Mumps, Chaos, and Joy: A Six-Year-Old's Saudi Adventure

In the 1980s, a recession crippled Britain's construction industry. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia had vast oil wealth and building projects, but not enough skilled workers. This contrast sent thousands of unemployed British labourers, including the author's father, to the Gulf for work. The author's family visited twice. A trip to Riyadh offered a comfortable compound with a pool. But a visit to Jeddah, captured in a favourite photo, was different. In Jeddah, the father shared a small flat on a noisy street. The author, then six, caught mumps upon arrival and suffered from severe diarrhoea. A gift of novelty karate pyjamas led to frequent fights with an older brother. Yet, despite the illness and chaos, the child was having the time of his life. The photo represents more than a difficult visit. It captures the rare and joyful moment of a young family reunited.