Gutted :(

At 11am this morning, flames engulfed my all time favourite shopping centre, Villagio :(

My thoughts are with those that have been effected by the fire and those who have list their lives.

The two extremes

From this on Friday...

...to this on Sunday

It is like two different worlds!!  The mini sandstorm bought about cooler weather but very very windy and the blue skies bought back the extreme heat.  I much prefer the blue skies though, even if it means hot hot weather!!

That sinking feeling...

Last night was one of the best sleeps I have had in a while, and it may have been due to the fact that I was finally sleeping before midnight.  Why I slept so peacefully is a wonder considering the MASSIVE shopping spree that Aaliyah and I went on, which mind you, lasted 2 days!!

We were both complaining that shopping isn't that fantastic here so how we managed to spend what we spent is a sheer wonder.  It was so funny because we were shopping like LOL's (not laugh out loud) and spending like we had just won the lotto. 

What I find really strange is that I don't consider things expensive when I see the price in Riyals but when I convert it back to dollars, my breath gets taken away and I don't understand how I could buy something with that price tag so casually!!

Anyway, here is a list of the things that I have bought:

1 Gorgeous leather handbag

3 Very different dresses

3 Pairs of pants (two the same style but different colours)

2 Shrugs (same style but different colours)

1 Knitted vest (sounds granny like but quite cute)

3 Cardigans

3 Various tops

1 Pair of open boots

1 Pair of black heels

3 Pairs of sandals (and they are all different)

2 Leather belts (different again)

Hmmm, I think I have covered everything, but there are two more things that I want to get online which is a must so all I can say now is, I am broke and will be living on whatever is in my fridge until payday...which hopefully is soon!!

You will all not believe the amount I have spent over the last 2 days and quite frankly, I don't even want to know (I am avoiding tallying up the costs) because I know roughly the vicinity I will be in and calculating it will become reality and I just want to ignore reality for now.

Aaliyah and I are a dangerous shopping combination!!  

A picture tells a thousand words

Okay so you can say I have been rather slack lately with keeping you all up to date on the happenings here so I am just going to let the pictures tell the story on the random things that I have come across or done over the last two weeks.

Mother's Day lunch on the lawn.  

Beef fried rice with rice, beef, carrots and cabbage :(

 Coffee cup reading.  Wasn't my cup but I love the picture!!

This is how they keep their grass green...by flooding a patch with water!!

Lesson learnt.  Don't squeeze the shampoo bottle too tight when trying to get the scent!!

The Amphitheatre at Katara.  Just gorgeous!!

Spanish Flamenco show.  The dancing was intense!!

Bread making

Best presentation of a Pad Thai

Bringing a bit of femininity to the department

Aaliyah and the gorgeous baby we kidnapped

I want a baby just like him.  So calm and happy to be with anyone!!

Reggae Beach Party

Last night was the Reggae Beach Party which I bought a ticket to but wasn't really looking forward to.  It was the first time I was able to bare my legs in public since arriving in Doha so I was a little excited about that.  The night ended up being a really good night and I'm beginning to wonder if it is the effects of the Red Bull that I consumed that is keeping me wide eyed at 4am in the morning!!


Apologies in advance for the poor photos

Maxi Priest...up close and personal 

My partner in crime and the Red Bull I caught thrown in to the crowd by Maxi Priest!! 

So true...

It's by love that we sacrifice and serve. 
It's by patience that we understand and forgive. 
It's by trials that we become strong and gain wisdom. 
It's by sharing that we become a blessing to others
Jummah Mubarak

Suicide attempt no.1

For some reason, yesterday at 10am after showering and washing my hair, I thought it would be a good idea to get out and take a walk.  It was such a sudden, impulsive decision and the need to just get out was so strong that I forgot to some drink water and grab my apple before I left.  I had my keys and my iPhone (music) and I was off.

After being indoors with the air conditioning on, it was nice to be out and getting some warmth in to my body.  I didn't have a clue where I was going so I just walked and thought I'd do one big block and be back home.  What I didn't know was how BIG the block was.  I turned the first corner and came across the Bugatti, Lamborgini and Bentley showrooms (we went car window shopping last weekend) and further on I found Subaru, Hyundai, GMC, Infiniti (my favourite), Nissan and Citroen.  Still yet to find the VW and Toyota showrooms.

By the turn of the second corner, I was starting to experience what people lost in the desert would experience.  No water, no shelter and full exposure to the sun.  I am sure my legs were tanning inside my baggy pants!!  So when I couldn't see the next big intersection, I consulted google maps to tell me where I was exactly.  My decision was to either turn back around or tackle the small side streets to somehow get me back to where I needed to be.  

So I started walking down the little streets as there was a tiny bit more shade than there was on the main road.  I thought I could make it home but instead, found a place that provided good shelter and stopped for a bit and consulted google maps again.  This was a big mistake as once I started walking again, I was starting to feel funny in the head.  I contemplating flagging down any car and asking them to take me home, but I thought I'd perserver for a little bit longer.  I saw a discarded bottle of water on the side of the road and contemplate picking it up and drinking it, but was saved by the beautiful sound of tyres crunching along the gravel behind me.  I turn to look and thankfully the car was a private taxi who stopped to see if he could get some business out of me.

I jumped in the car and immediately fell in to the seat, so red faced and hot, that the driver closed the windows and cranked up the air conditioning.  I told him where I needed to go and that I would need to go upstairs and get some money for him.  Anyway, after like a one minute drive, I was home.  I told the driver to wait and he was so so kind and said not to worry about as it was such a short ride.  Honestly, it would have cost about 5QR in a metered taxi but I would have paid 100QR for the life saving ride.  

So back home, I looked in the mirror and could see why the taxi driver took pity on me.  I lay myself on the cold tiles with the air conditioning blowing over me and my frozen vegetables on my face cooling it down.

All I can say is, lesson learnt and thank you so much Khaled!!