Less than a week until India....

Hi guys - hope everyone is doing ok. Life here is much the same with me - and I am still coughing (from my long lasting virus) - 7 weeks on - another two trips to the Dr and I think my latest steroid inhaler seems to be doing the trick! I have been attempting to exercise - still teaching of course - but it starts off coughing fits - so not been doing too much exercise really and desperate to get back into it!

Went on a trip to Nariyah the other weekend - I was a tour escort on one of the buses - we visited a market and then went for lunch and sat around Arabic style eating. It was a good, but long day. I even made it out that night - went to a Halloween party - it was ok but due to the 5am start for the trip I was home by 11.30!!!

I had another trip to the dentist to get a crown fitted - the initial visit was pretty awful but they are now made and hopefully I will have my new teeth fitted either Thursday or Saturday! I have also been busy in the week catching up with friends, running PAWS erands and getting spray tans done! We have the Marine Ball this weekend at the US Consulate so my latest orange glow is in preparation for that. One of the new girls, Nicola, is also a trained hair and makeup person so we are getting the full works this year! Looking forward to it...

Last weekend was also busy - we had Carol's retirement party - she has been a major part of PAWS for the past few years and is a big loss - she will be missed. Also went to another leaving party (there are alot of those going on at the moment) and Thursday to Bahrain for hair do, nails and then lunch at Trader Vics. Caught up with some Bahrain mates there, then came home, got changed and went off up to Sara for the Children in Need Charity Night. Had a good time up there too - catching up with folk. Friday James came over and we just did some running about and got some tea later.

There has been uproar this week as quite a few girls have been refused entry to the coffee shop opposite where I live. Basically, its a fenced off area with the Tandoori restaurant, Cafe Nejaar and the library all enclosed in there and you have to go past security to get in. Some of the security staff have been saying that the girls are not appropriately dressed even tho they had nothing out of the normal on for what we wear on Aramco (its not like we go walking around in bikinis - even though we are on camp - we are still respectful to some degree) - so its caused alsorts of issues but is, I understand, being dealt with. Aramco is, primarily, a camp for Westerners and what happens inside the walls of the camp is unique to Aramco. Anyway, I hear that things like this usually kick off every few years and then it dies down!!! Its just something else for us to get wound up about!!

Anyway, off to India next Sunday - going to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur - looking forward to that - it will be a cultural experience... and then after that its my birthday (where did that year go?) and 3 weeks after that I will be in the UK for Christmas...

Thats all for this time. Speak to you soon,

xxx

Busy busy week....

Hey folks

I think my blogs are only coming out now every 2 weeks - I have just been busy lately and ill!!! I had a bronchial infection for 2 week sand only just got antibiotics last week for it and today is the frist day I haven't been really coughing my head off. I felt so sick too - I was off for most of last week just laid up. Anyway, its lasted over 3 weeks now and I think it is going finally...

The past few weeks I have been very busy either back and forth to the vets with cats I have caught and taken for sterilization or back and forth to Rashid II compound taking down home brew for the PAWS event last weekend! I havent done much exercise as there has been no time! And then I got ill. I was in Dubai 2 weekends ago (just as I got sick) for my nutition course. It was pretty interesting - but I did struggle through it being so ill - I was due to do my advanced PT exam but can now do that in Saudi instead so I thought I would wait til my brain was more focused! I did manage to catch up with my friend Liss, who drove down from Abu Dhabi to see me, which was great to see her, despite all the coughing. We went to Apres - the restaurant that overlooks the ski resort in the mall.

So, last week, as I said I was off for most of it - walking between the couch and bed - boy I havent felt that poorly in ages - no energy, hardly eating. So glad I feel better now! Managed to pull off the PAWS event tho - 80s disco night - it was an amazing evening - everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves and I made around 4k for our charity!!! Everyone looked great too - there were some fab costumes - and lots of folk won prizes. I am out of prizes now so need to go off canvassing to blag some more in the next few weeks...

Been busy teaching this week - circuits and the gym - managed to (finally) get housing to start things moving and offer us more units to bid on - that was after me getting as many girls as possible to write to the manager and going to see one of the Assistants to the VP. Its paid off, but it still doesn't mean I will get a house! I hope I don't have to wait much longer!

Been catching up with mates too this week, a happy hour tomorrow, up at 4.45am on Thursday to help with a coach trip to Naraya Market (I must be mad!) and then supposed to be going out Thursday night but reckon I will be too knackered from the market! We don't get back til 6pm at night. Its a full day! Friday I am seeing my friend...

And its only 2 weeks til my India trip and 7 weeks til I come home for Christmas!!!

Anyway, over and out,

Jillx

Finally the blog is back!

Hi folks - its been a while, but I am back. Hope you are all doing ok...

I have been so busy since I got back to Saudi - mainly with a PAWS 80's disco event I am holding in a few weeks and I am trying hard to get some revision done for my personal training theory - that is hard going as I am struggling to concentrate at the moment... I did, however, pass my practical exam which was good news - finally found out about that...

