The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
Jan 5th 2008, 4:55 pm
#1
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
The ultimate Saudi thread……. For all of those unanswered questions…….
As a concerned and caring citizen of The Bored, I sense a number of the longer-standing members (so to speak) are getting rather tired of all the ‘sorry to ask this again, but what’s Saudi like?’ threads. So here it is – “The Dean’s Unofficial Guide To The Magic Kingdom”.
UXB, Nottmbantam, whufc4life, madmidwife, etc, etc……. read on………. Lionheart, please just tolerate me for a moment, as I will certainly be including some negatives. (I’m also including a brief edited and updated cut-and-paste jobby from something I posted some months ago). If there are any queries about Saudi in future, please just bump this thread up.
And anyone is welcome to add comments later if they feel they have a different view, or that I have missed something out.
Anyway, I’m back in Riyadh myself now, for my FOURTH tour of duty in the last 15 years, although this time it’s only a 6-month project, at least initially, ending in mid-Feb. My opinion is therefore – at the very least – up-to-date.
A number of the other threads/replies have covered a lot of sensible ground, and I quite understand why some of the alarmists are urging caution. However, Saudi is fine once you get used to it, although it has obvious restrictions, especially for a woman/wife. They have to wear an abaya (the black overalls) in public (though not necessarily at work – it depends on the type of work, and whether any men are likely to enter the office), although the need to “Cover Your Hair!” no longer seems to be enforced. It was never the law that you had to – but the muttawa (see below) enjoyed flexing their muscles in pretending it was.
Also – the biggest culture shock for most people – women will not be able to drive.
The terror threat seems to have eased somewhat (probably helped by the huge rewards the authorities have been offering for ‘information’ leading to arrests). If anyone has been there before, at a very unstable time, Riyadh in 2008 won’t bother them unduly.
I visit other cities on a regular basis, but have never been based in them full-time. The Eastern region is the most relaxed (Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran), perhaps due to its immediate proximity to the neighbouring island of Bahrain (a wonderful weekend r-and-r destination), while Jeddah in the Western region is more cosmopolitan and business-like, but horribly polluted (you can SEE the brown air on the hottest days).
The East and West are uncomfortably humid during the summer months, but pleasantly mild in winter. Riyadh is in the middle of the desert, so has virtually zero humidity (which makes the scorching summers curiously bearable). There are no rivers in the whole country, so only the coasts ever get the humidity.
Safety/security - The security aspects can be quite daunting at first (six machine gun posts and a couple of armoured cars guard my compound), but it’s everyday life as we know it here. The commanding officer at my compound always stops me to talk about Manchester United – which, come to think of it, is a more terrifying subject than the guns themselves.
Saudi locals - Most people who hang around this website are Dubai-based, although some have also done the Riyadh thing but, as someone who has worked in every GCC country except Qatar, I can tell you that work-wise, the locals you will meet in Saudi are streets ahead of Emiratis, Kuwaitis, and the other local nationalities in the region. Better-educated and genuinely willing to work hard and learn.
The ‘muttawa/muttaween’ – members of an organization known officially as the Society for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, but essentially self-appointed guardians of all things Islamic. They are NOT – as is sometimes popularly assumed – a sort of ‘religious police’, as they have no powers to act unless accompanied by a police officer. As they are always male (police AND muttawa), and are not allowed to touch, manhandle or arrest a female, their reputation is largely based on intimidation. They seem to have virtually disappeared recently however – not sure why, or if it’s a permanent change.
And Islam has no equivalent to a ‘priesthood’ or ‘clergy’ as such, so there are no officials or staff employed directly by the mosques. The preaching you hear over the mosque loudspeakers is usually done by volunteers.
Employment: obviously it’s tax free as things stand. There are often rumours that do the rounds that tax will be introduced but the big family firms (Olayan, Bin Laden, Juffali, etc) are known to have lobbied the government to resist introducing this, as they fear the loss of their skilled expat workforce.
