"The Sandpit" ?
 

I may be alone in finding this ;label rather offensive, I spent 17 years working in Saudi Arabia. I first went there in 1970 with the Ministry of Education. Then had contracts in 1990-1991 with Petromin ; 1996-2002 with Saudi Arabian Airlines ; 2003-2011 with KFUPM in Dhahran and then in Hafr-Al-Battin.

My experiences in the classroom and in daily life were generally positive. Some "expats" ( i.e. migrant workers from the UK) did not like Saudi and had a negative attitude to everything in KSA. They relished the idea that one day the oil would run out and that would be the end of the local economy. They delighted in the fact that they used alcohol and ate pork, seeing this as what differentiated them from the locals. they despised Saudis and Muslims generally for gender-segregation and for the routine of 5 prayers a day.

It seems to me that the use of "The Sandpit" as a negative name for the region reflects that hostility shared by some foreigners who depended on KSA for an income and a lifestyle that they could never have back home.

Am I alone in seeing things this way ?

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

I think the label is more on the descriptive side which is fine, if India section is called "the curry pot" i'd find it offensive but this one meh its fair

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

I had interpreted it as a play area, like a children’s sandpit. Some people just want to be offended.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

For the UK section I suggest "Decaying Post-imperial Dump" But that might offend some Empire Loyalists ! They too, enjoy being offended !

Now back to my memoirs !

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

I read it the same way.

I think that's probably spot on and has been since about 1950.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

You youngsters are so woke scot47

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

I guess anyone can get offended by anything these days. I don't really use sandpit as a term. I actually just called UAE - Home. But i wouldn't be using sandpit in a derogatory way.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Scotty boy is an arch nationalist who likes to think of Scotland as groaning under the tyranny of England. I'm pretty sure he has an active online life as a cybernat. I doubt he's woke insomuch as using wokeism to sneer at the things he doesn't like, probably from an inferiority complex.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Cybernat ? Me ? I never respond to any of The Empire Loyalist tosh we are exposed to every day ! Inferiority Complex ? Keep these insults coming !

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

How it was named the Sand Pit.... https://britishexpats.com/forum/sand...m-vote-459384/

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Yes, I have always considered it to be a play on words, and yes, some people apparently just want to be offended. :nod:

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

It does seem that way. :D

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More importantly, now that there's only about 5 people on the board any more, do we still even need a separate sub-board?

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Globally speaking I consider the ME generally as a bit of a pit. I honestly don't know many people who say "When I retire I really want to move to the Middle East" Lots of reasons and everyone probably has their own list. The Middle East is a place where those who are from outside move to for money. It's not the balmy 40C plus temperatures day in day out with little respite, it's not the crushing humidity, it's not the multicultural social interactions providing a variety of curious and sometimes downright suspicious bedfellows, though some might be tempted to move for that. It's all abut the cash, or should be.
Socially, politically,just all round quality of life wise, its all a bit of a pit.

Oh, and there's a lot of sand.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

I'd second most of that . Most people here are working towards having a better life somewhere else . I always feel sorry for the Saudis, when they get old they have to retire and live in Saudi. I guess 95%+ of them are happy with that though so it doesn't really matter.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Of all the things to be bothered by in the ME, this is the one you pick? :blink:

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Please don't tell him that one suggestion for the Canadian Maple Leaf lounge was " The Seal Club"

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Saudi is actually a very large and diverse country. Go and have a look at Tihama, Abha, Baha. the beaches on The Red Sea. The Farasan Islands. give me that over London any day !

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Holy toledo. What a lovely surprise to see you back.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Big :kiss:.

Stay right where you are.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Where has Meow been ? I think we have a right to know.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Jail? :p

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

The feline equivalent of "The Doghouse" ?

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

I can't believe you're both still. there. Called in after years to check in and not much has changed.😀

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Scotty old son you must have had some rosy tinted glasses back in the day. The Middle east is a pit the architecture is horrid, The sewers don't work, the streets are full of litter the desert is full of litter the pollution is horrendous, there is no civic pride or commitment from a gradient population. The driving and parking if that is what you can call it is terrible. corruption is common place and institutionalised. The inbreeding has resulted in a large proportion of the population suffering with genetic disorders or mental disability. Inequality of the sexes has lead to the breakdown of the family unit and drug abuse is rife. There are no pubs except Bahrain the regions only saving grace. Added to this the place is full of sand. Thus "Sandpit" is exactly what it says on the tin.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

HiHo
I met many who share your views. They too considered bars to be an essential ingredient of a civilised society

You want to see some real sh*tholes, travel around the decaying hub of the Vanished Empire.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

There is a gulf of a difference between bar and pub, which obviously eludes you. A social society is an ideal place in which to cherish a family and enjoy community. These things are what I hold dear and regret are not more evident in the world at large. I'm very sorry you are not happier in your current community and wish you well in your relocation when travel restrictions permit.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

I'm like a bad smell.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

HiHo
I am not relocating. I am staying in Scotland. God grant that our country will soon be free of imperial shackles ! And the rule by a corrupt and venal ruling class headed by Mrs Mountbatten !

