I arrived initially in Bahrain on April 1st. 1970, then after a brief tour of Manama got a connecting flight to Dhahran. The architecture of ALL Saudi airports is quite stunning, as is the cleanliness. It is not only the mosques which are maintained to the standards which we should have a right to expect, but rarely achieve, in our UK hospitals, with the MRSA and C.Diff!

The toilets at the Dhahran Airport and in the Airport Hotel are a must-try experience. The gents toilets do not have stand-up urinals; all are sit-down cubicles for complete privacy whether for No.1 or No.2! There is a heavy gauge stainless steel foot pedal by the left foot. You sit down and do the necessary, then press the foot pedal when you are ready to complete. Firstly a jet of warm water spouts from jets around the pan, washing front and back perfectly clean without the need for paper or using your left hand (as is the Arab custom). Then another press of the pedal and a jet of warm air is directed to the genitalia and nether regions which switches off when sensors detect it is dry. That way muslim Arabs can go to the toilet before prayer without losing their cleanliness and having to perform ritual ablutions (Woodoo).

I then got a coach to the military side of the Abdul Aziz Air Base where I was to work as an air navigation instructor for the next 6 months, training Saudi Air Force students. I was allotted a luxury ex-pat accommodation block, of the same sort of standard as Sgt’s Mess, in the RAF. I had a Pakistani servant assigned to do my laundry and room cleaning on a daily basis, including changing sheets.

We then went to the UK Dining Hall for British style food, including fresh salmon flown in by BOAC every Friday morning having been collected from Aberdeeen Airport early that morning, indeed having been swimming in the Scottish rivers the previous evening. We were given a £4 per day alcohol allowance as standard British and German lagers were available at £4 a pint in ex-pat clubs on or close-by the base. Saudi police gave 24 hours notice of a pending visit to give us time to make sure we were only drinking soft drinks when they inspected.

On my first day at work, I met a gorgeous Arab boyfriend from Quatar. We were constant companions throughout my stay in Saudi. Arabs, as a race, are very tactile. They love to hold hands and kiss.

I had six major contracts with the Saudi government in various technical and military sectors and I travelled extensively throughout the Kingdom. There have been major changes over the years but I still love the place. Sadly I’m unable to return as I can no longer fly safely, with having had 3 heart attacks in 4 years.