A similar story applies to “Saudisation” – the official policy aimed at replacing us infidels by locals within a given period of time. In practice, senior Western management will be here for many years to come, but middle managers will gradually be replaced by locals.
Once resident, you will be given an ‘iqama’, a sort of ID card that MUST be carried at all times. Failure to produce it when asked means a mandatory trip to jail for 24 hours, or longer if nobody turns up there to show it to the nice man on your behalf.
I have only spent one night in jail, way back in 1992, but at least I survived the experience – unlike the rat that was staring at me from the corner of the cell. Well, at least I had fresh meat for breakfast……. Anyway you soon learn to carry your iqama with you.
In terms of employment contracts, the previous norm was to get your salary agreed (usually quoted monthly), then the employer added on another bit to cover somewhere to live, travel costs, etc, but now it tends to be a ‘lump sum’ deal, because…..
…….accommodation is a major issue – it is ESSENTIAL to get this sorted out before arriving. Women need the compound lifestyle around them, and this applies to non-working wives as well as working women. Compounds are full right now (with long waiting lists), but a number of employers simply hang on to apartments/villas even when they have nobody to live in them. That is simply because they know they will never get another one if they let that one go.
If the firm is simply offering you an ‘allowance’ instead of actually finding you a place to live, be very blunt and at least ask them for their help in finding you a place. Tell them you have heard there is NO accommodation available. Do NOT assume you can turn up, stay in a hotel for a few days, and then find suitable accommodation. You won’t.
The British School is said to be OK but only goes up to pre-GCSE age groups. To study the Baccalaureate or A Levels, your little angels will have to be sent back to the UK, which of course (depending on your family circumstances) involves considerable extra cost, and social upheaval. Not all packages include school fees, or a contribution to them, but some do. I have no information about waiting lists, etc, but they have a decent website so you can follow up that line of enquiry yourselves.
Cost of living is generally reasonably low, although flats and villas have gone up with the effects of supply and demand. A surprising (considering it’s one bloody great desert) amount of fresh food is grown locally, and is very cheap. Tomatoes to turnips – all locally grown and cheap in the supermarkets here. And the dairy and fresh meat industries are superb – a number of the big farming producers are my clients, and what they produce is usually superb. I have visited the farms and in most cases you could eat off the floor.
Petrol is even cheaper than Dubai – the equivalent of six pounds or thereabouts will fill any gas tank on any car I’m aware of. Cars themselves are about half of the UK price (no VAT, no car tax). Even more so – some of the Asian manufacturers have been dumping cars on the market here (also true of Dubai I believe).
Someone asked about buying a car here – the second hand market is very patchy, but that’s partly because of new cars being so cheap. You need to be resident here (not just a visitor) to buy one. As a ‘temporary contracting consultant’ I cannot buy, but I can rent. Taxis cheap-ish, such that many people never feel the need to buy or rent.
There was also a query about whether GBP 3-4k was enough to get a car – I didn’t fully understand that, so can you please repeat it, whoever you are?
You cannot buy a second-hand car privately without the MOT-style inspection documents being completed – so all purchases and sales are put through an agent anyway (he does all of that in return for a modest fee). The ownership and registration document is known as an ‘istimara’.
Car insurance is officially compulsory, but in practice is still largely voluntary in the second-hand market. As elsewhere in the region, if you are involved in an accident, you MUST wait for the police to turn up and issue the necessary papers apportioning blame, giving repairers authority to proceed, etc.
Usually – if the other driver is a Saudi local, YOU will be told you are to blame, but if you are a white expat, and the other driver is a NON-white expat, HE will be blamed. Which brings me to…..
Social matters - If you are not white, watch out, whatever your nationality. In many ways, it’s even more racist than Dubai. Thousands of non-whites (particularly from the sub-continent) are employed here of course, especially in accounts and finance related roles, but racism is rife. You’ll see it in the passport queues at the airports, which is a hell of a culture shock to first-time visitors.
And of course, for unskilled non-whites (e.g. road sweepers, toilet cleaners, etc), life is virtually equivalent to being a prisoner. Saudis will not do that sort of work. Period. And of course it affects salary negotiations. A Saudi who is only “earning Indian money” is not highly regarded (and, yes, you will hear that expression).
