Another weekend arrives

Well thats another week done and Ashley's first week is over. We have had a busy week. Last night we visited Adhari Park which is a sort of cross between the Links Market and Disneyland! Sheila being golf daft insisted that we play mini-golf and then was regretting not taking her own putter and ball. You know what they say about a bad workman. Here we are ready to tee off.

It all went badly wrong from here although it has to be said that I was the only person who had to fish their ball out of the pond. I feel I was a bit unlucky!

We visited Bahrain Fort the other night just as it was getting dark. We missed the sunset, my navigational skills left a bit to be desired I'm afraid. But we managed to capture a few nice pictures of the floodlit fort.

Today it's off to the Bahrain Racing Circuit for a look around and then for Friday Brunch which is a bit of a tradition in Bahrain but something that we have not yet done. This week is a sort of practice shot at the BAPCO club before we go for the full monty at one of the exclusive brunches next weekend. Another case of open wallet surgery I fear.

After brunch it's down to the golf club for the first competition. A nine hole opener to the season.

OK time to get ready.
David

Another update

Hi all, I forgot to post my weekly update last week probably because we have a visitor. Ashley is first to arrive here in the middle east and she tells me that the bed is suitably comfortable. She was a bit ill on the third day and spent that in bed. It has become something of a tradition that she spends at least one day of her holidays ill in bed! Anyway she is feeling fine now and we are almost at the weekend again. She has been lazing by the pool and reading while we have been flogging our guts out as normal.

She has maybe been ill but I can say she has been pretty lucky with the weather!!!! Its been glorious since she arrived.

I have tonight bought Sheila her anniversay come birthday present. A pearl coloured Blackberry phone. Really in keeping with her new important status in the school. She is much more important there than me now. I have 8 staff and Sheila has about 28 I think.

First golf competition this weekend and lots planned for Ashley. We have visited the Bahrain Fort last night. I'll post some pictures soon.

Well that's all for now,
David, Sheila and Ashley

Weekly News

Hi once again, another weekend is upon us. We have had a very busy week starting with two in-service days and then three hectic days with the students back. It is alwasy a busy time getting everyone into their new groups and classes, especially since the building work has made such a difference to the layout. It all takes some time to get used to. The building work is almost complete and at least all of the essential accommodation is habitable.

One of my students told me that she had seen me on the TV during the holiday on Candid Camera. I was walking in one of the shopping malls one day several weeks ago and a man jumped out in front of me wearing a silly scary mask. I didnt think my reaction merited an appearance on the show but perhaps it was funnier than I thought. Apparently they post all of the shows on YouTube. I have had a look and didnt see it. Latifa says she will send me the link to the clip because it is apparently there.

Sheila has formally been promoted to Office Manager as well as her role as PA to Karen so she is now officially in charge of all of the administration staff in the whole school. She is a very clever girl don't you think?

Monday saw us celebrate our Pearl Wedding Anniversary. Thanks for all the messages of sympathy oops I mean congratulations. We went out for a meal to Cafe Italia. It was VERY nice but it was a wee bit of open wallet surgery. We had two bottle of water along with our meal and they cost us BD6. TEN quid for two bottle of water! A bit on the hefty side. The whole meal was BD57 about £100. Apparently that's what you pay these days for a nice meal. Anyway it was really enjoyable. The waitress brought Sheila a pillow. I thought a pillow? Why does she need pillow? It was to rest her hand bag on. All the ladies got one for their hand bags too. Amazing! We might take Ashley there for a special meal if eveyone agrees to order the cheapest things on the menu!!!! There is a steak dish that costs BD37.500 thats about £68 for a steak. I would be expecting the hale coo for that!

OK Thats about it, rugby world cup starts today. I have set the tape to record all 48 matches and I plan to watch the lot. Must go now to the bank to check on my Dinars to make sure they are OK.

See you all some time.
David and Sheila

Weekly update

Well its Friday again and another week has passed. It's been a busy week with the new staff at school getting settled into their accommodation and getting the lie of the land. We have been heavily involved in their induction week making sure that they have all they need. A far cry from the help we received a year ago. Although we got lots of help it was not formally organised like this year. Things are much more well organised now. We had a few meals out with them and generally got to know them quite well.

Not long now till Ashley arrives. She asked if we had a parasol for the roof terrace and we said we didn't. I tried some silver gaffa tape and attached a golf umbrella to the deck chair. Perfect I think although it looks a wee bit Heath Robinson! Ashley may not approve and so we might need to make a new purchase. The new bed has arrived and the new suite arrives next weekend. Nicola is coming out to see us too in October so we are looking forward to that.

School starts officially on Sunday with a couple of inservice days before the students arrive on Tuesday. It still looks impossible that the work in the school will be complete before then but it is amazing what can be achieved when the pressure is on.

Got up with the sun this morning for an early few holes before the sun got up too high. It was only when I arrived at the course that I realised there are two locks on the locker room and so I couldnt get in for my clubs! Golf is a difficult game but I can assure you it's nigh on impossible with no clubs and no balls. I had to wait till the staff arrived so I only managed to play 6 holes before it was too hot to continue. We went back tonight and played another 5. Weather has remained very hot and humid.

