First things first I should point out that it is my unshakable! principle to begin every post with the most pressing and important of issues before departing to the less urgent. So with great content I can announce that yet again it was a convincing victory for Barca last night a resounding 4-0 against Depor, thus all is well in my world for another week.
While we are on the topic of sport I should add that I was rather disappointed and somewhat shocked with my colleague at work today. A citizen of Manila in the Philippines he had never heard of 'The Thriller in Manila' how could that be possible! One of the greatest nights of boxing graced by the greatest name in Sport FULL STOP! A man who transcended not just his sport but sport as we know it, full of character, charisma and charm few doubt that Ali was the greatest. Anyway, Rhomel managed to restore some self respect by jumping around and squeaking 'Many Pacquo' Many Pacquo' he's pantastic! Yes Rhomel, quite right you are he is indeed fantastic. Which gets me to thinking, will they ever make the fight? If they fail to do so then I think Ali should put his trunks back on get inside the ring and thump everyone involved in the farce beginning with the greasy promoters for what would be their part in the greatest disappointed in the history of the sport.
As you may have gathered by now we have gone with a sporting theme on this occasion and trust me it will all tie up nicely by the time that I am done so even if you are not the sporty type I urge you, please continue reading it is worth it... So where were we, right I should point out that I am back in the Midnight cafe writing this post I sense that this place has yet again drawn me in by its warm, smoky atmosphere almost inviting me consecutively with its unusual glow and wholeheartedness... Well that and the fact that I spent 10 minutes scoping it out before I was contented that Super Waiter was not on shift tonight! Looks like a Mocha or 2 is about as painful as it will get tonight. Forgive me for sounding like such a cheap skate but the fact is that I am a cheap skate at least temporarily until I find the Dubai Dream.
I should should point out for those of you whose attention I still hold, that this whole blogging thing was part of a new years initiative which I hope will hold for once in my life. It's only the 10th of January but it's not a bad start I guess? And if you sense that I am slacking then it is your responsibility as the readership to enforce your wrath upon me and ensure that I start writing again even if it means dragging and screaming. Power to the People!
You would have surely gathered by now that these ramblings of mine have very little structure, so lets go back to the topic of sport and more specifically boxing. Naturally, as a fine physical specimen myself I am appreciative of the tremendous physical strain that the modern day athlete has to endure in order to be at the top of his game. However, for me personally there is one single sport which captures the imagination unlike any other and that is the glorious sport of Boxing. Having been a miserable excuse of a boxer in my day I still remember the strain that the body would have to go through in just a 1 hour session, imagine having to endure a training camp for a World title fight! No, there is no doubt in my mind that boxing is the toughest sport of all, after all the man whose Dr said quote, "If Aliens came down to Earth and asked us for our finest specimen to carry out there tests we would have to give them Muhammad" and who himself said quote, "I hated every minute of training, but I said, "Don't quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion". Need I say more? So you can imagine my surprise and excitement this evening after finishing work I decided to go for a stroll along Jumeirah Walk with a friend, well actually my only friend :-( And as we were walking I noticed a burly man walking toward me in a very upright posture, this was an athletes stride I said to myself and then he gave it right away with his Louis Vuitton man bag, instantly I thought to myself "Eubank you ****** LEGEND!" thanking my lucky stars that I had not said that out loud in case he mistook it for an insult!
So as he approached I looked him in the eye and said 'YEAH WHAT!!!'. Actually, I just said "Chris" to which he replied "hi" naturally I put my hand out to shake his, only to regret it instantly. This wasn't any old hand, this same right hand had gone to WAR on so many memorable occasions, this was gonna hurt :-( My mind flashed back to being sat on the sofa at home on a Saturday night when I was a little nipper with my Dad, watching what could only be described as pure and simple carnage the beating that Benn and Eubank endured and dished out could only be surpassed by the one and only Rock Balboa I thought to myself. And of course this was the very same right hand that had so sadly left Michael Watson paralyzed after their world title fight in 1991. After having my hand crushed by Chris, I should point out that we are on first name terms now by the way ;-) I walked away and thought shit! I should get a picture, but then I decided against stopping Mr Eubank in his stride.
This post has gone on for longer than I had hoped, but before I withdraw for another night, I promised to give you an insight into the thinking behind the title of my blog.
The one thing that has been very apparent to me in my short time here is the attitude of people towards one another, being in a large cosmopolitan city with a diverse ethnic melting pot there is the natural respect and good feeling toward each other. However, there seems to be this extra special respect for the British. Yes there are large influential British economic interests within the Emirates but that is not the reason for the general publics attitude and respect for Britain and what it represents even in the midst of what can be described as a bad patch for Blighty, being involved in two VERY unpopular wars and an increasingly restless and disenchanted working class not to mention the students. Despite these woes the majority of the World still continues to view us in high esteem which was abruptly put to me by someone very close who isn't exactly seeing eye to with me at this present time, when she stated 'i still can't believe that u are from London we don't find shit in this country but gentlmen' right you are and I will ensure that I pursue the removal of this stigma that I am guilty for attaching :-( So my point remains that for some reason the Englishman is synonymous with the Gentleman as Chris said recently in an interview about his partnership with a Savile Row tailor when questioned about whether his clothes were upmarket he said quote, "I wouldn't say that, though I'm an upmarket guy. We are all upmarket really but then we are British".
So I find myself at a dead end not quite sure what to make of this vain talk? However what I can say is that I am proud to be an Englishman in Dubai for all the good values that we uphold. And long may it continue.
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