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 Kuwait
Open EN BREF ... Issue #7
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Kuwait
Open |
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The Three Sheikha Ladies |
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THE RADIANT FIRST LADY OF SQUASH...
Part 2
(Part 1)
After the typical
questions you normally ask, I proposed to
HE Sheikha Fadyah Al-Saad the
"Bernard Pivot" questionnaire that SquashSite readers have become
familiar with over the years...
What is your favourite word:
Justice.
What is your
least favourite word:
Injustice.
 What
makes you smile?
Children. Whether crying, or smiling, or laughing. Just to hear
their voices, or when I see pictures of kids suffering moves me to
tears.
What can't you
stand:
Ignorance.
People who don’t want to broaden their minds, their vision in any way. I
try to
fight in myself, my family, and the society I live in.
What
sound or noise do you love?
I love
the human vocal chorus. For me, there is nothing above the sound of the
human
voice. Music should be there only to promote or accompany it..
What
sound or noise do you hate?
Any kind of loud noise.
If you could change destiny,
what profession would you have liked to attempt, or what would you do
differently?
If I had to do it all
over again, I would probably make the same mistakes, and do the same
good things. It’s all the faults I made that make me who I am today.
It’s not the successes.
The errors you make, make you who you are. And not that I could change
the past, but nor would I. I’m very happy with the way I am today…
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Squash is...
Fast, Intense,
Challenging.
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And what profession would you not have
liked to do?
There is no work that I wouldn’t/couldn't
do. When you’ve been a mother, when you’ve born
children, and cared for them, and loved them, and looked after them, you
know that you can do ANY kind of job. The qualities, the requirements
for any job are there, you have them.
When
you arrive at the end of the Road, what would you like people to
remember you by?
I don’t know what to say....
Well, my Father was a
great family man. And although his obligations would take him away from
us often, he would always take time to spend with us, every day, he
would always be a good parent, despite the tremendous responsibility he
carried all his life, he always listened
to us.
So I guess that although my job takes me away, I would like to pass on
those ethics that my father passed on to me, to my children. And my
biggest
reward ever was when my daughter, to whom I was apologising to for not
being available for her that day because of my executive duties (I
manage the Family business as well as other responsibilities), said to
me “Don’t apologise, Mum, you are a role model for me.”
And that is the biggest reward I could ever ask for….
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THE TRAVELLING OF A GIANT
CAKE... FROM HERE... TO THERE |
 AND
THE WINNER IS…
Today is the first day after the last day
of my first tournament for ten months. Had breakfast, then manicure,
massage, lunch, jacuzzi, and nap.
Needless to say that I’m not exactly on the aggressive and stressed side
today. Well, tough job, but somebody.... Time to analyse the week and
reflect on the Godsend I received this week.
I couldn’t have dreamt of a better come back tournament really. One match
at a time, played in a lovely club during the day, and in a great
location in the evening. Having the time to report on every single
match, with the normal stress of a tournament, but not that “I have 6
matches played at the same time, how the heck am I going to catch
anything???” kind of feel….
Better for the spectators. Better for the Players I think. And little
me.
 How
not to thank HE Sheikha Fadyah Al-Saab for her involvement,
passion and dedication to our sport? Second to none, as simple as that.
And my meeting with her will stay the paramount of my week here. Her
intelligence, her broadness of mind, her sense of humour, her
sensitivity…. Unforgettable. At so many levels....
Talking about thanking somebody, what about Mighty Jahangir, who
had the crazy idea to invite me, bless him. When you receive a call from
Pakistan at 11pm, you just say, how high, JK??? His cheeky smile, his
kindness, his humility… Thanks to his instructions, my life here has
been a pleasure of every second.
 We
were also graced every day by the presence of Sheikh Osama Salman
Al-Sabah, who adores squash, and supported the event with all his
knowledge of the sport. He has enjoyed and lived every match, and I’m
sure his two Pakistan Coaches will see a great improvement in his squash
from now on!!!!
Now if you ever came to Kuwait, you had to have been helped, at some
point or another, but the Magical-Musical Chairs Twins, Majed and
Khaled Jumaa.
