This is a merry christmas dedication to all of the expats working overseas , especially in the Gulf in places like Bahrain, Saudi, Kuwait, Qatar, Dubai , UAE , Oman ,
I firstly want to show my appreciation to the people from India and Pakistan , Sri Lanka , and of course Bangladesh ... They all come to work here for little money , often living in very difficult circumstances with no family visits often for as long as 4 years apart ...People , try to spare a thought for these hard working people who without them these Arab countries would not have been built .
The Hospital staff , many Filipinos Thais, Indonesians .....and people from other near by countries like Egypt , as my son in law, Syria, Lebanon , Iraq and Iran .....
Teachers from the UK , France , Italy , and the US ... The troops here at the US bases , who will all have christmas away from home , and with their new found all be it temporary families .
Those communities of Venezuelans , Colombians and Chileans , working in Khobar Saudi , Dammam, ... the doctors and nurses from Australia NZ and the UK in Riyadh hospitals ,( Yeh i know about the still you guys got going there ) ... cheers , have a drink on me this xmas . Christmas cannot be spent with these peoples loved ones back home , they need to work , its like a normal day here in the gulf ...
The many Eastern Europeans who work in the stores here and they do it so well . The waiters the cooks who come from everywhere in the world .... Spare a thought this xmas for all these people no matter how humble or grand they may be at a time when you are sharing a wonderful meal with your family , ... these people will be far away from their families this xmas ....
I will think of you all on this day , particularly because it will be my first xmas away from my own little family , I will think of my Babul our house boy , who washed my car for 5 years , watered my plants , took out my rubbish , helped me with the groceries. Sweet Babul from Bangladesh , a decent , reliable and great little guy . My domestic assistant Mary , from Eritrea I will always miss you dear beautiful lady with a heart of pure gold and a real friend ... A true domestic goddess ......
There is no love greater than the love of a family especially at christmas time ....
Please think of those who cannot be with their families at Christmas ... saskia
So what will you all be doing for the day then ? !2...12...12
I will be dreaming of being with my Luciano next Monday , and packing my stuff for my trip to Italy ..
Who decided today would be the end of the world anyway ? Was it Nostradamus ?
Saskia goddess of love.
A good friend of my son in law Ali , died last night , he was one of five who died by being shot during a protest outside the presidential palace in Cairo , A bright young man , married for only one year , with his wife due to give birth next month.
A good friend of mine, a Syrian Scientist and professor now working in Abu Dhabi , but been in the UK for the pat 30 years ,disappeared for a while when he went to Homs in Syria to deliver the ransom the kidnappers of his brother had demanded.
His brother was not delivered alive , after the ransom was paid , but thankfully his body was delivered whole and not mutilated .
It is known that often under these circumstances the bodies are mutilated of opposing religious or political factions . I am talking about factions within the islamic faith...
How far would you go to fight for a regime ? Do you feel safe in your part of the world ?
Does any of this Middle East crisis affect you at all ? Are you interested in the crisis ? Or do you think it is so far removed from your own life that it does not affect you ?
Do you care ?
Have you ever known anyone killed like this in such a brutal way ?
I think our problems are very small beside the problems of some people in some places in the world.
I often wonder how many people feel gratitude for their blessed lives .
saskia
It was almost midday as I left my hotel room to head off to the Mercy mission hospital close to the Park Street cemetery on Park street , I had in my wheelie bag a load of children's books donated by good people for the kiddies at Ma Theresas. When I had checked in to fly out to India my books weighed 40 kilos.. over the limit. I had picked on the counter especially because it was well known to me that middle aged female flight counter attendants had more compassion in them than A GAGGLE OF HOLY ROMAN NUNS ON HAPPY PILLS , Yes I know i am about 40 kilos over weight , they are children's books donated for the sick kids at Ma Theresas in Kolkata ( i lied , because everyone knows Ma Theresas sells the donated books and toys , the kids never see them ) . I was wondering if your airline might be able to donate this weight gratis to me as a gesture of kindness and good will for our charity today. …As I shove my identification papers under her nose She smiled , of course we can do that . ....
I don't know if any of you have ever landed at Kolkata airport in the middle of the night , its the smell that welcomes you first , along with the damp heat and the not enough lighting anywhere reminding you that you better be careful. Taxi drivers know anyone without a pre paid taxi voucher is just looking to be ripped off , if you don't have one you will be scammed for ten times the price of 6 bucks approx, and then you will have to deal with the hotel scam , the luggage scam and all kinds of only in india scams you cannot imagine could possibly exist ......the driver summoned to me with my voucher in hand with my hotel's address clearly written on it . We headed down town to Chowringhee , the place where the Indian museum lives , famous Sutter street , and the blue sky cafe , where all the charity workers gossip over toasted cheese sandwiches and coffee in a glass with cubes of sugar, all served from a kitchen with no running water. The salvation army hostel is there , not far from my hotel was the Park street cemetery , an amazing place , even in its state of magnificent decay the regency of the tombs was ethereal .
