Another month passes by.....

Hello folks

I can't believe another month has passed since my last blog. I really do not know where the time has gone! Above are some photos of Chrissie's hen weekend in Dubai. That is the hens stood outside the stretch hummer we hired! It was great fun driving around in that around Dubai!

Whist in Dubai I did my ENG1 - seafarers medical - I am in Dubai again in a few weeks to do my STCW - sailing safety course - still toying with trying to get work on yachts - as a back up plan to my many other plans!

In between all that I have done a PAWS yard sale - raised 500 pounds - I have a PAWS social in Bahrain in 3 weeks to raise more money. We have loads of prizes to give away and a KLM return ticket to London! Hopefully it will raise a good amount of money! I am mid-way organizing the Canberra reunion for old ship mates too which is happening in August in Bournemouth! So busy! Passed T3 assignment of my NVQ assessors award - next are the Skype interviews with candidates - I don't think there is much more to do then after that!

Still teaching PT at the gym and covering classes for now. I start my proper classes again in May... I have been working really hard at the gym doing a special program and also have changed my foods! Really had a major result from that in just 3 weeks! I feel great!

Went to Bahrain to an engagement party for Chrissie (she is celebrating lots!) - lovely night but got the tail end of tear gas at the end - not nice either - there are still problems in Bahrain every weekend. Thank goodness we weren't in the thick of the tear gas - being at the end of it wasn't nice!!

Apart from that I have been trying to move jobs. There is a job going as a Writer here - writing up tests etc for the clerical staff here and also being involved in their training - it overlaps somewhat with the NVQ I am doing. My boss is making it pretty difficult for me to leave (as usual) but as its a grade code higher then he has no justification to keep me here. His only reason is I must find my own replacement. Never worked anywhere where you have to find your own replacement - it really is just his own stupid rule. No one else in the office needs to find their own replacement - why do I!? Anyway, the fight is on!

All is ok at home - Kelly's house continues to be refurbished and Kat's Kitchen is doing well also. Dad is fine - his girlfriend, Kathy is moving up to Mansfield with him soon (from London) and he has finally decided to retire at 70 years old! George is good too!

I am home in 6 weeks now - cannot wait - its been a long time coming this break.

Might see some of you soon,

Jill

x

Time flies.....

Hi folks - I just realised its about 6 weeks or so since my last blog. I am not sure where the time has gone to be honest - I haven't been exactly busy work wise but have been doing assignments, etc for my NVQ. I am busy with the Canberra reunion also on and off, so guess I have had a few things to keep me occupied.

Life seems to be flying here really, which I am glad about, as its getting closer to when I can escape from here really! Now looking at the beginning of next year around March time, but that is pending change if something better comes along of course! I have practically given up with looking for work in the UAE - the agencies just really do expect you to drop everything to go for interviews there, let alone the fact that they want you to pay for going, and I just find I cannot commit to going with 2 days notice - why they cannot do a first interview over skype or the phone I don't know. So I have just told them to stop looking for now. They wanted me to go for an interview in the middle of a hen weekend this weekend too when I am with my friends and I just wasn't up for it! I just wanted to go to Dubai and not have an interview for once and enjoy it! I think the best option, if I do decide to go there, is just go for a few weeks from here on my way out of here and if nothing comes up, then go home. I have plenty of folk to stay with so that isn't a problem... to be honest, the jobs have been quiet from there anyway so far, so I think the UK is having a knock on effect really...

My NVQ is going ok - I am nearly finished the second assignment now - so not much more to do - done ok so far though! There seem to be plenty of jobs in the UK for NVQ Assessors so I should be ok if I come home. Still not 100% sure what I will do - it is very difficult to leave the money here, but I seem to be spending that much on escaping all the time, I am not saving that much! My 5 years is up in December anyway, so it seems a good time to leave or around then anyway. Fancy doing a bit of travelling too first (Oz and NZ and Canada) then will come home and see what happens... but, who knows. Anything could happen!

Things have been busy socially - there does seem to be alot more going off here really and Bahrain is still a bit up and down with demonstrations happening every weekend and lots of tear gas flying around. But, the F1 is still going ahead - which is good as the island does need some money injecting into it for sure... We have been over on and off and never see much trouble apart from police check points. Most the demos happen in the villages...

