TUESDAY 20 JANUARY 2015 • [email protected] • www.thepeninsulaqatar.com • 4455 7741 inside Eastwood’s American CAMPUS Sniper wins big in box • Chevron Phillips Chemical Qatar donates $25,000 to office battle American School of Doha P | 4 P | 8-9 RECIPE CONTEST • Send in your best recipe and win a dinner voucher for two P | 6 FOOD • Top with avocado, then have a little fun P | 7 HEALTH • Tethered to treadmills? Try the cardio machines in the corner P | 11 Nicole Schickova adjusts her unruly fake moustache, as crucial to her outfit as her bowler hat, and takes two comical giant steps, thrusting TECHNOLOGY her leg up as far as it will go, before dragging • Why Google should her rear foot over — all in fun for the fourth worry about being like Microsoft annual Silly Walk March. P | 12 WALKING SILLY IN LEARN ARABIC • Learn commonly used Arabic words CZECH REPUBLIC and their meanings P | 13 2 PLUS | TUESDAY 20 JANUARY 2015 COVER STORY icole Schickova adjusts her unruly fake moustache, as crucial to her outfit as her Nbowler hat, and takes two comical giant steps, thrusting her leg up as far as it will go, before dragging her rear foot over. The 24-year-old’s Austrian friend, also in moustache and hat, shuffles his feet while bending forward, then leans back for the next three steps — all with great exaggeration. The two are part of an 80-strong group doing the fourth annual Silly Walk March in the southern Czech city of Brno, inspired by a 1970 Monty Python sketch featuring John Cleese with a bowler hat, briefcase and goofy gait. In the episode of Monty Python’s Flying Circus, a British television comedy that ran from 1969 to 1974, Cleese kicks up his legs, shuffles his feet and combines polka steps with twists while heading over to his office at the Ministry of Silly Walks. Czech silly walkers pay tribute to Monty Python PLUS | TUESDAY 20 JANUARY 2015 3 There he encounters a grant applicant whose walk he dismisses as “not particularly silly”, then orders coffee from a silly-walking secretary who spills it all over the tray. Walking at the head of the Brno march are Adam Jandora and Daniel Masek, both 22 and ardent fans of the British cult comedy troupe, who launched the walk in 2012. “We’ve been silly since we were born and we like the idea of having something as silly as this ministry that deals with silly walks,” Jandora said. Celebration of silliness When the men learnt on the Internet that January 7 was International Silly Walk Day, they were quick to ask friends to kick up their heels. “We had eight people the first year, a few dozen the next and 140 last year,” says Jandora, who declined to give his occupation, insisting he was an employee of the Ministry of Silly Walks. “It’s a voluntary job of sorts. The ministry pays us some pittance to keep us alive.” Comprising Cleese, Graham Chapman, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle, Terry Jones and Michael Palin, Monty Python was credited with creating a new type of comedy with Flying Circus. Besides performing live, they went on to shoot hit films including Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life and Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Chapman died of cancer in 1989, but the five sur- viving Pythons returned to the stage last July with way through the city brandishing “Silly Walk” ban- Waiter Darius Brummer says he worked on his 10 live performances in London. ners and displaying fancy footwork. silly walk “about once a week, mostly on the way to Styles vary as the Czech group kicks up, dances “I suppose Czechs and Britons have a similar sense work”, to get ready for his debut this year. and limps its way through Brno’s streets in a jumble of humour. That’s why the march is such a success “I don’t think I could afford to practice at work of arms and legs, but the two leaders adhere to the here,” Jandora says, adding that fans in other Czech though.” basic silly walk devised by Cleese. cities and even Brazil have been inspired to hold Cleese, who is now 75, ruled out ever trying silly “The goal is to look like a civil servant, to make similar events. walks again at a 2013 news conference, blaming his the servant’s stiffness contrast with the silliness of Some passersby recognise the march and cheer, artificial knee and hip. the step,” Jandora said, as snowflakes fall on what is while others spontaneously join in on the shambling, But the organisers of the Brno walk are hoping to a particularly freezing day. waddling, dancing and sideways-walking. A little welcome the star one day. ‘Similar sense of humour’ girl traipses merrily next to her dad, while a couple “We have agreed to keep inviting John Cleese every Sporting a suit and top hat but no coat, he shivers whose laces are tied together do their best to keep year and to carry on silly-walking through Brno until along with others, as the chaotic crowd bumbles its it together. he comes,” says Jandora. AFP The goal is to look like a civil servant, to make the servant’s stiffness contrast with the silliness of the step. We had eight people the first year, a few dozen the next and 140 last year. Fans of the British comedy group Monty Python perform their skills during the International Silly Walk Day in Brno, Czech Republic. 