Blog closing down

Dear All

It seems that from my general comments and ' sex in the city' type of blog I have offended friends.
I apologize for this, as it wasn't my intention to make any of it personal, but more on general and blokey type of comments.
My ramblings have gone too far.
It may also offend my dear wife, who I love very much and my children.
To this end I am closing the blog down.
Apologies to all I have upset !!!!

Heading back to Abu Dhabi

Well in Muncih airport at the moment for 6 hours waiting to head back to Abu Dhabi.
I am working all weekend as well to catch up on things while I was away.
My son got the sack for his alarm not going off and he didn't go to work. Not sure the real reason, but we have to start again trying to find him work. Today hopefully they will allow him to sign on the dole so he can get jobseekers allowance and also help him get a job.
However, with no apprenticeships and no Electrical work for youngsters, it doesn't look good.
It seesm that the holiday didn't do me any good at all. The wife isn't talking to me again, my friends have the hump with me because I dared to ask them for the money they owed me.
Does make me wonder whether to end it all and let them make it themselves!!

Turkish rip off!

Having just returned from my week off with the family to Turkey I can confirm that it is a rip off and not cheap anymore.
1. The travel company wanted to charge 20% exchange fee for a tour when it's priced in Euro and Turkish Lire.
2. They charged again 20% exchange rate for Food & Bev on the plane.
3. Taxis try to rip you off with their own tip of about 20%. Wherever tehy drop you they have a deal with the shop, who takes his card and replaces it with theirs, so you go back to them for the same taxi.
4. We went to a shop with handbags. They started at Euro 100 and we got them down to Euro 40 and still didn't buy.
5. immitation Hilfiger, Ralph Lauren, Gant etc cost Euro 10 and so do most shirts. like one guy though when he said he was cheaper than Asda's (Walmart)
6. Restaurants try to sting you up by not giving you an itemised bill.
So anyway you can get my drift?
Anyway off to Munich early in the morning and then onto Dubai.
Working most of the weekend to catch up.

In Turkey on vacatıon

Lovely hotel and grounds, but bedrooms no more than a 2*. Food excellent.
Surrounded by a load of Russıans who for some reason pıle theır plates to vey hıgh levels of Cherrıes. Apparently somethıng to do wıth the past Russıan regıme and not havıng seen fruıt for years. Seems that Cherrıes are a rare commodıty and they need to have as many as possıble!
The ıronıc thıng ıs that the pratts don't eat ıt all! Steep and waste.
Also surrounded by Germans for tomorrows game!!

Going Home

Leaving today but not sure if I am going on holiday or not due to problems with my son and Family. Not a good start!!

Weekend in the Emirates

Very relaxing and hot today. Went to Dubai to see my friend.
Had lunch out and then walked around Dubai Mall for a short time.
Tonight will be watching USA in the World cup.
Getting ready for work tomorrow

Happy Birthday to my wife

I am apart from my wife, but she is always in my thoughts!
Happy Birthday for today.

Safety at work

Today it dawned on me that I feel safer at work than outside.
I wondered why.
I have recognized that I have my faults, but since training as a " High Level Autism Spectrum" coach, I have recognised some of the traits in myself.
At work I feel safer because it's structured, I have a role to play and to some extent don't need people to like me, as long as I deliver.
At home or outside, I have too many problems. My life has been one of frantic decisions, moving, ensuring my family have money etc. At work I don't have this.
I like my job, but I don't like everyone.
I like my job, but I don't agree with all decisions
I like my job, but don't like indecision
I like my job, but don't like people who won't listen to me
I like my job, but don't like time wasters
I like my job, but wished people would leave me alone to get on with things

I think you get my drift.
Anyway, the point is, that I think I have traits of Aspergers

Schools

Announcement today that Schools will teach bi-Lingaul lessons with 2 teachers in a class for 4 year olds. What a good idea!!
Schools have stopped for 2 months holidays so the roads are easier !!