I have been at Fitness First in Bahrain doing a bit of shadowing for personal training and learning how to use my TRX suspension system - you will have to google that one - I love it altough it is challenging! I am just teaching PT now but do some cover classes starting next week.

I went to a bike ralley on camp with Ayon - felt like I was in Matlock Bath to be honest - very surreal! The other photos are of Tracy's birthday in Trader Vics - we had a very nice time - for some reason I always end up with the bill and can never seem to get it right - obviously my years on the desk on the cruises didn't help me with counting money! And also Michelle had a Bollywood party so I dressed up for that!

This weekend is Chrissie's hen weekend in Dubai - we are there Weds - Saturday. Should be good fun although I hope I can keep up with going out so much! So a short week next week but I have a dive meeting Sunday, teaching Monday and the PAWS yard sale Weds/Thurs. I will be glad when the 30th March is here and I can have a rest!

I am in Dubs again in May doing another sailing course for 5 days, then home for two weeks

31st May - 14th June so looking forward to that. Its been a long spell away this time ...

Home again in August for a month (with a holiday somewhere!) and I will be away somewhere with Tracy in October as we have another week off - so the end of the year is all holidays. And I will definitely be home for Christmas this year too! Or I could leave by then maybe also....

Anyway, thats all for now. See you soon,

Jill

x

End of January already....

Hi folks

Here I am again - its been a busy few weeks. I was in Dubai (again) a couple of weeks ago - I stayed with friends who used to work in Saudi so it was great to stay with Kerrie and Simon and catch up - they live right in the marina area too - so great for the metro and getting around to the various malls. Met up with friends - went to Frankie Dettori's restaurant for dinner and then went up to Abu Dhabi on the Friday to see friends up there and went out again! Had a great time!!

I have been very busy in the week with my personal training and teaching still so that is keeping me busy. I have up'd my own training now and am soon to start on TRX suspension training when I get the equipment - you will have to google that to read what it is! Also been doing loads of stuff for PAWS - we have had quite a few cats for re-homing and I think I have re-homed around 6 in the past week which is great news... we have the yard sale next weekend too to raise a bit more money!

I went to a pantomime too - the British Aerospace guys performed - Ryan and Stew were the dames - they kept fluffing their lines but to be honest it made it funnier - I haven't laughed so much in ages!!!

I was in Bahrain last week - things are still a bit "iffy" over there - it is nearly the anniversary of the shootings last year when the Pearl roundabout was in the news. There have been protests and tear gas going off - this happens most weekends but it is getting worse. The anniversary is Feb 14th - I just hope its not a repeat of last year. The area where the roundabout was is now a new junction but is still closed even a year after the event. Not sure when it will open!?

I went to fitness first to do some personal training shadowing - it was a really good few hours and gave me a good insight into how a normal gym operates and it was great to speak to the trainers.

Went out with my friend Chrissie who lives in Bahrain and her fiance for dinner later - had a really nice curry.

Am in SA this weekend - got the girls coming over tomorrow and then am having to get Ayon to drive my car to the garage on Thursday (as we cannot drive out of camp) to get a new tyre, then there is a bike ralley on camp, then party later! Another busy one!

Work is the same - I am still doing my studying which is passing the time...

Anyway, over and out from me.

Jill

x

It's about time!!!

Hello - its been a while I know - but what with going home and Christmas, etc, I just haven't got round to writing a blog. I had a great time at home in December - went purely to see Motley Crue and Def Leppard - MC were amazing - it was definitely worth the trip back - I was transported back to being an 18 year old again!!! Met up with a load of folk I hadn't seen in ages too... I didn't do a whole lot why I was at home - I hadn't told many folk I would be home as it was just for a week, but I did a bit of shopping and caught up with a few close friends and also K, K, G and Dad.

So, back to Saudi and Christmas wasn't far off. Work is still as dull as ever but I am now doing an NVQ Assessors Course in preparation for coming home (for good) at the end of the year. That is taking alot of my time up so might as well make the most of the fact that my boss doesn't seem to think that I am actually capable of doing anything. There have been a few changes at work - we have another acting Manager who I don't really like now too and our GM has been promoted so he has moved. So, all change again in CFPD... not long left now though to put up with it.

