Jumping the Gun ....

... Maybe its my 'SIP's', (Socks In Progress) and not the 'Death Socks' afterall !

Bring it on... Thursday I'm ready and waiting !

There's Something in the Air ...

... or there will be on Wednesday !

I believe my 'death socks' are waiting for me...in London ! I have received a phone call today from an anonymous caller to say that there is a 'suspicious package' and it is being held at MOD HQ... oh my... the reason ? Cos it has the terrifying words of 'CANDY' written on it !

I think I'll take my 'death socks day' as the date on the package as it seems to have been sitting at HQ for a while and it doesn't seem fair to say I've been alive all this time.

Obviously that's another item (and description) not to add to parcels coming out to Saudi Arabia...NO Chocolate, NO Candy, in fact NO FOOD ITEMS ! But 'Death Socks' ! ... they're ok... infact don't even mention 'death' on the package or they might destroy them in a controlled explosion !

I should officially receive my 'death socks' on Thursday evening when a secret operation/assault to liberate them has been conducted safely and they are brought back with a double agent on another covert operation.

However, if they are not what I expect... this posting will self destruct !

Saudi Disco ... Just a thought

What would it be like if disco's were allowed...well maybe this is something like what we're missing:



Or maybe even this:



Forget River Dance, get these guys on for the interval at the next Eurovision !

Freedom...and Things

SOCK WARS IV

I wish I could get another kill in lol, but I think things are so slow out here that I'll only get one in and then get my death socks before the sip's ! Still its a great way to go out.

CULTURE SHOCK
Holiday time is almost here... UK first then onto South Africa ...
Yep its a real culture shock when I go back to the UK... I generally disappear for hours on end just because I can. Hubby just lets me get on with it and doesn't moan about it. I just love being able to go out on my own, wherever I want, wearing what I want, doing what I want, riding my bike !

I can even talk to strange men if I feel like it...that is real weird cos you can't talk to a man out here, its just not the done thing. I forgot about this once at the beginning of my arrival and out shopping one day a saudi guy paid with a 100sr note instead of a 50sr and I said I'd have it if he didn't want it...he looked at me along with the others in the queue as if I was a real 'hussy'. I could almost hear the muttering of 'haram' on all their lips. I havn't forgotten that one in a hurry and don't speak or even look a man in the eyes out here now.

Actually I quite like the feeling of security you get out here where men are concerned. No man is allowed to talk to you or touch you and it really is quite a great sense of security not felt in the UK,(or elsewhere) where men can lear, shout or even grope at you without a lot of interception. If you shout at them people will usually look at you as if you're causing a scene, but here someone would definitely step in. I do think that a lot can be said of the Saudi customs which take into account a womans safety above all else.

I really pushed the limit yesterday tho, my hubby is in Milan at the moment and I took my driver with me and the kids to Pizza Hut (I was really pushing it as women aren't really allowed out with a man who is not either her son, husband, or has written permission from her husband to be with the man she's with !) Oh living life dangerously. To boot, my driver is Indian so even more 'shame on the old hussy' that I am.

Its a fantastic place though and I really love it here but just also love the freedom of being back in the 'so called' free world. But then there's the 'street crime', violence, fights, drunkeness, unfriendly shop assistants, oh I could go on but its having to make the best of whatever you have at the time I suppose.

FAVOURITE WORD OF THE MOMENT
Alhamdulillah! Meaning: "Praise to God"
It just rolls off the tongue and sounds wonderful.

Saudi Quilt Block No. 2 'Camel'

Well its in progress anyway...Just wanted to share my adaption of the camel from the wooden carving to the quilt version. So far I'm very pleased and can't wait to see the finished block.

My First Saudi Quilt Block

I've been putting this one off for a few months now but finally got round to making it...yeaaaahhhh...with the help of 'J' my mate. It took a good couple of hours but I think its a pretty good first attempt. I can see all the mistakes but I'm so very pleased with it all the same.Next is a camel (inspired by this wooden carving), and then a Saudi door, Saudi dagger, and a mosque.
I had intended to make a Saudi quilt but on reflection, think it more feasible for me to just go with a wall hanging or cushion cover to begin with until I get more experienced at it.

