A special thanks to Labour....

[ASB]

Wages in Moscow are much higher than 300 USD, they are just unofficial, no tax paid cash in envelope. Rents in Moscow certainly gone nuts - just like property prices, at least in this country they cant jack up rent because of market environment.

We will just have to differ there. Clients western staff are well paid but local staff are paid what is described as the going rate.

Its strange they went after you - they try to focus on non-whites (assuming you white here)

They appeared to be specifically targetting westerners (I understand from my clients this is a recent phenomenon). Pretence was to ensure I was correctly registered (i.e. landing card has gone off to ministry from hotel and been stamped and returned. The alleged offence was that this was dated the day after my arrival (which because of the system is of course inevitible).

What are you doing there anyway?

Working, can't tell you more than that.

[Churchill]

How is life in Tenerif?

Pretty Good.

Unfortunately, I'm in sunny Cambridge. (well it was pissing down here this morning).

[mcquiggd]

Cambridge is nice. I was there a couple of years ago and saw some white people.

[Churchill]

Cambridge is nice. I was there a couple of years ago and saw some white people.

Are you still pissed?

[mcquiggd]

Nope... I have that booked in for about 9pm this evening.

[AtW]

We will just have to differ there. Clients western staff are well paid but local staff are paid what is described as the going rate.

Locals earn much more than 300 USD in Moscow, its simply impossible to live on that money there, almost everyone gets grey salary in envelope, those who dont (in big govt entities) substitute their income with bribes and racket.

Interesting that police started targeting westerners - normally they prefer to stay away from such people because it could lead to international incident, ie like embassy involved yet, and the police in Moscow knows that they can do what they want so long as is it does not become public embarassment to the big guys.

I hope they pay you very very well because otherwise you'd have to be sado-mazo kind of person to live there volunteraly.


btw, you dont sound very happy Spod, whats up?

[ASB]

Interesting that police started targeting westerners.

But not tourists seemingly. A Turkish lady I was working with reckons it's the laptop that shows you up as a good mark. Regarding the rate the low level staff are paid a bit more than I suggested - I was converting to sterling not USD, but yes that do make it up in various ways.

[AtW]

Have you considered complaining to the embassy or telling the police that you are a foreigner from England (thats how UK is referred to normally in Russia), and you will request embassador and superiors of that police officer will have to contact Russian Foreign Ministry to investigate the incident. That should scare police scum away.

Oh one more hint - if they ask you to touch a big stone then under no circumstances do so...

[Buffoon]

Many years ago, an agent called me about setting up the stock exchange in Moscow. I asked someone I knew that had worked in Russia about it. He said, “They will love you! You will either come back dead or married.” I am not sure of the difference. He reckoned that as a single man with a good income there would be a fight between the Russian mafia and the local women as who would get me first.

I went to work for a dodgy European bank instead.

[AtW]

British passport there will certainly help get laid a lot with very pretty girls.

I bet ASB regrets being married