Totally Tasteless Trainers and Other Important Things

So where do I begin - it's been a busy week and there has been a severe lack of posting - sorry about that. The exciting news is that we have sold our house - contracts exchanged yesterday and completion is on 16 December. So it's full steam ahead on that one - which is very exciting and very fast too. A lot of time has been taken up with dealing with that side of things. In between all that, we have found time to do a few other things as well.

This morning - it being Thursday and the weekend - Jacob and I went to LuLu Hypermarket to do some shopping. LuLu's is a very big store that sells everything from pushchairs and clothes, to cereal and dragon fruit. After last weekend's jaunt to the Wadi, we decided that a pair of trainers were necessary for Jacob as open sandals were just not doing the job, he kept getting dirt in them an insisting on stopping to get them cleaned out - bad idea. So I told him we were going to get a pair of trainers and he decided immediately that he NEEDED a pair of Spiderman trainers - well who am I to argue - trainers are so ugly anyway, who cares if they are Spiderman or Nike - not me. So we managed to find a very tasteful pair (not) that are covered in multicoloured LED lights - I have a photo for your perusal, but obviously it doesn't show them to their full effect as they are not flashing - but you get the idea !!



I also bought a couple of other things at LuLu that I thought were interesting, firstly a bottle of milk - I don't know why I like this - I just do, I think it's the shape of the bottle, it's so un-milk like. What do you think ?



Finally the cheapest toilet cleaner that I could find - go figure hey !



Yesterday I had to go and get my resident's card. A very nice man called Mohammed from James' office came and picked me from home after I had taken Jacob to nursery. We went to the police office to have my fingerprints taken, I felt like a right criminal - oh yes now I remember I am !!! After that there was a little waiting while Mohammed sorted some paperwork - then it was in the car and clear over to the other side of town to actually get the card. The drive was - interesting - my foot nearly went through the floor a couple of time - but Mohammed seemed remarkably unphased ! We went to room the first where Mohammed queued up at one desk to get a number, and then on to another desk, for what I don't know - anyway, then it was on to the second building, where I was taken to a very large room, given the number 809 and told to wait until my number came up on the screen - it was at 510. It stayed at 510 for about half an hour and then I began to panic, I had to pick Jacob up from nursery - all of a sudden there was a flurry of activity and numbers 750 to 800 were called and before I knew it it was my turn and I was through and done - or so I thought - oh no, it was onto another room, where a bun fight was taking place ! There was a large desk with a couple of men behind it and a mass of people stading in front of the desk waiting for the men to call their name, so they could get their cards - anyway I got it and now I'm offcial.

While I'm doing this blog thing I thought you might like to visualise where I am, so here is a photo of me talking to Helen on the phone this afternoon - Helen, it was lovely to chat to you, lets do it more often ! Please notice the massive pile of ironing behind me - where does it all come from ? I spent a whole afternoon this week ironing and it's worse than it was to start with - I need a maid !



I also have for your consideration a picture of the courtyard at our gaff, where Jacob spends most of his time these days. I don't seem to see much of him at the moment - he's always off playing with his new friends as they scoot around the courtyard or play in the little playhouse. Last night I had to go and fetch him from the house of a lady that works at his nursery that also happens to live in our little block - spooky hey ! Still, he's really enjoying himself and that is the most important thing, although how he's going to manage when we move to a flat I'm not sure.



Earlier this week, I went to vist the American British Academy (ABA) as a possible school for Jacob, it was absolutely lovely. They have fantastic facilities, a massive indoor play area for when it's really hot, a seperate library for the primary school, a swimming pool, a theatre and all manner of things that you could ever want. Only problem is it is an International school, which means that it follows an international curriculum and not a British one. I have heard from one source that when children return to the UK after having been at the ABA they are ahead of the rest of the class, and another source has told me the exact opposite, that they are a year behind, so who do I believe ? I think I'll go and see the British School of Muscat (BSM) next week and see what that is like. They follow a British curriculum and I know that if we return to the UK Jacob would be exactly where he should be in his education - oh decisions decisions - I know he won't be starting until the end of next summer, but the ABA only has a few places left at the moment, so if want him to go there, we need to get his name down pronto. I'll let you know how it all goes of course.

Last evening I was invited out to a dinner with a group of ladies that play badminton together. We went to the Hyatt hotel and we had a really lovely evening eating dinner at a restaurant on the roof of the building, it felt very tropical. The ladies were all really friendly and were more than happy for a beginner badminton player to join their ranks - so it's off to the sports shop to buy new trainers for me ! I'm looking forward to it actually, doing something like that is a great way to meet new people and have a lot of fun too - should be good.

Finally - it would seem that it's that mosquito time of year, both Jacob and I have been attacked. Luckily Jacob seems to have James' reaction to them - ie no reaction at all - I on the other hand am itching like a mad thing - so once Jacob wakes up from his nap I think a mercy dash to the pharmacy to get insect repellant is required - especially since we are going back to Kargeens tonight and that means eating al fresco again. Oh we are off to an international fair tomorrow - it a big event with lots of stalls of international food, dancing and I have heard rumour that a certain Santa Claus is going to be attending - I hope the air conditioning is turned up for him - I hope he turns up because I would love for Jacob to see him - should be fun.

Right photo of Jacob's mossie bites - not a very good photo I'm afraid, but the best I could do.


And to show that he isn't the slightest bit bothered - a photo of his smiling face !



His spots are really clearing up don't you think ?

I have one final photo to share with you - it's of our Christmas tree - let me just say, tasteful white lights are simply not available here and since this is going to be Jacob's tree next year - well lets just say, it's not up to my usual standards, which are very high I think you'll agree ! Still here it is.



Well I think that is it from me. We are settling in well I think - Jacob is making lots of friends and so am I. James is working really hard and enjoying his job and we are doing well. We are looking forward to moving into our new apartment and furnishing it how we want it - we've already started the wrangling over what style of sofa will be acceptable - but we have a way to go until any decisions are made. We will of course, keep you all up to date on what is going on as and when it happens.

Ta ta - Muscat over and out !