Well here we are nearly four months since I last logged on and posted. Although my last post is dated 11 October, it was actually posted on 7 October, as I somehow managed to post it on my husband's blog and not mine, so it had to be moved.
What a lot has happened in the time since I last logged on. I have felt unable to post as I now have to write down the words that my dad died whilst I was in Saudi Arabia. I flew home on Sunday 11 October, the day he died. Whilst he had been unwell for many months and he was 89, it does not make it any easier when the time comes. It is still a parent that has gone forever and your life somehow changes. I will talk more about this later, as I cope well most days, but some things I still find very hard.
So back to Saudi Arabia!
If I had continued to post regularly whilst in Saudi Arabia, my next post would have indicated that even situations which feel insurmountable can be overcome. On the Thursday, we met up with some of my husband's family, which was just so lovely for me. We spent a wonderful day with them and my sister in law was able to help and direct me so much into understanding what is acceptable in terms of clothing etc. We went clothes shopping (always a big plus!) and then just enjoyed all being together. In the evening we met with some of my sister in law's family and another wonderful couple who are very good friends of my brother in law and sister in law. Saudi custom is that men and women sit at different tables in restaurants. Women sit behind a closed curtain for modesty. However, what I learned that evening is that whatever people's beliefs, traditions or cultures are, they are human beings, who have their thoughts, likes, dislikes sense of humour and life experiences. Like in every society there are good and bad people and that it is too easy to simply judge people on how they look, dress or behave. It really humbled me and made me realise that I had maybe not made enough of an effort with people earlier in the week. I can truly say that I had a wonderful evening. We laughed, we exchanged stories, we talked about our respective religious beliefs, we talked about our homes and our life styles and I can honestly say that I made some good friends that evening. Little did I know how wonderfully supportive they were to be to me over the coming days, a time when I needed love and support so very much. It was decided that I would travel up to stay with my brother in law and sister in law by the coast for a few days the following Tuesday. They live with their three gorgeous children on a compound in Dharan. We were planning various events to enable me to meet other ex-pat wives and get to know them.
On the Friday, we met with the same group for lunch. For me it was really something to look forward to and it was like meeting friends I had known for a long time. we then went shopping (again - what a hardship!).
Sadly by Thursday evening I knew that my dad was very ill. By Saturday I knew that he was dying. This was incredibly very hard for me with being so far away. On Saturday I made the decision that I would need to return to the UK and so we booked the flight for Sunday evening. I think I have rarely been so touched in all my life by the number of phone calls, text messages and messages from my husband's colleagues that I was to receive on the Saturday and Sunday. My husband's family phoned from various countries in which they live to send their love and support. it was a really heart warming experience. The majority of these were people who I had only met a few days earlier and yet here they were giving me such tremendous support at my time of need. I can only say that it was a very humbling experience for me, as well as a huge learning curve in human nature and a huge lesson for me in not being too judgemental and learning to look for the good in people. So on Sunday evening I set off for the airport, just one week and one day after I had arrived. Reality really set in for me at the check in desk, it hit me like a tonne of bricks that I was here at this desk because my dad had died. I have to confess that I completely lost it and broke down. Saying goodbye to my husband was such an incredibly hard thing to do. He was obviously staying behind to complete his contract, and was not due to fly home for another three weeks. I had no idea at that time if he would be able to get home for the funeral or if I would be facing that on my own. I tried to read, but my book simply held no interest for me whatsoever. My outburst at the check in desk resulted in me being upgraded to Business Class for the flight, which was lovely. I was escorted on to the plane by ground staff and all the cabin crew had been informed of my situation. The first thing they did was to make me a lovely cup of hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows, such a comforting thing to have. I did manage a few hours sleep (with the help of some Kalms which my wonderful husband gave me) and some champagne. It felt like the longest flight of my whole life even though it was only 7 1/2 hours.
It was with a double sense of sadness that I left that evening. As well as the obvious sadness of losing my dad, I was so sad to be leaving behind wonderful people that I had been privileged to meet. They had helped me to realise that I could possibly live in Saudi Arabia.
I am going to sign off for now, but will be back soon to update on life over the last few months.
Bye for now.
