Hey - 20 days before I go home and counting - its not long to wait now. Another 2 full weeks to go and 10 more pilates classes to teach and then I am home! Not that I am counting or anything!!!


I had another busy week. The usual round of teaching 3 lunch times (13 in my class on Saturday - very busy!!) and I did an extra abs class on Tuesday to cover for Jason who was away. So, I did ache somewhat by the end of the week!


Work was incredibly quiet last week - in fact, its been pretty quiet this week, but a lot of folk seem to be out on business or training courses.


I did manage to fit in a sports massage (from over-doing it at the gym!) and I later went for a meal with some of the new girls (and my old friends) over at the Tandoori which was nice.... its interesting to find out why folk come out here, but generally it is for the money!! Even though the exchange rate is rubbish at the moment!


Rushed home Weds, got changed and went to help set up for the PAWS karaoke night! It was very busy and we had around 100 folk there - I did a good job of flogging the tickets! Made some really good cash for PAWS too which will go towards helping the homeless animals on camp too! Here is a photo of myself and Louise - the PAWS Queen - she does an amazing amount of work for the animals and is also a yoga guru! After the PAWS party we then went on to say our farewells to Kerrie and Simon who are leaving KSA. We hope to see you back soon! Good luck!!!!

The weekend (believe it or not) was a pretty quiet affair. The weather was pretty rubbish most of Weds - gusty winds and rain which ran into Thursday and so stopped us from going on a planned camping trip. Plan B had been to go to Bahrain, but I couldnt face being sat on the causeway in traffic jams for hours as it was pay weekend and is always busier than normal. Anyway, we decided to go into town to pick up some presents for our trip home in a couple of weeks instead so that was that job out the way. I managed to go to the gym later and then myself and Darron cooked thai food in my postage stamp of a kitchen... anyway, it turned out nice and Sheryl and Ian came by later for food (who we were supposed to be camping with) and then we played golf on the Wii!

Slept in on Friday - I think I was a bit burnt out really to be honest as I had been feeling knackered all week! We just watched films and Heros (another series I have become engrossed in as well as Prison Break!) - saw Kinky Boots - have you ever seen the film - its really funny - worth getting from the DVD shop if you havent! We also went grocery shopping and then came back and chilled out some more - most unlike me isnt it - to chill out!

This week has been quiet again at work, although Ali B has returned and Ali G has gone on a course for a couple of days. I taught pilates yesterday lunch and also started personally training a friend at the gym. I did my own workout and then another workout with Jacqueline. She has asked me to train her twice a week now too and another friend has also asked me to teach her!!!
Its good to be in demand and doesnt take up too much time as I combine it with my training too!
There is just such a shortage of fitness teachers on camp. I could actually give up work and teach full time to be honest!

Anyway, another busy week of boot camps, teaching and I am helping out with a tour going to Qatif on Thursday morning so a nice early 6am start for me then! Darron is working so he will be getting up then anyway! Off to Bahrain after Darron finishes work to get my hair done at the Ritz and then Friday I think we hope to go up to the International Circuit so Darron can use his gift certificate to go Hummer off - road driving! And we may squeeze the beach in too later if its not raining or whatever - the weather is weird at the moment! Its been hail stoning in Abu Dhabi and Dubai too this week!!

Right - its almost home time.....

See you soon...

Jill
xxxx

Paddy's Day weekend blog

Hey guys - here I am again - where does the time go I dont know. Getting closer to my break and I am surely ready for it now. I am in that "I need a break mode for sure!".

I have sent most of you the photos of the ball last weekend and posted the photos on facebook so you have all seen how posh and glam we looked!

Anyway, the rest of last week was pretty busy as ever. I managed boot camp last Monday - my first proper class since getting over my cold - it is getting harder though as the temperature is increasing here now. Tuesday I went to an abs class as I am covering the class next week and wanted to see what Jason did! Then I went for my fake tan - my friend Edain does the tanning on camp - its much better than sitting out in the sun! The bruises from my fall off the bike didnt look too bad either - I know, I am accident prone!!!

