Oh dear.
I got this big Ficus plant from my room about 2 months ago.
Generally, I'm good with plants. I don't kill them and water them often. I've got a palm which has been looking good for about a year now. It continues to thrive. The Ficus however. I'm trying to think about what to do as per the advice in all the house plant books I've come across but nothing seems to be doing the trick. At first I just thought that it was because I had moved it from the shop to my place. It can lose leaves because of it. Then the leaves continued to fall. And fall. I repotted it. I feed it. I water and misted it. Still, nothing is working. The leaves continue to look unhealthy. It does have new growth in parts which give me hope but in other areas, it's looking decidely dodgy. I'll give it another week or so but it just looks like it's giving up the ghost.
Grr.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Achtung
This Iranian President bloke makes me laugh. But not in a good way. He's been on Tv making the end of Ramadan speech reiterating his belief that the Holocaust did not actually occur and that it was all a bit of a hoax so that Israel could get a country for themselves. He really is thick. If you believe that, then fine that's your business but going on national Tv and making such remarks is just plain stupid and show's him up for what he really is, namely a taxi driver in disguise who got very lucky.
Why doesn't the German Chancellor or whoever call his bluff by actually going public and saying OK then Mr. Taxi driver in disguise President, here's an open invitation to you and your cronies to come and visit Auschwhitz for the day. Have the authorities close it for the day, just for him. No camera, no photographers, just let them wander around and see what they think.
Do you think he'd go? Would he now't. He doesn't have the courage. He has the courage only to spout to his countrymen and from what it appears, even they are getting tired of it.
GO on mate, I dare you.
Why doesn't the German Chancellor or whoever call his bluff by actually going public and saying OK then Mr. Taxi driver in disguise President, here's an open invitation to you and your cronies to come and visit Auschwhitz for the day. Have the authorities close it for the day, just for him. No camera, no photographers, just let them wander around and see what they think.
Do you think he'd go? Would he now't. He doesn't have the courage. He has the courage only to spout to his countrymen and from what it appears, even they are getting tired of it.
GO on mate, I dare you.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
sticky
Last week saw the opening of the all new, completely driverless, fully automated Dubai Metro. The city threw a big party with the Shiekh buying the first ticket. Like he had 2 Dirhams spare in his pocket to do that. I use the word 'open' liberally. It's not open completely. It's not even half open. In all there are about 30 stations with 9 currently up and running and operational. I'm not even sure you can class that as a skeleton service?
In many ways, I'm happy to have a metro. It will certainly help getting around. Whether it will reduce the awful traffic jams, I'm not so sure. Perhaps when it's fully up and running it will but that is some time off. I just wonder why they opened it when they did. It clearly isn't ready and by all accounts the ticketing system isn't fully integrated, the doors at the platform and the doors of the carriages aren't opening in sync and there have been a number of defects which have resulted in trains not moving from stations.
Again with Dubai, I think it's been a case of trying to project itself in a good light to neighbouring countries and the world as a whole. They did so with the opening night festivities but once the spotlight had moved off, the problems began. A lack of foresight, organisation and a case of wanting everything done 'now' me thinks.
I know that I'll not be going on it for a while. I'll need a lot of reassurance that it is working properly, on time and with the possibility of breaking down. Plus, it would be good to have stations that I might want to travel to, open. The 2 stations at the airport being a prime example - oh, and I heard you're not allowed on the metro with heavy luggage. There goes that idea.
Let's see.
In many ways, I'm happy to have a metro. It will certainly help getting around. Whether it will reduce the awful traffic jams, I'm not so sure. Perhaps when it's fully up and running it will but that is some time off. I just wonder why they opened it when they did. It clearly isn't ready and by all accounts the ticketing system isn't fully integrated, the doors at the platform and the doors of the carriages aren't opening in sync and there have been a number of defects which have resulted in trains not moving from stations.
Again with Dubai, I think it's been a case of trying to project itself in a good light to neighbouring countries and the world as a whole. They did so with the opening night festivities but once the spotlight had moved off, the problems began. A lack of foresight, organisation and a case of wanting everything done 'now' me thinks.
I know that I'll not be going on it for a while. I'll need a lot of reassurance that it is working properly, on time and with the possibility of breaking down. Plus, it would be good to have stations that I might want to travel to, open. The 2 stations at the airport being a prime example - oh, and I heard you're not allowed on the metro with heavy luggage. There goes that idea.
