Who ate all the pies?

When I was a young man I used to tease my father no end about his ever increasing girth. 'It'll come to you one day, and then you won't be laughing' was his usual response. 'Nonsense', I would always say, 'I'll never be fat like that'. Several sessions of judo a week, weights and circuit training meant I could pretty well eat and drink what I wanted and still comfortably compete in judo competitions at under 65kg (about 10 stone). Well, that was then. On Thursday evening, getting ready to go to a party I realised that not only were my trousers uncomfortably tight, but that my shirt wouldn't button up properly. The scales indicated that my weight has gone up to over 80kgs and my father's prophecy has come to pass.

At least I am not alone. There is a phenomenon here known as the 'Dubai Stone'. Basically it arises from eating out a lot at 'all you can eat buffets', drinking too much and becoming lazy because of the heat. I'm obviously going to have to do something about it. But, it's not easy. I've just come back from a short two mile run at 8.30 at night. The temperature is still in the mid-thirties and I'm a sweaty wreck. Anyway, at least my legs aren't the same pasty white that they have been for the past 40 years - small mercies indeed.

It really is starting to get hot now, and you can sense the gradual slowdown that greets the start of the seriously hot summer weather yet to come. It's still not too hot that you can't go out though. Last week was half term and we went over to Fujairah again for a short break. This time we stayed at the Rotana hotel, and very pleasant it was too - no shortage of 'all you can eat buffets'...