Rita R
x
Saturday 30 January 2010
Sunday 11 October 2009
More Saudi stories
On day 2 of this adventure, I finally found 2 familiar things. Firstly, I discovered a dishwasher, which sadly, made me feel quite comforted! My second familiar discovery was a cat. I usually manage to find these creatures wherever I go. I consider this cat to be my first friend here, sad but true. It's amazing what you can tell a cat and what it can tell you! Having dutifully read through the few instructions which were in the flat, I realised that they don't like cats. According to them, cats (or pets in general) destroy furniture and feeding of the 'numerous strays' is not encouraged. They are being gathered up and destroyed in a 'human' way, what a typo on their part! My one question is, in that case, why do they sell cat food in the rather grnadly named supermarket? I admit to getting quite excited when I saw 'supermarket' on the very limited map of the area - yes another sad sign! However, it is really more like a small corner store, and that's being generous. Anyway, back to the cat. I feel that females and cats probably come into the same sort of category of being slightly less than desirable in life. So I will continue my chats with a like minded creature. In fact, to date, the cat is actually the only other breathing living creature I've come across here in our compound area.On day 3 I discovered how to use the washing machine and tumble dryer, great excitement! What I also discovered is that the plumbing for the wasing machine is slightly dubious and as well as washing clothes, the floor gets a very good wash at the same time. I found myself ankle deep in water when going in to check on the progress of the laundry. It would appear that the maintenance department doesn't work very fast as I reported it immediately, but to date (day 5) nobody has been to look at it. So I will continue to wash clothes and the floor at the same time and just avoid the laudry area whilst this is going on.Day 3 also saw us joining the social club. I am led to believe that the social life is very active on campus, but again, it's hard to know where to find such activities when there is no guide and seemingly noone you can ask. The staff in the social club offices were not very forthcoming about things at all and the only things advertised are a trip to Mecca (but not for non-Muslims), the fact that the fitness area seems to be for men only and swimming pool times, oh and bus times for ladies to go shopping, a differnt mall each day. Some days swimming is for ladies, some days for men and some days for families. I must work that one out.Lunch on day 3 was in the family section of the dining area, as opposed to the men's or women's which have compleely seperate entrances. It took me back to the bad old days in South Africa of different entrances for Blacks and Whites, not a welcome thought. The evening of day 3 saw us going out to dinner with the Head of Department, a visiting Professor from America and one of the female staff. On arrival at the restaurant the 2 men were already there and had to be shut behind a curtain until my husband, his female colleague and I arrived and we became a 'family'. All very alien to someone like me. It was a lovely evening, good food (fantastic in fact), great company and the ability to unwind. Prior to going out the dilema had been what to wear. I now realise that I have brought totally inappropriate clothing with me as I really believed we would be on a Western compound and I would have greater freedom in clothing. So I was left with one almost appropriate skirt and a t-shirt, which I would not normally wear for a night out. Neither of us were sure if I would be able to take my abaya off once in the restaurant (I wasn't) and so I had to think of all options of clothing. My abaya is now the most glamourous glitzy thing I own in Saudi Arabia, so at least I wasn't a complete frump!Day 4 saw a lovely invite to lunch with some of the ladies from the Department of Pathology. They were truly warm and welcoming and again I felt able to be at ease. I think my husband must have felt like he was with a harem as there were 4 laides and him - lucky man!In the afternoon of day 4 I decided to go for an adventure on my own. Being someone who is used to simply getting in her car and going where she choses for as long as she choses, it comes as quite a shock to have to arrange transport to where you want to go and to need to specify where you will shop and how long you will be so that you can arrange for hospital transport (the only safe method for a lady to go out on her own here). I wanted to get some stationery for my card making (yes, I've brought stuff with me for that), so had found out where the best shop was. The transport arrived and off we went. The store was like a Staples branch and quite nice, with lots of lovely things to chose from. I had been in there about 10 minutes when they started to turn all the lights off and make announcements in Arabic. I saw lots of people coming down from the upper floor and wondered if it was maybe a fire alarm test. Wrong, it was Prayer time and the shop closes! So I paid for the stuff I had picked up so far and asked when I could get back in. I had 30 minutes to fill and it was far