Local life and work

Well it's been hot here for the past week and I am amazed that people are still chirpy.
Thank goodness the humidity is low, so it's very bearable.
Some of the local women are gorgeous, but I can't help thinking why they have full length dresses on underneath, when European women think about wearing just underwear under a black arbaya (if they had to wear one like Saudi). The only fashion statement they seem to have is more sequins on their Arbaya and these can be very expensive.
Anyway, work is going well and it's interesting, as I am the only person so far implementing the software. Strangely enough the vendor guy supposed to be here has a problem with his visa, after 3 weeks honeymoon! Strange that!! Last week they sent a Dutch woman over, who was great. Very friendly and watch football at the hotel as she is a fan of alot of sport. Nice to find a female that is so we had a lot of banter and days went by very quickly.

Day in Dubai

I was picked up at 8.45 and returned at 7.45.
Whole day in Dubai walking aorund in 50c.
Boy was I glad to get home.
Anyway a nice day with my daughter and friends.
Paul and Lisa took me and shelved out for the food etc.
Thanks alot and it was really appreciated.

Quiet day

Nice quiet day for me today.
Up at 9.45am and it's brilliant sunshine and hot.
Watched the Germans lose!!! That will shut the Kaiser up ( Franz Beckenbauer) who has slagged off the England team. In fact if England win tonight they will have more points than the Germans! I was amongst a load of German supporters and I left them not really talking, just aghast.
Tomorrow off to Dubai with my friends Paul and Lisa (Americans) looking at old souks and other cultural sites.
So waiting for the England match 10.30pm our time.

Temperatures hit 50c

yes days are now between 45-50c with Saadiyat Island hitting 50c (a few Kms from AbuDhabi, which I drive thru each day to work)
Although it doesn't feel like it to be honest.
Still some wind and lots of sand in the air.

Busy days

Training and diagrams for bosses! The next week is going to be busy!!

World cup disaster

The main TV satellite station showing the world cup in the whole of the Middle East screwed up!
Just after the start the signal went. Then it was too fragmated to watch. What a disaster and many places have sold tickets for food and beverage etc.
I see a lot of disgruntled customers if they don't sort it out.
There wil be a riot if the England vs USA match isn't showing properly, as all the locals will watch as well.
I will try again tonight with the French match.
I have also screwed up the VPN link and don't know how to fix it.

Humidity 95%

Today definately a wet one. Minimum 95 % humidity but more like 100%. Windows been steamed up since 1.30am this morning.
Saw a lovely hotel last night trying to get my business. Offering a 65sq mtr one bed suite and very nice overlooking the F1 race track and marina.
My own hotel is still playing hard to get, but I would prefer to satay there if they gave me the one bedroom suite as it's 70sq mtrs and with white leather furnishings etc.
The sticking point is that the first hotel doesn't have football channels and they are looking into getting them for me.
We all have our vices and mine is watching football.
Last night I saw Portugal vs Mozambique. Portugal won 3-0 but didn't look impreessive at all. Only changed when Ronaldo came on. Against better teams who will stifle Ronaldo, I don't see Portugal being a threat. Deco was rubbish!

Hot air

Just imagine, you are in a lift with another person/s and yuo have bad wind and you don't know what to do.
Well one Brit was in this situation and he decided to release unwanted air.
Unfortunately, the person in the lift was a local woman.
She reported the incident to the police and the Brit was arrested and jailed.
So it's ok to fart with other women, just not local women!!

Looking forward to the World Cup

I am getting excited about the World Cup and there isn't alot I get excited about!!
1 month of football bliss.

Weather changing

After an rare cyclone hitting Oman and making stream gush and dark clouds gathering like a biblical film, the waether people have said that the temperature is going to change in the Middle East. We are to expect 46-50c in next few days about a month earlier than expected.
Today is about 48c
Humidity is raising with my specs steaming up when I go outside.
Driving in today I got lost again, as I did yesterday.

