When I was a lad

Footy in the derb

A great benefit for our son, Frankie of being in Fez is the fact that he can actually play outside the front door in street, or derb. Taryana Sghira is a cul-de-sac or dead end, so there's little passing traffic (and certainly no motor traffic) except the occasional donkey train.

Where we live in the UK is traffic heavy, and outside our gate the road is a rat run with cars and vans nipping from one main road to another. So it's a real change to play football outside the house, and as soon as we, or just Frankie gets out there he's joined by either a neighbouring adult keeping an eye on him, or a bunch of the local kids who've taken him to heart.

So far they've taught him to squash cockroaches, pester the cats, molest the already overburdened donkeys and ride shotgun on various bikes. All of which he's revelled in and become quite good at. He also gets to play rough as most of the boys are bigger than him and they find it amusing to play fight and let him win.

Brahim, Frankie and Oubed

Growing up in the UK 40 years was different to now, back then you could play in the street with your mates. There didn't seem to be the dangers from rubbish drivers and dodgy old blokes, although we did have our fair share of weirdos back then.

So as well as a healthy exposure to another culture, he's getting some social interaction not afforded to him in the UK.

Can't be bad.