They have a great act, you never know who you are talking to, one minute
you see one, and hop, it’s the other. But whoever is doing it, the work
is always being done. Day and/or night. And fast.
They provided us with a local photographer, Mohamed Al Tayyar, who
was making his debut in the Squash World, and I hope he has enjoyed it.
We at SquashSite are certainly grateful for his work. |
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 And
the Wizard!!!! It was so nice to see/hear Adrian Davies here in
Kuwait. He made a big impression when he welcomed the spectators in
Arabic during the Finals night, and got the biggest clapping I ever
heard for an MC!!!!!
Not to mention that he had the great idea to come along with his wife
Doreen, as charming as they come. Those two form one of the loveliest
couples I ever met. We had such a laugh with them and JK during this week.
Great to see you Adrian.
And all the Twins Organisation Team, for transport, I was
allocated a lovely and on time driver, Mosaad, that makes such a
difference when you are the last one to finish in the evening.
Everything this week went according to plans, at the venues, the
internet, catering, the players were enchanted, every one of them, they
were provided with everything they could wish for, from stringing to
rest rooms, with so many people around them to help make sure that
everything is ready and sharp…
Let’s not forget the Hotel Costa del Sol, a lovely brand new
hotel, conveniently situated between the Club and the Green Island,
within minutes, avoiding the looooong travel we sometimes have to do in
heavy traffic… Their buffet people, lethal. LETHAL I tell you… If I put
on weight by the end of this trip, I’ll know who to blame…
 A
little word about the Refs, it was lovely to see Graham Waters
back on duty, all the way from Canada. He is one of the most charming
figures on the Tour, and we certainly missed him. His help this week was
greatly appreciated.
But most of all, I have to thank Kuwait for their welcome. It’s been an
honour coming here, and to summarise perfectly the reception and
treatment I got here, normally, I take the picture, but this time, I’m
on it. Thank you Kuwait.
See you next year isa.
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Kuwait
Open EN BREF ... Issue #6
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Kuwait
Open |
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The Government Palace
Among those amazing
buildings, tombs from different religions, including Jewish - as
the country had years and years ago Jewish Kuwaitis. Their 1,000
year lease is going to expire soon, and the graves would
of course be transformed into building sites as soon as you can say
"skyscrapers"!!!!!! |
MEETING WITH THE LADY OF SQUASH....
 I
cannot start this article without thanking Jahangir
from the bottom of my heart, as the Legend arranged for me the
miracle of miracles: a meeting with the HE Sheikha Fadyah
Al-Saad.
So end of morning today, as I am finishing my En Brefs, I
receive the phone call confirming that we would leave the hotel
at 1pm for a meeting with the Lady of Squash at 2pm. I then meet
downstairs with Jahangir and Alex Gough, PSA CEO.
Am I nervous? Freak yes.
As we arrive in the "Canary Wharf", the "La Défense" of Kuwait,
with the Royal Palace, the Bank of Kuwait, Ministry of Defence,
and so many famous Kuwaiti buildings, our car is stopped by a
few security barriers, needless to say, and we stop in front the
Baitak Tower, where Her Highness has her office on the 30th
floor.
 Needless
to say the view from the office of her legal advisor, Fahad
M. Alajmi, who is kindly welcoming us three, is breathtaking.
Patiently, he shows me the buildings, explaining to me what I’m
looking at.
My knees are still trembling.
While Alex and Jahangir meet with Her Highness, I’m allowed to
take a few pictures by her personal secretary, Sarah, probably a
bit overwhelmed by that weird French woman who seems a bit
inquisitive. A little while later, after the Boys Meeting is
over, I’m introduced into the conference room.
The knees are now completely gone, my heart is pounding like a
drum in a Wagner Opera, and I’m trying to concentrate on not
covering myself with ridicule. A challenge in itself.
And the Lady of Squash enters.
With a lovely smile, she takes the time to ask about my
stay in Kuwait, about my work on SquashSite. I explain to her
quickly how Steve and I came to start the Site in October 2004,
from scratch, and the challenges we were/are facing. She is
listening with grace. And again, that charming and caring smile.
And the interview starts. I’m not trembling anymore.
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They said :
After James' match, I didn't go to see him for about ten, fifteen
good minutes. When I finally approached him...
