Over in Bahrain alot this weekend....

Hello - wondering where some of you have got to as I havent heard from you in a while - please stay in touch - its great to hear your news still....

I had another busy week last week - but whats new there!!

I havent been going to boot camp much lately - there has only been me going from Aramco and it gets costly in taxis, so I have taken up spin again which I am enjoying.. work was pretty quiet again last week with most folk out and about.

It seems that things are going to happen this week with housing - I found out there are 13 houses up for bidding on - which is truely amazing! I would like to think that my meeting with Mr Jama has done something as its the most houses there have been to bid on in one go all year! I doubt I will get one but I will bid all the same. Alot of folk are out on leave, so its possible I might get one.

I had quite a mad weekend.

across the causeway with Sheryl, Ian, Tracy and Ayon - it was still busy even at 7am but only took an hour or so to cross... went to the Seef Mall for some breakfast and then on to NStyle for nails and a thai massage - very nice too. Then off to Trader Vics for afternoon drinking and lunch. Met up with mate Andrew from Mansfield (who lives in Bahrain) and caught up with him. Sheryl left at 2pm and it took her 2 hours to cross the causeway - we left at 6pm and it only took 55 mins door to door. You can never tell what it will be like that causeway - its the bane of our life...

So, straight to bed and then up again the next day to do it all again. We went to the Diplomat Hotel for brunch as Paula was leaving (top photo in the middle of me and Sheryl) - she is going back to the UK to live after 9 years here... Ended up in Trader Vics again afterwards and then a 1.5 hour crossing back across the causeway!!

This week has been busy at work - one of the secretary's has been away so I have been working for my old boss - Jamal - he gave me this really complicated travel order to do - he can't just go on business to one country - he has to go to 5 different countries! Nightmare. Managed to get it done tho...

Then we have decided to do a PAWS quiz night in September so I have been putting stuff together for that.

I have taught 3 pilates classes this week now and only done one gym session - am struggling for time really at the moment, so gym instruction has gone on a back burner. I have a dive meeting tonight too and then a PAWS meeting next week and am trying to get stuff together for coming home soon... its all rather mad. I have also decided to go diving in September as it will be last time I get chance this year and as I have now found my confidence, once to go before next year for sure.

No car yet - there hasnt been anything decent advertised this week. Fortunately I am borrowing a friend's still while she is out on leave.

Off to Bahrain yet again this weekend. In fact on Weds I have 2 happy hours to go to, then a meal Thursday night in Bahrain and hopefully on Friday I want to go and see the new Harry Potter film! And then next weekend - I AM HOME!!!!

I am planning to get some stuff sorted out for my 40th in November too - we have the DJ man, some of the music has been selected or is being sorted, I need to sort out decorations, invites and extra booze yet. The date is 21st November so make a note in your diaries!!!

I had my 6 month work review today - my boss, Brian, just shouted through the door - "you are doing a good job Jill" - and that was it!!! Easy life or what here!!!

Anyway, thats all from me for now.

Keep in touch,

Love Jill

xxxx

Hello - hope you are doing ok. Here is a photo of myself and my friends - Carol, Gay and Anthea at the comedy night on Thursday... It was great fun. Talk about take the mickey out the locals - the guys sang songs (changed the words to the songs) to the tunes of "Welcome to the Hotel California" - "Welcome to the jail in downtown Khobar" instead and the Monkeys - Here we come, walking down the street.... hey hey we're the Saudis, people say we monkey around, but we're too busy sleeping, to put anybody down" and then another one "Im a believer" and instead of "then I saw her face" -'"then I saw my cheque, now I'm a believer" - there were lots of short sketches too - wish I could have filmed it - so funny...

The rest of my week was and has been so far, manic... I had the usual round of classes - also trying to find a car still - I looked at 2 last week - one of which was sold and the other a rip off. Then looked at one last night, only to be pipped to the post by a guy who offered the seller half the cash as he walked home from work and the rest later - without even seeing the car! It was perfect - a VW Polo - only done 44k km - I was so disappointed - however, all is not lost - it might still be available - all to do with paperwork for the guy to take it off camp - if he cannot get that - its mine! I have 3 others to look at tho this week, but I really liked this VW....

I went to Jasmine's compound on Weds - it was ok there but very smokey - nice to drink real stuff though instead of homemade!!! Shopping Thursday to town to find an Indian outfit for an Indian wedding - I found something, although it has to be made - I just hope it turns out ok! Did a gym lesson in the afternoon then chilled out for a bit (I do occasionally you know!) and then got ready for the comedy night.