In the Office on Saturday

This morning I had breakfast with the hotel salesman who is now offering a suite if I can put him in touch with 6 people at my company. Suite here I come!!
I came into the office to make a large amount of Printing being the manuals of the system we are implementing.
Anyway we are have some building works done. Its 12.50pm the tea boys and cleaners are off somewhere and the builders are asleep on the floor!! About 6 of them and all Indian of course!
I drove to work for the first time today. Of course missed the turning and went miles out of my way. Anyway here now.
Had a good day in Dubai. Did a little shopping, met a friend to hand over his cigarettes (he was 2 hours late) and then met my mate Terry and had a lovely Thai dinner with him, which he kindly paid for-Thanks Terry!!

I'm mobile and weather is changing!

in Dubai at 7.30 am this morning for my Driving License. Stg 50 pounds and 30 minutes later I have the license. No test, just an eye test with my glasses on, a form to fill out, photos, UK license and voila!

Having been away for 6 days the weather has turned. It's about 48c and humid, but sunny of course.
It's our last working day so off to Dubai this weekend to deliver cigarettes to my mate Allan from the UK (they are stronger in the UK) and maybe see my otehr friend Terry and my daughter.

Driving in Abu Dhabi

This morning I had an even better experience.
A Toyota jeep thing went from the inside tio the outside across 4 lanes of traffic at the lights and did a U-turn - Classic !!!

Wlecome back from my few days off at home with the family.

Long weekend in UK

Flight was nice and relaxing although in Economy.
Except for the young fillie next to the window who seemed to have a bit of a weak bladder! Bit odd actually!
No one knew I was coming home except my wife so all the kids were surprised.
Gatwick was empty it was great and it took longer to walk the vast distance from the plane to passport control, which was empty. I think because of the strike by B.A.
Today is lovely in Uk about 20c and sunny. So off with some of the kids shopping.

Leaving on a jet plane.....

I am going home today, the first time this month.
Looking forward to it.
First though, a meeting and short presentation about accounting. Then change and rush to the airport 150kms away

My decision

Yesterday I came to a decision late in the day.
I will remain in Abu Dhabi.
No matter which decision I made, it would have upset someone. In this case my Dutch agent, my friends in Amsterdam and possibly my wife. However, I will promise her to go home on average every 2 weeks.
My friend who I am working with is happy.
Things that tipped the decision:
++10 people in a room in Amsterdam meant for 6 or 7 max
++Cancelling the project team in Amsterdam and making it a ' Competence Centre' which in my mind makes it less of a solutions or new item team, but a fix and mend team.
++New people in the room that have personal hygene issues and my nose is sensitive.
++The bank wanted to cut my hourly rate

I am sorry that I am not going to work again with my mates in Fortis like, Stefan, Rob, Fred, Tomas, Emil, Ruud etc.

Got into work safely today!

My usual driver today, so a more relaxed me.
Just had for breakfast Za'Atar and arabic bread and melted cheese - lovely, oh and fattening!
Have to make a decision on leaving or not today and possibly going back to Amsterdam.
However, I am flying home Thursday afternoon for a long weekend to my loved one and kids!

Decision time

I am in a dilema.

I miss my family and the weekends with them and they miss me.
My last job want me back and are negotiating a return. They are being a pain on the hourly rate.

My new company seem to like me as well and my mate wants to bend over backwards to keep me. He is offering something like 10 days here and 5 days off, and he is trying to think of a way to so I don't lose pay.

My difficulty in deciding is whether it's the time with the family or regularity with them that is the issue.
Also I don't want to make a mistake and cause a problem in my marriage.

If I am in Europe I can get home as usual on Friday night and return early Monday.
I can start to study for my new career.
I will hopefully get my normal money

In Abu Dhabi its hot and the family can have regular holidays
Accommodation is more expensive
Work is easy
2 year worth of work

Any suggestions from anyone? email habswf@googlemail.com

Regi the crazy taxi driver !

