I should add that whatever complaints I might have, it is brilliant to have a personal office with the terrace and a view for the evening, although it would be more brilliant if I actually spent more time on it instead of inside. Well, if other business picks up, I can spend time with a drink, a phone and a contact list,

However, getting to a more profound observation, among the most irritating item to date is the degree to which traditional practices trump theoretical rules. An example, the building has a perfectly functional, indeed brand spanking new audio-visual entry system for the entry. However, the door is always open during the day. The reason initially escaped me, but eventually it occurred to me that other offices might require visitors with shall we say less than sufficient literacy to know what bloody button to push, whether by numbers or by name. Functional illiteracy – no rather absolute illiteracy.

So, following ancient custom and practice, the door is left open by the misshapen cretin of a Bawab. Although this drives me mad personally, when it comes down to it, who besides me works late? But then, why bother with the fancy expensive A-V entry system for the bloody door then?

Appearances, of course. Although a strangely deformed attention to appearances.