Not always like that in the real world though Sometimes dreams are much better

thanks for the k.......... it will come back to u.

karen........... totally agree with u........... someone needs to cintact the papers about this............. I f I have a apre moment or two over the weekend, I will e-mail all of the above ppl and let them know about that scum, Thomas!

Don't agree on that one, actually liked being called a giant warm water bottle in bed. And yeah... Hopeless romantic and oldfashioned guy. One that actually takes his jacket off if the Lady in question says she's cold (outside ofcourse)

But hey... I have this beautifully restored moonlight black girl standing outside. A Saab Griffin Bi Turbo. She wants her key turned around and driven in. So...

Oi..

What about James Bond then??....

Thats cos in upper case its considered aggresive and i have heard you are !!!

Frans said it means Bon appetite however my interpertation would be Tasty, I can only presume he was talking about you!!

Those bloody rumours again

God can it get any cheaper :

Now Now jb

You be nice to our JB

SHe has had enough bashing lately


PD

Hi Frans,

I haven't forgotten our conversations, and did manage to get some more information from a local friend I made in the UAE. It doesn't sound promissing but I thought you should know. And I quote :





Hi Paul,

I went on to the website you where referring to and did read the article placed there by Mister Wind. It’s a little bit difficult for me as I myself live in the UAE, but as we have a mutual friend? I will try to explain my point of view to you. People like Mister Wind should not be left out to take the blame alone. Off the record? I can confirm what Mister Wind wrote to be true, it’s been going on for about two years now and everyone in the cargo business knows about it. As for proving it? Well you need to know a few things about how things are done here in the UAE. First of all either you or Mister Wind would have to find a local company here that has also fallen victim to this bribery. If you would only find companies in Europe or the Canada / USA willing to confirm it in writing I don’t think you will be given a fair chance in court here.

All this little Indian guy everyone is referring to has to do is to run to his manager in question, feel highly insulted (which isn’t that difficult to achieve here) and demand that his good name and reputation are rectified. In such a case, if the manager in question is a local? I guess he will look at all the paperwork, most probably will not understand what is going on and tap the little Indian guy on the shoulder saying “Good honest man�. Result? The poor (…) little Indian guy most probably will walk away with a rather handsome financial reward, and you, your Mister Wind together with any or all victims involved will be made out as idiots in public.

My advice? Try to find a local company to back your case. If it does reach the courts? Do not be surprise if nothing will happen. I’ve seen similar cases been thrown out of court here, the unofficial official reason being that most likely the UAE government will think ‘It is a foreign company, who cares?’ Sorry to have to disappoint you Paul, but that is how things work here. If you want to close down the Bahrain setup, maybe Sharjah would be a good alternative to Dubai. Okay, it doesn’t have Dubai’s flair, but the airport and cargo facilities are good there to. If your Mister Wind is the same Mister Wind I bumped into a few years ago? The man know the Middle East like the inside of his pocket. He should be able to set you up with a huge list of potential customers. Go for it is my advise.


With best regards,

Adrian


Sorry Frans, I guess we do need to think about it again.

Paul

Hi Paul,

Do me a favour okay? Like me? Just try to forget what happened. I've been told my posting, together with the remarks added to it are being (sometimes rewriten with things added I never said) emailed and faxed all over the UAE. It has already cost me dearly and I would like to stop it here and now.

Frans

Hi Gunther,

First of all let me make one thing very clear. This is my last reply to this subject okay? I did read your message, the only advise I can give you is:

1. It's useless to contact the Gulf News or Khaleej Times. Why? Both me and Paul have tried it in the past. Our little potato is aparently far to hot to handle for them. Please keep in mind that the UAE isn't Europe. The freedom of speech act in the UAE is a joke to say it mildly.

2. It's useless to contact the Dubai police either. Yes, me and several others have tried that as well, sent faxes by the kilo. The "stick your head in the sand for reality" mentality also applies to them. As far as I know? Nobody ever hade any form of response from them what-so-ever.

3. What I would advise you to do is to contact the German Floral Counsil about this with the request to contact the Canadian Floral Counsil to confirm your story. The last thing I heard from Paul is that the Dubai Flower Center (a.k.a Dubai Cargo Villiage) has been put on the Canadian Floral Counsil's "Warning List".

4. That you actually paid the money? Well I think you agree with me now if I state that you've been tricked out of hard earned money Gunther. Let me guess? Mister Thomas never contacted you again huh?

It will take some time, but the Dubai Flower Center project is like a white elephant if you ask me. A money looser from day one onwards due to poor management. Look at the size of that project? They by far over estimated there own floral market. And do you really think the Dubai Flower Center will be able to compete against Europe and / or America in a market where nobody is waiting for a new kid on the block?

How long have you been active in out line of work? You know as well as I do what it means if Dubai is used as a hub (in transit point) for cargo like ours. With a reputation of being highly unreleiable? That the Dubai Flower Center will be shut down after maybe 2 or 3 years? Yes, I agree with many on that issue. Yes I saw it as a management challenge, not only to rebuild a company, but to rebuild it's reputation worldwide as well. With a professional team and budget? I still think the place could be saved.

Anyhow I wish you a good meeting with the people over there. They will give you an over dosis on how good they could handle your cargo, and how good they will be able to help you setup a sales point within that building. And yes, I wonder when our Mister Thomas will show up in the picture again. Just be careful Gunther, I see that place as a mondern day version of the Titanic. With one minor difference that is, people like Ali Al Jallaf? And his senior management team? Will be sitting in the life boats WAY before the ship actually goes down.

Have you contacted Paul yet? I hear he is in the process of renting space in Sharjah. Maybe you can join forces with him? It must be cheaper then going solo within the Dubai Flower Center. And what would happen if they do shut the place down in a few years? Anyhow I have withdrawn from the idea Gunther, a six digit tax free salery wouldn't get me involved anymore. Taking the blame and yes, the fall, for blunders of others? Nope... Not my cup of tea.

Frans