I have had arguably the worst working week ever. It has just been a complete struggle from the first hour to the last hour.
At the start of the week I had to tell 3 of my students that they had failed. Never easy at the best of times and especially when I need to do it face-to-face. Two of them were close to tears. You don't want to see grown men cry. There is a time and a place and in my classroom isn't really the time. I can understand though. Passing means a shot at promotion. A big incentive.
I have been working on a project led by the Operations team. Essentially they want to 1 day training program for 250 staff. Lesson plans and all the support materials are areas that I quite enjoy getting involved in. I like trying to be creative and incorporate activities into my classes. A draft was sent over to Operations team. Feedback was positive. A subsequent meeting has seen them change the goalposts somewhat and ask that X, Y and Z are included. What they are asking for changes the focus of the program. It was meant to be an 'Introductory' session but its morphing away from that. I fear topics will be introduced and we'll skim over them rather than getting more involved. My Boss has now got involved which should complicate things further. Next week we'll see what's what but it's a distraction I don't really need or want.
Elsewhere, I'm getting stress about outsourced staff and their English levels. I'll have to get involved in that. Again. It's all a big mess really. Departments want to cut costs, so hire outsourced staff. Fair enough. But then they all complain because of the level of skills of the the outsourced staff. Well, if you pay a pittance what do they think will happen? All this rears it's ugly head from time to time. People moan and complain, a 'resolution' is found. Then some time down the line - it could be months or years - it all happens again. Same cycle.
And the Upper Intermediate level class I have at the moment are likely to fail the course. They really are not or close to the level they need to be at. It's like they have never heard of some of the areas we cover. When they talk, the tenses they use are all over the place. An example was using 'will' to describe a past experience. What the hell?! This is a student who wants to be cleared at Upper Intermediate level! Their final test is next week. Miracles might happen. But not on Monday's.
Oh and it's Ramadan.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Demote
Scottish football did the right thing. A minor miracle has occurred!
Common sense has prevailed and the new Rangers will start again in the 3rd Division. That was the only real outcome otherwise their would have been a riot with a lot of very unhappy football fans, me included. I hope that lays the subject to rest and that in 3 weeks time, the football itself can do the talking.
It will be interesting to see how many clubs survive due to Rangers going down. They will lose money because Rangers won't play them twice a season. I find it hard to fathom how 2 games a season and the revenue generated can have such a big impact. Perhaps these clubs should take a closer look at themselves and cut their cloth accordingly. The 'bubble' was always going to burst and they should have planned for it. What we may see now is the lack of foresight by them.
Or they can attract fans back. Simple really.
Common sense has prevailed and the new Rangers will start again in the 3rd Division. That was the only real outcome otherwise their would have been a riot with a lot of very unhappy football fans, me included. I hope that lays the subject to rest and that in 3 weeks time, the football itself can do the talking.
It will be interesting to see how many clubs survive due to Rangers going down. They will lose money because Rangers won't play them twice a season. I find it hard to fathom how 2 games a season and the revenue generated can have such a big impact. Perhaps these clubs should take a closer look at themselves and cut their cloth accordingly. The 'bubble' was always going to burst and they should have planned for it. What we may see now is the lack of foresight by them.
Or they can attract fans back. Simple really.
Friday, July 13, 2012
newco
I'm fed up.
I'm fed up of Scottish football.
I'm fed up with the self serving, small mindedness of clubs who do not think of the bigger picture or indeed the fans. Their customers!
The back story is this: Rangers went into liquidation. They no longer 'exist', but have now been bought over and are 'new' Rangers. The top division - the SPL - voted that they should not be allowed to play in the division. In Scotland below the top division are 3 other leagues under the umbrella of the SFL. These teams then had to vote to see which league the new Rangers play in. History suggests that a 'new' team must start in the bottom league. However Rangers were the biggest club in Scotland and TV contracts etc rely on them being in the top division. Or at worst, in the division below with a view to being promoted within a season.
