Wednesday, August 25, 2010

An end of an era approaching

5 days left of my time in Abu Dhabi.
It's been a good time.
My main aim is to finish phase 1A of our project and leave feeling I have contributed to a project that will take at least another year.
However, trying to get local people to be motivated and involved, as well as learning a system, has been the biggest challenge. So now it's time to take control by taking control!!!
You want something done, then do it yourself!!( a collective phrase)

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

GCSE results at William de Ferrers school

My daughter passed 10 out of 11 GCSE's.
However, what upsets me is that her better subject Art she got a C.
Why am I upset.
1. She expected to get better
2. The teacher lost some of her work!

This is the second time that work has been lost by incompetent teachers, when there is no recourse.
The first time was for PE and I sent a letter and highlighted the fact that I had seen the work and obviously kept it stored on my computer. All of a sudden it was found by the teacher!!
I want to go up there and kick the shit out of the bitch who has given my daughter a hard time all term in ART although she gets brilliant comments from all the other teachers.
Obviously this teacher has a problem.
However, my daughter is now giving up Art because of it.
These idiots and has been's, need weeding out and thrown out of the system.
I always thought school was based on ability and not personalities!!!
Anyway, I can't say anything because my daughter says it makes matters worse. So not only are they bloody idiots they are vindictive as well!!!

As I can't do anything, perhaps all my readers can send some comments to the school
http://www.williamdeferrers.essex.sch.uk/

What does Mecca and F1 have in common?

Mecca Hotels and Abu Dhabi hotels up their rates 10 times the normal for Haj and the F1 racing!!

Marriage question

On a longer view!

Give an advantage of being married?
Male point of view
Woman point of view

One answer - Man can buy a shed and have his domain!

Any others?

Monday, August 23, 2010

Beginning of the end for UAE

A number of things that spring up suddenly show that the UAE is beginning to crumble:


  • Hundreds of thousands of Apartments empty and landlords won't bring their rent down much.
  • 85% of residents are in debt at an average of AED500,000 ( STG 86,000) even low paid workers. However, only 3% of Emeratis are in debt ( yeah right!).
  • Emeratis who own new buildings don't have enough money to maintain them so cannot rent them out and yet won't drop the rents!
  • 15,000 apartments in Abu Dhabi about to come onto the market, but they are not being maintained and there are no roads to them finished.
  • Westerners are being arrested for things 2 years ago would not have been ever thought of.
  • This week 3 Emerati's have been proven to have kicked a husband and 7 mth pregnant wife, because they wanted to have their seats at a restaurant and the Canadian couple were eating and refused. The Wife has permanent facial disfigurement.
  • A new court for drugs ( which are banned here) has jailed a police officer for selling several kilos of the stuff.
  • Dubai has announced they want to build an air conditioned skywalk for people to walk again. This is in a city that is bankrupt and cannot pay it's bills. So which idiot will build it?
  • Sharjah doesn't have continuous electricity and has just raised it's electrical charges " for the sake of the people!"



Although events are not often happening they are increasing and with the Credit Crunch hitting the locals we can expect more episodes and comments about foreigners being in their country.

I think this is where the bubble bursts.
The government here needs to change attitudes and to start by at least halving rents to get buildings occupied and also to create a new business environment to attract businesses like a corporate tax break or something

Top ten Fringe jokes

The Top 10 funniest jokes from the Fringe Festival:
1. Tim Vine: ''I've just been on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday. I'll tell you what, never again.''
2. David Gibson (as Ray Green): ''I'm currently dating a couple of anorexics. Two birds, one stone.''
3. Emo Philips: ''I picked up a hitchhiker. You gotta when you hit them.''
4. Jack Whitehall: ''I bought one of those anti-bullying wristbands when they first came out. I say 'bought' - I actually stole it off a short, fat ginger kid.''
5. Gary Delaney: ''As a kid I was made to walk the plank. We couldn't afford a dog.''
6. John Bishop: ''Being an England supporter is like being the over-optimistic parents of the fat kid on sports day.''
7. Bo Burnham: ''What do you call a kid with no arms and an eyepatch? Names.''
8. Gary Delaney: ''Dave drowned. So at the funeral we got him a wreath in the shape of a lifebelt. Well, it's what he would have wanted.''
9. Robert White: ''For Vanessa Feltz, life is like a box of chocolates - empty.''
10. Gareth Richards: ''Wooden spoons are great. You can either use them to prepare food, or if you can't be bothered with that, just write a number on one and walk into a pub.''

Sunday, August 22, 2010

Men's domain

On the radio here today the female presenter said that as part of her friends wedding arrangements the bride has ALLOWED the groom to name the tables. Apparently this is the new thing that all tables at a wedding breakfast are names in some way. Now her friend (guy) is a Portsmouth fan and is naming the tables by players.

It struck me that this is most probably the ONLY thing he will do in the arrangements.
Men don't get much say in these parties, so i think it's a bloody cheek to say how good it is for her to allow this!!!

Then of course this brings to mind the home.
How much of a house is it that men actually have any say?
We mainly pay for the home or at least half and the bills, but have very little say. Unless it's the shed or garage or any out building. Why is this you may ask yourself?
1. They are away from the main home
2. It could rain between the buildings and the woman could get wet
3. Out buildings have spiders and webs.
4. They are dirty

So if you are like me, I have built an office in the garden ( 10x14 feet ) had satellite and stereo put in and a nice extra large bean bag. My home from Home and the missus doesn't come very often. Try it!