RunQ8 on 29th November 2014 In Support of Children's Evaluation & Rehabilitation at FSRI

www.runq8.org

In 2010, Fawzia Sultan Rehabilitation Institute (FSRI), in partnership with Agility, launched the 10K RunQ8, to benefit non-profit organizations and programs committed to health, education, and project-based charity. The first RunQ8 “Vision 2020”, supported the establishment of the Community Eye Health Care Program at Kuwait University, part of the United Nation’s World Health Organization’s Vision 2020 Initiative.  The second race, RunQ8 2011, highlighted the “Decade of Action for Road Safety 2011-2021” by creating an Early Childhood Road and Traffic Safety Program, teaching car and traffic safety to over 10,000 schoolchildren in the project’s first year. This project was embraced by our community partner, Porsche, and won the Porsche 2012 Best Practices award to become the community-education model for all Porsche driving schools in the Middle East.   

RunQ8 proceeds, starting from the most recent RunQ8 2013, are dedicated to the FSRI non-profit Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC). Caring for a child with a physical and/or cognitive disability has significant emotional, physical and financial effects on a family. Often, the family will postpone seeking treatment for their child due to financial constraints.  As part of this commitment, we provide free or low-cost rehabilitation services to vulnerable children. FSRI’s multidisciplinary rehabilitation services include physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, speech therapy, nutrition and holistic care. FSRI will be working with local partners to implement the initiative set for this year.

Les Spectacles De Versailles - Incroyable!

LWDLIK - We visited Chateau de Versailles on our last trip to Paris enroute for Eurodisney. It's only 30 mins outside the centre of Paris. Well worth a visit. You will need at least 4-6 hours minimum at the Chateau. We flew in from Kuwait and stayed one night in the hotel next door, Waldorf Astoria Trianon  and walked the short distance to the Chateau in the morning. We'd had a hearty breakfast, checked out and left our luggage with the concierge at hotel. Golf carts are available to get around the wonderful vast landscaped gardens (my daughter loved driving it and playing in the garden) the place is just stunningly gorgeous. Would love to go back when they have an event there in the evening maybe Bastille day. Putting it on my bucket list. Book ahead to avoid queues in summer [link].

I remember hearing that a Kuwaiti couple had their wedding party here. How fabulous! Sadly, I hear they are no longer married. Still a truly unforgettable night I'm sure. Though going to be hard to top it.

Mesmerising Mind-Blowing Balancing Act by Miyoko Shida

Below is a link to the video in which the Naissance of Sanddornbalance is explained by Author Mädir Eugster who is the directer of Rigolo Swiss Nouveau Cirque.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/cultur...

The Incredible Power Of Concentration - Miyoko Shida

https://www.facebook.com/miyoko.shida
http://www.myspace.com/miyoko.shida

Coming Soon: http://www.miyokoshida.com/www.miyoko...

When I Met The Legendary James Brown

Okay, so I did say I would tell you about this one day. Today's the day. 

Many years ago when I was a chief cabin with Kuwait Airways we were waiting to board passengers out of Heathrow for a flight to New York. I was in the first class cabin when one of the ground staff told me we have James Brown as a passenger. I immediately started singing the chorus to 'Get Up Offa That Thing' and seriously thought he was joking and that there was just a passenger with the same name. I was pretty busy with last minute checks and just carried on with that.

Passengers started boarding and about 10 minutes later I look up the tube (the one that passengers use to board the aircraft) and blow me down it is the man himself - Mr James Brown in a shiny satin shirt unbuttoned to almost the waist, gold neck chains, jacket over his shoulders and his signature overly coiffed wig. I left out a little scream and peed myself a weeny bit. 

He and his entourage were all first class, he sat next to his young fiancee. We chatted with some of the entourage and they told us that they had been in Beirut performing at a wedding party. How cool is that to have the man himself at your wedding party!

We didn't want to pester Mr Brown but we all so wanted a photo with him. So after a few hours I went and asked him, ever so politely, if we could take a photo with him. He said sure and then proceeded to get groomed by his fiancee for about twenty minutes. Lots of wig combing and face powder going on. He looked exactly the same but we finally got our photo.

Before landing Mr Brown asked me if he could make a call but back then we did not have telephones onboard. The only way to get a message through would be for the Captain to radio JFK (landing airport in New York) and then whoever took the message would make the landline call. This was only really permitted in rare cases. I thought as he was a special passenger (and a living legend) maybe the captain would allow him to send his message. I took Mr Brown upstairs to the cockpit (747) and asked the steward to inform the captain that Mr Brown was ready to relay his message. Whilst Mr Brown and I waited outside the cockpit he asked me where I was from I told him I was English. He then told me straight-faced that he was 1/4 Irish, 1/4 Sioux, 1/4 Black and 1/4 Japanese (honestly that's what he told me) trying to hide my astonishment I said quickly, " A true warrior," in reference to his alleged Japanese/Sioux Indian heritage. Well, this prompted him to start singing something about being a warrior. Surreal moment - thought I'd maybe inspired a song but no never heard that one again.

I waited outside the cockpit for Mr Brown to finish and then escorted him back to his seat. A few minutes later the crew told me the captain wanted to see me. The captain and first officer were both laughing and told me the message from Mr Brown had been to his housekeeper that Mr Brown will have the veal roast for dinner. Now I believe the radio messages can be picked up by all the other aircraft in the area so it must have been a little embarassing for the captain.

On landing Mr Brown was gracious enough to invite us all to his next concert, for a few moments we were utterly delighted and then found out it was a free concert at Central Park along with at least a 100,000 other people.  

Regardless, any moment spent with this incredible superstar is a cherished memory indeed. RIP James Brown there will never, ever be another like you.

Can't wait to see the movie [link to the preview].

And from the Godfather of Soul himself..  

When Sharjah Ruled the Skies 1930-1960