Today saw the view by the SFL about which league they should go. The 1st or 3rd division. The fans want a clean slate, starting in the 3rd division. Sporting integrity in tact. The money men don't. They want Rangers in the 1st division and back in the top division within a year. The money men have been cracking the whip and using bullying and blackmail tactics to force the SFL to vote them into the 1st division.
Happily and rightly, the voted them into the 3rd division.
I'm delighted. It had to be. No question of it. This though will not be the end of it which is a total joke. The league starts in 3 weeks time yet no one knows what the hell is going on. You can be sure the money men will try some stunt to get their team back in the top division and that makes me sick. They should be strung up for treason or something equally damning. It's the national game and they are trying to bring it to it's knees.
There has been absolutely no leadership at all. Why, with 3 weeks to go until the start of the league, is this still not resolved? It's all become a farce. A laughing stock. Each of the major 'forces' behind the scenes are faffing about. Sort it out. And sort it out for good of the game in Scotland. The greater good. And soon.
Furthermore, why was the McLeish report on Scottish football not accepted when it was published in 2010. The recommendations haven't been headed. What was the purpose of it, if it was going to be ignored?
Well mister money men, resign. Go now. And here's what we should do. Each team plays each other twice. Maximum. Who wants to watch 4 meeting a season between 2 teams. No one. A winter break is a must. Who wants to sit and get frozen on a wet, windy Tuesday in deepest January. No one. Drop the price of a ticket. £10 for adults, £5 for under 18's. It's not rocket science. Drop the price, market the team and the 'game' as an event. Add a thousand people to the gate. Get schools involved. Kids go free with an adult. More people inside the stadium, more atmosphere and with it, more revenue. You don't just go to a game, sit and watch it and go home. You buy a program, you get a pie and a drink. Surely that's the way to make money? A pyramid system must be set up. I'm not saying that all Scottish football's ills will disappear overnight but goodness, get people interested and get people involved.
Otherwise, it's bye bye baby.
I'm fed up of Scottish football.
I'm fed up with the self serving, small mindedness of clubs who do not think of the bigger picture or indeed the fans. Their customers!
The back story is this: Rangers went into liquidation. They no longer 'exist', but have now been bought over and are 'new' Rangers. The top division - the SPL - voted that they should not be allowed to play in the division. In Scotland below the top division are 3 other leagues under the umbrella of the SFL. These teams then had to vote to see which league the new Rangers play in. History suggests that a 'new' team must start in the bottom league. However Rangers were the biggest club in Scotland and TV contracts etc rely on them being in the top division. Or at worst, in the division below with a view to being promoted within a season.
Today saw the view by the SFL about which league they should go. The 1st or 3rd division. The fans want a clean slate, starting in the 3rd division. Sporting integrity in tact. The money men don't. They want Rangers in the 1st division and back in the top division within a year. The money men have been cracking the whip and using bullying and blackmail tactics to force the SFL to vote them into the 1st division.
Happily and rightly, the voted them into the 3rd division.
I'm delighted. It had to be. No question of it. This though will not be the end of it which is a total joke. The league starts in 3 weeks time yet no one knows what the hell is going on. You can be sure the money men will try some stunt to get their team back in the top division and that makes me sick. They should be strung up for treason or something equally damning. It's the national game and they are trying to bring it to it's knees.
There has been absolutely no leadership at all. Why, with 3 weeks to go until the start of the league, is this still not resolved? It's all become a farce. A laughing stock. Each of the major 'forces' behind the scenes are faffing about. Sort it out. And sort it out for good of the game in Scotland. The greater good. And soon.
Furthermore, why was the McLeish report on Scottish football not accepted when it was published in 2010. The recommendations haven't been headed. What was the purpose of it, if it was going to be ignored?
