Hello - hope you are doing ok. Above are just a few photos from our dive trip - my fellow diver, teacher and photographer, Sheryl, a couple of photos of the reefs and a fish in the corals. There are more photos to follow - I am just waiting for Sheryl to download them...

Had another busy week last week.. I taught my last Sunday class last week too which was ok but I was glad to be finishing the late shift. Went to dinner at a friends and I think it was 9pm by the time I sat down then! Monday did my first circuits class - had around 15 folk so better doing the early shift! Then I had to go to the gym to run through stuff for my personal training qual with Sheryl as she is my "body" - its weird - I am teaching her gym stuff and she teaches me diving!

I had a facial and reflexology on Tuesday - can't say I enjoyed the reflex stuff - she really hurt my feet kneeding into them!!! The facial was weird too but my skin felt nice and soft afterwards but I don't think I looked 10 years younger!!! I did a run too - forgot about that - running has taken a bit of a back burner really as I have been so busy...

Weds afternoon we went off to the dive trip - we managed - last minute - to get on the Aramco flight - so that saved us a bit of money - flew up to Jeddah and got the boat there. Sailed up the Rabigh the early hours of Thursday - it was pretty rough so I think I got about 1 hours worth of sleep!! First dive there were bad currents - I pulled myself down on the anchor line and then started being swept away from the others, paniced so came back up. Not a good start! The second dive I was fine - apart from my mask flying off as I went in the water - fortunately Sheryl managed to retrieve it before it sank! I didn't do any more dives that day - Friday did another dive late morning - then did the night dive later. It took me around 10 mins to get in the water - it was pitch black, no moon and choppy - Nancy coaxed me into the water eventually - pulled along the tag line to the reef and went down - we had torches - saw a few large Parrot Fish and some anenomies that wake up in the dark - managed 12 mins - started to get a bit freeked then so came up and got swept off a bit by the wind - I can't say I enjoyed it really and am not in a rush to do another night dive - unless its millpond conditions with a full moon maybe!

The following morning we did a wreck and cave dive - very interesting - the caves were ok as you could still see the surface at times - managed to get myself burnt by fire coral though and also my ear was playing up - I seem to have real problems clearing my left ear for some reason.

Anyway, I really enjoyed that dive. Didn't pass my advanced diver yet - Sheryl passed me on the night dive but I can do the other bits to it on my next trip. Got back around 2pm then waited around on the boat til 6 chatting to Captain Eric and watching movies as our flight wasn't til later...

This week has been busy at work - we have had lots of bank visitors - time of year when they all come over here and we ask them for cash for our various projects. I ran Sunday and then Monday had to go to the dentist - she did a root canal - they are so horrendous - half my face was numb as I needed so much anaesthetic! Managed to teach later tho - had a massive class of around 20 odd folk and then had a casino night meeting!!! Sat down around 9pm again!!

Went to the mall last night too but didnt buy anything - it is the Paddy's Day Ball next Thursday in Bahrain - I was dress hunting but have a back up I can use so I wasn't bothered I didnt find anything! Going for a walk tonight - was going to run, but as I still currently have a sore gum and big hole in my tooth - don't think its wise - have to go back to the dentist on Sunday now for more pain - she is a lovely dentist and I had to laugh when she said - look here is the root I just pulled out - nice!!! Tomorrow I am up early for Qatif - being a tour escort again, then its the PAWS band and disco night - 250 folk + are expected!!!!!! Don't ask me how I manage to find all these folk to attend PAWS do's - everyone thinks Aramco should create a special job for me as social organiser!!!

Anyway, over and out from me - hope to hear from you soon - keep in touch - its important...

Jill

xxxx

Hi folks - another week has gone by - I just realised its Weds and I haven't written a blog yet. Just about time before I pack up for the weekend.... Life is, indeed, as crazy as ever and this week its been 9pm before I have sat down most nights. Last week was the usual running - in fact that is all I am doing really - running at the moment - the weather has been so lovely - I do need to get back to the gym but there will be plenty of time in the summer when its too hot to go outside... I didnt do much last Weds - went to look at some houses on the bid list - which once again I didnt get - so have to keep trying - over 2 years now in temporary accommodation - it really is rubbish... Thursday I spent racing around - went to meet Louise - my PAWS colleague who is now back in Saudi, albeit temporarily maybe - but she isn't sure! It was good to catch up, then beauty shop, then lunch with Anthea, then ready for the US consulate. It was a good night at the consulate - havent been up there for a while and all the more interesting with me not drinking (due to my race the following morning) - very entertaining!!! Friday saw me run the half marathon as a relay with 4 of my friends - we got a silver medal and did it in 2 hours 3 mins so not bad going. I managed my 2 miles in 19 minutes!!! So we did really well!!