So, I have decided I need a taste of the real life and will look at leaving in December or thereabouts - financially it is worth me staying til then and with holidays, that is only around another 10 months.

So, Christmas was ok - we had to work - my boss was totally bar humbug - we had a good party over in Bahrain though the weekend before Christmas and had a lovely Christmas dinner with 20 odd friends on Christmas night with secret santa and the like. New Years was much the same - at the US Consulate - but no pics from there as we weren't allowed to take cameras or phones in! But it was ok - my boss was yet again bar humbug and made me take an unpaid day off NY day - so down one X day already and we have only just started the year! I did find it really hard being away from home and equally worse that we had to work all the time!

I have been busy with classes (boot camp) and also personal training - I have around 3 clients which is enough really and gives me time to train. I have an injury though from running so had that worked on yesterday and now have a very bruised IT band muscle on my leg! It kills - hope it goes away soon!

So, busy with my course - it should set me up to assess in either customer care areas and fitness hopefully. Apparently there are a shortage of assessors in the UK and I would love to combine my fitness around assessing. Didn't think I would want to come home, but I do miss reality and there is only so long you can deal with life here - there are quite a lot of my friends leaving over the next year - we are all at 5 years - so a good benchmark to go....

Got a few trips planned this year - am hoping to be somewhere in April for a week - not sure where yet - June I will be home for a wedding and download festival and then a few days in Mansfield. August, I am looking at taking a month off and having a few weeks in Canada and the US maybe - need to plan that yet! And then Morocco in October and then leave in December for Christmas this year. Might then take off to Australia in the new year to visit my friends there before finally having to find a job!

Anyway, thats all for now. Enjoy the update!

Jill

x

Its been a while....

Hi everyone

I think its been a few weeks since I last did my blog - well before I went on holiday..

Work has still been pretty quiet for me and continues to be so. I am seriously looking at moving to either the UAE or coming home at the end of my 5 years now (end 2012) but as of yet, just don't know. I am trying to get to the UAE for now - it is hard work though and means I have to keep flying backwards and forwards for interviews... but its the only way it can be done...

I had a great time at home. Spent time with Dad, K&K and George who are all fine. George was sporting a toothless grin, having lost alot of his baby teeth! I caught up with most friends to, but as ever, there were a few I didn't get chance to see unfortunately. I had a lovely day at the spa with Caroline and also had a personal training lesson which gave me some really good ideas. I have passed my personal training qualification now and am going to be busy teaching now on and off. I am taking the classes outside, when I can - however today it is raining here in Saudi!

Had a pretty mad night out with my fellow rock friends in Nottingham and it was decided then for me to fly home in December for a few days to see Motley Crue and Def Leppard who are playing in Notts. Mad, I know, but I really would like to see them again...

I spent a few days in London also on a circuit course, which I thoroughly enjoyed. We also played star spotting as the Strictly Come Dancing crew were rehearsing there so we saw Holly Valance and some of the other dancers.

I also caught up with my old school friend, Katrina, who I hadn't seen for around 18 years, so we had a lot of catching up to do - spent the night in Notts again... also took George ice skating which was good fun and he was really good too. But, unfortunately, two weeks flies, so in no time at all, I had to come back.

To be honest I have been very busy since I got back. Basically, it is year end - so as ever, everything has been left last minute at work. I am busy teaching personal training and also my classes begin again next week - I am doing more boot camp style stuff this time taking some of the class outside (before it gets too dark!). PAWS is keeping me busy as I am trying to find folk to donate prizes for our events next year and I have a quiz night on Thursday also.....

Been busy socially - it was my birthday last weekend so we went to Bahrain - had a few folk over on the actual day too (Tuesday 22nd) which was nice. Really had a lovely time in Bahrain... This weekend is the PAWS quiz and then next week I fly home for 5 days to see Crue, Dubai the following weekend and then Bahrain again for the weekend of the 21st December - Christmas to us in other words as we all have to work over Christmas this year with it being mid week. Can't say I am looking forward to that but hey ho... Not sure about NY yet - Coldplay are playing in Abu Dhabi so I may go over to see them if flights aren't too much....

Anyway, thats all from me. Will blog again soon...

xxx

Dave's 50th, Cheryl and Chrissie's birthdays and Octoberfest!

