Well… this is interesting! I was young at the time, had no fear - and I dont recall anybody at Astran warning me off at that time (nor any of the many drivers we met on our way)… and in hindsight, thank goodness they didnt - because that was one experience that not many females are lucky enough to have experienced!
However, I do remember some drivers and subcontractors coming round asking us girls in the office for our old catalogues… to give to the Arab customs… So who was wrong here?!
Hi Alison
Nice to catch up with you again after so long.
You are right,catalogues were popular with some customs officials, especially the female ones at the Iraqi borders.But they wanted them to see what the fashions were in the West! A catalogue isn’t a ■■■■■ magazine though is it!
GS
Hello Gavin,
Where in the Caribbean are you and what are you doing out there?
I’d not heard that it was female officials wanting these catalogues… so here’s a new twist.
Alison
sinbin31:
Hey RedIf you think I am speculating on others Im not I know about the problems and agree no european woman should go anywhere near baghdad ,but Turkey is so different as Gavin says beyond Ankara is Taboo,I was in Baghdad when Mike had his problems , Yes its best left alone ,as for Mike, Barry Barnes might know or John Bruce will check it out with John,Barry I beleive is out of the country
Roger
Roger I disagree with you I took my wife on a trip to m/e I was supposed to fly her back from greece and tony funston was going to pay but one thing another and she stayed with me i had a multi drop starting jordan ending kuwait and she was treated with the utmost respect which ever country we visited she had the dubious honour of being one of the first european ladies to enter saudi,i can honestly say that where ever we went i was ushered to the front of the que she was offered a seat and tea till it was coming out of her ears she couldnt understand why i said the job was so difficult regards hughie
Hi Biffo
Ok Mate you were lucky how did you manage the Saudi visa for the Mrs ,we are talking Iraq, not Saudi,Jordon Syria or Kuwait or even Doha and beyond many European females worked in these countries. NOT IN IRAQ.the question of mags they wanted the catalogues to look at the females in underware,exciting for them maybe but not ■■■■■ ,if it made customs a bit quicker and no money past hands so be it ,the Mags were not for the females, Allison did you see any I didnt, the only time I saw a female in uniform was at Derra between Jordon and Syria and they were jordanian Police.
Roger
Heh Roger
You are right,but what about the lady that did the Triptiks at Safwan!
I know she did have a face like a camel, but she did used to ask for catalogues. Maybe she was a male camel.
GS
SheepLady:
Hello Gavin,Where in the Caribbean are you and what are you doing out there?
Alison
Hi Alison
I’m in Barbados, been here almost eight years. I own the leading SCUBA Diving centre and watersports operation on the Island. Contracted to a couple of hotels. Running a small fleet of boats that are more trouble to keep going than trucks to the middle-east!
I’m married with a 3 year old daughter and a boy due in December.
What are you upto these days?
I don’t suppose there is much need for freight forwarders nowadays !
Best regards
Gavin
GS OVERLAND:
Hi Alison
I’m in Barbados, been here almost eight years. I own the leading SCUBA Diving centre and watersports operation on the Island. Contracted to a couple of hotels. Running a small fleet of boats that are more trouble to keep going than trucks to the middle-east!
I’m married with a 3 year old daughter and a boy due in December.What are you upto these days?
I don’t suppose there is much need for freight forwarders nowadays !
Best regards
Gavin
Hello Gavin,
No need to find backloads for British trucks any more! I suppose they’re still given to the EE’s - you see enough of them on our roads. Nevertheless, I’m still enjoying life!
Best regards,
Alison
Hi Alison I’ve posted on here somewhere else asking after you, no one seemed to know, I’m glad you are still well.
As regards taking wives to M/E. I took mine to Saudi in 76 with no problems except for the 9 day wait at Halet Amar customs. Saudi visa was no problem if you were married and her passport was in her married name. She was treated well every where we went. I thought every one knew that if you were not married Sammi Siresi would ‘marry’ you for £10 on the way down and divorce you (so you could take someone else the next trip) for £20 on the way back. He claimed divorce was always expensive!
Gavin
Gavin McArdle:
Hi Alison I’ve posted on here somewhere else asking after you, no one seemed to know, I’m glad you are still well.
As regards taking wives to M/E. I took mine to Saudi in 76 with no problems except for the 9 day wait at Halet Amar customs. Saudi visa was no problem if you were married and her passport was in her married name. She was treated well every where we went. I thought every one knew that if you were not married Sammi Siresi would ‘marry’ you for £10 on the way down and divorce you (so you could take someone else the next trip) for £20 on the way back. He claimed divorce was always expensive!
Gavin
Hello Gavin, yes I’m still about. Good to hear from you. I remember in my Astran days that only wives transited Saudi otherwise I would have liked to have gone further… but to get married in order to do so… hmmmm now there’s a deterrent!!! Divorce is always expensive (I understand)…
Alison