"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 It seems that mango season is over and has been replaced by dates.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

Home Again

Well we are back in Sunny Scotland and for the most part its been just that since we arrived. Mind you it is on the chilly side! We will be back until 20 August so if you fancy catching up with us give us a call or email.
David and Sheila

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