You'd think based on one or two recent post that I have something of a dislike of the place I've chosen to work and live - I did chose, no one put a gun to my head and made me come here. It's probably true that I'm a little jaded where KSA is concerned, but you tend to come here with the view of it being a means to an end and no further. Having just clocked over my 10 year point, the chances are that most of the things I ever thought I came here for, have either been met or, by now, surpassed in many ways. With those thoughts in mind, it would be a little one sided of me if I didn't recognise and highlight some of the good things I've been able to do over the last decade:

1. I got married - this is a good thing
2. I've spent the last 10 years largely away from the UK's dreary weather - OK, so it gets a bit hot here, but this is generally a good thing
3. AM and I have not only bought a house, but currently overpay on the mortgage, more than the mortgage itself - this is a good thing (I think), though we will need something larger when we eventually go back home
4. I've bought a new car for the first time in my life (though it is now 4 years old) - jury's out on whether buying a new car is a good thing or not, I will err towards the positive though
5. We've visited Italy twice, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Qatar, Dubai a few times and Bahrain more times than I can remember - these were good things, though it does rather call into question our carbon footprint
6. I've got a collection of guitars most professional guitarists would be proud of - trust me, this is a good thing
7. I have developed and grown in my chosen career - this is a good thing, but this seems of late to have stalled somewhat
8. I don't pay tax; my salary is not much different to what I would expect in the UK - but on the whole this is a rather good thing
9. We have some savings behind us - a good thing, but given the interest rates currently, not overly productive
10. Our housing and electricity out here are provided as part of the overall package I'm on - good thing too...
11. I had a cardiac stent fitted within 24 hours of failing a stress test rather badly - you cannot imagine what a GOOD THING this is

You could read the above and think we're absolutely minted when it's set out like this, but really we don't do too much more than average Joe, possibly we can do it a little easier and we are in a far better position than those who have suffered during the current recession. I don't envy them their plight in any way. So I will keep plodding along for a while longer at a guess, but at least the next time I have a moan, you can point me back over here to see what on earth it is that I'm moaning about and tell me to STFU whinging (Pom that I am)!