In recent years, I am often called upon to offer guidance, in some form, to people much younger than myself. "Mentoring" is the conventional term and it creeps up with advancing age.
It is not always easy to be put in this position. In the past, when I was of more tender years, I generally had the confidence to get on with most things. I listened to advice from those older and more experienced than myself, yes, but I usually carried on working while trying to learn from my inevitable mistakes and the bruises inflicted as a result.
As reasonably confident as I still am, I have come to accept that younger friends and colleagues may be better equipped, in a variety of ways, to do some of the things differently and perhaps better than I would do. That is not always easy to admit but it is the way of the world.
I consider myself lucky to be collaborating with members of the younger generation who share my fascination with the environment, history archaeology and heritage
This is partly because new skills have been developed, making possible now what would not have been feasible in the past.
One example is in the field of archaeology, with which I have just become actively engaged again after a hiatus of over a decade. Some of the scientific techniques available now just didn’t exist before. If I am honest, I really don’t understand them, though I am trying to comprehend the results that they yield. I hope that I can still offer something of use, though, even if it is just a matter of placing today’s work in the context of how things were done 20 or 30 years ago, to show the way in which things have moved on.
I am reassured by a comment from someone, who is today a leading figure in the field, but was just starting out a couple of decades ago, that perhaps I am like a phoenix rising, after a long absence. That is better, I think, than being likened to a "bad penny" that has turned up again. Perhaps my contributions are still of value, even if not in a monetary sense.
As one recognises that the world has moved on, even if one is not always comfortable with all of the changes, so it is important to learn to pass on the information one has gathered. It may not all be useful today, but that is for someone else to decide, not me.
In the same way, looking back at what I learnt from my parents, teachers or early colleagues, I can see that the relevance of much of what they taught me has faded by the wayside.
It is nice, of course, to discover that some of the information I can share is considered to be of interest to people much younger than myself. That is how the age-old process of the passing down of knowledge continues and, every now and then, one finds that a near-forgotten skill or piece of information is still of some use.
I consider myself lucky, therefore, that I am now collaborating with members of a younger generation who share my fascination with the environment, history, archaeology and heritage.
In the course of their professional careers and off-duty lives, they will, I am sure, build upon the results of past studies.
If that is what is meant by "mentoring", then that’s fine by me. That’s not always how it works, though.
In recent weeks, I have been engaging with a young man in his 20s who is fascinated by developments in an aspect of politics, in which I have some non-UAE experience. Somewhat presumptuously, he has convinced himself that he has unique solutions to offer.
It is great that he’s interested, unlike too many of his generation. So I have listened to his ideas and have tried gently to put them in context, suggesting that he might benefit from broader knowledge. He might even find value, I have suggested, in listening to those, including me, who have memories of past successes and past failures to share.
Sadly, while I am prepared both to offer my own thoughts and to listen, he seems to be interested primarily in his own voice. My desire to mentor him is consequently fading. Perhaps he’ll find someone else to whom he’s more attuned. I fear, though, that he may end up like the Greek mythological figure, Icarus, who, overcome by hubris, didn’t listen to his father’s advice, and flew too close to the sun. The wax holding his wings together melted, and he fell into the sea and drowned.
Mentoring, I have realised, is very much a two-way process. The mentor must both listen and teach, trying to empower the mentee. In return, the recipient must listen and must be prepared both to challenge and to learn.
As I try to share knowledge, I know I still have much to learn. I hope that those with whom I engage, or most of them, feel that they are also benefitting.
SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Monster Hunter: World
Capcom
PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Red Sparrow
Dir: Francis Lawrence
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Egerton, Charlotte Rampling, Jeremy Irons
Three stars
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
Dr Graham's three goals
Short term
Establish logistics and systems needed to globally deploy vaccines
Intermediate term
Build biomedical workforces in low- and middle-income nations
Long term
A prototype pathogen approach for pandemic preparedness
Super heroes
Iron Man
Reduced risk of dementia
Alcohol consumption could be an issue
Hulk
Cardiac disease, stroke and dementia from high heart rate
Spider-Man
Agility reduces risk of falls
Increased risk of obesity and mental health issues
Black Panther
Vegetarian diet reduces obesity
Unknown risks of potion drinking
Black Widow
Childhood traumas increase risk of mental illnesses
Thor
He's a god
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Results
5pm: Reem Island – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (Turf) 1,600m; Winner: Farasah, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Musabah Al Muhairi
5.30pm: Sir Baniyas Island – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: SSR Ghazwan, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (T) 1,400m; Winner: Astral Del Sol, Sean Kirrane, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
6.30pm: Al Maryah Island – Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: Toumadher, Dane O’Neill, Jaber Bittar
7pm: Yas Island – Handicap (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 2,200m; Winner: AF Mukhrej, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel
7.30pm: Saadiyat Island – Handicap (TB) Dh80,000 (T) 2,400m; Winner: Celestial Spheres, Gary Sanchez, Ismail Mohammed
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Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
Moonfall
Director: Rolan Emmerich
Stars: Patrick Wilson, Halle Berry
Rating: 3/5
