Tuesday, March 15, 2011

DAILY FACEBOOK DEBATE

Protests in Oman.

A standard working day in a few fancy offices/villas around Muscat.

Starring:

The usual suspects i.e. 3 lawyers, 1 tax consultant (or whatever you call yourself nowadays, Dr. S.), 1 Finance Manager, 1 Diving Instructor cum IT expert.

Meeting point: Facebook

Casus belli: A pointless status update on ES’ Wall

ES

is bored, sleepy and really wants to go home...

AZ

Same same, TM just said that they are protesting at the Intercontinental...Are they going to cancel the Pilates class tomorrow???

ES

And the Al Bustan, OIFC, Royal Hosp...On another note, "OAMC moves a step closer to metered taxis". Hmmmmmm. Don't they think they're making enough money already?? I mean, petrol is cheaper here than UAE, yet UAE cabs are less than half the... price of ours!

ES

I reckon we could break through the protest line for Pilates. (Tues. not Mon) :P

RM

Protesting at Intercon? I am on my way to Costa in Shatti now.. uff yesterday I heard that some of the protesters somewhere in the country were asking for debts to be written off... Hello???

AZ

RM, keep us updated!
ES, we have to break through tomorrow as well...EBPG and Pub Quiz. Hope that the protesters will stop Mr. Wikipedia from showing up :)

AZ

RM: I want somebody to pay for my apartment at The Wave. I am officially on strike and I am sure that ES will join me :)

ES

Come on - nobody will stop us going to get alcohol - esp. if we invite them in ;-))Who do we tip off re: Mr W??

VC

Good afternoon ladies, yeap, Intercon & in other hotels. To get the big picture and fill in any free time go youtube and watch Zeitgeist (it's in 12 parts) and then we discuss it on Monday.This was my morning contribution and now off to [ ] (don't ask me why, I'm not sure either)

CS

Nobody will stop us getting to the Quiz or Pilates, they won't know what's hit them if they try :). Could also do with going home and sleeping

RM

In the end I had to have my meeting at caribou in shining shitty. Apparently they closed the road. Whatever.

CS

Just found out that because of the protests the Ministry of Man Power is not issuing anymore work visa's for non-Omani's, which has somewhat buggered up my plans. Not a good day! :(

ES

eh?! how on earth did they get to that conclusion from salary rises.

CS

They want the expats out, that's one of the issues that some have been protesting about.

ES

Oh perfect!! But without us...... well... I don't need to say it really do I?!

AZ

CS, I am told it's for one month only (and I would not be surprised if they abandon the idea before then)...No worries :)

ES

Or maybe we should all go on 'leave' for a month and see how the economy fares....

CS

I like that idea, girly holiday anyone? AZ - do you know what the MOM has said? I heard this through someone else

ES

Oooooooooooooh yes - Dubai for a month! Shopping shopping and .. ok, partying too!

AZ

Incidentally, our FB time is becoming the most interesting/best informed socio-political debate in the Sultanate!
I am told that the MOM suspended the issue of new labour clearances for one month. I am also told that the control on Omanisation became VERY strict (more on this with names and figures tomorrow). Please bear in mind that some lucky business sectors are not subject to Omanisation!
ES: I cannot afford a month in Dubai...that's why I am flying to Italy instead (if this makes sense).

ES

Always good to be amongst the cutting edge info. Look forward to getting stats. Which businesses are 'exempt'?
AZ - seems I may be going to Italy too instead of Canada (skiing).. not that I'll really complain at that - great food, half the ...distance! :-)

AZ:

ES: Italy when?

CS

Why no Canada?!

ES

Don't ask - logistics, resort-to-resort issues (we were exchanging our own French apt 'points' to stay in a same-brand resort in whistler, but they didn't have enough availability for the whole group)... I don't mind - it's a LOOOONG way from here! Next year.

ES

AZ: 2-9 April or around then.

DAB

I am tired of all of this. I want to go away too.

At this point, another long and hard working day in sunny Oman comes to an end and all our little Expat friends return home.

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2 comments:

Dr S said...

;-)

Fame at last eh...

I think I'll re-brand to "Tax BD and operations".

Yours debatedly,

Dr S

AZ said...

"Tax BD and operations" is too complicated!

Yours debatedly

AZ

P.S. The revolution must be over, the debate already moved to "shopping in Dubai" and "girlie movies night". O tempora o mores...