{guestbooks_dataset::firstname} {guestbooks_dataset::lastname}
{guestbooks_dataset::businesstitle} FROM {guestbooks_dataset::origin}
{guestbooks_dataset::time}
'I'll only speak to you if you don't mention my age' laughs Pat Caruth, as I manage to force one of the Palms' most active villa dwellers to pause for 10 minutes. Three hours earlier I had been trailing in her wake as she breezed through her second month of the now infamous 'Military Bootcamp' training held on the shoreline apartments beach at 6 AM. 'I love anything like that - I have always been into sports, and those guys really push you to be the best that you can. I'm doing Boxercise next and I will do Bootcamp again in January and ...' I'm exhausted just listening.
She's a self-confessed workaholic and moved here 8 months ago, having sold property in Dubai for the last 3 years from her UK base - and she is passionate about it. She has built up an impressive portfolio of her own in Europe and there was only one place she wanted to be. 'I love Dubai, and the Palm is the top address in the World' she states matter of factually, and if your wise you won't argue - I'm thinking of those Boxercise routines!
'I love the culture and the people here, it's fascinating and I feel so safe. I don't miss England one bit!'
So what else makes her tick? Speed. 'I love sports cars! I had my first Ferrari at 34. It was fantastic and right now I want to get a Lamborghini Gallardo' and somehow you know that it's not far away. 'I also miss my bikes. I used to ride a CBR 400 Race Replica. Not sure I could still handle that, but I still love wearing the leathers!' And another raucous laugh escapes. Winters you'll find her skiing; France, Austria, Italy - keep up if you can.
Then there's cycling. Easy stroll round Safa Park? Not Pat. 'I did L.A. to San Francisco the hard way.' There's an easy way? 'Yes, it’s 580 miles over 5 and a half days and you can chose which way you go - with the wind or against it.' She chose against it, and was, of course, one of the one-in-four who completed the exhilarating trek. 'I got into bikes when I saw a picture of the MR2 sports car I had in a magazine. It belonged to Chris Boardman (UK Olympic cycling gold medallist) and he had managed to get a specialist bike rack made. I wanted one, so I wrote to him. Anyway, one thing lead to another, and I get a lovely letter from him before the LA-San Fran trip so I couldn't let him down!' 'I've done loads of London-Brighton Charity rides and we did Amsterdam one year' she enthuses.
There are few bike clubs around Dubai, but Pat is a confirmed island dweller.
'We need a club here. I don't mean anything too hardcore, but at this time of year it's perfect weather for a ride. From here to Atlantis is about 5 kilometres - even you could make that!'
She laughs, I wince. I don't share her confidence. 'It would be great, Friday morning, ride for an hour or so and then all meet back at Costa Coffee or Bidi Bondi, or even out at Atlantis at that nice coffee shop they have. Have you been out there to that new night club - it's fantastic' and she's off again. Surely that's no way for a lady of her age to behave 'I thought we weren't going to mention that! I feel 25, and that's all I'm prepared to admit to!'
With that, in a blur, she's off and I'm thinking of having a little lie down.