too hot to stay outside in all my Harry Potter outfit and wait, so I wandered down the road. I found a supermarket which said it was open 24 hours, so I thought I would go in there, get a few bits and then go back to my original shop. Wrong again. Although allowed to stay in the shop (with about 3 other people), I realised that I was in fact locked in until after Prayer time had ended. Now if only they had locked me in he stationery store (or the chocolate shop which was between the 2), I would have been quite happy. But to be locked in a small supermarket with limited stock for over 30 minutes is not my idea of fun. It was made worse by the fact that I knew the driver was coming to collect me at 5:30, so I was on a tight deadline. I did, however manage to get most of what I wanted before the driver came to colelct me. I now also know roughly what time Prayers are during the day and so what times to avoid going out! In fact, it feels as if it would be easier just not to go out at all.Today is day 5 and we have been to look at some other hospital housing complexes. I find myself in the difficult situation where I know that for my husband it would be a great career move to come and work here, however, for me I feel that I would lose all personal freedom, religious freedom (or indeed the option to worship at all - Christian worship is strictly forbidden here) and I feel that I would just become a non person. It would lead to a situation where we would live apart for quite a bit of time, as I simply know that I couldn't live here full time and tgis doesn't thrill me. The villas we have been to see are lovely, but that doesn't make all the underlying issues go away. My husband and other people keep telling me how active the social life is and how I could build a great circle of friends, but I'm just not sure about it all. added to this isthe fact that we would have to get rid of our cats (which to me is a big deal - sad as that may sound), as I would only live here for part of the year, so I could netiher look after them in the UK or here adequately. So many things to think about and such a huge decision to be trying to make. Another factor is my parents and the wider family situation back in the UK. I'm just not sure that now is a good time for me to be thinking of this move.On the positive side people are very friendly (well the staff I have met so far) and welcoming. I think the issue is that for professional people, they have their work to keep them occupied, but I can't help feeling that I would have to be friends with the people around me, whether or not we have anything in common, or I will be a total 'Billy No Mates'I'm now very close to tears (again), feeling home sick and miserable, so will sign off for now and go and eat chocolate.More updates to come later.Rxxxagain -sorry about the typos, spell check not working!
Friday 9 October 2009
A quick update
It would appear that my last post with more sagas didn't appear. I'm not sure why, but I will try and update ASAP. Today will be busy day with family, so not much time, but I will be back with more Saudi stories...
Bye for now.
Rxxx
Bye for now.
Rxxx
Tuesday 6 October 2009
The Surrey housewife goes to Saudi Arabia
Well, here I am in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia at the start of a one month stay here. Today we finally have internet connection, so I can share the tales of my adventures here.
We arrived very early on Saturday morning after an overnight flight. The flight in itself was an adventure. We left from Terminal 5 at Heathrow, my first time there - it doesn't take much to amuse me. It actually felt quite exciting, although when our luggge disappeared through the tunnel I did wonder if we would ever see it again! However, my fears were in vain as it all arrived safely (and believe me there was a lot of it - I never pack lightly, I probably take more on a day out than the average person takes for a two week holiday!). The flight was quite turbulent which was not that great for some people on board. Unfortunately the man sitting in front of me was taken ill part way through the flight. He really was very poorly. Then came the call 'if there are any medical practitioners on board...' As we were sitting right there my husband was first on hand to help. Thakfully the man soon picked up. I was unaware that there is a medical advisory centre somewhere in the USA which deals with emergency calls from aircraft all over the world and talks the staff through what they need to do - really amazing. As a precaution the man was taken off the flight by paramedics. We were met by a hospital representative and shown to a bus to bring us into the city centre and to our 'home' for the next 4 weeks. As the working week here starts on a Saturday, my husband had to leave almost immediately to go to work. This after a full week at work in the UK and a disrupted night on a plane must have been really hard for him. I have to confess that I slept nearly the whole day! I think that the events of the last year caught up with me and a deep sense of exhaustion washed over me.
Our first day was therefore quiet and in the evneing we had an ealry night to catch up.
The working day here starts at 7:30am! Not good for someone who doesn't do early mornings!
