Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
Sometimes when I'm filming 'Music Mania' I think I need a health warning and even some good insurance! On Tuesday I went to the World Beat Fitness Center (it's weird, I would spell it Centre) and met up with the boss; the lovely Jane Goodwin.
We had a good chat about what the centre represents and its philosophies as regards to physical and mental well being. For some fun I was also put on a BOSU ball (which stands for Both Sides Up). It's actually half a ball which you balance and bounce on.
And it looks pretty easy but I'll tell you it's not; as I found out to my cost by falling off more than a couple of times. But "thanks" Roberta for the tuition because as expected, I am aching all over!
Then it was on to meet Hisham Al Baloushi who is the karate instructor at the centre. We had a great and informative chat and he told me that karate means 'empty hand' in Japanese; which is a way of saying that you can use the martial art as a self defence against an opponent without using weapons.
Hisham explained about the different colour belts that karate students wear and mentioned that he was a 3rd Dan Black Belt. Looking at his belt I said that it looked more grey than black. He replied that it's because once you gain your black belt from then on you really start from the beginning again to find more awareness of the teachings ... very philosophical, I thought!
Hisham was in the middle of a class of about 25 kids, busy giving them sets of routines called 'Katas' when I got him to do a '60 second interview challenge' for Music Mania ... whilst doing squat jumps.
It sounded really hard to me, but I think he could have carried on for another hour without stopping.
Then at the end of the show I had a chat to the kids and that is when I made an almost fatal mistake. After saying bye to the viewers on the TV, I shouted: "I bet you can't catch me"! Well, the kids did catch me ... I was ambushed in the corner of the studio and I received a few strong blows to my rather flabby tummy region!
I've got to say those kids have been well taught. But seriously, it's a great sport for discipline as well as a very good workout physically.
Talking of physical workouts, on Friday and Saturday I was down at the Bahrain Rugby Club to MC/DJ at the Riffa Views Inter-Gulf Netball Championships.
It was a record turnout, with 20 teams representing countries from all over the Gulf. On the first day, the teams were split into two sections with each team playing each other once to decide what the layout would be on the following day.
We kicked off the opening ceremony with all the participants coming out with their countries flags.
Then we were treated to a dance by the Coca Cola Cheerleaders. The first day was lots of fun; different team members requested their favourite songs to be played before their match.
Some choice selections were from the Bahrain Babes who wanted "I like the way you move" and the Abu Dhabi team wanting "The final countdown". Dubai wanted "Wake me up before you go go" and the funniest request was from the Dubai Veterans, who wanted "Who let the dogs out?"
Also, on the first day was a netball team called Hucclecote from one of the top netball associations in England comprising of up-and-coming talented young players.
They played the top eight teams and the team that scored closest to them got to play them the next day in the Invitational Cup Final.
That honour went to Abu Dhabi A; who lost by only 2 points. After an exciting first day where everything went to schedule; except for when Dave's hooter ran out of gas. (For those who are wondering, his hooter was an air horn, that 'hooted'). I had to improvise with my own very vocal 'Hoot' (which was a cross between an enraged elephant and the 'beep beep' from the Roadrunner).
I went to bed that night with "Umpire to Court 3", "Scorer to Court 1", "Two minute warning" and all the other things that I had been repeating all day long ringing in my ears over and over again.
The next day was the finals and the atmosphere was a bit tenser than the day previous, as it was all to play for.
Things didn't start too well for Bahrain as the "A's" were knocked out on the first match of the morning. However, later on Bahrain redeemed itself with a convincing win in the Men's Match over Dubai (yes, there were even men playing Netball, and their skirts looked very nice too! Ha).
More games followed on the way to the grand final. Just before the Hucclecote girls were due back to play in the Invitational Final, they took time out to enjoy themselves by the pool. (So much so that they had to be rounded up from their sunbathing sessions to play; I reckon there will be some very red and burned bodies pounding the streets of Hucclecote this week). They were a great bunch of girls.
Onto the final; which was contested by Dubai A and Abu Dhabi A. The team from Dubai came out victorious and retained the trophy that they won last year.
Everyone had a great (if exhausting) couple of days and the feedback given was that this was the best organised tournament ever.
So a big pat on the back to the organising committee and especially to Michaela Milne who I'd previously had a great chat with on the radio.
At the end we had an awards ceremony and Richard Browning (the CEO from the major sponsors Riffa Views) said they would be happy to carry on with the sponsorship again for next year. Also, Danny Barringer from Gulf Air said the airline would be more than happy to do so as well! Great news from them both!
It was an exhilarating couple of days with everyone having a good time. If you missed it, book it in for next year!
Keep happy,
All my love,
Krazy Kevin
