Etiquette
I've been invited to Mubarak's house for lunch on Friday. He will send his driver to collect me and I am to admire his date trees and meet his family. I know this is unusual in Qatar, where male guests usually stay in the مجلس, and do not see the women of the house. I am in a quandary though: what do I take? A bottle of wine is obviously out of the question, and flowers for the lady of the house almost certainly unacceptable. I am told that to bring sweets could be insulting, meaning that I did not think my host's hospitality would be sufficient, but just to turn up with nothing seems wrong; if anyone has any suggestions I'd be glad to hear them. Mubarak clearly has plans for me. He was horrified to learn that I do not have my own vehicle, and has offered to give me one: "I have six, Mr. Simon, and my favourite is the BMW 528, though my wife likes the Land Cruiser." He also wants to take me to Morocco: "The best girls in the world - Arab looks and Frenc