Mac Moments

We are into our second week back at work and school and home number 1. When the realisation came that it is time to categories which place we are in at which time of the year! The more I think about it the more I know that the amount of time we spend in each place determines its number of importance of time spent in it. So Doha would be in the number 1 spot, Cyprus 2nd and South Africa 3rd. I suppose that would mean that I would now need to call Doha my home? Doha has brought with it a change in the focus of my life. I was brought up in a small mining town in the middle of South Africa, Welkom (meaning welcome in English). It is in the heart of the Free State in the middle of no where, with roundabouts and one  traffic light.  It. Was. Small. We would have family from all over South Africa around for Xmas holidays and spend the smoldering hot summer days lazing around the swimming pool or playing cricket or table tennis in the sprawling back garden. Else we ...

To say we have headed straight back into cycling would be a lie. The cycling we new was on a tar road, admittedly falling would have been a lot harder, distances were longer and much much smoother. BUT more fun, definitely not. Road bikes were left behind in SA, mountain bikes bought about 2 months ago now and off road biking life began.  This past weekend was in all probability the best cycle yet, my throat is raw from laughing, my arms have muscles hurting in the crick of the elbow area, my back hasn't worked this hard since water skiing and well the nether regions are certainly toughening up. MUD was replaced by sand and dust this week, with Qatar having a few rain storms it made our pending cycle on Saturday morning an adventure of note. Simaisma - Al Khor Wet Flats Ride In the car park getting ready to head off Not too bad, just a few puddles Then our first stuck in the mud experience Hmmm pushing was tough with the back wheel not turning! Our leade...

I have an odd relationship with moving in general, it is one of those love - hate relationships, the excitement of new, of change, of decorating and painting and renovating has always filled me with excitement and anticipation of what I can create out of what we have bought. I have been in love with many things throughout my life, from sweets to jobs to houses to men to moving, but I am getting to the stage where the love of moving is starting to wane. A standard joke with one of my best friends (who has known me since I was 6 years old), is that on the purchase of a house we time it to between 18 months to 2 yrs before we move on.  She finds the situation of our moving habits hysterical, especially when I adamantly state that this will be our last move, her laugh reverberates echoing through my head like an empty drum. Steve and I started off our lives together in Mmabatho / Mafikeng over 22 years ago, we moved to 2 different houses in the space of 2 1/2 years. ...

Definitely not a dull time to be had in Qatar for these two months, we were kept on our toes dancing between sport events, school events and social events..... Brilliant start to the year with a tennis final between my two favs Federer and Nadal, over the moon that Federer won! We then got to watch the Asian Cup Soccer Finals between Australia and Japan, we supported OZ Jess and Sean began their stint at the Qatar Music Academy with their teachers Ay and Ozgar on piano and Islam and Georges below on violin.  Sean went on to complete his 5 month course, with piano and violin recitals and a final concert in June. Being taught by some of the best musicians in the world, who perform in the orchestras who perform in Vienna and Berlin during this music festival season. Jess decided that this was not for her and has continued with her gymnastics instead. Islam                            Ozgar I was invi...