This is what I eventually want to work up to making...Its a Batik painting of my friends, but I want to make it in quilt version.

Fresh Dates from Our Tree

This is the view from our bedroom balcony and a couple of days ago we noticed that it was full of dates. In a few weeks time we will be able to have our very own fresh dates direct from our very own Palm Tree.

I didn't like dates very much back in the UK and didn't think I'd like them out here either. To my surprise I absolutely love them.

There isn't just one variety to choose from but hundreds and there is bound to be one or two that even the most avid date hater would love. We regularly have a date dish as the centre piece on our coffee table to dig into whenever.I just can't wait for these ones as we just missed out on them last year when we arrived much to our dissappointment.Also, this view is just beautiful in the morning and a far cry from the view at our home in the UK of the many buses and lamp posts from our bedroom window.

If you're interested in reading more about dates I have copied some information from the 'Palm Wonders' website below for your interest.

PALM WONDERS (Soft & Dried Dates from Saudi Arabia)http://www.palmwonders.com/content/about-dates/

Historical facts
Saudi Arabia is the home land of the Date Palm Tree. With more than 10000 years of age it is one of the oldest trees in the world. Many nations transferred the palm trees from Saudi Arabia (used to be called Arabian Peninsula) to other places in the world after they became amused by its charming beauty and its endless generosity. For example, the great Alexander was the first to introduce palm trees to Pakistan. And with the entrance of the Kalifa Abdualrahman Aldakel to Spain (Andalusia) the first palm tree entered Spain. This led to its availability in America; because it was introduced to Mexico for the first time by the Portuguese and then it reached the United States during the 18th century.

In Islam, dates have received more attention than any other fruit. For instance, Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) encouraged Muslims to break their fast at the sunset during the month of Ramadan by dates and water. He once said that if a person has some dates in his house then he is not poor.

Today, Saudi Arabia is the second largest producer of dates in the world.

Saudi Arabian date fruit is well known for its deliciousness i.e. if the date is tasted once; a person will quickly become a date lover. We have to mention though that there are more than 300 types of dates in Saudi Arabia with each having its own different taste and texture.

Dates description
Like other fruit, dates are a seasonal product, therefore the supply of fresh delicious dates is always limited. However Palmwonders provides processed dates (Tamr) and dried dates all year round. Dates can be classified as soft, semi-soft and dry dates. Chewy dry dates keep longer and can be used for 'survival food' on long trips or on hiking.

Dates freeze extremely well, so you can put them in your freezer and enjoy them year round.

Dates are oval-cylindrical, 2.5-5 cm long, and 1.5-2.5 cm diameter. When dates are unripe, they come bright red to bright yellow in color, depending on the type of dates. Dates contain a single seed about 2-2.5 cm long and 5-7 mm thick.

Three main Cultivar Groups of date exist:

Soft e.g. Khalas Qassim ( تمر خلاص القصيم ) and Khalas Kharj ( تمر خلاص الخرج )
Soft or Semi-Dry e.g. Ajwa ( عجوة ), Anbara ( عنبرة ), Mabroom ( مبروم ), Medjool, and Barni ( برني )
Dry e.g. Ruthana ( روثانة ), Nabtat Ali ( نبتت علي ), Segae (صقعي) and Sukkari ( سكري )
The type of fruit depends on its nutrition, shape and taste. Dates ripen in four stages, which are known throughout the world by their Arabic names kimri (unripe), khalal (full-size, crunchy), rutab (ripe, soft), tamr (ripe, sun-dried). Dates come in the following four forms in the market:

Press Pack such as Khalas Qassim ( تمر خلاص القصيم )
Plain Dates when they are fresh
Dried Dates such as Sukkari ( سكري )
Date Paste such as Soft Date Paste ( تمر معجون )
Dates nutrition
A 100 gram portion of fresh dates is a premium source of vitamin C. Since dates contain relatively little water, they do not become much more concentrated upon drying, although the vitamin C disappears in the process. Each date provides about 20 calories, and is a good source of carbohydrate, fibre, and potassium, also providing some calcium and iron along with other vitamins and minerals in smaller amounts. Dates do not have significant amounts of fat, cholesterol, protein, or sodium. Here are some examples of the nutrition of some type of dates:

