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First week in Bahrain is over, always billed as the relaxing week by the beach/pool, it has certainly lived up to it! Pops was here for the first day but was soon replaced by 4 terrible men that call themselves my flatmates, a week of gluttony,car crashes and gin ensued!
Got to the Bahrain Yacht Club 3 times on a temporary membership, needed a bit of sweet talking to the receptionist but nonetheless we made it, swimming races, volleyball, pooloside cricket and sunbathing was about the best of it, as well as the food, which always has been top notch, and this occasion was no different!
The swimming pool at Dad's compound looked like it hadn't been cleaned in the year since i was last here, and was a very fetching shade of green (see photos!), spent a couple of days sunbathing on the compound with BBQ's in the evenings, very relaxing!
Evenings in Bahrain aren't exaclty awash with activity, we ventured out on one occasion to a couple of bars in Manama, but they were a mix of dirty old men haggling with the local filipino ladies of the night, US navy personnel, and Locals who still think Blazin Squad are the dogs proverbial! But it was an experience nonetheless! Thus most evenings were spent at home on the compound consisting of 2 major activities...Monopoly (from 1980) and Fawlty Towers, both accompanyed with copious amounts of Gin- a very 'british' start to travelling!
The 2 main highlights of the week however must be credited to Mr Graham...the giant on the photos for those of you who dont know the man!       Â
The first occurred at the Manama Souq (outdoor market) where after purchasing what he thought was a bargain 'rolex' for BD5 (bout £7) he was flanked by a couple of the local indian traders from the store who accused him of stealing an omega that was clearly very valuable to them! a quick denial was followed by a period of unease that was highly amusing considering the size of his accusers! we quickly ushered our way through the streets until the gentle giant was safe!
The second however was both amusing and ridiculous at the same time! The hire car that we had for the week was a horrible automatic Mazda 323 that had less go that a lawnmower, thus when we arrived back at the compound gates one evening the wheel was offered to Geordie (who has no licence but has lessons under his belt on the road in a Manuel!) he navigated the bend in the road like a pro, a little fast maybe but around it anyway! The compound gates open and all you need to do in order to get to dad's house is take a left turn, this proves to much, as Andy Senna drives past the turn, asks if its the right one, before plunging the car up a curb narrowly avoiding a tree! The tyre is burst and the car doesnt move! We attempt to salvage the situation but are typically impractical! We are eventually saved by the houseboy, the nepalese doorman on his bike and a local who appears from nowhere with a pick-up truck and eventually we get out! The damage is repaired for a bargain BD50 and the car lives to see another day!!
Anyway, off to turkey tomorrow for a week at Mum's, Gulf Air Business class should provide a fairly enjoyable flight but we shall see!
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