Those lazy hazy crazy days of winter!

Today we had a picnic lunch on the beach in the sunshine. It was a little breezy but not a cold breeze you understand. We drove today down to the very south of the island where there is a group of man made islands with thousands of properties built on them. The motorway goes all the way down there. The only problem seems that no-one actually lives there yet. The properties are there but I dont think they are finished.

We didnt try to get out on to the islands because the bridge has a security gate on it and we didnt want to say we were just going for a wee look!

We passed the "Tree of Life" which is a big tree in the desert. It has confounded the experts because apparently they dont know where it gets its water supply.

Here's me in front of the tree with my new 1 Dinar 500 Fils sun specs. Still cant go anywhere without sun specs!

We had to get some netting today because something ravaged Sheila's vegetable garden and decimated most of our plants. Not sure what it was but whole branches of the broccoli were missing. Not the sort of damage you associate with caterpillars. Its more like a bird or gecko or something. Do you get vegetarian birds or geckos? We hope we have saved the rest but it might be too late. It was always going to be a problem getting them watered while we are home anyway. We can try again when we return in January if they dont survive.

We passed the Shaik Isa (pronounced eesa) Air Base today and saw their spectacular entrance monument thingy ... see below

Zoom in and have a close look at this one. The jets are spectacular. Note how the jets silhouette against the azure blue sky! Also took some great photos of rock strata for John Blackwood. He loves stuff like that and I feel sure if I upload one he will put a comment of explanation of the features on for us .... well maybe not. Watch out for your wee email box John I'll send you some.

Hope you are all getting enough provisions and hope the airport is open by a week on Thursday. We are counting the days. We have a day off for the Islamic new year on Tuesday so its starting tomorrow it's 2 days on, 1 off, 2 on, 2 off, 2 and a half on and we leave the next day and home the day after (if you followed that).

See you all soon
David and Sheila