Mac Moments

Photo: The girls playing in the compound So after a very unhappy yesterday, we were given the go on moving into the apartment. Yes, we are very happy about the whole move.... We checked out the apartment and sorted out what goes where, the move is going to make life a lot easier for us all round. We will be moving on Friday, the company will move us so it will be easier for us. The kids are excited and we will fit in a lot better. so Hold thumbs that all goes well!

Photo: Desert Today, unfortunately has not been great! Jess woke up with ear infection which does not bode well, we spent from 12pm until 3pm at the hospital, what a delightful experience. You get a ticket to go to reception, when your number is called, approx. 15 minute wait, you go and sort out the admin with them (only to hear that the Rasgas HR had not put us in the system blah blah blah - so we told them that we would just come back tomorrow, you know her ears could just wait - a bit of salcasm there, and that got a bit of action - of course we will help you, we cannot turn you away, blah blah blah), then we got another ticket which allows you to see the doctor, so you sit for another 30 minutes to wait to see the oke, then the appoitment begins....I suppose we usually wait that amount of time for the normal doc. We got copious amounts of medicine for her, they are very thorough Anyway, Jess needed a swab, so we took that to the lab to be done....they would not swab, so back ...

Photos: My favourite of the family in the pool; Going to Sealine through a town called Al Wakra where Qatar Petroleum operates through the desert along the coast So as usual most of our days are spent doing school work, cleaning, etc etc, but on 21 August we went Shopping and had a huge spoil for the kids. We first went to the Aspire park where the kids got to play on the jungle gym, but as usual it is so indredibly hot they lasted about 20 minutes and were back in the car to cool off. but at least we go out in the fresh hot air for a while. Then we went to the shopping centre to Ice-skate, but had to wait an hour for our turn so we decided to go shopping for costumes for the kids (me and the kids), and in doing so landed up buying them new clothes which they needed any way. Sean initially was not interested at all in shopping but when I told him he could choose his own clothes he came in and started enjoying the whole process!!! The kids had an absolute ball and basically got themse...

I found this on a Blog and thought it was quite appropriate to life in the Gulf and had a good laugh especially at the green, orange and red robot right at the bottom of the page!! Enjoy as much as I did as much as it is true. There's nothing like home!!! This is The GULF * Local calls are free * Petrol is cheaper than water, Pay for drainage too * Any building construction finishes in 3 months * Unqualified get more salary than Qualified * Show-off matters more than real quality & performance * Laborers are paid less than what they can earn back in their own country * Companies can kick out their employees without any reason * Wastas (recommendation) are more powerful than money * Cleaners have more Wasta than officers * Watchman has more Rights than the Building Owner * Office boy & Drivers have more influence on Boss than Manager * Gulf climate changes so fast, in one hour u can see rain, dust storm, hot / humid / chilling weather * Gulf is located in the desert, sti...

Photos: We climbed to the top of the villa, lasted about 15 minutes in the heat and had to come back down again - we were so red in the face it was frightening. The building with the "orange" strips down the sides is the apartment block we are looking at moving into - between the 11 to 28th floor - a bit scarey!! The "gold" building is the one where Steven will work in - 8th floor life here has become rather hectic with the kids still at home and not being able to spend much time outside, the temperature was up to 55' midday and 48' at about 4:30pm.... no relief from the heat other than indoors; washing, ironing, cleaning and cooking (really makes me appreciate Betty so much more than I used to); and I have been working on the website too, so all in all quite busy. Steve and I have started to try and get fit again and he is cycling, running and swimming every day now and I have started weight training every 2nd day and running 10km every other day. so hop...

Photo: Old City (Souqs) and the New City Happy 70th Birthday Mom, have been thinking of you all day and hope you had a wonderful wonderful day!!! Love you loads!! Happy woman's day too, all my gorgeous friend ladies who read my blog! We went to visit the Souqs today and it is just my cup of tea!! Loads of market type shops with loads of different things to look at and buy. Loads of beautiful, rich and colourful throughs, material and dresses. Spices and incense coming from all directions, with food sizzling and perfume wafting out of the shops, it was an experience of the sense and one I thoroughly enjoyed, even in the heat. The kids found some wonderful toys and spent their pocket money very quickly, will they ever learn to save? and then went on a donkey ride. We later took, Elaine, Randal and Dan back to Alseal as the sun was setting and it was a rather beautiful sight. We have been toying with moving for about 1o days now and have at last decided to make the request. From ...

Photos: Jessica and Hannah Birthday party Had a birthday party for Jessica and Hannah at the compound swimming pool area. They loved it and it gave us a chance to get to know the people and children that live here. Quite a mix of Malaysian, Indonesian and Phillipino's, the kids had a ball. We started the party late because of the heat so it only started at 5pm and they were all still in the pool at 9pm, eventually we had to call it a night. Everything here happens late into the night and the mornings start off early. Not sure how the people here keep it up!

Photos' - Jessica Birthday, cake from Avic (Hannah's mom) and the humidity here is unbelievable - the beautiful mist in the picture is from me walking outside and the humnidity getting onto my camera ok, so it has been a while, but time here seems to go by very very quickly with all the housework, home schooling, and basic settling in. Jessica had a fabulous birthday and loved all the phone calls, and most of all more presents she received from us and people in the compound. She has made fast friends with Hannah an 11 year old girl that lives here from Singapore. They are a lovely family and everytime I go to visit or get Hannah to come and play they smother me with food, which is wonderful but not good on the hips. Steve has settled into work, not as strategic as he is used to but at least he has time with the family now, which sometimes (I think) drives him a bit insane!!

My birthday....what a special treat and very very spoilt . I woke up to Steve, Sean and Jess, singing Happy Birthday to me and then spoiling me rotten with some beautiful presents, I got a Ring from Sean with a Topaz stone and 4 little diamonds set in leaves, Jess got me a locally made gold / sliver necklace and bracelet and Steve bought me some Face creams from Chanel, very very spoilt. The kids then let me sleep in and bought me some breakfast, how sweet is that. When I got up, we went to gym and to swim and after a quick shower and settling down, I got a phone call from Aline. Such a special treat, we spoke for about 45 minutes, and it was so great to get a phone call from my very special friend. And to talk for so long, and that was the first in a couple of calls I got during the day! Avic from Number 13, then popped in to say hello and brought me a cake which she quickly baked, how sweet is that. Steve then picked me up and took me to the Diplomatic Club to have my Facial and...