Back in the UK.


Left to right: Steve, Holly, Mark and Suzie - sing it baby.

I'm knackered but content. My Arabian adventure has come to an end and the last couple of weeks have been a blast. Working hard and playing hard always leaves me feeling this way and we've done both, with the style and panache that only Steve and I know how.
Plus a great send off - an all-night Karaoke with one of Steve's new toys. And it was all night, the last strangled notes were finally emitted at 5.50am. I think his neighbours must be deaf.
My work in Bahrain is complete, for the moment. The GP2 programme is at the printers and the corporate brochure has been written to disk, waiting for the final, final amends. With in ten hours of checking-in I'm stood outside Dorridge station, a beautiful Autumn morning and it feels good to be back. I think I'm heading back to Bahrain at the end of October.
It just leaves me to big-up the Manama massive; Tony, Holly, Maya, Mark & Suzie, Ben, Natalie, Big H and Ashley. And the man who made it all possible - Steve, love ya buddy.


Last night with Ben and Natalie.

Magic.

Magical Trevor 3 has been released. Use the Weebl link in the link panel to the right.

No rain.

I've been aksed a few questions about what life is like in Bahrain so here is the low-down.


Considered one of the more Liberal of the Gulf Nations, the Kingdom of Bahrain is made up from a group of small islands and is linked to Saudi Arabia by a causeway. Bahrain, meaning two seas, has a population of 688,345, is currently number 164 in the World Population ranking and is known affectionately as the Pearl of the Gulf. It's main exports, funnily enough, are petrolium based products and to fill a tank of a Mitsubishi Lancer costs about 3.5 Bahraini Dinar, approx £5.00.

COUNTRY OVERVIEW
Head of State: King Hamad bin Isa al-Khalifa 
Independence: August 15, 1971 (from United Kingdom) 
Location/Size: Persian Gulf, 257 square miles 
Major Cities: Manama (capital) 
Languages: Arabic, English, Farsi, Urdu 
Ethnic Groups: Bahraini Arab (63%), Asian (19%), other Arab (10%), Iranian (8%)
Religion: Shi'a Muslim (70%), Sunni Muslim (30%)

With it's oil supplies running thin, Bahrain is trying to position itself as one of the major financial capitols of the Gulf and seems to be in Competition with Dubai at the moment. The country's capitol, Manama is a lively and modern city with many bars and restaurants, to while away the hours, and plenty of major, quality hotels.

Apart from, of course, the Bahrain International Circuit, there are many other things to see and do on the Island including, the 18 hole Riffa Golf course, an outdoor kart circuit, some dolphins in a tank - actually, lets face it, there's fuck all to do here except drink and get fat (which is exactly what I've been doing). But the standard of food has been exceptional, hence the extra few pounds.

Oh, and nobody out here can drive - it's just bloody dangerous.


I've been asked a few questions about Baharin, so I thought I'd give you the low-down.

It's the pits

Thursday was one of those days. Nothing you can put your finger on, just those little annoyances that escalate into one huge pain in the arse. It should have been fun - I'd been given a photo-shoot to look after. Cars, a racing circuit and a full day of sunshine, these are the days that make work fun.


But that wasn't to be, the photographer didn't show up, the cars weren't properly branded, the circuit was covered in dust and a shoot that was cut down from a full day to just 4 hours, and all I got to drive was a Toyota Previa. Still, got some good shots and the replacement snapper was a really nice geezer, I'll just have to organise another one.


What is the opposite to a taste sensation? What ever it's called, I found it on Friday night. If you are drinking Jack and Coke, under no circumstances should you eat bar-be-que flavoured Pringles. The resulting flavour concoction can only be described as ungodly.

And finally, just to clear up on the "Fanciable Equation" featured earlier in this Blog - I don't not claim ownership or creation of the a-fore-metioned, it was created by Jim and Farid, all I wanted to do was to bring it to a wider audience. I apologise if i have caused any mental anguish over this - it wasn't my intention.

Trees a crowd.

Sometimes I just want to be in the woods, usually Farningham woods, surrounded and towered over by massive, old trees. I haven't been near a tree for an age. It's the same feeling I used to get when I wanted a cigarette - something in the back of your mind that you want to do real bad but it feels like a million miles away. And I know, when I finally get there, it won't be the same. May be I just want to be far away from this desk.

Too cool for pool...




