THE SAUDI CHRONICLES

 WEEK 39 of 104

Well hello again from a hot and sunny Sandi Arabia, and when I say hot I mean HOT! It was 41 degrees C this morning at 8:30. We’ve had days of 46 and 47 too, so now you know when I mean hot, it really is….. So, what’s been going on, in a nutshell, not a lot. Routine dictates our week the same as the UK. Work, Stalag, Work, Stalag etc etc. We are confined to Stalag Aziziyah at weekends unless we decide to go out and I don’t mean wander off to the shops, oh no, this is a planned escape with as many fellow inmates as you can muster. It requires planning and timing, fail to get your timing right and the shops will be shut (midday on thur) or the call to prayers will sound, like an air raid siren, calling all the shopkeepers to ignore the basics of running a business and shut up shop. Very strange, very strange indeed. We did have one rather mad weekend (see below) when Jimmy left and returned home.

This morning Saudi Dave and myself went over to Bahrain for breakfast, it was a most civilised trip, a full English and a mug of English breakfast tea. What a way to start the day. We then mooched around the supermarket as they stock a lot of produce from home. Then we jumped back into the cab and returned to KSA. 10 minutes ago I was sat on my bed drinking Typhoo tea, reading the Daily Mail and listening to Ken Bruce streaming via the BBC. How much closer to home can a boy get?

What about the cars I hear you cry, tell us about the cars. Well since I wrote last we have formed P.E.R.C. the Plasma Edge Racing Club. Four of us, Jonty (P1), Yours Truly (P2), Saudi Anthony (P3), and Saudi Dave (P4), all decided to purchase the same car and race against each other. We had our first meet last week over at the Aramco Skate Park and BMX track and believe me at times it was carnage!!!! We had such a laugh. Have a look at the pix below and try to imagine me and 3 other nutters racing remote control cars around a BMX track.

I have also been back home on my second holiday. Dawn had booked us a week away taking in Longleat Safari Park, which was great, and a two night stay at a very swish hotel called Beechfield House. Then down to Bissick Old Mill www.bissickoldmill.co.uk just outside Truro for a five night stay. Dawn bagged us the Granary (check it out on their website). Vivienne and Paddy made us most welcome and I feel I must point out their breakfasts are wonderful. We visited The Lost Gardens Of Haligan, which were lovely and enormous, and The Eden Project, which was also very impressive, and worth a visit if you ever find yourself with nothing to do down Cornwall way.

Well that’s all for now folks. I trust you are all well and enjoying life. If all goes to plan this episode should be uploaded tonight (Sunday 19th July).

Be cool and pop back soon……..Saudi Steve