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Katrina McMahon in Dubai
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Tuesday 3rd April 11.45am
Not quite able to contain my excitement, myself and five other Rockettes (Carole Anne our manager, Claire, Deone, Carol and Katrina) arrive at Glasgow airport for our trip to Dubai. The Dubai Masters Football tournament awaits us. Whoaw.! We're no stranger to the UK Masters Football Tour, however this one was a just little bit different I think. We met a few of the players, Robert Prytz, Chick Charnley, Stephen Fulton and Andy Walker etc.. during check-in and after some chit chat we proceeded to the duty free where we started spending money straight away. Well a girl does have to take advantage of such cosmetic bargains. Our flight boards around 2pm, I share Deone's sooky sweets with the players for take-off and settle down for our 8 hour flight with some food, drinks and in flight movies. This is the life.
11.50pm
Our flight touches down in Dubai just before midnight. We follow the players and our tour guide to the queue at luggage re-claim and try to stretch and wake up. The players seem to obtain their luggage before us and start heading off in the direction of our guide. Chick Charnley shouts 'do you know where your going' and Claire shouts back 'yes'... instantly we all look at her in disbelief. None of us had a clue where we were going. As the players disappear out of sight our luggage comes tumbling down the conveyor belt. Frantically we attempt the trace the footies' steps to no avail. We find ourselves stranded outside the airport and it's a live cattle market, we are being pushed and shoved along a walkway lined with hundreds of people all holding up signs, shouting out names and none of them are for us. The players and our guide are nowhere to be seen.
1.15am
Still outside the airport, the heat has started to take the fake tan off our bodies and by this point my hair's looking like it's had an electric shock. Marginal panic has now set in as we are being suspiciously eye'd by security. We decide to re-trace our steps back indoors for the fifth time and this time I recognise our tour guide. After almost pouncing on him and giving him abuse, which luckily he didn't understand we follow him to the bus and are welcomed with a huge applause from the footie players. I think they thought it was funny.!
2.15am
After taking in some lovely sites we arrive at the Marriot Courtyard Hotel and can you believe those goddam players start checking themselves in first..! Manners boys.! So by almost 3am we are still being checked in. Our luggage is trundled in for us and we are assured it will be taken to our room. As everyone in Dubai is on a 'go slow' we have to wait a further 20mins before our suitcases are dropped off at our room.
3.20am
ahh... Nite Nite... zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz....
4.10am
Room phone is ringing right next to my ear. I grunt turn over and try to ignore it.
4.20am
Carole Anne's mobile starts to ring... I ask who it is. 'It's Claire'.. What on earth is she doing at this time in the morning.! Carole Anne's phone goes again and again she clicks it off. I snuggle back down under the duvet, guilt kicks in and I call Claire's room. Turns out a couple of guys' were banging on their room door wanting in.. this later was found out to be none other than Arthur Numan and his pal.. at the wrong door.!! Aye OK pal, we'll take your word on that. Ha-Ha.
Wednesday 7.45am
Up for breakfast. We have been asked to go on a woman's TV show for City7 TV. I can barely keep my eyes open at the breakfast table. Then while the rest of the girls Claire, Katrina, Deone and Carol relax by the pool Carole Anne and I are taken to the TV station. 'A half an hour ride' we are told by Azu our guide as well as our taxi driver. One hour twenty mins later and we are still being driven around an industrial area in a taxi with no air con. At this point the taxi driver decides he can't find the TV station and suggests we get out and wait for another.! Is this some sort of sick joke I think.!!! We are sporting cropped tops, does he want us imprisoned.!
11.45am
Eventually we get to the TV station. A small warehouse type building in the middle of ghetto Dubai. The 3 presenters, two Americans Julie and Debbie and an English girl Claire are all very hyper to meet us and excited about learning a dance routine that we have to teach them.!. Great, No one told us.!! During the TV show we chat about the Rockettes, what we do, explain we are in Dubai for the Masters footie and show the girls a small part of a routine. Then Carole Anne and I attempt to dance a routine together. As the studio was so small I almost knock Carole Anne into the red hot lights. Our feet collide and jam whilst sliding into splits so I think I also dislocated Carole Anne's hip. Never mind eh, all in the name of entertainment. Filming over and "it's a wrap" – The show will air on Thursday morning so we can have the pleasure of pointing and laughing from our hotel room. Same taxi guy picks us up and we zoom back to the hotel to meet the girls and attend a press call with the players.
