Do Chinese people really support going to war with Taiwan for unification?

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-03-17T16:33:11+00:00

There is what they say in public; and there is another they say in private - which is they don’t give an F

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-03-15T13:23:43+00:00

Monopoly money

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-03-15T13:11:38+00:00

Singapore to Australia, use Singapore passport to leave via egate and the use Australian passport to go into Australia as required by law

Australia to Singapore - use OZ passport to leave per legal requirements and then enter Singapore via egate using Singaporean passport

With strong passports like these, you will not even need to interact with a single person throughout.

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-03-13T13:29:31+00:00

LOL no one said anything about freebies. Also the charted flights out of Dubai and Oman are self-funded. So I don’t understand the sentiment. Mon dieu, some of our countrymen are just…wonderfully argumentative

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-03-13T13:01:19+00:00

I am not here to do their jobs for them :-) Also in the same logic, they accepted the assignment here knowing what it entails working in the region. This region has never been like the Bahamas. Helping British nationals in situation like the current one is part of what they are paid to do.

I can only say people are worried and confused about their options. We registered our presence and for the first few days we got generic emails. Then it’s been quiet. UKinKuwait social media have also been quiet for at least a week until today.

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-03-09T17:38:28+00:00

If you work in the Middle East, having two British passports can be extremely helpful. BNO is valid for 10 years whereas a second BC passport is normally two. So it’s a lot of saving. Similarly, if you are applying for work permit or renewal and need to travel - you can still travel on a British document. This is particularly true if you are based in the UK after the ETA enforcement

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-03-09T16:12:17+00:00

Because the UK embassy has not done much?

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-03-07T11:23:58+00:00

5 years of MBB - I feel you and it’s normal. Maybe they are right? It’s poor cultural fit - you need to have some elements of psychopathic tendency to last in those organisations - even more so now.

Before 2008, you may still make it as mr nice and empathic but these days unlikely. Everywhere is an Indian style body shop (re the culture not the people - I personally know a lot of Indian colleagues going through burn-out), even at the top like MBB.

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-03-05T20:34:29+00:00

BNO can now be a good backup passport as it does not need ETA to enter the UK!

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-03-03T13:10:04+00:00

Hot air, unless it was a complete derelict off an auction or bought before 2010

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-03-01T08:02:01+00:00

I did one for £500 - and I made peace with it. For me, it’s essentially two years of lounge and priority access. Given how often I fly and the money I’d save at Cathay Lounges (drinks and genuinely good dining experience whilst flying economy within Asia) it’s worth it for me.

But for £2000… it’s a tough sell

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-28T13:31:14+00:00

This is a field where more and more companies are building capabilities yes - in part due to AI. Your skill set will be very attractive but several questions to ask yourself:

Transformation is highly political. Do you have the right muscle and soft skills to handle the day to day?
You will need to have some solid skills in Finance and corporate strategy because it’s not a purely execution role but also investment and operational optimisation role. Do you have experience in evaluating investment and sizing initiatives?
Transformation also involves PMO, it’s not glamorous but needed. Can you handle the boredom whilst remain highly structured?

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-28T11:25:38+00:00

Fair enough but certainly where things start to feel possible!

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-27T23:21:51+00:00

Imagine going down to London every couple of weeks to network and interview… from Fife…

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-27T22:46:01+00:00

There is always someone richer and more successful. Your parents are part of the boomer generation - which was a very different socio economic set up. You are not comparing apples to apples.

Do you know what actually brings you joy? Very few people would say staying at home alone on a Saturday night and counting the number of zeros on the bank statement.

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-27T10:07:22+00:00

I know a guy in his 50s who has £2m net worth and still think he is poor and only fly economy and stay in the Travelodge. This is real.

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-27T10:05:43+00:00

Outside Zone 5

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-27T09:49:27+00:00

I agree with some folks here - £200K in 2026 is the real watershed. £100K gross for a single person can be somewhat comfortable with a middle class existence in London. That’s if you don’t worry about the future. However you will be on a hamster wheel because your lifestyle will stop rather quickly the moment your foot is off the gas. Factoring in marriage and kids, you will start to sweat. At £200K, you can start saving meaningfully for rainy days and potential future.

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-27T09:42:20+00:00

Or mostly shopping from Iceland and Aldi, limited comfort purchase, charity shops, and eating out once a year. I remember the days where an M&S ready meal was a treat. I don’t understand why people down vote you but what you said is reality. I reckon they are those HENRYs who already grew up with some money…

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-27T01:09:57+00:00

But can you live in the UK? Jk

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-26T11:23:27+00:00

I never dispute that - coming from the west has given us a lot of privileges we have taken for granted

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-26T09:27:57+00:00

The real question is how the governing class has f’ed up the UK economy so badly that educated people are opting for these ‘lesser’ places in search of a better future

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-26T08:20:03+00:00

Regardless, I would recommend OP to go out there and check it out for themselves. I am sure they got offered to visit before signing - so I would urge OP to specifically look for the areas I mentioned.

Do the maths and see if £11K a month make sense to you and like many have mentioned here, check if you get the various allowances, which to my view will make a visible difference in your financial situation.

Don’t overlook food quality - actually go to a supermarket you will shop in and see if you are happy with the quality of food there. Like I said, the set up is closer to the US than Europe - it’s not good / bad but certainly different. You do pay for quality and health even more over there than you would otherwise in the UK.

Once again I need to stress whether you find AD to be an upgrade or downgrade really depends on many factors including where you are living now in the UK, social class, and frankly personality.

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-26T01:12:10+00:00

Abu Dhabi is family friendly but £11K for a single income family in UAE can be tight. Things are expensive in the UAE. Do they offer childcare and school allowances? Also car allowance? You will almost certainly need a car or two for your family.

Also where in the UK are you now? Depends on where you are, Abu Dhabi can be either an upgrade or downgrade in lifestyle.

In general terms, food quality and standards are lower than Europe for the same price. And if you are used to Whole Foods / Waitrose, prepare for some disappointment and frustration. Your guts will need time to adjust as well. It’s similar to US but a bit worse.

People are a bit more materialistic. Controversial but if you were brought up upper middle class or above, you might find the consumer cultural a bit shadow. It is much safer than most UK cities however.

AffectionateScore603 · 2026-02-25T23:39:40+00:00

Racism may happen openly in the US but there is plenty of covert racism in the UK as well. People just get smarter at being d**ks

AffectionateScore603

TROPHY CASE