Hi folks - here are me the the girls all looking glam outside Sofiotel in Bahrain - its a new resort and really nice - the brunch was great. We were there celebrating Chrissie (middle in long blue dress and Cheryl's birthdays - Cheryl is second to the right in the blue top. We had a lovely afternoon. The night before had been Dave's 50th birthday at Jim's in Bahrain - same place where I had my 40th!

This is myself, Martyn and Cheryl.

Congratulations to Mark and Chrissie who just got engaged too this week - so happy for them! The wedding is next June in the UK so we will all be over for that one!

Dave and Matthias at his 50th birthday...

Here is an updated photo of Charlotte - she has fluffed out quite a bit now since the last lot of photos. I love her to bits and could not imagine life without her now...

The past few weeks have been busy - not really at work - but that is nothing new - still hoping to get out of here asap and have a few things in the pipeline still to look at. Plan B is to stay here til the end of my 5 years and then go off and do a load of sailing! Good to have a plan A and B!

I have been at the gym alot - really working hard down there and also teaching a few clients. I have my final exam next weekend so am currently revising for that.

Went to AD last weekend (last minute inpromtu trip that had to be done!) - Weds was the PAWS garage sale set up - I was racing around camp for 3 hours - I was shattered - helping folk load up yard sale stuff, making sure stuff got delivered, signing folk into camp!! Then went to a 40th for about an hour, then to bed, up at 4.30am for Abu Dhabi - flew there and back in the day, then went to Octoberfest - see above photos. It was ok I guess - very expensive night out though, but a laugh!

This week I have been at the gym, revising and then we have the Marine Black Tie event on Thursday which I have helped organize. Hopefully should be a good night and Friday I am going sailing at the ladie's day at the beach...

Thats about it really - not long til I am back in the UK either - another 3 weeks or so.../

See you soon,

Jill

x

The past few weeks with Athens thrown in!

Going to do this blog backwards with the photos. Above is Joe - who has now left Kingdom for pastures new is now in Jeddah - we will certainly miss his fancy dress outfits! Also a birds eye view of the infamous JJ's bar that I speak so much of - looks just like any bar in the UK!!!

As you can see, Charlotte the cat is making herself well and truely at home. She does seem to think she is a dog at times and now fetches her bouncy ball in her mouth to you and drops it at your feet to throw it again!

Looking through my diary I have been pretty busy. We went ice skating the other week - there is a full size rink here in Khobar - was a good laugh and I did manage to pick it up again ok (I used to be an ice skater in my youth!). There were a few bruises sustained tho! Classes have continued to be busy and I have now started my personal training final module on line. The exam for that is 20th October I have just found out - then, I hope, I will be fully qualified - finally.

Athens was really good - we stayed just outside in an area called Glyfadda - we were opposite the sea (see pic of view) but the road was a bit like wacky races at times! Andy, our friend from Riyadh (and a Nottingham lad!) joined myself and Tracy. We had a few good nights out, did the sites and more in Athens and finished up in an Irish bar! Also visited Poros, an island around an hour away on hydrafoil - really pretty place - went to the beach and chilled at the bar!

I have been told this week that I can take some extra time in November to come home over the Hajj break so am flying back on the 1st November and am there til 14th November. So, if you want to catch up, let me know... I have a course in London (circuits) 9/10 Nov and thats about it so far. Be good to see some of you.

Still planning on escaping. I have had a few phone interviews, with a few more lined up. There is a Lawyers in Abu Dhabi who are interested in me also so I am hoping to have an interview in person with them soon. Everything just takes time over here though so all I can do is wait... I am over in Dubai and AD next weekend and have managed to line a few agency interviews up then also. Work is pretty quiet still - there is something happening - ie as in a shake up we think as there have been lots of closed door meetings of late, but nobody knows what is happening for sure as usual!

Anyway, I am excited to be home again - if I end up moving jobs soon then it could be a while until I am back again (ie next year).

Bye for now,

Jillxxxx

Diving in the Red Sea

Hi folks - above are a few pics from my diving weekend in Yanbu a few weeks ago. Had a great time - my diving improves every time - I think I am up to almost 30 dives now - I did suffer from ear problems again but have found some tablets and sprays on line which I am hoping might help in the future... Didn't see anything major this time - the usual rays and morays - some of the guys did see a hammerhead shark tho... I did 6 dives in total and a snorkel - had a really good time and the group we went with were good fun too...

