Happy New Year!
A little late, but nonetheless, Happy New Year! May 2015 bring you all lots of health and happiness, wherever you may be. 90% of you won't have received Xmas cards from me last year, for that I apologise, but to be honest, you probably won't get one this year either. Cards here are abominably expensive, post is erratic (understatement) and time is precious. I think I may take the stance of donating to a worthy charity and sending a generic Email or two instead.
2014 was an exciting year, but a difficult one. I've not had such a challenging year for a long time, but towards the end, there was a feeling of being settled and starting to enjoy being in Doha, instead of running round like an idiot trying to set up a business and a home and more importantly, making sure NJ was settled and happy (it took a while!) With hindsight, a trip back to Europe was maybe not the most sensible thing to do in December; after the year I've had, I can only imagine the turmoil going through my little boy's head and just when he was starting to settle and the place beginning to feel like home, off we jet again.
The missing people never goes away, after twenty years abroad I know that like no other, but you learn to live with it and you learn to live your life differently when you don't have family down the road. Technology helps and with today's Facetime and Skype, it's not like in 1994, writing letters to my brothers and phoning home once a week. Saying that, when you make the choice it's always easier. I made the choice for us and although it was a good choice, giving NJ the best possible chance in life that I can give him, it was still my choice and not his, and sometimes he finds it harder to deal with.
He misses things, but they are ideals of reality, and at not yet nine years old this is understandable, but sometimes difficult for him (and me).
Our first week back home in Doha was seriously lacking on the sleep front, there was a new school to contend with, a big tender at work and we both caught a bug towards the end of the first week, luckily NJ's fine now, and I'm getting there.
But back to Christmas; the 25th spent in Holland so NJ could visit his father. I spent it with friends and although it was great to see everyone with wonderful company and delicious food, it wasn't how Xmas for me 'should' be - with my little boy in our pajamas, at home, stockings in bed, warm cuddles, opening presents with Xmas music in the background and a selection box for breakfast. Boxing day, back to the UK to see the family and New Year's eve spent with my BFF and family (as we have done for the past few years), but feeling more and more like Bridget Jones as the years go on and I'm the only single person (over 16) in the room at 12 o'clock! Whilst most of you will have been tucking into turkey with all the trimmings on Xmas day, I was returning from dropping NJ at his dad's at the other end of the country, stopping for a KFC burger on the motorway.
It was good to get back to Doha, away from the bitter cold, and there's no bed like your own. In three weeks we travel to Goa to stay with my parents who spend the winter there, and in February I'm back to Holland for work. There's Dubai in April to look forward to and Dublin for me in June, and further than that I haven't planned just yet. I'm hoping this year will bring more friends for NJ, a happy time at school and that we both stay happy and healthy. Looking back on 2014, it was certainly not a bad year, although a hectic one and a life changing one. We have met some fantastic people and started to build our own little expat family around us as many people do when away from home.
We have so much to look forward to this coming year! xxx
* apologies for the lack of photographs, can't upload them tonight for some reason.... watch this space!
2014 was an exciting year, but a difficult one. I've not had such a challenging year for a long time, but towards the end, there was a feeling of being settled and starting to enjoy being in Doha, instead of running round like an idiot trying to set up a business and a home and more importantly, making sure NJ was settled and happy (it took a while!) With hindsight, a trip back to Europe was maybe not the most sensible thing to do in December; after the year I've had, I can only imagine the turmoil going through my little boy's head and just when he was starting to settle and the place beginning to feel like home, off we jet again.
The missing people never goes away, after twenty years abroad I know that like no other, but you learn to live with it and you learn to live your life differently when you don't have family down the road. Technology helps and with today's Facetime and Skype, it's not like in 1994, writing letters to my brothers and phoning home once a week. Saying that, when you make the choice it's always easier. I made the choice for us and although it was a good choice, giving NJ the best possible chance in life that I can give him, it was still my choice and not his, and sometimes he finds it harder to deal with.
He misses things, but they are ideals of reality, and at not yet nine years old this is understandable, but sometimes difficult for him (and me).
Our first week back home in Doha was seriously lacking on the sleep front, there was a new school to contend with, a big tender at work and we both caught a bug towards the end of the first week, luckily NJ's fine now, and I'm getting there.
But back to Christmas; the 25th spent in Holland so NJ could visit his father. I spent it with friends and although it was great to see everyone with wonderful company and delicious food, it wasn't how Xmas for me 'should' be - with my little boy in our pajamas, at home, stockings in bed, warm cuddles, opening presents with Xmas music in the background and a selection box for breakfast. Boxing day, back to the UK to see the family and New Year's eve spent with my BFF and family (as we have done for the past few years), but feeling more and more like Bridget Jones as the years go on and I'm the only single person (over 16) in the room at 12 o'clock! Whilst most of you will have been tucking into turkey with all the trimmings on Xmas day, I was returning from dropping NJ at his dad's at the other end of the country, stopping for a KFC burger on the motorway.
It was good to get back to Doha, away from the bitter cold, and there's no bed like your own. In three weeks we travel to Goa to stay with my parents who spend the winter there, and in February I'm back to Holland for work. There's Dubai in April to look forward to and Dublin for me in June, and further than that I haven't planned just yet. I'm hoping this year will bring more friends for NJ, a happy time at school and that we both stay happy and healthy. Looking back on 2014, it was certainly not a bad year, although a hectic one and a life changing one. We have met some fantastic people and started to build our own little expat family around us as many people do when away from home.
We have so much to look forward to this coming year! xxx
* apologies for the lack of photographs, can't upload them tonight for some reason.... watch this space!
Hi babe, still reading your blog. I wish you and Mannie a very happy 2015 and hope you will make a lot of new friends and stay healthy.
ReplyDeleteThanks again for your hospitality during my visit in November. I really enjoyed it and glad we made some new memories. You made me feel at home and I want to thank you for that. Everything here is ok, nothing special. Keep up the writing because I like to read what you and NJ are up to. Hope NJ is happy at ACS like he said he would be... :) Give Nicola and P my regards.
Big hug and kisses for you and Nero!
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