My Abu Dhabi Adventure

From the Guardian Unlimited Arts blog, under the headline I feel justified in borrowing for this post, mega-architect Frank Ghery tells us "I've just turned 78 and am about to design the biggest Guggenheim yet. Can I pull it off?"

I'm not at all sure whether I'll cross the threshold of the building when it's complete in four years time. I've been wondering how much longer my own Abu Dhabi Adventure should last. I have acquired my repertoire of typical ex-pat complaints and snarky grumbles.

The grass looks greener... where there is any!

But if I am completely honest with myself I must face the fact that at my age I'd probably be a grumpy old man almost anywhere, even in my idealised South of France.

Anyway, that's what I thought yesterday, when I turned 67.

And today, hey, ol' Frank, 78, turns up asking "Can I pull it off?"



I ask myself that about my new project, of course. But it took a man eleven years my senior, his curiosity and energy, to remind me to chill out.

After all, when I'm as old as he is I could still be asking myself, about some new and today unimaginable cyber-venture, maybe even here in the Sandlands, "Can I pull it off?"