Update - The Qatari Files (10/12/2019)

Rainy and cloudy day in Doha – right up my alley!

I wonder sometimes why I have spent 90% of my life in climes that I don’t particularly like, i.e. warm and sunny. South Africa, Qatar, Namibia, etc, etc. Oh, I know – most people will look at me like there’s a screw loose (and my wife would concur), but I prefer it cloudy. Just something about sunshine, humidity and sweat that doesn’t work for me – should have been a Brit probably…

But then, if it’s cloudy everyday for most of your life I suppose that could also put a damper on things.

Anyhow – will probably be my last Qatari Update for a while – we are leaving back to South Africa this weekend for the next month or so. Can’t wait to see Pretoria and Cape Town. The best-laid plans of men and mice – I know – but, would SO like to eventually settle down somewhere in the Cape, probably on the West Coast. Always fancied going back there to the area of my old alma mater – the Military Academy at Saldanha.

But back to Qatar – the excitement of the Arabian Gulf Cup is behind us, with Bahrain having secured the spoils. Kudos to them. The next bit of excitement – did I say ‘bit?’ – is for National Day on the 18th. The air force is practicing daily, and I have a front seat very close to the corniche, watching as they do their formation flying coming past. Have seen a variety of types: a gaggle of the new Rafale fighters, some of the new Apache attack helicopters, a couple of C-130’s, nice formo of 6 x PC-21’s, AW-130 and Sea King helicopters and a few other Pappa Charlies…

Everyone is a bit out of their bracket this time of the year, what with flags being draped all over the place down buildings and in front of homes and shops, images of the Amir displayed everywhere, and generally just a nice festive atmosphere. As I have mentioned before – I do admire the esprit de corps and patriotism of the people over here. Miss it in my country.

As for esprit de corps – although it is largely absent from my country as an almost tangible entity like over here, there are flashes of brilliance which almost makes one believe again: our winning the rugby world cup, our Sevens’ boys winning the tournament in Dubai last weekend, our brand new Miss Universe, Zozibini Tunzi and so on. On the negative side there is of course much to talk about, but let’s not spoil a good day.

As we used to say during our little forays into Angola in the eighties - a luta continua….