Fram : "I wanted to wait a bit for you to recover", I
said.
James : "See you on Thursday" |
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Your
Highness, when were you first introduced to squash?
I discovered squash through my late Uncle, Sheikh Salem Sabah
Al-Salem Al-Sabah, number
one squash
enthusiast in the country, the Father of the game in Kuwait. I
also had the influence of my
Late
Sister, who was number
one player in
the country, and like she did everything, took her squash very
seriously.
Did you ever play squash yourself?
Yes, but as a leisure, not as a sport,
whereas my sister would go and play all the tournaments in the
country. She even played
against Jahangir sometimes...
Your Sister loved squash, didn't she?
Yes. My Sister
had a dream, to see a KW player going on the circuit and get to
the top level of the game. So, in memory of her, we decided to
organise a WISPA tournament in October, and to kill
two birds with
one stone, as it’s actually the month of Breast Cancer
awareness, the disease that took her.
What were her most striking qualities?
She was most dedicated to her job, she
was the Executive Marketing Manager for the Oil Industry, as you
may imagine how the Oil is important in KW, and probably the
only woman in the world to fill that position.
And Squash was one of the things she
would do extremely seriously. She was
very competitive.
This 2010 Kuwait Tournament is very important for
you, isn't it, Your Highness?
The tournament is to honour the memory of my Late
Father, HH Sheik Saad Abdullah
Al-Sabah, and also to promote squash
in Kuwait. And I am so
grateful to his HH Sheikh Sabah El-Ahmad Al-Jaber
Al-Sabah, Emir of Kuwait for his patronage,
his vision, his endorsing of the game, both morally and
financially.
I can’t expres my thanks enough, both
for the memory of my Sister and of my
Father.
 "Squash
is for me the best sport in the world.
It’s a great reliever for any stress, anger you may feel, and once
the game is over, you are relaxed, all tensions have vanished.
Squash makes you work mind and body alike. Like I said, Squash is
the best sport in the world…"
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"Quick, quick, quick...
... The World has no time to stop and enjoy…"
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Her
Highness Father and Grandfather, a painting in her office |
With the Late HH Sheika Al-Saad, may God bless her soul, we
used to laugh so much. She
used to challenge me, and tell me, you are nothing, you don’t know
anything about squash. And she would ask me to give her 8 points
going to 9, and we would play to win. She was such a great lady.
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You have seen so many players
perform over the years.
Who is the one that stands out for you?
Jahangir is a legend, and you cannot compare him to any
other player, if only for his dedication to the game, second to
none.
You know, I feel the game has changed. Before, there was more,
how can I say, art in the game. Now, it’s more athletic, more
intense, but maybe with less skills of mind.
It has lost a bit of its charm, the wooden racquet, the style of
play. And also the length of the matches is now shorter, the
change of scoring made a big difference. Nowadays, it’s more
about attacking than defending.
Quick, quick, quick. The World has no time to stop and enjoy…
You have great ambitions for Squash in Kuwait, haven't you
Your Highness?
I find Squash to be
a very fitting sport for Kuwaiti people, men or women.
You don’t
need to have a specific
physique
for it, and it can be played in a
closed and controlled environment, it can be played anywhere.
And it’s a sport that can be an inspiration for the young.
And along with promoting squash in the country, five
tournaments in the year, we are trying to promote our country in
the eyes of the World.
That's my vision, my vision for squash, my vision for Kuwait....
Tomorrow, Part 2 of
"Meeting with the Lady of Squash"
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Kuwait
Open EN BREF ... Issue #5
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Kuwait
Open |
HOSPITALITY IS PARAMOUNT
Kuwait will never ceased to amaze me. The welcome I’ve received
here is amazing, the efforts, the support, the love of the game
that the Royal Family, HE Sheika Fadia Al Saad in particular has
brought to squash is rather astonishing.
And I had another proof of it last night…
Nobody can realise how hot it is on the glass court. All the
players have said it. It must be a combination of different
factors, but it makes it extremely hard conditions for the boys.
And as he stepped off court between game, Peter Barker,
standing at the door, said “This is the hottest court I’ve ever
been on, without contest”.
