Fay, I don't know much about contractual law, specially in Egypt, but I'm pretty sure that even though he didn't sign it, that it is still binding. Cause bet your ass if there WAS a non-compete in there and the situation was still the same re: the signatures, he'd try to use it against you.

There was most emphatically no non-compete clause in the contract he presently has. On my mother's life. Which is indeed why he's not using it.

afaic the memo releases me from any obligations to the school. However, as I don't want to do anything that's going to land me in the shit I'm going to go directly over to my prospective new employers tomorrow with the memo and set out the situation for them. They will know precisely what he can and can't do, and what bad things could potentially befall me if I walk out the door tomorrow with matters left as they stand. I don't want to bring any shit down on them, certainly, so although normally one would rather avoid any negative reflections upon one's current employer I don't think I've got any choice at all. His reputation has already preceded him - they know of his incompetence from the many teachers at my school who responded to their ad for new staff and from the many parents of kids presently at our school who are looking into this new (as yet unbuilt) school.

In addition to the new employers, we're approaching lawyers and we're going to the British Embassy. I'm not taking any hasty steps, but my goodness, if it turns out that I can just walk out without dropping myself in it? I am GONE.

Yeah, I don't know how it is in Egypt, but in the US it is my understanding that if both sides of a contract spend the better part of a year fulfilling that contract, it's enforceable even if not signed.

(eta: your plan sounds absolutely and totally right, Fay. What on earth did he think you would do?)

Don't make any assumptions about Egyptian law based upon US law.

....I can't begin to emphasise that strongly enough. Heh. Man. Really. Which isn't to say that the contract isn't enforceable - but that's why I'm going to consult Egyptian lawyers.

(Actually, for a contract to be legal here it has to be in Arabic. Which my contract? Very much not in Arabic. So I'm guessing he'd be looking at UK law rather than Egyptian. Good luck to him.)

I almost didn't say anything because I figured it didn't really apply, but I gotta spout of some of the knowledge in my head sometimes, appropriate or not.

It's going to be fun.

I can see the ad campaign for this movie.

"Coming to Cairo in the Summer of '05: The Wrath of Fay! You don't want to see her idea of fun." ::flashcut of Fay's eyes narrowing with highly compressed sound effect of shrieking metal flying by like shrapnel::

"In world news today, a small, blonde English woman was caught screaming obscenities at the Sphynx. Something along the lines of "Riddle me this muthafucka! Riddle me the fuck this!!" was heard for a 2 mile radius. "

Oh man, Fay. That's incredible. I hope it all sorts out reasonably for you.

I almost didn't say anything because I figured it didn't really apply, but I gotta spout of some of the knowledge in my head sometimes, appropriate or not.

This should *so* go in our FAQ.

Oh, Fay! Good grief! I hope this is the end of it for you, but I suspect that it's not...

Can I share some good news?

I have job interview at 11am tomorrow. Squeeeeeeeeeee!

"In world news today, a small, blonde English woman was caught screaming obscenities at the Sphynx. Something along the lines of "Riddle me this muthafucka! Riddle me the fuck this!!" were heard for a 2 mile radius. "

"To which observers said, 'She must have been dealing with Egyptian law.'"