Planning a meal out for our anniversary this week but not sure where we'll go. I better make it somewhere a bit special if I can. I believe there's a Macdonald's drive through at Alosra Shopping Mall, that should do nicely.

Well I think that's the news for this week.
David & Sheila

"Date" with destiny - weekly update

Hi folks, its me again, who else? I have decided to try to do a weekly update for those of you who are still reading this. I hope I can find something vaguely interesting to keep you amused.

Date season. It seems that mango season is over and has been replaced by dates. The trees are hanging with them and it seems to be harvest time. The shops are full of dates of every imaginable variety. Here is a picture of the tree in our garden. It still has loads of dates on despite having been harvested by the compound staff.

One of the admin staff brought some stuff she called "date square", it was a kind of date pie where the pastry bit was more like a firm crumble. It was absolutely awesome. I have asked her for the recipe so I'll let you know how I get on.

Well its hot hot hot. We havent seen a cloud since we arrived, not even a wee whispy one passing on by. I played six holes of golf (one over par for 6) this morning and had to stop. It was so hot. I didn't want to overdo things. It's my first game since getting back here. I will probably go back and play another six tonight with Sheila. Must get acclimatised and ready for the competitions that start soon. Sheila and I are entered in the doubles! Watch this space.

Today is the day that the first of our new teachers arrives from the UK with their family. I think its the new Head of Maths and her husband and children. They must be feeling today exactly what we felt one year ago, a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The other new teachers arrive over the next couple of days and start at the beginning of the week. I start officially a week on Sunday but I have been in with Sheila every day this week getting organised. It's too hot for much else.

Our air conditioning is finally fixed so Ashley can relax. We are back in our proper bedroom. We have been looking at some new furniture and will wait for the Eid (remember from last year that is pronounced Eed) holiday after which there are the best sales. Eid is the celebration of the end of the Holy month of Ramadan. It is almost over. It ends when the new moon is sighted for the first time and marks the start of an intensive period of celebration, sales in the shops, and a general holiday spirit.

Do you recall last year when we went to pay the golf fees we got a special deal where it was cheaper to join BOTH the Bapco Club and their golf club that it was to join the golf club only? Well it was the same this year BD245 (About £390) for both of us for both clubs. That's what I call a result! I was sure that woman would have been fired by now and replaced by someone who knew the procedures better but it appears that she was right. Bargain of the year. We must try to make better use of the Bapco club this year. It has lots of activities including snooker and ten pin bowling. I'll have to give it a go.

Well I think that's all the news for now. Watch out for next week's episode.

David

Safe Arrival

Hi y'all, we've arrived again safely in Bahrain. I have to say the weather is hotter than we remembered but it is bliss. I believe there has been a marked improvement in the scottish weather since we left! Anyway we are here again and Sheila started work today. I popped in to school with her and it resembles a bomb site. There are significant renovations being made to accommodate the school expansion and there is a lot of building work still going on. We are assured it will be finished except for the new administration block so Sheila has no new office and will not have one before school starts again. It's not clear what the solution will be but I am sure we'll all squeeze in somewhere. As long as there is air-conditioning!

That brings me nicely to my next issue. The air-conditioning in our villa is partially broken down. Only the downstairs system is working so upstairs its like an oven. We had to bring the mattress and bedding down and sleep on the livingroom floor last night and since its still not fixed it will be there again tonight. Hopefully it will be fixed before Ashley visits next month! It will be a bit cosy all of us on the livingroom floor.

I am listening to my new Bose sound system as I type this - Alison Krauss and Robert Plant, awesome sound. It was on special offer because its a "Series 1" version and they are trying to get rid of them. Never walk away from a bargain folks. It sounds great. It was purchased about three milliseconds after it got the "Sheila approval" before she changed her mind.

OK must be off to help unpack the cases.

Cheerio for now
David and Sheila

Bahrain Adventure Episode 3

Well, that's it again. Summer holiday is over if summer is the correct word! It has been a little mixed on the weather front but all in all I suppose we shouldn't complain. Most of our activities went ahead without major disruption although I have to say it will be a pleasure to get back to Bah - nay - rain where the weather is a little more reliable.

It was a great pleasure to have all three brothers together again and we enjoyed several great games of golf together. Andrew Maggi Mathew and Claire had a great time and so did we.

Tomorrow we fly back and Sheila starts work on Monday. I still have a few days before school starts for me on 4 Sep. I think it will still be too hot for golf so I will probably just go in to work and get a head start on next years preparation. There have been many physical changes to the building and Sheila will be in a new office. I doubt it will be as grand as her last one!Ashley is coming to visit us in a few weeks time so we better get a second bed sorted out before then.

Thanks to eveyone who helped make our stay so enjoyable. We are already looking forward to returning at Christmas. Did he just say Christmas? Yes indeed and its only 127 days to go until Santa pops down those chimneys once again.

Well cheerybye for now
David and Sheila