Mrs Lionessheart is African, so she and Lionheart will also have their own views to add. (By the way – does the offer for the Elton John tickets still apply??)
I have probably missed out loads of stuff. If I think of anything else I’ll re-post, or just post your specific queries and I’ll reply to those too.
There - a whole weekend's work just to benefit the readers of The Bored - what a good boy I am........
As a concerned and caring citizen of The Bored, I sense a number of the longer-standing members (so to speak) are getting rather tired of all the ‘sorry to ask this again, but what’s Saudi like?’ threads. So here it is – “The Dean’s Unofficial Guide To The Magic Kingdom”.
UXB, Nottmbantam, whufc4life, madmidwife, etc, etc……. read on………. Lionheart, please just tolerate me for a moment, as I will certainly be including some negatives. (I’m also including a brief edited and updated cut-and-paste jobby from something I posted some months ago). If there are any queries about Saudi in future, please just bump this thread up.
And anyone is welcome to add comments later if they feel they have a different view, or that I have missed something out.
Anyway, I’m back in Riyadh myself now, for my FOURTH tour of duty in the last 15 years, although this time it’s only a 6-month project, at least initially, ending in mid-Feb. My opinion is therefore – at the very least – up-to-date.
A number of the other threads/replies have covered a lot of sensible ground, and I quite understand why some of the alarmists are urging caution. However, Saudi is fine once you get used to it, although it has obvious restrictions, especially for a woman/wife. They have to wear an abaya (the black overalls) in public (though not necessarily at work – it depends on the type of work, and whether any men are likely to enter the office), although the need to “Cover Your Hair!” no longer seems to be enforced. It was never the law that you had to – but the muttawa (see below) enjoyed flexing their muscles in pretending it was.
Also – the biggest culture shock for most people – women will not be able to drive.
The terror threat seems to have eased somewhat (probably helped by the huge rewards the authorities have been offering for ‘information’ leading to arrests). If anyone has been there before, at a very unstable time, Riyadh in 2008 won’t bother them unduly.
I visit other cities on a regular basis, but have never been based in them full-time. The Eastern region is the most relaxed (Khobar, Dammam, Dhahran), perhaps due to its immediate proximity to the neighbouring island of Bahrain (a wonderful weekend r-and-r destination), while Jeddah in the Western region is more cosmopolitan and business-like, but horribly polluted (you can SEE the brown air on the hottest days).
The East and West are uncomfortably humid during the summer months, but pleasantly mild in winter. Riyadh is in the middle of the desert, so has virtually zero humidity (which makes the scorching summers curiously bearable). There are no rivers in the whole country, so only the coasts ever get the humidity.
Safety/security - The security aspects can be quite daunting at first (six machine gun posts and a couple of armoured cars guard my compound), but it’s everyday life as we know it here. The commanding officer at my compound always stops me to talk about Manchester United – which, come to think of it, is a more terrifying subject than the guns themselves.
Saudi locals - Most people who hang around this website are Dubai-based, although some have also done the Riyadh thing but, as someone who has worked in every GCC country except Qatar, I can tell you that work-wise, the locals you will meet in Saudi are streets ahead of Emiratis, Kuwaitis, and the other local nationalities in the region. Better-educated and genuinely willing to work hard and learn.
The ‘muttawa/muttaween’ – members of an organization known officially as the Society for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, but essentially self-appointed guardians of all things Islamic. They are NOT – as is sometimes popularly assumed – a sort of ‘religious police’, as they have no powers to act unless accompanied by a police officer. As they are always male (police AND muttawa), and are not allowed to touch, manhandle or arrest a female, their reputation is largely based on intimidation. They seem to have virtually disappeared recently however – not sure why, or if it’s a permanent change.
And Islam has no equivalent to a ‘priesthood’ or ‘clergy’ as such, so there are no officials or staff employed directly by the mosques. The preaching you hear over the mosque loudspeakers is usually done by volunteers.
