Very late last night our doorbell rang, but by the time i was dressed the local in a dish-dash had gone, leaving a poster on my car windscreen. The poster from the police asked us not to park our car on either our driveway or in a designated public parking place, and for the next couple of days we have to park in the next street. This is because George Bush, during his visit to the UAE, may pass within 150 meters of where we live. It’s a little inconvenient, and although i’m definitley not fan of Bush , we can put up with it.
However it made me think of all the times in the past when a Royal (or VIP) has visited a school, hospital, public building etc and the building has been re-painted for the hour he/she is there.
Are Royals/VIP’s value for money or should public funds be better utilised?
I don’t understand what that post has to do with the picture?
I’m confused as well – British humor Angry?
A valid point anyway and BILLIONS of $ are wasted on protecting and putting on a show for all so called VIPS and royalty world over, in transport, in security and in their entourage.
Couldn’t he just Podcast from a golfcourse or send someone else?
Pointless PR where he pokes his nose in overseas. Gives the U.S a bad name.
Same here, what’s the pic got to do with the theme Angry??
Phew, you finally got something posted instead of just complaining about everything and anything. Good!
Enjoy walking to your car. I hope you like rain ha!
Yoohooo it’s raining!!
I’m going out!
Yep – pouring down it is.
I do understand the ‘Decorator’ gag and I’ll leave it to Angry to explain, or GIC / Gary..
**shuffles feet nervously**
Then it must be really crude, aargh!!
The rain’s calmed down a bit now. I’ve been outside enjoying it, it was fun but now I’m pretty wet! Not very appropriate for office environment ha!
Yup!
It is to do with a biological issue, a kind of weapon of sorts, in a feminine type way.
Over to you Angry et al!
The ‘decorators being in’ is a euphemism for the ‘womans curse’ which occurs once a month in a minority of women and hourly with many.
great pic, not seen that one
as mentioned by Angry, a euphemisim for accursed menstruation; also euphemistically referred to as ‘Arsenal playing at Home’ and the charming ‘blob week’
should check out Roger’s Profanisaurus, there’s reams of erudite discussion on such euphemisms, origins and international derivations.
A crass ex boyfriend of mine used to refer to me ‘having the painters in’ often when he wasn’t getting his own way, you understand….
during these times sarah did he used to take a tripup the marmite motorway?
well in if he did
I’m curious, but I think it is better not to want to understand the motorway thing!!
Yes Sarah, the euphemism is plenty clear now!
Have not got a clue what you people are talking about…and I still don’t get the connection between tampax and decorating. Maybe it’s a generational thing or something…I mean…who refers to it as the curse anymore!?! LMAO
Okay..I think I know what you’re all talking about now…but I’ve never heard any of these euphemisms and they’re all very weird to me! I’ll go back to my thought that it’s a generational thing…I dunno. Weird.
She’s on the ramps (referring to a car being repaired, eg its out of action, can’t be used).
Here we go…..very, very slowly now.
1. Getting the decorators in is a humerous and alternative (British) way of stating that a lady is experiencing the messy part of the menstrual cycle.
2. In the majority of cases, when a Royal or VIP visits a public building in the UK, the areas of the building that said person will see are redecorated at huge cost to the taxpayers.
The connection with the picture is ‘getting the decorators in’ as you will see from the photograph the Lady in question is currently ‘off-limits’ unless a gentleman is seeking to win his *Brown Wings*
*That honour bestowed on a man after he has completed a successful spell of bowling from the Pavilion end*
Oh dear, oh dear – the joys of universal communication. Shall we move on?
How old are you Angry?
I think drowsey monkey is ‘unable to do games’ at the moment.
