Moved again

Hi Folks, we have moved again. Today I was up at the crack of dawn and started moving a whole household on a wheelbarrow! Mind you it was a deluxe four wheeled version although it didn't manouevre too well. Anyway we got everything moved by lunchtime but as you might expect we are in a bit of a howk even though the plan was "wherever it is in the old house, it goes in exactly the same place in the new house". Since the houses are identical it seemed a foolproof plan but it didn't really work out that way. Tomorrow we will have to do a bit of organising just to get in shape.

Tomorrow is also a full day rehearsal for our the "Circle of Life" Lion King show. There are four performances next weekend with over 300 seats per show. I believe its almost a sell-out already with a week to go. It really does look like its going to be a great show. I am one of two adult tenors in the adult chorus. There are about 5 basses, some altos and a few sopranos. Some of the tenor parts are pretty high, right on my limit, so I guess that why most of the men are singing bass. It is a massive commitment and if I had realised how much time I would be spending in rehearsal I would not have done it. But now that I have, I would do it again. Some of the kids are amazing. If the DVD they produce is any good I will bring a copy home (if its ready in time).

Ashley is coming to visit us again in September and I hear on the grapevine that another relative (or maybe two) is/are also planning a visit. It will be great to see anyone who wants to make the trek.

Looking at the clock its about 9.30 and I am completely whacked. I think its an early night for me.
Cheers for now
David.

Two weeks in already

I can't believe that Michael has already been here for more than two weeks. He has settled in well in his placement and seems to be enjoying it, especially since he is now being given some more interesting work. It was a classic case of starting with the tasks that no-one else wanted to do!

He has taken quickly to the automatic and to driving on the other side of the road but Sheila and I still breathe a little sigh of relief when he parks in the driveway at the end of another day. The more days you drive here the more nutty driving you see. The more you see the easier it is to anticipate what others might do and thus avoid the dreaded sound of cruching metal. There's no substitute for experience here and the only way to get it is to get out there and drive.

Michael and I played nine holes of golf last weekend and we plan to play the other nine tomorrow morning, if the weather is OK! It's baking here now, the pool is up to 31 degrees and its in the forties every day.

The villa at the other side of the compound has had workmen in all week preparing for our move. I really can't decide how easy it will be. I look around and think we haven't got that much stuff but I am sure when we start to move it it will suddenly swell. We are hoping we might get some stuff moved over the weekend because we have to be in by the 20th but I am not sure if any of the rooms are ready. I'll find out later today.
David

On the move again!

We have confirmed this morning that we are once again to move house here in Bahrain. There is a slight difference this time because we are moving from the blue circled villa to the red circled villa right opposite us.

Reason? Well in winter, and remember I use that term fairly loosely it can get rather chilly, again used loosley. We noticed that in our current villa with the pool and pation on the north side it was decidely chilly during the winter months whilst at our front door the sun was beating down and it was a VERY pleasant temparature. This meant we could happily have sat out on the front door step but not on the patio. The house on the other side has the pool and patio on the sunny side and so we should find winter alfresco dining etc a positive pleasure. The villa is exactly the same but the "opposite hand" so everything will feel a bit back to front at first. We plan to move everthing room by room across the compound and simply place them in the same position in the other house. Hopefully it shouldn't take too long. We will probably borrow a trolley affair from the school to help move lots of the small things in a single journey. Might even bung Mohammad, the watchman and car washer, a few extra dinars to get his hands dirty and move a few things. All being well it will all happen between the 15th and 20th of this month.

Took Michael to the golf this morning at ridiculous o'clock. You have to start early before its too hot. We played nine holes and will probably go back next weekend to play the other nine unless the new villa is ready for moving in. Michael seems to have settled in quickly to his placement and is confidently driving himself in and out of Manama. He is working in the Bahrain World Trade Centre, that cool buidling with the three wind turbines mounted between the two towers.

He is in an office pretty much on the same level as the lowest turbine, on the 11th floor of the east tower. I will post some cool pictures he took of the towers from ABOVE the turbines looking down from the 27th floor. He hasn't worked out how to get any higher than that yet because there must be another lift. His one only goes up to floor 27.

OK off out now for a wee while, mercury into the 40s today.
David

Announcing Michael's Safe Arrival

Michael arrived safe and well last night after his flight. We left the Golf Club Presentation just about the time you would want to really. I must be getting old. The band was just getting too loud to speak to the person immediately beside you never mind anyone else at the table, so we quickly got changed and drove up to the airport. We had a short wait while he cleared immigration and customs and there he was in the arrivals hall. Our wee boy having flown all by himself via Abu Dhabi.

As expected he thought it was hot but it was only 32 degrees because it was already gone midnight. He will get some real heat today! A quick driving lesson will be necessary because it looks like he might be starting pretty quickly with his work experience.

We will be able to catch up on all the news when he and his mum surface later this morning!
Cheers for now.
David