I admit now that on day 2 I had a really rough day. I have never felt so homesick in all my life. I felt as if I wanted to get on the first plane back to the UK. Life here is very different. For starters it is really hot, even at this time of year. The locals as I have discovered call this pleasantly warm! I however declare it to be HOT!!! Now those who know me know that I like hot, sunny weather, but this is different. For starters there is the dress code wich even on the compound where we are is strict. On day 2 I spent a lot of the day in tears. It all felt very alien to me. It is hard to play the game when you have no idea what the rules are. Not wishing to cause offence to anyone by doing the wrong thing made me possibly over cautious and I felt as if I was in prison. My husband went and got me an abaya which is required for anywhere outside the compound. We met for lunch which got me out of the flat for a while. In the evening we had our first adventure.....to the supermarket! This was of course necessary so that we could eat and drink. Whilst we were there we bought a mop for the floors as there wasn't one here. I have to confess that in my abaya (long and black) with a mop, I felt like an extra on a Harry Potter movie set, ready to join in and play Quidditch! Most of the malls are air conditioned which is great, however, the one we went to seemed to be having some technical difficulties with air conditioning. So, on day 2 I tought I might pass out in the supermarket - what a great start. To explian the heat, it was about 8:30 in the evening and probably about 34 degrees. As we all know, black attracts heat, so wouldn't be my first choice of colour for an overgarment, but that is the colour they are. Whilst an abaya is long, it still necessitates wearing other clothes underneath for modesty as it has poppers down the front so is not all encompassing! So, in this heat, with effectively two layers of clothing, I was hot. Add to this menoapusal hot flushes and you have a recipe for disaster! However, we got back safely-not on my broomstick (well, mop actually!) but in a taxi.
End of day 2 and our first adventure.
We are now on day 4, so there is lots more to tell, but my bed is calling me so I can be ready for another early start in the morning.
Watch this space for updates.
Bye for now.
Rxxxx
apologeis for any typos, I can't make the spellcheck work!
We arrived very early on Saturday morning after an overnight flight. The flight in itself was an adventure. We left from Terminal 5 at Heathrow, my first time there - it doesn't take much to amuse me. It actually felt quite exciting, although when our luggge disappeared through the tunnel I did wonder if we would ever see it again! However, my fears were in vain as it all arrived safely (and believe me there was a lot of it - I never pack lightly, I probably take more on a day out than the average person takes for a two week holiday!). The flight was quite turbulent which was not that great for some people on board. Unfortunately the man sitting in front of me was taken ill part way through the flight. He really was very poorly. Then came the call 'if there are any medical practitioners on board...' As we were sitting right there my husband was first on hand to help. Thakfully the man soon picked up. I was unaware that there is a medical advisory centre somewhere in the USA which deals with emergency calls from aircraft all over the world and talks the staff through what they need to do - really amazing. As a precaution the man was taken off the flight by paramedics. We were met by a hospital representative and shown to a bus to bring us into the city centre and to our 'home' for the next 4 weeks. As the working week here starts on a Saturday, my husband had to leave almost immediately to go to work. This after a full week at work in the UK and a disrupted night on a plane must have been really hard for him. I have to confess that I slept nearly the whole day! I think that the events of the last year caught up with me and a deep sense of exhaustion washed over me.
Our first day was therefore quiet and in the evneing we had an ealry night to catch up.
The working day here starts at 7:30am! Not good for someone who doesn't do early mornings!
I admit now that on day 2 I had a really rough day. I have never felt so homesick in all my life. I felt as if I wanted to get on the first plane back to the UK. Life here is very different. For starters it is really hot, even at this time of year. The locals as I have discovered call this pleasantly warm! I however declare it to be HOT!!! Now those who know me know that I like hot, sunny weather, but this is different. For starters there is the dress code wich even on the compound where we are is strict. On day 2 I spent a lot of the day in tears. It all felt very alien to me. It is hard to play the game when you have no idea what the rules are. Not wishing to cause offence to anyone by doing the wrong thing made me possibly over cautious and I felt as if I was in prison. My husband went and got me an abaya which is required for anywhere outside the compound. We met for lunch which got me out of the flat for a while. In the evening we had our first adventure.....to the supermarket! This was of course necessary so that we could eat and drink. Whilst we were there we bought a mop for the floors as there wasn't one here. I have to confess that in my abaya (long and black) with a mop, I felt like an extra on a Harry Potter movie set, ready to join in and play Quidditch! Most of the malls are air conditioned which is great, however, the one we went to seemed to be having some technical difficulties with air conditioning. So, on day 2 I tought I might pass out in the supermarket - what a great start. To explian the heat, it was about 8:30 in the evening and probably about 34 degrees. As we all know, black attracts heat, so wouldn't be my first choice of colour for an overgarment, but that is the colour they are. Whilst an abaya is long, it still necessitates wearing other clothes underneath for modesty as it has poppers down the front so is not all encompassing! So, in this heat, with effectively two layers of clothing, I was hot. Add to this menoapusal hot flushes and you have a recipe for disaster! However, we got back safely-not on my broomstick (well, mop actually!) but in a taxi.