Don’t know what that means either Gary…but I’m guessing it’s because it’s crude. Crudeness is unbecoming in a gentlman…of which I’m sure you’re not. Crudeness is also what keeps many new visitors away…so I’m not sure why the 2 of you seem to enjoy it so much. Perhaps Angry & Gary are trying to sabotoge things in their own immature way. Just a thought.
erm drowsey monkey
who are you exactly?
and what gives you the right to judge me? or my motives for being here?
your judgements, words and posts mean nothing to me.
perhaps a course of hrt should be considered?
as for sabotaging things both me and angry have been here since day 1 practically so its fair to say we’ve supported it a fair bit.
well…I guess the fact that I’m a founder gives me the right to be here…and if you’re entitled to your opinion than i’m entitled to mine.
and…I have no idea what hrt is
‘hormone replacement therapy’
its to help with the mental thing that is the menopause which sends women of a certain age to evne more irrational
and of course our entitled to your opinion- its great how far women have come on- they have a go at politics and all sorts nowadays.
** Gary – Drowseymonkey has posted a great and much needed article today and a justified one about trying to gauge how…
1) She can feel welcome here.
2) Rules for founders – not making things personal.
You’re input at that post would be valued so the community can decide the way forward….
I’ve seen it
funniest most self obsesses post I’ve seen on here.
more. more. more.
I’m too young for hormone replacement therapy. And where are your posts?
Maybe the picture is something to do with Bush being a right
bum in most people’s eyes?!
this is what we call sensational journalism: the post has nearly 85 comments and counting !
It is interesting question when related to the GCC countries, as after all we are all dictatorships, benign ones.
Some GCC Royal families (governments) are more popular than others and in countries with less popular governments this may lead to some people being resentful of what you describe. This might also happen in the other countries.
I personally think such things are a waste and why should we hide reality from our leaders, but we dont know what their reaction to no fuss might be and maybe it is better to do these things to keep the peace and anyway the money funding such activity usually comes out of the governments pocket.
But Angry, be a long way from your house when GWB goes by, he’s a lot more unpopular than any of the GCC Royals…..
Well said MM! Is he visiting Saudi by the way & have you seen the film, the Kingdom?
Thank you Jim & Em, Mr Bush is coming here after UAE. I’ll bet we don’t get a holiday! I think roads will be closed as well here.
I have not seen the film but had heard one has been made, have you seen it? Is it a good film or an uninformed western perspective of how bad Saudi is?
Hi Mohammed,
It’s a good film and in fairness it gives both a U.S & a Saudi perpective that boils back right down to ‘ kill the enemy’
Here” the tralier….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYclpCY24S4
Angry, Mohammed, I wouldn’t be worried that GW is in town from a safety perspective.
There are many urban myths and legends in the GCC, but aside from taking out their (Al Q) probably most desired target, what would the benefit be?
It is alledged that the UAE is a money laundering hub and AL Q have significant investments here. Let’s suppose this to be true for a moment.
Why then would such an organisation want to derail their investments which will contribute significantly to their continuity?
Any answers?
Mo
I’m interested to know how popular your ruling family are. I heard that in Saudi, despite having the largest oil reserves, there are many Nationals without a job and in relative poverty.
Whare does all that oil revenue go?
That is very good question / observation Angry. It requires much of insight to answer and more important understand. My country has many problems, many if not most created by past the rulers and inherited by the current.
Less than 1% of the population has 95% of the wealth. There are many poor Saudis, they do not get a share of the oil money they way Emiratis do. I think to summarize the main problems these are
1) Education standards poor by western standard
2) Oil revenue versus population
3) Cultural development to modern society slow.
4) How Saudi Arabia developed as a country
The above opens up each to many many questions, too much to be answered in an easy way and does not answer you I think. But I am happy to discuss in more detail if you are interested.
I think the Royal family is not as popular as other GCC countries, but think they are doing some good things to change, but they cannot change too fast as the people will not accept it.
Thanks for the honest answer Mo and not trying to find excuses for Saudi royalty as quite a few people in the ME do for their respective rulers. That, and blind loyalty.
Thank you Bridget, here is an article if you have time to read:
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=105600&d=13&m=1&y=2008
It is indication of the attitude changes in the Saudi government. Still a long way to go, but the acceptance of need to change.
Mo
I read the article and it’s good to see that your country’s leaders are aware of the need for change. Unfortunately for your country to really become part of the new world order you will have to change socially, and unless the wealth is shared there will be unrest and dissatisfaction, which gives the youth hiding behind the name of religion an opportunity to cause problems
Just my thoughts.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens with the Saudi youth bulge in the next 5-10 years…..maybe an influx to Dubai?
