Shona Bangla & e-mails

Yesterday our internet and e-mail was down at work .. and it felt as if a limb had been removed. We all realised how much we use outlook for contact details, Calendars, transfer of drawings and documents. No doubt the phone and fax bill from yesterday will be considerably higher than usual days. It was down due to a virus attack that the anti-virus people had to write and sort out before we were back in service at the end of the day.

Today its back and we’re happier souls, and the e-mails once more a flowing between various parties.

Yesterday was also a bit gloomy for other reasons. The Bangladesh GOLD trip that was due to leave tomorrow was cancelled yesterday morning due the escalating political and terrorism situation in the county. The Guide Association out there said not to come and postpone until the situation had settled down. We had the 2000 group meet up on Saturday in London and one of the topics discussed was the fact that there had been bombings in the country (including their first suicide bomber) at public locations (courts etc.) and that we’d cross our fingers everything would be OK for the group going out. The FCO still allow you go to the country although the bold text is somewhat larger than when we went (all it said was avoid political demonstrations/ gatherings when we went). It’s not the first time a group has had to postpone (the 2001 group didn’t go following 9/11, but went in 2003 instead), I guess we were lucky that we went in the timeframe we did (before the last set of Bangla elections (parties changed, leaders hate each other more political issues), before 9/11). Knowing 2 of the people in the group and the excitement 1 of them had only a couple of weeks ago its going to take a few days to get used to the fact they aren’t flying out tomorrow … but hopefully will get to before too long.

In the meantime the 2000 group will be sending their happy vibes to the last group of the project (this year’s group) as following Saturday we’ve realised how much both we as people and Bangladesh as a country has changed since we went (although most of us are too old now for GOLD we’d love to return to the country one day … it casts a spell on you when you visit it with BGGA looking after you). There will always be a place in our hearts for Bangladesh and the many Guiders & Rangers we met.

Oh and also send your happy vibes down here for work …. I’m after a sunny noon for a surveying check.