Describe a risk you took that you do not regret.

Im not ready to share with you how I lost my eldest brother, or what happened a few months later which completely floored me. How close can one get to the edge without going over? R.I.P lovely man.

What I can tell you though is in the aftermath I took a risk accepting a job in Saudi Arabia ( why I did is a also for another time). It was a risk. I was flying into the unknown. A country so far removed from anything I had ever known before. Very very strange. I would be joining a Saudi family. Not safe and secure in some expat compound, but bam! right there in the middle of things. I stayed two years and learnt a different way of living. What an experience! This is a strict Muslim country and I can’t still couldnt decide where I was between Paganism and Buddhism.

Let me tell you about one image from that time which will never leave my mind. Once seen cannot be unseen.

It was a Friday, maybe the start of Ramadan, possibly Eid. So long ago now I can’t recall. ( 1999?) What I do remember is being in their family car, driven by the Sheikh on our way to the beach house. It never rains in Saudi. Well, it does, but not very often. On this particular day it was pouring down and along the road was carnage, as drivers and cars unable to cope with the onslaught of wet weather crashed into each other and/or simply veered right off the roadway.

We made to our destination safely and on arrival the first thing I saw was a goat tied to a tree. I must have said ‘ Aww’ out loud. The Sheikh turned to me and said ‘dont get too attached’. I let that wash and every chance I had that day I spent it with the goat. Yes, I am the sort of person who goes to a party and seeks out any animals in the vicinity, to spend the time with.

Being either a holiday or a weekend we were to repeat the trip next day. It was especially busy on arrival, so I didn’t notice if Goat was there or not. As ever the place was filled with cooking smells and through the glass doors I could see the girls preparing the long table with huge plates of food. It was always like this when we visited. They know how to put on a spread these guys. I had some time to myself so went into the kitchen to see everyone. Over time we had become friendly. They obviously had a lot going on, so I didn’t linger and get in the way. Thought the swing doors I took myself into the dining room..and there he was, Goat. Sitting upright on a silver platter, roasted. Whoa!

And I cannot unsee that, or forget how I felt.

Going to Saudi was a risk and I don’t regret it for a minute….but then

came the perfect escape. With the stars aligned, I was head-hunted for a job in the neighbouring country of Jordan. Off I went and never looked back.