I went off after my blue sky cafe bit of toast and coffee with a prayer i won't be sick , i get religious when i am in india , only to pray i won't be sick , the prayers never work , i am always sick , i always lose 6 kilos when i am there. Thats why i don't believe in God anymore , but if he chooses to make himself known to me i want it to happen in asia ill know there is a god when I do not get sick in asia.
Off i go with my wheelie bag , outside the hospital i see a beggar , now i always come prepared for beggars , i get a bank full of ten rupee notes and stuff them in my pockets , this is one place there will never be a paucity of people ready to relieve you of your loose change . But i get my notes new from the bank , i demand them new , i want my beggars to have nice new notes. They always love new notes , its like they are getting something special ... i find that wonderful.
Why do you constantly vilify me ? What have I done to you?
Why do you call me names and make such nasty comments about me at every turn ?
What have I done to you apart from disagree with you? That has you be so nasty to me ?
Why do you call me names as you do ?
Do you want peace with me or is it your intention to continue till I am destroyed completely?
Do you want peace with yourself ? Or are you happy in this role you play here?
I wonder about the man you love so much, he seems like such a decent and intelligent man , i wonder if you value his respect ? I wonder if he is supporting you with your constant vilification and name calling of me?
Do you think it is creating a good environment here with this constant name calling by you?
Am I hated because I am friends of a popular blogger here , someone else you do not like?
Should I also take a dislike of your friend because he is associated with you ?
Why am i being singled out to be victimised by you here ?
I have been famously called by you .......a transvestite , a lesbian , a fake, a liar , a drama queen ,
a BULLY , and many more names none of which are complimentary.
You once pointed out the rules to me , but you take it apon yourself to continue with this harassment of me at every chance ... hardly following the rules ...
Can this stop ? What can I do to make it stop ?
Can I offer the hand of peace to you first ?
Or is it your intention to destroy me in anyway you can ?
You know who you are ....... you know where I am ... please get back to me , because you are taking it way too far now to the point you are making a fool of yourself , although obviously you do not see it that way .
How come they know so much ?
What would you like for lunch my darling bubba munchkin ? ….. Oma , I want noodles… what noodles would you like darling ? , long noodles, fat noodles or short noodles ? … No Oma , listen I want the ones with two holes in the ends and they bend in the middle and are short and fat. As she indicates with her fingers.... Oh MACARONI. like this , as I show her , yes them ones . Ok now what sauce do you want with them ? will Oma make you a nice creamy mushroom sauce, or sauce with tomatoes , or just cheese … No Oma I want the sauce you make with those green leaves over there ( basil) and the little nuts ( pine nuts ) and the special cheese you grate in the red thing with the handle…( fresh parmesan ) ….
Ok so you want macaroni with pesto and parmesan cheese? Ok no problem , would you like parmigiano reggiano or grana padano …. um yes that one Oma.
Ok you two come now to the table , lunch is ready , Yum says miss four who had issued the instructions for the lunch ….. Oh Oma , little miss two's eyes light up , oma you make us MACARONI PESTO yummmmmm. ….
I don't think ill be introducing them to the fois gras quite yet ( not that its available in bahrain) … They already like the orange fish eggs , ( SALMON CAVIAR ) and prefer a caesar salad with the parmesan shaved on it and the croutons crunchy flavoured with garlic..
WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS HOW DO KIDS KNOW SO MUCH ?
Aren't they delightful ? I cannot get enough of them . My lovely little grandchildren , Jannah and Aisha .
A VERY SPECIAL goodbye to TEDDY AND HIS FRIENDS . Its a good bye from me as well SO Thanks for the banter guys , … I too am becoming something I never wanted to ever be here … I am grateful to those of you who do understand me and showed appreciation.
I only ever wanted to be a funny blogger , in an attempt to entertain you and have a laugh
…
Regrettably the bad scene caused by one particular person here , who seems to think I should blog according to his rules , and won't allow me the freedom to be as I really am , which is naturally funny and happy .. has caused me to leave you.
Due to the ongoing conflict with him and of late his band of supporters who have been openly abusing me, yet don't know the whole story , but none the less feel it their obligation to also harass me at every opportunity ..
I wanted to stay strong , and stand my ground , after all small minds and silly people should not affect me , but they did affect me , and when I became so depressed these past days and was having some very dark thoughts , I knew it was time to go and let you all be .
So Teddy , Nessa , Jac, Life is Best , Elmo , Houston , …. you all did the trick …. If you ever do want to kill someone again , you have the formula already worked out , so stick together , you all make a great team …you are doing a great job ...... and good luck with your next victim ..
Saskia ……. the goddess is gone.
