Stan, when I went out to Karachi in 1975 it was the first time I actually had a house; I had space, wasn't married; how to contact the locals and create relationships which is what diplomats do? I took a pool table. Every Friday night for almost four years partner 8 ball at my house became the place to be for generals, diplomats, businessmen, rich near-do-wells....

took another out to Brazzaville, same result. The Chinese military attache would partner with the Soviet (Relations had become really frosty in the 1970's which Kissinger exploited) but the expression on their faces showed the pleasure...and you can drink whiskey and talk during the games. I discovered that virtually every country in the world plays a variant. Billiards is so important in China now that a recent bribery scandal roiled the whole sport.

(I had a senior officer come out from Washington...I was supposed to show him the communist era road blocks set up all over the city after 7:00PM. He hung out at my house and to pass the time we played 8 ball - I beat him in something like 11 games straight. He was so mad he refused to leave the house and shifted to 9 ball...I finally had to let him win a number of games and when we hit the streets about 10:00PM for some reason in a first, the roadblocks had been lifted).

I think the action of the cue is similar to a golf swing or pulling a trigger. Same inner calm, same concentration and focus, same smoothness. But to have a space for a full size pool table is daunting. You need 19' x 15" free standing room. I had that abroad. I don't have it here but if if could convert the basement to a pool room...that would be first choice.

Since I finally quit traveling last year - I've had time to play golf consistently for the first time since being a teenager. Can't do it more than twice a week but. . . Gene Williams

1978 in Karachi at the Friend's house who bought the table:
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Islamabad 2006: (still using that stiff-shafted Cleveland driver)
[Linked Image from i.imgur.com]

Last edited by Argo44; 11/21/24 12:10 AM.
Baluch are not Brahui, Brahui are Baluch