I forgot to ask who would take over the business. It was in a very cramped area, rather dirty and smelly. His one comment on working for the British (as a stevedore) was that the English were nice but the Indian supervisors treated him like a dog. He was glad to come back to the Emirates where he became a policeman (for the British). He spent most of his time as a driver to the British head of Police. He also seems to have been involved in the fight with the Saudis over Al Ain in the 1950s, I didn't quite understand him as he slipped into Arabic during that part of the discussion and didn't want to repeat it.

Interesting guy.

Two other interesting people I've met out here was an Egyptian who fought against he Isrealis in 1956, ended up in the Egyptian invasion of Yemen, was badly wounded, but was rewarded by being sent to a teachers college, as he was too badly wounded to continue as a soldier or return to being a farmer.

The most interesting fellow, who died just last year, was a Syrian who had been studying engineering in Russia in 1941. A socialist he couldn't return to Vichy Syria and got swept up in the fighting. Becoming at one point a Soviet T-34 tank driver. In 1945 (he spoke French, English, Arabic and Russian) he noted he was somewhere near Vienna. He deserted and walked to Paris in the summer of 1945. What does a French speaking Arab do in Paris in 1945? Become a waiter of course! Interesting story.