Had a full English breakfast afterwards, kindly cooked by Karen and then went for a kip - I had been up since 5.30am and was exhausted!!! Later I met up with a friend and cooked dinner and just chilled with a DVD...

This week has been manic - Saturday I had to go to the KLM office to pick up the contract and ticket for PAWS, then I ran 3 miles. Sunday I taught - my last Sunday class is next week. I am now taking over from Andy so will be teaching at 4.45pm on a Saturday and Monday. The times are loads better but do conflict with the running club, so I will need to run still at some point to keep up my training! I had 2 meetings on Monday (after running 3 miles!) - a dive meeting and then a PAWS meeting and last night a race night meeting (after running 3 miles!) to sort out who is doing what at the charity event tonight! I am a bit stressed about tonight and hope it runs smoothly!!!

So, another busy one. Folk keep asking me to do personal training - talking of which, I have finally set my exam date for 20th May - the company I train with were due to come to Bahrain to do some courses, but aren't now, so its another trip to Dubai for me in May!

So, I have the PAWS race night tonight and then I am off to Bahrain tomorrow for a 50th birthday party - but I have the spa first which I think I will need after the stress of organising tonight!!

Anyway, over and out from me.

Keep in touch as always..

Jill xxxxx

February so far.....

Hello

Extremely late with my blog again - any spare time I seem to be printing out betting slips for the next PAWS do on the 24th!!! No time to write and work, in fact, has been busy too with visa applications, sorting out expenses on the completely unfriendly and impossible to use etravel system, etc.. I also seem to have tickets coming out of my ears, what with the race night, band night and now the casino night tickets all to sell!!!

I think my last blog ended up around the 2nd Feb. I had just managed to blag 2500SAR (about 400 quid!) off Mike, my financial advisor, towards a donation for PAWS!! We had the PAWS garage sale also that weekend and I helped with the set up - managed to raise around 6000SAR for that too (1200 quid!) so thats a good amount... Spent that Thursday at the spa - it was lovely and you certainly forget you are in Saudi - just like the spa's in the UK really - did a class and hung around the pool and chilled and had a manicure too!! Very relaxing.. Later on we went up to Jubail to the engagement party of Julie and Phil - they had a band and food and drink - very nice evening, met some new folk too who live up in Jubail (its about 90 mins from Dhahran where I am now) but it was really, really windy!!!

Friday, I decided for some strange reason, to go to Bahrain for lunch with Ayon. It was a choice between Trader Vics or the Hobby Farm on camp and TVs won hands down! It was a good afternoon - but only "a couple" lead to us leaving at 6pm instead of 3pm!!!

Saturday I ran again - think we did interval training and I had some PAWS stuff to sort (prime ticket seller me!) - I attempted to catch a cat with Chrissy on Sunday but that didn't happen - got to try again in a week or so - and then I did my class - much busier this week. However, I have been getting fed up with not being able to teach earlier in the evenings and Recreation are currently trying to find me a new venue so I can start erlier.. I teach 6-7 and by the time I have got in its 7.30pm, ate and showered, I sit down at 8.30pm and then to bed an hour later.. it just eats into my night.

Monday I ran - around 3 miles non stop - getting good at this now - will work my way up to 5 miles now....

I made my first batch of sushi too for Gay on Tuesday - very nice - rice ok, could have been better, but in Japan the guys who make the rice take 3 years to perfect it, so for my first attempt, it wasn't bad!!!

And then onto Dubai - we left Tuesday after work - flew to Sharjah and then taxi into Dubai. Still a huge construction site with road works and cranes all over the place - nothing new there! Just had a few glasses of vino that night, birthday cake for Tracy and some snacks...

Wednesday we went to the Mall of the Emirates - met up with Anthony, one of Breige's friends, who lives there - nice to see him and chat - then off to do some shopping and out later to meet friends. Met up with my fitness friends - at The Lakes Club, and also a couple of friends from the UK, who were travelling to NZ, via Dubai....

