Night out with a difference

Tonight we are just back from a St Andrew's Night evening in the company of the British Ambassador to Bahrain, Ian Lindsay and his wife Bridgette. Sheila (yes Sheila, not me) was invited by the Ambassador to share cocktails and nibbles to celebrate St Andrew's night and I was also asked to tag along. He is Scottish but is planning similar events for St Patrick's, St David's and St George's Days. It was a great experience visiting the British Embassy and relaxing in in the company of selected other Scots who live here on the island.

It has been raining here again and the weekend golf looks in jeopardy again. Glum faces all round. Fingers crossed for some sunshine and wind to dry things out.

Cheers for now
David

Long Weekend

Its the weekend once again and this one is a bit special because it incorporates Al Hijra which is the first day of the Islamic New Year and so is a holiday. This weekend is also the Bahrain Ladies Open golf championships at Awali and we have agreed to help with the official scoring. It is the ladies equivalent of what I played in a few weeks ago. That means we wont be able to play golf this weekend until Sunday.

The weather has cooled considerably and rain has threatened a couple of times. I am not sure what the temperature actually is but I can tell you that its perfect. It is still very warm in the sunshine, mild if the sun is behind could and cool bordering on chilly in the evening, especially if there is a breeze blowing.

It will not be long now until we are back for the Christmas Holiday. Three more working weeks I think. That will fly by and we will be homeward bound again. We are flying British Airways for the first time so we'll see what thats like. It involves a transfer between terminals at Heathrow so fingers crossed for that. I hear that lots of baggage goes missing but I think most of the passengers make it!!!!

I think you may have seen Bahrain on your news again for the past couple of nights. There have been a few protests over the past couple of nights to coincide with "World protest day" or something like that. There has been a lots of tyre burning on the road and explosions of gas cannisters. The cannisters make an almighty bang but I dont think they do much damage. The teachers who live roughly in the area where we used to live have had lots of disturbance by these explosions but we have heard absolutely nothing in our new home. It is very peaceful down here. Once again I hear that the BBC are sensationalising their reporting and making it out to be much, much worse than it is.

Andrea from our old compound tells us that the brothers who owned it appear to have fallen out and they are building a wall up the middle of the compound to split it in two! I think we may have left at just the right time although the swimming pool is apparently in the same half that our old house is in.

OK I think that's all the news for now. See you all soon.
David

The King and I

On Saturday I had the pleasure of playing golf on the King of Bahrain's personal golf course. It is in the garden of one of his palaces and could only be described as beautiful. On one side of a large wall is a dry desert environment and when you go through the security gate you find what looks like an English country garden with a nine hole golf course. The only sand in sight is in the bunkers and I am happy to say I spent no time in there. I played OK considering it is the first time round the course. Apart from the palm trees and the sunshine you could have been anywhere. The fish in the ponds where huge gold fish or Koi Carp. Massive they were.

I didnt take any pictures because cameras are completely banned there. If you try to tyake out a camera you are "invited to leave" the premises. I don't think its an invitation you would feel able to refuse. there were "people" lurking all over the place. I never saw the King to thank him for his hospitality but if I ever bump into him I'll be sure to thank him. It was a charity event that takes place every year.

If your ball goes into any of the ponds you are absolutely forbidden to retrieve it even if you can see it lying there right at the edge. That's because in the past someone trying to get their ball fell in and damaged the pond lining which costs thousands of dinars to say nothing about all the water disappearing. Anyway i had a lovely time and hope to be invited again next time.

This weekend is the school's International Fair so we will be attending that to help raise some money.
We had three Chelsea Pensioners in school today with their red coats on. Good job they are not here in the height of summer.

Still managing to swim every morning despite the cold water. Let's hope it pays off when I stand on the Wii Fit machine.

Hoping this finds you all well. Not long until Santa comes. I hope your shopping is up to date!
David

What a difference a day makes

Yesterday we basked in glorious sunshine and last night we were awakened by thunder and lightning. Heavy rain poured down and the lightning was flashing in the clouds more frequently than I have ever seen before, every couple of seconds repeatedly. This morning everything is soaked and I dare say the water tankers will be out collecting the water form the big puddles that form just like last year.

The rain prompted me to have a look back at the blog entries to see what date the first rain fell last year. What do you know, it was on Sunday 7th November! Today? Monday 7th November. I wonder if it always starts on 7th November. There are still some black looking clouds overhead this morning so we may not yet have seen the last of it.

I don't suppose it looks too black in the picture but it is VERY black compared to the clouds that usually occupy that spot!

Anyway we will have to invoke our wet weather plan for today ... well we would if we had ever formulated one. What can you do in warm rain?
Cheers for now
David

Playing with the King

Today I was invited to play in a competition next Saturday held on the King's own personal course. It is a nine hole grass course in the garden of one of the King's palaces. I am not exactly sure if he is there or not. Its an annual charity event where every business who donates to the charity gets to put a team into the competition. I have been invited to play for one of the teams. Excellent I say. Apparently there are only one or two opportunities a year to play on the course. there are some rules about where you are and are not allowed to go and look for your ball but apart from that its normal all the way. Lots of ponds a ducks and greenery. I suspect it wont look like Bahrain behind the palace walls. I dont think I am allowed to take a camera but I'll tell you all about it.

There were some clouds in the sky today ... but no rain yet. It is coming into the "rainy season" now. At least it shouldn't stop play on the grass course next weekend although it will be a bit disappointing if it is wet.

Cheers for now
David

That holiday feeling

It's the holidays and so I thought I would post a nice holiday snap. Just to prove that although the water is on the chilly side its definitely not too cold to get wet!

For Sheila though, it will have to wait, besides, there would be no one left to take the picture. Not sure what we have in store for the rest of the day. This was taken just before 9am as the sun starts to hit the pool. This was my third dip of the day. 20 minutes (100 diagionals) then 50 sit ups then 20 minutes jogging on Wii Fit and then back in the pool for a 5 minute warm down! And all before 6.30am. My this fitness lark is a great thing. I'll soon be nicknamed "Hen Broon".

There is a serious problem has emerged with the villa. The washing line is too high for Sheila to reach and so I have now become the "washing hinger-ooter man". I never realised how often you need to either put it out or take it in. I'll now what to look out for when we move the next time.

Anyway, its time I made a cup of coffee before the washing is dry!
David

We won, we won!

The lottery? Eh no
The premium bonds? Eh no
Our first golf tie in doubles? Eh yes!
We won our first double match. Sheila played her part using her strokes to good effect on several holes and we managed to win on the 18th. It was a close game but we were playing two men with handicaps 10 and 11 so no slouches. Anyway, Spittal's rule supreme ...... for now!

OK got some pics of the new gaff.

The pics are not that great but the gaff is!!! Loving it here, two minutes to work, no traffic no mosque man waking us every day at 4am, own private pool, luxury. Patio furniture is arriving later this week then it will be alfresco dining for the winter. Looking forward to seeing you all in the not too distant future.
David.