 In
the front row, was Sheikh Osama Salman Al-Sabah, keen
squash player, who has been to most of the matches all week, and
was kind enough to preside the Official Dinner.
His Highness stood up and like a shot, inspected the court
himself, somehow extremely worried that the players were not
performing in good conditions!
“We are here trying to do our best to accommodate the players
and their coaches, and to make our hospitality the best as
possible, to make sure that all involved will keep an
unforgettable event”, said His Highness at the end of play.
“With Sheika Farida, we will make sure that next year, we
improve any area that would need to be improved, anything that
wouldn’t be as good as the players would expect them to be.”
And believe me, His Highness meant it! This was not a polite
phrase said in a diplomatic conversation. Kuwait is surely a
world of great surprises to me….
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WHAT'S IN A NAME....
Please, Kuwait, don't take
any offence to what I'm about to say, but come on, there is a
little tendency to have titles and names that are slightly on
the long side...
For example, the name of this event, HH Sheik Saad Abdullah
Al-Sabah Trophy The Patriarch Amir Kuwait Open 2010. In the
memory of the very much loved and respected Late father of HH
Sheika Fadia Al Saad.
It is not exactly easy on the tongue, is it???
And what about that name for an avenue, King Abdoulaziz Bin
Abdulrahman Al Saud Expressway.
In France, it would be, l'Autoroute A4, in the UK, the M4, or
the Ring Road.
 But
then again, if you ask Adrian Davies, our MC this week,
who's got the privilege of being Welsh (a part of the United
Kingdom, for those who wouldn't live in Europe), live in a
village near Cardiff called - and this is NOT A JOKE :
LLanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrob-willantysiliogogoch.
In one word.
And yes, it means something!!!!
"The Church of St Mary in the hollow of white hazel
trees near the rapid whirpool by St Tysilio's of the red cave.
What's in a name? Well, in Wales, a freeking loads of letters!!!!!!!!!! |
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Paul
Selby, father and coach of, waiting for his son's match to start.... |
I'VE DONE IT AGAIN
There won't be one single tournament where I don't go through a
little drama or another. And this tournament, it's been with my
glasses - brand new, that broke twice in a single day - but most
importantly with my camera lens.
 Well,
at the end of the first long day, 1.30am, I’m still working, and
something strange happens on my camera.
So I ask Cubs over skype if he can help me sort it. He gives me
instructions, and as I go and pick it up, a very tired Fram
drops the bleeping thing on the marble floor.
It didn’t like it one bit. And I’m no specialist, but something
told me it was not going to work well after that…
Of course, the next day was Friday (our Sunday in the Western
world), so no chance of getting a replacement. The twins, of
course, being as clever and helpful as ever, got me to two
different shops and the second one had just received that
morning one and only lens, the right specification, for that
Nikon camera.
The Angels of Squash were smiling on me.
But when I came back to the office, and thanked Majed and
Khaled, our National Twins for their support and help to get
through that difficult moment, Jahangir just smiled “And Fram,
please don’t drop it again….”
Pffffffffffff. |
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Room service for late nights
(compliment of the Organisation) |
Kuwait
Open EN BREF ... Issue #4
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Kuwait
Open |
THEY SAID....
Wael on the glasscourt :
"This court is not made for squash, you should put some fish in
it!!!"
Peter after a let that he hoped would be a no let :
What you mean let!!!!?? That’s probably the best drop shot I’ll ever
play… |
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 RAMY
SO NICE...
You know, the Squash Players are a nice bunch. Last night, as
Cameron was doing his best to get Shabana out of the draw, the
strings of his first raquet broke. Then about 5 minutes later,
the string of this second raquet broke.
So, slightly worried, Bozza, who was advising him on the match,
looked around to see who had similar racquets among the players
that were in the audience.
Well, Ramy, bless him, was glazing at the match, lost in his
thoughts, and when the Australian came to ask him if he would
lend one of his racquet, the Egyptian just opened his bag, and
handed one of his.
I can really imagine Federer going to Nadal and asking him a
racquet for say Djoko. Yeah, like that would happen.
I love my players....
THEY SAID....