Employment: obviously it’s tax free as things stand. There are often rumours that do the rounds that tax will be introduced but the big family firms (Olayan, Bin Laden, Juffali, etc) are known to have lobbied the government to resist introducing this, as they fear the loss of their skilled expat workforce.
A similar story applies to “Saudisation” – the official policy aimed at replacing us infidels by locals within a given period of time. In practice, senior Western management will be here for many years to come, but middle managers will gradually be replaced by locals.
Once resident, you will be given an ‘iqama’, a sort of ID card that MUST be carried at all times. Failure to produce it when asked means a mandatory trip to jail for 24 hours, or longer if nobody turns up there to show it to the nice man on your behalf.
I have only spent one night in jail, way back in 1992, but at least I survived the experience – unlike the rat that was staring at me from the corner of the cell. Well, at least I had fresh meat for breakfast……. Anyway you soon learn to carry your iqama with you.
In terms of employment contracts, the previous norm was to get your salary agreed (usually quoted monthly), then the employer added on another bit to cover somewhere to live, travel costs, etc, but now it tends to be a ‘lump sum’ deal, because…..
…….accommodation is a major issue – it is ESSENTIAL to get this sorted out before arriving. Women need the compound lifestyle around them, and this applies to non-working wives as well as working women. Compounds are full right now (with long waiting lists), but a number of employers simply hang on to apartments/villas even when they have nobody to live in them. That is simply because they know they will never get another one if they let that one go.
If the firm is simply offering you an ‘allowance’ instead of actually finding you a place to live, be very blunt and at least ask them for their help in finding you a place. Tell them you have heard there is NO accommodation available. Do NOT assume you can turn up, stay in a hotel for a few days, and then find suitable accommodation. You won’t.
The British School is said to be OK but only goes up to pre-GCSE age groups. To study the Baccalaureate or A Levels, your little angels will have to be sent back to the UK, which of course (depending on your family circumstances) involves considerable extra cost, and social upheaval. Not all packages include school fees, or a contribution to them, but some do. I have no information about waiting lists, etc, but they have a decent website so you can follow up that line of enquiry yourselves.
Cost of living is generally reasonably low, although flats and villas have gone up with the effects of supply and demand. A surprising (considering it’s one bloody great desert) amount of fresh food is grown locally, and is very cheap. Tomatoes to turnips – all locally grown and cheap in the supermarkets here. And the dairy and fresh meat industries are superb – a number of the big farming producers are my clients, and what they produce is usually superb. I have visited the farms and in most cases you could eat off the floor.
Petrol is even cheaper than Dubai – the equivalent of six pounds or thereabouts will fill any gas tank on any car I’m aware of. Cars themselves are about half of the UK price (no VAT, no car tax). Even more so – some of the Asian manufacturers have been dumping cars on the market here (also true of Dubai I believe).
Someone asked about buying a car here – the second hand market is very patchy, but that’s partly because of new cars being so cheap. You need to be resident here (not just a visitor) to buy one. As a ‘temporary contracting consultant’ I cannot buy, but I can rent. Taxis cheap-ish, such that many people never feel the need to buy or rent.
There was also a query about whether GBP 3-4k was enough to get a car – I didn’t fully understand that, so can you please repeat it, whoever you are?
You cannot buy a second-hand car privately without the MOT-style inspection documents being completed – so all purchases and sales are put through an agent anyway (he does all of that in return for a modest fee). The ownership and registration document is known as an ‘istimara’.
Car insurance is officially compulsory, but in practice is still largely voluntary in the second-hand market. As elsewhere in the region, if you are involved in an accident, you MUST wait for the police to turn up and issue the necessary papers apportioning blame, giving repairers authority to proceed, etc.
Usually – if the other driver is a Saudi local, YOU will be told you are to blame, but if you are a white expat, and the other driver is a NON-white expat, HE will be blamed. Which brings me to…..
