Fill in the blank: Those guys to the left of Modesh, the region's popular mascot, are wearing _______ on their heads

Overheard in the newsroom: Superhot Saturday edition

"I always wonder if there are any journalists left in Glasgow - they all seem to be here."

"I like the smell of paint and petrol - goes back to when I was a kid."

"Were you running around outside?"
"I wish - I just came from the car." 

Snap caption: Graffiti is illegal in the UAE, but sometimes people do it anyway

Spotted in the Between Two Bridges Area of Abu Dhabi

Overhead in the newsroom: Wicked Wednesday edition

"Miss England is never pretty. Is she pretty this year?"

"I don't have to defend my inbox!"

"You know what would be awesome? If one of us had a coloring book."

Overheard in the newsroom: Super special Monday night edition

"I'm just saying, the lady would rather have a baby camel than a shwarma."

"They should have a monsoon rate."

"Do treadmills go a lot slower here?"

"I order it all the time, but it's not my favourite thing."

On Hamdan Street in Abu Dhabi: World's smallest watch repair shop?

Overheard in the newsroom: Dress code violators edition

"You'll be deported back to Trampistan".

Emirati & expat: conversation in an elevator

Emirati gent: How long are you in Abu Dhabi?

Me: Six years. 

Emirati gent: You are local now. 

I like to write: An Observing Life column about the terrible scourge of gyms that insist on measuring your performance

“Ann Marie, you’re losing!”

That’s what the RPM instructor bellowed out at me during the apex of a recent class in Abu Dhabi, right at the point where I am usually so angry and tired that I hate the world.

Read more here.