Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
A couple of weeks ago I was asked by Shaikh Isa, a Channel 55 TV series producer, if our family would be the subject of his show. I consulted Wendy and she said yes (though not very enthusiastically), we would go ahead with it. Wendy is generally a private person and finds my 'public' life pretty draining at times. Anyway, a lukewarm yes is still a yes.
The name of the programme is 'Memories' and it traces your life, how you came to live in Bahrain and if you think there've been many changes since you arrived. He said they would film us at home, at work and at play!
The first day of filming consisted of me presenting my Channel 55 Music Mania show. The 'Memories' camera crew followed us around like a fly-on-the-wall documentary team while we filmed my show at the Marina Club's special Summer Camp.
I think they got some good behind-the-scenes footage and it will be interesting to watch the final result.
Next up they catalogued our whole family doing one of our favourites things; going to the Dilmun Club, having a swim and some splashy fun and rounding off a the day with a great dinner, the Dilly's fabulous, famous Fish 'n' Chips!
While we were there we roped in a few kids to help with filming and in the end I treated everyone to ice cream. In the heat of a Bahrain day there is nothing better than slurping on an ice cream and trying to finish it before it melts all over the place.
The next day the crew filmed me at the TV studios editing Music Mania and after that we all went back to Radio Bahrain where I was to have a chat to my old mate Angel who is also the new Memories Show presenter.
Now, I have known Angel for many a year, because when I first came to Bahrain I worked at JJ Murphy's and she worked there too.
What's so nice about Angel is that she is a very down to earth and cheerful lady. But what's so different about her is her accent, she comes from a town near Belfast in Northern Ireland and when she speaks ... well, how can I describe it? It's like a cross between a crow squawking and a car that won't start first thing in the morning (she's probably going to kill me for saying this) so I'd best add that she's also very beautiful.
When I first started doing the Midday Madness show I interviewed her live and remember saying "don't worry, if you can't understand Angel - just look at the sub-titles on your radio!" We had a great time and it was fun with plenty of laughs.
Last up for the show was a night of filming at our new home. We've only been there a few weeks and still kinda need various bits and bobs of furniture as the house looks a bit empty. So, we decided to make a cosy 'set' for the TV cameras. I pushed the settee to the wall, strategically placed some plants, carpets and other bits of furniture around, only for the crew to come in and completely rearrange it all.
I don't know if you've seen a cable TV show called 'Peter Perfect' but that's what I tried doing to our home. But as far as me and interior designing goes, well, as long as I have a comfy chair and access to the remote control I'm pretty happy.
Back to the filming, Angel interviewed Wendy and I about how we first came to Bahrain, how we met and stuff like that. While the filming was going on we let our little one Hannah watch back-to-back kiddy DVDs in our bedroom. It worked pretty well as she stayed engrossed and didn't come out while we were talking at all. Though she did call out once for her mum when the movie went a bit funny.
We had a good chat with Angel who asked some in depth questions about how Bahrain had changed, the political climate and about women's rights. At one stage I thought I was on Al Jazeera in a political debate.
When it was time to bring Hannah out to chat with us I have to say she did me proud. My four- year-old daughter has learned more Arabic in her short life than I have in all of mine. When we go out shopping or wherever and there is someone who speaks Arabic about, I ask Hannah what's the Arabic word for this or that animal she immediately comes back with the name, I keep asking different names and she knows them all ... so of course when we went to record the show I did the same and she came across beautifully.
After a bit more chat it was time for Angel to talk to some friends we had invited over for the show.
Now, I didn't hear what they had to say but Gillian, Paul, Michaela, Maree, Rachel and Bob, we will be watching the show when it comes out in a couple of weeks to see if you were nice to us!
Keep safe,
All my love.
Krazy Kevin
