The Waiting Game

Just past midway of my first Ramadan and despite all the initial trepidation it really hasn't been too bad. Apart from altered opening times for facilities such as shops and gyms (typically 13:00 - 24:00), restricted access to alcohol (which is probably no bad thing) and the half-hour crazy driving antics of the devout trying to get back for sunset prayers around 18:30, the whole thing has been not too arduous. Imagine it as an extended version of the UK Christmas/New Year holiday, that lasts for a month, and it will give you some idea of what's happening.

For me there have actually been more benefits than costs being here during Ramadan. Firstly, my working hours, on direct orders from the Qatari government, have been reduced to 08:30 till 13:30. So for four weeks it will be like working part-time; which will take some getting used to when it's all over. Secondly, we were invited to a Sidra sponsored Ramadan meal called Gabga which took place at the Grand Hyatt Hotel and was very brilliant; mountains of Arabic food, live music and a fantastic 'Whirling Dervish' dance troupe. And finally the crazy Doha traffic is nowhere near as manic, obviously helped by thousands of people flying off to avoid the extreme heat, but any reduction in the general levels of lunacy is to be welcomed.

All of which will seem a distant dream when we get back from Australia at the end of August. But at least it will have been cushioned by being out of the country for three weeks. The one thing that will endure is the C40+ heat which still has a few months to go and will be welcomed after, the comparatively, mild C15 of Perth. Even went shopping today for a sensible coat in case we get caught in a down pour or, heaven forbid, we go for an evening stroll. Not sure it will get much use when we come back but it won't take up too much room in one of the walk-in wardrobes!

So after our usual daily Siesta we are off to the gym to continue the beautification process. Which of the four gyms we have access to shall we use today? Doesn't really matter as they are all very good and usually empty. Might even go for a swim in the Olympic sized pool and break-in my new, smaller sized, swimming trunks. I was shamed into buying them after confessing that my old ones were at least fifteen years old!

Onward and upward.  



   

Week Twenty Already

Is it me or is time really whizzing past? I can't believe that it's two weeks since I last wrote on here. Add to that my growing goldfish memory and it doesn't give me a lot to work with.

Last weekend went something like:
Friday
Went with Cath to the fabric souq (market) and it was bonkers. Cars double parked everywhere, too many people, lots of circling around to try and find somewhere to park. Suddenly, like the Parting of the Sea a car reversed out of space right in front of me, and quick as a flash I was in. As we went to pull out twenty minutes later Cath said "You were lucky to find this spot right outside the shop but isn't this a Disabled Parking bay?" I reply "Ba**s, yes it is but there is no ticket on the windscreen and the parking all around here is SO crazy that we should be OK". Er, wrong get a text to tell me I'm now QR500 (£100) lighter. O Flip I cry!
Then went and got plastered at a friends very nice apartment in the posh bit of town called The Pearl. His place is directly above the Ferrari showrooms which is handy. Being there elevates an already bizarre place to nearly off the scale - exotic fast cars, Rolex shops, Versace, skyscrapers - bonkers!
Saturday

100mts. tall and revolving

Cath went for a farewell 'high tea' at the top of Qatar's tallest building, Aspire Tower, with some of the teachers from her school who are not coming back after the holidays. I would really have liked to have gone as well but I was already booked in to watch the Lions match at another mates place across the road from us. The match was a bit disappointing especially as we lost and I ended up watching it on my own like 'Billy No Mates' as they were double booked and had to leave me to my own devices. I'm sure other stuff happened that weekend but I've slept since then and can't remember anything else.

This weekend:
Thursday 4 July
Went for a business lunch that started at 2.00pm and ended went I staggered home at 9.30pm. Thankfully most of the booze was bought during Happy Hour (which actually lasts several hours).
Friday 5 July
To try and off-set the heavy drinking the night before I went with Cath to the gym and did an hour on the exercise bike. I was surprised how well I did considering the state I was in the evening before. Slept most of the afternoon prior to going out to a leaving do for my boss. Had set out with the intention of keeping off the sauce but that lasted thirty seconds; Strawberry Daiquiris were offered and it seemed rude not to sample them. So along with all sorts of cocktails we had loads of Thai take-away and, as the song goes "Whoops I Did It Again!".
Saturday 6 July
Felt delicate again - sure it was something I ate! Had to go back to bed at lunch time as I felt really grog. Had been invited for a curry across the road again and watch the Lions tour decider. Was offered anything and everything booze wise but decided to just drink milk this time. Thankfully we won the match in great style and the curry duly arrived after it was all over; my system was nearly back to normal and the food was much appreciated.

Then got a call from another colleague to ask if Cath and I wanted to go to a beach in the North of Qatar to see some turtles hatch. What's not to like? So at 4.30pm we were on our way to a deserted beach about an hours drive away. It was fairly busy when we got there and not quite the way it's portrayed on the TV. As it turned out it wasn't our night and we didn't see any baby turtles emerging. But at least we tried.

Enough of this guff I'm off to work tomorrow for a rest!!!!!!