Through the shutters of the window in our
lounge we could see a small farm opposite where the farmer lived with his two
wives. Each wife had her own rooms at either end of his farmhouse I think they
took turns to spend time with him. One day the two of them had an argument
which rapidly developed into a wrestling match, it amused us greatly when the
farmer appeared with a plank to separate them and send them to their relevant
quarters. In those early family days my socializing with Ali Badi outside work
reduced, if I took Syb and Karen along to his house they were expected to sit
in the kitchen with his wife who spoke no English and was deeply suspicious of
them. Western women were feared by most of the rural Saudi women as competition
for their husbands. When Syb and Karen stood on the balcony overlooking the
farm the two wives threw stones towards them to show their displeasure.
Fortunately my two understood and came inside.
In the evening sun
we used to sit on the balcony and watch the large cockroaches chase each other
about. Some times when sitting on the toilet in the bathroom they
would appear from the drain grid in the middle of the floor. One time shortly
after Syb had arrived she decided to have a bath afterwards she said “Look at
this insect I had to shush it on to the side while I had my bath” it was a
scorpion. Scorpions were plentiful in the base and
some of the BAC boys had little businesses setting them in clear plastic blocks,
needless to say I have one in my Saudi display. Breakfast
could be exciting not only did the Rice Crispies snap crackle and pop they
jumped but you got used to taking the weevils along with the cereal. We had a lot to learn about living in the
town and I’m glad to say both Syb and Karen caught my enthusiasm for the place
despite the insects.
They were about the
only white women actually living in Khamis at that time, as they found out the
first time they walked to the shops. Blonds had rarely been seen by the locals
and they were fascinated by my two, who were a little disconcerted when a
Bedouin made it obvious by looking straight at them walking backwards in front
of them. He looked pretty fearsome but
they soon they realized that no one meant them any harm and they became more
confident. Also as Khamis base was close by there were plenty of English
speaking Saudi trainees and many of them knew me and were only too happy to
help. Whenever the girls went shopping in town there always seemed to be one of
the trainees in civvies (a thobe and gutra) there to advise them which produce
to buy and how much to pay.
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