26 Mar - 1 Apr: Marking time

Thu - Lazy 25min swim in morning.  Picked up Stoker at 19:10.
Wed - Spin/Pump@ Ritz in evening.  It felt tough, but the shoulder/arm exercises were much easier than the abs the time before.  Did some food shopping for the visitors.
Tue -  60 lengths/35mins swim before work.  Sorted out bedrooms for visitors.
Mon - Light 20 min swim before work,  Spin/Abs @ Ritz in evening.  The abs seemed difficult for some reason, I blame the pilates the day before.  Afterward dropped into Dilly Diving for a chat and pint.
Sun - Pilates class at Ritz in the morning with See.  It at first seems easy, but then keeping your core muscles tense while making slow movements does work up a sweat.  Got to office at 9:50 which didn't seem to be noticed or matter.

Started to tidy up for the hordes of visitors.  Very bored in evening, so went to see "The Green Zone" at Saar Cinema.   Just a vehicle for Jason to do his Bourne impression but in uniform this time.  Bagdad alleys are just like my walk through old Manama last week, but with the gunfire.

Sat - Up and out at 6:45 to join S&R + friends for a ride down from Awali, Zallaq, Al-Areen then F1 Costa for coffee.  There were splodgey rain drops but on  my return via Hamad Town the wind got up, changed direction and as it does became a headwind.  53km.  Then it immediately blew up a thick dust for the rest of the day.  Spin at Ritz with Nong which wasn't very inspiring (she has the music loud so you can't hear what she says), so I didn't stay for the the 15 mins abs.  Watched 'Maurice" DVD with some evocative scenes of Cambridge, Backs, Kings Chapel etc.
Fri - turned over and went back to sleep, so missed the Wheelers start.  Decided this was pathetic, so finally got out of bed at 8am, and cycled off to Awali.  The wind was strong and variable Easterly i.e. in my face.  Popped into S&R's for a cuppa, then we leisurely cycled round Awali together for 5km to give R's healed leg an airing.  I then went onto Riffa Fort, Golf Club, round the back of Awali (when the wind was finally from behind) and via Hamad town to home, with the wind making it a nice run back for 62km. No twinges from skiing knees, and legs felt good.  BBQ at M&P's in the afternoon in Juffair.  Very windy on their apartment block roof, but great views and lots of Spanish people.

19 - 26 March: Mozart

Thu - No time for exercise in the morning as I took the car in for service at 7:30.  I walked back to the office through old Manama.  Its a grotty, rundown, rabbit warren of narrow air conditioner dripping alleys, but I did come across some old style house balconies, juxtapositioned with the new towers.

It took 35 mins to walk back in the aternoon, so all in all my exercise for the day was an hour's walking.  Poker fund raising for Dive Club at Terry's house, I almost swept the table at one point, but then steadily lost the lot.

Wed - Spin/pump in morning as I am going to see Mike Franklin in "Jeffery Barnard is Unwell" tonight at the British Club.  Mike usually sings in the basses next to me, and is a dead cert for the part!  I was the only bloke in the class, but See worked me into a sweat.

The review in todays' Gulf Daily News was terrible - I hope that Mike has learned his line overnight!
Play falls flat on its face  
      By Les Horton,  Posted on » Wednesday, March 24, 2010

JEFFREY Bernard would have walked out the second the curtain went up last night, simply because the bar closed for the performance.  Ironic really, given that this was the stage chronicle of the downfall of a fatally addicted drunk. I am searching for kind words about a production that would be beyond the skills of many professionals, let alone an amateur theatre group.  This is not a whodunnit or a farce, where the flaws can be easily hidden amidst twists in the plot or the slapstick.  This is a one-man show of more than two-and-a-half hours, punctuated only by cameo appearances by the supporting cast. Bernard would no doubt have raised a glass to Mike Franklin for trying to bring him back from the grave and so do I, but I am sorry, the role is just too much for him.  Repeated stumbling over the words, audible prompts from off-stage and frequent disappearances from view, most likely for a glance at the script, spoiled what should have been a performance packed with incisive wit. There were some excellent moments and all credit to Mike - and the audience - for sticking out to the end what was a tortuous performance, with little better from the supporting cast. It simply didn't work either on stage or off, with awkward seating around dinner tables at which barely a handful of the audience members actually dined. Last night was billed as theatre only, but ticket-holders turned up to find an optional buffet laid on for extra cash - a surprise to most, judging from the remarks within my earshot. I have been to Manama Theatre Club productions before and thoroughly enjoyed them, but this one fell flat on its face, just as Bernard no doubt did with alarming regularity.