After the comedy night I went to an after party - it was on the old compound of Las Dunas - Al Go - which used to be my old haunt when I was here before and Wayne used to run his bar there. It was ok - I managed to stay out til 1.30am - very late for someone of my age now!!!

Friday just went to lunch with Darron and Ayon - myself and Darron are still friends for now so thats ok. Then I didnt really do much else for the rest of the day too for a change!

This week has been manic - at work and outside of work... I have been at the gym lots, looking at cars, teaching pilates, delivering cat traps and re-homing cats (managed 2 this week!) and the other night my hamster, Sharon, decided to escape from her exercise ball so I had to run around my apartment and catch her - she doesnt like to be handled and bit me several times when I caught her - ouch! Work has been busy for some strange reason and I find myself organising a brunch for one of my colleagues - I suppose he thinks I am a good organiser! And I am trying to start revising for my personal training qualification which hasnt happened yet too!!!

Anyway, thats about all really... I have a manic weekend ahead of me - I am in Bahrain most of Thursday - getting nails done, lunch and then back at 6pm (being sensible and staying in!!) and then to Bahrain again on Friday for a farewell brunch...

Its just all too mad.

Right, must go - I am still in my pilates clothes so need to get changed back to my work clothes!!

See you soon (home now in 18 days and counting!!).

Jill

xxxx

Another weekend in Dubai...

Hello - hope you are all doing ok. I had a great weekend in Dubai. The picture here is of myself and Gay in the Mall of the Emirates in front of the ski slope. You forget where you are in Dubai - there are that many places that make you feel like you could be anywhere in the world!! Bit like Vegas, but without the casinos!!

Anyway, another week has gone by - work was pretty unremarkable for a change! I went to boot camp last Monday and then Tuesday evening went to look at a car - Ford Focus -for sale. Nice, but a bit out my price range, so still in negotiations! Going to look at a VW Polo shortly - will update you later about that...

So, flew to Dubai on Weds night - journey was pretty straight forward from Dammam to Sharjah and then taxi to Dubai. We were staying at the Merdien next to Dubai airport. I travelled with Gay, Jason and Rebecca and their 18 month old William - who was such a good boy all trip!

Hotel was fine - apart from noisy air con (which we had fixed) and no decent hairdryer - but they bought us a better one! Rooms were a bit dated but the pool area and restaurants were great and it was such a bargin price for 3 nights (150 quid between 2 of us!) so was fine for the money.

Spent the first morning by the pool, then went to meet everyone at the mall - did a bit of shopping, went to see The Proposal - you must see that film if you havent done so - it was so funny. We laughed all the way through it. Then we went to Apres - a bar and restaurant overlooking the ski slope - William loved watching the people ski-ing! We had a nice meal and a few drinks and then went back to the hotel.


Friday, I went for a massage at the Dubai Mall.

As you can see by the photos - there is a huge waterfall with these metal men diving down it and then this huge aquarium with sharks, rays and a diver feeding the fish! Madness in the middle of a mall. Went to my massage which was 90 mins long - really nice - although the massage rooms were just off a chemist shop, which was a bit odd!

Then I had to taxi it up to the Meadows - where I met Jade and paid some of the money towards my personal trainer course in October and had a catch up with her. Taxi back to the hotel and chilled out for a few hours. Then, went to Raffles where my friend Neil was staying with his girlfriend - had a few drinks in there and met up with Hettie and Scott - I know Hettie from Saudi as he worked here and now works in Dubai - so good to catch up too with him. Some other friends tried to get up to Neil's room but security wouldnt let them for some bizarre reason so we then left and went to Vintage wine bar. Noticed that Keane has stayed in the hotel too the night before - we saw their signature in the guest book! They had done a gig there!

This is Hettie and Scott...

Had a quick look around the Wafi Mall too - very traditional middle eastern look to it and also very expensive shops in there too!!

Went to Vintage wine bar then and met up with a load of friends from Aramco and to celebrate Lindsey's birthday too. Had a few drinks in there and then went on to my hotel and to the Dubliner's Irish bar for a few more and then to this place called the Ware House and had a few more! It did end up being a bit of a messy night, but I had a good laugh - although my head regretted it the following day!