Hi Angry, your comments are understandable. Socially we must change but change cannot be forced to be success, it has to evolve. Many Saudis are reluctant to change, both men and women.
It is an easy question to ask the wealth be shared but that is no simple solution. First it is unlikely wealthy people will merely give what they have so its unrealistic.
Second even with our largest oil reserve it is not as easy to share the way they do in other GCC. Example the population of UAE nationals is only a few hundred thousand and 11% of the worlds oil reserve. We do have 25%, but a population of circa 25 million. The other GCC can easier be generous with their people.
Giving money is not answer either. which is third, education and economic development. My tutor used to say ‘give a man a fish feed him for a day, teach him to catch fish feed him for life’. Our governments priority is to do this, educate and build industry.
Sorry this is simplistic, there is much more than this.
was your tutor Rex Hunt Mo?
Salaam alaykum Gary, no, but who is Rex Hunt?
Rex Hunt is the worlds greatest fisherman
better even than Jesus, better than Rick Stein, better than Captain Birdseye.
serious
Thank you. Do you think he would like to visit Saudi? We have some great fishing here
I think he would
he likes a good stoning and knocks his women about too
he’d fit in seamlessly
OUCH Gary!
*Mohammed you’ll get used to the Brit humour on here, I hope as I enjoy learning from your contirbutions here….
Thank you Sarah, I do not find Gary’s response funny, it serves to perpetuate uneducated views.
Agreed – just gets carried away at times as the threads get full on…
Gary you’ll be frightening people off at this rate.
Mohammed your input here is valued and you are truly helping people learn with your insights here and for that we thank you,
Sincerely,
Jim & Emma.
erm
so what I posted no longer happens in Saudi then?
well done Mohammed. You certainly kept that one quiet.
so briefly
does the koran advocate stoning homosexuals and does the saudi regime back this?
does the koran advocate hitting women and does the saudi regime back this?
Answer- yes it does and yes it does
the fact you choose to ignore it says a lot more about you than me.
C’mon, Gary, play fair.
There’s absolutely NO CHANCE Rex Hunt could batter (sorry) Captain Birdseye at fishing; RH would be completely out of his depth (again, sorry).
Whilst RH was reeling is his 1st nippa, the Cap’n would’ve industrially trawled the entire sea-fields of the North Sea.
No contest.
I’ve lived in the Middle East for 14 years, 5 of them in Saudi Arabia. I wrote my Masters Degree thesis on the country. I think I know a bit about the place.
Saudi has strict laws which it enforces. Some of these may seem draconian by current British standards. There are executions aplenty in Saudi, execution by beheading. The lash is also a frequent punishment. But these are not too different from punishments meted out in Western countries also. The state of Texas executes more people than Saudi every year. And there are plenty of Brits for whom hanging and and the birch are living memories.
Recent terrorist activities aside Saudi Arabia is the safest place I have ever lived. I believe it is a combination of the ethics of Islam and the no nonsense laws that make it so.
I have never heard of a legal, or illegal, stoning in Saudi Arabia.
The act of homosexuality is condemned in most (if not all) major religions. In the 1st Testament (Jews) New Testament (Christians) and 3rd Testament – or Koran (Muslims).
I think Gary’s comments are fairly typical of someone exposed to and influenced by the British press, but I look forward to Mohammed’s response. He clearly knows what he is talking about, and I will be surprised it is just a cheap shot riposte.
This has overtones of some of the China debates we’ve had. The Western media are forever reporting things here with China as the villains. We constantly hear about the ‘China threat’ when clearly militarily they have no ambitions other than defense, the product recalls were China was held up as trying to poison our kids, yet almost all of it was the fault of the Western company, the small number of dissidents who criticise and are rounded up, as a percentage of 1.3 billion people this is almost none existant (I’m not defending it though, but look how many wrongful convictions there are in the West).
The Western media report in such a way that it is no surprise views are as they are, I’m certainly pretty ignorant of the details of how stuff works in the middle east and will put my hands up to probably being closer to Gary’s view than M McAlpines.
