Oor New Hoose

OK, OK, I heard on the local grapevine that someone wasn't too happy about the lack of posts on the blog. So here we are. I will make more of an effort but if it turns out to be  information such as "we went to she shops today for milk" then don't blame me.

Anyway, our new abode. First off here is a picture.

We have all of the right hand side of this. Now before you go asking we have not bought another car. The second car in our carport is that of Ashley who was visiting us at the time I took the picture. I usually just park in the middle but in honour of the visit I budged up to the side and let her in. It helps to keep the car out of the direct sunlight. Temperature was up to 30 degrees again today. It really is VERY nice just now. You can see our verandah which is quite sizeable with plenty of room for the loungers and a table and chairs if we wanted.

Here is our dinky wee pool

It actually looks quite big on the picture but it really is only a plunge pool. I have been in a few times now but its still too cold for her ladyship who definitely prefers when its like a bath. I can manage three strokes before I have to turn. My swimming is not improving but my turning is awesome.

Ashley has settled in quickly and seems to be enjoying her new position. You can look her up here
Ashley management profile You might need to enter your year of birth and agree to the alcohol thing before you can see the page. All alcohol based sites are like that here in the Middle East.

She is driving herself about now and gaining in confidence daily.

Life in the school goes on almost as normal since the head was relinquished of her duties. Sheila works for the new acting head but as you might expect its not like it was. Lots of others feel like there is an axe over their heads and it would be better if it is to happen that it did and then those left behind can get on with it. Daily life for me continues as it was before, exams to prepare for classes to teach and enthusiastic little faces before me on a daily basis. It will soon be the Easter holiday here during which time there is a lot of golf to be played. Did you notice I have managed down to here without even mentioning it!

There are lots of competitions during the holiday. Its the 75th anniversary of the golf club, the 60th anniversary of the club house, the 50th anniversary of the Gents Bahrain Open and the 25th anniversary of the Ladies Bahrain Open so its an amazing year. There is a festival of golf with several professionals joining for the tournament this year. Should be great fun although it means I finish further down the field!!!

OK thats all for now. I'll try to post more regularly as long as I know that someone is reading it.
David and Sheila

A sad day indeed

The weekend was marred for us by the announcement that Karen Moffat, Head of School,  has been told that her services at the British School are no longer required with immediate effect. Sheila has worked closely with Karen since the day we arrived and it is very upsetting. The only reason offered is that Karen's strategic vision and the strategic vision of the owner are not aligned. What does that mean? We don't really know and the staff have asked the question. I cannot comment further about the reasons on a public forum but, suffice to say, I am not confident about the direction in which the school might now go. Sheila will continue as PA to the acting head until the new head is appointed. After that it's anybody's guess. We fear that a number of jackets are now hanging on pretty shaky pegs because we can only surmise that too much money was being spent and not enough profit being made. Surely no-one could disagree with the academic vision of the school which was judged as "outstanding" in all six categories after our recent inspection so that only really leaves the management of the business and administration side of things. The transformation in the school since we arrived has been huge and it has all been managed by one person who is a workaholic and an unbelievably kind and compassionate person. Her farewell speech spoke only of the greatness of the school and how much she wished in her heart that we would keep it that way for the benefit of the students. She will be sadly missed by all. We talk like there has been a death and it feels like there has been a death but I am sure that she will rise again somewhere, perhaps leading one of the other schools on the island on to greater things. If she does, and she needs a PA I know exactly where she will find one, and if she needs a physics teacher I know where she will find one of those too.

David

New personal best

Just to report a new personal best on the golfing front. Yesterday I managed to complete the round at Awali golf club in 70 strokes. This is level par and was actually disappointing because I was 1 under par starting the last hole. However 70 is my record low on any golf course and I am proud of that. It ends a long run in the doldrums and I am hoping for more good scores to come.
D

The new Korando

Finally got around to taking a picture of the new car for you.

I have gone from a gas guzzling 4.7 litre to a thrifty 2.0 litre envirofriendly smooth a silk engine. I like it.
D

Strange shopping trip

It's sometimes strange what you finish up with in your shopping trolley. On Monday evening we went to get some petrol and a pint of milk. Sheila went into the shop to get the milk and a few bits and bobs and I went to the cash machine to get some dosh. On the way into the shop I stopped at the for sale notice board and browsed casually thereon.

I spotted an advert for a house rental that looked really nice and was a good bit cheaper than we are currently paying. Just to satisfy my curiosity we drove round and met a couple coming out of a house in the street. I asked them about the area and believe it or not they invited us into their house for a look round as it is the same as the one we had seen. We were pretty impressed and arranged a viewing for last night. When we looked round the actual house I can say it was a complete "no brainer". The house is beautiful, everything new, all appliances, all mod cons.

Tomorrow I sing up and we are on the move again. Its a little further to school in the morning but not much. It has a smaller pool, little more than a plunge pool but apart form that everything else is much better. Watch this space for some photos in due course.

D

The King and I

Here is a link to the video that appeared on TV here in Bahrain. If you know how to jump to 8 minutes and 15 seconds then thats where you'll find the start of the good bit. If you don't then the first 8 minutes and 14 seconds might be a bit boring!
Video of us meeting the King of Bahrain
D&S

Special Post

Well, well, isn't it a long time since I posted. I said I would stop if there was nothing worthwhile to say and I have to admit that for some time life here has been pretty normal. Nothing exciting, nothing untoward. We attended the St Andrew's night ball and more recently a Burns Supper. All of that however pales into insignificance when compared to tonight's events. This afternoon Sheila and I were amongst a select band of Scots to be given an Audience with Hamad bin Isa bin Salman Al Khalifa, King of Bahrain. We met the King in Shakira Palace and shook him by the Hand. His Excellency Iain Lindsay, Her Majesty's Ambassador to Bahrain introduced me to the King and told him that I was an excellent golfer (probably because I recently beat him in a challenge match and knowing that the King himself is a keen golfer). I am really mixing with the important people now you know. Sheila shook his hand too and exchanged a few words of greeting.

The Bahrain TV cameras were there and loads of photographs were taken. I hope we might be able to secure a copy of the pictures that were taken of us whilst we were being introduced. The inside of the palace was absolutely amazing. We got two wee cups of tea and a glass of orange juice (which definitely was not out of a safeway bottle).

By the way it was the King's birthday today too. Nice of him to delay his pairty to see us.

D&S