I wonder what is inside here?

Is the dental centre required afterwards?

No further comment..........

I want one of these!

I saw this at an ADNOC in Khalidiyah today. It looked fantastic, so I took a couple of pics on my mobile and then did a bit of investigation.









Look at those air horns at the front!

The car is a Zimmer Golden Spirit, which is based on a 1920’3/30’s classic Duesenberg. These are what they call “neo-classic”. Basically it is a Ford Mustang underneath. Here is their website.

This is the Golden Eagle at the front....




and here’s the inside.....






I want one!

The heat has arrived!

Today the temperature jumped over 10 degrees and touched 46.5C according to my car’s reading, which is reasonably reliable. Well, I guess that’s it now until mid November! Better get used to the heat again........

Amusing

I got sent this on email today. Made me smile... thought I would share it.

WHY MEN ARE NEVER DEPRESSED:

Men Are Just Happier People--

What do you expect from such simple creatures.

Your last name stays put.

The garage is all yours.

Wedding plans take care of themselves.

Chocolate is just another snack.

You can be President.

You can never be pregnant.

You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.

You can wear NO shirt to a water park.

Car mechanics tell you the truth.

The world is your urinal.

You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this one is just too icky.

You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.

Same work, more pay.

Wrinkles add character.

Wedding dress $5000.

Tux rental-$100.

People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.

New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.

One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

You know stuff about tanks.

A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.

You can open all your own jars. You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.

If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.

Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.

Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.

You almost never have strap problems in public.

You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.

Everything on your face stays its original color.

The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.

You only have to shave your face and neck.

You can play with toys all your life.

One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.

You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.

You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.

You have freedom of choice concerning growing a moustache.

You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.

No wonder men are happier.

Spider still going strong

It was suggested by my brother that the aforementioned spider could in fact be a virus .. see this


However, on closer inspection it is definitely not. You can see how the spider is sometimes not even on the LCD. I guess it’s a watch and wait exercise hoping that it dies off screen!

Driving Penalties

There was an article in the paper today about possibly means testing the fines for driving offenses because it is not a deterrent for rich drivers. Good idea I say, although I doubt it will happen.

In the same article was the table below. I am not going to state the obvious. Read it for yourself and see how ridiculous it is.

No number plate / Death? Clearly the number plate issue needs clamping down on..........

Arachnid in my apple!

Something weird and very annoying has happened! I have a spider currently living inside my iMac! It is merrily running around under the glass of the LCD screen! I know it will die one day, I just hope it doesn't die in the middle of the screen, or even worse, gets into the circuitry and shorts something!

It is only a little "money" spider, but it is annoying when I see it walking across the screen.

It's been there at least 24 hours now... I'll keep you updated.

Yas Marina Drag Centre - best drag night since Danny La Rue!

Last night we went to the Yas Marina Drag Centre for the inaugural Abu Dhabi Drag Festival. Caz and I went with Caz's aunt and uncle (Doreen & Steve) over from the UK. I had never been to a drag event before (well not involving motors anyway - ah hem!), but I have to say it was awesome. The raw power of the cars is amazing and fills all of your senses - the smell of the rubber and fuel, the sight of the flames and the wicked speed of the vehicles, feeling the heat of the flames and the rumble of the whole area under you as the cars roar away, and the sound so loud you really do have to wear ear plugs!. Well exciting.

The event builds up through different categories of vehicles; bikes, cars - some which don't look too different from the modified cars you see racing up and down Southend sea front at the weekends! Then you get to the serious stuff, first what they call the "funny" cars - I'm not quite sure why, but I don't think it is because they are supposed to make you laugh! They are basically hugely modified muscle cars with nitrous oxide injection systems.

Then we came to the main event - the "Top Fuelers". These things are truly amazing. The video below gives you an idea and some of their stats............ 0-100 mph in 0.8 secs, hitting 310mph !!

The drag centre and the two top fuel cars have been designed in partnership with Don Schumacher Racing - Don Schumacher (or "The Shoe") being a legend of the sport in the USA. Below is a news story about the partnership. Don's son Tony is himself now 7 times champion of the sport and is sponsored by the US Army.

http://speed.ae/2010/01/17/yas-marina-in-partnership-with-drag-racing-legends-don-schumacher-racing/

We left the event after the second run of the top fuelers, just before 9pm. We had booked dinner at the Noodle Box restaurant at the Yas Hotel - which I have to say was excellent, Kung Pao Chicken, yummy! After dinner we went up to the Skylite bar under the coloured roof of the Yas Hotel. From this location you could still see most of the drag strip, although it was at least half a mile away. As we knew the top fuel cars were due to go off again around 11pm, Steve and I were standing at the side watching. I got talking to a couple of American guys stood next to me and it only turned out to be - one Mr Don Schumacher! He joked that this was race control for the night! He was being fed all the stats to his iPhone from the strip. He was very chatty and friendly and shared with us some insights from "behind the scenes". He said that he was trying to persuade the "powers that be" that they should end the F1 days with top fuel drag racing afterwards. Now that would make an awesome way to round off the day!

