We went to a house party last night for Proshat’s husband Eiko. Felt a little English in a room full of Germans but if they noticed, they didn’t say anything. We had a great laugh. Everyone was really polite about everything, even the incredible 7-2 drubbing of the UAE national team by Germany on Tuesday merited a ‘Good game’.

If it was England beating ANYONE, I would have been doing cartwheels (as far as fat blokes do cartwheels – basically drinking) as many times as I could and shouting ‘Have some of that’ at anybody who could see me.

One thing we all agreed on was how potentially f*$@ed up Dubai could be if it doesn’t start looking after the people who built it. That’s us.

I’ve done 15 years out here and whilst I don’t want handouts or hand shandies, I think that, like every company going through a financial crisis, It is time to address the troops.

Tell the people how much you appreciate their loyalty and input. Let them know that everything is being done to make things better in the future. Explain how even though money is short, memories are long and a little faith in the system will go a long way when the crisis is over.

Basically say ‘Thank you. We appreciate you being part of the family.’

Of course, that’s not going to happen.

This summer maybe 500,000 people will leave and won’t come back. Many will leave huge mortgages or similar debts behind them as well as their best friends and adopted families. All that good will and emotional investment will be left at the airport forever.

Just because the guys upstairs didn’t say ‘Thank you.’

I said thank you to my wife this morning.

We had a shag.

Laters.