'...regardless of world disasters the first item had to be concerning the Sheik even if it was as mundane as his meeting the French ambassador '

'...regardless of world disasters the first item had to be concerning the Sheik even if it was as mundane as his meeting the French ambassador '

Mike Mahon remembers some aspects of the cultural life in Bahrain.

Mike Mahon

Trinity College Dublin

2001

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Mike Mahon

Work and Employment

Life Story

Bahrain

2000s

As expats we enjoyed the good life in Bahrain. The weather was beautiful apart from a few months in winter when we got some thunderstorms, but they never lasted for long. In summer the temperature would rise up to fifty degrees C with very high humidity. The locals referred to summer as the 'bad weather'. Interestingly, under local labour laws outdoor construction workers were excused from work if the temperature went above 50c . Not surprisingly the temperature was never reported by the met office above 50c!We had access to all of the local Arab TV stations and one run by the American oil company Aramco. Bahrain state television was run by the government and the news broadcast every day at 6pm. But regardless of world disasters the first item had to be concerning the Sheik even if it was as mundane as his meeting the French ambassador. Then and only then came reports of Tsumanis, hurricanes, wars, revolutions, and even 9/11There were very strict driving laws in Bahrain. If one was involved in a in a traffic accident, however minor, it was illegal to get the car repaired before the incident was reported to the police. Drink driving was a definite no no. Anyone even suspected of drink driving was arrested immediately and taken to Isa Fort, the police HQ, jailed overnight and fined 500 dinars. One crew member, on returning from a long tiring flight, damaged his car getting into his driveway. As required he reported the matter to the traffic police. While waiting for them to arrive he helped himself to a can of beer from the fridge. On opening his door to the police with the beer can in his hand he was immediately arrested. 'Ah, you have been drinking. ' Sometimes it went to extremes. A friend of mine had been drinking in town and decided to get a taxi home . However when he got in the taxi the driver took him straight to the police for being drunk. One had to be careful.

Irish Research Council for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences (IRCHSS)

Dr Kathleen McTiernan (Trinity College Dublin)

Dr Deirdre O'Donnell (Trinity College Dublin)