Social matters - If you are not white, watch out, whatever your nationality. In many ways, it’s even more racist than Dubai. Thousands of non-whites (particularly from the sub-continent) are employed here of course, especially in accounts and finance related roles, but racism is rife. You’ll see it in the passport queues at the airports, which is a hell of a culture shock to first-time visitors.
And of course, for unskilled non-whites (e.g. road sweepers, toilet cleaners, etc), life is virtually equivalent to being a prisoner. Saudis will not do that sort of work. Period. And of course it affects salary negotiations. A Saudi who is only “earning Indian money” is not highly regarded (and, yes, you will hear that expression).
Mrs Lionessheart is African, so she and Lionheart will also have their own views to add. (By the way – does the offer for the Elton John tickets still apply??)
I have probably missed out loads of stuff. If I think of anything else I’ll re-post, or just post your specific queries and I’ll reply to those too.
There - a whole weekend's work just to benefit the readers of The Bored - what a good boy I am........
Last edited by The Dean; Jan 5th 2008 at 5:03 pm. Reason: It NEEDED editing......
Jan 5th 2008, 6:50 pm
#2
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Riyadh.
Posts: 1,899
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
Many thanks to The Dean, has addressed a lot of the questions I had, and perhaps given me more to think about !
It was myself asking about buying cars and stuff, which is still the intention, but will play it by ear when I first get out there. Still not heard anything yet about progressing the move, will have to sit tight I guess.
If this is an often asked question, perhaps the moderators can upgrade this posting to a 'Sticky'?
cheers.
It was myself asking about buying cars and stuff, which is still the intention, but will play it by ear when I first get out there. Still not heard anything yet about progressing the move, will have to sit tight I guess.
If this is an often asked question, perhaps the moderators can upgrade this posting to a 'Sticky'?
cheers.
Jan 5th 2008, 11:55 pm
#3
Just Joined
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
bravo Decanus, a cyclop's piece of work if there be one!
may I just ask, is it practical/safe to drive to bahrain or better stick to planes?
what's a " r-and-r destination" anyways?
pardon my italenglish..
may I just ask, is it practical/safe to drive to bahrain or better stick to planes?
what's a " r-and-r destination" anyways?
pardon my italenglish..
Last edited by Eeyore; Jan 24th 2008 at 6:06 pm. Reason: removed unnecessary quoting of entire original post
Jan 6th 2008, 3:36 am
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
You can take a rented car there, but there is all sorts of documentation that is needed from the rental firm first.
Jan 6th 2008, 5:16 am
#5
BE Co-Founder
Joined: Feb 2000
Location: Florida
Posts: 25,928
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
Dean, thank you for sharing such useful info. I've added it to the wiki for you. All you have to do if you want to add new stuff is click on the "edit" tab.
I will also add it to the top of the forum so its easier for other people to find.
I will also add it to the top of the forum so its easier for other people to find.
Jan 6th 2008, 9:50 am
#6
Account Closed
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 7,028
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
An excellent piece of work. You may need to address the issue of alcohol...my view is that, if you visit UK pubs more than twice a week, you will either hate Saudi life or end up in jail. The same obviously applies to narcotics. Mind you, if you are gay and male, you would find life very nice...hand-holding is common so long as you are not of mixed genders. Another issue is being with a woman who is neither your wife or a blood relative...even out in the malls, you can be challenged.
Jan 6th 2008, 10:43 am
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 18,187
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
An excellent piece of work. You may need to address the issue of alcohol...my view is that, if you visit UK pubs more than twice a week, you will either hate Saudi life or end up in jail. The same obviously applies to narcotics. Mind you, if you are gay and male, you would find life very nice...hand-holding is common so long as you are not of mixed genders. Another issue is being with a woman who is neither your wife or a blood relative...even out in the malls, you can be challenged.
MM, xx
Jan 6th 2008, 11:16 am
#8
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Doha, Qatar
Posts: 2,675
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
An excellent piece of work. You may need to address the issue of alcohol...my view is that, if you visit UK pubs more than twice a week, you will either hate Saudi life or end up in jail. The same obviously applies to narcotics. Mind you, if you are gay and male, you would find life very nice...hand-holding is common so long as you are not of mixed genders. Another issue is being with a woman who is neither your wife or a blood relative...even out in the malls, you can be challenged.
