New sms lingo

Got to keep up with the new msn/sms lingo! My kids helped me by putting together the following list:

LBR - Looser beyond repair

LOL - Laugh out loud

WTF - What the fuck

LMAO - Laughing my ass off

G2G - Got to go

POS - Parents over shoulder

THX - Thanks

CU - See you

LSR - Looser

STFU - Shut the fuck up

OMG - Oh my God!

BRB - Be right back

EFFIU - I love you so much

Radio Interview

I was on the Dubai Eye 103.8 this morning. Click on the link to hear the interview.
It doesn't beat "Good Morning Vietnam" but it's business; what can I say!

http://www.zawya.com/story.cfm/sidDE070718070850562800/l180720070731

I'm back

Sorry, I've been really busy and haven't had time to post. Here is a random list of what happened recently:

- I was in Italy with my wife for a week in Portofino and Florence in Italy in amazing hotels; it was "divine" as my South African friends say!

- We found out that our cat, Tommy, is HIV. It's not contagious but he will probably die from it within a year. The whole family and especially my daughter is really upset.

- My first colleague joined me in my new Dubai office. It's great to have someone around!

- My 14 year old son is in Mexico learning Spanish and building homes for the poor. I'm pretty proud.

- My 11 year old daughter is in Switzerland for her first summer camp to play tennis. I'm pretty proud.

- ABN AMRO, my former employer, is about to be swallowed up by Barclays or RBS/Santander/Fortis... I still remember the days when we were elected "The Best Bank in the World" by IFR....

- I'm getting better at yoga, but my skiing is stagnating... thank God a new course will be up and running in September!

- I read Attali's book: "une histoire du future" ("a history of the future") - amazing stuff, despite the fact I do not particularly like the author.

I'm back.

WEF

I just got back from the World Economic Forum is Jordan and would like to share some of the highlights from those days;

Main risks that could affect substantially negatively the Middle East:

1. Chinese economic hard landing
2. Global asset price collapse
3. Retrenchment from globalization
4. Geopolitical and geostrategic instability

Other risks highlighted:

1. Oil price shock/energy supply interruptions
2. US current account deficit/fall in US$
3. Climate change
4. Loss of freshwater services

Three different scenarios out to 2025 were identified by a research team from the WEF for the Middle East: "Oasis", "Sandstorm" and "The Fertile Gulf."

"Oasis" describes a scenario where regional stability continues to be a challenge for the GCC countries, which are nevertheless able to achieve substantial institutional reforms. The GCC countries develop strong identities and work together to coordinate diplomatic and economic policies. The GCC countries are an oasis of stability and prosperity in an otherwise troubled region.

"Sandstorm" describes a future where regional instability is a defining factor, affecting the ability of the GCC to carry out much needed institutional reforms. Caught in a shifting, violent environment, the GCC countries are blinded, unable to navigate their way out of the sandstorm and identify opportunities for prosperity for their populations.

"The Fertile Gulf" describes the rise of the GCC countries as innovation hubs in a global environment characterized by strong demand for energy an d increasing globalization. Regional stability gives the GCC countries the opportunity to focus on enhancing their human capital at all levels, investing heavily in education while proceeding carefully with political and institutional reform to support their growing economies and societies.


Political Issues:

Iran

All GCC participants openly expressed their strong worries about Iran's nuclear program. There are doubts that the Iranian nuclear program is purely for civilian use.

Iran representatives did not deny their interference in Irak, for which they were strongly criticized by Jordanian, Iraki and US officials.

The US representatives as well as the Irakis explained their high degree of frustration with Iran smugling weapons and bombs into Irak.


Philanthropy

Most government officials, including Queen Rania of Jordan, admitted that the government alone cannot help society and that the private sector has to play an active role. The private sector is increasingly doing so in the region.

New energies were often discussed and mentioned as an area where the GCC states should be investing more. The billionaire, Naguib Sawiris, owner of Orascom Telecom, Egypt said: "We should invest in renewable energy".


Impact of Oil Boom on the region ecomies

Over the last 5 years, GNP for the Gulf region has doubled, from $600 billion to $1.2 trillion.

In the last few years, $500 billion of wealth has been accumulated.


Conclusion:

Participants were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the prospects for GCC economies. That's also my bet if the regional cong=flicts don't spread out.

Waterskiing in RAK

I'm spending my mornings waterskiing in between my two jobs...

I'm very lucky as I am being coached by Xenia, who is the #1 Russian woman waterskier; indeed, the Russian national team is currently training in RAK.

Gwenaelle came with me 2 days ago and took this short video of me in the slalom. After that, we had lunch by a pool - tough life in between 2 jobs!...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WqzH4vSYrvQ

First day out of the office!

So, this was it! My first day out of the office. (I'll be back tomorrow for another meeting, but today was a real day away from AA. )

What did I do?

First I went swimming 2 kilometers for an hour with a coach; I swam the 25m in 15 seconds and the 400m in 6:15 - which is far away from my top times when I was on the swim team in college... but I was still happy with the times.

After that, I drove to RAK to do 2 sets of waterskiing! Then I did a few emails and calls, picked up the kids at school, cooked them dinner and took my wife out for dinner at Pepper Crab (highly recommended!). I guess I could live like that for some time,... but it won't happen! I'll be starting my new job early May, so I only get 10 days of R&R...

Tonight, I'm beat - and it feels good.

Resigning: how does it feel?

Everyone keeps asking me how I feel now that I've resigned. Here's the listof my emotions in priority order:

- relieved that the news is out

- excited to change careers

- energized by my new challenge

- confident that success lies ahead

- sad to leave some good friends and colleagues

- pleased with the professional reaction of my boss and the Bank

- happy to stay in Dubai and in the Middle East

- surprised how easy the whole thing was

- and of course, richer!...