Bored, waiting to go out for Beer and Curry, reminded me of a time when I was working in Pakistan, working for the Government afforded me a few privileges,one which was close to my heart was the British High Commission club, basically a place to go for Beer, Curry and pool as well as Tennis if you were that way inclined.
Anyway to get to the club and back to the Hotel needed a taxi, and this is where this story gets strange, got to the club OK drank and ate my fill, they did run buses to and from the Hotel but I had missed it by about 2 hours, so you can see I was well oiled.
Tried to get a lift by any means possible, as walking home wasn't deemed a good idea, one of the local waiters told me to speak to the Guards, armed Guards, to see if they could get a Taxi for, so off I trotted in the pitch black to the Guard post, what a sight 2 old Indians complete in WW2 Battle Dress including the old .303 Lee Enfield Rifle, most Pakistanis could speak English and these two were no different. Yes Sir of course we can hail you a Taxi, it was about half past midnight, dark wide roads no vehicles, the guy with the stripes on his sleeve disappeared into his hut, came out ,"Taxi coming Sir" and in the distance two headlights appeared, matey cocks his gun walks out into the street and stops this guy, it wasn't a Taxi it was Joe public on his way home, still he gives me a lift home, wouldn't take any Petrol money, strange eh? Sorry for the rambling story.
Anyway to get to the club and back to the Hotel needed a taxi, and this is where this story gets strange, got to the club OK drank and ate my fill, they did run buses to and from the Hotel but I had missed it by about 2 hours, so you can see I was well oiled.
Tried to get a lift by any means possible, as walking home wasn't deemed a good idea, one of the local waiters told me to speak to the Guards, armed Guards, to see if they could get a Taxi for, so off I trotted in the pitch black to the Guard post, what a sight 2 old Indians complete in WW2 Battle Dress including the old .303 Lee Enfield Rifle, most Pakistanis could speak English and these two were no different. Yes Sir of course we can hail you a Taxi, it was about half past midnight, dark wide roads no vehicles, the guy with the stripes on his sleeve disappeared into his hut, came out ,"Taxi coming Sir" and in the distance two headlights appeared, matey cocks his gun walks out into the street and stops this guy, it wasn't a Taxi it was Joe public on his way home, still he gives me a lift home, wouldn't take any Petrol money, strange eh? Sorry for the rambling story.