Well mister money men, resign. Go now. And here's what we should do. Each team plays each other twice. Maximum. Who wants to watch 4 meeting a season between 2 teams. No one. A winter break is a must. Who wants to sit and get frozen on a wet, windy Tuesday in deepest January. No one. Drop the price of a ticket. £10 for adults, £5 for under 18's. It's not rocket science. Drop the price, market the team and the 'game' as an event. Add a thousand people to the gate. Get schools involved. Kids go free with an adult. More people inside the stadium, more atmosphere and with it, more revenue. You don't just go to a game, sit and watch it and go home. You buy a program, you get a pie and a drink. Surely that's the way to make money? A pyramid system must be set up. I'm not saying that all Scottish football's ills will disappear overnight but goodness, get people interested and get people involved.
Otherwise, it's bye bye baby.
Monday, July 09, 2012
Statue
Whoosh.
That is the sound of time flying by at a rate of knots. It was May, and now all of a sudden it is July. I have no real idea how that happened at all. But, it's July and we get on with it.
July in Dubai is hot. Really hot. It's not much fun. I can 'cope' with it so long as I'm not outside for anything more than perhaps 30 minutes. And that's at night. Daytime, it's less. I'm sure I've written about all this before, so I'll not labour the point. What I will say is that we had rain. Yes, rain. In the desert. In July. It wasn't a massive downpour, more like 15 minutes worth of light rain but rain is rain. It was enough to get the roads and pavements wet. Do we need any further evidence of climate change?!
Since I go back from Scotland, it's been a bit hectic particularly work wise. There seems to be a bit of ill feeling between colleagues. It's mostly to do with everyone not having equal qualifications despite being at the same level. I'm pretty relaxed about it as I've done the studying and have qualifications to suit the job. Others don't. Let's just say, change is coming and some folk are not very comfortable with that.
We've had a few people over to Dubai as well.
The missus had her High School friend over with his new wife. In fact, they came over on honeymoon! Both of them seem very happy together and that's great news. Delighted for them. Also, one of my old mates for Korea stopped over on his way back to Britain. Always good to catch up over a beer or two!
What else?
Starting to get more 'adult'. By that I mean, the important stuff like house insurance, life insurance and turning thoughts towards buying property and setting up of a Will. Yes, very adult. The time has come. I can have no complaints about it and let's face it, people tend not to think about all that kind of stuff until it's too late. Better late than never. I'll be happier when I know everything is in place.
And that's about it for the moment. How long this 'creative' urge lasts, I do not know.
That is the sound of time flying by at a rate of knots. It was May, and now all of a sudden it is July. I have no real idea how that happened at all. But, it's July and we get on with it.
July in Dubai is hot. Really hot. It's not much fun. I can 'cope' with it so long as I'm not outside for anything more than perhaps 30 minutes. And that's at night. Daytime, it's less. I'm sure I've written about all this before, so I'll not labour the point. What I will say is that we had rain. Yes, rain. In the desert. In July. It wasn't a massive downpour, more like 15 minutes worth of light rain but rain is rain. It was enough to get the roads and pavements wet. Do we need any further evidence of climate change?!
Since I go back from Scotland, it's been a bit hectic particularly work wise. There seems to be a bit of ill feeling between colleagues. It's mostly to do with everyone not having equal qualifications despite being at the same level. I'm pretty relaxed about it as I've done the studying and have qualifications to suit the job. Others don't. Let's just say, change is coming and some folk are not very comfortable with that.
We've had a few people over to Dubai as well.
The missus had her High School friend over with his new wife. In fact, they came over on honeymoon! Both of them seem very happy together and that's great news. Delighted for them. Also, one of my old mates for Korea stopped over on his way back to Britain. Always good to catch up over a beer or two!
What else?
Starting to get more 'adult'. By that I mean, the important stuff like house insurance, life insurance and turning thoughts towards buying property and setting up of a Will. Yes, very adult. The time has come. I can have no complaints about it and let's face it, people tend not to think about all that kind of stuff until it's too late. Better late than never. I'll be happier when I know everything is in place.
And that's about it for the moment. How long this 'creative' urge lasts, I do not know.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Mezza
Home sweet home. Scotland, that is. Or to be precise, Edinburgh.
It's been 9 months since the wife and me have been home. I've been away longer but this 9 months has seemed like a long time. It's just nice to be out of Dubai to be honest.
