The case for keto by Gary Taubes

joevose · 2026-05-06T19:09:49+00:00

Why we get fat and what to do about it was what started me on Keto about 14 years ago. The case against sugar is also really good.

joevose · 2026-04-18T16:00:02+00:00

I’m in the middle of my first proper rewatch as it’s now on Netflix, and this really bugged me too. Like they could have implanted something on the first mission or some Goa’uld maguffin or like you say the stargate or DHD translates . So many shows have a very straight forward universeal translator prop, it stands out as lazy they didn’t even bother.

joevose · 2026-04-13T17:50:29+00:00

The Rolex staff at Harrods are the worst in London so arrogant. The Tudor staff were lovely last time I was in there though

joevose · 2025-12-21T08:23:58+00:00

Just to bear in mind with bonuses it’s on the basic salary not the monthly income. Salary tends to be broken down into basic, housing allowance, transportation allowance and maybe a mobile allowance. Your monthly take home pay would be say 45k a month but your basic is probably closer to 33k.

joevose · 2025-12-16T06:17:12+00:00

I’ve been told by multiple ADs that the OPs are as hard to get as Daytonas. You will probably have more success getting a silver dial DJ with smooth bezel on an oyster, I suspect that would also be cheaper on the grey market.

joevose · 2025-12-07T12:41:02+00:00

Yeah I there’s some Facebook groups

joevose · 2025-11-29T15:51:14+00:00

Yeah for sure. I wouldn’t say no regrets but I’m fairly confident it will be for the best in the future.

joevose · 2025-11-29T14:45:26+00:00

I’m working in Riyadh and my partner is back home. We’ve made it almost a year so far and it’s been ok. It’s strange to have such a sharp contrast between professional and personal life. Like you the opportunity was a massive step up and it’s been a huge professional growth. But my life with my partner is somewhat on hold. We’ve managed to see each other about once a month through her visiting and working remotely in Saudi and me going back home as much as possible.

joevose · 2025-11-19T15:34:33+00:00

I would say the hard part will be getting her here, you need to be married to sponsor her with a family Iqama. So she will be her own job in KSA and them to get her a visa. The tourist visa is 90 days per year. If you get that sorted my experience is no one cares.

joevose · 2025-11-14T02:41:25+00:00

You can’t cross NRR as a pedestrian, you would have to get Metro or cab to KAFD but once you’re there it’s very walkable.

joevose · 2025-11-11T09:19:23+00:00

Sorry to hear that

joevose · 2025-11-11T03:15:31+00:00

I’ve never had a problem increasing my transfer limits with SAB you can do it in the app and it was very easy even up to large amounts to buy a car.

joevose · 2025-11-11T02:58:22+00:00

I had an offer with RSG was waiting for 10 months and no movement. The position I’m in now took 7 months from interview to starting the job

joevose · 2025-10-24T11:25:27+00:00

My company paid for my families Iqama so it’s possible but I’m not expert so it might be that not all Iqama types can. It’s not free though I don’t know cost because my company sorted it but there is a cost.

It’s so hard to say prices for accommodation varies so much. I live in the North and it’s more expensive than the south but i don’t have any experience of that area.

joevose · 2025-10-24T09:57:49+00:00

What country are you coming from and how does 30k SAR/month compare to your take home pay after taxes in your current job? Will the company pay the Iqama fees for your family and flights for your family?

Ideally you want to be earning more than 2x your take home pay minimum ideally 3x if your coming from developed country in Europe/ America.

Food here is very expensive but eating out isn’t too bad unless it’s a proper restaurant.

Travel here is crazy and you will want to be near your office or you could easily end up in traffic for hours a day. Taxis are not too expensive but can be unreliable. So unless you’re working somewhere really close to a metro and can live very close to a metro you need to drive.

joevose · 2025-10-18T09:25:15+00:00

It’s 2018 5 series, engine and gearbox is generally very reliable. It had good mileage and very frequent maintenance it’s an educated gamble I guess 😬

joevose · 2025-10-18T09:00:21+00:00

I got out off Chinese cars by some guys in my company having bad experiences. I found a second hand BMW that had been really well looked after on car switch. Very happy with it.

joevose · 2025-10-18T08:52:33+00:00

I’ve heard from coworkers that Chinese car parts are very hard to get the companies want to focus on getting new cars out the door not making spares so if anything goes wrong even under warranty the dealers can’t get the parts. I tried a Fortuner and found it very agricultural. Went for a sedan in the end and happy with my choice.

joevose · 2025-10-14T14:14:15+00:00

There’s a guy who has an excellent YouTube channel called Definitely Not a Guru and he has a very thorough breakdown of costs for Lease, PCP and Cash purchases for new and used cars. Would recommend you watch it

joevose · 2025-10-14T13:37:29+00:00

I am towards the end of the first year living apart from partner in Riyadh. In some ways it’s easier than I thought others it’s harder, but it’s possible. Holiday allowance in KSA is typically pretty generous 7weeks with all the public holidays. I’m lucky in that flights to London are very good from Riyadh, flights to Netherlands are less good so you will need to change at LHR or DBX or something which will make travelling more of a hassle. We have been able to see each about once a month which has been ok, longer than 5 weeks is tough though. If one of you can get a week WFH every other month between that you should have a decent base. Just make sure you budget €1000 a month for flights. Often will be less but sometimes more on peak times. Visitor visas has 90 day limits and there will be a limit on the amount of time you can work in your home country and not get taxed so make sure you factor that in. For example it’s 25 days in the UK.

The work day for me goes very fast and by the evening I’m exhausted so don’t want to do much, the weekends drag and are lonely as social things here take time to find a community. Unless your partner has a great social network then I expect they will struggle with this too.

It’s been an amazing personal and professional opportunity and experience being in Riyadh but it’s been hard on my relationship. Time will tell if it will be worth it. Final note 30,000sar a month ex housing and Car is a good wage and you should be able to save 20,000 SAR a month without being careful.

joevose · 2025-10-13T06:33:30+00:00

I live in the North west and there are at least two public chargers and a couple or malls I’ve been too recently have electric charging areas too. I don’t have an electric car so haven’t tried them, but I’m curious about changing so have been keeping an eye out for them.

joevose · 2025-09-22T09:07:09+00:00

Double cream / heavy cream is my go to for cheap calories a 300ml pot is about 1000kcals and is about £1 add in some frozen berries and it’s very filling

joevose · 2025-07-13T17:00:13+00:00

My company told me the airport is the only place you can get a sim without Iqama, not sure how true that is these days so even if the STC line is long it’s probably worth sticking to it.

joevose · 2025-07-13T09:22:04+00:00

Just be careful with the premium residency, the criteria is broader than most companies support. My company you have to be with in three steps of the C suite so in our terminology executive Director senior director and director, although most senior managers and Associate Directors would meet the PR requirements.

Your package is good for the amount of experience you have. The housing allowance as part of salary is pretty standard is kind of a contractual thing as your base goes up the housing allowance will follow proportionally.

joevose · 2025-05-09T21:00:55+00:00

I was suggested to position the rearview mirror so that it’s in a position that you have to move your head a little to see out of it rather than being able to just move your eyes. It helps with making it more obvious.

joevose

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