Let's see.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Slide
So, I listen to a lot of music from the French music label Kitsune Maison. Mostly, they release indie-electronic compilation albums; imaginatively called Kitsune Maison Vol. 1, 2 etc. Some of the music on the compilations are fantastic particularly some of the remixes. Gossip's 'standing in the way of control by Soulwax was first found on one of the compilations. On the other Vols. were remixes of Bloc Party, Wolfmother, Klaxons, Feist and Phoenix. Whisper it - better than the originals.
They are all albums that I come back to because of there eclectic range. I like that these days. I do find it quite difficult to take an album by said artist and listen to it all in it's entirety over and over again. I'm not quite sure why that is.
They have a boutique in Paris. Actually, they were and still are a fashion-label. On this recent trip to Paris, I decided to try and hunt the boutique out. I've never really been that 'sad' before. I mean, it's just a shop. But on this occasion I just thought I would. And I did. It's not far from the Louvre. It's not particularly well signposted and lacks a big sign out the front. I almost walked past it. The exterior is jet black with a plague next to the door announcing 'Kitsune Maison'. It was a bit weird to have found it. I was almost a bit too timid to go in. I mean, here was the place that makes and releases all these CD's that I've bought. Why would it be any different from going to HMV of Fopp for example? Well, it just was. It's like finding the real life lighthouse from Fragile Rock. It's an 'oooh' moment, isn't it?
In I went. It was pretty much all clothes. Expensive ones. In the shop was a lone woman sitting at a computer which dueled as the cash desk. I guess she was just like any shop assistant. I was hoping for something more though. Like Gildas or Masaya to be there working in the record label that they built. Would I have spoken to them? Or just got kind of embarrassed? In the end, they weren't so it didn't matter but I was a bit deflated.
Straight infront of me was a leather sofa and to the left of that were CD's. I headed straight for them and quickly went through them marveling at what was on offer and trying to think which ones I had and which ones I potentially wanted. I saw one that I definitely wanted. It was Kitsune Tabloid mixed by Phoenix. I picked it up and didn't let go of it. There were a couple of others that I saw. In the end, I got 'Paris' mixed by Gildas and Masaya. It was one that I wasn't familiar with and I'd never seen before. I had to get it. I went to pay for them with a giddiness that I hadn't really experienced for a while. These days, you don't buy CD's, you click away. It's a different experience. I paid the money, got my change and receipt. And I left.
I got outside and was in some kind of shock. I made to go but thought 'hold on. I've come this far and that's it?' I got my camera out and slyly took a photo of the outside. How pathetic. I should have marched right back in and got a few other photos. I should have got one of me on the leather sofa at the very least. Incredibly sad and childish but still. My moment had gone though.
All I was left with were the CD's. Might I say, that is not a bad thing as they are excellent. The Paris Cd bristles with beats. 'Stuck (Hot Chip Remix)' by Little Boots is an unexpected joy. The Phoenix one is something else. It's music that inspired them and it is very eclectic indeed with the Theme from Kiss opening the album. Kiss?! It's easy to see their influences through this album and that is worth the entrance money in itself.
Some people are easily pleased. If only everyone was so easily pleased.
They are all albums that I come back to because of there eclectic range. I like that these days. I do find it quite difficult to take an album by said artist and listen to it all in it's entirety over and over again. I'm not quite sure why that is.
They have a boutique in Paris. Actually, they were and still are a fashion-label. On this recent trip to Paris, I decided to try and hunt the boutique out. I've never really been that 'sad' before. I mean, it's just a shop. But on this occasion I just thought I would. And I did. It's not far from the Louvre. It's not particularly well signposted and lacks a big sign out the front. I almost walked past it. The exterior is jet black with a plague next to the door announcing 'Kitsune Maison'. It was a bit weird to have found it. I was almost a bit too timid to go in. I mean, here was the place that makes and releases all these CD's that I've bought. Why would it be any different from going to HMV of Fopp for example? Well, it just was. It's like finding the real life lighthouse from Fragile Rock. It's an 'oooh' moment, isn't it?
In I went. It was pretty much all clothes. Expensive ones. In the shop was a lone woman sitting at a computer which dueled as the cash desk. I guess she was just like any shop assistant. I was hoping for something more though. Like Gildas or Masaya to be there working in the record label that they built. Would I have spoken to them? Or just got kind of embarrassed? In the end, they weren't so it didn't matter but I was a bit deflated.