Just before I left at 7pm, I managed to fit in a short swim.
Well the play, it wasn't as bad as the review.  Mike seemed to know his lines, but they weren't very funny or witty and the cameo walk-ins were laboured.
Tue - Easy 20 mins swim in the morning.  Managed to squeeze in going to the compound gym for a BodyDoctor workout before starting African Sanctus rehearsals in evening.
Mon - Spin/Abs at Ritz in evening.  As my right knee is still creaking after skiing I didn't go as hard as usual, and kept the sweating under control, but the abs were a struggle.
Sun - As I was so underwelmed at work, I came home in time to toss the bike in the back of the car and drive down to the F1 MacDonalds, and do 32k to beach and up Banyan Tree hill.  It was very windy (20knots) so I was either slogging along at 15kph or screaming at 40.  Finished as sun was going down.  Made a nice change to start the evening.  Tried alternate routes to drive there, its actually quicker and more restful to go slower via villages and Hamad than to use the highway all the way.
Sat - Work up late with a muzzy head form the concert party last night,  so just waddled around the villa till 4:30 when it was into DJ and off to ...

It was the best concert yet, we were crisp and together.  I even thought I was good, though I detected 3 very minor mistakes in my personal performance. I can't decide which is my favorite section, they are all awesome.  Praise from Alistair: "Oh, choir!  Why do I leave you till last?  Because you were and are, the most significant part of this and every Manama Singers concert.  Did I forget to acknowledge you in the heat of the moment, during the bows?  It wasn’t intentional and to me, all the final applause was for you.  The balance, nuance, detail, diction and commitment were all there.  I could not have asked for more and I genuinely feel that you surpassed yourselves.  Yours was a performance made in heaven.  I do not exaggerate.  It was extraordinary."

Fri - Up and out of house at 6:20.  Awali, F1, up Banyan Tree, to Camel roundabout, Zallaq and back for 9:15.  65k.  SE winds so nicer coming back for a change.

 Then 10 till 4pm at British School for final Mozart rehearsal.  Its soundng very good, lets hope we keep it up for the concert tomorrow.

5-18 Mar: Off skiing!

We survived the skiing with no injuries.  A couple of very very cold days, but then the sun came out.  Chalet was excellent, company was varied and fun.

 Not a cloud in the sky

A sandwich lunch

Its a long way down to Le Fornet

Still no clouds in the sky!

Then we we got back had to reschedule Stoker's next flights out to Bahrain because of the BA strike.
I fly back on the Monday, work on Tuesday, Mozart rehearsal, and no exercise for the rest of the week.  Pathetic.

26 Feb - 4 Mar: Looking forward to skiing with Stoker

Thu - Great start to the day: checked in online, lovely weather, pool heaters were on so swim was delightful and very relaxing.  Weather makes a difference, must be the genetic ancestral memories of african savannas, with bright blue sky, clear air, light breeze and warm sun uplifting the spirits.  Blues evening at Duilmun club tonight (on table with some manama singers) then off to airport.
Wed -  Evening spin class was full, so went to the 8:30 one.  I was the only bloke with the girls.  It was Ole's last class as he has got a promotion to the Ritz in Abu Dhabi, but he didn't let up.  Showered and changed at Ritz and into work by 9:55 feeling great.  Lovely clear fresh weather with warm sun, shame it doesn't stay like this all summer.
Tue - Back to bright warm weather.  Swam the whole of Mozart's Requiem again, just over an hour, before work. Choir in evening, more Requiem!
Mon - Leaving the training a bit late for skiing, but signed up for the circuits class in the morning before work.  Nice to exercise different bits.  Overcast and grey with some spotted rain.  Spin/abs in the evening with Whalid, it was tough..
Sun - Public holiday for Prophet's (PBUH) Birthday.  Weather coolish in morning, left at 7am cycled to Ritz for Sea's Pilates class (1 hour) which was like slow abs exercises but it made me sweat, then cycled back with the wind behind me.  39km in total cycling.

Had to stay in all afternoon while workmen fixed the bath that a visitor broke the bottom.  They glass fibred it then sprayed with white acrylic and it looks better than new!  Villa smells like a glue sniffer's paradise though.
Sat - Swam the whole of Mozart's Requiem!  Decided I was bored with failing to count laps, so dug out my rarely used waterproof iPod case and headphones and listen to Requiem which is over an hours worth of swimming, must be over 2km.  Could have carried on, I can't be swimming hard enough. Read 'One Day' by David Nicholls, characters weren't believable to me.  Strong NE breeze, haze and weak sun.  Decided to go for a walk to Al Jasra "Harbour and Beach" 7.4km in 1hr 24mins.

Fri - Up early, packed for a long ride and left at 6am.  Riffa fort, Awali (where I saw Seana going to Budiya for a ride), Zallaq, end of the beach road till the signs got too threatening about PRIVATE, up to Banyan Tree, Al Areen, F1, new road past Sakhir air base when it got very headwindy and blown sand/dust (this road without wind would be good for a 10 mile time trial).  Was making slow pogress at 10-15kph.  So decided that was enough, turned around and with wind behind me flew home via Hamad Town, often hitting 40kph.  110km.  Washed down bike, fry up for breakfast, feeling good and relaxed.

Decided just to lie down for "a little rest" and crashed out for 4 hours, waking after sundown.