End of day 2 and our first adventure.
We are now on day 4, so there is lots more to tell, but my bed is calling me so I can be ready for another early start in the morning.
Watch this space for updates.
Bye for now.
Rxxxx
apologeis for any typos, I can't make the spellcheck work!
Monday 28 September 2009
A sunny Sunday, the M25 and a mad monday morning
Yesterday (Sunday) was again a lovely sunny day, part of the Indian summer we seem to be having to make up for the not so great summer. I did hear that the summer had been one of the warmest in recent years, but also one of the wettest, not sure any of us need to be told that one!
Anyway, back to sunny Sunday. My sister and I decided to take our elderly parents out for the afternoon to visit a local (to them) stately home and the grounds. So, I set forth from Surrey to Hertfordshire for the trip. Now, I should back track slightly here and say that for over a year now, due to family circumstances, I have been making many trips to St Albans (at least 1 each week and often much more than that). So, you would think that the M25 would be a piece of cake to me by now. In fact, I'm amazed that I haven't been asked to pay rent and Council Tax for spending so long on it whilst stuck in traffic jams. However, yesterday I was in a hurry and the fact that it was at a stand still really irritated me, not a good start to a day out. However, I battled on and had a lovely outing with the family. I then had to sit on my old friend (the M25 you understand not anything more than that for those who were wondering) for a further prolonged period of time to get back home. All very frustrating really, but there we go. I must remember to keep my cool more in future and not keep phoning my husband and telling him how bad the traffic is and how he should find another route to get to his destination.
Monday morning started early as my husband had an early meeting at work. So, through half closed eyes, i went to the kitchen to get breakfast ready. Daisy has this very strange habit in the mornings that she likes to come in the kitchen window, so there you are, bleary eyed, only half awake, when something comes hurtling towards the kitchen window. Yes, it's Daisy. She then goes out the cat flap and back in through the kitchen window, then in one window and out the other. What is going on in her mind I ask myself? Polite answers only, on a postcard please. In summer, this quirky little habit is not quite so bad as it's nice to get fresh air, but now that autumn is fast approaching I'm not so sure I want to play the game. The next disturbance on my hazy state was lots (and I mean lots) of bashing at the cat flap. Now usually this means one of two things, either 'the enemy' (ie any other cat in the Universe) is trying to get in, or Simba has once again lost his collar (and therefore the magnet that operates the cat flap). Daisy tries very valiantly to open the cat flap to let him in, however, she hasn't quite grasped that once it's open, he can't fit through is she is still hanging through it! The back door then has to be opened (with Daisy still hanging through the cat flap) to let Simba in. Then, shock horror, he has to be handled by a human in order to give him another new collar. I think at this stage between the 2 cats I must have shares in the magnet company! I usually try and fit the new collar whilst he is distracted and eating, but it doesn't always work well, as in this morning. Then Simba has to be PICKED UP!!!!!! This is traumatic for both parties as he growls very loudly when held. Not pleasant at 6.30on a Monday morning when still half asleep (me not him). So Monday morning and before 7am, I've managed to deeply offend the .4 of a cat that we share our lives with. Oh well, he can now go and tell all the neighbours what cruel people we are.
So now, I will try and make the rest of Monday as normal as any day is in my small little world in Surrey.
Speak soon.
Rxxxx
Anyway, back to sunny Sunday. My sister and I decided to take our elderly parents out for the afternoon to visit a local (to them) stately home and the grounds. So, I set forth from Surrey to Hertfordshire for the trip. Now, I should back track slightly here and say that for over a year now, due to family circumstances, I have been making many trips to St Albans (at least 1 each week and often much more than that). So, you would think that the M25 would be a piece of cake to me by now. In fact, I'm amazed that I haven't been asked to pay rent and Council Tax for spending so long on it whilst stuck in traffic jams. However, yesterday I was in a hurry and the fact that it was at a stand still really irritated me, not a good start to a day out. However, I battled on and had a lovely outing with the family. I then had to sit on my old friend (the M25 you understand not anything more than that for those who were wondering) for a further prolonged period of time to get back home. All very frustrating really, but there we go. I must remember to keep my cool more in future and not keep phoning my husband and telling him how bad the traffic is and how he should find another route to get to his destination.
Monday morning started early as my husband had an early meeting at work. So, through half closed eyes, i went to the kitchen to get breakfast ready. Daisy has this very strange habit in the mornings that she likes to come in the kitchen window, so there you are, bleary eyed, only half awake, when something comes hurtling towards the kitchen window. Yes, it's Daisy. She then goes out the cat flap and back in through the kitchen window, then in one window and out the other. What is going on in her mind I ask myself? Polite answers only, on a postcard please. In summer, this quirky little habit is not quite so bad as it's nice to get fresh air, but now that autumn is fast approaching I'm not so sure I want to play the game. The next disturbance on my hazy state was lots (and I mean lots) of bashing at the cat flap. Now usually this means one of two things, either 'the enemy' (ie any other cat in the Universe) is trying to get in, or Simba has once again lost his collar (and therefore the magnet that operates the cat flap). Daisy tries very valiantly to open the cat flap to let him in, however, she hasn't quite grasped that once it's open, he can't fit through is she is still hanging through it! The back door then has to be opened (with Daisy still hanging through the cat flap) to let Simba in. Then, shock horror, he has to be handled by a human in order to give him another new collar. I think at this stage between the 2 cats I must have shares in the magnet company! I usually try and fit the new collar whilst he is distracted and eating, but it doesn't always work well, as in this morning. Then Simba has to be PICKED UP!!!!!! This is traumatic for both parties as he growls very loudly when held. Not pleasant at 6.30on a Monday morning when still half asleep (me not him). So Monday morning and before 7am, I've managed to deeply offend the .4 of a cat that we share our lives with. Oh well, he can now go and tell all the neighbours what cruel people we are.
So now, I will try and make the rest of Monday as normal as any day is in my small little world in Surrey.
Speak soon.
Rxxxx
Saturday 26 September 2009
Turkish tails
Well I'm back from a wonderful holiday in Turkey. Sunshine, sea and too much food! Quite how I'm going to explain this explosion of weight at fat club on Tuesday I don't know. Oh well, I'll face that hurdle when I have to.
Now, before anyone thinks that I've lost the plot and the ability to spell in my title, please don't be alarmed. All will become clear later.
I discovered whilst on holiday that I have a new skill and am working on yet another one. Now, interestingly, they both revolve around golf. No, I haven't had a sudden urge to start playing golf, but I did go round the golf course with my husband, not once, but twice! My first discovery was that driving a golf buggy is actually enormous fun. I'm not quite sure what any of the other players thought about my skill, but I felt great about it. I do admit to getting some slightly strange looks at the purple knitting I was doing whilst waiting to chauffeur my husband to the next bit of the hole (or whatever the terminology is). Yes, I discovered that I can drive a buggy, knit and watch golf all at the same time. Now before you panic, I was obviously not driving the buggy round and knitting at the same time. However, during the breaks whilst waiting to watch where the ball went (the second talent which I am developing), my purple knitting was a good distraction. Personally I feel that the rules of golf are bonkers and whoever invented them is some saddo. However many times my wonderfully patient husband tried to explain them to me, they didn't really make much sense. Added to that, they put trees, bushes and big dollops of sand in the middle of the 'green'. Sometimes there's even water. This makes it very difficult to find the ball on occasion and if you are unable to find it, they then make you take penalty points for the pleasure of losing your ball! How odd. Trying to look for a small white round thing in a huge bush or bank of grasses is very hard, trust me! I still have to refine the skill of following the ball and seeing where it lands. This is not all that easy as the idea is that the ball goes a long way. Now, given that it is quite small, there are hills, dunes and all the above mentioned obstacles, you are trying to spot something rather small at a long distance - not easy. As the advert says, should have gone to Specsavers. I'm not even sure they could help.
Our hotel was lovely, with a bathroom to die for. The most amazing bath I have ever seen in my life. Bliss. The weather was lovely and hot, the beach was about 5 minutes walk from our room as was the restaurant with soooo much food! Hence the slight over eating. I tried very hard to be good, but it simply wasn't possible. I did however manage to become almost vegetarian for the week. Now this probably sounds quite strange, but there is a very good reason and it belongs to the tails in the title. One large tail and 6 very small tails, all belonging to such a cute little feline family. There was mummy pussycat and her 6 babies all living in the flower bed alongside the outside eating area. They were very popular and created quite a stir. I decided (in my usual way) that they needed some help, so each day I got my meat from the buffet and then took it outside. At this point I had to devise various ways of concealing it if we weren't sitting close enough to them so I could transport It across to kitty corner and feed them. So it was that I spent several minutes after each meal sitting on the ground (or worse still climbing in the bushes in the flower bed) feeding a hungry little family while bemused people stared at me. I however feel that I have done my good deed and Daisy should be thankful that it is illegal to bring live animals back home in a suitcase or she would have some stiff competition. If I'd know they were going to be there, I would have taken all the food that fussy Daisy won't eat with me to feed them!
Daisy was not impressed by our absence and has shown us in the only way she can, by scratching and making life pretty odd since we got back. She spent most of the first day back literally clinging on to me as I tried to walk round the house unpacking and sorting stuff out. Thankfully she has now regained her composure somewhat and become her normal self (whatever that may be as she is certainly not normal). I'm not sure if Simba even noticed we were gone or not. He may have realised just because he could come home without the fear of being touched (shock horror) by one of us and therefore sleep in peace. Who knows?!
Now it's time to play catch up with life in the next week to get ready for the next trip. More on that later.
Am now off to do some more sorting but will e in touch again soon.
Bye for now.
Rxx
Now, before anyone thinks that I've lost the plot and the ability to spell in my title, please don't be alarmed. All will become clear later.
I discovered whilst on holiday that I have a new skill and am working on yet another one. Now, interestingly, they both revolve around golf. No, I haven't had a sudden urge to start playing golf, but I did go round the golf course with my husband, not once, but twice! My first discovery was that driving a golf buggy is actually enormous fun. I'm not quite sure what any of the other players thought about my skill, but I felt great about it. I do admit to getting some slightly strange looks at the purple knitting I was doing whilst waiting to chauffeur my husband to the next bit of the hole (or whatever the terminology is). Yes, I discovered that I can drive a buggy, knit and watch golf all at the same time. Now before you panic, I was obviously not driving the buggy round and knitting at the same time. However, during the breaks whilst waiting to watch where the ball went (the second talent which I am developing), my purple knitting was a good distraction. Personally I feel that the rules of golf are bonkers and whoever invented them is some saddo. However many times my wonderfully patient husband tried to explain them to me, they didn't really make much sense. Added to that, they put trees, bushes and big dollops of sand in the middle of the 'green'. Sometimes there's even water. This makes it very difficult to find the ball on occasion and if you are unable to find it, they then make you take penalty points for the pleasure of losing your ball! How odd. Trying to look for a small white round thing in a huge bush or bank of grasses is very hard, trust me! I still have to refine the skill of following the ball and seeing where it lands. This is not all that easy as the idea is that the ball goes a long way. Now, given that it is quite small, there are hills, dunes and all the above mentioned obstacles, you are trying to spot something rather small at a long distance - not easy. As the advert says, should have gone to Specsavers. I'm not even sure they could help.
Our hotel was lovely, with a bathroom to die for. The most amazing bath I have ever seen in my life. Bliss. The weather was lovely and hot, the beach was about 5 minutes walk from our room as was the restaurant with soooo much food! Hence the slight over eating. I tried very hard to be good, but it simply wasn't possible. I did however manage to become almost vegetarian for the week. Now this probably sounds quite strange, but there is a very good reason and it belongs to the tails in the title. One large tail and 6 very small tails, all belonging to such a cute little feline family. There was mummy pussycat and her 6 babies all living in the flower bed alongside the outside eating area. They were very popular and created quite a stir. I decided (in my usual way) that they needed some help, so each day I got my meat from the buffet and then took it outside. At this point I had to devise various ways of concealing it if we weren't sitting close enough to them so I could transport It across to kitty corner and feed them. So it was that I spent several minutes after each meal sitting on the ground (or worse still climbing in the bushes in the flower bed) feeding a hungry little family while bemused people stared at me. I however feel that I have done my good deed and Daisy should be thankful that it is illegal to bring live animals back home in a suitcase or she would have some stiff competition. If I'd know they were going to be there, I would have taken all the food that fussy Daisy won't eat with me to feed them!
Daisy was not impressed by our absence and has shown us in the only way she can, by scratching and making life pretty odd since we got back. She spent most of the first day back literally clinging on to me as I tried to walk round the house unpacking and sorting stuff out. Thankfully she has now regained her composure somewhat and become her normal self (whatever that may be as she is certainly not normal). I'm not sure if Simba even noticed we were gone or not. He may have realised just because he could come home without the fear of being touched (shock horror) by one of us and therefore sleep in peace. Who knows?!
Now it's time to play catch up with life in the next week to get ready for the next trip. More on that later.
Am now off to do some more sorting but will e in touch again soon.
Bye for now.
Rxx
Tuesday 15 September 2009
A wet Tuesday and a grumpy old woman
Today it is pouring with rain and has been all day.
I set out at about 9:30 this morning for an appointment and my feet don't seem to have touched the ground. Am off to 'fat club' (my name - not theirs in case you are wondering and not everybody is fat) shortly. Bad weight loss week coming on I think. This combined with the rain has turned me into something of a grumpy old woman today. In ASDA this morning (or was it afternoon - it's all merged into one now) I frankly wanted to strangle a child who was sat in the trolley screaming at the top of it's voice and the parents who seemed to be totally unaware of this fact.
I've been trying to buy ladies lingerie today, but without much success. Why oh why is this year's fashion for padded bras? Being not terribly small up top I son don't want to add to my already ample cleavage. Thankfully I have a good supply, but much more of this padded fashion and it could lead to a disaster! All I wanted was a skin coloured t-shirt bra, you wouldn't imagine it could be so complex.
As it is raining the .4 of a cat has come home to sleep. I just found him on my bed all curled up and cosy. I will leave him in peace for now as he so seldom comes home (other than to eat of course!). It comes to something when you have to go to neighbour's houses to find him and when you go to collect their resident's association subs they all assume you have come for your cat! You will learn more about him as time goes on, he truly is a funny little boy.
Oh well, off to fact the humiliation of the scales laughing at me as I step on them.
Bye for now.
Rxx
I set out at about 9:30 this morning for an appointment and my feet don't seem to have touched the ground. Am off to 'fat club' (my name - not theirs in case you are wondering and not everybody is fat) shortly. Bad weight loss week coming on I think. This combined with the rain has turned me into something of a grumpy old woman today. In ASDA this morning (or was it afternoon - it's all merged into one now) I frankly wanted to strangle a child who was sat in the trolley screaming at the top of it's voice and the parents who seemed to be totally unaware of this fact.
I've been trying to buy ladies lingerie today, but without much success. Why oh why is this year's fashion for padded bras? Being not terribly small up top I son don't want to add to my already ample cleavage. Thankfully I have a good supply, but much more of this padded fashion and it could lead to a disaster! All I wanted was a skin coloured t-shirt bra, you wouldn't imagine it could be so complex.
As it is raining the .4 of a cat has come home to sleep. I just found him on my bed all curled up and cosy. I will leave him in peace for now as he so seldom comes home (other than to eat of course!). It comes to something when you have to go to neighbour's houses to find him and when you go to collect their resident's association subs they all assume you have come for your cat! You will learn more about him as time goes on, he truly is a funny little boy.
Oh well, off to fact the humiliation of the scales laughing at me as I step on them.
Bye for now.
Rxx
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