(no subject)

Sign this - Petition for Cat

Not a cat, but Cat Le-Huy, who was detained in Dubai for having non-prescription pills (i.e. buy 'em yourself legally in civilised countries) and some dirt. Or as it's known in the trade, "being foreign".

Rather than exporting arms and war to the middle east, I think some common fucking sense would be in order. I honestly thought when I first heard about this that the authorities there would just turn him around and send him home, because what possible benefit is there in jailing him? It seems that logic does not apply in Dubai.

(no subject)

I noticed one of the petition signatures for Cat said something about arrest annulment.

Which made me wonder.

Does the fact that he's been arrested under different legislation to ours for offences which simply wouldn't exist in this country have any bearing on his record here or elsewhere? Or is it simply a case of "Oh, those batshit people in Dubai, they'll arrest anything they will" and other authorities pay no attention?

Because on the face of it, being arrested for drugs offence is not good, but when the drugs offence is something utterly legal... I'm sure it's not something that is black and white, or impossible to overcome, but are the Dubai authorities basically so fucked up that they attempt to have him "labelled" as a drug smuggler elsewhere?

Just a thought, really.

In other news. I am making the colour puce illegal. Only in my house, you understand, though if you do attempt to bring any puce across the threshold, you will be detained in the cellar. With the spiders.

Blah

Sick of this weather; really am quite depressed.

BT's online system wouldn't let me pay bills, so went to bank (got sick of arguing over £30 overcharge for service I didn't request and paid it anyway, will argue with them again when I have time) and did it. Alternator arrived for Delica and was a secondhand, broken part (the item specifics did say "used", even though the advert did not). Turns out they'll collect and refund and agreed that it was unacceptable that part of the housing was broken. So I buy the next-cheapest part, which definitely is new, but I'm out £60 which waiting for a refund.

Can't find my tax form. Not fussed really, they don't fine you INSTANTLY, but I need to tidy my office, it's practically unusable at the moment.

Want to play in new car.

Have decided to fit Kenwood DNX system to Delica once the alternator is fixed (probably before I have the DNX anyway) - the Delica will be able to use the dual-zone feature, has a dashboard ideally suited to it, and isn't a convertible. The MR2 can have the pop-out Pioneer unit that is currently in the Delica for iPod compatible features - dual zone would be useless in it as it's only a two seater. The only disappointment then is that the MR won't have built-in Satnav; but this isn't really such a big deal. Annoyingly I really, really want to get the radiator done and the weather is so horrible that I feel trapped :(

I'd like to put the Pioneer in the MR2 now, but of course, it's SNOWING.

Most importantly:

I rejoined the gym,
Lack of exercise has made me miserable and unfit. I miss burning off all that energy every day. I am going to go at 11am every day, and then get lunch and eat 20 minutes after as I used to, and I am going to get back in shape and back to the levels of fitness I enjoyed last year.

Really, really pleased about this, if I can do it. I know it will make me happier.