Ah, St. Andrew's Day.
And that's it really. The Patron Saint of Scotland gets a brief mention and that's it. Nothing. Not much in the way of celebration or anything. Not even a day off. It does strike me as a bit weird that this happens. In fact, does anyone even bother about it? I guess the entire universe tends to 'celebrate' St. Patrick's Day but I suspect the vast majority of those do, are sucked into the marketing that comes with it. So, to not have St. Andrew's Day celebrated in a similar manner is actually something of a plus point.
This will be in complete contrast to the United Arab Emirates 'National Day' on 2nd December. Flags will be flying, a national day off called and a number of events planned, including fireworks and a flotilla of boats up the Creek. It's a real show of unity. Unlike 'ours'. The Government would get lambasted for wasting money on it. It's a no win situation.
Instead, I'll have a few moments of pondering what it means to be Scottish. Ok, I just did. Feeling better for it. Now, where's the nearest Englishman so I can lamp him...?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Town
Another day off. Yes, what's that now, number 4? I'm not quite sure, it's hard to keep count. I think there is 1 more day to go; Monday, then back to work on Tuesday.
Anyway, I had the guys from the office over at the apartment last night. They come over every couple of months for food and beer. The food is all cooked by our resident chef who is of Indian origin which means curry and spice. Just what you need when you are boozing. It's quality. I always end up munching too much but why not. It only happens every so often. This time, 2 of our crowd will be married by the time we all meet up again. In fact, I will be the only one of the crowd who isn't married. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.
The chat then mostly centred on weddings and stag nights and the like. There would be loads of place to go drinking here in Dubai and certainly a lot of 'available' women should people be interested in that kind of thing but we wouldn't be able to strip the guys naked and tie them to a lampost, that's for sure. Instead, we'll need to think about what to do. It'll probably be beer and pizza at my place again. Unless we can all get standby flight tickets for Thailand - which might not be all that difficult to do. In in the morning, hit some bars, then back to the airport for the night flight back to Dubai. It might just work?!
Anyway, I had the guys from the office over at the apartment last night. They come over every couple of months for food and beer. The food is all cooked by our resident chef who is of Indian origin which means curry and spice. Just what you need when you are boozing. It's quality. I always end up munching too much but why not. It only happens every so often. This time, 2 of our crowd will be married by the time we all meet up again. In fact, I will be the only one of the crowd who isn't married. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.
The chat then mostly centred on weddings and stag nights and the like. There would be loads of place to go drinking here in Dubai and certainly a lot of 'available' women should people be interested in that kind of thing but we wouldn't be able to strip the guys naked and tie them to a lampost, that's for sure. Instead, we'll need to think about what to do. It'll probably be beer and pizza at my place again. Unless we can all get standby flight tickets for Thailand - which might not be all that difficult to do. In in the morning, hit some bars, then back to the airport for the night flight back to Dubai. It might just work?!
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Moderate
Oh the joys of Christmas shopping. Hours of walking through shopping malls, into random shops, browsing shelves, taking things of hangers, looking at price tags and sizes, thinking that's a 'maybe', that's a 'probably' then thinking 'hmm, probably not'.
One thing I will say is that it keeps me fit. Not mentally but physically. Who needs to go to the gym when all you need to do is walk around. The irony being that I'm not even finished it yet. What a pain in the bum.
Then there is the small question of getting it all home. I'm sure it will be OK. Actually, I'm not totally sure about that because I don't know what I'll be taking home with me. Perhaps I'll have to have a trial run to see what fits and what doesn't. I've got 3 more weeks to do that though. 3 more weeks!
One thing I will say is that it keeps me fit. Not mentally but physically. Who needs to go to the gym when all you need to do is walk around. The irony being that I'm not even finished it yet. What a pain in the bum.
Then there is the small question of getting it all home. I'm sure it will be OK. Actually, I'm not totally sure about that because I don't know what I'll be taking home with me. Perhaps I'll have to have a trial run to see what fits and what doesn't. I've got 3 more weeks to do that though. 3 more weeks!
Friday, November 27, 2009
Magpie
So, Dubai is skint.
Shocker.
Well, not really.