We ended up going over to Bahrain on Weds night. It was a bit up in the air as Darron had to work Thursday, but he managed to get a lift to and from Bahrain with his boss, who has a diplomatic passport. This means you can bypass all the queues and it only takes you an hour on a Thursday afternoon as opposed to 3 hours for the rest of us! Didnt do much Weds. Thursday firstly, Lorraine and Tracy called round to the apartment to pick up some booze which they had left with us from their last trip. We have become a booze drop off point for folk who stay over in apartments and dont get to finish their booze before they go! Saves having to dump it!

Went to get my nails done and saw a friend in there who wants me to give her personal training sessions at the gym! So another outlet for me! Then I went to have my hair done at the Ritz. It was a bit like Picadilly Circus in there - but always is - and my hairdresser was AWOL so 4 of the girls took it in turns to curl my hair and another hairdresser started my hair, then over an hour later my hairdresser arrived. I was in a bit of a panic as I had to yet get home and changed, etc for the ball! It was worth the wait though as I thought my hair look great - he did a good job...!

Our friend Bob came to fetch me from the Ritz so we whizzed home and got changed. Darron was home by now too. Quick drink and then Mohammed, our taxi driver, arrived and we went off to the Gulf Hotel.

Had pre-dinner drinks and caught up with a lot of folk I had not seen for a while and got photos, etc done. Then had starter and soup and then the speechers started and went on for ages and everyone was starving! Eventually the shut up and we had a buffet meal which was very good. Then there were more speechers, some irish dancing and then a raffle. The band came on at 11.30pm so it was rather late. We stayed until about 1.30 though and were home for 2am - pretty late for me that is these days!

Friday was a pretty late one - didnt get up til mid-dayish but I dont stay in bed often these days! We went to Trader Vics for lunch and then did some grocery shopping and just chilled out for the rest of the day.

Over the causeway at 5.30am on Saturday morning and back to work! I managed a gym session last night which was good, although do ache today and have done one pilates session and have another one tonight!

No boot camp tomorrow - I am having a massage on my back as its been sore (from overdoing the gym!) and then I am going out with some of the new girls for a meal in the evening. Covering Jason's class on Tuesday and maybe going to the gym (yes I am mad!) and Weds I have to help set up for the PAWS karaoke night on camp and collect money later on the door and then we have a leaving party to go to! Thursday we are camping in the desert - havent done this before so hope it goes ok. Not really into camping these days - much prefer hotel rooms - but can say I have done it now!!!!

Thoughts go out to my Mum today and my Nan - both of who I miss loads and also to Jade Goody.

Right, best go and look busy - congratultions to Lewis and Em on the birth of baby Scrimmers too - I know I should have said that a few blogs ago, but I am just behind with the times!!!

See some of you in about 5 weeks or so....

JB

xxxx

Who gave me the cold?!

Hello - here I am again... time flies - it doesnt seem 2 minutes since I wrote last weeks blog and I am back again! Its only 30 days until I am home now - getting close now with day counting!!

Anyway, I developed a cold on Tuesday - not happy as it threw my training regime completely out the window and coupled with a dust storm my sinuses were sore too - so not the best of weeks really! Anyway, I managed to go to the theatre on Tuesday to see a Theatre Group production about life on Aramco which was quite funny. I also had to set up the house for the social after the play - which I stayed at for approximately 5 minutes as I felt so rough! I am sure I didnt miss much! My days with the theatre group, as a Member at Large (social organiser) have now come to an end anyway as I have resigned. I have found it quite a thankless task and I got moaned at for not being able to attend the meetings as they clash with my classes so I thought - stuff them, they can get someone else to do it!

