Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Appropriate dress

It is always around this time of year when the letters columns are set alight by various people complaining about the dress of various expats (generally young and female) and the appropriateness to Ramadan.
It is the same hysterical letter over and over again usually ending with that most imaginative of sentiments - if you don't like it , go home.....yawn.

This however is a very different beast, recently the serenity of cubicle land was disturbed by a letter from the heights "reminding" one and all of the standards of dress demanded in order to enter the workplace - to make money for those who are writing the self same letter.

Now exposed flesh (particularly in the belly region) is not something the Weasel will ever voluntarily bare to the world and therefore he feels unable to comment on the rights or wrongs of said exposure, however the other half of this mail dealt with the wearing of suits and ties.

Ties.

A Victorian English homage to the medieval cod piece is considered essential dress in a 21st century business ..............in the tropics.

Sorry but this is ridiculous , it is 40 bloody degrees outside and the Weasel is told to walk around in an (admittedly fine) outfit produced for Edwardian gentlemen who frequented the chilly streets of old Europe.

Now the Weasel knows that the days of Empire when besuited gentlemen strode around the dominions dressed in Saville row's finest are long gone, so why oh why are companies still demanding we dress, and sweat, in acres of worsted, cotton and silk.

The Weasel's one glimmer of hope is that national dress is permitted, so that will be the kilt on Sunday morning then with obligatory lack of undergarments, at least it will be nice and cool.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

chavvin it large

And at a time when non delivery of projects and perpetual building sites are finally knocking the shine off Dubai's tourist numbers comes a report from Dubai's biggest market outside the immediate region - UK.

‘Chav’ influx drags Dubai down market

Mass-market tourists overwhelm the emirate, says one agent, but Oman is benefitting

If there is a downturn in the UK due to money tightness this type of report will just drive more of the upmarket tourists away denting the numbers of tourists willing to pay the 5* rates to hotels who now face massive increases in staff costs because of the amnesty and rubber currency.

mmm let's see what the next couple of seasons bring.

Getting the mud and duck out of here

The Weasel can't help but think that the government have really shot themselves in the foot with this illegal alien amnesty.

Arabian business has an article that claims today that 8% of the country is currently trying to leave. That's 350,000 people.

This is hailed as a huge success, and if the residency department's sole job was to rid the country of illegal workers then that must be seen as a result.

However, there is no unemployment or other benefit in this country, well not for foreigners anyway, so what were all these people doing? For sure there were a few beggars but to be honest almost none, so all these people were working.

So they have effectively reduced the working population by over 10% (reduction of 8% of total population)..... overnight...... with no plan of how to replace them......when all their current industries are facing a recruitment crisis........and with a currency tied to the American peso which prevents them attracting any more........at a time when they want to grow the economy by 8% a year.......and with literally thousands of unfinished buildings littering the place.

Good one lads, that'll help the country along no end.

Inflation in Dubai is running at more than 10% a year unless you listen to the govt in which case it is only 8%, this can do nothing but significantly add to this figure, and for all those poor sods (including the Weasel) waiting for a building to be finished, or in many cases, started. Tough.

What in the name of basic economics was wrong with legalising their status?

Monday, September 03, 2007

Hopping Mad

Sorry bit of a non story this from a 1st person report:

Now the Weasel is normally the leader in all things liquid, but for a number of reasons (including a raging hangover) he missed this years festival of yeast, barley and hop at the Irish Village.

Just as well by the sound of it: according to all who went the place descended to a near riot on Friday as thousands of people tried to force their way into a tent built for 500. 7 days quoted a couple of the organisers blithely blaming the punters for all the problems.

Last year there were large queues and while there was some rowdiness all seemed to pass off well but surely they could have anticipated a bigger turnout this year? I know Summer is always a gamble for a promoter but it is the first week of term now and most people were back in town, the Weasel would have laid cash that this was going to be a big event.

So whats the answer? Obvious is to sell tickets but this is Dubai and no-body buys tickets in advance, especially not just for a piss-up, they simply arrive. Bigger tents might help but space becomes an issue as does cooling etc

But really what we need is more things to do in summer, now that's radical, trying to convince promoters there are a lot of us still here despite the heat, might save this small furry mammal from tearing his hair out all summer.