Straight infront of me was a leather sofa and to the left of that were CD's. I headed straight for them and quickly went through them marveling at what was on offer and trying to think which ones I had and which ones I potentially wanted. I saw one that I definitely wanted. It was Kitsune Tabloid mixed by Phoenix. I picked it up and didn't let go of it. There were a couple of others that I saw. In the end, I got 'Paris' mixed by Gildas and Masaya. It was one that I wasn't familiar with and I'd never seen before. I had to get it. I went to pay for them with a giddiness that I hadn't really experienced for a while. These days, you don't buy CD's, you click away. It's a different experience. I paid the money, got my change and receipt. And I left.
I got outside and was in some kind of shock. I made to go but thought 'hold on. I've come this far and that's it?' I got my camera out and slyly took a photo of the outside. How pathetic. I should have marched right back in and got a few other photos. I should have got one of me on the leather sofa at the very least. Incredibly sad and childish but still. My moment had gone though.
All I was left with were the CD's. Might I say, that is not a bad thing as they are excellent. The Paris Cd bristles with beats. 'Stuck (Hot Chip Remix)' by Little Boots is an unexpected joy. The Phoenix one is something else. It's music that inspired them and it is very eclectic indeed with the Theme from Kiss opening the album. Kiss?! It's easy to see their influences through this album and that is worth the entrance money in itself.
Some people are easily pleased. If only everyone was so easily pleased.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Muppet
I got a little telephone call the other day. From the Vice President of all people. That was a first. And probably the last.
I had complained about being lied to and a certain airline changing my seat. Did I mention that before?
Seemingly, I must have hit a raw nerve or something as the VP was not on the phone to offer me an explanation or to ask what the problem was or even to chat about how things are. No. He wasn't. He was on the phone to use bully boy tactics to 'persuade' me not to continue on with my 'quest' to find out what had happened and get a suitable explanation. Instead, he said bellowed 'case closed' and accused me of 'harassing' his staff. He continued by saying that he would report me to my Boss and the Boss of the company if I didn't stop.
Needless to say, I was shocked by this. Is this how 'we' do things? Threatening their staff! Bullying! Intimidating! VP's do this! The irony is that I was just sent on a conflict resolution and negotiation course as part of the Management Trainee program!
Not exactly a great advert and this VP certainly has not covered himself in glory.
I had complained about being lied to and a certain airline changing my seat. Did I mention that before?
Seemingly, I must have hit a raw nerve or something as the VP was not on the phone to offer me an explanation or to ask what the problem was or even to chat about how things are. No. He wasn't. He was on the phone to use bully boy tactics to 'persuade' me not to continue on with my 'quest' to find out what had happened and get a suitable explanation. Instead, he said bellowed 'case closed' and accused me of 'harassing' his staff. He continued by saying that he would report me to my Boss and the Boss of the company if I didn't stop.
Needless to say, I was shocked by this. Is this how 'we' do things? Threatening their staff! Bullying! Intimidating! VP's do this! The irony is that I was just sent on a conflict resolution and negotiation course as part of the Management Trainee program!
Not exactly a great advert and this VP certainly has not covered himself in glory.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wing
Well, that's that then.
No Scotland in South Africa.
When the draw was made and the names Holland, Norway, Macedonia and Iceland were pulled out of the hat I bet you alot of people fancied our chances of at least coming second. Perhaps even first with a bit of luck. Second would have seen us qualify for a play off place with another group's 2nd team. In fact, the Manager even said that was the minimum.
18 months later, we didn't even make 2nd. 3rd was the best we could do. What a farce. Let's not try to paint it in a decent light. We were crap. We played well in a game and a half - the last game and a half at that. The 'last chance' saloon is when we turned up and competed.
How the hell can we go to Norway and get stuffed 4-0? What about losing with a fight in Macedonia, not to mention 'that' miss from 3 yards against Norway. 3 yards. An open goal. That was the moment that we knew we weren't going to South Africa.
Not only was it the performances but it was the fact that a number of players 'retired' either forcibly or by their own volition. Players shouldn't be turning their back on Scotland but they did. 'That' miss caused perhaps the biggest retirement. The Manager brings on 2 players with about 5 caps between them and about 1 goal between with the game goalless. In doing so, he left the top scorer in Scotland for the past few years on the bench. The 'miss' ensued and the game ended goalless. I'd be raging if I was left on the bench.
We have now not qualified for any competition since 1998 with little sense of hope for the next competition in 2014. That'll be 16 years. Half my life.
No Scotland in South Africa.
When the draw was made and the names Holland, Norway, Macedonia and Iceland were pulled out of the hat I bet you alot of people fancied our chances of at least coming second. Perhaps even first with a bit of luck. Second would have seen us qualify for a play off place with another group's 2nd team. In fact, the Manager even said that was the minimum.