Khalas (100g):
82.9 g sugar
2.9 mg vitamin C
1.59 % protein
0.93 % fat
Sukkari (100g):
66.7 g sugar
80 u vitamin A
2.9 mg vitamin C
1.32 % protein
1.73 % fat
Segae (100g):
79.4 g sugar
2.4 g vitamin C
2.07 % protein
0.96 % fat
Use of dates and other palm tree products
Dates are an important food for travelers in desert or in the mountains because they provide them with a complete nutritious meal (see the above nutrition fact of dates). Beside that, dates are easy to carry and no cooking is needed to prepare them for eating because dates are often eaten out-of-hand.

Dates can also be used for cooking. They can be chopped and used in a range of sweet such as cakes and other dessert dishes and other savory dishes (see examples of our recipes).

Dates are also processed into paste and date syrup called 'dibs' which most likely are used in some recipes.

Recent innovations include chocolate-covered dates and date juice.

Date palm leaves are used for making huts, mats, screens, baskets, brooms, large hats, and fans.

Palmwonders will try in the future to provide some of these products to the online customers if there were a good demand for them.

Qualified Diver at 10 Years Old

Almost ... He started diving lessons a few weeks back and came back today after diving in the sea as part of his exam. I think one more diving session in the sea and he'll be a 'Qualified Diver' at just the age of 10 years ! Not something that he'd have had to opportunity to do back in the UK.
I'm so very proud of him, he was a bit scared but got over it, and the sea is so salty that it really hurts the eyes... Well done son !
Proud dad & son

Scamp Says...

...Its just too hot !

It has been frequently hitting 108o/F (42o/C) and due to soar to over 50o/C over the next few days. Today its 115o/F (46o/C)...Thank goodness the kids Friday morning football matches have stopped for the time being.

It's like a ghost town around the compound as people are staying in with the air con, but try telling that to Scamp...he'd much rather go out and lounge about outside in full sunshine !

Update...Sock Wars IV

D+21: SBL is still going strong...maybe its the post, or maybe the terrain...its pretty hard to find SBL out here...there's so much sand in the desert !

SBL's Statistics:
1 Kill ~ Padiham Knitter
Waiting for SIP's

SBL's Assassin has been killed by SockDingbat...
...So Who Was 'Thorsgirl' ?

Warriors Statistics:
Alive = 122
Dead = 155
Withdrawn - 5

Brownberry Yarns & Let's Knit Competition

Right after my update on the Sock Wars IV on Wednesday 3rd, I received a late package...I was a little dubious as to what it could be...could it be the end of SBL ? I turned the package over and found the return address and exhaled a sigh of relief...it couldn't be those dreaded 'death socks' as it was from 'Brownberry Yarns'. I had entered a competition in the 'Let's Knit' magazine and won a fabulous prize of Artesano Inca Mist yarn. This was my prize winning package !I was very happy with my winnings but the generosity of some people is just so unexpected especially with such kind words and actions...I also had an extra beautiful ball of Rosarios Bio Bamboo added to the stash...so thank you so much 'Brownbery Yarns', your generosity is much appreciated and I can't wait to knit something up from these yarns.

Ravelry & Meeting with New Friends

Who would have thought that joining Ravelry would introduce you to new friends, not just on-line but in person ! Well that's just what did happen. One of the groups I joined had a lady 'K' who mentioned that she was about to visit her hubby working over here and wondered if anyone was in the area, and if so would we like to meet up. Well I jumped at the chance to meet a fellow knitter in person as these strange dinosaurs are so thin on the ground here (only got one significant other out here that knits) so thought it would be wonderful for us 3 to meet up.

I'm pleased or maybe 'ashamed' to say that I did no knitting during our visits, but 'K' did bring a stunning 'wedding ring pillow' with her to complete and we did let her do just a tad of knitting.

