Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
IF YOU’RE wondering where Wally is … you’ll probably find him, if you’re clever enough, hidden in a crowd at the Dilmun Club!
The popular book character has made a guest appearance, along with an array of cartoon superheroes, on the walls of a family diner at the expat members’ club in Saar.
The rejuvenated venue currently called Amigos, home to a popular weekly ‘kids disco’, has been given a colourful facelift and young members have been invited to rename it.
The master-stroke has been co-ordinated by Amanda Fergusson, who holds the position of secretary on the club’s executive committee. “Amigos was redesigned as a family diner a couple of years ago,” she explained, “which was great, but it needed a splash of colour.
“As the venue is mainly for the kids we thought adding a bit of a fun factor was the way to go. Spending every Wednesday in Amigos with either the Kids Disco or the Kids Bingo, I had a vision of how it could look. I spent a couple of weeks researching where I could get the props from and, unfortunately, very few of them were readily available in Bahrain.
“I’m not going to reveal my secrets, although many people have asked, but many items had to be shipped in from Dubai, the US and the UK.”
Amigos was closed for four days as the decorating task was undertaken and the new look was unveiled just in time for the many expat families coming back to Bahrain.
The Marvel comic characters and Wally’s wall, in particular, was a huge hit with children at the first Kids Disco last Wednesday evening.
“We have received great feedback to date,” added Amanda. “The little disco dancers were excited to see the new look. The changes are mainly just decor, but we have new colourful plates and milkshake tumblers, crazy straws, games and other fun things to keep the children entertained.
“We will be giving the kids a chance to leave their mark in the Dilly by leaving their handprint on one of the walls in the newly-named diner in the next few weeks.”
An entry form to rename the outlet can be collected from the club’s reception or behind the counter. “We hope to make a decision over the next week or so. It will be a vote, using members of the executive committee, some members and staff.”
Where’s Wally? – known in the US and Canada as Where’s Waldo? – is a series of children’s books created by the English illustrator, Martin Handford.
His books consist of a series of detailed double-page spread illustrations depicting dozens or more people doing a variety of amusing things at a given location.
Readers are challenged to find the character hidden in the group. Wally’s distinctive red-and-white-striped shirt, bobble hat and glasses make him slightly easier to recognise, but many illustrations contain red herrings involving deceptive use of red-and-white striped objects.
Other targets for visitors to find include his friends such as Wilma, her identical twin sister Wenda, Wally’s nemesis Odlaw, Wally’s dog called Woof, Wizard Whitebeard, plus The Wally Watchers, his devoted fan-club. They turn up wherever Wally goes, dressed in the same red-and-white striped outfit.
The books have also inspired a TV show, comic strip and a series of video games … and, of course, a wall at the Dilly.
Wally is not the only character club members are seeking … the club is also searching for a new general manager following the shock resignation of Paul Fraser, as reported in GulfWeekly.
The TV and radio personality made headline news in April after making a hero’s return to the hot-seat at one of the kingdom’s longest-established expat clubs after 11 years away. The position has been advertised.