We kind of thought so. Whisper's had been around suggesting this, that and the next thing. True to form, the 'government' decided to release the 'truth' just when Eid starts. A time when people are away or aren't really bothering about news or business. It's very interesting to read different media outlines talk about it. Here in Dubai, the media are nearly reporting that restructuring if ongoing so that debts and repayments can be made in due course. Nothing to worry about. A number of U.K based media are painting a very different picture. It's a very serious and we could be heading for another global crash. For me, the truth of the matter is somewhere in between.
Yes, Dubai has grown hugely and it really couldn't continue to do so. Something has to give. All these developments just couldn't be made. It's that simple. New 'neighbourhoods' being built. New skyscrapers. New apartments. There are too many. I suspect a lot have been mothballed for now. Indeed, I had heard that the 'World' has been quietly canceled. I don't know if that is true or not but it really was a silly idea to begin with. And what of all these Palms? Another silly idea. They are forcing it and that is not how cities evolve. Soulless and dare I say cultureless vacuums. It's a pity really. Had they got the infrastructure developed first then they could have evolved and added piece by piece.
The irony is that Abu Dhabi is now taking over. It may not have the same 'name' as Dubai but it appears that they are going about their business just fine. I guess oil plays it's part there. They are getting culture in the form of the Louvre. But can you simply through money at 'culture'? I doubt it. It will have to through money at Dubai however, to prop it up. Indeed, it was rumoured that Emirates or part of it had gone to Abu Dhabi in exchange for propping up. Oh well. It's funny because Emirates is actually making money, unlike some airlines.
I think the best thing is, at my level, not to worry about it all. There is no point. Whatever does happen, will happen. Prepare for all eventualities. If things go pear shaped tomorrow I have made some money and I've enhanced my CV. That is all I was concerned with when I arrived here.
Shocker.
Well, not really.
We kind of thought so. Whisper's had been around suggesting this, that and the next thing. True to form, the 'government' decided to release the 'truth' just when Eid starts. A time when people are away or aren't really bothering about news or business. It's very interesting to read different media outlines talk about it. Here in Dubai, the media are nearly reporting that restructuring if ongoing so that debts and repayments can be made in due course. Nothing to worry about. A number of U.K based media are painting a very different picture. It's a very serious and we could be heading for another global crash. For me, the truth of the matter is somewhere in between.
Yes, Dubai has grown hugely and it really couldn't continue to do so. Something has to give. All these developments just couldn't be made. It's that simple. New 'neighbourhoods' being built. New skyscrapers. New apartments. There are too many. I suspect a lot have been mothballed for now. Indeed, I had heard that the 'World' has been quietly canceled. I don't know if that is true or not but it really was a silly idea to begin with. And what of all these Palms? Another silly idea. They are forcing it and that is not how cities evolve. Soulless and dare I say cultureless vacuums. It's a pity really. Had they got the infrastructure developed first then they could have evolved and added piece by piece.
The irony is that Abu Dhabi is now taking over. It may not have the same 'name' as Dubai but it appears that they are going about their business just fine. I guess oil plays it's part there. They are getting culture in the form of the Louvre. But can you simply through money at 'culture'? I doubt it. It will have to through money at Dubai however, to prop it up. Indeed, it was rumoured that Emirates or part of it had gone to Abu Dhabi in exchange for propping up. Oh well. It's funny because Emirates is actually making money, unlike some airlines.
I think the best thing is, at my level, not to worry about it all. There is no point. Whatever does happen, will happen. Prepare for all eventualities. If things go pear shaped tomorrow I have made some money and I've enhanced my CV. That is all I was concerned with when I arrived here.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Select
I am quite liking www.grooveshark.com at the moment.
Perhaps I'm a bit behind the times and or because our internet access is blocked to certain sites but this is a music streaming thingy. Type in a song, album, band and off you go. It even has stuff that I listen to. In fact, it has the Daft Punk remix of Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand which is one of those songs that you know exists but have never heard. It's on right now!
There is an irony at having so many songs at your finger tips; when you actually want to search for something, you can't think of what you want to listen to. It's a pain in the bum. I've been keeping it simple however. A bit of DFA - isn't the DFA's remix of Slide In by Goldfrapp astonishingly good?! - some Strokes, Queens of the Stone Age, Hives, Artic Monkeys, the Rapture, LCD and all the Kitsune's. If I get a bit cocky, I might try for Kid A era Radiohead, TV on the Radio and my current guilty pleasure, Little Boots. I might need some more inspiration.
