Actually, I will take credit for this.

The entire staff came in one day last month for a meeting with the executive editor, and I remembered some instances in the past where the sudden arrival in the same spot of a group with a common goal but far-flung addresses … seemed like a good opportunity for a group photo. And I suggested it for this instance, and we did it.

Some IDs.

Front row, left to right: Kevin Affleck (England), Chris Pyke (England), Paul Oberjuerge (USA), Graham Caygill (England), Ulrike Oehm (Germany), Richard Biebrich Jr. (USA), Chitrabhanu “CB” Kadalayil (India).

Middle row, left to right: Matt Smith (Scotland), Steve Entwistle (England), Steve Luckings (England), Osman Samiuddin (Pakistan), Amith Passela (white shirt; Sri Lanka), Kumar Motwani (gray shirt; India), Ahmed Rizvi (India), Eustacio Humphrey (USA).

Top row, left to right: Thomas Woods (England), Paul Radley (England), Robert Mashburn (USA),  Gary Meenaghan (Scotland), Chuck Culpepper (USA).

Some of those guys had never met each other. Three writers are based in Dubai, and are rarely in Abu Dhabi, and even the Abu Dhabi writers are rarely in the office.

The photo was taken in the grassy patio area in the middle of the Abi Dhabi Media building and just outside the ground-floor offices of The National.

We were told that some of the news people inside were watching us and making fun.

As one of the sports guys retorted: “It’s just because you’re jealous that you can’t assemble such a handsome collection of guys … and Ulrike.” He was kidding … but not really.

Anyway, there’s our team photo, circa January, 2012.