Dover Project End Party

Ahh, after slogging away since August last year, the TOTAL Egina Deepwater Basic Engineering project is about to come to a close at the end of this month. Dover management threw a party for the engineers involved, inclusive of those from TOTAL and Crestech.

The party started of in the afternoon on a boat cruise around the lagoon. (Right-click and open pictures in new window for larger view)

Lunch was served on the boat (lunch only came at 3pm!). A comedian was hired as the MC. He was not too bad. He laughed at his own jokes, which is good. The music band and the comedian entertained us while we waited patiently for the food (which was inadequate – another good example of poor planning).

Picture below shows a panoramic view of the lagoon.

 

The comedian and the live band.

 

Picture below show Elokah, Dover Engineering founder and owner.

 

Project manager, Samir (in suit) finally boards the ship with Mahmood, TOTAL’s client rep for installation and pre-commissioning.

 

Marie-Laure, TOTAL’s client rep in Dover, a brilliant engineer. Guy in hat is the ever jovial Bob!

 

Clients waiting on the upper deck and taking in the view while waiting for the ship to depart.

 

The three big men in Dover, and I wasn't referring to their size. But, from left to right, Eloka, the founder, Ifeany, the Engineering Manager and Okide, the Dover General Manager.

 

At first, I thought Chika was giving praise. Only after a while did I realize that she was dancing. Sorry Chika.

 

Hazem Fayed trying to get Mdm Bimbo, the Dover Office Manager, to the dance floor.

Lunch was finally served but food was inadequate for the late comers. Women are great eaters!

 

Open the picture below in a new window to see a panoramic view of the lagoon.

 

Vikash Rana, the S-curve man. We gets our bills paid depending on how fast he completes the weekly efficiency curve.

 

We had the coast guard for company. We got reprimanded for not wearing life jackets while on the upper deck of the boat.

 

Two armed guards aboard the boat, just in case some militants decide to take a peek at our boat.

 

Life along the river edges.

The happy faces, after a couple of glasses of wine.

 

Militant?

 

Another coats guard vessel, a much larger one.

 

You cant really see it here but near the jetty, there was a dead body floating around. It was probably an execution since the poor guy had his feet tied together with wire. But no one reported it. Life or death goes un-noticed here.

 

The hard mid-afternoon sun.

 

The second part of the party was held at the Oriental restaurant, a small, cozy place.

 

Don't let the slipper fool you. Jon ‘Slipper” Salkeld commanded troops at Iraq. No joke. This guy is from the army. I’ve told him many times that I find it hard to believe since he’s one of the nicest guys on the team!

 

Tim Whelan, Irish.

 

Sorry Toye, I just had to grab a picture of Nancy, the only flower in the team.

 

Upper management having a serious discussion on why the food is late again.

 

Everyone listening intently to the MC and comedian (yes, the same funny guy from the boat). This time there was ample food for dinner. Everyone was fed, myself included.

 

Emmanuel Ekpe.

 

Alek, Nancy and Jon.

 

Frank (left) is a gentle giant, someone with a constant smile on his face while at work ad contagious enthusiasm. Beside him sits Craig Murray, another army personnel. Nothing unnerves these army people. Craig takes everything bad that happens coolly in his stride. Craig, thanks for the books!

 

Party ended up early for us, we left for home around 9 pm. Along the way home, our driver Clement took us for a tour to Banana Island, a huge plot of land where TOTAL has housing for their staff.

The others, apparently, continued their partying back at the hotel pool until late night (quite obvious from the late comers to work the next morning).