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