During Shabana/Pilley last night, Shabs got a "bad call", a let
where for most of all it seemed like a basic stroke.
A few rallies later....
Ref: Are you asking for a let, M. Pilley?
Cameron: Well, yes, and I assume it’s a stroke!
Ref: Yes let.
Cameron : What??? It’s a classic!!!!!
Shabana : We are even now yes??? |
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RELAXED ON/OFF COURT...
The Thierry/Azlan match was a gem at so different levels. First,
for what was happening on court, with little sentence like
Azlan, after Thierry passed "through his chest" to get to
the ball :
"Whouah, a Ninja shot!!! Thierry, the Samouraï"!!!!
Then we had Alister Walker, who was in Thierry's corner,
that commented the match with some "The Man is a Legend", then "The
Man is a Monster", to conclude with "Whhhoooo, easy Old
Man!!!!".
Not even mentioning the two of them having knee problems, hence
bandage, one on the left, the other one on the right. Bit of
luck, we could have take the two of them and make one fit player...
But the best for me was, as I walked to Thierry at the
end, to get his first impressions, I told him, "well, it seems
that it was one of those matches you'd win in three, or lose in
five."
And Thierry, in a flash, and with still the adrenalin pumping:
"Not today." |
 THANKS
CÉLIA
It was so nice, not to say surprising to have WISPA Célia
Allamargot with us for two days, coming from Hong Kong to go to,
well, I'm not sure, it's difficult to keep up with her
travelling.
The Tournament Director, aware that Celia didn't have a room to
stay in, as the WISPA tournament finished as the Men started,
made sure she got a room with the PSA boys for the time she was
waiting for her flight.
Again, that shows the great generosity
of the Organisation here....
And it has to be stressed how much I appreciated Célia's
help, as she wrote for the French page of this coverage for two
days. As I'm slightly over my head writing in a bleeping second
language - why can't everybody speak French is beyond me - her
help was priceless.
Not to mention that she took her role very seriously,
watched most of the matches, took notes, and harly made a
spelling mistake, which there again, made my life soooo easy!
Please, Célia, do it again....
 THEY
SAID....
Diplomatic Amir Wagih, Egyptian National Coach, asked who is money
was for the match Karim/Wael...
Amir : On Shabana... |
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Kuwait
Open EN BREF ... Issue #3
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Kuwait
Open |
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They
said...
Beng Hee, as Mohamed asked the ref to try and get people
to quiet down - they were really noisy - during their match.
Suddenly, the silence was, well, heavy I guess... :
"Why is everybody so quiet!!!!!!!???"
Adrian Davies, our MC this year :
"Hello, my name is Adrian Davies, and I was a professional
player about five and a half stones ago...
"... The Mighty Jahangir Khan remained unbeaten for 757 matches,
5 years, 8 months and 4 days. And how lucky am I to have been
playing exactly at the same time!!!!We played 21 times, and my
wife and I would be very wealthy if it wasn't for him. I made me
lose a absolute fortune in price money!!!!!" |
NO TAN
Well, not that I have the time at the moment to contemplate a
bit of laying down near the pool situated on the 3rd floor,
which I see from my bedroom window...
But, if this hotel is stunningly charming, new and the people
lovely and helpful - and don't start me about the food here, now
I remember how I put on all that weight while on tour - and we
are blessed with a swimming pool, whoever designed it had the
wellfare of the Patrons in mind.
Because the only moment you get the sun on it, is between 6 and
8am. Time where, everybody knows, it's best to have a sun tan
without the damages for your skin.
Yeah right.
I still haven't seen ANYBODY near it. Awhhhhhhh....
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Amir Wagih,
Egyptian National Coach,
explaining the game to Mrs Adrian
Davies... |
FREE
WI-FI
 When
I think about the absolute fortune SquashSite sometimes wastes
in Internet costs during some tournaments, I'm glad to say that
here at the Costa del Sol, we all enjoy free wireless.
Sometimes, it's a bit slow, of course, but most of the time,
it's fine. And when it stops working, you call the relevant
office, and you find in the corridor a charming and efficient
man that comes and checks himself that everything works properly!!!!