The flight back was decent. The plane was probably high full and with it, there was more space to move around and it was quicker to get breakfast and dinner served - always a bonus! Although it was an Airbus and the inflight entertainment isn't ideal. There are a number of audio and video channels which is great but it's not on demand like the B777. The entertainment is on by the hour so you have to refer to the listings to see what is on in 'hour 4' for example. Low and behold, there wasn't anything I wanted to watch.
The most striking thing about being home and driving up to Edinburgh from Newcastle was the colour. The colour of the light, the colour of the fields and the trees at the side of the road. It really is in stark contrast to the brown's and hazy sunshine of Dubai. The yellows, the blues and the greens are fantastic to see. I've said before that spring was my favourite season and that remains the case.
Even Edinburgh is bright and colourful. Must have been all that rain. Alas, the sun was shining. That's all you can ask for really.
It's been 9 months since the wife and me have been home. I've been away longer but this 9 months has seemed like a long time. It's just nice to be out of Dubai to be honest.
The flight back was decent. The plane was probably high full and with it, there was more space to move around and it was quicker to get breakfast and dinner served - always a bonus! Although it was an Airbus and the inflight entertainment isn't ideal. There are a number of audio and video channels which is great but it's not on demand like the B777. The entertainment is on by the hour so you have to refer to the listings to see what is on in 'hour 4' for example. Low and behold, there wasn't anything I wanted to watch.
The most striking thing about being home and driving up to Edinburgh from Newcastle was the colour. The colour of the light, the colour of the fields and the trees at the side of the road. It really is in stark contrast to the brown's and hazy sunshine of Dubai. The yellows, the blues and the greens are fantastic to see. I've said before that spring was my favourite season and that remains the case.
Even Edinburgh is bright and colourful. Must have been all that rain. Alas, the sun was shining. That's all you can ask for really.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Normal
The great blogging drought continues. I don't have an excuse for it. I guess it comes and goes with more emphasis on the goes.
All that carry on with my colleague mentioned previously. I don't know what is going on at the moment. I've not seen him and no one has even mentioned it. A very odd situation. I'm now his direct supervisor at work so I will be seeing more of him this year. I might get the chance to find out more in due course. How do you approach that though? 'Eh, yeah, what happened to your wife?' Don't think that's the best way to go!
So, today is Saturday.
Today see Hearts and Hibs play in the Scottish Cup final. A derby no less. Hearts last one it back in 2006 whilst Hibs haven't won it since 1902. A long time ago! I have really no clue who will win it. It's too close to call. There will be goals, but for who, pass.
Not long back from the Airport. The missus was in India over the weekend on a recruitment drive. She flew out on Thursday night to Cochin. She arrived back earlier on. Sounds like it was a decent trip, but the timing could have been better, after all, we're flying back to Scotland on Tuesday morning!
Speaking of which, I'm packed. Suitcase isn't full but it does seem heavier than usual. I'm sure that it won't be over the 30kg weight allocation. It better not be. A couple more days of work as well. I've got a bit of a list of things to do actually. Plus I have an English course finishing on Monday morning. That gives me the afternoon to mark the tests and send out the results. If I get out on time, I'll be delighted. Then it'll be bye bye work, hello Scotland. It's been 9 months since we were last back.
Looking forward to it.
All that carry on with my colleague mentioned previously. I don't know what is going on at the moment. I've not seen him and no one has even mentioned it. A very odd situation. I'm now his direct supervisor at work so I will be seeing more of him this year. I might get the chance to find out more in due course. How do you approach that though? 'Eh, yeah, what happened to your wife?' Don't think that's the best way to go!
So, today is Saturday.
Today see Hearts and Hibs play in the Scottish Cup final. A derby no less. Hearts last one it back in 2006 whilst Hibs haven't won it since 1902. A long time ago! I have really no clue who will win it. It's too close to call. There will be goals, but for who, pass.
Not long back from the Airport. The missus was in India over the weekend on a recruitment drive. She flew out on Thursday night to Cochin. She arrived back earlier on. Sounds like it was a decent trip, but the timing could have been better, after all, we're flying back to Scotland on Tuesday morning!