My usual driver couldn't make it this morning so he asked his friends to come and pick me up. I had already used Regi before and wasn't impressed and here is why:

1. He was late, so at 6am this urks me
2. He starts off like Jenson Button.
3. Across the road to the hotel is the F1 Race Track and the road in a few places has some pedestrian raised areas, you know they are about 10 feet wide. Regi races towards these and then slams on his brakes to save the shock absorbers, although he doesn't know what they are, he just does it! When there are no raised bumps he slams on the breaks anyway, just in case.
4. He says which way Sir? Either the Airport road or the new island way. I said ' take your pick, I don't mind ', so he takes the new island road.
5. We race along the highway, but every couple of seconds, he takes his foot off the pedal and then a couple of seconds later pushes it down again. So it's a stop start effect!
6. At the end of the highway we hit town and traffic lights. Regi slams on his brakes again and when the lights turn green he is Jenson again!Seconds later he takes his foot off the pedal etc - you get the idea.
7. There are road works and loads of lights and pedestrians crossing even at this time of the morning, with all the school buses picking kids up. Anyway we approach the lights, they turn red and then Regi hits the breaks. The Pedestrians see him and jump out of the way!
8. Sir! this is what I was telling you, this way is no good! (Ergh, When did he say this? I gave him the choice!!)
9. Then there is the crossing lanes of buses and Regi trying to get past on the outside, squeezing room between a bus and the concrete divide, oops! no space there so cut inside and around and then , yes you guessed it , screeeech at the lights with people jumping.
10. Eventually I got to work, ' Regi you are a crazy driver ' he says ' Thank you sir, very nice ' Didn't mean it as a compliment you idiot!.
11. Text my usual driver ' Don't send that crazy driver Regi again ' .

Lazy weekend

It was 38c today and 46c yesterday.
However, a relaxing weekend with my daughter here.
We went shopping and then to see the Sheikh Zayed al Nahyan mosque which is costing about USD550 mio to build. How impressive it is with it's gold and white domes etc.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Zayed_Mosque

We had dinner Thursday night with most of the cost from a voucher.
The steak was unbelievable. I had American Ribeye with bone and my daughter and friend Paul had an Autralian steak called Wagyu which is sort of the Japanese special meat. It melted in your mouth and was very tasty.

Last night we had a buffet at the hotel which was lovely as well.

This morning we went basic and met Paul at a Lebanse bakery for Za'ataar and coffee.
Now Eleanor is hooked on it:

Recipe for Za'atar


Ingredients:
2 teaspoons oregano
2 teaspoons basil
2 tablespoons ground thyme
1 teaspoon whole thyme
2 teaspoons savory
2 teaspoons ground marjoram
1/2 teaspoons whole dry marjoram
1-2 tablespoons ground sumac berries
1/4-1/2 cup unhulled, toasted sesame seeds, ground coarsely
1 1/2 teaspoons salt (or to taste)
1 tablespoon dried ground lemon peel or zest of two lemons, very finely minced

Preparation:
Ideally, this is a little coarse. First grind the sesame seeds then crush everything together with a pestle.

While it is fresh, dampen a few tablespoons with olive oil, and add some hummus or crushed chickpeas. Spread on pita or flatbread, and bake or broil until heated through.

Green zahtar variation: Omit sumac and replace with ground and whole thyme or marjoram, fenugreek leaf (exotic flavor) or dried parsley.

Not having any lunch I just had a snack on the terrace as the sun was going down. Still hot but with Earl Grey tea and a cigar it was bearable.
Now in my Air Conditioned room, waiting for the Champions League final to come on.

Yesterday my daughter and I was in a taxi going arouind Abu dhabi when we went to shop. Anyway, in a service road (as they have all along the sides of main roads here) we was waiting to get past 2 cars and another was reversing to come out of parking.It was like something from Mr Bean.

The first car in front sat there blocking the reversing car. The second car pulled over and parked right on the edge of the reversing car, but just enough for them to get out. We were the next car and about 6 behind all blowing their horns.
Of course it was a dumb woman driver in front. In the end I got out and shouted at the women to move and she said ' I want to park here! ( in the tongue rolling arabic accent)' I said ' No way you are blocking the guy trying to reverse'so she said ' you reverse' I said ' are you crazy, can't you see there are at least 6 cars behind all blowing their horns!' she huffed and puffed and decided to drive around the corner and lost her precious space!!!!

