Still Here!

Hi y'all, its been some time since I posted to the blog because we have basically had little to say and certainly nothing exciting. School is the same as ever except the kids are on study leave for their big exams. Let's hope that my lot all do well. Its always a little nerve-wracking when your kids go into exams relying on what you have taught them. This is especially so this year since the whole of the course was new to me.

It's the weekend once again but the golf season is over as its now too hot to play during the day. I am really looking forward to getting back in about 6 weeks or so to some golf on the grass. We'll probably just have a relaxing weekend on the roof terrace and maybe in the pool. I have been swimming every morning again before work. I think its beginning to show on the waistline and would certainly be better if it were not for cake day on a Wednesday. It was my turn this week and Sheila helped me to make some macaroon bars. They were very well received.

I am not sure how many of you are still checking for blog posts but I will keep the blog open just in case. As I stated at the start I dont want it to become a list of what we bought at Jawads when we went shopping today!!!

OK, going for now. Have a great weekend when yours comes . Looking forward to seeing you all again soon.
David and Sheila

Consolation Cup

Today was the consolation cup for those players who had not won anything this season. I prefer to describe it as the losers cup and I thought I might have been in with a chance of a prize because today I played like a complete loser. I was bowff. My driving was worse than the cars on the highways here, my iron shots would have been more at home on the ironing board, my chips would not have been out of place in Valente's and Geoff Capes would have been proud of the putting. Thanks goodness that's the season over. It will give me some time to work on my game. I'll get a few games in when I am home in the summer. It looks so easy when you watch those guys on the telly!

It was pretty hot today as the weather continues to improve (if thats the correct term). It was very windy but it really is a hot wind. It doesnt cool you at all. You really need the on-course water. We carry a bottle and fill it with iced water from the tubs located at every other hole around the course. They are big insulated containers full of ice and water. Magic, it really hits the spot.

Sheila went with me for six holes before the presentation and we'll probably play again tomorrow.

OK that's all the news if you can even call it news. No news is good news as they say.
Cheers for now
David

Hi, it's me again

Hi all. It's some time since I posted anything on the blog and I was prompted by an email from my good pal John Blackwood who was enquiring after our well being. I was not really sure whether anyone was still reading the blog. I have enjoyed a couple of weeks Easter holiday where we played lots of golf. Sheila was working some days but had a few days holiday too. We decided not to go away so relaxed around the villa and played the obligatory games of golf. I did a bit of holiday tutoring on the days that Sheila was working so that brought in a few extra Dinars.

Well its into May again which means that we are soon to be returning for the summer holidays and the first year will be over. On one hand it seems like only last week when this whole adventure started and on the other it seems like we have never lived anywhere else! Things are still quite on the unrest front so lets hope that remains the case.

May also sees a big birthday in the family and Sheila and I are sorry we wont be there for the family celebrations.

Must get ready for work, will try to post again soon.
David & Sheila

Wish I had been brave enough to get the camera out!

We were driving home from school today and got as far as the roundabout at the end of the Janabiya Highway. We saw a police car at the roundabout with about another six or seven behind and beside it. I thought oh oh .. whats happened here then? I noticed that the first three police cars were all damaged and I thought maybe some protesters had attacked them. Then I thought, no, wait a minute they look like they have crashed .... into each other!!! At least four police patrol cars had crashed into each other and all were damaged. I wasn't brave enough to get the camera out to take a snap because they all carry some fierce looking weaponry and I don't think they could see the funny side. Woops!

It's International day at school tomorrow and staff and students are invited to attend in their respective national dress and take some traditional cuisine. Better get the kilt dusted down. Sheila is making the highlander biscuits .... yummy.
David

Weekend Update

Sunday morning again and back to work. For me at least its a short week. The Easter break starts after school on Tuesday. I need the rest.

On Friday I played in the Captain's team in the golf match and played my best round of golf at Awali. I played the entire round in three over par and those all came at one hole. Apart from thet triple bogey I made 15 pars, one bogey and one birdie. The rest of the team played great too and we had a fantastic combined score of 121 points a combined 10 shots better than handicap. In the prizes? Eh ... no! We were only third. The second team scored 126 and amazing 15 shots better than handicap. And the winning score? Wait for it ......140! One hundred and forty! I am not a sore loser as you know ... well maybe just a little but 140. That's almost 10 strokes better than handicap PER PERSON! Can you see my point?

Anyway on Saturday we went back for 9 holes and played the back 9. On the 16th hole Sheila tee'd the ball up and smashed her drive a record-breaking 209 yards down the fairway. She is really improving. She made six on that hole and six on the next which is pretty good. Especially considering women play off the same tees as men here (their handicap is adjusted because there are no ladies tees).

Work beckons.
David

Friday again

Another weekend has arrived and it's a good one because there's less than a week to go until the Easter holiday. We work only Sun Mon and Tue this week then its two weeks off. Sheila has a few days in the middle so we have toyed with the idea of jetting off to nearby Dubai or maybe Oman for a long weekend. No firm plans though, it will depend on cost and availability of flights and accommodation. The lack of blog entries suggests that there has been nothing to report this week and I suppose that has to be good news. You could easily believe that everything was completely back to normal. Last night we popped into town to Geants the big supermarket for a few essentials and apart form one police stop point everything was absolutely normal.

I had no golf planned for this weekend because it is sponsors day where all of the companies who have sponsored an event throughout the season get a day to bring along their guests for a game but then out of the blue an email arrived inviting me to play in the Captain's team so I am playing after all. Its a later start for me than normal. 1.30pm shotgun start. For you non golfers that means that the whole field starts at the same time but on different holes so you could be starting (and consequently finishing) at a bit of the course miles away form the clubhouse.

The last few days have been warm but sunless. There has been cloud cover and even some April showers. Very unusual here apparently. It seems that the whole world is experiencing unusual weather patterns. Mind you although there are showers there's still no need for a jumper or a coat.


Well enough for now, kettle is boiling and the coffee jar is beckoning me to come and have a look.
Take care,
David & Sheila

NEVER check your email when you are watching the golf!

Spent most of our spare time on the weekend watching the golf. Since it happens late at night here we have been taping each days events and watching it a day later. Just settled down to watch the final round and it's getting pretty exciting. Check on my emails and find one from my dear mother-in-law saying how disappointing the golf result was for Rory McIlroy. I suppose, I still don't know who won except to say my favourite didn't!

Cheers
David