from my preparations...

However, once I'd sent the emails and I knew I wouldn't be getting any further replies – with Anchorage 9hours behind the UK, that was from about 9.30am – I started on my other chores. I went shopping for some bits and pieces (postcard for mum high on the list, I'm under threat of excommunication should I forget!), including some stickers for the bike (a bit like the ones we used to cover the caravan windows with when I was a little boy, showing everywhere we'd been – a sort of one-upmanship game among the travelling community). The shopping didn't take long, and then I was back to the hotel to sort out some stuff on the website (which resulted in me breaking the Beer Gallery, much to my dismay!). I then had a wander round town again, down to the stream by the inlet where the locals were trying to catch salmon as they swam upstream. Apparently they're not allowed to catch the pink ones, but that didn't stop them hauling a huge one out before putting it back again...





After a short ride out to blow away the cobwebs, I met up with Chris and Danielle at the hotel (they'd just flown in from New York via Seattle, having left Glasgow the day before), and we went out for dinner, meeting up briefly with Mac and enjoying a “fish supper” (well, Chris is Scottish!) and a huge portion of chocolate brownie and ice-cream. Then it was back to the hotel where I wrestled unsuccessfully with the website and watched a programme about the Prudhoe Bay Oilfield on Nat Geo, before turning in around 10pm.