KUWAIT: The Foreign Office may have told British citizens yesterday to leave Iraq, Israel and Kuwait - but when faced with the stark reality of war against Iraq and the threat of terrorist attacks, there is only one option for any self-respecting expat in Kuwait: a quiet cup of tea by the poolside.
With many Americans having already left following a similar change in US embassy advice last month - and even battle-hardened Kuwaitis preparing means of transport to whisk themselves away to the Saudi border - the 4,000-strong British expat community has so far chosen to stay put.
There has been no rush to the airport and "little response" at the British embassy in Kuwait, where one exasperated official said: "There is time to put affairs in order but we must stress that everyone should leave as soon as they can unless they are in Kuwait on essential business."
Beside his pool in southern Kuwait City, however, Mr Oliver Jones, a long-term resident, was a figure of repose as he sipped his tea. "I'm sure we'll leave sometime. But I've been in Kuwait for 20 years and am used to a little tension. As far as I'm aware I'm on the right side of the front line."
A teacher at a local English school said: "We're having a conference on Saturday to decide what to do. We've got to try and live normal lives. I'm sure we'll be told to leave immediately when there's serious trouble."
The calmness of the British has been in marked contrast to the 10,000-strong American community, which has more than halved in recent weeks as thousands of US troops continue to pour into the country to prepare for war against Iraq.
One American businessman said: "You'd have to be mad to stay and face a possible chemical attack by Saddam Hussein. I sent my family out long ago and I've heard that the airports will close in a couple of weeks."
But with the Foreign Office insisting that the change in travel advice is not an indication that war against Iraq is inevitable, and with American troops in Kuwait kept out of sight and out of mind in the military zone in the north of the country, there is little urgency among the poolside expats. "I intend staying by my pool in the sun for as long as possible," said Mr Jones.