We had other things to do ... like visiting Desert Designs, Joffrey's for hazelnut coffee...and... cheesecake, lunch at 'J's' which was just fabulous with homemade 'sweet and sour chicken', 'sweet and sour veg', rice and homemade cheesecake. This was then topped with a little bit of 'Cherry Shisha' provided by 'J's' hubby. Now I had to give it a go but can't say that its 'all that' I'm afraid...it still had a taste of tobacco to me and I hate that but it smelled divine.
On another occassion we spent the morning pampering ourselves at the ladies centre with a manicure, pedicure and massage. Unfortunately we had planned on visiting the 'Latif Pastry' but we were too long in the ladies centre and prayer time came at 11.30am which meant everything closes down and won't re-open until 4pm. Luckily I'd mentioned my 'schwarma addiction' in front of my driver and he excited us by saying there was a place that opened after prayer time and sold them. So off we went for schwarma and 'freshly squeazed' juice...all for 13SR (approx £2.20)...oh how I'm going to miss them when we eventually return to the UK !

'K'... we had a lovely time and really would love to meet up again when you return for your next visit. Thank you for being such a lovely person and for the wonderful gifts you brought with you. Have a safe trip back to the US.

Ravelry...Thank you for such a wonderful site where it made it possible for us to meet.

Oh did I forget to mention the gifts ! Well they were just so lovely and such a wonderful generous gesture.

Here's my order (and gifts) which 'K' so kindly offered to purchase and bring with her on the visit:

First Socks from the Toe Up - Pt 2

Finished 11th June 2009
Half way there. Just the 2nd sock to get done but why is it that the first sock flies off the needles and the 2nd just strolls ?I really really am pleased (have I said that before ?) with my progress on this one and definitely going to make more from the book and maybe even try to knit 2 at the same time... sometime... maybe not next time!

Pattern 'Lacy Ribs' from the 'Socks From The Toe Up' by Wendy Johnson.
Yarn Rico Design, Hobby Print which, I believe, is a German yarn. It comes as a pack with 2 balls of yarn, a basic sock pattern, & 4 metal, size 2.50mm dpn's. Its a cheaper brand but I havn't had any problems with it and made several other pairs of socks from this brand. It was a last 'panic' stock up on sock yarn from my previous visit back to the UK in December, from my favourite wool shop 'Ann Louise' in Portsmouth.
Knitting Needle Size Pattern requires 2.00mm but I used 2.25mm, partly because I'm a tight knitter and usually go up a size,but also because I couldn't find my size 2's ! The dreaded needle eating sofa monster !

HEADLINES

This is just a quicky as I'm running out of time tonight for updating my blog as I've left it so long for all the bits and bobs happening during the last week, so here's a snipet of blog bits to come soon...

Ravelry Meet Up... with Kim from Saudi Stitchers

Joining a Quilters club

Piano & Recorder Lessons ... oh I bet you just can't wait !

& my wonderful prize winnings from 'Brownberry Yarns' (won via the 'Let's Knit' competition.

My First Socks from the Toe Up

This is my first attempt at knitting socks from the toe up using the figure of 8 cast-on method. I am knitting this pair as part of the 'Socks from the Toe Up' by Wendy Johnson, KAL on Ravelry.

I'm pleased with my first part of the sock and the sock is flying off the circulars. Again this is the first time I've used circulars and 2 of them at one time for that matter. It wasn't a smooth learning curve as I had to frog my practise piece 5 times but I got it in the end. Its just getting the position of the needles and then the tension to keep the toe tight enough. Once that's mastered the rest seems so easy that I just don't know why I put it off for so long.

I love the idea that there are no stitches to pick up for the heel but will see how that works when I get to it...which won't be long now.

Sock Wars IV Update

Wednesday 3rd June
I'm still here ! Not sure for how much longer but my nemesis that was 'Thorsgirl' is no more...Yayyyyy

I've a new assassin so I'm keeping a good lookout for any suspicious mail. Its now the weekend so I know I'm safe for a couple more days so can relax and watch the destruction going on around me. At the last count I think there were only 143 left alive so maybe I'll make it thru to the end.

I have one kill so am very pleased with myself. My target 'Padiham Knitter' was a worthy target and I took no pleasure in her destruction, but it had to be done.

I'm keeping a stealthy eye open for some SIP's (socks in progress) from Padiham's target, so lets see what arrives first. If its the SIP's then I need to be swift and get them onto their target immediately and hope for the best that the socks with my name on them don't get me too soon, so that I can have another kill to my name.