Whenever I return to the UK there is no limit to the stories I can get people to believe about China. On one visit I span a cracking yarn about how a cat needed to be killed and served to the bride and groom at every wedding and the two people I was telling lapped it up (sorry), I didn’t pussyfoot around (oops) with the tale (come on) and embelished away. At no point did they even doubt me.
I’ve not worked/lived in the Middle East but I do have friends form there. Sure there is plenty that we see as wrong as the teacher in Sudan recently showed (however we still conveniently ignore Guantanamo), however there is plenty of stuff we do thats unacceptable so I guess its where you are from that governs this.
For instance I saw a great interview with an Afghan poppy farmer who was being villified by a Western journalist for producing opium for the heroin trade. His response was ‘You send Jack Daniels and other liquor to my country, alcohol is the drink of sinners. You send us alcohol yet call me the criminal for sending opium’ This really made me think and to be honest the lad had a point.
I guess the main fuel for this is the percentage of those Arabs who live in the West who cause mayhem and racial tension by demanding all sorts of concesions not in line with Western culture, I personally think it was our fault for the ‘multicultural’ pandering we did in the first place. However, the imigrant and Arab population could do a lot more to help and basically bring a lot of it on themselves. Better social integration in the UK would obviously help in the international arena. Of course there is the Israel issue further fuelling this.
Maybe they could learn from the Chinese who move West, very few are causing ‘trouble’ their kids are disproportionately high achievers accademically and there is little in the way of racial tension in and around their neighborhoods.
David are you saying you believe executions are acceptable? Are examples of morally justifiable punishments in a civilised society?
Are you saying stoning homosexuals is morally correct?
How about lashing the woman who was gang raped?
Please answer this for us. I’d love to know where you stand.
Right or wrong? Please tell
Excellent input, Gareth and Mohammed.
We are all too quick to see the world through the sterotyped pictures painted by the media.
Your words will go a long way to giving a much more balanced viewpoint of China and Saudi.
Thank you.
Thank you Mohammed & David S and Gary for bringing this out in the open.
We sincerely hope you continue to contribute to the community here like you do Mohammed- this is an education for us.
We will endeavour to encourage basic decorum, respect and manners from the community here – it will have to be if we are to reach the masses.
Mohammed
thanks for taking the time to respond
it’s much appreciated
well done- all very interesting- I still have some issues regarding it all but thanks for taking the time to explain and make sense of some of it from an internal perspective.
Jim & Em and Gary too, you are most welcome and I do look forward to correspond with you all
And thanks from me Mohammed – We’ve very set views in the US also – no thanks needed from you back to me – I enjoy your comments on here – thank you.
Now that’s why I come to this site primarily, top drawer guys.
LOL Angry – at last, a post from you albeit a touch on the crude side…
They do say the Queen of England and rulers of countries think everywhere smells of fresh paint.
My arms are open to George W – ready to strangle here in Dubai!
Why won’t they let you leave it in your driveway? The street I can understand but your driveway?
Regarding the monarchy in the UK, people have to take into consideration how much revenue they generate in terms of tourism before there is an out and out cry to banish them.
They’re not my cup of tea and I thinks it’s all pretty much old hat but still they bring in the moola.
Who knows why we can’t park on the drive. Not only that we’re not allowed to go on the roof and most of the roads to our house are blocked. It can’t be that serious as the poster said ‘the 11th to 15th’ and we didn’t get it until very late on 12th.
Does the Monarchy actually generate income and how is it measured? I know that the Septics in their loud trousers flock around anything Royal, and the slanty-eyed ones love taking photo’s of Buck House but aren’t they visiting the UK, for example, because of the history, countryside, culture and their ‘roots’ just as much?
I’m no economist unfortunately Angry so have no idea how their contribution to the GDP is measured but I know it runs into 100′s of millions each year.
Whether this figure is dwindling over the years I have no idea, would be interesting to find out. As Shakespeare once said “Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown”.
If you took the monarchy away, and wiped out any history of the monarchy in the UK, you take out a primary reason for people visiting this country. That has to hurt.
france got rid of their monarchy and tourism hasn’t suffered.
hang the parasitic leeches from the nearest trees
the tourism thing would not alter. after all the buuldings and mythology would still be there. people don’t pay to sit down for a chin wag with phil the greek or liz the kraut do they?