In the top picture is Charlotte - it was going to happen soon enough - I took on a foster cat and ended up keeping her! She was found straying on the beach in Jubail - so she came to me to be re-homed and now she lives me me. She is around 6 months old and a Persian mix we think - very sweet but also has a mischievous nature too! Great company though!! She has a yellow and a blue eye too!

Being back at work the first few weeks after my holiday was pretty busy. I had 2 courses I did also, so wasn't really in the office much. Ramadan started (we are now over half way through thank goodness!) so it went from being mad with me playing catch up to now being completely like a ghost town everywhere! I am still feeling very unsettled so looking at other options now for sure... Classes are busy which is great - I teach stability balls and bands now on a Monday and have had 20+ students so am going to carry on with that for the rest of September.

I did a PAWS event last weekend. It was a skool disco theme - see me and the winner Butty Bacon (I don't know what his real name is!) - made a good amount of money for PAWS. The event was held at a BAe compound here and unfortunately, they are very strict regarding security getting in and out the place and there were in all 7 incidents where folk upset security and 7 guys who sponsored these folk into their compound, got into trouble. I have taken it very personally - so have told folk I am taking a bit of a back seat now with social events until next year. Such a shame - it is strict here and everyone knows that and should respect the rules.

PAWS will be fine though - we have the garage sales to see us through the rest of the year. I have asked for volunteers to help with events but had no offers really - apart from offers to help me with the next event.

I am in Bahrain tomorrow - thank goodness - my friend Chrissie is having a get together. I am shopping and getting my hair done. I need to get out for a few days for sure. And then, in 2 weeks, I am in Athens for 5 days with Tracy. Really looking forward to that!

That is all for now. I hope to be home before the year is out, but what with me possibly moving elsewhere, holidays are really up in the air right now...

WRITE TO ME SOON!

Jill

x

Dad's birthday and Cruise Ship Diaries!

Hi folks

Here I am, back after around 5 weeks away from my blog
- hope you are all doing ok. Life has been pretty busy since I got back - I think today is the first day I have felt quite normal and as though I am finally catching up with everything! Then I am only at work tomorrow and on an Excel course Tues/Weds and off to Yanbu, diving in the Red Sea, all weekend!! And next week the joyful Ramadan begins - where we all have to go an lock ourselves away for a coffee break (extended ones though!) and I am on a First Aid Course then too for two days! Work has been just ok - still no improvement in relations between me and the boss - in fact he didn't even bother to tell me he was going to China yesterday until I asked him if he was going somewhere! So, the search continues to escape, but again, with Ramadan approaching, things do grind to a hault pretty much all over the Middle East. I still have a couple of meetings in Dubai on the 25th August for jobs so hopefully something will crop up eventually and I am still looking at the yachts.... So, busy back here - I burst into my new total fitness class last night - completely full with 20 folk - my legs are rather sore today! And tomorrow I am teaching stability balls and bands class for 6 weeks... and I have lots of folk asking me for personal training classes too. Talking of which, I don't have to come to the UK now to finish my PT qualifiction off - I am able to do it in Bahrain which is saving me a stack of money on flights - so it looks like I might be home in Oct/Nov for 10 days now - but I will let you know for sure soon...

So, onto the trip to the UK. I arrived on the Weds and Dad fetched me from Brum airport. Spent the next couple of days shopping, catching up with K&K and G mainly, then off to Scarborough on the Friday. Caught up with a Saudi friend, Sue, who lived just outside York too, on route to Scarborough. We stayed at a lovely B&B - just about 20 mins from the town centre. K&K and G joined us later and as requested by Dad, we had fish and chips down the front! The next day the weather was not too bad - we did the sea front - there was a military day thing on and George took to wall climbing - went for a bus ride to the other bay and then came back on the train, via Peasholme Park - its been a while since I was last there! That evening I had booked for us to go to the Copper Horse - a lovely bistro style pub just outside Scarbs - the food was really lovely and we had such a nice evening.

Sunday the weather was glorious, so down to the beach and G had a ride on the donkeys. Myself and Dad stayed an extra night but G was at school next day.

