“Do you think that I count the days? There is only one day left, always starting over: it is given to us at dawn and taken away from us at dusk.” Jean-Paul Sartre Thursday It is UAE National Day. At the last minute, the Government declared it could no longer be called National Day. It…
Category: the grind
Sharjah Smog
“I don’t know about other people, but when I wake up in the morning and put my shoes on, I think, Jesus Christ, now what?” Charles Bukowski Thursday Another week down. A better pace to the days. Home and the usual spread from Al Jeawerah. I eat enough for four people. Friday Sleep in. Gym….
Decisions Made
“The man who cannot choose has lost the human condition.” Anthony Burgess Thursday Another week. Contracts have been signed and the next two years are set. Is the excitement about change? Leaving here? Both. “Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards.” Søren Kierkegaard Friday Sleep in. Over 11 hours sleep….
Opportunities
“It is not for me to judge another man’s life. I must judge, I must choose, I must spurn, purely for myself. For myself, alone.” Herman Hesse Thursday There is an option. An offer on the table. A good offer. Safe. Clean. Practical. Responsible. Reliable. Should we turn it down? There is no enthusiasm for…
Dubai Decisions
“The difference between passion and addiction is that between a divine spark and a flame that incinerates.” Gabor Maté Thursday A busy week and a colleague has left. People come and go, in life and work, but this person worked closely with Shell. They were a strong team and relied on each other for professional…
Reflection
“The more often a stupidity is repeated, the more it gets the appearance of wisdom.” Voltaire Thursday A week down. The first week back from break looked remarkably similar to the last week before break. The past reflecting the future. Friday “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act but a…
Departures – Dubai
“There was nowhere to go but everywhere, so just keep on rolling under the stars.” Jack Kerouac Thursday Straight from school to the airport. A cheap flight to Kraków. School is already a distant memory. Dubai in the past. For now. “stay togetherlearn the flowersgo light” Gary Snyder
Love What You Hate
“Hate is a lack of imagination.” Graham Greene Thursday When you are indifferent to something there is no pressure. The interview went well. It was more of a conversation than a grilling. Di and David have arrived. A stop over on their way to Europe. It is always good to see family. When you decide…
Mahogany Miasma
“Nobody complains about all the fog. I know why, now: as bad as it is, you can slip back in it and feel safe.” Ken Kesey Thursday Thick fog this morning. Not the milky fog, this is the sick brown fog. When I first arrived I thought the fog was filled with dust. It pollution….