1.30pm
Press call by the pool side with players. A meet and greet event, really the players were just chilling out in the sunshine with some beers while we went back up stairs to put our blue trousers and white tops for the press call. shortly afterwards we had lunch and Steve from the Masters informed us of a jeep safari, we had to be ready for 4pm and he said we'd be upset if we missed it. Well no chance we're missing that eh.
4.00pm
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Around 20 jeeps descend on our hotel to take all the 'Masters Football party' to a sand dune safari and barbeque. Not quite sure of what we are in for, we split up 3 and 3 and headed to our jeeps. Carole Anne, Claire and I were in one jeep and Deone, Carol and Katrina in the other. Tony our driver is delighted to have 3 screaming hysterical woman in his car I'm sure. As the long chain of cars head into the desert we get ready for the ride of our life. A short pit stop to admire the sculptured sand dunes and to deflate our car's tyres and we're off. I can honestly say I have never been in a car driving at such top speed, never mind tearing up and down sand dunes. Most of the time I was lying on my side as the car was flipped from side to side. Carole Anne was being tossed around at one end of the jeep and through my blurred vision I could just about make out Claire in the front seat trying to video us. Tony, our driver was turning red with laughter and he deliberately span our car round more and more. The trail of cars continued to meander through the desert, up and down sand dunes for well over an hour. A hysterical time, but not for anyone who suffers travel sickness.
7pm
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Arrive at our camp deep in the desert. The sun is almost setting but we've time for a camel ride. These camels should come with an inbuilt seat belt, I was almost buckaroo-ed over the camel's head as it stood up. Thankfully the camels did come with a muzzle as the camel behind us seemed to take a liking to my leg. Camel ride over and we find ourselves in camp having henna tattoos done on our ankle by a traditional Arab lady. 'Small' I heard Claire say and wonder why on earth her tattoo is heading up to her knee.! I reiterate that I want a very small, petit, little, tiny smallest flower possible... what I got was a vase of roses I think. ha ha. Still they were lovely and we all decided to have one done just for the sake of it. A local sand bottle maker is on camp and makes me a pretty sand bottle with camels, sand dunes and scribbled 'dubai' inside the bottle too. So creative and lovely to watch, until he put his hand out for his 80 Durham... chase yersell... ha-ha..!
8pm
Dinner starts and by this time we are in complete blackness, except for our lit camp fires and moonlit starry sky. Traditional music is being played and a belly dancer performs for us in the centre of the camp site. The footie players found the belly dancer highly amusing and could not wait till it was their turn to be chosen to dance with her. Some were more keen than others, eh Chick..! More food, drinks and dancing follow. By midnight everyone is completely shattered and we all make our way to jeeps and head back to the hotel. What an amazing day.
Thursday 8.30am 'Day of The Dubai Masters Cup'
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We have a quick breakfast down stairs in the hotel and get organised for a bit of filming with Chris Kamara from Sky. We are taken to a restaurant down town Dubai where the owner allows Chris to drive his top of the range red Ferrari..!! Basically we were to be Chris' 'groupies' as if we loved him. Chris drove up in the car, Carole Anne and Claire opened the door for him, kiss him on the cheek, he'd then swagger over to myself and Carol, we were to gasp for his autograph, then Katrina and Deone would saunter inside with him with the rest of us panting after him.. After doing this take a few times it seemed to go to Chris' head and we found him really getting into the swing of it. Overly swaggering and winking and flashing his nashers..! Calm it pal.! Still, after the shoot Claire and I had a spin in the Ferrari around the block, and it was fast fast fast.. I don't actually think there are speed limits in Dubai, if there are, oor new Ferrari pal wasn't aware of them. I must get myself one of these toys when I get back home.
12pm
back at the hotel and making sure our uniform was ready for tonight's big event. By 2pm we were ready to go and hopped on the bus with the guys to the arena. I think we were starting to feel nervous for some reason. Deone, Katrina and Carol were pretty quiet, Claire was half asleep, Carole Anne was deep in thought and I was hyper. All signs of nerves from each of us. Traffic was chaotic and it was almost 4pm before we arrived at the Dubai Tennis Stadium. Sandwiches and refreshments awaited us much to my delight and we took the opportunity to get some snaps done with the likes of Frank McAvenny, Chick Charnley, Lee Sharpe, Arthur Numan etc.. It wasn't long before mad Chick and Frank's banter started and they had everyone in stitches..
