The story begins with four young Arab men in a car. They are all fit and buff, and like to boast about how much time they spend in the gym.
Then suddenly, one of the car’s tyres explodes and, after some initial panic, they safely veer off to the side of the motorway.
Two of the men’s smartphones are dead, the third one’s phone is about to die, and so it all falls to the fourth one to make the call to request assistance.
Since it is rush hour, they are told it will take time for help to come. So there they are, standing on side of the road, the petrol tank is close to empty and they have no phones to entertain them.
After more than 45 minutes of waiting and complaining, an older gentleman in a pickup truck slows down and stops near them.
“Do you need help?” he asks.
The four go into the drama of how their tyre exploded and how they “almost died”.
Checking first if the young men’s car had a spare tyre – and it did – the older man, who is from Pakistan, smiles as he brings over all the necessary tools and starts to change the tyre while they watch.
“We felt such great shame at not being able to help or do anything,” said one of the young men who told me this story.
The incident triggered a desire in two of the young men to learn more about their cars and to learn other new “manly” skills such as plumbing and basic electrical work. They are on a mission to be more like their fathers and grandfathers.
We have all become more laid back about basic skills, because we can find affordable services in the UAE for almost everything, from gardening to maintenance, cooking and even beauty services. Yes, there are people who will come to our houses to do our nails for us.
If we take a step back, we have to admit we do far less manual work than the generations before us. Sewing up buttons, making lace coverings, quilting, creating ceramics and even floral arrangements – these are once-common activities that we now have to take a course to be able to do well.
The other day, I tried my hand at pottery. Now, I have a new respect for the traditional craftsmen and women who create handmade products such as pots and vases.While it is soothing as you release all your stress and energy into holding and moulding the clay, it is quite difficult and requires a lot of skill and patience.
I have created a whole line of clay kitten figurines – and friends who have seen them have wanted one as a gift, even though some of them are quite flawed.
I did a story on how there are initiatives in Bahrain to revive interest in its old tradition of pottery. For most of the late Islamic period – from the 17th century up to 20th – Ras Al Khaimah’s Wadi Haqeel and Shamal areas were hubs for pottery production. But with the discovery of oil, the industry petered away into obscurity.
“Everyone in the UAE had one of our pots and jars somewhere in their house,” Mohammed bin Saeed bin Al Shimaili – a member of the Al Shimaili mountain tribe once famed for its pottery – told me.
Then there is a story about a woman in Jordan who had taken up plumbing, and how her children felt embarrassed that she was doing a job that is looked down upon by society. Not only is it seen as a man's job, but it is also often viewed as something done by uneducated members of the lower class.It takes courage to do something unconventional.
These days, almost anything can be found on Google or YouTube, but it is not the same as trying to learn a skill from scratch and then build on it.
Besides the therapeutic benefits and links to traditions and national identity, old crafts help bring out the creativity in us. Meanwhile as many studies have shown, learning other skills outside work – and outside the virtual world – helps develop busier and healthier minds and bodies.
rghazal@thenational.ae
Twitter:@Arabianmau
EMIRATES'S%20REVISED%20A350%20DEPLOYMENT%20SCHEDULE
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Specs
Engine: 51.5kW electric motor
Range: 400km
Power: 134bhp
Torque: 175Nm
Price: From Dh98,800
Available: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Initial investment: Undisclosed
Investment stage: Series A
Investors: Core42
Current number of staff: 47
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE - India ties
The UAE is India’s third-largest trade partner after the US and China
Annual bilateral trade between India and the UAE has crossed US$ 60 billion
The UAE is the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil for India
Indians comprise the largest community with 3.3 million residents in the UAE
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi first visited the UAE in August 2015
His visit on August 23-24 will be the third in four years
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, visited India in February 2016
Sheikh Mohamed was the chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January 2017
Modi will visit Bahrain on August 24-25
How to keep control of your emotions
If your investment decisions are being dictated by emotions such as fear, greed, hope, frustration and boredom, it is time for a rethink, Chris Beauchamp, chief market analyst at online trading platform IG, says.
Greed
Greedy investors trade beyond their means, open more positions than usual or hold on to positions too long to chase an even greater gain. “All too often, they incur a heavy loss and may even wipe out the profit already made.
Tip: Ignore the short-term hype, noise and froth and invest for the long-term plan, based on sound fundamentals.
Fear
The risk of making a loss can cloud decision-making. “This can cause you to close out a position too early, or miss out on a profit by being too afraid to open a trade,” he says.
Tip: Start with a plan, and stick to it. For added security, consider placing stops to reduce any losses and limits to lock in profits.
Hope
While all traders need hope to start trading, excessive optimism can backfire. Too many traders hold on to a losing trade because they believe that it will reverse its trend and become profitable.
Tip: Set realistic goals. Be happy with what you have earned, rather than frustrated by what you could have earned.
Frustration
Traders can get annoyed when the markets have behaved in unexpected ways and generates losses or fails to deliver anticipated gains.
Tip: Accept in advance that asset price movements are completely unpredictable and you will suffer losses at some point. These can be managed, say, by attaching stops and limits to your trades.
Boredom
Too many investors buy and sell because they want something to do. They are trading as entertainment, rather than in the hope of making money. As well as making bad decisions, the extra dealing charges eat into returns.
Tip: Open an online demo account and get your thrills without risking real money.
Essentials
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct from the UAE to Geneva from Dh2,845 return, including taxes. The flight takes 6 hours.
The package
Clinique La Prairie offers a variety of programmes. A six-night Master Detox costs from 14,900 Swiss francs (Dh57,655), including all food, accommodation and a set schedule of medical consultations and spa treatments.
Tuesday's fixtures
Kyrgyzstan v Qatar, 5.45pm
More on Palestine-Israeli relations
The%20specs
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TRAP
Starring: Josh Hartnett, Saleka Shyamalan, Ariel Donaghue
Director: M Night Shyamalan
Rating: 3/5
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
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Dubai Rugby Sevens
November 30-December 2, at The Sevens, Dubai
Gulf Under 19
Pool A – Abu Dhabi Harlequins, Jumeirah College Tigers, Dubai English Speaking School 1, Gems World Academy
Pool B – British School Al Khubairat, Bahrain Colts, Jumeirah College Lions, Dubai English Speaking School 2
Pool C - Dubai College A, Dubai Sharks, Jumeirah English Speaking School, Al Yasmina
Pool D – Dubai Exiles, Dubai Hurricanes, Al Ain Amblers, Deira International School
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 247hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm from 1,500-3,500rpm
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 7.8L/100km
Price: from Dh94,900
On sale: now
