A Tiger named BEN

A Tiger named BEN One cool morning, I was having breakfast and I happened to look at the Calender on the wall. It was one of those issued freely by a Pharmacy. Very colourful, as each page was covered in Children's Art works, of things they like. It was, all in a Project to help 'Children' though the Trauma of being poorly. There looking at me,was a Tiger, a sad looking one at that, painted by Anush Ahhenapalli, presumably from the Canberra area.

Looking at that picture, reminded me of the time I had met a Tiger like that.It was in the nineteen sixties and I was in Khartoum Sudan, on business for the British Motor Corporation on the delivery and assembly of special Truck's, fitted with Large single wheels on the rear, for negotiating sandy conditions. Followed in time, by others makes. For the period I was there, I used to see a very unhappy Tiger in a small enclosure next to the Hotel. Good morning old chap, cheer up,I wish I could do some thing for you. after a couple of meetings I decided to name him BEN, not very original, but he didn't seem to mind. Then fortune struck, in the form of one of those Intl: Rotary lunches we visitors attended. I think the regular Philips' man was there also. I sat ext to mine- host, the boss of the distributor of our products and after all the carrying on! and laughter and fines of one kind and another, I had a chance to raise the plight of BEN. Mr Mason, you are in luck, I will introduce you to the owner of BEN and so it was that how I met Mr Abdul ------, I do not remember his full name, anyway I told him my concern for BEN'S welfare. Well Mr Mason, tell me what I can do to make BEN'S life better. The door was opened for me and I suggested, A Much bigger enclosure; a Much bigger and deeper pond;lots of Greenery, grass shrubs and branches. He was a nice man who said, Oh dear, I seem to have neglected him some what eh!. Ah yes, he had spotted someone and was gone. I continued my journey over to Saudi Arabia and on and BEN was nearly forgotten until one Day, about six months later, I was summoned to The Export Directors office - immediately!. Ah, Mason. Who the dickens is BEN. I have here a telex from Khartoum, for you, most confusing, what on earth were you doing man. Oh dear, can I see the telex Sir as it is addressed to me, the encounter with Ben came clearly into focus. I explained my encounter. Hmm came the reply, interesting but not part of your operation. OK Mason, one other thing. I am informed you assisted a young American, out of Saudi Arabia, apparently the authorities were looking for him.. No no don't tell me how you did it, but in future be very careful in situations like that. Good Work any way Mason. I used the incident yours later, by telling President Bush, HE owed me one!. A short time later,an Australia Quantanimo Bay detainee was released, the business man. Coincidence,you never really know. Back to that telex.. It Read, Attention Mr Malcolm Mason. I met Abdul ----- the other day and he sends his regards. BEN now has a larger enclosure; a bigger and deeper pond plus the Khartoum Parks department provide greenery and branches. On Friday after prayers, he is given a treat,a goat,which cheers him up no end!. Regards. BEN was not the last encounter with a Tiger. I'll tell you all about another time, at a logging camp in Malaya,same decade. Just before publishing this blog My wife ad I attended a Grandparents day, at our grand daughters junior school. A young lad in the same class, came up said hello, I'm Abdul and my family come from Khartoum in Sudan and we chatted. The boy so reminded me of the Tiger man with that wonderful Open and Friendly Manner, I was so familiar with people in that area and around the World. Oh, such joy to end my blog, with two people named Abdul both of which had very long names.Sixty something years apart. Ben was part of my life as the two Abdul's

 Malcolm Mason. Remember all my blogs are stories based on fact's as I remember them. Bye for now.