5pm
Rehearsal time at the stadium. The heat was starting to ease slightly as the afternoon drew to a close, but the air was still very humid. I wasn't so worried about myself having to dance more these footie old timers and how they were gona cope with the ten mins each way. I spotted some gas and air at the side of the pitch and felt slightly relieved. Rehearsal over and we had time to de-frizz the hair and re-apply the make up which had slid off our faces in the heat. Our changing room was a share with Celtic and Liverpool... hmm.. Nice..!! How lucky they were eh. Really it was just so our belongings were safe, I'm not wanting anyone thinking we were changing together or anything. Thou Carole Anne and Deone did walk in on a few of them accidentally – but that's another story.. haha.! ;o)
7pm
Doors open and we are on for our first three routines back to back. The crowd is totally crazy and they are all on their feet as we finish our first dance. The atmosphere is electric, I can't help but laugh it helps alleviate the close warm air. By the second routine I don't think I can see a thing as my hair has inflated and stuck to my damp face. Third routine and someone is grabbing my throat and hugging me with a massive hot water bottle.! argh.. we proceed to a tunnel for the players coming out on pitch. If at any one point the players were on a 'go slow', this was it. I was almost about to run up the tunnel and drag them down. MOVE IT.!! can't you see we're turning into slimy tomatoes here.! On they swagger and we run to take refuge in the air conditioned corridors.. phew..! Ha ha.. now lets go watch these auld timers struggle on the pitch in this heat.. ha ha..!
8pm
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Games are well under way and we have performed another 4 routines by 8pm. I feel I've slightly adjusted to the heat by this point and the routines feel so much easier. Carol I feel is looking redder by the minute and she's developed a cough, we unanimously decide that if she keels over, we'll just keep going as if we don't see her. The scots lads crash out in more ways than one, I swear I see Mark Walters, Robert Prytz and Arthur Newman stagger into the side lines.. ha ha..! We stand in the 'Sin Bin' area to keep cool during the matches. The 'Sin Bin' is the area players go to when they are yellow carded. I have never heard so much bad language in this area, ever.!! Claire and I thought it'd be funny to taunt who ever it was that was carded at any particular time. This lasted all of 0.24 seconds when Frances Stapleton from Liverpool gave us a look. OK Franny Boy, it's only a sport now, play fair ma pal. High Five.! So it's a Liverpool vs. Man U final and with us sharing a changing room with the Liverpool boys they soar to victory. Think we brought them luck. Don't ask me who scored what goals, we were too busy checking out who's legs had caught the most sun and who looked as thou they could last the pace in the sweltering heat! ha ha. Game was a bogey and a fantastic packed out audience are on their feet for our last two routines. Cup presentation followed and its off to get changed. My hair dressing skills were required in the changing room to tame Frank's frizzy locks. More photos followed before heading to the bar till 3am and then it's back to our waiting coach to the hotel.
3.30am
The bus has been turned into a mobile karaoke disco. Mr Kamara from Sky is completely hogging the mic until I wrestle it from him and perform my Dolly P and 9 to 5 to a 'stunned' audience.. I think they liked it. After each person's song it became tradition to shout ''high five'' and slap hands. This I found highly amusing and we didn't stop saying it the rest of the trip. Claire's next up and after acting all shy for a good ten mins we can't prize the mic from her either. Steve Fulton, Davie McPherson are on next but the best singer has to be from Liverpool Liam O'Brien what a chanter..after an hours drive we are all hoarse and descend on the hotel bars. I think we crawled to bed around 5am but I don't know how I got there. ha-ha. kidding..
Friday 10.30am
We flop out of bed and head for breakfast. Today is shopping day and the Masters have put a bus on for us to explore the shopping malls. Fantastic, I was wondering when this day would arrive. We all board the bus outside the hotel and after a long traffic jam arrive at the Emirates Mall. There are traffic jams everywhere in Dubai it makes the Kingston Bridge look like a Fisher Price toy garage. The driver leaves us at the mall and we inform him we'll be finished around 6pm. I was like a woman with money burning a hole in my purse. From Mac make-up to Mango, to Dior to Miss Sixty, to River Island and luxury boutiques we would never find back home. All the girls went on their way to find what goodies they could. I enlisted the help of Carole Anne and Claire to find some new jeans I very badly needed and ended up with 2pairs. Claire bought more make up and was obsessed to the point she had to have a 'Barbie Pink Lip Gloss'. Katrina bought a lovely new bag, as if she needs another.! Claire and I were still in the shops with 5 mins to spare and came out loaded with feel good bags.
6pm
Back on our bus to head home to prepare for the Masters Dinner. Again the traffic is chaotic and we fall asleep until our driver gives us the shout that we are back at the hotel. It was really now that tiredness started to kick in for me. We hadn't stopped the entire journey. But it was on with the show, we were in Dubai after all and no chance I'd be sleeping!