Weds we went over to Bahrain. Just stayed in and watched more Prison Break - finished Season 1 now - on to Season 2 next. Just waiting to get 3 on DVD also! Didnt feel like the gym on Thursday due to said cold, so we decided to explore Bahrain a bit more and try and find the Manama souk - the traditional part of Bahrain. When we did eventually find a parking space and fought our way through the traffic, we did find the souks, but they are basically just alleyways of shops.

We found the gold souks also and I bought a new watch which is pretty cool. Darron bought a fake rolex which already isnt working properly!!!

We did some grocery shopping and then later went to Upstairs Downstairs for some food. I think it was ok, although I couldnt taste much! After went to JJs (the infamous Irish Bar) for a few and then home...

Friday still not feeling great, but we decided to go to the Yacht Club and use our newly acquired membership! It was a gorgeous day, so we just chilled on the beach and later had some dinner there, before going back to the apartment. Here is a picture of the Yacht Club - its set in a nice bay and has a restaurant and outside bar and lots of boats. Darron's boss has a boat and offered to take us out on it at some point...

That was it really - a pretty uneventful weekend...

I still felt rough on Saturday - in fact we got up at 4am and drove back from Bahrain to Saudi and I just went to bed for the day! Went later to have my dress fitted for the ball, which looks lovely and then just chilled out for the evening. Back at work yesterday - was pretty busy, even though my boss is out. Managed to teach pilates at lunch and last night too and am feeling much better today thank goodness!

Hopefully I can get back to the gym now - at least when I can fit it in! Got boot camp tonight and tomorrow I am going to an abs class as I have to cover it next week as Jason is away, so I need to see what he does! Then I have my spray tan ready for the St Patrick's Day ball on Thursday at the Gulf Hotel in Bahrain... Weds hopefully we are going to Bahrain and then I have hair and nail appointments Thursday, ready for the ball and then we go to the ball!!! Friday, hopefully down to the beach again...

Anyway, there will be lots of photos next week from the ball so I will send them on to you.

Hope you are all doing ok and look forward to trying to see most of you whilst I am home in April.

Jill

xxxx

Darron's birthday weekend

http://picasaweb.google.com/Jillbarrows69/DarronSBirthday?feat=directlink (photos of Darron's birthday weekend link)



Afternoon - hope that you are all well. Not long til I am home now - only 5 weeks to go - hope to see some of you then.....



Another busy week. Work was busy - up until Tuesday - then all went quiet again! I did the usual in the evenings and lunch time - teaching, gym, bike riding, boot camp! Also helping out selling tickets for a karaoke evening to raise money for PAWS - the animal charity I help out.



The weather was a bit rubbish again all week but has now improved and I feel that summer is upon us - it was 85 degrees at lunch today - still cool in Saudi terms - the joy at the thought of a million degrees summer to deal with in the sweat box!



There is alot happening on camp this week. A load of folk who used to work here, from years gone by, are all returning to reminisce. I am not sure I would want to come back here - I could think of other places I would rather go on holiday thats for sure! Anyway, around 500 of them are flooding onto camp tomorrow I believe and there are alsorts of things organised for them, trips, plays, socials, etc, etc... I have to do the set up for a theatre group social - I am giving up the job of helping out with that in April - find it quite a thankless task to be honest and would rather devote more time to PAWS and my classes...



Anyway, Darron cooked tea Weds night and my friend Jane came over for a catch up. I hadn't seen her for ages - she is soon to be a grandma and is off to the UK this week to be with her daughter!



Also, must say hello to Mr Alan Stewart - my old science teacher - who has now become my first follower of my blog! I hope the rest of you sign up soon!!!




Thursday I went into town with Tracy and bought a few bits, then had a sports massage for my back - having problems with me over-doing it at the gym - then I went for lunch with my friend Gay at the Golf Course. Nice day for sitting out in the sun. In the evening, myself and Darron went to Kodo restuarant which is part of the Oasis compound. Its a pretty upmarket compound

- the "Mayfair" of Khobar really. Had a lovely buffet and managed to surprise Darron with a piece of cake and rendition of Happy Birthday by the waiters!! I am sure he will get me back!

