Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Well, it’s nice to be back in Bahrain after our holiday. You won’t recognise me because I’ve gone a lovely ‘rusty’ shade of brown. RUSTY from all the rain that’s dropped down on my head while I was in England and Ireland!
My wife Wendy and daughter Hannah and I began our holiday by getting off the plane in Dublin straight into a rain shower.
When we got back on a plane to go to Manchester we where met with another shower and in between it hardly stopped. But we had a cracking time regardless. In Dublin we went on the local train system (called the Dart) to castle Mallahide. It was a fascinating place. I love going to these places because I dream of going back to a time of chivalry with knights in shining armour - and I think I would have been the court jester!
The next day we went on a tour bus around the city of Dublin. The bus driver gave us a hilarious running commentary of famous landmarks and local ‘facts’. I wish I could’ve recorded him and played some of the more entertaining bits on my radio show, he was that funny.
We got off at the zoo, which Hannah had been so looking forward to and guess what? It actually stopped raining!
The zoo’s well constructed and the animals seemed very happy and settled. We saw lions, tigers, leopards, bears, penguins and, in fact, just about every animal under the sun, except the ones that Hannah most wanted to see – elephants.
When we went to their enclosure there was not one in sight as they had closed the area down for refurbishment. It was luck that later in the holiday we found some elephants for her to see.
Another great thing about Dublin is that smoking has been banned indoors in public places (which for me as a non smoker is definitely the way forward).
BUT one day we were out shopping and sightseeing when the rain suddenly came teeming down (again), so we took shelter in a doorway. Of course, who did we find there? Smokers!
In Dublin virtually every shop or restaurant you go into has smokers loitering and littering outside. So be warned; take a sharp intake of breath before you try to go indoors. But once in, the air is always nice and clean.
On our return to Bahrain it was good to see that the local authorities have also banned smoking in shopping malls. Fantastic, I say.
We left Dublin after only three short days and went to Manchester to visit my mum and dad and their two dogs Sultan and Tammie!
Now, I thought holidays were for rest and relaxation (which for me means sleeping in). Ha! That illusion was shattered very early by the sound of the dogs barking to go for a walk (starting at about 6.30 every morning). So what to do? I put on one of my dad’s raincoats and his Wellington boots and went with my mum to the park for daily morning strolls (with an umbrella most days).
We saw lots of wildlife; including plenty of squirrels, and even a fox who came bounding past us one morning. I panicked, thinking some that some guy in a red coat on a horse would be hot on his tail.
Now, I’d like to point out, that Hannah joined ‘Granny’ and me on the dog walks a few mornings. But my beautiful wife graced us with her presence on the first day - only! The rest of the holiday she was comatose in bed snoring away with her earplugs in! That’s my story anyway and I’m sticking to it.
In and around Manchester we went on some great trips; including one to a working farm where we feed sheep and Hannah had a donkey ride. She loved it, however, she still says that she loves Frosty at the Dilmun Stables most of all.
Another day we went to Chester Zoo. I remember many years ago when my mum and dad used to take me there, and, I’ve got to say that it’s changed a lot. It’s SO big now! We couldn’t get around it in time but guess what? It had elephants plus lots of other interesting animals, including a komodo dragon and her little ones. There’s an amazing story about her, she laid eggs and they hatched into cute little baby dragons – this was very unexpected because there was no male dragon around. After tests, and whatever else, she was found to be both mother and the father to her babies.
Considering komodo dragons are pretty much endangered it’s a pretty neat trick to have up your sleeve!
One of the best things about the holiday was the food; especially the fish ‘n’ chips. And not forgetting the steak puddings and mushy peas too, which was our staple diet most of the time. But now that the holiday is over, it’s back to the gym time soon for me.
Sgt Adrian (my gym instructor) will have to get me into some kind of shape. I’m not sure what shape I’m in at the moment, but think it mostly resembles an orange!
It was so good seeing mum and dad. I got them a computer and onto the internet to help them to keep in touch. (Getting them connected to the internet was a long and tedious affair, and the experience made Batelco look pretty good in comparison). And Wendy gave mum a crash course in typing and computing.
What was really good about the spring and summer in the UK was the long days. It doesn’t get dark till around 10pm some nights (depending on cloud cover). Whereas when we stepped of the plane here at 7pm it was already dark.
As I flew back I thought, “Wow, that went quick”. But I’ve brought back some happy memories and it was great to meet up with relatives, some of whom I’d not seen in 10 years or more.
We landed back at Bahrain Airport at about 7pm on Friday after a great flight back on Gulf Air. As we left the aircraft I said to Wendy: “Hey the weather’s not too bad.” It was in the 30s. But she replied, “Wait till tomorrow in the daytime”. Of course, she was right”. (As always apparently. Yes guys, we must all agree that our other half is always right.)
My second day back in Bahrain I talked to a guy who said that this summer is going to be a very hot one (no kidding). But more than usual because there’s apparently a lot more jellyfish in the sea! Hmm! Would anyone care to explain that theory to me?
Once again, I’d like to give a big thank you to Gulf Air, who’ve given me some goody bags to give away for this weeks’ question.
Bye for now
Krazy Kevin