Home was great though, although it was a mad rush as usual. I ended up going home a day earlier than planned as I had messed my flights up and if it hadn't been for BA sending me an email about my flight I wouldn't have known! I spent the majority of the time catching up with friends and also spent as much time as I could with K,K and G too and Dad. All are doing ok.

Had a wild night out at Rock City with Nicki and some other friends - real trip down memory lane - such a laugh... Spent a few days in York also with James which seemed to go ok. He is back in Saudi now next week - it seems ages since I last saw him! Also had a day at Alton Towers with my friend Tracy, from here, although managed to get whiplash from the Rita ride and got stung by a wasp!

I got back here for a few days and then went off to Muscat in Oman on a diving weekend. The resort was absolutely gorgeous - right on the beach - and we got a few good dives in. Saw a turtle, huge pod of dolphins, lion fish, moray eels and some cuttle fish. It was nice to relax at the bar in the evenings too and a lovely setting... really impressed with the place.. My diving is improving loads now and I really do enjoy it now I am much more confident...

Work has been silly this week - I have been organising a retirement lunch - glad its over now as everyone was changing their minds til the last minute about who was invited, how many were coming, etc.. driven me mad. Havent had time to do any gym work - was at the vets again last night with another cat for sterilization and there are 8 more to catch from that area... Going to town tonight to do some PAWS stuff and meal tomorrow and Bahrain at the weekend - and next week will be all about selling the PAWS tickets for the event!

I am off to Dubai on the 13th Oct for my nutrition course then a few weeks later off to India and then on the 15th December I will be home for 2.5 weeks over Christmas!!! Its non-stop the rest of this year...

Anyway, hope you enjoy the photos I have posted on my blog.

See you soon,

Jill

xx

Not long til I am home now....

Hi folks

Another couple of weeks have flown by - more than half way through Ramadan now and I am surviving! The humidity outside tho is really getting to everyone - it has been humid now every day for weeks - normally we get the odd day or so of it but not continuous like this - apparently its the worst its been in years.... I am looking forward to some cooler weather - although most of you will probably find that weird!!!

Since I last wrote, I have been pretty busy - PAWS has kept me busy again although last week I managed to re-home 7 kittens and a tortoise - yes, a tortoise turned up on my doorstep but the next day I did manage to reunite him with his owner, who, in fact, said I can do a PAWS event at the hobby farm when it gets cooler - so it was worth "Mr T" being lost - the hobby farm is basically the stables on Aramco and is pretty out the way so I could do a barn dance or something down there I think and no-one would bother us!!!!

We had a girlie night the other Weds which was nice to catch up with friends and some of the new girls also joined us. There are quite a few new hires coming out over the next few months so some new faces around... On the Thursday I went to Bahrain with James and then on to Sheryl and Ian's place on Amwaj Island. Lovely apartment with great views. Ian cooked curry and it was just nice to stay in for a drink - we managed to get some wine from the hotel too as Bahrain generally is dry during Ramadan so that was a bargin... Friday we just chilled out at the hotel and then came home later...

I have been doing the usual this week - teaching, PAWS stuff, gearing up for coming home next week... my boss has been out most of the week so its just me here and I seem to have spent half my week in the coffee room!! Going for a meal tonight at the Heritage Village - traditional Saudi food etc - will post some photos - and have to go into town tomorrow - pain really as the shops don't open until 8.30pm but I need some new sunglasses as I just managed to break my others again - last time I ordered a new part for them it took 6 months to fix them - so think I will have to bring them home to the UK to be fixed this time...

Oh and last weekend I went to Dubai with James - a last minute decision really - but cheap time to go. We stayed at the Shereton in Jumirah - visited the Atlantis and the aquarium there and chilled at the pool - it wasn't so humid over there and went out for a lovely meal and visited the malls. It was nice to get away for a couple of days...

Got another girlie night this Weds too - I am cooking lasagne - and Thursday I am going for my first sailing lesson and then to a leaving do and then the countdown really begins. Fly out Weds morning of the 8th - arrive in the UK around 7am...

Anyway, over and out from me - hope to see you all soon...

Jill

xx

I seem to be behind on blogs!!!

Well, Happy Ramadan as they say in these parts....

We are 5 days into it now - I quite like it - numerous coffee breaks in the "sin room", extended lunch and going home a bit early! Its great! I do keep forgetting I am not supposed to eat and drink in front of the Muslims though!!

The weekend before last we were over in Bahrain for Rachel and Lauretta's birthday - went to the Meat Co for food and then on to JJ's - really enjoyed myself... unfortunately the next day I was really ill - I do believe that drink played some part in it, but I went to the Dr Saturday and got signed off for 2 days as he said I had a virus. Quite a few folk have had a stomach virus anyway and it took me a week before I felt much better!