Thursday I went to get my hair done in the morning - took a look at the Burj Khalifa - we were due to go up it, but it had been closed due to technical problems! Impressive building tho - you cannot get your head around its height!!! Had a wander round the Dubai Mall later and bumped into some Aramco friends - then went back, changed and off out on the boat trip. Cheryl had booked us on Bateaux Dubai - we had a lovely meal and a few drinks and they even put on a firework display for us (yeh right oh!!) - nice evening though, but expensive. A trip to Trader Vics followed (can't get enough of that place!!) and we met up with some other friends.... and then on to Friday. Went to the Dubai Mall again - bumped into lots of Aramcon's again!! Bought a few bits and bobs and then went to watch the fountain show afterwards - its a bit like the show at the Bellagio in Vegas.. went out a bit later Friday night - to the Irish Village - had a really good night and met lots of new friends and I bought silly hats for us all!!! The picture of the fish is from the huge aqurium which sits in the middle of the mall!!

This week has been busy - I have managed a couple of 3 mile runs in preparation of the half marathon on Friday - not running it all - there are 5 of us each doing a relay - shouldn't be too bad, apart from the 6.30am start time!!! Yes I am bonkers... Tonight I am just catching up with some friends, tomorrow I have various meetings and appointments and then I am going to the US consulate to catch up with a few folk - nothing mad and no booze due to the run!

Anyway, thats you up to date. Write soon...

Jill

xxx

A very busy PAWS week!

Hi folks

Here I am again!!! Managing to get my blog done last minute tonight before I go off for my Thai foot massage. My legs are aching from running! I have been at the running club twice this week and am doing a half marathon (in relay!!) in a few weeks with 4 friends. Its only a few miles each though!

We have actually had rain yesterday and a bit today. I am hoping it clears for the weekend as we have a PAWS garage sale - outside - typical, it never rains for months and then it rains when we have an outside event! PAWS has, indeed, taken over this week. I have been busy getting the tickets ready for the race night (or Donkey Derby as I am calling it - it hasn't half confused those here who aren't from the UK!!) and I sold all the tickets in 2 days!!!! I now have 128 horses to sell! It is just on the TV screen and the races all come from the UK! Should be fun and make a bit of money for PAWS! I also had a casino night meeting last night too so am helping with that - I have the job of finding volunteers - we need about 60! I am sure I can find half that with all my friends! There will be 200 folk invited and a marquee on the side of the house with the gaming tables in and a disco on inside the house. We are going to deck it out in Hollywood glitz style as its a black and white do!!

It is in fact, just before my theory exam for my personal training - well the company I do my training through are in Bahrain 23-27 so I guess I can do my exam any time whilst they are there! No pressure tho with everything thats going on and I am doing my advanced diving exam beginning of March! I don't do things by halves do I!?

I had a pretty good weekend last week - I had to go to see Dias, at KLM, to sort out donations from them for PAWS - they are giving us 3 tickets to fly to Qatar and 2 to London this year - so great prizes.. Then I went to a happy hour, which was a really good night. Thursday to Lulu for grocery shopping, then to a mall day on camp, then to the consulate for quiz night and finally to a leaving do!

Friday was a wipe out!

This week I did running, class was a bit rubbish Sunday as only 6 folk turned up. I am trying to get an earlier slot (ie straight from work) to teach, but recreation aren't being at all helpful. Two teachers have the best 4 slots after work - why they cannot divide them up between us I dont know...

Mike, part of the financial company I use, is calling round tonight - I am trying to blag some money off him for PAWS!! And I have also been busy getting cat traps sent up from Riyadh to Dhahran via the US Consulate. Don't ask me how I get involved in all these things!!

Busy weekend - helping sort out for the PAWS garage sale tomorrow (weather pending), spa day Thursday and then to an engagement party Thurs night - day of rest Friday and I must revise for my advanced diving exam and my personal training exam - ahhhhhhrrrrgggghhhh!!

Dubai next week too so there might not be a blog for 2 weeks!

Anyway, over and out from me....

Jill xxxx

Two weeks rolled into one

Hi folks - didn't get chance to do a blog last week, so two weeks rolled into one now! I have had an incredibly busy 2 weeks - but what is new there!!?? We visited the new Lulu supermarket the other week - it really is huge and has a great stock of food (until they run out tho - it happens often here - stuff appears on the shelves - it gets snatched up and you don't see it for months then!!), then picked up a raffle prize from Desert Designs - they donated a carpet for PAWS. Went to Bahrain - had a lovely massage and then went for lunch - picked up another raffle prize for PAWS - meal for 2 at Jim's, then went to see Avatar. I thought the effects were amazing but the story line was a little corny! But a good film! Then on to Trader's and picking up another raffle prize - 25BD to spend there - as you can see I have been on the blag for prizes big time!!

