The promise...

Dubai: Anthony Gemmill made his goddaughter a promise when she was 4 years old. Tamara Dollin is 19 now and the two have flown into Dubai from London to fulfil that pledge — ‘to enjoy a fancy meal’.
It’s the stuff that Hollywood movies are usually made of.
A man invites his godchild to a fancy lunch on her birthday in Dubai and she picks a fast-food joint. Over the course of lunch, he promises to bring her back to Dubai - no matter where they are in the world - on her 18th birthday and do a real grown-up fancy meal.

That little girl, Tamara Dollin, is now 19 and she is back in Dubai, to enjoy a fancy meal, with her godfather, Anthony Gemmill.
The two flew out from England, courtesy British Airways, and are staying at Dollin’s former music teacher’s home, but at the start of the interview had not yet decided where their special dinner was going to be.
“Neither of us had returned to Dubai since leaving 13 years ago,” said Dollin, “but we have been in touch with people who had ties to the place and I have to say I’m pleasantly surprised.”
Expecting to see a completely changed Dubai that had nothing but high-rises and hotels, Dollin was visibly delighted to have seen change for the better, but relieved that the old pockets were still intact.
“We went back to my old house in Jumeirah and I’ll be visiting my old school [Jumeirah English Speaking School] as well. I’m glad the old villas are still around in Jumeirah and Deira is still pretty much the same,” she said.
In addition to visiting the usual tourist attractions, Dollin and Gemmill said they enjoyed themselves much more ambling through the alleys of Deira and that a special meal had already beThough arriving in Dubai a year later than the promised date, Dollin said the delay was because she was busy with her A-levels and her godfather had added a small condition to the trip that made it depend on her grades.
“How did it all happen? Well I just thought I’d introduce Tamara to a grown-up lunch on her sixth birthday and asked her where she wanted to go before her little party in the evening. And she said ‘Hardees,’ and I said where is that? Anyway, we ended up there and obviously there’s not much to say to a little girl so I told her then that regardless of where we were in the world, I’d bring her back for her 18th birthday for a real meal,” Gemmill recalled.
“She’s like my third child and she would jokingly remind me of my promise every year, but somehow things just fell into place as British Airways jumped on board and we were flown out and here we are,” the father of two said.
Though there was no planned trip in his mind, Gemmill said he believed that promises really should be kept at any cost. “They should be thought of before making, but once made, should be honoured,” he said, absolutely certain of living up to any commitment. Attributing it to his own childhood disappointment of not being given a promised pony by his godfather, Gemmill said he has only one godchild since — as he jokingly said — she was high-maintenance.
“I never held it against my own godfather but children tend to feel exceptionally bad about not having something that they’ve been promised and I didn’t want to let Tamara down,” he said showing off the same Porsche sunglasses that he had worn on her birthday, in 1992.
Gemmill has known Dollin’s family for years, much before she was born and through this little exercise, the young adult, about to join Nottingham University, has learnt valuable lessons of friendship and commitment.
“I’d definitely be careful of what I promise,” she said with a laugh. “My father is jealous that we’re here, but surprisingly my younger sister, who usually wants everything I get, was excited for me and really sporty about it,” she smiled and said.
As they settled into the interview and looked pleased with the setting and ambience at Teatro restaurant at the Al Bustan Rotana Hotel and Towers, Gemmill and Dollin both instantly decided to have their special dinner at the same venue.
“It’s a lovely place and I like the décor as it has a catching mix of theatre and musical’s posters,” Dollin said. She didn’t rule out a possible future return to Dubai.
“Who knows? I mean, I didn’t expect this! I wouldn’t want to settle down, but it looks interesting enough to stay here for a while, maybe join my old school as a language teacher!” she said.
Source: Gulf news 13.09.2005

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