mr_hippo
Living Legend & Old Fart
Reading Chuffy's thread about mutton, Saudi Arabia was mentioned and it got me thinking about those days I spent there and one particular incident sprang to mind.
Some of us work there for a few years, leave for a while and then go back. Some people contract an incurable form of 'desert sickness' and stay out there for donkey's years, I have known quite a few who have worked out the for 30+ years. One such sufferer was an American chappie, Howard R., I first heard of him when I worked for RSAF in Taif at the weapons range where he was the range supervisor until a few months before I arrived.
We had a lone camel on the range that we adopted (or he adopted us) and I was told that his name was Howard. I thought that was a strange name for a camel and the story of how Howard was named was revealed. A few days before Howard went on leave, he and his deputy, Dick T, were talking and Howard said "When I die, I'd like to come back as a camel!"
About three days after Howard flew home, this camel appeared and would not leave. They later found out that on the very day that the camel arrived, Howard (the real one) had suffered a fatal heart attack. Now that is spooky!
Has anyone else had a similar experience?
Some of us work there for a few years, leave for a while and then go back. Some people contract an incurable form of 'desert sickness' and stay out there for donkey's years, I have known quite a few who have worked out the for 30+ years. One such sufferer was an American chappie, Howard R., I first heard of him when I worked for RSAF in Taif at the weapons range where he was the range supervisor until a few months before I arrived.
We had a lone camel on the range that we adopted (or he adopted us) and I was told that his name was Howard. I thought that was a strange name for a camel and the story of how Howard was named was revealed. A few days before Howard went on leave, he and his deputy, Dick T, were talking and Howard said "When I die, I'd like to come back as a camel!"
About three days after Howard flew home, this camel appeared and would not leave. They later found out that on the very day that the camel arrived, Howard (the real one) had suffered a fatal heart attack. Now that is spooky!
Has anyone else had a similar experience?