Speaking of which, I'm packed. Suitcase isn't full but it does seem heavier than usual. I'm sure that it won't be over the 30kg weight allocation. It better not be. A couple more days of work as well. I've got a bit of a list of things to do actually. Plus I have an English course finishing on Monday morning. That gives me the afternoon to mark the tests and send out the results. If I get out on time, I'll be delighted. Then it'll be bye bye work, hello Scotland. It's been 9 months since we were last back.
Looking forward to it.
Tuesday, May 01, 2012
Call
Haven't been on this for ages and ages and ages. I can't say I've been all that enthusiastic about posting or writing in general. E-mails for example have been sent at work and that's about it. I just haven't had much to report.
Until yesterday.
At the end of each month we have a 'monthly meeting'. The whole department comes together for a day which varies between 'interesting' to 'fairly dull'. On this occasion, there were a lot of activities. I wasn't particularly involved in them and I was kind of on hand to help things 'flow'. Just before lunchtime, myself and 2 others had to go to collect lunch. This was to be supplied by a restaurant and we had to drive to the edge of the airport to collect 60 lunches for everyone, then get them to our area.
We left the rest of the department to get on with it whilst the 3 of us jumped into a mini-bus. I was in the back with one other guy - He's a Pakistani guy, and joined the department 2 weeks ago. He got married 3 weeks ago to a young widow. The widow has a 4 month old new baby from the previous marriage.
We were driving along when he got a phone call from some relatives in Pakistan. Then another phone call. And another. He then said, "I think my wife has been killed".
I thought he was joking.
He and his relatives had been trying to get into touch with his wife (she's in Lahore at present).
He made some other calls and waited to hear back from whoever he had called.
He told me that his father-in-law had not been in favour of the marriage yet the other members of his wife's family were totally fine.
Then another call came in. His wife had been shot and killed. So had his mother-in-law. The whereabouts of his father-in-law were unknown. As for the baby, no news.
I was there totally in shock. What the heck can you say to someone who has just received that kind of phone call?
I did what I could but really, no words are any good. In the end, I rushed him to our manager who then basically said 'go, do what you need to'.
The last thing this poor bloke said to me what 'thanks for the help'. What help had I been?
I just really wanted to write that down because it was all so surreal and tragic and utterly mental.
Only in the movies, right?
Until yesterday.
At the end of each month we have a 'monthly meeting'. The whole department comes together for a day which varies between 'interesting' to 'fairly dull'. On this occasion, there were a lot of activities. I wasn't particularly involved in them and I was kind of on hand to help things 'flow'. Just before lunchtime, myself and 2 others had to go to collect lunch. This was to be supplied by a restaurant and we had to drive to the edge of the airport to collect 60 lunches for everyone, then get them to our area.
We left the rest of the department to get on with it whilst the 3 of us jumped into a mini-bus. I was in the back with one other guy - He's a Pakistani guy, and joined the department 2 weeks ago. He got married 3 weeks ago to a young widow. The widow has a 4 month old new baby from the previous marriage.
We were driving along when he got a phone call from some relatives in Pakistan. Then another phone call. And another. He then said, "I think my wife has been killed".
I thought he was joking.
He and his relatives had been trying to get into touch with his wife (she's in Lahore at present).
He made some other calls and waited to hear back from whoever he had called.
He told me that his father-in-law had not been in favour of the marriage yet the other members of his wife's family were totally fine.
Then another call came in. His wife had been shot and killed. So had his mother-in-law. The whereabouts of his father-in-law were unknown. As for the baby, no news.
I was there totally in shock. What the heck can you say to someone who has just received that kind of phone call?
I did what I could but really, no words are any good. In the end, I rushed him to our manager who then basically said 'go, do what you need to'.
The last thing this poor bloke said to me what 'thanks for the help'. What help had I been?
I just really wanted to write that down because it was all so surreal and tragic and utterly mental.
Only in the movies, right?
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