7.30pm
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Showered, hair done and party dresses on we head to dinner at the Masters awards night. The dinning room is decorated so elaborately with ice structures of each team around the room, there is every kind of starter, main course and sweet you can imagine possible. All absolutely gorgeous. Infact the sweet stand took up the entire centre of the room and was arranged in colour order from raspberries and strawberry to limes and lemons to chocolate colours... mmm.. I couldn't wait to finish dinner so I could start making a dent in the sweet stand.. During dinner, awards are given out to Liverpool who won the event, Man of the Match etc.. and a few fun awards too.
11.30pm
Bed time..?????? Nah....... Let's hit a club. Ali, one of the organisers of the event in Dubai treated us to a night on the town. An elaborate night club in the heart of Dubai. Passes for the roof-top club and within a half an hour's drive we are on the rooftop of a massive building looking out over Dubai, music thumping lots of dancing, a party goer's galore.. Steve Fulton and some of the guys join us and we all party into the wee small hours. Well, ok, until the club closes and kicks us out. By 3.30am we have everyone doing our 'chants' much to my hilarity. (I kind of have one glass of wine and find everything hilarious) Ali provides a mobile disco on the way back to the hotel and we are in bed by around 4.30am.!!!!
Saturday 10am
Think someone has stole my voice.! I can't speak! When I try I sound like a man. Shower and breakfast. We take the opportunity to relax in the sun by the beautiful pool. Katrina and Claire attempt toe touches from the side of the pool and I laugh knowing they're gonna get belly slapped by the water. ha ha.! After lunch and By mid afternoon we are itching for more shopping and Steve from the Masters arranges a mini bus to take us shopping again. Satisfied we have left no store unturned we are back in our hotel packing and preparing to go for dinner with Ali, Jimmy and Nehmy later that night.
9pm
Having packed all our belongings we meet Ali down stairs in the hotel and head out to dinner. 'Trader Vics' restaurant in mid Dubai awaits us. A gorgeous restaurant with salsa music, fantastic food and cocktails in glasses as big as soup bowls. The dinner, chat and entertainment was superb. Apart from the fact that I had a mini fire in front of me that the likes of Deone and Carol had to cook their chicken and beef on.!! We were tempted to stay out thru the night to party with the guys, however our bus was picking us up at 5am to take us to the airport. So at around 1.30am we decide to head back to the hotel and attempt to get some shut eye.
Sunday 2.15am
A thankful bed awaits us, my feet are killing me, still can't speak and collapse into bed.
4.45am
Alarm goes off. I cannot believe it. I've only just shut my eyes..! Grunting I bounce up from the bed and shower and dress.. Carole Anne is staggering around the room somewhere and I think I bump into her at one point, cant' really be sure as only one of my eyes is actually open. By 5.10am we are ready and head to the mini bus.
5.30 am
Still in mini bus waiting on Carol and Claire. Pah - Dah.. out they pop, Claire all make-up'd up to the nines and hair all tonged and curled.. aye right ye are.! High Five..!
7.45am
Arrive at our hectic airport and I'm having flashbacks about being lost again. Our check-in gate is pretty quiet and we are booked onto the flight with no delays. Duty Free.!! Not more shopping I hear you say. Well c'mon it is Duty Free after all. Katrina and I are wandering around the cigarette counters completely confused about what cigarettes we've to take back for family.. and enlist the help of many other shoppers but to no avail. Eventually we buy the one's with the nice purple and silver box – they look nice. Perfume stand is calling after this and we pass Claire at the Mac counter frantically STILL trying to purchase a 'Barbie Lip Gloss'.
8.15am
Flight boards and we are off home..!! What an amazing trip to Dubai we had. I can honestly say it was one of the best times I have ever had. Certainly one of the best ever Rockettes Promotions, a trip to Dubai, all expenses paid - who'd have thought it. Fantastic. The hospitality shown to us by the organisers was unsurpassed, the football players were such great company and this is certainly one trip I will never forget. I spend my flight time reminiscing about our trip and we have fun clicking thru the cameras and laughing at the photos we took. After a light breakfast I get some shut-eye after all when we land in Glasgow at 1pm I'm going straight to Braehead to do the basketball game – no rest for the wicked eh, and it's the old timers like myself who have the stamina to keep it up..! High Five..!
Over 'n' out, Kat x
     
Dubai Masters Football 'Holiday Snaps' and Match Photos – 03/08-04-2007
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