I have some video clips I took on my phone below (sorry for low quality). When you see the top fuel cars you will notice that as they reach a way down the strip some fireworks go off. Where we were watching from the bar, we didn't hear the initial roar until long after they were through the fireworks. Was cool to see.

Here's an album of my photos from the night........

Yas Drag Festival

Wedding at The Sheraton

Was walking past The Sheraton tonight and saw this going on.....

Abu Dhabi Big Band Gigs

Here’s an unashamed plug for two Abu Dhabi Big Band gigs!

First is March 25th at the British Embassy, organised by the Abu Dhabi British Business Group .


Details below:-








GALA DINNER

DATE: THURSDAY , 25th MARCH, 2010
VENUE: THE GARDEN OF THE BRITISH AMBASSADOR’S RESIDENCE, ABU DHABI


Reception 7.30pm
Dinner 8.30pm
Carriages 1.00am


LIVE ON STAGE “ABU DHABI BIG BAND”


MC & DJ – CHALKIE CROOK


SUMPTUOUS DE LUXE BUFFET DINNER


Ticket prices (inclusive of food, all beverages and exciting prizes!):

 Dhs 500 for Members & Partners per head
 Dhs 550 for Associate Members & Partners per head
 Dhs 600 for Guest(s) per head
 Dhs 6,000 for Corporate Table of 10

To avoid disappointment

BOOK and COLLECT YOUR TICKETS TODAY
From The British Business Group Office
Al Muroor Road (4th Street), CERT Technology Park, Block ‘D’
(opposite new Al Jazira Sports Stadium)

Numbers are strictly limited


Dress: Black Tie or National Dress
Entry to the grounds by ticket plus photographic ID only


Tel: 2-445 7234 / 2-445 6244 Fax: 2-445 0605 PO Box 43635, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

Website: www.britishbusiness.org

E-mail: bbgauh@emirates.net.ae


The second is at The Club on April 1st as per below....






The Club`s Dinner Dance with The Abu Dhabi Big Band

Thursday 1st April 2010

The Club is pleased to host this spectacular Dinner Dance evening with The Abu Dhabi Big Band. The 20 piece band will be entertaining Members & their guests with favourites from the worlds of jazz, swing & latino music, including melodies from favourites such as Duke Ellington, Quincy Jones, George Gershwin, Glenn Miller, Neal Hefty, Chuck Mangione, Tito Puente and Santana amongst others.

Members AED180/Guests AED210 including 3 course dinner. Tickets are available at Main Reception

Function Hall Doors open 7pm. Dinner served at 8pm, Band starts at 9.30pm
Dress Code: Smart. Gentlemen – collared shirts

The Club, Mina Sadiyat, PO Box 658, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates

T +971 2 673 1111 F +971 2 673 1113 E enquiry@the-club.com W www.the-club.com



Maybe see you there!?

Google Earth View

Anyone noticed this before? Can anyone shed any light? Sheikh Hamad’s island maybe? It appears to be channeled out of the island letting water in, in massive letters.

What a load of bollocks!

Another great find in LuLu’s this week.....





..and check out the size of these! ....




Yummy .... (Not!!!!)


We could have our very own Bush Tucker Trial here!

Trip to Al Maha Desert Resort

Both Caroline and I have birthdays in March, so as a joint treat we booked ourselves into the Emirates Al Maha Desert Resort. The place is absolutely stunning and it was one of the best things we have ever done. One night did cost what we would expect to pay for a week all inclusive in the sun, but hey - you can't take it with you etc etc!.

The highlight was the dinner in the desert, laid out amidst the dunes in the middle of nowhere. We were given a mobile phone to call when we wanted to be collected. It was fab!

The suites were fantastic, all with their own temperature controlled pools - very secluded, nudge nudge, wink wink ;-)

So, if you are looking for some brownie points for your Mrs - this is the place!

Some pictures at the album link........

Trip to Al Maha Desrt Resort

Drag racing hits Yas Circuit

I never been to drag racing before, despite living not too far from the leading UK drag venue, Santa Pod, for most of my life. However, drag racing arrives at Yas Marina Circuit on 19-20th March, so I think I might just go.

Details from Yas Marina Circuit here

They have issued a video showing some practicing on the circuit this week.

See the video on YouTube

Footy with the Egyptians

Well last night was a bizarre experience! At the bottom of our apartment block there is a barbers shop (or saloon as they call it), which is run by some Egyptian lads. I have been winding them up for the last few weeks, knowing that England were playing Egypt in a friendly football match. They invited me to watch the game with them in their saloon. The game didn’t start until 12 midnight our time, but that didn’t seem to phase them one bit. We often come back on a flight at, like, 2am and they still have customers in there having their hair cut!

So, I watched the game from one of the barbers seats with about 8 Egyptian guys. One bloke was having a cut and shave during the match!

It was very strange. But at least we won 3-1 !

Here’s a quick clip off my phone to give you a flavour......