4 PLUS | TUESDAY 20 JANUARY 2015 CAMPUS Sports meet at Pearl School January 17 was an exciting day for the little pearls of Pearl School Doha, as the first KG Sports Day was held at the Thumama Campus. The Chief Guest Cyril Anand declared the sports meet open. This was followed by a colourful parade by the children dressed in T-shirts, blue jeans, sports shoes and sashes giving the salute to the chief guest. Children participated in various races and drills. The parents and KG teachers also took part in races showing their sporting spirit. The event concluded with the prize distribution ceremony. Chevron Phillips Chemical Qatar donates $25,000 to ASD hevron Phillips Chemical “The impact of this new equipment Qatar donated $25,000 to The will help to further the students’ CAmerican School of Doha skills in collaboration, critical think- (ASD) to support new STEM (sci- ing, creativity and communication as ence, technology, engineering, math- well as extend their skills in math, ematics) programmes for students. science, technology and engineering,” Chevron Phillips Chemical Qatar said Zach McCabe, ASD’s upper ele- President Michael Zeglin presented mentary robotics instructor. a cheque to Dr Deborah Welch, ASD The donation will also go toward director, during a third grade robotics purchasing equipment for the devel- class recently. opment of a middle school STEM lab, “With this donation, we hope to and help provide specialized equip- help inspire and encourage students ment for a new high school green- to take part in science and math and house being constructed to support an to consider entering into those fields environmental sciences curriculum. as adults,” said Zeglin. “We’re proud “We are preparing our students of our long-standing relationship with for the ever-changing 21st century,” the school and believe it is doing great said Dr Welch. “Chevron Phillips things to excite and engage students Chemical Qatar’s commitment to ASD Grade 3 class with (from left) Ricardo Costa Almeida, HR Specialist, CPChem, in STEM subjects.” supporting ASD’s STEM programs Kaylynne Matheson, ASD 3rd Grade Teacher, Zach McCabe, Dr Deborah Welch, The donation will purchase equip- will help provide our students with Michael Zeglin and Jennifer Bryan, ASD Development Manager. ment for new afterschool programmes the tools necessary to know how for elementary students in the areas problems are solved, to think criti- them for a changing and challeng- company’s continued support to our of robotics, rocketry and 3D design. cally and creatively, and to prepare ing future. We are grateful for the school.” The Peninsula MES welcomes new staff ES Indian School conducted a cer- and P K Mohamed, Vice President MES Memony to welcome the newly joined Governing Board, addressed the gather- staff at the KG auditorium of the school ing and highlighted the various accolades recently. Around 60 staff, comprising of and feats of the school. T K Aboobacker, teaching and non teaching, introduced Director, Academics, Khaleel, Officiating, themselves during the function. Director, Islamic Affairs, Hashim N M, “MES Indian School values knowl- Secretary, MES Governing Board, were edge and wisdom as the primary and also present on the occasion. most endearing possessions of all and Principal, Sasidharan A P, while wel- your progressive efforts and commit- coming the gathering, emphasised the ted strides will kindle lives”, remarked need of commitment and hard work Shamsuddeen Abdul Kader, Officiating among the staff to lead the future gen- President, MES Governing Board, eration in values and standards. School officials address- while addressing the gathering. Rajeev Rajan, Administrative Officer, ing the new staff. K P Abdul Azeez, General Secretary compered the function. The Peninsula COMMUNITY / MARKETPLACE PLUS | TUESDAY 20 JANUARY 2015 5 Indian weight lifting team felicitated by ICC he 17th Asian Youth (Boys & Girls), 22nd Junior TWomen and 29th Junior Men Asian Weightlifting Championships were held recently at the Marriott Hotel. The Indian team was led by Birendra Prasad Baishya, President of Indian weight lifting federation, Vice president of Indian Olympic Association and former Union Minister for Steel and Mines.