Abu Dhabi and Competent Crew Course in Dubai

Hi folks

Long time, no hear - hope you are all doing ok. Well, here is my blog from the past few weeks. Life has been as busy as ever really. I spent the weekend of the 30th March busy - had a happy hour on camp at Mary's - she is renowned for them - makes all her own booze and just asks folk to turn up with food! She usually has 50 or so folk turn up at her house!!! Some of my friends from Jubail came down too and Glynn - I have been seeing him now for about 6 weeks - he works for BAe in Jubail on the ships and once worked on the Oriana - small world! He is from Lowestoft originally...

Went to see my friend Chrissie in Bahrain too and caught up with her - things are just getting back to normal for her now as she moved to work there the day before the protests kicked off! It was good to see her anyway and catch up with her - we had a few drinks and ate at Brazil - you get loads of meat on skewers! Great protein diet!

Was in Abu Dhabi 2 weekends ago - myself and Tracy flew over and we stayed with my friend Liss who lives there. Had a great time - shopping and out and about - went to the Palace also. Then came back to Dubai and I had an overnight there and then off on the competent crew course. The pics are at the top here (that is myself and Glynn too). There were 4 of us on the course - Lev - a 16 year old from Russia, Dave who flew for Emirates and Carol who worked at DOSC (Dubai Offshore Sailing Club). Colin was our tutor - from Manchester - dryest sense of humor too and a great laugh. We sailed every day - the other guys were doing their Skipper course so it was good to learn from them too (thats what I will do next anyway!). We sailed all around the World land (its just been left now - no money to invest to build on it) and the Palms (2 out of the 3 also just been left) - we did a race one night but couldnt finish it as the wind dropped! And also sailed up the Creek and docked at the Burj Al Arab Marina - amazing backdrop of the 2 hotels. Loved it. Really want to do more sailing....

Anyway, things at work are changing - I have lost Basil my really nice boss in a re-shuffle - he is due to come back in 6 months but we will see. I have Jon back now who just doesn't give me anything really to do - so I am not happy really - we are moving 1st June too as our office is becoming open plan - so everything is going to be a mess for the next few months til December!!!

Had Anzac Day last weekend - great day - bands playing and it was all very Aussie of course. Lovely day too - its warming up here! I also had the garage sale on Thursday so up at 6am for that - good turnout and we raised quite a bit for PAWS. The next event is the 20th anniversary in a few months - meeting the Chef tonight to discuss the menu - I am looking forward to it but it taking up alot of my time - fortunately I have lots at work it seems!

The new equipment also arrived for my classes (and the other instructors!!) it was ordered in February 2010! At least it got here eventually! I am having a break from classes tho for a few months and PAWS too - its about time really I think! So a few months off organising stuff and I am then away on my cruise in July with Tracy. Got Oman and Dubai though before then....

Take care guys and hopefully I will see some of you in June/July...

Jill x

Housewarming celebrations

Hi folks - here I am again - thank goodness I have a break this weekend - off to Abu Dhabi for a few days to stay with a friend and then on to Dubai to do my competent crew course which will allow me to sail on yachts!

The past few weeks have been busy - as usual - although work has been quiet. It seems to go mad at the start of the year then quieten down - I have been busy sorting out karaoke nights for PAWS though and also we have our 20th anniversary celebrations coming up in May - which has taken over my life somewhat...

I had a housewarming the other week - we managed to cram around 18 folk in my yard - it is great having an outside area and the weather is perfect at the moment...

The karaoke night at Jzala was great too the other week - in fact it was quite an easy night for me - I just took the money for entry which went to PAWS and gave out a few prizes to the singers - I believe it went on until the early hours!!!

Things in Bahrain have calmed down now - in fact I was over there last weekend visiting my friend Chrissie. There were still quite a lot of army around - especially around the Pearl round-a-bout (which has now been knocked down) but apart from that it was ok. I hear the army have been withdrawn now and things are slowly getting back to normal... Had a great time with Chrissie - she worked here at Aramco and moved to her new job the day before the protests kicked off! Her apartment is on Amwaj island - its lovely up there plus has a Waitrose (I spent a small fortune in there!!) - we went to Brazil for dinner - basically its good if you like meat - they come round with skewers of meat and you have a bit of each!! Lovely, though...

Been at the usual gym, not been teaching so much - getting a bit fed up with it really so having a break from classes for a few months and then starting again in July. Will be teaching on and off at the gym still though...

Got a great year to look forward to - its all holidays for me - Oman and Dubai for weekends in May, home in June and on my cruise with Tracy in July, August is Cyprus, September home again to do my personal training course and November is still up in the air yet!!!

Hope you are all ok,

Jill

xxx