All is VERY available, and copiously consumed.....
Jan 6th 2008, 11:18 am
#9
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Doha, Qatar
Posts: 2,675
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
It is difficult, but certainly done.
Jan 6th 2008, 11:26 am
#10
Not an evil hypnotist
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,975
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
So what are the best restaurants in Riyadh? I'm rather partial to the sushi at Tokyo, which is surprisingly good... on the other hand, the "Brazilian" restaurant at the Faisaliah hotel sucks.
There's a Chinese near the Holiday Inn close to Faisaliah that's pretty damn good... and the Korean restaurant nearby isn't terrible, if with a very old fashioned menu...
There's a Chinese near the Holiday Inn close to Faisaliah that's pretty damn good... and the Korean restaurant nearby isn't terrible, if with a very old fashioned menu...
Jan 6th 2008, 5:10 pm
#11
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
An excellent piece of work. You may need to address the issue of alcohol...my view is that, if you visit UK pubs more than twice a week, you will either hate Saudi life or end up in jail. The same obviously applies to narcotics. Mind you, if you are gay and male, you would find life very nice...hand-holding is common so long as you are not of mixed genders. Another issue is being with a woman who is neither your wife or a blood relative...even out in the malls, you can be challenged.
Jan 6th 2008, 5:37 pm
#12
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
So what are the best restaurants in Riyadh? I'm rather partial to the sushi at Tokyo, which is surprisingly good... on the other hand, the "Brazilian" restaurant at the Faisaliah hotel sucks.
There's a Chinese near the Holiday Inn close to Faisaliah that's pretty damn good... and the Korean restaurant nearby isn't terrible, if with a very old fashioned menu...
There's a Chinese near the Holiday Inn close to Faisaliah that's pretty damn good... and the Korean restaurant nearby isn't terrible, if with a very old fashioned menu...
The hotel restaurants are mostly not as good as those in Dubai, but around town generally there are some amazing foody experiences, particularly anything Asian or sub-continental.
Jan 6th 2008, 5:52 pm
#13
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 13,553
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
I should have added one of the most frustrating aspects - everywhere closes (by law) for prayers, every prayer time, every day.
Some supermarkets allow you to stay inside and carry on shopping while prayers are being chanted, but they can't actually serve you in that time, so arriving just as prayers are starting - with the intention of being finished as prayer time ends - is a very effective shopping strategy.
Lionheart mentioned alcohol - it's far harder to get hold of than it used to be but there are still ways and means. The 'social clubs' on the compounds have mostly gone now - which in the case of The Swamp (at Eid) is no bad thing.... God what WAS that stuff they used to serve??????
Some supermarkets allow you to stay inside and carry on shopping while prayers are being chanted, but they can't actually serve you in that time, so arriving just as prayers are starting - with the intention of being finished as prayer time ends - is a very effective shopping strategy.
Lionheart mentioned alcohol - it's far harder to get hold of than it used to be but there are still ways and means. The 'social clubs' on the compounds have mostly gone now - which in the case of The Swamp (at Eid) is no bad thing.... God what WAS that stuff they used to serve??????
Last edited by Eeyore; Jan 24th 2008 at 6:08 pm. Reason: removed quote for readability
Jan 6th 2008, 6:07 pm
#14
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2007
Location: Doha, Qatar
Posts: 2,675
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
Lionheart mentioned alcohol - it's far harder to get hold of than it used to be but there are still ways and means. The 'social clubs' on the compounds have mostly gone now - which in the case of The Swamp (at Eid) is no bad thing.... God what WAS that stuff they used to serve??????
Jan 6th 2008, 11:29 pm
#15
BE Site Lead
Joined: Aug 2004
Location: MA, USA
Posts: 92,170
Re: The Ultimate Guide To Saudi Life
Because we have a wiki for this type of stuff, which you or anyone can contribute towards. I'm to busy right now to copy and paste and tidy things up.