Oman: the Ball

Last night was the British Army 'Thin Red Line' Ball, named after the British formation which stood against charging Russians at Balaklava in 1854. Posh frocks had been hand made by local seamstresses for the ladies and the chaps dusted off their dinner jackets and bow ties.

The evening commenced with champagne and canapés before a superb dinner accompanied by much fine wine, desert, port and cigars. The Band of the Royal Army of Oman played a selection of musical pieces and marches, which culminated in a finale with one drummer in particular who really knew how to work a crowd. The disco afterwards went on until the wee hours when we fell into taxis and somehow got home. Splendid.