Friday morning we were up early and set off to Bahrain around 9am. Stopped off for pork products (which we now have to hid really well as they have become really strict on the causeway..) and then to our apartment. Cracked open a bottle of Moet and showed Anthea and Sharon around, who hadnt visited our place before.



Off to Trader Vics at the Ritz Carlton around 12ish - 16 folk showed up for the lunch so a good turnout - we had a great time anyway and the food was great too - as were the cocktails - got a cake too, but no singing with this one and they had spelt Darron "Darrow" - you come to expect things like that over here though!!! Later we decided it was a good idea to go to Fidlers - I had forgotten what Fidlers was like - it reminded me of Brits abroad really and I won't be rushing back. Here are Darron and Emil "swinging their pants". For all those who remember Trevor and Simon off Going Live (is that the right programme!??) then you will understand!!!


Saturday I was up early at the gym, then we chilled out a bit and then went to the bike shop to pick up some new gear for Darron's bike and then to the mall in the search of the ever elusive back up ball dress for the Paddy's ball in 3 weeks time. I am having a dress altered, but it may not be back in time, so need a back up - but cannot find one, so I will have to wear the one from last year if I cannot find anything!





Above are some sights of Bahrain - some of the buildings that have been constructed and then the area next to the Corniche which is currently under development and being made into yet more apartments...

Anyway - back to the blog. Came home after shopping - not too bad on the causeway - it was full of mainly Kuwaitis and Bahrainis it seems - took about 1.5 hours though... and then back to the apartment and just a mainly chilling evening.

Busy this week with teaching, boot, going to see a play and set up for the theatre social (which I am boycotting!) and Bahrain on Weds for a full weekend over there - its beach weather now, so will be down at the yacht club no doubt!!

SEE YOU SOON!!!!

Jill
x

Raining in Saudi

Hi there - hope you are all very well. Things good with me - I thought I would have an easy week as my boss is in Korea, but its been pretty mad really, what with visitors and my team going on business or training trips. I thought we were supposed to be cutting back on spending!

It has been raining today - I took some photos on my walk to work... Problem is when it rains here, there is nowhere for the water to drain to so everywhere gets flooded and I am sure there were multiple pile ups on the roads this morning as nobody slows down in the rain - they still drive like maniacs!

Not alot to report really from last week. We didnt go to boot camp on Monday - went to a diving meeting - I went and did a gym session - my training is coming along really well and I am noticing a difference (as are other folk!), although I have had a bit of a sore back, so took the weights easy. I can't believe that a change in diet and 20 mins down the gym 3-4 times a week could have such a dramatic effect - its been hard work but its good to see that it is working!

This is a picture of Steinike Hall - our hotel - in the rain!!

Tuesday I went to the gym again and then we went to see a Tiffany sale - it was fake stuff - not bad quality but all the best stuff had gone by the time we got there, so I saved my pennies for another day!

Finally, our weekend arrived.. we spent it in Saudi this time, rather than Bahrain. Went out for a drink with Ayon to someone's house (not sure who he was!) then came back and cooked tea. Thursday morning I went to the mall and town with Tracy - I wanted some gifts for Darron's birthday - Wii games and accessories - but it appears that most of Saudi havent caught on to the Wii concept yet - so I will have to get some presents when I am in Bahrain now this weekend!

Managed to get a blackout made at the tailors for our bedroom window in Bahrain - it has a golden colour blind up at the moment which lets lots of light in during the morning so we wanted a black out as we are waking up at 6am on a weekend when we are there!

Went to Cafe Nejaar for lunch with Tracy, Darron and Deirdre - beautiful day for sitting out too - then I went to the beauty shop for a massage and to get my nails done. Later we went out to Kerrie and Simon's for tea - they are friends of Darron's and live on Saad 3 compound - gorgeous houses too - really nice compound. Met up with some of their friends too and had some food, played Taboo and then the others (I bailed!) sang karaoke!

