Discussion
this isn't a complaint about the people involved, as i appreciate it is often literally more than their job is worth, but f
k me the stupidity and inflexibility of this place is something else.
i got home last night to find my key didn't work in the lock. the spare, once retrieved from a mate, didn't either. at this point i sighed, knowing how much of a bh this was likely to be.
i got home at 8:30pm. i got into the flat at 1:30am. from start to finish it was a lesson in frustration delivered by true masters of the art.
the locksmith wouldn't come without the say so of the security supervisor. he wouldn't do anything without his superior's say so, who wouldn't do anything until the building manager came, who arrived with the real estate agent in tow....
before they even called the locksmith, all 5 of us were outside my front door with them trying to tell me it was a fault with the handle, and me trying to explain to them how locks work and the handle is meaningless if the barrel is jammed [as it was]. i was actually gobsmacked as they tried for 20mins to open the door by sticking a credit card in the jamb as they do in hollywood.
they said they had a master key. i told them it doesn't matter as the barrel is jammed. they wanted to do it anyway, but couldn't get the key without signing loads of forms to show why they were doing it and who requested it. it was at this point they started discussing how i could prove i actually lived there.
i may have displayed a slight amount of irritation at this point [2hrs in!] and gone into a rant about how irrating they were, how irritating dubai can be, and how the hell they all manage to get anything done at all. i ended by telling them to call the police if they didn't think i lived there, as there was clearly a burglary in progress to which they were all accomplices.
the top security guy scuttled off to get the master key, which had fk all effect given the barrel wouldn't turn. i noted here that indians do not understand sarcasm. then the locksmith arrived who again wouldn't proceed until satisfied i lived there.......
i have no idea why people think india is a threat to anyones economy. i am also wondering why i think it's a good idea to go there on holiday. don't get me wrong they were all nice guys and they negotiated a 40% discount with the locksmith, but common sense is not a concept they understand. i can, however, fully understand why so much admin work is outsourced there. want something done strictly by the book, get it done in india.
k me the stupidity and inflexibility of this place is something else.i got home last night to find my key didn't work in the lock. the spare, once retrieved from a mate, didn't either. at this point i sighed, knowing how much of a b
h this was likely to be.i got home at 8:30pm. i got into the flat at 1:30am. from start to finish it was a lesson in frustration delivered by true masters of the art.
the locksmith wouldn't come without the say so of the security supervisor. he wouldn't do anything without his superior's say so, who wouldn't do anything until the building manager came, who arrived with the real estate agent in tow....
before they even called the locksmith, all 5 of us were outside my front door with them trying to tell me it was a fault with the handle, and me trying to explain to them how locks work and the handle is meaningless if the barrel is jammed [as it was]. i was actually gobsmacked as they tried for 20mins to open the door by sticking a credit card in the jamb as they do in hollywood.
they said they had a master key. i told them it doesn't matter as the barrel is jammed. they wanted to do it anyway, but couldn't get the key without signing loads of forms to show why they were doing it and who requested it. it was at this point they started discussing how i could prove i actually lived there.
i may have displayed a slight amount of irritation at this point [2hrs in!] and gone into a rant about how irrating they were, how irritating dubai can be, and how the hell they all manage to get anything done at all. i ended by telling them to call the police if they didn't think i lived there, as there was clearly a burglary in progress to which they were all accomplices.
the top security guy scuttled off to get the master key, which had f
k all effect given the barrel wouldn't turn. i noted here that indians do not understand sarcasm. then the locksmith arrived who again wouldn't proceed until satisfied i lived there.......i have no idea why people think india is a threat to anyones economy. i am also wondering why i think it's a good idea to go there on holiday. don't get me wrong they were all nice guys and they negotiated a 40% discount with the locksmith, but common sense is not a concept they understand. i can, however, fully understand why so much admin work is outsourced there. want something done strictly by the book, get it done in india.
Yeah, t'was a good read. I feel you could have lost it a bit more, and gone postal, but hey, we're all different!
The reason (if there was any reason) that Idia could be a threat to other enonomies lies purely with the fact of cost. You or I wouldn't work for the salaries most are on, but to them it's good money.
I'll furnish you all with the details of my current nightmare when it is resolved one way of the other, and you won't believe how corrupt this place can be.
The reason (if there was any reason) that Idia could be a threat to other enonomies lies purely with the fact of cost. You or I wouldn't work for the salaries most are on, but to them it's good money.
I'll furnish you all with the details of my current nightmare when it is resolved one way of the other, and you won't believe how corrupt this place can be.
i never really lose it. it was the situation and the fact everything is wrapped up in strict rules that pissed me off, swearing at someone who's doing their job and is dispensible if they mess up isn't me.
once the smith got the door open, i had a table football tournament with the security guards whilst the new barrel was fitted. they are nice guys.
it's the varied application of rules here that grates. things like HSE doesn't exist in the main part, and you can be in a taxi with the driver running lights, smoking and chatting on the phone. but ask for the simplest thing and you run into a brick wall. i still have to find my tenency agreement to satisfy the security manager, despite my telling him my name isn't even on it as i'm subletting.
as an interlude: here's a shopping story. i bought a mac on saturday and wanted the top spec. mac mini. the official seller in dubai mall said they'd have to order it in and it'd be 4weeks. i asked how much and he just went on the apple uae store and added 200AED. i noticed all the shop prices were higher than online, so i went on the computer next to him and ordered 5000 AED worth, delivered 9th november. his face was a picture.
yep, odd place but weather's great, i'm off home early to go to the beach. life is still good on balance
once the smith got the door open, i had a table football tournament with the security guards whilst the new barrel was fitted. they are nice guys.
it's the varied application of rules here that grates. things like HSE doesn't exist in the main part, and you can be in a taxi with the driver running lights, smoking and chatting on the phone. but ask for the simplest thing and you run into a brick wall. i still have to find my tenency agreement to satisfy the security manager, despite my telling him my name isn't even on it as i'm subletting.
as an interlude: here's a shopping story. i bought a mac on saturday and wanted the top spec. mac mini. the official seller in dubai mall said they'd have to order it in and it'd be 4weeks. i asked how much and he just went on the apple uae store and added 200AED. i noticed all the shop prices were higher than online, so i went on the computer next to him and ordered 5000 AED worth, delivered 9th november. his face was a picture.
yep, odd place but weather's great, i'm off home early to go to the beach. life is still good on balance
Not a major annoyance, just more miscommunication today...
Teaboy brings me a timesheet, I tell him "No it's ok, I've already done one", he says "Ok Sir" and wanders off.
5 minutes later...
Teaboy brings me a timesheet, I tell him "No it's ok, I've already done one", he says "Ok Sir" and wanders off.
5 minutes later...
I take the timesheet, and put it in the bin.
Just got to wait 5 minutes now...
Teaboy brings me a timesheet, I tell him "No it's ok, I've already done one", he says "Ok Sir" and wanders off.
5 minutes later...
Teaboy brings me a timesheet, I tell him "No it's ok, I've already done one", he says "Ok Sir" and wanders off.
5 minutes later...
I take the timesheet, and put it in the bin.
Just got to wait 5 minutes now...
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