2005.....A year of reconsolidation.

Many things happened in 2005 but basically it was a year of reconsolidation, making sure all our outlets and accommodation was fully operation; also ensuring that all our staff were well trained........Failaka was only 24 kilometers from Kuwait, but it could have been 2,000, as a consequence we could not recruit from hotels on the mainland and had to hire less qualified staff.

Intensive training took place, including cross training.....for example the housekeeping staff were also porters, zoo attendants and general helpers throughout the village; we all joined in, I could be seen tying up the catamarans when they arrived or driving the buses. Dramatically it all worked out, and our staff turnover is less than 1% which speaks loudly for their dedication and loyalty.....no better staff could be found anywhere else in Kuwait, they became the foundation of the village.

The Village Team....Back Row from left to right : Phillip Joseph, Assistant Food & Beverage Manager i/c; Kamel Bouragi, Head Cook, Dragan Lucik, Marine Activities Supervisor, Rayam D'Silva, Assistant Executive Housekeeper: Front Row from left to right : Abdul Rasoul Rahimi, Chief Engineer; Chris Hartley, General Manager; Denise Hartley, Executive Housekeeper & Riding Stables Manager, Abdulaziz Obaid, Front Office and Reservations Manager.

Also in 2005 we had a few more activies and outlets added to the village portfolio, not as many that would be added in 2006, but still more than sufficient along with the training to keep us all working hard.

'Bint Al Khair' entering Failaka Harbour on her first voyage

'Bint Al Khair' was added to the Failaka fleet; she was much bigger than 'Umm Al Khair' having deluxe accommodation, a cafeteria, toilets and a dining area. The crossing to Kuwait onboard 'Bint Al Khair' takes 30 minutes, and she was something that was unique, and still is unique to Kuwait. 'Bint Al Khair' carries 150 passengers and as with her 'Mother'.......'Umm Al Khair' complied with all SOLAS regulations

'Bint Al Khair' alongside and 'Umm Al Khair' berthing at Failaka

Landscaping was essential to the look and feel of the village, after all we had some 45,000 square meters of it. Our Bangledeshi gardeners rose to the challenge, and we have some of the best landscaping and gardens in Kuwait.

The Failaka Heritage Village way of pruning palm trees!

2005 was also a very busy period for sales and marketing and more and more guests visited the island and the Village, their first point of welcome was of course the Village reception which had been designed and all furniture built on Failaka by our very good friend Mohamed Dashti.

The Village Reception

Exterior of the reception building

Also in 2005 we constructed the ZOO; into it we placed Deer, Goats, Ostriches, Peacocks, a seperate Monkey enclosure. lots of poultry of differing species including Turkey's and Guinea Fowl. Denise also looked after the zoo as well as housekeeping and the stables and over the year many kids and fawns were born.

Zoo staff hand-rearing a fawn abandoned by its mother

One of our Peacocks in full display mode

During the hot summer we placed a cover over the childrens swimming pool which alongside the main village pool became the most popular spot in the village...what better way to cool off in a long hot summer.

The children's and main swimming pool taken at night.

The riding stables were also extremely busy and during 2005 Denise received five more horses, three Shetland Ponies and two donkeys; she had also started a breeding programme with the first babies being born at the end of 2005.

Three generations, from back to front - Banou, her daugher Noura and Noura's colt Sharif ,who was bred and born on Failaka

2005 was a successful year for the development of the village, but unfortunately not for Denise and I; Denise's mother passed away in April and we could only get away for a few days to help organise and attend her funeral. Also life on Failaka was very hard, with the island being remote and devastated it was without any other form of restaurants or entertainment we became very insular as we had no friends or acquaintances with whom we could socialise.

Eventually in July we resigned, we had not had a vacation for fourteen months and were both completely worn out; this coupled with the stress and hardship of managing the village had taken its toll on us and we were negotiating to purchase a small resort in the Commonwealth of Dominica in the Caribbean.

Two weeks before we were due to leave "we had a heart to heart" talk with the Chairman of the owning company, certain issues were resolved and we withdrew our resignation....this was three and half years ago; we became the Robinson Crusoe and Lady Friday of Failaka Island and adapted to this strange and stressfull life-style.

At the end of August we had a months holidays, two weeks in the UK and two weeks in Orlando, Florida where we absorbed ourselves in Disney World and Universal Studios.

Florida refreshed, renewed and revigorated us ready for the challenges ahead!

Before your ask! Denise took this photograph