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This is our new home! It's official (finally).  There were issues with post dated cheques (we as a company don't have any yet as we are still setting up, and that is what landlords here insist on; luckily our fab new business partner helped us out and it got sorted).  It's too big!  It's too expensive! 

I chose it because it's about as close to school as we can afford, based on availability (NJ's school is in the most expensive part of Doha - West Bay Lagoon) and the facilities for my little boy are amazing.  Not only are there two large pools across from number 46 (our villa), but there is a sports academy on the compound as well as gym, indoor basketball, tennis, squash and outdoor football pitch!  The sports academy offers everything from boot camps to jiu-jitsu, NJ will be in his element, I'm sure I'll never see him!

The villa has five bedrooms and five bathrooms (obviously, this is Qatar); that is excluding the maid's room, which also has a bathroom (have to find a maid still). There is a reasonable sized back yard, big enough in any case for BBQ's in the cooler months and hanging out the washing (not at the same time you understand - smoky drawers :-)

There's a staircase up to the roof (not that you really want to do anything up there except inspect the airco units), but it's flat and does offer some privacy; but then again, so does the garden!  There's also a little supermarket on the compound I believe, although we are just down the road from a LuLu Hypermarket. There's a coffee shop, play area and games room too.

Someone once said to me that being in the Middle East is like being on holiday constantly, except work gets in the way now and again. There's no wonder they call Qatar 'the golden cage'. I can imagine it's very hard to leave.

I spoke to NJ last night on Skype and it was great to see him and hear his voice. He is having a wonderful time with my folks, I have no worries whatsoever when he's with them, it gives me great peace of mind.  He breaks up from school (for the second time this summer) tomorrow and then it's two weeks of fun and enjoyment with plans for the coast and Sherwood Forest and probably many other great days out.

أراك في مابعد (araki fi ma ba'd)   See you later!