Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
With National Day, Eid, Christmas and New Year all rolled into a 17-day period lots and lots of people are taking advantage of the big break.
It's also the season for parties and festivities, and last week I certainly attended a lot of them; kicking off with a goodbye party for St. Christopher's Infant School in Budaiya (as the school is moving to St. Christopher's Junior School in Saar). There was so much to do, including henna and face painting and too many cake stalls to mention, plus Santa's Grotto.
After Santa landed his sleigh and reindeers on the roof of the school he made his way down to his own little grotto. I introduced him to the waiting kids and he gave out loads of presents whilst I played all sorts of music.
During the evening someone came to me and said that Mrs. V didn't hear the dedication that I'd done for her on the radio that morning. So, I duly obliged and put on Wham with "Wake me up before you Go Go"! Mrs V put down her handbag and started dancing around it with some of her colleagues.
The evening finished off with the teachers and children singing together for the last time on the school grounds, and there wasn't a dry eye to be seen anywhere.
The next day I compered at the annual DHL Christmas Kids Party in the Al Kheyma Tent at the Ritz Carlton. This time Santa Claus' entrance was very different; he arrived riding on a camel. He's such a versatile guy, Father Christmas.
All the children were given a helium balloon and told to write a note on a tag that was attached to the balloon's string. They then went outside holding on to their balloons and on the signal everybody released them.
What a glorious sight it was, as a red and green tide of balloons floated up into the sky. (A few unfortunately got caught in the palm trees but Santa's little helpers helped get them and send them on their merry way).
Back inside the tent Santa got up on the stage area and as their names were called all the children came to sit on his knee and be given their present. We played lots of games (my favourite was the musical statues) and everyone was so good at it that in the end we gave out five 'first' prizes!
Well done to all Santa's helpers; including two Elves, Mother Christmas, Frosty the Snowman and Helen, the Aussie Angel. And, of course, an extra special 'well done' for the amazing organisation of the event goes to Gabriela Dahi.
Now, onto a first for me; on Thursday night I was asked to DJ for AMA outside at their site for the project of Reef Island in the Financial Harbour. I went to look at the place the day before and it was blowing a howling wind as the stage area was being erected. I chatted to Ernie, one of the organisers, and he said everything would be finished by the next day.
I arrived the next night and it was weird because everything looked so totally different in the dark. I was working with the great local band "Room 2 Rock" with Bob Doig and the amazing guitarist Manny Cordero. I played a few tunes, then brought the band on and whilst they where playing I looked around at the amazing lights around the Financial Harbour and ruminated about how quickly Bahrain was growing and growing.
It was a good night, but after I finished I got into my car and drove off in the direction where I thought the exit was. As I was driving the sand seemed to get thicker. I turned a corner and there in front of me was the sea! Whoops! I was lost.
I did a scary three-point turn and tried to retrace my tracks. And again, nearly ended up in the sea! Then, thankfully, I noticed a light and decided to go towards it. Eventually I made it; it was a massive crane and the guy in the drivers cab pointed me in the right direction. Before long I saw the road I came in on and made it home about an hour later than I should have.
Until next week, keep happy and have that smile on your face!
Krazy Kevin
