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  • Daily Archives

    11 March 2014

    Travel

    Over-served & Underwhelmed

    There is a glitzy 5-Star hotel in Qatar that boasts Swarovski Couches in the lobby; they know who they are!  The management is determined to offer legendary service; whether you want it or not.  The hotel is way over-staffed at…

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    Travel

    Tipping Point

    We once had an indifferent and borderline rude service at a restaurant however; the food itself was quite good. It was my treat that day so, I paid the bill exactly as it stated on paper and omitted to leave…

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    Travel

    Lost & Found Amman Airport

    If you are travelling to Jordan, a nice country to visit, do yourself a favour: don’t leave any valuables behind on the plane.  You will get it back, but not before your nerves are stretched to just before snapping point….

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    Shorties

    Pope Sylvester II

    Stupid Questions:  In 1998 I was asked a question by a worried Belgian client if I could help with his company’s state of readiness for the Millennium Bug; we all worried the world would come to an end on 1…

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    Travel

    Lean On Me

    I had suffered a very nasty bout of flu while in Canada during my Christmas break visiting a girlfriend and her family.  I was looking forward to returning to normal life in a relatively warmer weather so, finding myself sitting…

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    Shorties

    How Can I Not Help You?

    Algeria is a beautiful country but they don’t do “Customer Service”. Here is a conversation I once had with Reception in one of the most prestigious hotels: Receptionist: Yes? Me: Can you please send someone to stock the bathroom with…

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    Travel

    Le Chien N’est Pas Mort!

    I had a long-term assignment with a company based in Brussels.  Living in the UK meant I had to take the short flight on Monday mornings to the Belgian Capital and back to London or Birmingham on Friday nights.  I…

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    Shorties

    Strong Arm of the Law

    So, what are the minimum requirements for an average police person  or security person in a sensitive area such as an Airport Departure Lounge?  Fitness / strength? Alertness? Sharp shooting?  Maybe. At an airport in a major North African city,…

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    Travel

    Calling Ashraf

    I cross the border between Jordan and Israel about twice a year for business purposes; I have done this for the last 5 years.  Being a keen mathematician, by my reckoning, this makes roughly 10 crossings one way and 10…

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