Perhaps I'm a bit behind the times and or because our internet access is blocked to certain sites but this is a music streaming thingy. Type in a song, album, band and off you go. It even has stuff that I listen to. In fact, it has the Daft Punk remix of Take Me Out by Franz Ferdinand which is one of those songs that you know exists but have never heard. It's on right now!
There is an irony at having so many songs at your finger tips; when you actually want to search for something, you can't think of what you want to listen to. It's a pain in the bum. I've been keeping it simple however. A bit of DFA - isn't the DFA's remix of Slide In by Goldfrapp astonishingly good?! - some Strokes, Queens of the Stone Age, Hives, Artic Monkeys, the Rapture, LCD and all the Kitsune's. If I get a bit cocky, I might try for Kid A era Radiohead, TV on the Radio and my current guilty pleasure, Little Boots. I might need some more inspiration.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Brain
Coming up are 5 days off - 3 extra days plus the weekend. It's Eid which is a big Islamic Festival. Again, we knew it was coming but we didn't exactly know when because it's called when the moon is sighted. As it turns out, it means we are off Thursday to Monday, back in the office on Tuesday then off again on Wednesday as it's National Day, back in the office on Thursday then off for the weekend. Basically, we have a heap of days off which is great!
I would have preferred to have headed home but given that we couldn't really plan anything, it was always going to be a bit of a long shot. Instead, I'll be floating around Dubai doing my Christmas shopping and getting myself organised for heading home at Christmas. Sounds easy but it's sure not to be. I'm not good at Christmas shopping at all. I have a few things but certainly not others. I do have Christmas cards though. In addition, I definitely need to get a winter jacket and gloves for going home. It is funny to be shopping for a winter jacket given that I'm walking around town in my shorts and t-shirt. Funnily enough, I can get them. All the 'Western' shops have their winter stock in as they would back home. Makes things easier.
As for the rest of the time off. Hmm. Not sure. I don't exactly 'need' all those days off but I'm sure that I'll find something to do even if it is just catching up on sleep.
I would have preferred to have headed home but given that we couldn't really plan anything, it was always going to be a bit of a long shot. Instead, I'll be floating around Dubai doing my Christmas shopping and getting myself organised for heading home at Christmas. Sounds easy but it's sure not to be. I'm not good at Christmas shopping at all. I have a few things but certainly not others. I do have Christmas cards though. In addition, I definitely need to get a winter jacket and gloves for going home. It is funny to be shopping for a winter jacket given that I'm walking around town in my shorts and t-shirt. Funnily enough, I can get them. All the 'Western' shops have their winter stock in as they would back home. Makes things easier.
As for the rest of the time off. Hmm. Not sure. I don't exactly 'need' all those days off but I'm sure that I'll find something to do even if it is just catching up on sleep.
Monday, November 23, 2009
Fell
I share an office with the Health and Safety. Don't ask, it's a long story. Well, actually, it's because next to their office is a classroom and since I teach, that's where I've been put since I joined.
Anyway, being the in the Safety office can be quite an experience particularly as you come to find out about all the accidents and stuff that happens. Often, it's nothing exciting; mostly people not thinking or cutting corners or not following procedure.
This week has seen one of the funniest accidents I've heard even though it could have been fatally very, very serious. It's a secret so don't tell anyone. I might get into trouble.
In the Airport we have a bus service that is for all airport staff and runs between different areas of the airport itself. The bus is essentially a mini-bus which can seat perhaps 20 people. There is one particular area called 'Gate 3' and it is where most of the airport staff access the airport. Once inside the airport they can get a bus to their respective areas and vice versa after their shift. The other day, one guy had finished his shift and was heading towards Gate 3 on his way home. I'm not entirely sure how he had got there but wanted to cross the little road to get to Gate 3. He was in a bit of a hurry to get home, I would imagine. Just as he was planning to run across the little road a bus was leaving the Gate area. The bus was empty and as it had just pulled away, was not going quickly. As the man was about to run across the road, a gust of wind blew. You might not thing that was anything significant but it is. As the wind blew, his wig moved. Yes, his wig. He managed to grab it before it flew completely off but because it moved, it had covered his eyes. He couldn't see because of it yet continued to run across the road. Since he couldn't see, he slammed into the bus. The shocked driver of the bus knew that he had hit the man but didn't know where the man had landed. Onlookers shouted to the driver. The driver thought perhaps the bus was on top of the man, so moved forward a bit. Thankfully though, the man was not under the bus but was on the road. Even more thankfully, he had managed to hold onto his wig!