As previously predicted, this is where I'm spending all my time.
And a big hello to Jan who has returned to the UK from Brazil today - allright geezer!

That's all.

Badger...

As Dave pointed out, there has been no references to badgers yet which, it's got to be said, is pretty unusual for me. It must be all the camel exposure I'm getting in Bahrain. I have, at last, seen some real camels. A whole herd of them, if that is the correct collective noun for camels. I've seen them wandering around by the side of the highway but I've yet to get a picture of them.

Anyway, I'm going to keep this one short and I feel that it is my duty, not only to entertain, but to educate as well. So, enjoy the intersting "British Big Five", as previously discussed now with the collective noun for each animal included. I thank you.

BRITISH BIG FIVE
1. Badger (cete of badgers)
2. Squirrel (dray of squirrels)
3. Fox (leash of foxes)
4. Otter (romp of otters)
5. Hedgehog (prickle of hedgehogs)

Ok, it's Saturday and I'm back in Bahrain. I'm actually growing more fond of this place despite the general weirdness. Had an uber night out with Steve and the Manama Massive - food, cocktails and the all-too-familiar discussion on which celebrity is most fanciable. For anyone who doesn't know, and you should know, the theory goes that there are 4 categories for judging whether a person of the opposite sex is fanciable. They are CUTE, BEAUTIFUL, SEXY & DIRTY - and to achieve fanciableness you must have at least 2 of the above characteristics i.e. Kylie - cute, beautiful and sexy therefore very fanciable. Although the formula seems basic it generally works. Unless you are single and desperate when only one characteristic from the fanciable categories will do (if that).

Steve has bought, with a little gentle persuasion and coaxing from myself, a full-size pool table, a welcome addition to Steven's bar - which is where I shall be spending most of my week. To this day, I still regret selling my pool table.

And I should take time to mention the Minx. She is undergoing major surgery to get her ring-ready. Rear suspension screwed, gearbox pissing oil, tracking out, 4 new tyres needed, brakes knackered, the list goes on. It's going to cost a fortune but she is worth the investment. I'll find out at the end of the week when I collect her from the Alfa-fixers.

And finally, the winter season is now sorted. After meeting Ben and Greg from 3VSA we are going to commit to producing a magazine for the season. This means I will be spending the winter in Meribel - big wahoo!

Laters

And so it begins...

It's 10 passed midnight on a Tuesday and it's now that I decide to start blogging. I'm sitting in Solihull in-between a second trip to Bahrain to finish off what I started - camel hunting. A decent dromedary can cost you in excess of $8,000 but don't forget to check the teeth.

I'm having a bit of trouble sitting at the moment due to a slight shunt in the last kart race. It sounds worse than it is. It wasn't a massive crash into the tyres that's causing my pain but the fact that I'm slowly sliding into obesity and my back was unable to take the weight of the kart as I dragged it back on to the track. If anyone has had any problems with their backs they will know what an integral part the back plays when attempting to apply a sock to a foot, or even pulling up pants. Without the full compliance of the back these simple tasks can be a trial - and not something you wish to call on the family to assist with. I'm sure some rest and pain-killers will fix it in time.

It's the start of September and the snow will soon be falling on the Alps. At the moment the plan is, after returning from Bahrain, to find and arrange some accommodation in the 3 valleys. From there, the start of a magazine for seasonnaires should secure another season in the snow for me. I just need to iron out a few details, mostly financial, to make sure I can commit to another entire season. Even if the magazine isn't the answer I'm determined to find a way to 'do' another season - preferably with out too much work.

I'm going to be back in London for a few days at the end of the week, mainly to sort out the winter season but also to catch up with a few of you guys - and for a few beers. It seems like ages since I've been in the West End and my last planned trip was spoilt by ruddy, bloody terrorists. Back willing, I'll be propping up the bar in Jerusalem before you know it.

I know this has been the most interesting post and I'm sure I'll lose interest in keeping it up after a while, but I thought it would be a good idea to keep in touch with everyone while I'm away. I'm new to this blogging malarky, so just bear with me and I'm sure this will take some shape and evolve into something interesting in the future. And as you all know, I like it if it's interesting...

Peace out.

5 Things I Like (at the moment)
1. Reisen Chocolate Chews - They taste exactly like you imagine they should.
2. The Killers - Tune after tune after tune...
3. Tea - I miss it when I'm abroad.
4. Rain - It's nice and wet.
5. Flat surfaces - To ease the pain.