Today Doha Rocks!
I'll be perfectly honest, it's been a tough couple of weeks. Although I've emigrated before, it was under different circumstances and this time was just harder, much harder. I've cried a lot, drunk a lot, been angry sometimes. Today was a good day, a happy day.
Today I worked, we went to the school uniform shop, to Ikea and to the supermarket. Supermarkets rock here, they're better than Holland; more like the UK but with quirky stuff too, like a thousand different kind of poppadoms (stuff like that floats my boat :) I also did the ice bucket challenge, although the ice had melted by the time I'd got my shi* together, but it's the thought that counts and I donated a wad!
NJ was ill a couple of days ago, he was very sick all through the night. Normally I wouldn't worry, let him get it out of his system, watch him closely till it's over. I panicked a little being here. My friend (nurse) came round to reassure me, another brought medicine, it's amazing how friendly and helpful people are here! He was fine within 24 hours.
NJ can't start school without his RP. I phoned school today, there's a huge chance they're going to let him start anyways. I did a little jig afterwards and shed a tear, I'd been so worried about it. My friend is going to pick him up from school and watch him till I get the nanny sorted (need RP first). I have found a cracking one (I hope she's cracking, she seems cracking). She can't start until 1 October mind and I need to sponsor her (need RP for that). It feels like it's all slowly coming together.
We bought lots of bric a brac and knick knacks from Ikea, the house is still 7/8 empty but much more homely!
An old Qatari dude helped me load my shopping into my car. He didn't speak English, I said shukran (thank you) a lot.
Doha rocks because:
-Your washing dries in half an hour outside (I leave it for two days as there's not much chance of it raining; I'm lazy).
- My house is big enough to get lost in and use the internal telephone system. The ceilings are like 4m high and we have those emergency green lights for when there's a power cut like in really public buildings.
- I found frozen Yorkshire puddings, Bisto gravy granules, clotted cream and other great stuff from back home in the supermarket.
- You can get cider all over the place.
- All the world's most amazing people seem to have gathered in this city.
- I can swim every day (in theory).
- I have a brand new oven in the kitchen (much bigger than my old one - both oven and kitchen).
- There's room for a trampoline in the garden.
- Ikea put your furniture together if you want them to!!
- We have a man cave!
- My little boy is turning into a basketball star.
- Wrap it, the best lamb shoarma wraps ever!
Most importantly - NJ loves it and says he never wants to leave! That's all I need to hear!
I've got a mega busy few months coming up, two very important projects starting in October out here, all eyes on Qatar. The place the Board had its doubts about setting up. With any luck and a lot of hard work, we may get another project early next year, that would be amazing!
On Thursday I am having a ladies night / pre-house warming. There's about a dozen coming, I know a couple of them well, some of them a little and a few not at all. It's an eclectic mix of young and old, most just looking to meet people, makes friends and have a laugh. It should be fun, I'm looking forward to it.
I'm enjoying driving so far, it will be easier (and feel safer) in a bigger car although the roads are pretty quiet just now, but it's better than I thought.
Tomorrow boot camp with a couple of friends, never been, it'll do me good, I'll probably hurt all over on Tuesday!
For now, I have a glass of Savannah, some trousers to hem and Xmas cards to write to take back to the UK (I'm so rock n roll sometimes).
We're surviving and smiling.
Today I worked, we went to the school uniform shop, to Ikea and to the supermarket. Supermarkets rock here, they're better than Holland; more like the UK but with quirky stuff too, like a thousand different kind of poppadoms (stuff like that floats my boat :) I also did the ice bucket challenge, although the ice had melted by the time I'd got my shi* together, but it's the thought that counts and I donated a wad!
NJ was ill a couple of days ago, he was very sick all through the night. Normally I wouldn't worry, let him get it out of his system, watch him closely till it's over. I panicked a little being here. My friend (nurse) came round to reassure me, another brought medicine, it's amazing how friendly and helpful people are here! He was fine within 24 hours.
NJ can't start school without his RP. I phoned school today, there's a huge chance they're going to let him start anyways. I did a little jig afterwards and shed a tear, I'd been so worried about it. My friend is going to pick him up from school and watch him till I get the nanny sorted (need RP first). I have found a cracking one (I hope she's cracking, she seems cracking). She can't start until 1 October mind and I need to sponsor her (need RP for that). It feels like it's all slowly coming together.
We bought lots of bric a brac and knick knacks from Ikea, the house is still 7/8 empty but much more homely!
An old Qatari dude helped me load my shopping into my car. He didn't speak English, I said shukran (thank you) a lot.
Doha rocks because:
-Your washing dries in half an hour outside (I leave it for two days as there's not much chance of it raining; I'm lazy).
- My house is big enough to get lost in and use the internal telephone system. The ceilings are like 4m high and we have those emergency green lights for when there's a power cut like in really public buildings.
- I found frozen Yorkshire puddings, Bisto gravy granules, clotted cream and other great stuff from back home in the supermarket.
- You can get cider all over the place.
- All the world's most amazing people seem to have gathered in this city.
- I can swim every day (in theory).
- I have a brand new oven in the kitchen (much bigger than my old one - both oven and kitchen).
- There's room for a trampoline in the garden.
- Ikea put your furniture together if you want them to!!
- We have a man cave!
- My little boy is turning into a basketball star.
- Wrap it, the best lamb shoarma wraps ever!
Most importantly - NJ loves it and says he never wants to leave! That's all I need to hear!
I've got a mega busy few months coming up, two very important projects starting in October out here, all eyes on Qatar. The place the Board had its doubts about setting up. With any luck and a lot of hard work, we may get another project early next year, that would be amazing!
On Thursday I am having a ladies night / pre-house warming. There's about a dozen coming, I know a couple of them well, some of them a little and a few not at all. It's an eclectic mix of young and old, most just looking to meet people, makes friends and have a laugh. It should be fun, I'm looking forward to it.
I'm enjoying driving so far, it will be easier (and feel safer) in a bigger car although the roads are pretty quiet just now, but it's better than I thought.
Tomorrow boot camp with a couple of friends, never been, it'll do me good, I'll probably hurt all over on Tuesday!
For now, I have a glass of Savannah, some trousers to hem and Xmas cards to write to take back to the UK (I'm so rock n roll sometimes).
We're surviving and smiling.
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