The rest of the week was pretty mad - I had hoped to hire a car, but my licence expired I found out, so had to do with Dad the taxi and buses and trains. Had several trips to the dentist (how much!?) and caught up with as many friends as I could, although it was a bit of a flying visit! We held Dad's birthday party on Friday - the weather was glorious too - some of Dad's friends came over and also quite a few of my friends for a catch up, which was great, given the short time I was at home...

Then the next morning, Kat took me to the station and so began my journey to Southampton. Met Tracy at the station and then we boarded in the afternoon. Checked out the ship for a while, then went outside for sale away and dinner later. We were on freedom dining which meant we could go to dinner when we liked, but would sit with different folk. The first night we met Julie and Simon from Sheffield and Ems, Donna, Ben and Erin from Wales. And what a wonderful bunch of friends we made - we met up with them quite often all through the two weeks on board - we all had such a laugh together and will definitely stay in touch.

The second night was formal night - my friend and ex work colleague - David Shepherd - is now Executive Purser on board, so we were well looked after and did get a few extra perks in the cabin which was lovely! Met up with him at the cocktail party and also caught up with him and his fiance for dinner later on in the cruise and drinks. Was lovely to see him - its been about 4 years since I last saw him. Most evenings we would go to dinner and then to The Exchange for drinks and do the quiz and meet up with Simon, Jules, Donna and Ems and the kids. We also met a family from Scotland who happened to know one of our friends here in Saudi - they used to work together - tis a small world! We also went to Havana nightclub and Tracy and Julie won a cocktail for their dancing!!! LOL!

We had 3 sea days - the weather was good so we were out on deck alot catching the sun - first stop was Barcelona. We took the hopper bus around the city and got on and off at various points of interest - the church that isn't finished - La Sagrada Familia and the Gaudi stuff too and then a walk down Las Ramblas and a visit to the market. Next stop was Monte Carlo - we climbed up the hill to the Palace - saw the left overs of the Royal wedding which had taken place the week before - and then we had a wander up to the casino - went into the entrance but it was really expensive to look around - so didn't! I then went and had a look at the yachts and wished I could get a job on one of them!

Next stop was Rome - it was incredibly hot that day and humid - we started off at The Vatican and walked all the way down to the Colesseum - I have no idea how far it was but we did do some walking. Passed the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps and the Roman Cathedral (can't remember the name of it!!?) and stopped for lunch too at a lovely restaurant and people watched briefly. Never made it into the Colesseum - we just didn't have time - I think for Rome you need 3-4 days really to see everything properly. We were absolutely wrecked by the end of the day and actually just had buffet dinner and then went to bed early for the one and only time that cruise!

Next stop - Pisa and Florence. I have been to Pisa before but it was good to see the tower again without the scaffolding around it as last time. Florence was lovely too - not been there before. Really nice place to walk around and people watch again too and the buildings are pretty amazing too.
We then had a sea day and then went on to Palma - again I have been there many times before but we went around it on a bike and I saw lots of stuff I hadn't seen previously.

We were due to then go to Gibraltar for half a day as our last pour of call but unfortunately the weather was too bad so we had to turn round and leave! Alot of folk were disappointed, but there wasn't alot the Captain could do really. Then 3 days at sea and back to Soton.

Had a wonderful time and have lots of memories too - it really was a great holiday. I have attached my gmail photo link at the end of this so you can check out all the photos as we took tons between us!

So, now back to reality - as you can tell I am still unsettled really - I hope something happens with Dubai or Abu Dhabi soon. But for now, I have my personal training stuff to get on with and need to start my Skipper course soon too and for sure PAWS and my fitness classes are keeping me busy...

Anyway, thats all from me. Take care and keep in touch...

Jill x

https://picasaweb.google.com/Jillbarrows69/DadS70thAndScarborough?authuser=0&feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/Jillbarrows69/CruiseMonteCarloAndBarcelona?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCIDIz6H5-PKA_AE&feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/Jillbarrows69/RomeFlorenceAndPisa?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCMmu0IS_lb73QQ&feat=directlink

https://picasaweb.google.com/Jillbarrows69/PalmaAndFriends?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCI--yevO6b7fCw&feat=directlink