With increasing frequency I find myself looking over the top of my glasses when I want to see something close by. I keep telling myself that it is the anti-reflective coating that has gone funny on my glasses, but is that the truth of the matter?
I am at the Saudi Hollandi Bank, in an attempt to draw out money to send home. For the last three days I have been unable to withdraw money from the ATMs around town, presumably because they have been cleared out already. It could be a futile visit as I have only my passport with me, not my Iqama.
There is now a new queuing system in the main branch of Saudi Hollandi Bank. The security guard hands you a timed, numbered ticket as you walk through the door. This means that customers now sit patiently on comfortable green sofas, instead of shuffling forward impatiently in a queue without end. It is a small thing, but it makes a huge difference. I would have thought people would use the opportunity to do something whilst they wait, but apart from one guy pulling faces as he sends text messages, everybody else is staring into space like they used t. Maybe it is a very new system. My ticket even has a time on it: 17.29. It is number 207 and 188 is on the screen. there are four clerks working.
In the last couple of days posters of the King, some of which are huge, have gone up around town. The one by Panda is at least as high as a four story building. In all the pictures the King is smiling benevolently. There has been a flurry of planting and roadside garden improvements too. He visited this afternoon, briefly I think, on his way up to Jubail Industrial City which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Traffic was brought to a halt on the roads and several helicopter gun-ships were floating around town. Security is tight for these visits, whether to protect the king or make a show of strength and respect I am not sure. I guessed that his party had moved on when the traffic noise started again. Some people, at least, were not happy about having their journey interrupted. Almost as soon as the cars had started to move again there was the sound of screeching tires and bending metal. In the space of thirty minutes we heard at least three prangs on the highway.
It is 18.05 and my number came up, so to speak. And I even got my money.
I’m next door now in bF, or at least that is what the logo looks like, in white on a bright red strawberry. It is, in the words of its menu, ‘Lebanon’s fruit juice center and lebanese grilled corner’. Never having had a grilled Lebanese corner, who am I to argue.
I am at the Saudi Hollandi Bank, in an attempt to draw out money to send home. For the last three days I have been unable to withdraw money from the ATMs around town, presumably because they have been cleared out already. It could be a futile visit as I have only my passport with me, not my Iqama.
There is now a new queuing system in the main branch of Saudi Hollandi Bank. The security guard hands you a timed, numbered ticket as you walk through the door. This means that customers now sit patiently on comfortable green sofas, instead of shuffling forward impatiently in a queue without end. It is a small thing, but it makes a huge difference. I would have thought people would use the opportunity to do something whilst they wait, but apart from one guy pulling faces as he sends text messages, everybody else is staring into space like they used t. Maybe it is a very new system. My ticket even has a time on it: 17.29. It is number 207 and 188 is on the screen. there are four clerks working.
In the last couple of days posters of the King, some of which are huge, have gone up around town. The one by Panda is at least as high as a four story building. In all the pictures the King is smiling benevolently. There has been a flurry of planting and roadside garden improvements too. He visited this afternoon, briefly I think, on his way up to Jubail Industrial City which is celebrating its 30th anniversary. Traffic was brought to a halt on the roads and several helicopter gun-ships were floating around town. Security is tight for these visits, whether to protect the king or make a show of strength and respect I am not sure. I guessed that his party had moved on when the traffic noise started again. Some people, at least, were not happy about having their journey interrupted. Almost as soon as the cars had started to move again there was the sound of screeching tires and bending metal. In the space of thirty minutes we heard at least three prangs on the highway.
It is 18.05 and my number came up, so to speak. And I even got my money.
I’m next door now in bF, or at least that is what the logo looks like, in white on a bright red strawberry. It is, in the words of its menu, ‘Lebanon’s fruit juice center and lebanese grilled corner’. Never having had a grilled Lebanese corner, who am I to argue.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment