Another challenging week.....

Hi folks - well, it has been a weird old week really with one thing and another.... First I had to contend with the cat from hell - the one I rescued that the horrid bloke on Aramco just left at the vet. She hated it in my flat and proceeded to wreck it once she got a bit braver and kept me awake 2 nights with her meowing.. I locked her in the bathroom the third night and she kept launching herself at the door so I released her... havent seen her since so hope she is ok.

I also had a nasty email from the guy in question saying I had accused him of this that and the other whereas in fact I had just called him to make him aware of what was happening now.

Then, sadly my Aunt Vi died yesterday. She was a great age 90 and has a full and wonderful life but she will be missed. So, I am flying out now on Saturday night to get back early. I didn't ask work I just told them I needed to be with my family.

The rest of this week has been a bit of a blur. We had the fourth installment of come dine with me last night at Breige's house which was great - potato and leek soup, lamb and moussed. Really lovely and we had the added luxery of sitting round a table! We cannot fit tables in our flats they are so small! The search for a dress for the ball went on - I eventually gave up after looking in 5 malls in 2 countries! So, tried my back up dresses on which are now too big as I have lost weight! So, I will have to buy something on the day! No pressure like!!

Last weekend I went to visit the new Sara compound - most impressive - they have a massive resort style pool and several bars which are all great... Thursday I was running around doing PAWS stuff and then we went to the beach later for a party - it was like Ibiza down there - great night!

I am out with a friend tomorrow in Bahrain and staying there all weekend really for the Aussie Ball too on Thursday, back Friday and then over again Saturday to fly out.

Anyway - no more blogs for a few weeks now - will hopefully see some of when I am home...

Jill

xx

Stressful week....

Any takers for Freya the cat...

Hi folks - I am somewhat late in writing my blog this week - have been busy either rescuing cats or sorting out new flights so I can get home in time for my cruise.

Over a week ago I received a call from a guy who wanted me to come and move some kittens and their mother from his garden as his dog was freeking out. Asked around and the next day contacted him to say we could move them to an empty garden and once the kittens were old enough I would try and re-home them. Anyway, he had already called pest control by this point who had took the kittens but couldnt get the mother. So I said try and catch the mother, get her to the vets, sterilized and then she can be released - PAWS policy - trap, spay, release... so he took her to the vet then to tell me he was leaving her there as he had done his bit. So, I said I would fetch her back and release her - for some reason this email found its way to Recreation who have now stopped us from having charity events on camp as I am releasing cats that do not have an owner!!?? Its a stray - what am I supposed to do - the fact I am stopping it from having more kittens doesnt seem to interest them, plus this is what we do.. so basically this guy dobbed me in it. Fortunately we only hold garage sales on camp so these are the only things affected but we will have to meet about it to decide what to do. I don't know what is up with these people - we are providing a service and helping animals and being punished for it!! Anyway, I now have a cat in my bathroom - I got her back from the vet and couldn't let her out, so am now trying to re-home her... I have a few leads, so am hopeful... Also bought Bill, the cat, back, who has been scrapping and his face is in a right mess - it looked worse again tonight so he has gone back to the vet to recouperate for a few more days. It is so frustrating not having a house at times... I am also trying to catch the cat that battered Bill but so far he hasn't taken my bait in the trap....

So then BA decided to go on strike, so I have been trying to re-arrange all my travel plans home over the past few days. I have moved my original BA flight to December and am flying KLM to Birmingham - I just want to make my cruise... that has been a headache..

Have been at the gym on and off too - training down there too. Last weekend was great over in Bahrain - went to the beach and then Wranglers for Lou's birthday - we had such a laugh and there were certainly some characters in there. My drinking water inbetween each drink paid off and I was ok the next day too... Oh yeh Weds went to the mall to try and find a dress to the ball with no luck. Also, I decided to come out in a rash all over my face and neck - it seems I have some allergy to shellfish now too - so was pretty blotchy all weekend!!!!

This weekend I am visiting the new BAe compound tonight and then tomorrow have a PAWS meeting, a mall day, collect more free animal food then there is a beach party...

Anyway, 13 days to go and counting...

Jill

xx

Birthdays and BUP crawls

Hey there - its almost the end of another week for me - I don't know where the time goes here sometime - and its only 20 days now til my escape from here - volcano pending of course - it is worrying me slightly...

I struggled with a cold last week, which fortunately has now cleared and also my leg was still playing up. That seems to be better now after seeing another person on camp who diagnosed not tendinitis but a problem with my iliotibial band - it has been fine since she worked on it, even though it killed like mad at the time she was treating it... so back to short runs now but only in the gym and not even chancing the concrete...

I took delivery of some free pet food from a supplier we are helping advertise his business so I met up with him and he keeps giving me freebies now which is great for PAWS! Kitten season is upon us so there have been quite a few kittens coming and going. Overall, I don't have masses of cats to re-home, which in a sense, means that PAWS is working! Thats good to know... I am busy organising another band night for June with my colleague Myriam too and have a karaoke and bingo night lined up too!!!

The weekend was busy (as ever) - went to a local place on Weds to celebrate Lou H's birthday. Thursday I spent at the garage sale, meeting various new volunteers, chatting to them, helping at the sale again, having social meetings, meeting the guy for more pet food donations... never stopped and it was so hot too. Then the BUP crawl started just after 3pm - that was great fun going from house to house for "refreshments" - really enjoyed it.... (photo shows the route!!)

Friday I didn't really do that much - I think I was so exhausted from being out in the heat all day on Thursday really - so I took it easy, went to look at some houses on the bid list (yet again NOT successful - when will I escape my box?!?) and caught up with some friends.

This week I have been on a roll with my sports conditioning work. I am all but finished (with a bit of advice and help from friends - many thanks - you know who you are) so any day now should be able to complete that - lets hope I pass.. theory exam (hopefully) confirmed for the end of June and am doing my nutritian course in October in Dubai and trying to sort out another course to do in the UK! I will almost be there by then! Its just taking time...

We had the third round of CDWM - at Lou H's this time - nice meal and we still must stink of garlic even now!! Teaching at the gym tonight, then have some PAWS stuff to sort out with Joy and there may be the possibility I have to go and move some kittens and a mother cat to an empty house somewhere - glad that Lewis bought me some ultra strong cat catching gloves!

This weekend is Toddy's birthday so we are off to Bahrain for the weekend and tomorrow night I am out dress shopping in Khobar ready for the Oz Ball in 2 weeks...

Anyway, over and out from me.... keep me updated on your news - I don't seem to hear from many of you much now I have been gone so long!!! I still appreciate you keeping in touch

Jill

x

Double celebrations in Bahrain

Hello - I cannot believe how fast this week has gone - it started off slowly and now its Wednesday again - time sure flies here. I have had a relatively busy week, despite not really exercising due to my tendinitis in my knee and I have had a cold the past few days too which has made me feel a bit rubbish. I went to a small party last Tuesday - to celebrate a friend's graduation. I was then due to go out Wednesday but just felt exhausted so stayed in - had my last visit to the dentist too for a check up on the root canal and that seems fine. So yes, diagnosed with tendinitis, so no exercising for 5 weeks apparently or until the pain goes. Not in pain really now, apart from the odd twinge, but I worry that if I start back too early, it will make my knee worse. Very frustrating me not being able to exercise much. Going to try swimming tho and do some upper body stuff (once the cold goes)....

Ended up going to Bahrain last Thursday with Ayon as the casino night was cancelled of course. Did a bit of shopping, saw Alice in Wonderland in 3D which was really good and then stopped off quickly at Trader Vics - as you do! Stayed in Thurs night again and then over to Bahrain again for brunch on Friday to celebrate Julie and Phil's wedding and Sam, Kelly and Hannah's birthdays. Really enjoyed it in fact as hadn't done brunch for ages - met quite a few new folk down in Fiddlers afterwards too.... came home at 7pm too so wasn't too late back and felt "reasonably" ok on Saturday - one glass of water between each glass of champers does work you see to avoid a major hangover on a work day!

Managed to teach Saturday night - most of it was verbally done which was challenging but I did it without too much pressure on my knee.. Sunday I did a quick floor session at the gym and taught Sheryl in readiness for my personal training exam - although Sheryl currently also has an injury too - so until we are both well - I cannot do the practical exam! In between all this I have been running around picking up stuff for the PAWS garage sale tomorrow. Had a good meeting yesterday with someone from a pet shop in Dammam who is going to give us some freebie pet food in return for us helping advertise for his store.. I also had physio on my knee...

Tonight I am helping set up the garage sale and then have a birthday celebration to go to - tomorrow garage sale - I am meeting up with quite a few new volunteers and some of our helpers outside camp, then have to pick up some pet food and then have a pub crawl with the running group which I am, incidentally, going to have to walk!

Anyway, thats about all from me. Let me know if you want to meet up when I am at home - only heard from a few of you so far .....

Bye for now.

Jill

xx

Meda'in Saleh weekend

Hi guys - here is my blog for the last week..

My week was spent being busy as usual - work was a little quieter than normal as I have now pretty much done all my personal training work so just waiting for feedback on it basically. Also with the current volcanco issue then my DVD practical exam is cancelled as my colleague is stuck in the UK.. that is causing nightmares world wide I know... I had more car hassle - this time one of the hoses had split with the radiator fluid in it - so more too-ing and fro-ing with the mechanic - first time I have seen a guy fix a car using his mobile phone as a torch!!! Anyway its fixed now I think but my faith in my car has gone down hill... Weds night I had a few friends round for drinks - it was nice to have space to entertain rather than trying to cram everyone into my apartment - I hope its not much longer that I have to wait for a house....

So, Thursday, off on the trip to Meda'in Saleh. We flew from Dammam to Medinah but were delayed almost 2 hours before we started! So, this set us back and then we were supposed to have a police escort all the way to Al Ula (where we were staying) and this hadn't bee arranged, so at every check point we were stopped while the police sorted out drivers to accompany us. We must have stopped around 10 times on the 4 hour journey which then ended up taking 6 hours! We were only 5 miles away at the last stop and they were making us wait so I got out and yelled at the police in what Arabic I know to hurry up as we were all tired and fed up of travelling. It worked it seems and we got there at 9.30pm...

The next day we were up early for breakfast and then went to Meda'in Saleh to see the tombs. There are around 160 of them - built by the Nebateans some 2000 years ago. Those of you who have visited Petra will see the link and that they are built by the same people. We also visited the railway that was destroyed by Lawrence of Arabia - this linked Meda'in Saleh withMekka and Petra in the early 1900s. After this we then went to the mud village - it was lived in until most r

ecently in the 1970's apparently - all the houses were joined together - segregation was practised so that the women ran around in the alleyways and the men would go around via the roofs!!!

After lunch, back at the hotel, we went back to see the largest tomb - Qasr Al Farid which was amazing - the guy who had this built was indeed very well off! Following this we went to see an archeological site - apparently not many folk are allowed in so we were lucky - and then the Lion's tombs - these were built by the Dadones - the Nebateans came down from the South and the Dodones from the South - so there are 2 different styles of tombs. We then went to watch the sun set over Elephant Rock. Dinner followed and then a relatively early night. Lawrence of Arabia was on DVD but as it was on for 4 hours I didn't stay up!

Up early Saturday - we went climbing up a mountain and saw some mosiac art work - I had trouble climbing due to my bad knee though and then we went to the museum and then back to pack and leave. The police did appear to have their act together and the journey back was relatively smooth, apart from a few short stops this time.

This week has been busy really - I had to go to the Dr to see about my knee and have tendinitis so am out of action for a while which is not good.. Also got called to an emergency meeting regarding the casino night this Thursday and due to a security issue we have had to cancel - its happened before but so annoying with only 3 days to go. Cannot risk folk possibly losing their jobs really just for a night out... so I am now going to Bahrain tomorrow to do some shopping!

Here is the link to the rest of my photos too:-

http://picasaweb.google.com/Jillbarrows69/MedinahSaleh?feat=directlink

Anyway, hope to hear from you soon...

Jill

xxx

One of those weeks!!!!

Hi guys - I just seem to be having a very challenging week so far - sometimes my patience is tested over here - very simple things end up being major issues and taking forever to sort out. Ie my tooth - finally it is filled - but 6 trips later at 10 quid a trip to get there and back - it frustrates me that I just cannot just get in a car and drive myself to the dentist. And then there is the issue of my car - Anthony (from Syria!!??) came recommended - I told him to fix up the steering and let me know if there was anything else wrong but let me know how much it would be - so 5 days later, and despite me calling him 4 times to see when the car would be back, no mention until I was picking it up that he had done 500 quids worth of work on it!!!!!!!!! So, I went mental at him and he knocked a bit off the price - fair enough the stuff he had replaced was very worn - but its a camp car, driven a few miles a day - camp cars can survive with minimal work being done on them for ages, unless absolutely necessary! And then, I get back to Tina's (my house sit) last night - steam coming out from the engine and one of the hoses to the radiator has split and fluid gone all over - so he sends his mechanic up today at lunch (who spoke hardly any English) to sort that out, which is currently on-going as waiting for a part! Agggghhhh! And the a/c isn't blowing right either - it was fine when it went in! Damn car.

Anyway, last week was busy - work was busy - the dental ordeal finished, although only completes tomorrow with a free polish for all the times I have been down there! Went to Rashid II on Weds with Louise to sort out my next PAWS social which will be a karaoke night in July.

Thursday I did actually relax at the spa for a few hours - did a round at the gym and had a deep tissue massage - she started using her elbows which I couldn't bear so then went on to use her hands - which was painful at times, but good pain! Thursday night US consulate - it was mad hatters night - there is a photo floating around somewhere of me with Ayon's flying hat on - but taken on his phone - they don't allow us to take cameras in there.. it was a good night and I met up with some of the new marines, made some connections for future events, etc.. and Friday was a day of rest!

I started my house sit Saturday - Tina lives in a massive house which I think is about 5 times bigger than my flat - its nice to have space, although I have found I am currently living in 2 places at once and am frequently going back to the flat..

I am looking after Gizmo the cat - who is very sweet and a very good boy too - no trouble.

Had a very busy class on Saturday night (20 folk) and then a casino meeting which seemed to go on forever, then I had to pick up clothes and move house - I think I finally sat down at 9.30pm! Sunday was busy picking up garage sale stuff from people off Aramco at lunch time and then taking it all to the storage unit and then popping to see a friend. Last night I ran for the first time in forever - just over 3k - I did walk up the hill on and off but mostly I did better than I thought - glad I have got back into it again! Went to see a friend then and her Mum (who is visiting) for tea and then waiting for the car man to come over, who eventually didnt, so been sorting all that out today!

This weekend is another long one in Aramco so we have Saturday off. I am going to Medinah Salat on a cultural type trip so there will be photos of that next week - it was built at the same time as Petra and although isn't on the scale of Petra is similar...

I have almost finished the sports conditioning part of my personal training work - in fact I had a meeting with one of the Doctors at the hospital last week and she wants me to help set up a gym she is building in Khobar!! I am doing the practical via DVD (being filmed 25th) - the theory was supposed to be sat end of April, but Impact are now not coming to do a course in Bahrain so I am not sure what will happen. I am not due to go to Dubai til October now - I suppose it would give me even longer to keep revising!!!??

Anyway, will be in touch next week and as I always say, please write back soon....

Jill xxx

A quiet weekend

It does happen occasionally that I do have quiet weekends. I was absolutely shattered last weekend so didn't do much at all, apart from go to a BBQ for a few hours. Most unlike me, hence the lack of photos. So above is a photo of one of the many buses that transport us to the malls and into town - this is the view out my window at home - the green area is the old ball field and the buildings through the trees are the theatre, restaurant and coffee shop - so you can see I am pretty close to most things! The other view down the road is my walk (or drive) to work! And the first pic is my office - thought you would like to see where I spend most of my day!!!

I dont have a whole lot to report this week really. Work has been manic - until today - with the guys travelling all over the place so I have been busy sorting them out. Today both my bosses are out and I am sat here listening to Trent FM - a nice start to the weekend I say! I didnt do much Weds and Thursday I was supposed to go on a trip to Ugair and never went as I didnt feel too great. Just went to Cheryl's on Thurs night for a BBQ - she is doing a house sit - its so nice to have a garden to sit out in! I am house sitting from Saturday also - huge house - looking forward to having some space for a change and a huge garden! Friday I spent revising for my personal training qualification. That was it really!

My car went into the garage this week - its been there 3 days now and I am not sure when I am getting it back - problem is with 18 year old cars is finding parts so I guess thats why its taking a while... I taught circuits Sat and have been spinning, the gym and a bit of a walk last night. Didnt go far really as had my root canal tooth finished off so was feeling groggy again - I am not sure what they inject you with here, but it always makes me feel bad afterwards. Anyway, looks like the dental work is done for now!

Busy weekend - BBQ tonight and going to see a guy about sorting out another PAWS social in June time, tomorrow spa then Consulate and Friday not sure yet - maybe go to Bahrain for late breakfast or something...

Only 7 weeks til I am on my cruise now - will be sending out an email to arrange to meet up soon when I am home if you can make it..

Jill

x