Cinderella of the sands

Spinster schoolmarm Margery, her lilywhite skin bronzed to a glowing nut-brown by the sandlands sun, has hit on a new scheme to bag herself an oil sheikh.

After sunning herself for a few hours at the swimming pool, she casts off a broken flip-flop at the stroke of noon, and begins to hobble her way back to Cell Block G. The plan has two brilliant prongs. First, a passing sheikhmobile crammed with oil-rich emirs may offer to escort the limping beauty home.

Secondly, an oleaginous admirer may discover the lost slipper and Prince Charming his way to her door.

Part one meets with rather limited success. A kind sheikh does stop; unfortunately accompanied by his wives, servants and numerous children. Part two has yet to transpire. Somewhere in the darkening gardens around Cell Block G, the sandal of a beautiful English schoolmarm languishes in the bushes, waiting for a petrol-prince to seek the dainty foot it fits.