Once again, in most of the Western hotels, the Internet is
handled by remote companies, and it's normally hell to get
somebody to sort out the troubles.
Hail to Kowait.... |
CLEANING COURTS...
 You
have two ways of getting the job done, you know.
You've got the "Borja's" way, which means that you
inspect thouroughly that every inch of the court is perfectly
cleaned.
Or, you have the "Adrian's" way, which means taking
matters into your own hands. Literally!
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Kuwait
Open EN BREF ... Issue #2
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Kuwait
Open |
THE VOICE IS AWAY…
 For
those of you who may wonder who is the guy in red next to
Jahangir, it’s of course, former top welsh player Adrian
Davies, who’ll be MCing the event this year. But, where is
the Voice of Squash, you may wonder. He’s been
doing the event for years and years.
Well, unfortunately, Robert Edwards, the Voice of Squash, won’t
be hosting this event. So he explains himself in a little
statement he was kind enough to send SquashSite.
We’ll so miss him, but we’ll see him in a few days in Qatar, and
meanwhile, I’ll be enjoying Adrian’s stories, he’s got one a
minute, and I’m remembering each and everyone of them….
 “Having Directed / Presented every major event since Sheikha
Fadyah honoured Kuwait sport by becoming the Chairman of the
Management Committee - it was with great disappointment that,
for personal reasons, I was unable to be with the team in Kuwait
for the 2010 event.
"I have already expressed my best wishes to Sheikha Fadyah and
Jahangir Khan - I am absolutely certain that they will
continue this year with the same high standards that have been
in place every year under her Chairmanship.
"Please do not read anything untoward in my non appearance this
year, it simply was not possible for me to be there. Though I
will be an eager spectator of Squashsite to keep abreast of the
news as it unfolds each day.
"Adrian has been a friend for many years - in fact I managed him
as a player for nearly all of his playing career. I wish him
well as the MC for 2010."
Robert Edwards - The Voice of Squash
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WE WANT PRO REFS
 It’s
been on players mind for a while now, the need they express for
professional refs to work with them on the tour.
And today,
after his match against Borja, Peter Barker felt quite strongly
about it.
“The PSA is going the right direction for so many things, making
the game more and more professional, but why can’t we have
professional referees, that work week in, week out with them.
Refs that would be trained under PSA, not WSF, with whom we
could establish a real relationship.
 "With the refs we get to work with often, we talk about their
vision of the game, and when you get a bad decision, you know
where it’s coming from, and you can relate to it.
"But when it’s
refs you see what, once, twice a year, you don’t know what their
thoughts are, and you don’t know which balls to go, or not to go
for. There is no consistency…”
Well, of course, it sounds a good idea, and I’m personally all
for it. But it all comes down, once again, to one small item.
Money…
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IN THE BACKGROUND...
 Last
night, at the open ceremony, there are three people that never
came to sit down at the front.
The Mighty Jahangir, Vice Chairman of the tournament,
whose been working extremely
hard on this event, and of course, the incontournable Twins,
Majed and Khaled Jumaa (honestly, hard to tell them one from
the other).
They were up all of them
from around 5am, and at 1.30 this morning, they were still
sending us photos.
 And
what for me was astonishing, is to see Jahangir, the Hero of a
Nation, a Legend in our Sport, never sitting down for a minute,
keeping backstage a low profile, and never take the credit for
what him and the stunning organisation team here is doing.
Amazing. |
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FIRST DAY AT THE CLUB…
Well, I must say I was dreading this day. Was I going to be able
to write in English again? Was the “White Page Syndrome” going
to hit me? Well, after the first hour typing away, I realised
that no, I was going to be fine….
 And what a joy to be at that Salmiya Club. The Press room is
just one floor up from the show court, and it’s really easy for
me to go back and forth. And I just love the schedule from the
first round. One match at a time, no rush, well, not too much,
only missing the start of the match really, time to speak with
the players, to type without too much panic. P.E.R.F.E.C.T.
And the Organisation doesn’t know what to do to make our life
easy. Food, drinks, it’s all there, easy for us to have, and
kept warm all day. Internet working perfectly. And as at the
moment, I’m alone in the Press Room, I’m really comfy, nobody to
make clever/nasty unpleasant remarks, just me, my little computer, my
cup of tea, and I!