True about the not meeting them personally bit Gary and to be fair, if that were an option then people would probably realise that they aren’t actually that special.
However, they are an enigma to the majority of people outside of the UK.
How many times has some fat amercican said, ‘oh my god, do you like know the Queen?’
I don’t like them but do think that they are a valuable and iconic image of the UK.
yea but, as you’ve noted in previous posts, the French are also more than happy letting opposing forces enter their guilded capital city with nary a shot ringing out in defiance …
get rid of the British/Bavarian Royals and we’re only a few stripey jumpers and garlic garlands away from those turncoats across the Channel
Not on Private O’DB’s watch … Rule Britannia, Britannia Rules the Waves, etc., blah, blah, to infinity
But then France is France.. and England is.. England.. ha!
Glad to see you’re looking up to France as the example to follow Gary… I knew sooner or later you’d see things Bridget’s way ha!
(Let’s see him take that back now ha!
)
in terms of monarchy and their lax attitude towards porn and mistresses the french are right.
its just war, boxing, man stuf they are rubbish at.
and some of the nonsense they spin gullible women is hilarious
I think an acceptable solution would be to end their payments from the civil list.
The property, wealth and income they get need examining.
The fact they richer each year and by more than they receive from the civil list shows they really don’t need the payments.
If they ceased to take money from the UK people then I think they would occupy an easily defended position.
The revenue they generate would then simply be a bonus for the country they are the figure heads of.
Personally I don’t care if the inbred mutants are there or not, I only ever objected to the money they take.
Prince Edward is the biggest Queen in the royal family
You told me that before :)) Still, I didn’t wash my hands the whole day ha!
Agreed Libby
The royal family for all their anticds do bring us significant revenue and also give us a lot to talk about.
The Americans for a start would lose a major talking point and tourist attraction if we got rid of the Royals.
no they don’t
the buildings they live in and the stories of yesteryear do
keep the buildings keep the stories get rid of the parasites
Great idea Gary – how do you suggest we get rid of them?!
hanging
or just tell them they aren’t rquired and will have to go out and find work
For f**ks sake Gary get off the fence
You are tolerant Angry. My business has been disrupted today, and doubtless will be again tomorrow as Sheikh Zayed Road has been gradually blockaded today and I understand will be completely closed tomorrow.
There must be easier ways to deal with such a visit rather than totally disrup the city in this manner.
For sure, like cancel the visit.
They should email each other, write, send postcards – youknow, that sort of stuff.
On the other hand he has to go where the oil and gas is, right?
I can’t believe he is not staying in in a building without a helipad. If its safe enough to fly in Airforce 1 around the world, it’s safe enough to fly in Dubai. This place has enough helicopers to suffice.
And just in case anyone does not know, Airforce 1 refers to any aircraft that the US President is currently flying in, I’m not suggesting he take a 747 down to the local chip shop.
Well I never knew that David S, I always thought it referred to the jumbo.
The Jumbo was the extra large sausage, served at the fish and chip shop!
Anyone seen the Movie “Air Force One”?!
A bit far fetched but can you even imagine Bush being able to save the plan like Harrison Ford does in the movie?!
clue: its a film Arvind
therefore not real
No Harrison Ford really did save the plane, I know, I saw the movie too
No, I certainly can’t imagine Bush being able to do anything remotely altruistic. He is not made of hero stuff.
Everything he touches really does turn to gold??? gee!
Er… this ‘David’ screen name is a bit confusing to Bridget.. I don’t suppose you’d consider changing to… I don’t know.. John maybe? or William? Henry IV? Anything else would be okay, really. :))
My name is David Sandall, I live in Dubai and I used to write as Rex Stormont, sadly Rex was killed in a post that was removed (bad taste apparently) and Rex is not like Bobby Ewing, he won’t be back.
In the meantime, I’ll be here periodically.
Well I tried…
It wasn’t with ‘Rex Stormont’ I was confusing the ‘David’ screen name with… Anyway thanks for the explanation.