Day two in Cairo .
Life is like a soap opera in Cairo , the drama is intense.
I have never seen my very own sweet daughter so enraged , so annoyed at everything and SOOOO FRUSTRATED … Tata did not quite get the understanding of my daughters intentions that the three suitcases of blankets and clothes she collected for the SYRIAN refugees were not for her to be divvied up here for her own family who are not at all in need. My daughters efforts in biting her tongue in order to keep peace is a miracle to behold ….
My instruction to her is heeded….. one must look to the long term , long term peace is better than a temporary war. It can only lead to resentment and bitterness , and will never resolve anything.
There is festering mother in law resentment happening here from my well intentioned lovely daughter I am beginning to notice. The dilemma is will I try to have a word to mother in law otherwise known as TATA in an attempt to ameliorate the situation or will I leave well be alone?
I will leave it alone YES I AM A COWARD TOO. , or maybe a keeper of the peace .. Or a SUCKER .. I am sure someone will tell me what I am here , no worries let it fly…
I would not recommend trying to buy an apartment in Cairo , not that its my desire, but son in law wants to relocate from the suburb from hell ( Nasr city ) to a more ""'PLANNED"" newer suburb. That will in 20 years time become the newer version of the suburb from hell as illegal extensions are made doubling the apartment numbers , by just building more floors on top. Once again over crowding the streets and roads with traffic they cannot handle.
Something which would never happen in Australia or where you live possibly … Triple parking overnight is common here . Buildings with no garages, buildings housing a staggering number of residents and no where to park, the streets are congested beyond belief. A drive in a ""normal "' suburb which takes 10 minutes , here will take up to an hour. NIGHTMARE . LIFE IS NOT EASY IN CAIRO .
What leeds to such an environment of over pollution of everything ? too many people , no where for them to go , too many ancient cars with their inefficient filter systems creating a haze of pollution over the city and surrounds. Why don't they do as they did in bangladesh , make gas very cheap and petrol expensive . All the very dangerous cars , and there are many , will be come scrap , the air will clean up the people will be healthier and happier. Corruption is the key to this desperation here, reform will be slow coming , because of the corruption . With all the good intentions go the brotherhood the nature and psyche of a nation is very hard to change , culture is ingrained , not easy to change . AS MY BELOVED SON IN LAW ALI SAYS …""" I DONT KNOW HOW WE EVER BUILT THE PYRAMIDS , HOW DID THEY ALL EVER GET THEIR SHIT TOGETHER TO DO THAT ? I AM EGYPTIAN AND I EVEN BELIEVE THEY WERE PUT THERE BY ALIENS """""
Saskia / OMA battling it out in Cairo
I have come to join my little family who is here holidaying with the "other " grandma ….In Egyptian she is called TATA and in Dutch I am called OMA…. All the cousins are here from Alis side of the family all 7 of them
Amazingly the plane was early, Cairo airport has the longest taxiing from landing to terminal on the planet , not like in Dunedin where you can land, get your luggage exit the terminal and at home having a cup of tea in 20 minutes….The queue at immigration was short today as in 5 miles long and not the usual 15. My son in law was late , or lost … 27 taxi guys asked me if I needed a ride, 15 offered me a cheap hotel option, and two proposals of marriage , one offer of a nice gigigig , all as I waited 20 minutes for Ali to get there. If someone had a beer to sell me they would have done business.
Ali arrives in the pre smashed shabby rental car, the kind you would not notice any difference in if it was involved in a ten car pile up . Comfortingly shabby , I am with Ali on this one rent a cars must be shabby in Cairo , but this one was bliss…all the windows wound up and the AC worked. Not much in Cairo has changed since the revolution , from what I can see , only the streets seem to have more rubbish. Life seems to be going on as usual . In Bahrain where I lived for the past 5 years , totally used to the tanks on the streets now , always expecting the Tyre burners to block major roads as their predictable form of protest. More cop cars on the roads than a Mel Gibson movie comeback.
We arrive at the apartment , my bubbas are jumping for joy to see OMA again , TATA wants me to sleep in her room .. The kids want OMA in with them , thank christ for that , Tata has a very noisy clock that sings a song each time the half and hour come along then very noisily strikes out the numbers. Tata has one of those AZAN clocks that very noisily reminds her when its time to pray 5 times a day … a bed that would make brick feel soft, and a bed of nails seem an attractive proposition to sleep on . Curly cornered carpets that could trip you up in the night and a window right under a mosque's loud speaker that crackles ( i don't think its a bang and olufsen ) And an azan that must be the most out of tune azan in Cairo. ( azan = the guy who sings the call to prayer )
Im in with the kiddywinkles. They joyfully dump all their EID presents on my lap, Aisha, miss 2 and a half has already turned a wanna be Barbie dolly into spare parts….Jannah miss 4 and a half , has made her much bigger dolly into some kind of cheap hussy by reducing her clothing to her panties, and painting black texta on her eyes thinking its Kajal and sticking a diamante clip in its hair. My daughter is waiting for the right opportunity to rid the kids of these possibly carcinogenic dollies that never would have been in any kind of miss world for dollies competition let alone won one.