Well, tough job, but....
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Kuwait
Open EN BREF ... Issue #1
Everything you never knew you needed to know about the Kuwait
Open |
 SHE
IS BAAAAAAAACK …
Just when you thought it was safe enough. What, no news from the
Frog since January, the ToC 2010. Must have been a sigh of
relief everywhere in the Executive Corners of the Squash World.
Surely, she is out, now, pfew…
Well, I’m so sorry to disappoint, but no. Like a bad penny, in
my case, a bad Euro, I keep popping up where you don’t expect
me.
Joke apart, the reason for my absence is very simple.
Money. Well, the lack of it more like…
God knows Steve and I have tried, for years now, to make this
site profitable, and get a bit of a living out of it. God knows
Mick Todd tried too, for the 18 months he was heavily involved
with us, and it cost him quite a lot of his personal money to
try and make us go the next step. But nothing did, and if I was
for years able to compensate the lack of income from Squash by a
profitable acting career, the recession, plus the fact I kept on
refusing work daily to go on Tour, dried that avenue out
completely.
Leaving me perfectly and utterly broke.
So, I didn’t have any choice other than to abandon the World I
came to live and breathe by. It was a heartbreaking decision for
me. As you may imagine. I miss my babies, my players, immensely.
But hey, I’ll still be able to do a few tournaments here and
there, the ones that I feel really value my presence and my
work. The tournaments I really feel happy to cover.
And that’s why I’m doing Kuwait and Qatar…
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LEFT, RIGHT and …
I have to tell you about my journey here. Come on. You missed it
didn’t you…
Well, it started with a taxi driver who was not exactly secure
with his sense of direction, and that led him to have not one,
but two guidance systems, that vocally were desperately trying
to make him “go left” or “go right”.
So, here I was, with that poor man who didn’t have a clue how to
get to Heathrow Terminal 5 (even I know where to find it, that
tells it all), got lost and had to turn back a few times, despite
the two voices going “go left”, “go left”…
But the best moment was when the two GPS decided on two
different routes. One went “go left”. The other one went “go
right”.
And where do you think he went?
Straight on of course.
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12
HOURS AND COUNTING.... |
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ARRIVAL IN KUWAIT
 The flight went particularly well, I must admit. Hardly 50
people in a nice Boeing 777, so, two seats for myself, but
still, a 6 hour night flight meaning that you get about 2 hours
of rest, are awaken by lovely bright light at 3.30am your time,
and try and stay awake and charming from that moment on.
Normally, I would have been greeted at the airport, but some
miscommunication and I found myself asking help at the
information desk. As ever in the Middle East, the people are so
supportive when you are in trouble. I imagine myself going at
Paris Charles de Gaulle information desk, and asking for help…
Yeah right!
No,
here, the gentleman in charge went all the way around the
arrival area trying to find somebody from the team, came back,
then chased the lady from the Costa del Sol Hotel where we are
staying, while he was arranging a Airport limousine to take me
there. Then we all found each other, and off I went in the
sunrise.
So I found myself comfortably in the back of a lovely car, in
which we drove for about one whole minute before being stopped
by the morning traffic. Because trust me, Kuwait City is like
every city in the world! You don’t want to be on the road
between 8am and 9am…
 I must say I was fighting to keep my eyes open. A few traffic
jams and a little chasing for the hotel location later, I found
myself in my room. Which I have to admit is one of the nicest
I've been given over the years. Lovely space, huge to be honest,
very light, facing the sea, and just above the swimming pool.
And
of course, I have to cover myself with ridicule, as ever, when I
asked for help as I couldn’t get hot water.
 “You’ve turned it the wrong way round, Madam” said the engineer
kindly… Blond, I thought. And again, when I tried to switch on
the Jacuzzi – yes, the bathtub IS one – the same engineer came
back to explain that there was a switch called, wait for it,
JACUZZI, right outside the bathroom door.
Doh!!!!
Well, what can I say. I’m only a poor woman that needs help in…
well… quite a few departments.
But I tell you one thing. Finding sleep in that lovely comfy
immense bed, that, I didn’t need any help with… |
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