Saturday I just lazed around and we had lunch then went to the airport...

So, I looked at the car - it was nice, although has a bit of body work that would need knocking out - not a bad dent and it needs the windscreen wiper arm replacing cos it fell off! So I have made an offer and will see what he says and Paula has accepted my offer of 14k on her Focus, if this person looking at it later, isn't interested. So, now I have to wait til tomorrow!

We also went to see Mr Jama - Director of housing last week too - myself and Lorraine went along - it did get a bit heated at times and we got slightly irate, however, he has promised more houses for the females, so all we can do is wait and see. I seem to be becoming well known as a ring leader on Aramco at the moment! As long as I am diplomatic, all we be fine!!

Anyway, mad weekend - Jasmine's tomorrow night for a party, town Thursday saree shopping for a friend's wedding, comedy night Thursday night and possibly squash on Friday!

And only 3 WEEKS TIL I AM HOME! Not that I am excited at all!

Be seeing you soon,

Love

Jill
xxx

Bit of a fuzzy week

Hey folks

How is it going? Hope you are all keeping well. Last week was fine - bit slow at work, but as usual, I seem to find stuff to do!!

Im all signed up for my personal training course anyway in October in Dubai. Its a 4 day course and makes up one part of the qualification, so I will be there again next year by the looks of it, to complete it.

Had a pretty busy last few days of the week. I attended a smoking cessation lunch on Monday last week - not that I smoke of course - but I had sponsored some friends to give up and got 565SAR as a thank you - not bad going really! Tuesday I was back in the gym and then Wednesday was cat catching night. There are loads of strays on camp - most of them still with kittens, it seems - anyhow - managed to catch one female I have seen who has had 3 kittens. It took 3 attempts. The guy who is feeding her and the kittens was completely useless and not helpful at all, so I had to sort it out myself. He is happy to feed them, but thats it. I had to rig up the cage so I could stand above it, on his verander, and shut the trap shut myself with a stick, when the female went in it as she was too light to set it off herself! Managed it eventually. Then I couldnt get a taxi to take me to the vets, so had to call on Ayon to drive me there - I had a car (I am borrowing Herb's truck) and it makes it so frustrating when you want to just go somewhere and cant!!! Anyway, after going the wrong way to the vets, we finally got there, dumped the cat and I am fetching her to release tonight - next stop is the kittens who just run off when you go near them - that could be interesting!

Ayon also managed to cut this Saudi guy up on the road and he was yelling out his window at us, so I told him to calm down and stop shouting, which made him more angry! Then he pointed out that we were driving dangerously and could have injured his daughter who was sat on her mothers knee in the front seat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! When I pointed out that he should have his daughter strapped in a seat on the back and he could kill her if he wasnt careful, he shut up! Moron!!!


Lou came by for dinner later and then Thurs we went at 7.30am to Bahrain - pay weekend, kids off school - we had to set off early... had my nails done, did a bit of shopping and then went to TVs for lunch...















Met up with the girls and Andrew (in the photo) - he is actually my financial advisor and is also from my home town of Mansfield - he lives in Bahrain - so had to catch up with him to talk money and about Mansfield too! He went to the same school as me (few years below me) and lived around the corner from me too! Small world!

Anyway, came home at 3pm and straight out to a masalama (leaving do), then to Jzala compound - its a bloke's compound in Dammam - it was ok - caught up with a few folk but not really in the mood to be out, so left at 12.30 and eventually, an hour later, the taxi turned up!

Friday I had a very busy day - delivering garage sale stuff for PAWS and I played squash - really enjoyed that so might take up lessons - if I can fit them in! And easy, nice night in, just chilling out!

The inquest for my brother-in-law's death finally happened on Monday and a verdict of Death by Misadventure was given on Tuesday. That means that it was a mixture of Paul's fault (as he never hooked himself up to the safety cable) and his company for not training him properly also. Kelly was ok with the decision - she said it was the best result they could get. So now, she has to see if the company pay out or if they have to sue the company - she should know something further this week.

Anyway, thats about it - here is a photo of the kitten we found, with the different coloured eyes - it was so sweet. My friend Kelly was looking after her, but let her out the other night and she has disappeared - I hope we find her again - she was so sweet and friendly...


Anyway, thats all from me folks - blog will probably be late next week as I am away in Dubai for the weekend as we have Saturday off work...

See you soon,

Jill
xxxxx