My first Qatar National Day
Now my hotel is not a particularly busy one, so for most of the time I have a pretty peaceful existence, especially at night as I rarely have someone in the room next door – other than during the big holiday periods when Saudi families come to Doha for weekend breaks. Their children are lively little cherubs who really enjoy running up and down the hotel corridors screaming – bless their little hearts ! So early in December, when I was being kept awake by a guy in the neighbouring room, who seemed to come in at 1am and have very loud conversations on the telephone until around 3am, I assumed it would only be for a couple of days. After the 5 th consecutive night of the same pattern, sleeping with my head under the pillow, I asked the hotel reception…… “when is the guy in the next door room checking out?” Maybe I could get him moved. …… after all, I worked for Al Jazeera and they’d want to keep me happy! “Oh let me see, madam……. Oh yes, he checks out on 20 th