BTW, David S does not intimidate Bridget. Rex did. Flowers invited her to replace him as Founder – talk about dramatic irony ha!
Still, you know, everyone uses a screen name here, you don’t ”have” to use ‘David’, noone would be mad at you.
Well, everyone of course except Gary and Gareth. Oh and Lib and Diane. Arvind too I think. And yeah Mike. And Jim and Em. And…
OK, you are David.
Neither I, nor Rex (I knew him well) is / was here / there to intimidate. That says more about you Bridget than Rex………
Totally. Bridget is very impressionable!!
By the way, you’re not French.
Pretty convincing though if not AND BJ – to be a founder or not AND David S – much prefer you like this than Rex – more open, less mystique.
Never tried to create mystique with Rex, but with a made up personality you can add in bits as you go along which may have contributed to this.
Plus don’t / didn’t have the time to be on the blog as regularly as a lot of you, so it would be in for a while then dip out, maybe the erraticness (if that’s a word) also contributed.
Whatever the reasons why good to have you dropping in as and when Dave S…RIP Rex and Hullo Dave….
Great choice of name btw.
Bridget never claimed she was French David… just that she speaks the language and has dated French.. Do pay more attention to what she writes before triumphantly making statements that imply she claimed such… Ha!
Oh, and chill… I think everyone else got my bantering about the name ‘David’ and took it for what it was.. bantering.. :)) Happy moments with Flowers!
Not sure what makes you think it was a triumphant statement, just an observation, clearly I read between the lines correctly.
Also somewhat confused about the directive to ‘chill’.
You might just wake up in the shower though Dave/Rex
Ah, ‘triumphant’. What can I say David.. you’ll get used to Bridget’s writing style with time, just.. give it time ha!
Chill, as in don’t take everything Bridget says seriously ha!
Not a directive. A suggestion. But wouldn’t it be boring every time to write, “I suggest you.. this” “I suggest you.. that”..?
If she has to be all formal and proper with you David, maybe you won’t see Bridget commenting on your comments all that much in future :))
And says who I’m not French really huh?
Or Brit for that matter ha! 
I quote Shakespeare don’t I?! Gary, be a mate, come tell David it’s enough! Ha! 
Purple 13! aka Jonathan right? “Dave”!! That’s the very thing I was saying would get me confused!!
Don’t call David Dave please. Call David David. Because we have a Dave already. You wouldn’t think of calling Dave David now would you? So don’t call David Dave. Dave is Dave. David is David. You wouldn’t want Bridget flirting with David now thinking he is Dave when really he is David huh?! Whatever would Dave think! Ha!
Plus I didn’t understand your comment to David, Purple. Would you mind please, in plainer English..?
………….meanwhile back on planet earth, the reasoned rational people chuckled as the Francophile space cadet twittered on…..
Very good Angry, what is it everyone says here? LOL?
Bridget, why all the threats to everyone?
You lot trying to understand a woman? A partially French one at that?
One stop short of East Ham mate.
David S
DYS – Don’t you start!
Group hug?
Some precious lessons learnt here.
- When in a fun/silly/mischievous mood, keep away from Flowers.
- Guys stick together. Always.
I’ll be careful what I say to whom here in future.
Gareth, I did not expect this type of comment from you.
You live and learn.
I was merely instructing the fellas that they are mad to try and understand a womans brain – East Ham is just before Barking, as in Barking mad, in addition they are English you are some other nationality with a strong leaning towards the French (who are totally unfathomable to the English).
I thought it was defending you. You take offense very readily, something to do with the rain?
take no notice bridget
keep on keeping on
(note- I am now employing the sneaky tactic of consoling the drunk girl at the party who is in tears only to look reasonable and end up ragging her all over for being such a nice guy)
BJ PLEASE take this all in your stride!
I get the impression you’re tired of this….
You’ll make a great founder here and as Gary says -keep on keeping on.
GO! BJ….
When are you starting as a founder here girl??
I find it strange that he visits the Middle East right at the end of his time in the *hitehouse.
He’s achieved nothing in the peace process, been the direct cause of many thousands of deaths, and ruined the Dollar (and therefore my effective salary)
As for his speech yesterday – i think he mentioned in time that history would look at this as a great victory for world peace and the security of the US – poor stand up comedian
Every American President since Ford (and maybe others before) has tried to solve the MIddle Eastern question at the end of their tenure.
