Overheard in the newsroom: Super special Thursday edition

He said half of them stank of egg and chips and the other half stank of beer.

It's a bit of a novelty: you have to bite it and then suck it.

Hot and sticky? Sounds like a date i had last night.

Editor A: Do you want me to show you how to use Tansa administrator?
Editor B: More than life itself.

Eli Bulli, I am guessing, Top Foam Restaurant ain't

Since Emily Shardlow wrote so aptly about molecular gastronomy in the Arts&Life section of today's edition of The National (you know, easy to understand stuff like spherification, gelification, foam guns and water baths, that kind of thing) I thought I would include my homage to the field. An obviously ground-breaking restaurant, right here in Abu Dhabi, tucked in off Airport Road.

It's.Almost.Here: Bridesmaids opens in the UAE on Thursday

Dear Bridesmaids. I have been waiting for you. I have been faithful to you – even when others offered me a forbidden, bit-torrenty taste. I know when I go to the cinema on Thursday, wearing bells because I am so excited, you will have been slightly – if not significantly – altered at the hands of the UAE's censors. That's okay. I have learned to incorporate funny cuts and random black bars on the screen into my movie-going experience. I cannot wait to meet you. (PS I am a massive Kirsten Wiig fan, obvs)

Overheard in the newsroom: Rebekah Brooks arrest edition

"Rebekah Brooks has been arrested. I'll have to go tell my British colleagues because I am surrounded by people who don't give a ****."

Odd in Abu Dhabi: It's rather disconcerting...

... to see one's own clothing drying outside the dry cleaners. I'd always wondered what this must be like, every time I wondered past this establishment near my old apartment in Tanker Mei. And then, the first time I took an outfit there, I was to find out. My dress, below:

I Get Comments: From Taryam Al Subaihi, a few more words on arranged marriages

A couple of weeks ago I pointed to a column in The National by the freelance writer Taryam Al Subaihi explaining why he believes arranged marriages can work. He noted the comments, which included "I can´t understand why so many people pretend this kind of things are OK, only due to political correctness" to "I think those who still accept these social customs are just entangled or even trapped in an unfair, uneven society". I argued and still do only that, hey, if it works for you, then it works for you - who am I to say what I don't understand completely is wrong. It's not like the West has marriage figured out, right?

Well Taryam soon weighed in (and I appreciate it,  thank you so much). Followup comments after the jump.

Overheard in the newsroom: Super special Thursday edition

"I can't believe they replied to your small chicken outburst."

"Don't say anything about my mother or I will physically slap you."


"You're not just calling me a liar. You're calling me a liar and a bad pasta cook."

Editor A: "Is Ann Marie eating cheesecake out of the pan?"

Editor B: "Yes she is. The only surprise is that she's using a fork to do it."

Editor A: "How are your sanity levels?"

Editor B: "Fluctuating."

Snap caption: 'but I am too young to drink coffee, sir"

Lebanese Mill: heart-shaped falafel just one reason to love them

You must make this a priority: off Najda street across from the Nissan Showroom, is the most amazing Lebanese restaurant. It's fast, healthy, fresh and delicious. No wonder people line up at their shwarma counter. An added bonus: whenever the delivery man drops off my food, he blows me a kiss as I am closing the door. 

Snap caption: Bagpipes and kandouras - who knew?

This picture courtesy of Dubai Police.

Overheard in the newsroom: Sunday edition

"Is this Mohammed, the curtain man?"
-On redecorating

"See this is the problem, the English language has evolved beyond you, and it's your own &%$# country!"
-On being British
UPDATE: Grammar police, always nice to hear from you, that smelly "you're" has been swiftly replaced

"But you can't send smiley faces in Saxo."
-On using the designated computer system over e-mail

Dear Media One Hotel in Dubai: I love you, but...

...when a place is "hip", "funky" and "cool", you don't find out about it from a sign in the elevator.

Happy Canada Day!!!! Love the dustbowl, Abu Dhabi

While I wish I was on Blue Sea Lake at the moment, having a Steam Whistle and watching gentle lake waves from the dock, I'm here in extremely sandy Abu Dhabi. This is the flag I keep on my desk. Feeling a bit wistful and far from home when I woke up today I went on a (positive) Twitter rant about all the things I miss about Canada. I have reproduced it in its entirety after the jump. Feel free to add your own in comments. (Also, if you'd like, follow me on Twitter @ammcq)