Meow

It's much more aesthetically pleasing to put the loo seat down. Neat and tidy is good.

Plus many years ago I once read that in feng shui it is considered unlucky to leave the loo seat up and that your money will then disappear down it. Bit daft, but that stuck in my mind and they must always stay down, just in case.

mikewot

OK so superstition plays a part. I see.

Meow

But mainly my first sentance.

Aesthetically pleasing is good.

scrubbedexpat141

Loo seat goes down because that's what Mummy said.

It carries on going down in my place now because:

1. It looks better
2. Arse germs can't get out.
3. When visitors use my guest bathroom, they know I'm not a complete peasant.

OleJanx

Leaving the loo seat up isn't an option for me, as I have two daft kittens, both of whom have had to be rescued from an attempt to navigate the u-bend.

scrubbedexpat141

Natural Selection OldusJanxus, one will do it and die, the other won't. That kitten will be the superior of the species and MUST be used to pro-create.

Ethos83

Friends of my parents have an old Victorian house with a massive old fashioned bathroom, including the old loos with wood seat covers.

Right next to the loo is a forced air radiator. Which gently blows warm air at your nether bottoms as you sit down.

Hmm!

britexpat76

You want him to **** his Kitten!!??

Bahtatboy

Well, if you don't use enough chalk on your cue when going for the pink there's always the danger of screwing into the brown. Things can then get messy.

OleJanx

The two kittens are both female, overseen by an ancient Qatari moggy (male). All three of them give my Alsatian a rough time. The dog adores all three cats, and they use her as a draught excluder, visitor announcement system, and general factotum.
Remember - dogs have masters, cats have servants....

mikewot

Oh dear oh dear! I didn't have you down as a mummies boy! Need to reassess now.

scrubbedexpat141

That's just her name.

I'm definitely a Daddy's boy.

captainflack

To be fair to the journalist, who can honestly say they've not been to some event and sat on a table with odious people exactly like those he describes?

I don't see that he's getting at all expats in Dubai, and he doesn't mention Brits among the crowd either. I'm certainly not offended.

I've met plenty of people who're convinced there isn't poverty here, that there isn't any dissent because everything's wonderful (and not because its illegal), that any labourer who is poor and treated like sh1t is so because he's not as smart or hardworking as them (like he's had the same chances in life), that Dubai is simply the most fantastically classy place on earth and not even the slightest bit crass.

I've been to plenty of old money cities where the super rich hangout and been out with people worth 10s of millions, maybe more (I should point out, I am not worth that). I've generally found them to be quite pleasant charming people, appreciative of their good fortune and aware of those less fortunate than themselves and normally involved in charity to quite a large degree. Except in Dubai, where they generally seem devoid of any shred of conscience or modesty.

But its only anecdotal, like this journos report. So maybe I've not seen the real Dubai of caring rich, helping the poor, raising social awareness and not just partying and competing to show off their wealth in ever more ostentatious ways.

Bahtatboy

I agree. Actually, I concur--I'm feeling all Ripley-ish today.

It boils down to this.

There are supercilious, racist, bigoted arseholes everywhere. Some are monied, some aren't.

Some--perhaps many--people are instantly spoiled by sudden (comparative) wealth. In most places you don't come across many people who have suddenly become wealthy, in Dubai you do. And they tend to stand out from the crowd because of the very traits they reveal.

Eva

Can't be arsed to read all the crapola that has gone b4, however,your reference to Mr Ripley...is
Matt Damon yes?