There never has been a battle of the GRANDMOTHERS in this family , I just obey orders, Tata loves me as much as she loves my daughter , we must be the only two in the family who don't argue with her or feel the need to fight her . I taught my daughter to keep her mouth shut when dominant female is present always , my hat off to her she gets it right. Egyptian women have a reputation for being very demanding . Mostly about nothing serious or important . Men are reactionary.naturally.
ABSOLUTE CRUELTY AND NO CLASS ,, 2 humps or one ??? You sound angry , I don't wonder why, and we are all sick people to read about him, His blogs are the most read , we wait for them , we crave them , obviously because they are the most read /visited/commented on blogs....
So taunting us, teasing us and his absolute disrespect of everyone here including myself , I mean did you people see my naked pic?? WITH THAT FLAT HAIR! ! ! DISGRACEFUL ...
I am sorry if you go and I am sorry you are upset dear. I think we all have a hate thing going on for the humped one too, but seems we all love him because we all seem to read him like nothing else here ..( oh except when my gal pal Janas in inspirational mood , or getting blasted for being outspoken as if she's the only one here who is ) dum de dum de dum... saskia goddess of love
Dear Sir or Madam,
"After having been told my danglies looked like an elderly Rastafarian I decided to take the plunge and buy some of this as previous shaving attempts had only been mildly successful and I nearly put my back out trying to reach the more difficult bits. Being a bit of a romantic I thought I would do the deed on the missus's birthday as a bit of a treat.
I ordered it well in advance and working in the North Sea I considered myself a bit above some of the characters writing the previous reviews and wrote them off as soft office types...oh my fellow sufferers how wrong I was. I waited until the other half was tucked up in bed and after giving some vague hints about a special surprise I went down to the bathroom. Initially all went well and I applied the gel and stood waiting for something to happen. I didn't have long to wait.
At first there was a gentle warmth which in a matter of seconds was replaced by an intense burning and a feeling I can only describe as like being given a barbed wire wedgie by two people intent on hitting the ceiling with my head.
Religion hadn't featured much in my life until that night but I suddenly became willing to convert to any religion to stop the violent burning around the turd tunnel and what seemed like the destruction of the meat and two veg. Struggling to not bite through my bottom lip I tried to wash the gel of in the sink and only succeeded in blocking the plughole with a mat of hair.
Through the haze of tears I struggled out of the bathroom across the hall into the kitchen by this time walking was not really possible and I crawled the final yard to the fridge in the hope of some form of cold relief. I yanked the freezer drawer out and found a tub of ice cream, tore the lid of and positioned it under me. The relief was fantastic but only temporary as it melted fairly quickly and the fiery stabbing soon returned.
Due to the shape of the ice cream tub I hadn't managed to give the starfish any treatment and I groped around in the draw for something else as I was sure my vision was going to fail fairly soon. I grabbed a bag of what I later found out was frozen sprouts and tore it open trying to be quiet as I did so. I took a handful of them and tried in vain to clench some between the cheeks of my butt. This was not doing the trick as some of the gel had found its way up the chutney channel and it felt like the space shuttle was running its engines behind me.
This was probably and hopefully the only time in my life I was going to wish there was a gay snowman in the kitchen which should give you some idea of the depths I was willing to sink to in order to ease the pain. The only solution my pain crazed mind could come up with was to gently ease one of the sprouts where no veg had gone before.
Unfortunately, alerted by the strange grunts coming from the kitchen the other half chose that moment to come and investigate and was greeted by the sight of me, butt in the air, strawberry ice cream dripping from my bell end pushing a sprout up my butt while muttering..." Ooooh that feels good ".
Understandably this was a shock to her and she let out a scream and as I hadn't heard her come in it caused an involuntary spasm of shock in myself which resulted in the sprout being ejected at quite some speed in her direction. I can understand that having a sprout farted against your leg at 11 at night in the kitchen probably wasn't the special surprise she was expecting and having to explain to the kids the next day what the strange hollow in the ice cream was didn't improve my status...
So to sum it up Veet removes hair, dignity and self respect......."
Bob
YES FOLKS ANOTHER RELIGIOUS BLOG HERE from the goddess of love herself APHRODITE
Now I reckon if Jesus loves us and god is love etc.. How come people are killing each other in Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain< egypt and Syria, Libya, and where ever else there is war? What about the poor little kids with arms and legs blown off ? where is the evidence jesus loves and God saves when you see that happening ?
I am not poking fun at anyone here , ............JUST TELL US WHY ?
Saskia
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