It’s a nice but globally self promoting tactic to say to the world what good guys they have been to the international community, and rather deftly (they hope) divert attention away from the other issues that have dogged their time, hopefully ensuring their legacy is somewhat protected and helping to guarantee popularity and fees on the public speaking circuit.
I guarantee you, in 4 or 8 year’s time President Barak / Clinton / McCain will be addressing the Middle East question.
I strongly suspect they have no intention of solving anything, the longer it exists, the greater their justification to force themselves on the region. And we all know why they want that!
I’d suggest using a helicopter but i fear the Greenham Common brigade who visit this blog may shoot me down because of the carbon footprint implications.
Angry, your post has got 81 comments! I’m sure you never dreamt that would happen – seeing the way you criticise almost everyone else’s posts ha!
Granted, lots of it is lil Bridget digressing as usual, but that still counts towards post popularity ha!
Next time, support other posts more!! (or we’ll totally boycott your next one ha!
)
My Dear BJ
If the post’s are worthy (in my opinion) of my support then they’ll get it. Apart from that i have a demanding job, and don’t have much time to give the blog my full attention.
Oh, how i wish i was a Life Coach, writer, social entrepreneur, hand-made book manufacturer etc and had more time to spend bantering with the GSTF Community
LOL Angry. More posts please.
I remember when I was a kid growing up in Kenya, every few months we were carted off from our school and issued with Kenyan flags and had to wait by hte kerbside with 100s of other school children, just because the President of Kenya was due to go past sometime later in the day.
Once we even had the Queen of England visit us in Kenya and I remember standing in the hot African sun for hours just to get a glimpse of her pink hat!
I have never liked the Royals since then. Maybe I should get some therapy now to get over this…
Gary – maybe I should try some Reiki?!
Arvind, you grew up in Kenya?! Now you say this?! Forget the President of Kenya and the Queen, tell us more about your safaris/ bush experience please! Did you have a cub wildlife as a pet?
Bridget,
Yes, I grew up in Kenya!
My parents are of Indian origin, though my mother was also born in Kenya.
We didn’t really have many safari treks but we often visited relatives in Nakuru which is about 150 miles from Nairobi where we lived. The car journey through the Rift Valley was quite stunning. Sadly this is one of the areas of Kenya where there has been a lot of trouble and unrest lately.
Some relatives had neighbours who often went hunting. And when we visited our relatives at weekends, we would see all these Landrovers with wild life carcasses on the top of the roofracks!
It was quite gory actually to see a huge Buffalo head staring back at you with no body!
As for pet, we never had any wildlife pets. One neighbour had a dog as a pet – quite boring really!
bridget
I am happy to share my bush experience with you
just as long as its not like brian blessed’s beard/ terry waites allotment etc
Brian’s blessed what..? Terry’ what..? Could someone please translate for Bridget..?
Keep it simple Gary.. remember .. Bridget is not Brit ha!;)
BJ
Translation
Gary is enquiring if you have a particularly hairy lower region similar in appearance to the following gentlemen’s beards
http://www.eyepi.co.uk/masters/gfx/special/blessed.jpg
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/images/0305-04.jpg
BJ
Translation
Gary is enquiring if your lower region is as hairy as the following gentlemen’s beards
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines04/images/0305-04.jpg
http://www.eyepi.co.uk/masters/gfx/special/blessed.jpg
If the answer is negative i believe he would be pleased to share some of his experiences as a master swordsman with you on a one-to-one basis
I am disappointed Gary. I thought we agreed you would not say this kind of things to me again.
Boys will be boyzzzz BJ.
not so bridget you asked me not to.
apologies if any offence taken
just trying to lighten the mood a little bit
It may help to us emoticons Gary…
Simple way is
:
-
)
equals
or
Just makes for more clarity.
You may run out of winks though – unless we get you a ‘serious’ emoticon so we know when you’re being serious?
Living in Africa is an experience in itself, never mind the safaris. Thanks for sharing Arvind, and can Bridget look forward to see some pics of Rift Valley here or at your blog if you have them?