The man was taken to hospital but was discharged as he had suffered only cuts and bruises. The bus driver was arrested and questioned. The police later released him. As the man was one of our staff, the Safety team had to get involved. They interviewed everyone involved and some things aren't adding up. The man with the wig is saying that he was dragged along the round by the bus. The bus driver says that he didn't drag the man along the road. I'm not in a position to say who is right or wrong but what I do know is the man with the wig has gone back to India on emergency leave so that he can 'get himself checked over' by Doctors over there.
I find that excuse hard to swallow. I would suggest that the man with the wig is so embarrassed by the whole episode that he has essentially ran away back to India to save himself being ridiculed by everyone. We all now know that he wears a wig. And we now all know that he doesn't attach it very strongly. We know also that he is a very silly man. I'm so looking forward to his return because I know for a fact that he will be asked to come to our office for questions. I'll be able to see this now infamous wig, exhibit A! I might just slyly try to pull it off or bump into him by mistake just to see how strong the glue - do they actually glue it?
I must say, I laughed so hard when I heard all this. The Safety guys were totally serious when they explained the situation. You just couldn't make this up! When they finish the report they have to include some kind of recommends. I can't wait for that. That'll be the best bit. 'We, the Safety team, recommend that wig's or hairpieces are formally banned from the Airport'. Or something like that!
Be that a lesson to you. Just go bald. It's not worth it.
Anyway, being the in the Safety office can be quite an experience particularly as you come to find out about all the accidents and stuff that happens. Often, it's nothing exciting; mostly people not thinking or cutting corners or not following procedure.
This week has seen one of the funniest accidents I've heard even though it could have been fatally very, very serious. It's a secret so don't tell anyone. I might get into trouble.
In the Airport we have a bus service that is for all airport staff and runs between different areas of the airport itself. The bus is essentially a mini-bus which can seat perhaps 20 people. There is one particular area called 'Gate 3' and it is where most of the airport staff access the airport. Once inside the airport they can get a bus to their respective areas and vice versa after their shift. The other day, one guy had finished his shift and was heading towards Gate 3 on his way home. I'm not entirely sure how he had got there but wanted to cross the little road to get to Gate 3. He was in a bit of a hurry to get home, I would imagine. Just as he was planning to run across the little road a bus was leaving the Gate area. The bus was empty and as it had just pulled away, was not going quickly. As the man was about to run across the road, a gust of wind blew. You might not thing that was anything significant but it is. As the wind blew, his wig moved. Yes, his wig. He managed to grab it before it flew completely off but because it moved, it had covered his eyes. He couldn't see because of it yet continued to run across the road. Since he couldn't see, he slammed into the bus. The shocked driver of the bus knew that he had hit the man but didn't know where the man had landed. Onlookers shouted to the driver. The driver thought perhaps the bus was on top of the man, so moved forward a bit. Thankfully though, the man was not under the bus but was on the road. Even more thankfully, he had managed to hold onto his wig!
The man was taken to hospital but was discharged as he had suffered only cuts and bruises. The bus driver was arrested and questioned. The police later released him. As the man was one of our staff, the Safety team had to get involved. They interviewed everyone involved and some things aren't adding up. The man with the wig is saying that he was dragged along the round by the bus. The bus driver says that he didn't drag the man along the road. I'm not in a position to say who is right or wrong but what I do know is the man with the wig has gone back to India on emergency leave so that he can 'get himself checked over' by Doctors over there.
I find that excuse hard to swallow. I would suggest that the man with the wig is so embarrassed by the whole episode that he has essentially ran away back to India to save himself being ridiculed by everyone. We all now know that he wears a wig. And we now all know that he doesn't attach it very strongly. We know also that he is a very silly man. I'm so looking forward to his return because I know for a fact that he will be asked to come to our office for questions. I'll be able to see this now infamous wig, exhibit A! I might just slyly try to pull it off or bump into him by mistake just to see how strong the glue - do they actually glue it?
I must say, I laughed so hard when I heard all this. The Safety guys were totally serious when they explained the situation. You just couldn't make this up! When they finish the report they have to include some kind of recommends. I can't wait for that. That'll be the best bit. 'We, the Safety team, recommend that wig's or hairpieces are formally banned from the Airport'. Or something like that!
Be that a lesson to you. Just go bald. It's not worth it.
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