Winding Down for Summer Vacation !

I had wanted to add several posts before I finally packed for our summer vacation but things have just run away with me and I just didn't get the time I wanted on the computer.

Firstly there was the school holidays which meant spending more time with the kids and ... well ... letting them play on the computer themselves, which is quite okay as its been just too hot to go out during the day at the moment so they've got to have something to do whilst they're stuck inside. We've then, usually gone out around 6 or 7pm when its a little more comfortable to walk around outside. We've also had a few nights out at the swimming pool in the moonlight.

Also, I've had a few 'get togethers' for new arrivals and leavers to and from the compound, and shopping trips in order to prepare for our impending holiday excursions to the UK and ... then ... onto Safari in South Africa ... can't wait !

So things are going to be fairly quiet on here, but I'll be back at the end of August and into the unrelenting heat of the Saudi summer and Ramadam.

Back on with the packing and see you soon.

Stable Mable

Meet my new'ish mode of travel...Stable Mable

My other bike, which I inherited when I came out here has finally got the better of me and I am totally fed up of the effort it takes to get the wheels to turn a full cycle so here's what was put up for the replacement.

My first attempt at riding her was to head straght into the back of the car ...shush don't tell Pete ! But then I slowly got the hang of it as it really was a bit weird. I thought a 3-wheeler would be easy but this thing should have a certificate to go with it to prove you're a competent rider. Anyway, got the hang of it now but still feel unsure and unsteady with the kids in the back when going over the humps and up the hilly bits and even doing a turn.

The kids love Mabel and its a real fight to stop them taking her off somewhere.

Believe it or not, these bikes are a real sought after vehicle and I'm very lucky to have got her...she will come in so useful when we move onto the new compound next year as the place is huge and I'm going to need something to be able to bring all the shopping back from the compound shop.

Trouble is I can't get the image out of my mind of Elvis, who used to ride his 3-wheeler around Portsmouth a few years back, but I think I'll probably leave Mable here as it wouldn't be fair to take her all the way back to England just to have the micky taken out of her.

Fresh Dates from our Tree Part 2

The dates I reported on a couple of weeks back, LIFE SOCKS ... SAUDI SOCKS !: Fresh Dates from Our Tree are still not ripe and this is due to the sun just not getting to them so they'll, hopefully, be waiting for plucking when we return from vacation in August. However, the tree next to it had several ripe looking dates and with the help of 'a man' as I can't clim these trees myself and hack away at the date stalks, we had several fresh dates to eat yesterday.I had to wash them to get the sand and 'yuk' off and dried them in the sun a little, then they were ready to eat. Delicious ! ... the kids won't touch them but that's okay, I'll eat them and there'll be plenty for when Pete gets back as I've 3 bunches sitting on the clothes drier in the sun to ripen up.

Silver...RIP

This morning my hubby phoned me to say that our very much loved pet, Silver, whom we left in England with mum & dad, had gone to sleep last night and didn't wake up this morning. He was 18 years old and had been thru a pretty bad car accident a couple of years ago but he pulled through. He had a very good life with us and with his latest carers so its not too distressing.

The kids were obviously upset but when I said that he was over 100 years in human terms they were a bit more happy about it especially as he had such a loving family.

I had hoped he'd have hung on for another couple of weeks until we got to see him again but he obviously thought better of it but at least he waited till Pete got there...good timing as he's only there for a few days !

A very quiet burial was performed in the back garden this morning around 11.40am (Saudi time). Silver was wrapped in a fresh white shroud and a couple of bunches of, I think they were, 'forget me knots'.
I'm sure all his friends will miss him, especially the new puppy, Jack Russel...which I suspect helped along in his demise, and his sister Budget who survives him and lives just next door but one, so she can visit him whenever she likes.

Okay, RIP Silver, you will be missed but you had a pretty good life and you will be fondly remembered...especially for ....

Weeing on or in plastic bags

Weeing on or in any bag left on the floor

Weeing on & in shoes ... mainly Pete's work shoes (of which he noticed a very strange smell when the shoes warmed up whilst at work one day after having the weekend to dry up the wee)

Weeing ontop of the oven... several years ago when we almost sent him off packing just a little sooner than he should have ! But he sorted himself out on that one... eventually.

Oh and very bad breath ! We did get this one sorted last year at a cost of over £500 for vets fees.

We still loved you and know you loved us too !

Sunshine Socks from COOKIE June KAL

Unfortunately I didn't get to finish the Sunshine Socks in time for the 'Cookie June KAL' on Ravelry... almost but not quite. I will finish it within the next few days though as I love the socks. I don't think the colour does credit to the pattern though and I should have used a plain yarn, but I don't have any in my stash so on my trip back to the UK at the end of July I will stock up on some nice plain sock yarns to show off the stitch patterns from the book to their best advantage.

Lovely pattern and great for beginners to get used to reading a chart too.

Afternoon Tea at the Movenpick

For our Ladies Lunch this month (June) we all went to the Movenpick for afternoon tea. We arrived and all threw off our abayas as this is what they all did on their last visit to no objections, but this time we were being watched ... eventually we were told that we had to cover ourselves and put on our abayas.

Nevermind, freedom for a few moments ! Just think heat and then add conservative clothing (long trousers, and sleeved tops) and to top it all, a rather lovely, not cotton or linen but a sweat inducing, black nylon abaya !

The food was lovely, if not served up in a rather odd way with the apple pies served first (with no cream !!!), then came the berry fruits pies, and finally the sandwiches. Then 'the big one' we were all waiting for ... the 'scones'. Great debate was had as to which was the correct pronunciation and my verdict is still 'scONe' not 'scone as in stone' ! No clotted cream !!! Very disappointing. We had some kind of cream though (I do suspect that it was pumped out of a pressure can into the little bowls).

All in all it was a lovely afternoon tea and I would certainly go again for 40 SR and its worth going for the view too.

Devastating News on Sock Wars IV

I did receive the SIPs and the Death Socks pretty much together...One day apart ! I was devasted, I wanted to get at least one more kill in but it was not to be. All I can say on the matter is that there will always be another warrior ready to take my place !

Looking forward to next year ...