Another woman the other morning going to work turned left from the right inside lane across 4 lanes and not a care in the world!!!

I am sure they pass their tests by showing an ankle to the examiner!
Oh and it's best to be holding 2 mobile phones at the same time so you can call yourself ambidextrious and multi-tasking. Hey look no hands !!!!!

Alarm ready for 5.15am to go to work

Standards are changing!!

Last night I decided to have a neck massage.
I thought it odd when she asked me to strip off!!
Anyway, after her hands going to the nether regions I though I had made a mistake.
I wasn't offered any extras!
Not sure of her qualifications, but my neck was worse!

Anyway, got in a cab to go home and the guy just couldn't keep a straight line and I was glad to get back to the Hotel from feeling sick

Just went to a well known sandwich - cum- restaurant place called ' Jones'.
Food is good but service and politeness strike a 1 out of 10 on my scale.
They are rude and not friendly.
They have sas made up with good bread and the quality is good and the cakes etc good.

Anyway I wanted just a plain cheese sandwich as they have a seperate speciality cheese shop as well.

Bearing in mind that there were empty tables (before 12 noon) and no queue, I was told ' Oh no sir not during our busy time, come back after 3pm.
I thought in the food & Beverage business and with the slump etc you give the customer wehat they want, well not here.
Customer service does not exist and they are lazy bastards!!

Storming Abu Dhabi

Been a strange and overcast day with only about 35c but cloudy most of the day. Tonight a sand storm and winds got to Hurricane level where the hotel alarms went off.
I had to go from one hotel to another and now I have been sandblasted clean!

There was some re-organisation at work today as the new CIO Chief Information officer) came in and took over from the last acting one, who happens to be leaving!

Anyway, it's busy for me and things are going fast so not sure how long the role will last.

After the weekend

Good weekend thanks to good friend Terry in Dubai.
We had dinner and then went to 2 nightclubs with live music. I won 2 games of pool, and I am useless!!
Saturday went to view some apartments which weren't so good.
Then watched the FA cup with Terry.

2 bits of good info Terry gave me:
1. Sign up for a VPN connection which i have now
2. I could watch UK tv using a slingbox which is connected to my TV at home.

I had the use of Terry's driver as well who took me back to Abu Dhabi.

Greta mate thanks alot for your help!!

Back at work today and still trying to get used to working Sundays!

Lazy Day

It's up to 40c now.
I am off to Dubai later to view Apartments.
Otherwise nice easy day.
Meeting my mate Terry today in Dubai to stay with him and have dinner.

Working Abroad and VaT

After an initial shock and me threatening to resign we have found out what an arse the UK tax situation is.
As a UK registered company, performing work to a client abroad, I have to raise an invoice to the UK agent, who then pays me in USD into my UK bank acccount.
I have to charege VaT on the Invoice.
I then pay this each quarter to the Inland Revenue.
The agent then has to claim this back from the Inland Revenue.
Of ocurse thgere is a delay in this repayment , so there is a cashflow benefit to the tax office.
Basically, a round robin which is delayed to give the tax man some inetrest revenue!!!
How rediculous is that and time wasting and jobs for the boys!!
The bottom line is no cost to mje so my panic is over!!!

One week gone

Well I have been here for a week and I am not enjoying it.
C an't really put my finger on any particular thing.
The company is nice, although it doesn't have any business plan and it's a corporate.
The building is nice.

but....

Apartments are expensive and cost anything from Stg800 a month in Dubai (1.1/2 hour drive away) to stg1700 a month in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. You have to pay at least quarterly to one year in advance!

