Early arrival at Tulla and smooth transition to lounge area for the obligatory consecutive bloody marys, thus rendering me ineligible for any sort of medical asistance. Passed up on the beef stew and rice, looking like leftovers from my glory days at cadet camp in Singleton, complete with the fine patina of age. Flight was relaxing to say the least-helped by Mr Glennfiddich and the usual array of pharmacological boosters.

Plenty of time to relax at Doha and to stock up on Close Up toothpaste and eat multiple bowls of the flatulent inducing foul madammas( foul by name but not by nature. Amazed by the variety of ethnic outfits.