Recent Events

Hello!

Well, thanks to all the recent events going on about the Middle East, I have been rather busy and it has somewhat meant that I haven't been able to write on this for a while. So much for my "going to write this once a day" nonsense.

Well, my boat project is currently on hold for the time being. The brand new, all singing and all dancing CAD software that I bought for this doesn't actually work. Apparently it requires an activation code which was scratched out and the sales man knows nothing about it. Strange I feel, so it looks like im going to have to go with Downloads.com as per usual.

Well, things have been rather interesting of late. Im sure you've all read / seen the news as to what's been going on as late. Keeps this place interesting I suppose.

Right, Customer Service. Now I've been in and out of this region for years and even to this day I am still shocked at the level of customer service! In the western world, no call centre or home delivery company would EVER contemplate hanging the phone up on you. EVER. Here it is quite a common practice and to be totally honest it really does piss me off, but is this sort of thing ever likely to change?

I've recently taken to reading some of the internet forum groups of late and I am sad to say that the level's of ignorance scare me. They truly do. I was recently reading Omanternity and the posts in there about how it was ok to beat your maid if "she stole from you or insulted your family". WHAT!? She is your employee, not your damned slave! There is never an excuse for you to beat an employee! Imagine the chaos that would ensue if that was common practice in all professions! Receptionist makes a small mistake, get the whip....
That also, wasn't the worst that I saw as I've been reading through.

Anyways, I need to actually go and get some work done today so Im off for now.

Enjoy!

Recent Events

Hello!

Well, thanks to all the recent events going on about the Middle East, I have been rather busy and it has somewhat meant that I haven't been able to write on this for a while. So much for my "going to write this once a day" nonsense.

Well, my boat project is currently on hold for the time being. The brand new, all singing and all dancing CAD software that I bought for this doesn't actually work. Apparently it requires an activation code which was scratched out and the sales man knows nothing about it. Strange I feel, so it looks like im going to have to go with Downloads.com as per usual.

Well, things have been rather interesting of late. Im sure you've all read / seen the news as to what's been going on as late. Keeps this place interesting I suppose.

Right, Customer Service. Now I've been in and out of this region for years and even to this day I am still shocked at the level of customer service! In the western world, no call centre or home delivery company would EVER contemplate hanging the phone up on you. EVER. Here it is quite a common practice and to be totally honest it really does piss me off, but is this sort of thing ever likely to change?

I've recently taken to reading some of the internet forum groups of late and I am sad to say that the level's of ignorance scare me. They truly do. I was recently reading Omanternity and the posts in there about how it was ok to beat your maid if "she stole from you or insulted your family". WHAT!? She is your employee, not your damned slave! There is never an excuse for you to beat an employee! Imagine the chaos that would ensue if that was common practice in all professions! Receptionist makes a small mistake, get the whip....
That also, wasn't the worst that I saw as I've been reading through.

Anyways, I need to actually go and get some work done today so Im off for now.

Enjoy!

Moving onwards....

Hello!

Right, well I originally planned to try and write at least one of these bloggy things a day. Now due to some un-named event, it means I haven't actually done that yet. Anyways, all is now sorted and I can continue writing.

Well, my friend and I have still been smashing names around for my project. Still nothing (typical) but I did start defining how we want our boat to be. Now it's going to have to be a big one to accommodate the propulsion. I dont want to build a normal "engine on the back" style boat. I want something that's a little greener (without sails) and one that we can also make go sideways without using Azipod propulsion (as learnt by QM2, it doesnt really work). Im already starting to come up with some ideas....

Anywho, news from the region. Urm, Maids are still being mistreated, Achmenijad doesn't really like the West, Isreali's accidentally shot the wrong man (again!?) and Oil is still flowing.

MsAdventures has provided us with yet another great story on how things work in Sand Land and Jet Driver has again amused me with his latest story on car washes.

So it's another regular day out here. Oh, and surprise surprise, my Laundry has gone AWOL.......

Right, Lets get started!

Hello!

Right, now we've got the basics of hello and what is going to be going on within this blog sorted lets get down to business.

I have decided to build my own boat. I dont fancy buying one and after tinkering with lots of different ships and boat I thought "Why not?". I am going to be starting from scratch so I am going to design everything myself and we shall see how all that goes.

First off, I needed a name for this project. Normally naming something comes at the very end of the process but I decided that I wanted my project to have a name. So a friend and I sat there and we threw a few ideas around, but we couldn't really think of any. If anyone else has a good idea for a project name then let us know!

As I am still without a washing machine (Im being cheap and not buying on just  yet) I decided to go with a local company that does Laundry. Sounds great! £4 for all my clothes to be washed and ironed! Brilliant!
Well, some fella showed up at my door and asked for my clothes. I duly gave them to him and then made the mistake of asking for a receipt. "A what?" he asks! "A receipt" says I! "Oh we dont have those. People trust us!" Says he. Well I do apologise, but coming from Europe I trust nothing unless it is written down and signed by them and me. So I quickly wrote down what I ordered, how much of my stuff he was taking and signed it. Then we had the fun task of his name. "What's your name?" I asked, "I dont know" says he. Eh? You dont know your own name or is something getting lost in translation. So we bandied about for about 5 minutes playing the great name game and eventually he cottons on that I want HIS name, not his father's, brother's or cousins twice removed. His name. So we quickly write that down and then I ask him to sign it. Instead of signing it with a signature, he writes his telephone number. Ok, not bad, if my laundry doesn't reappear then at least I can call him, until I see his little smile as he writes it down. Urm, mate, Im not asking for a date, your signature here saying you have taken my laundry and how much of it you have taken and what your going to do with it! So with a smile and a wave he wanders off with my laundry saying "tomorrow. inshallah"....

Hello to everyone!!

Right well, Hello!

Well, after reading the blogs of Jet Driver, Undercover Dragon and Misadventures in HR I've finally decided to start my own and see how it goes.

Now Im not going to tell you what country im actually in, but I am based within the Middle East. I'm also not going to actually tell you what I do. From my name, I think it would be safe to assume that I have a little something to do with Ships.

My blog is going to have lots of different bits and pieces attached to it. Im designing and hoping to build my own boat myself, and it will probably have some of my own general musings as I go about living in this country for the first time. If you are easily offended or have no sense of humour, then please don't read any further or send me hatemail. I can't be bothered reading it, so you would just be wasting your time. You'd be better off watching Cartoon Network.

 All opinions expressed here onwards are my own and do not reflect upon anyone elses views or any companies views and that all will be kept well within the laws of the country that I now reside in.