Heavy traffic in the city and seems to take 45 minutes anywhere you want to go.
+I am earning less than Amsterdam.
+I am away from the family.
+Taxi drivers seem to live in their cars and tend to be asleep in the morning and I have to wake them up and have the window open because of the B.O.
+My visa is still being processed and I can't get my passport nor can I get a leased car and apartment
+Hotel I am in is 50 minutes from the office and they don't do room service, so I have to order and then collect it myself.
+Internet is not as good as Europe for 2 main reasons.(1)Not enough bandwidth in the country (2) It's all monitored and censored for big brother reasons

So as you can see a number of things really. I don't think I came here with the right frame of mind when I found I couldn't be here tax free!!!

Working in Abu Dhabi

Well I have to say I am not happy here.
The hassle of visa and I still don't have my passport back.
The accommodation is high and eventhough there are thousands of empty accommodation and more coming onto the market, rental is stil between 2-3 times more expensive than the UK.
The hotels are not helping and nor the agent who won't budge from me being paid two weeks after my invoice to one week which is what I am used to.
So I have to sort out cashflow and my business when I am abroad.
I shouldn't have left Amstrerdam whgere I was happy and able to go home every week.
Thge company I am working for has no business plan and no real plan of any kind.
So I may be looking to return sooner than expected.
Also no football in my room.
Tonight my colleague got lost where there are no real signs. So it took 2 hours to get home instead of 30mins.
A couple of large scotches tonight and then bed !!

Also the interent is crap.Not enough bandwidth and all email etc is censored so it slows everything down and things go missing like for me tonight where an email has gone missing

Accommodation

Still battling out the living side of things.
I have more Apartments to view on Saturday in Dubai.

At the moment I am about 48 Klms from the office and it takes 50 minutes at 7.30am.
If I travel from Dubai and depending where it will take about 1.1/4 for 150 Klms

About 38c here and the weather forcast says it's getting hotter over the next few days!!

First few days

Hi everyone!
Yesterday I had the honour of going for a medical.
This involved going to an ' Unhealthy Medical Centre' in Dubai although I am in Abu Dhabi, becuase my entry visa was for Dubai.
This medical was an x-ray and a blood test for Aids and Hepatitus 'B'.
Amongst all kinds of unwashables and richly smelling BO people.
Not a good start to the day.
I have been looking for accommodation and it's much more expensive than Europe.
There are thousands of apartments empty but they won't bring the price down, because they are astute business men!!!
I met wiht the salesman from the Crowne Plaza hotel last night and basically I have a decision to go into an apartment in Dubai which is an hours drive in a 2 bedroomed place for about Stg 1297 plus electric, gas etc, or a serviced luxury room for Stg 1912. Also they will give me a very cheap room for the family whne they come at Stg55 a night with all the facilities. I know it sounds alot of difference, but it gives me flexibility to get out when I want.
Temperature is about 38c here at the moment.
People are nice.

My first weekend in Abu Dhabi

Well it's Friday and I am in Dubai instead. Visiting my daughter and her boyfriend and we will have a good brunch and also meet another friend of mine.
I did some shopping last night and then we came home and watched Billy Connelly travelling around N.Z.
I will head back to Abu Dhabi tonight after a BBQ on the apartment balcony.
Tomorrow a day of rest and catch up since arriving in UAE.

Arrived in Abu Dhabi

Arrived at 3.30am to my hotel and then up at 7.00 am to go to the office! Got back to my hotel and crashed.
My new employer is a government owned company that buys assets around the world.
Nice modern offices with beverage all day and snacks. Friendly people of all Nationalities.
Although I am in a hotle outside the main Abu Dhabi city it still takes me about 50 minutes to the office. This is my second day.
Accommodation is expensive and I am caught bewteen a big one bed apartment but I have to buy the furniture or a small hotel room.
Any help is gratefully received for a decision.
Temperature is about 28-32c
Abu Dhabi has changed immensely since I was last here about 7 years ago.

Alan will arrive in Abu Dhabi

Blog to begin after I arrive on 5/5/2010.
Family & friends who have received an email will receive my postings automatically. If you don't want to receive my daily comments please let me know.