Rick and family were neighbours in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Judith was part of the ladies early morning walking group, who I would see when walking my dog before going to work.
When I would take my unruly English Springer Spaniel for his bedtime walk, Rick would be in his front garden smoking his pipe. His rich voice announcing his presence from behind the hedge. He explained that he was not allowed to smoke in the house as, apparently, it was a new rule on arrival in Riyadh. We had many evening conversation, often rudely interrupted by said unruly dog.
Being a kind man, he invited me to the weekend (Thursday morning) brunch with our fellow SABIC (his employer) neighbours. There, my late wife and I enjoyed the lovely company of many Canadians with diverse backgrounds who were living in Saudi Arabia.
This was not an easy time, being westerners living in the Saudi capital in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.
Of course, the highlight of the week was Rick and Judith’s TGIW gathering in their house to kick off our Thursday-Friday weekend, lubricated by our home made alcohol concoctions. The quality was such that Rick even held a Bad Booze competition for which the decision as to who made the worst hooch was very difficult.
Rick and Judith were great neighbours and friends. They certainly added a, hard to define, “Je ne sais quoi” to our life on Al Waha Compound.
Suffice to say that Rick and Judith were the very last people that we said goodbye to as we left Riyadh. Such dear friends.
We kept in touch in the intervening years by email and telephone. Rick even made a stopover with me in Dubai on a trip Kuwait.
Adieu, dear Rick. You will be very much missed.