Busy with teaching still although classes are a little quieter now with so many people on vacation and it has been incredibly hot and humid lately too. Roll on the winter!

PAWS is keeping me inundated - there have been so many kittens - its not real - I just cannot find homes for them either very easily - check out all the cats I need homes for...

http://www.saudipaws.com/ag.htm

There are more to add too yet!

We were over in Bahrain again last weekend - always a must the weekend before Ramadan really - so went over Weds night - ended up in JJ's and met some British navy guys (see Taff in the background of the photo!!) so had a right old laugh with them and then it was Nicola's birthday and she had a roof top BBQ at the hotel we stayed at. It was so hot though - we all got ready to go out and had to go and dry off again before we could go out later...!!! Ended up in JJ's for a change again!!!

Friday myself and Tracy came back at mid-day - couldn't really face brunch although a lot of our friends did go...

This weekend we were over in Saudi - quite a welcome change really - went to the gym and to a party Weds night on camp - slept for 11 hours that night - I think I was a bit tired! And Thursday I popped to a friend's house who has got 4 kittens she found up for adoption and then I did some stuff around camp. Went to the Blue Strawberry for a meal then and on up to Sara compound to Music Mania night - it was so busy and a great night.... got in at 4am!!!!!!!

Anyway, thats bought you up to date really... busy week this week with teaching and I have some PAWS stuff to sort out too... only 24 days til I am home now too so not long!!!

See you soon...

Jill

x

Busy week for me

Hi folks - can't believe it is Weds already - 20 mins and I am out of here. Got to go and see physio woman about my bad back again - it is getting better though... Work has been busy in places - the system that we use here has been causing me major headaches and causing lots of unnecessary work...

I have been busy every evening - teaching circuits Sat and Mon and I did my practical personal training exam Sunday night - managed to use the gym when it was closed and film me doing the teaching so that was good - just need to put the footage on another disc now and get it sent off for marking. I passed my Sports Conditioning exam fully now - so have 3 more courses and my theory advanced left to do...

Last weekend was pretty mellow - apart from brunch - Weds went to Ayon's housewarming party, which was good fun - I bailed at 11.30pm but the revellers went on until 4am I believe! Thursday I did nothing - very unusual for me of course - and Friday we went over for brunch in Bahrain. I actually quite enjoyed it - spent most the time with my friend Andrew (who works in Bahrain and is from Mansfield) and 3 other friends of his all from Mansfield! Bit of home was good in Bahrain! Got back around 8pm so was not too bad for work on Saturday!

I went to the vets last night - two kittens have appeared in our apartment block area so I took them to be sterilized - I reckon they are around 4 months old. Also there were two kittens that the vet had been dumped with so I am hoping to get someone to at least look after them. They are only 2 weeks old!

Off to the finale of our Come Dine with Me meal tonight to Liam's house - its been on-going now for around 5 months! So, we will see who the winner is later!!! And Breige was the winner in the end - it was a great end to the competition!!!

Spent Thursday in Bahrain - went over early to miss the rush.... saw Robin Hood - it was quite good although Crowe's accent was Scouser and Irish I am sure in parts!!! Good movie tho. Later to the meal at the Meat Co and then on to JJs which was a bit of a blur.

And then so began my illness on Friday and I have been sick since and signed off work. There has been a virus going round and I am still not 100% today but back at work... so nothing to report so far this week as I have been inside for it all!!!

Anyway, over and out from me - won't be long til I am home now...

Jill

xxx

Anyway, over and out for another week...

Jill

xxx

Two weeks for the price of one!

Hi folks - missed out on a blog last week. Work has been pretty quiet really so not much to report from there. I am trying to be released to move to a busier job but after a discussion with the GM, they won't let me! I am far from happy about that as there is only so much stuff you can find to occupy you for 8 hours a day!

Anyway, not letting it get to me... I have done my circuit class the past few weeks - its busy now as its so hot outside - which is good. I am starting cover for Val next week so will be teaching twice a week now for around 6 weeks! The extra cash is always handy too!

I have been visiting quite a few friends - been round for tea - its always good when someone does the cooking! We have the semi final of come dine with me tonight and then the final next week - its only taken us about 5 months to get it finished!

Things are moving more with my fitness training - I am doing the practical exam on Sunday (via DVD recording) and I am doing nutrition in October still and then the other 2 I need to finish the qualification, I am looking at doing in the UK next year. I am just waiting to see if the dates are close together to do them in one trip... I am also looking at doing some yachting and boating qualifications as I fancy a career change - want to go and work on the yachts at some point...

Socially, there have been a few parties, another meal at the infamous Senor Pacos in Bharain and a relaxing weekend at the Gulf Hotel in Bahrain. In fact I am in Bahrain now every weekend leading up to Ramadan - oh the joys - that is due to kick off around 11th August...

And then its not long til I am home - only around 6 weeks away!!!

Anyway, thats all - keep in touch!

Jill

x