18 months later, we didn't even make 2nd. 3rd was the best we could do. What a farce. Let's not try to paint it in a decent light. We were crap. We played well in a game and a half - the last game and a half at that. The 'last chance' saloon is when we turned up and competed.
How the hell can we go to Norway and get stuffed 4-0? What about losing with a fight in Macedonia, not to mention 'that' miss from 3 yards against Norway. 3 yards. An open goal. That was the moment that we knew we weren't going to South Africa.
Not only was it the performances but it was the fact that a number of players 'retired' either forcibly or by their own volition. Players shouldn't be turning their back on Scotland but they did. 'That' miss caused perhaps the biggest retirement. The Manager brings on 2 players with about 5 caps between them and about 1 goal between with the game goalless. In doing so, he left the top scorer in Scotland for the past few years on the bench. The 'miss' ensued and the game ended goalless. I'd be raging if I was left on the bench.
We have now not qualified for any competition since 1998 with little sense of hope for the next competition in 2014. That'll be 16 years. Half my life.
Monday, September 07, 2009
Auto
And that was the holiday.
7 days. Not long enough and now something of a depression being back in Dubai. I'm not sure I want to deal with all that each and every time I come 'home'.
I was so excited going to the Airport. I had checked in online and had an aisle seat near the back which was fine. I went to drop my bags at the desk only to be told that my seat had been changed. To a middle seat in the middle seat of 4. And excitement suddenly left the building. I was clearly told that there had been a change in aircraft and that the new aircraft did not have the same number of rows. Because of that, I had been moved. Though very disappointed, I thought that it was a plausible reason. To my horror, I found that there was the same number of rows and had originally 'advertised'. Needless to say, I was less than impressed and felt that I had been lied to. The 'new' aircraft was the same size!
Not the best way to start my week off. I did complain about it.
But, this post in not meant to be a moan about the airline I work for, instead it's meant to be a celebration of my week off. A week that was fantastic for so many reasons. The first was due to seeing a certain young lady and whisking her off to Paris for 4 days. It was the best trip I've had to the French capital and she certainly played the single most important reason why it was so fantastic.
Art galleries were visited - Monet's impressionism proved the highlight, the Sacre Coer and the surrounding square were unknown delights, the walk from the Eiffel Tour, to the Arc d'Triomphe, to the Elysee Palace was hot and punishing on the feet but what a walk. Kitsune was visited and CD's bought. Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter and Versallies all proved to be worthwhile. Meanwhile, the food and particularly the wine flowed. It was 4 days that I really didn't want to end.
It did however. But, the final few days in Edinburgh were equally good, for different reasons. The Mitchellville was home for instance.
Alas, back in Dubai and questioning whether or not this is the place I'd like to be. Time will tell on that front. But, for know I'll bask the warmth that was the past week.
7 days. Not long enough and now something of a depression being back in Dubai. I'm not sure I want to deal with all that each and every time I come 'home'.
I was so excited going to the Airport. I had checked in online and had an aisle seat near the back which was fine. I went to drop my bags at the desk only to be told that my seat had been changed. To a middle seat in the middle seat of 4. And excitement suddenly left the building. I was clearly told that there had been a change in aircraft and that the new aircraft did not have the same number of rows. Because of that, I had been moved. Though very disappointed, I thought that it was a plausible reason. To my horror, I found that there was the same number of rows and had originally 'advertised'. Needless to say, I was less than impressed and felt that I had been lied to. The 'new' aircraft was the same size!
Not the best way to start my week off. I did complain about it.
But, this post in not meant to be a moan about the airline I work for, instead it's meant to be a celebration of my week off. A week that was fantastic for so many reasons. The first was due to seeing a certain young lady and whisking her off to Paris for 4 days. It was the best trip I've had to the French capital and she certainly played the single most important reason why it was so fantastic.
Art galleries were visited - Monet's impressionism proved the highlight, the Sacre Coer and the surrounding square were unknown delights, the walk from the Eiffel Tour, to the Arc d'Triomphe, to the Elysee Palace was hot and punishing on the feet but what a walk. Kitsune was visited and CD's bought. Notre Dame, the Latin Quarter and Versallies all proved to be worthwhile. Meanwhile, the food and particularly the wine flowed. It was 4 days that I really didn't want to end.
It did however. But, the final few days in Edinburgh were equally good, for different reasons. The Mitchellville was home for instance.
Alas, back in Dubai and questioning whether or not this is the place I'd like to be. Time will tell on that front. But, for know I'll bask the warmth that was the past week.
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