I too was at the at Doha RFC Chairman's Annual Sportsmans dinner . The Boydy (The Mighty Tank) / "Skirt" Sorenson story Jiffy told, was not exactly as printed. The main crutch of the story being what referee John Holdsworth said to Kurt Sorenson when he pulled him. However I am sure Jonathon being a professional after dinner speaker would not appreciate somebody telling the story across the internet, so I am not printing it here. If however any individual would like the full story, drop me a line at cullengeoff@hotmail.com and I will send it to them individually. Incidentally any non Muslim's living (Or visiting) Qatar have no problem obtaining "more than enough" alcohol they'll ever want, legally............. 'llA11GEF

I too was at the at Doha RFC Chairman's Annual Sportsmans dinner . The Boydy (The Mighty Tank) / "Skirt" Sorenson story Jiffy told, was not exactly as printed. The main crutch of the story being what referee John Holdsworth said to Kurt Sorenson when he pulled him. However I am sure Jonathon being a professional after dinner speaker would not appreciate somebody telling the story across the internet, so I am not printing it here. If however any individual would like the full story, drop me a line at cullengeoff@hotmail.com and I will send it to them individually. Incidentally any non Muslim's living (Or visiting) Qatar have no problem obtaining "more than enough" alcohol they'll ever want, legally............. 'llA11GEF

Did Jiffy also mention what happened to him in his first match????

He was on the BBC doing commentary for a Challenge Cup after his run out against us and he had a massive shiner. When asked about it, he said it was his welcome to rugby league for the Warrington players.

Les was one the nicest blokes you could meet (off the pitch). He used to take his wife and kids shopping in Stockton Heath wearing shorts on a freezing cold winters day. His daughter went to school in the village and was being teased by a little lad about her accent. She promptly set about him and broke the poor kids arm in the process. She was only about 8 at the time but was bigger than than all the 10 year olds. Not Sir Les' kid for nothing.

Beautiful story.............

When you ask about social life and clubs I assume you mean Western type clubs where alchohol is availaable legally. The rugby club is still going strong, probably the strongest club in Qatar with almost a thousand members with some sort of social activity on every night. The ERA club changed hands and was re-named Garvey's, however on New Years eve 2008, at 1030 PM, It was raided for some reason by the police, everybody given 10 minutes to leave the premises (and area), the electricity was cut off, the doors were locked (with food still on the table and in the kitchen) and it has not reopened since, all kinds of stories as to why it was shut down but nobody knows for sure (except of course the person who ordered it to be shut). There are lots of other good venues, including the golf club which has a Championship course and a floodlit Academy course, good food and well stocked bar. The diplomatic club if you enjoy a quiet game of snooker, (4 full size tables) plus others.
There are probably around 15 good Western hotels with pool services and some kind of club either as sports type bar or entertainment with visiting and resident bands, you could say there is a variety of events going on in Doha everynight of the week if you know where to go. You mention the monthly trip to the pharmecy, well is now a supermarket style outlet, where you go when you like, spend what you wish and just pay or charge it to your credit card. Most people are now entitled to spend around 10 times the amount they could under the old system run by the British Embassy. Cheers and remenmber [sizeThe Road to Eternal Happiness is a Vodka & Tonic[/size
A11GEF

Sportsmans Dinner at the Rugby Club tonight

Andy Gommersall, John Bentley and some Comedian/Impressionist (definately not Mike Yarwood).