Daily Life in Doha.

I have been in Doha for almost a month and everyone has asked: "What do you do with yourself?" I can honestly say that I have yet to be bored. I am up from about 7am and start my day with a local newspaper (delivered to my door courtesy of hotel management), then shift to the computer to check emails, moving on to the Globe and Mail to keep ahead of news back home. I usually have some or other correspondence to write, or household specifics to manage - it has become a three ball juggling act to manage the ins and outs of rental property in Calgary, the house in Burlington and our local 'home' here in Doha - paying bills, finding directions, obtaining licences, etc. At about 9.30 I haul myself off to the gym for an hour of extremely necessary, but extremely boring walking on the dreaded treadmill, and then some equally dreaded weights. By the time I have re-engineered myself, it is about 11am. Back to the computer for about an hour on organizing, and editing photographs, and another hour to compile a photo album or learn more from my Photoshop manual. After that a quick bite to eat, maybe read a chapter or two, knit, write, plan a trip, practice Spanish, go back to photographs, emails, try my hand at web design - and before you know it - it is 4.30 and I have to trot off to the local grocery store to buy dinner. Then it's home to cook, wait for Patrick, eat dinner and relax for the evening.
There is always the pool downstairs or a trip to somewhere if I want. There is no time for TV and too many new experiences to take in for me to mope or feel bored. And still so much to do: the possibility of volunteering, getting involved in social organizations - currently signed up with South Africans in Qatar and the Canadians in Qatar clubs. There are many universities here - so looking into courses, research and committees as well. I will also be taking Arabic lessons. The most exciting of all: Patrick and I have taken the plunge and will start our first scuba diving lessons shortly.

So, as you can see - plenty to keep me busy and active and out of trouble.