Friday was another glorious day and after brunch at the hobby farm (must take my camera next time!) we went for a bike ride which was hard work as we cycled against the wind most of the time, then we went to Tammimi for food shopping and home for tea - so a pretty relaxing weekend all round for me!

Here is a picture of my living room now as it looks with my own furniture in - except the settee - still looking for something that will fit the minute space!!! The carpet will be going soon and be replaced with wooden flooring due to my apparent "allergy" to house dust!

Anyway, thats last week. This week, busy teaching, selling tickets for PAWS, Thurs out for a Japanese meal with Darron for his b/d, then over to Bahrain on Friday for lunch at Trader Vics with his mates for his b/d and off to recover on Saturday!

Hope you are all well and look forward to hearing from you soon....

Jill

x

Qatari weekend

Hello - another week in the land of sand but this week we went to Qatar, but more on that later...

Last week went ok again - work was incredibly busy - our guys seem to be doing a lot of travelling at the moment, which is keeping me busy. I was back and forth to the clinic still getting more rabies jabs and then had the dentist too! All I seem to have lately are appointments!

We attended boot camp Monday night, which again, was painful, but worth it in the end! Also we had managed to catch the two cats and get them to the vets to be sterilised (the one that scratched me!!) - they are back on camp now and all done, so being fed by one of the girls who live in the ballpark. Tuesday night I went into town with Gay and Tracy - we started off at Desert Designs and ended up at their warehouse as Tracy wanted a specific piece of furniture. I have never seen so much stuff in my life - a small gold mine really! And she got what she wanted!

Finally, Weds arrived. I managed to get in a training session at the gym, then we headed up to the airport. We got upgraded to first class and arrived in Qatar around 11pm and Kay picked us up. Qatar is yet another construction sight, in the Middle East, but was so much cleaner and more organised than the other places I have visited. There are some incredible buildings going up.. Kay and Neil live in a high storey apartment block - huge apartment and they have a large pool, gym, shop, hairdressers and coffee shop all on site. It was good to see them - the last time we had was on the cruise in Egypt where we met them....

Thursday we went to Villagio - a shopping mall which is on the sight where the Asian games were held in 2006. If you have ever visited Ceasar's Palace in Vegas, then thats what it looked like! Really nice place....

We also visited the museum which was a really nice building...

We had some lunch there and then went home - I managed to cram in a training session at the gym and then we met up with Andrew, who also had been on the cruise and lived in the same building as Kay and Neil! Went to an Irish Bar in the Shereton Hotel - had a really nice meal there and a few drinks - it was almost like being at home as it was all expats in the pub! In fact, there are 200,000 Qataris in Qatar and 2 million expats - so they are quite out-numbered!

On Friday we had a lazy morning playing on the Wii and then went to see an amateur production of Grease at a local school - it was really good - must say it puts our theatre group to shame really - the singing was amazing. Afterwards, we went to an old souk area, which was knocked down and then rebuilt to look old! Met up with some of Kay's friends and had dinner in this Iranian restaurant - amazing decor too. One of the friend's was from Grantham - just up the road from Mansfield - proves it is a small world!

Saturday arrived - our last day. We were up early and went 4x4-ing into the desert to an area known as the inland sea. Myself and Darron were in the landrover with Andrew and Kay and Neil went together. It was certainly hairy going over the dunes and on the way back Neil got over excited in some water and manged to flood their engine and break down for around 20 mins and Andrew got his truck stuck also so Neil pulled him out! Enjoyable day, but now I have been dune bashing, I am not sure I will do it again!

Back to reality and back to full on teaching yesterday - at the school at lunch time and again last night. Not got a too busy weekend - staying in Saudi this week - going to town on Thurs with Tracy and then to see some of Darron's friends on Thurs night and Friday just mooching around camp - will probably do a training session and bike ride...

Anyway, thats about all from me. Hope you enjoy the new look blog!!!

Jill