UNITED fan Wassim Kabbani has been living in Beirut for just over a year. The 36-year-old left Cheadle five years ago to give his young daughters the best possible start in life.

Speaking from his apartment in west Beirut, he said the education system, healthcare, family links and opportunities attracted them.

He said: "Since the 1990s there's been no trouble at all, no hint of it. It was like any other Mediterranean place - there's fantastic beaches, hotels, restaurants, nightlife - you name anything and it's all here."

Until the recent crisis erupted, Wassim joked his biggest dilemma had been where to watch United games - but now world events have changed those everyday priorities.

"When the first strike was made I was in a swimming pool with my daughter. My wife rang and said `don't panic but can you come home straight away'.

"All around me, it wasn't mass panic, everything was very, very calm. I went home and we watched the news, thinking this would last a day or two." That was about a month ago and since then Wassim, wife Zeina, three-year-old Aya and six-week-old Zea have faced the dilemma of whether leave the country. After weighing up the options they decided to stay. Wassim, 36, has a recruitment consultancy and many of their family and friends are based in Beirut.

But as he stocked up on bottled water and children's toys in case the family need to move into the shelter of an underground car park, life is far from normal.

"Last night we heard four very loud explosions. We don't want to frighten Aya. So far fireworks have been our excuse for the noises but she does think it's strange having fireworks during the day."

Read Wassim's blog from Beirut via the link below.

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