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

so when you are finally free of British rule, will you stop posting here?

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Of course not, Welcome to the Caledonian Antisyzygy.
#
Antisyzygy - definition of antisyzygy by The Free Dictionary

Caledonian Antisyzygy - Wikipedia

Not so easy to get rid of us.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Or Cantis for short. Close enough in my book.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

"Sticks and stones". You see the mistake that Edward Longshanks, "The Hammer of The Scots" made all these years ago whwn he got involved in our internal affairs? Remember one of our national emblems is The Thistle !

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I can smell you all the way from Aus, just like my first villas toilets in Al Barsha. 🤣

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Dearest Scotty,
Now I'm even more confused; One moment you complain about "some real sh*tholes" and the next your happy to continue living in one? Is it not the case that the Scottish assembly is partitioning the Government for a visa system to stop people leaving? My confusion continues to extend to your argument that you are eligible to post here. For the present you are British and living in Britain thus not an expat thus not eligible to be a member of this forum. I accept your point that, in the event that the English are permitted to vote in your next nationalist revolutionary referendum and heartedly slip the yoke from their collective shoulders, you will be an expat. However this argument is again confusing since given the other regional rhetoric you have been spouting would you not wish to become a national of the breakaway state? In which case you would no longer be British and again no longer eligible to post in this forum.
Given the weak argument you present, I have no option but to agree with Mr. Millhouse. I do hope this in no way excludes us from the tender list when you get around to building your wall.

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What can I say? I'm unforgettable, like a bad toilet.

It's not worth it. He's a very bitter, sharp tongued and nasty old boy. Harmless, but just not worth the time.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Some said when the Irish republic was formed, that it was doomed. Ireland was historically a poor, wet part of the UK, to the average Brit, the Irish were idiots and drunks. They wouldn't be able to run themselves, they'd end up starving (again), without the monarchy they'd tilt into dictatorship etc.

Now Ireland's GDP per head is 60% or so higher than the UK, and it's generally considered a model democracy. The weather is still shit though. It's actually a kind of model for how successful Britain could be if the english could shed 1000 years of not just accepting, but positively yearning to be sh4t on and dominated by people with posh voices who they regard as inherently superior.

So I don't see any particular reason why Scotland would not be fine on its own, in the long term. The nationalists would need a better campaign next time round though. The last one was bizarre, their pitch was keeping the pound and the Queen, presumably to appease unionists. That's like saying you want to leave the EU, but also adopt the Euro and make Von der Leyen head of state. What idiot came up with that plan?

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I'm sure whoever it was, they were Scottish. Case closed.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Because Ireland's role as a tax haven for US companies operating in Europe is pretty well cemented... add on that every American longs to be Irish helps that business model even more.

I don't hear many Americans claiming their Scottish ancestry, but happy to be proved wrong. The Scot's do have their shellfish though but I'm not sure it will compete with the Irish in attracting fund managers and tech giants.

That said, you are right about the Brits doing their best to destroy themselves.

Re: "The Sandpit" ?
 

Ireland's GDP is not REAL GDP its just Amazon shagging the EU senseless. Ireland's plan to drive economic growth was through very very bad corporate tax law none of the revenue actually ends up in the chancellery but the corporates do have to employ people locally. That is how Ireland got unemployment down to 6%. The EU hate it but the Irish have infiltrated the EU finance commission so they don't have any option but to pursue the matter through the courts. Again when Brexit was being negotiated the EUFC campaigned for financial Jobs to be moved to the EU thinking that would mean Dublin. Did anyone believe a commodities trader was actually physically going to move to Dublin or any other sh*t hole come to that? The banks are just kicking the issue down an endless road to nowhere but exactly where they are. Scotland would be in even worse sh*t because the government shifted publish sector jobs there to address the unemployment. The minuet Scotland gets independence 20% of jobs disappear overnight.