Once we arrive, I take my engagement manager (EM) through the document one last time, make some last-minute changes, correct the double-checked numbers, print five copies of the document, and head out for the workshop.

Everyone is present and the workshop starts. My EM presents and every now and then someone interrupts with a question that leads to another, providing interesting discussion and prolonging the workshop.

My EM excuses himself for another meeting, leaving me behind to lead the meeting. Although it overruns a little, it has been productive – everyone is pleased with how it went.

Afterwards, I catch up with colleagues in the cafeteria for a bite. I brief them on the meeting.

After lunch, I go back to work, checking e-mail for requested data from our client. As I start analysing the data, the telephone rings. It's my EM in a taxi struggling to explain to the taxi driver the address for his next client meeting. He asks me to explain to the driver in Arabic.

Me: "Allo, lo samahat Shari Al-Tahlia..."
Taxi driver: "Tahlia meen hada??!!"
Me: "Tahlia Street" (Tahlia is the Champs-Elysee of Jeddah)
Taxi driver: "Mafhoom nay hey."

I started laughing as I realised that he knew neither Tahlia nor spoke any Arabic. I could not help!

Back to crunching numbers and analysing data.

In walks my engagement director (ED). He reads through our recent work, and wants us to look at some further options. It will be a busy night, but I can see that it will strengthen our analysis and give our client further insights into the issues they face.