This is boring

Does anyone else find boredom excruciating? I remember seeing very poor people in Cambodia sitting beside their homes with absolutely nothing to do and I found myself thinking that boredom is perhaps one of the under-rated and unmentioned aspects of poverty. Of course, there’s worse – like not being able to feed your children. But for those who are just getting by, sitting around all day with nothing to do – no job, no money, no opportunities to get around or make something of yourself – must be in itself a terrible burden.

I’ve been thinking a bit about boredom in the last couple of days. I have spent that time waiting in Dubai municipal buildings for people to do mysterious things that cost extraordinary amounts of money – like typing up a form – in pursuit of residential visas for myself and the kids. And I have been literally bored to tears. Boredom is stressful and tiring. I don’t want to sound like a whinger (too late, you cry) but it has been seriously not fun.

So I thought I would put up a couple of videos to cheer up anyone who is having a boring day. Just remember to turn the sound down if you are at work so your boss doesn’t hear.

They are from a recent international night at the kids’ school (which bears the grand name of Raffles World Academy). I don’t know what the mums and dads do for a good night out down your way, but this is how we relax after a long week here in Dubai:

And this one is a corker. It’s long, but stick with it. All I’ll say is that the star of the show is not really the Sufi dancer:

Have an interesting day.