Staff party tonight at Sheraton.  Turned out as expected, remind me never to have an Iranian singer at a party, it was only marginally better than the music at the Bahrain/NZ foorball match.  Back home at 10:45 "and so to bed".

19 - 25 Feb: Qatar interlude and "its the rules"

Thu - Felt much better this morning, with tummy settled down.  60 lengths before work.
Wed - 30 lengths with Stoker.  Lovely lunch at Zoe's, then took her to airport for flight back to Blighty.  Spin/Abs at Ritz in evening, but was still full up after lunch, felt burpey and a bit sickey so only did the spin (plus 20 mins row beforehand).
Tues - 30 lengths with Stoker.  Then we both went to Choir and onto Country Club for a meal afterward, joined by S & G.

Mon - 50 lengths with Stoker.  Then Diving AGM at Dilly - with usual small club politics just about under control!
Sun - Recovery Day from Qatar excesses!

Sat - Lovely start to day - clear sky and breeze.  Went to get dinghy out, but couldn't till 10am when Mr Dexter was to arrive "its the rules".  So in meantime went out on the dolphin watch and saw lots that played with us.  Out on Trimaran which was fun though wind started to die.  Lunch, packed and back to S&N where R&G came round for pizzas and final drinks.  Back to airport and to Bahrain by 10:30.
Fri - up at 7:30 to catch 9:30 flight to Qatar.  Met by S&N, then driven down to QP beach club where we camped, eat lunch, drank, swam, "braiied" (we were surrounded by SAs), talked, drank and staggered back to campbeds to sleep in the open air.  Almost like a Saudi desert trip.

12 - 18 Feb: Tour du Bahrain and visitors

Wed -
Tue - Up early (5:00 yawn, no time for swimming) to go on day business trip to Dubai, then choir on way back from airport.  G&S coming over from Riyadh.
Mon - 60 lengths this morning.  It all seems too easy.  I am obviously not trying hard enough.  Broke a filling, so off to the dentist this afternoon, then if feeling OK I have booked for spin/abs tonight.  Did feel OK, hard intense class with Walid.
Sun - Still feeling good in the morning, but legs a little 'heavy'.  50 lengths, mixture of breaststroke, crawl and arms only.  The Stoker and Stalker had a girls night out at the O2 arena.
Sat - Amazingly I was not aching at all this morning.  Woken up by some workman chipping away at something by the side of the house at 6:30, but dozed till 9:30.  Hot sunny day. 50 gentle stretching lengths in afternoon, and spin/abs in evening which I took easily though still sweated.  Watched Hurt Locker on DVD, tense film but episodic and not much of a storyline.
Fri - ' Tour du Bahrain'.  My first 100 miles.  As I was feeling antsi, decided to burn off frustrations by cycling round Bahrain.  Left at 6:20, Budiaya, Amwaj, Sitra, down to Dhurat where I met up with Les who kept me company for a while .  Tree of Life, over to walk up track to Banyan Tree, down to Al Areen, along to Camel roundabout, then home.  177km in 7:37hours and I allegedly burned over 7,000 cal.  Felt fine up to about 125km, then slowed down across desert to get to160km - the century miles!, and feeling tired back fairly slowly.  Every two hours stopped for stretch, water and dates.  Wind was kind and light from the west,  Shower, stretch and bacon and eggs when got back.

Extra Mozart rehearsal 5-7, then I went to see The Book of Eli at Saar Cinema.  Not original - a mixture of Mad Max, David Carradine Kung Fu and Clint Eastwood Man with No Name, and the revelation at the end was not believable - but heh, the whole film isn't supposed to be believable!

A full, long and satisfying day.

5 - 11 Feb: Good while it lasted, now all alone again

Thu - No exercise
Wed - 50 in 24 again, but this time I was faster and more sure of the counting, so I reckon yesterday I skimped on the number of lengths.  Spin/Abs tonight.
Tues - 50 lengths in 24 mins in morning.  Choir tonight.
Mon - 40 lengths in 21 mins (quite slow!).  Spin/abs in evening at Ritz - abs session was 12 mins of continuous sets of squats/pressups/crunches, I didn't stress myself too much!
Sun - 30 lengths swim with stoker.  Cooler day (18 deg) and very windy.  Then bit of shopping, finalise stoker's new glasses, lunch at Cafe Coco and take her to the airport, and into make an impression at work.  15 mins row and BD gym routine in evening.  The villa seems very lonely without my stoker and her guitar!  Just heard that Verdi in Dubai has been postponed to May, which I can't do 'cos of cycling through France.
Sat - Lazy start to day, then gym (rowing and BodyDoctor exercises for me) and 20 lengths swim.  Seef Mall and Frangipani for sushi lunch.  Spin/abs in evening with See, not too strenuous.
Fri - Stoker went to gym, I was pathetic and didn't.  Friday brunch at Riffa Golf Club with Seana and Richard.  Very good spread, especially the japanese.  Managed not to go to the cinema in the evening, much to stoker's annoyance.