We ended up staying in Bahrain at Darron's and came back to Saudi on the Friday for a spot of hashing!! That is running or walking in the desert. We did about 5k I think which was quite good, followed by pie and mash at Mary's house afterwards!! Good night - however, first time hashers (ie me) have to perform duties of being forced to drink beer!!!

I started running again last week - I got some good trainers from Athletes Foot which have a high instep so have found my legs and ankles are much better - so building up my running again now! Classes (pilates body conditioning) are picking up now as folk get back into the swing of things and I have a meeting with recreation tomorrow to show them the state of the equipment cupboard where I teach - the stuff hasn't been updated for years and the mats are all smelly and the weights falling apart - so hopefully they will spend a bit of money on some new stuff for us....

I am trying to do revision, when I can, for my personal training exam. I have, in fact, just had an email today to say that the company I use are coming to Bahrain in March and April, so hopefully they will allow me to do the exam then - save me paying to go to Dubai.... so need to get my backside into gear now I have dates to aim for...

I had a very busy weekend last week. I went to a sushi making class Weds night which was great and I now need to buy all the gear to make the sushi - we made loads though! Really enjoyed it! Then Thursday morning I was up early for the doggie dawdle, raising money for PAWS - lovely day too and loads of owners and their dogs joined in - around 60 folk! Joy bought down a dog too which needed re-homing and managed to find a home for it which was great! Then I had a PAWS meeting and we sorted all the socials out, then I went bowling, meal and then to a headbangers ball! Relived my rock chic youth!!

Friday in Bahrain to the mall and for chill out time.

So, that brings me to this week now. Its already nearly Tuesday! Just been running/teaching/sorting cats out - in fact when I go to Dubai in 2 weeks I have to visit a lady to pick up some donations for PAWS! I cannot believe where they keep coming from! Also hoping to meet up with my personal training mates and go up the highest tower in the world - the Burj Khalifa!!

I am off to boot camp shortly - don't get much these days, but have to go sort out a PAWS related matter afterwards on the compound there! It never stops!

Anyway, over and out from me.

Flights booked for home too - back 3rd - 10th June....

PLEASE WRITE BACK SOON!!!

Jill

xx

Hofuf trip weekend

Hello, another weekend has sped by.. PAWS is definitely taking over my life, but its a good thing - I am enjoying the challenge.. we have managed to sort out the garage sales so are having one of them in February and I have also secured a race night and band night over the next few months to raise cash and we have the casino night too in April! The race night should be good anyway, I learnt the ropes for that last night and we just need to get betting slips now - will see if someone can get some from the UK....

I spent Thursday in Hofuf on a trip - was helping out my friend Louise and was a tour guide. We went to the camel market, souk, fort and then the dairy farm. The farm was interesting - 11,000 cows there!! So, at least I know where my milk comes from now in Saudi!! It was a long day though - I was up at 5.30am and home at 6.00pm and had a stinking headache, so we just stayed in Thursday..

Friday Darron managed to set the smoke alarm off whilst cooking bacon - so before the firemen turned up he had to quickly eat the evidence!! Our fire alarms are connected to a central system now so the firemen always come round!! Then I had the PAWS meeting which went very well - we managed to sort out a lot of issues we had had and sort out the socials too so it was a worthwhile meeting. Later went to some friends for tea so caught up with them....

This week has been busy - just been working on PAWS stuff mainly and fitting in work around it and study for my personal training! I had to go to the Dr and have been given some arch supports which should hopefully help me with running as I have been getting injured.. Also, I had to take Sharon the hamster to the vet - she has a mouth infection - I am not sure if she will get better or not - she is quite poorly. Did my first class - pilates and conditioning mix - Sunday - that went quite well too and this weekend is pretty mad too!

Achieved more TV stations for the girls in the ballpark too after months of hasseling them so have something decent to watch now and I can cancel my satellite subscription too! And we managed to get a bus to go to the new mall after some wrangling with community services as they did refuse to put one on for us to start with! And I also managed to blag 8 prizes for the PAWS raffles off various companies! So not a bad week at all..

Weekend is busy - off to Lulu (the new supermarket) and then I have to pick up a carpet from Desert Designs as they are donating one to PAWS for the raffle - goodness knows where I will keep it though - currently my car has 5 old cat traps in it! There is no room! Tomorrow going to Bahrain - spa, Avatar, buying new trainers, Jim's for lunch and to pick up a meal for two voucher and then to TVs to pick up another voucher for PAWS!

And hashing on Friday - that is running/walking through the desert!

Over and out...

