Saad Group Troubles

Since I have complained several times on this blog about various Saad group businesses I thought I would give the down low on what the word is around time. For those that don't know Ma'an Al Sanea heads the Saad group but as of late things have taken a turn for this billionaire. Now while I don't particularly care for some of the business practices of his compound or hospital I have nothing against this man, or his children (I know two), or his family in general.

For those that are totally lost Al Sanea owns Saad hospital, I've complained here more than a few times about this hospital. From 1. having the worst birthing experience ever 2. loosing a child during a dentist visit 3. hating the phone operators 4 the increase of prices to ridiculous amounts 5 the lack of common sense that many seem to display. While I do really like some Drs. such as my OB/GYN I won't go to another, my mothers old Drs in surgical and oncology (ever get cancer I'm going to her Dr.) and we have had good dealings with a few other nurses,Drs and even therapists over the years. No Umar can't stand Bayzura but I think she is doing wonders for that boy even though I think one day he is going to knock her out and make a run for it.

Their compound drove me insane and while it had some of the best facilities and largest homes I hated their management's attitudes, their waste of money, and their over populated staff. I tell you rabbits had nothing on the staff that seemed to reproduce over night but not many seemed to do anything. Many might recall my fight over the trees, where they uprooted them and imported and planted date tress (what a mess they make), the poisoning of my cats, as well as the picture I took of 10 guys digging a small hole for a wooden pole to go in. And let us not forget when a man (or men who knows) broke into my home and one of them did something very perverted on her bed.

So word is that there is a family dispute over some inheritance. Probably that coupled with Saads liquidity problem and your heading for major disaster. Since the freeze of Mr. Ma'ans personal bank accounts and that of his family many innocent people are being effected. Word has it some 500 employees thus far have been fired, many from the main head quarters and several are upper management who needed to go long ago if you ask me. Unnecessary staff from the hospital has been cut back and word is next month many Drs will be given the boot. While I can give a list of some Drs I would love to see go as their attitude, knowledge and patient relations stinks like a sewer I also have a long list of Drs who I wouldn't want to see loose their jobs.

They have closed down several restaurants, fired chefs, even the good Japanese restaurant at Oasis is shut down. I loved that restaurant the staff was so very good, their chef was super friendly, and their food was great. While they were heading for a slow down considering summer time is upon us I still feel bad these men all lost their livelihoods. There are plans on closing down places to eat at the hospital itself and go from several to just one cafeteria for all of their employees, the ones that are left anyway.

And this isn't all small scale, Saad hospital has been working on a new much needed oncology unit which word is won't ever open. I have no idea how much money they have put into the building, the equipment, and everything else that is needed in such an extensive project as that unit but now it may never pay off. And yes I would argue that Saudi has a whole needs a hospital that provides more extensive cancer treatments and has better services than what is available now. Of course this building wasn't going to be just limited to cancer treatments either so that brings in a wider need in this country that will not be realized and what a loss that will be.

Like so many other things in life it is amazing how one so big, rich and full of resources can so quickly be at risk of loosing it all. I'm sure things will eventually be worked at but what will be the loss? I do hope that Saad hospital isn't closed entirely or the Drs who are so wonderful are given the boot in favor of less paid staff. Although I seriously can't blame any of the staff looking for other jobs considering their futures hang in the balance of bad business decisions and a family feud over billions of dollars.

It is going to be interesting to see how this all plays out. As of now on one knows for sure what is going to happen with them as I'm sure Ma'an Al Sanea is unsure as well.

Lady It Is Not A Parking Spot!

Coming out of Mickey D's after a nice quick lunch with two of the girls. Ok not a nice lunch in terms of nutrition and taste but nice in that it is just me and the girls. Backing out of the parking spot which was right near the Mickey D's drive thru entrance I had to beep my horn at a guy who was blocking me. He moved I started to back out only to be blocked off by some older lady oblivious to the world.

"Mama she isn't even moving she is putting on makeup" Leyna says just as annoyed with her as me.

I look, she is plucking hairs from her face not caring I'm stuck and now cars are lining up no one able to move because she decided to park where it isn't a parking spot.

Waiting... I beep my horn.. she isn't paying attention. I'm annoyed I get out of my car and walk up to her.

"Lady this isn't a parking spot and your blocking me from getting out" I said nicely

"This is a parking spot" she says

"No this isn't a parking spot and your in the way" at this point she should apologize at least

"This is a parking spot I can park here" not the response I was looking for

"Lady you ran over a plastic cone it is NOT a parking spot!!" I said pointing to the cone under her left tire and she looks.

WTH I mean if you have to run over a bright orange cone something should tell you not to park there

"Don't yell" was her only response

"Lady this isn't a parking spot and your blocking EVERYONE!!" I walk off muttering idiot while she yells out the window "Don't yell at me" so I hit her car not hard just like a slap and walked back to my car. She was than yelling "Stupid" And I'm yelling back

"Your stupid it is NOT a parking spot"

She moved after I left after a few other cars beeped their horns and cussed her under the breath. One day.. I tell you one day!!

Small Glitch

Seems in my excitement updating my other blog that I deleted the background for this one. Ooops!! All is fixed but feel free to drop by here and see if I can't cause a blackout next time :) I'll be working on it the next couple of days and as you read there you'll begin to see why I haven't updated here.

Bad blogger I am..

The Loss Of Mr. Cameron

Mr. Cameron was Hannah's English teacher, I saw was not in the meaning as she moved on to another grade level. I saw was as he was killed yesterday while riding his bicycle in Juffair. Evidently a driver jumped a curb (not sure why) and struck Mr. Cameron as he was riding his bike, which he rode everywhere even to school. He was young, 31, and it was his first year at IKNS and he was planning, as we all do his life.

He planned on returning next year as he liked the school and Hannah was glad to hear it as she enjoyed his class very much. He was an easy teacher and she took to him, and he to her which was easy to do as she is the shy girl in class. He was planning a summer vacation when school ended on the 25th of this month. A vacation which would also include his honeymoon as he was engaged to a KG teacher at the school, they were going to marry this summer.

His sister, who is a PE teacher at the school as well, now has the daunting task of bringing her brother home to New Zealand, not for a wedding but for a funeral. I imagine the family is beyond words of grief as they learn that in an ordinary day of a young man's world life can be taken from you quickly. My heart goes out to the family.

The school plans on telling the kids tomorrow at school, I wasn't supposed to tell Hannah but I did. I didn't want her to sit at morning assembly and be told the news, I wanted her to be prepared. She has dealt with death in her short life but I don't think it has all set in with her yet. As with most things in the mind of a child things take time to be understood. I'm sure the impact of school tomorrow, in the classroom where he taught, and remember how Mr. Cameron used to teach her it will all come down on her.

He was a very good teacher and the entire event is so sad. Here we plan our days I'm sure as Mr. Cameron did, and in an instant it is all gone from us. What is most important is our time spent with the ones we love and living our moments day to day as we never know when our time is written.

Keep this family in your prayers.

ETA- GDN ran another article on Mr. Cameron give it a read. Hannah was wrong, the wedding was planned for December not this summer. The school had today off out of respect and I'm very glad they made that decision.