How about a post on the situation in Kenya? You’d be the right Founder for that!
I will write soon about Kenya, BJ. Watch this space…
Bridget
show us a close up of the rift valley please?
is it overgrown?
or is it barren?
And Arvind- which side do you want to win in Kenya. They like a good tear up with a machete those lot- who do you reckon has the top lads? and would they do the burmese C18 skins on a straightener?
Gary, I’m not interested. Really.
ooooooooooooooh someones tired!
arvind better yet
consider getting an insrgent ‘vest’ and pay a visit to the Palace!
Good idea Gary – fancy joining me?!
no sorry
I am a messenger and as such have to stay to spread the word
but don’t worry I have been in touch with branson and 70 virgin cd vouchers will be presented to your family upon the mission being completed
and your ashes will be scattered in paradise (Street in Liverpool).
now- anyone fancy a weekend rafting and doing forward rolls in the brecon beacons?
Thank you Gary for getting Bransone on the case too.
I will join you for the weekend rafting and we can then discuss our strategy.
I would like my ashed to be spread in Regents Park in the “Secret” Garden, next to the Rose Garden….
LOL Forward rolls in the Brecons…
STOP PRESS– AT 16:00 DUBAI HAS DECLARED TOMORROW A NATIONAL HOLIDAY FOR BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTORS DUE OT THE CLOSURE OF SOME MAIN ROADS,BRDIGES AND TUNNELS.
OH THE JOYS! THIS IS NO JOKE!
Are you kidding Jim!?
Wow – that is so funny!
Perhaps that is Bush’s greatest contribution to the Middle East – an impromptu public holiday!
I kid you not….
http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/General/10181630.html
So much for complaining about disruption of my business, now its closed full stop….
Only a few years ago, during the height of the bomb alerts, Bush visited Blair in London and he had dinner with the USA ambassador’s residence in Regents Park, central London.
This meant that the park was off limits that evening until the next morning.
When I went for my usual morning jog, the park entrance was blocked and the roads around the residence was barricaded with massive concrete blocks!
I was not impressed as I had to take a detour for my run. It was evne more disconcerting to see some soldiers with machine guns – only thing missing was some tanks.
True story – wish I had my camera with me that morning. But then again, with my brown skin colour, I might have been shot!
The irony of it all is that the USA ambassador’s residence is very near the London mosque in Regents Park.
Which is just between the Bin Laden sausage factory and the Zam Zam Cocktail bar
but it makes sense
as not even the extremists of the mosque in regents park are stupid enough to blow up ther own mosque are they.
so by having a house right by it the yanks are certain to be safe
the west 1 nut job religious padeo freaks from the middle ages 0
Oiy, this is a long list of comments!
100 by my count – ‘House’
Blimey,free flowers last time it got over 100…
I guess we also have to consider what is a VIP?
To a baby there is only one VIP – the Mother.
At 5pm on a Friday there is only 1 VIP to me – the barman.
Obviously there are easy ways to define a VIP but to me I think its a pretty awful term.
I mean some fat ar$ed actress come (or is that cum) warbler from New York should not be referred to as a VIP or have people pandering to her wish for 900 white lilies, white leather bath flannel, scuplted ivory loofah and toilet full of Channel #5 however Jo-lo gets all of this.
Extrapolating this term to politicians is mad, we put them in power and we ensure they keep it. We pay their wage and we provide the impetus to their existance.
The chariman of large companies are the real VIP’s as they are the ones who make the world and economy tick yet most of the times they shun this sort of fuss.
As I’ve always thought with politicians, they are in it for the trappings and fuss.
Don’t vote, it only encourages them. So no, to be honest, they are not value for money.
Fair point G and what amazes me is Vip, VVip then VVVVVVips – its all relative I suppose…
J-Lo has a cracking arse though so fair enough in my book
V.I.P’s = Vanilla Ice Posse
Robert Van Winkle in the house
‘alright STOP
Collabarate and listen’
he was the keats of his day
mebe, but nothing on TRex
‘oh Deborah, you look like a zebra’
the Tennyson of the 70s