Jill

xxx

Christmas and NY in Saudi/Bahrain

Helllooo - here we are in a new decade and a new year. I am quite freeked out really as it doesn't seem 2 minutes since the year 2000 and we were in Bahrain then and coming back ove the causeway at 3am in the morning, wondering if anything would still be working as everyone was saying all the computers, etc, wouldnt be able to cope with the new date change! What a load of rubbish that was!

Being back in Saudi has taken me some time to adjust to after being at home for so long I must admit, and its only this week that I have begun to feel back to normal... the first week I was back I threw myself into fitness every week - running, spin and at the gym, practising for my personal training, then my ankle went and now I have my shin split injury back, so I am a bit annoyed to say the least. Am still training of course!!!

Christmas Eve we just stayed in - I had a few friends round for drinks - Liss and Andy drove up from Riyadh too - it was a nice, if not quiet night. Up early for Bahrain and Jim's the next day. It was good fun over there - the Secret Santa was a laugh, but to be honest, just another drunken day in Bahrain... its difficult for it to feel like Christmas when it is sunny outside really and you are not with your family... But it was ok. I stayed over at Darron's and was in bed for 8pm - up at 5am though the next day for work. That seriously was quite rubbish, I must admit - everyone you spoke to was on a downer having to work Boxing Day - and to top it off, one of the guys I work with upset me so much that I ended up walking out of work at 2pm! I was covering for my colleague for the week and basically wasn't aware of one of the systems she uses so he decided to haul me up in front of the GM to tell me off - even though it wasn't my fault. Not a great thing to happen at all - but its in the past now and he did apologise too.. Oh yes, I also did a Jingle Bell Run (before my legs went) - that was good fun - running around the best decorated houses on camp and singing carols - ran around 5K too! We all wore bells and flashing lights - great atmosphere!! There were numerous drinks do's going on on camp too.

PAWS continues to cause me some concern. Basically, we aren't recognised in Saudi as in Muslim religion you are not supposed to harm an animal and some locals see sterilizing cats and dogs, to keep their numbers down, as causing them pain. Anyway, so we are kinda underground but have become an umbrella group of the Women's Group on Aramco so we can use their facilities. There is a kennel club on camp too but they don't like us much - thats a long running feud apparently that goes back years so thats why we come under the Women's Group, not kennel club.

So, we hold garage sales that fetch in around 1,000 pounds a month - and now they have stopped us holding garage sales because some of the self directed groups dont like it we get priority over rooms when they struggle to book - its all a load of coblers really and childish, school yard politics, but we have now lost 3k pounds by not having garage sales and its really frustrating. I have had a meeting with the Manager of recreation (who book the rooms out) and he has decided it would be easier to become affiliated with the kennel club - however that doesn't solve the problem of the garage sales - and we have stuff piling up to sell!!! I am busy organising two socials tho in the meantime - a race night and band night, so that will bring in a bit of cash. Sorry thats a long story, but this company sucks at times!!

No news on houses - I bid and didn't get one - so that is starting to do my head in again. 2 years now stuck in student accommodation - what else can I do - I have been to the top and although the lists are out more frequently, it still isn't great... the next option is to storm housing I guess with as many of the girls as I can get!

New Year was eventful - went over on the Weds night to Bahrain - stayed with the girls in an apartment that night - with Breige, Tracy and Clodagh, Breige's mate from Abu Dhabi. Went to the Hard Rock for some food - just got out the car and got harrassed by some locals, one of them pinched my backside and subsequently got my handbag around his head - they should know better than to mess with me. Met up with a few more friends later and then me and Clodagh got a cab back around 11.30 and the driver was trying to rip us off - he wanted 8 quid for a 2 min taxi ride - we were arguing like mad and he was going to call the police etc... in the end I told him to get lost and I'd report him to the police for trying to rip us off - remember - don't mess with Jill!!

So, NYE was quite nice - had my done in the morning and then met up with Darron, picked up my bag and got ready at his then met up with friends at Camelots. We had lobster to eat - totally gorgeous. Later we went to The Dublin pub - great atmosphere and lots of our friends there - managed to stay out until 2am! It was raining really bad when we came out and we got soaked!!

NYDay was fine - felt ok and we ventured out later and went to see Sherlock Holmes at the flics which was really good. Just stayed in and chilled the rest of day really....

Anyway, that was it really - NY and Christmas for you.

Its already been an eventful year so far, following this weekend's madness - but you will have to wait to hear about that in my next blog!!!

Write soon - I am so busy with PAWS and revising at the moment, that I will do my best to stay in touch individually - but you know where I am if you want to write!!

Jill

xxxx