Riding the Wave

Today I have a new vision:

The ocean will be the icon by which I will steer my course.

I will surf its waves, find its ports, ride out its storms.

And most of all, I will cherish its safe harbours.

I will float, peacefully and quietly,

on a sea of calm whenever it presents itself,

storing up energy for days when gales may blow,

or when waters are rough, turbid or unforgiving.

I will be unperturbed by dark and ominous clouds overhead,

for they too, must pass.

I will know that

Change is a constant.

I will remember, each day,

to be thankful for the beauty and vibrancy underneath its waters,

for the hues of colour spread around the world,

and for the life it brings.

I will find solace in tide pools

left to bathe in the sunshine of an outgoing tide,

reflecting a microcosm of the oceans portent.

I will be watchful of high tides, swift currents, and... jellyfish.

I will find happiness in a sibilant shell;

wet, white sand oozing around my toes;

the damp salt spray dancing on a fresh wind,

and the brilliance of a sunset shimmering across the wide horizon.

I am a tiny emblem in the vastness and depths beyond myself.

I am a moment in time

and

I choose to ride on the crests of waves.

Alice in Wonderland.

We are much more settled now that we are in our own home - more space, no staff in and out, and generally just more comfortable. It has been a month of ups and downs, filled with firsts, frustrations and "fun".

I feel a bit like Alice in Wonderland - slipped down a hole into a whole new world requiring very different responses and understanding.

Life in a compound villa: the weird and the wonderful, the asinine and assiduous:
1. The compound employs 100’s of individuals catering to every need – there are plumbers, electricians, painters, carpenters, gardeners, and cleaners who work extremely hard, and with a great deal of care trying to meet our every need.
2. We sleep on mattresses that feel like you have been consigned to a state prison, or at the very least require you to take on a Stoic or Spartan attitude to life.
3. Uniformed 24 hour security officials foster a sense of safety, but then at times, allow the barrier arm into the property in a permanent 'up' position for all and sundry to enter at will. Perhaps they have regulars ....?
3. In a country where trees are rare, come and chop off and lop down branches because then there will be less leaves in the pool - just less mind you, not total eradication ...so what's the point? ....and where's the darn shade now!
5. Provide no information on rules and regulations for the compound, but the clothing police can respond to a complaint about someone sunbathing in a bikini.
6. When something goes wrong, as it inevitably does: leaking faucets, sink pipes, cable issues, etc you just dial the admin office and within 10 minutes a plumber or other technician is ringing your doorbell.
7. Electricity meters out of whack with electricity readings, creating all sorts of issues at Kharwaa, our local electricity provider. The water meter just installed resulting in water pressure dying to a trickle. The best part of this: admin is sorting it out, not us.
8. A pool in the backyard that is cleaned twice a week and best of all – included in the price of rent. Gardeners who sweep down your patio as often as you like, and water your garden twice a day.
9. A real treat – buying bookshelves, desk, filing cabinet, etc and having it all delivered for free, and assembled on site by workers who work like bees...at no extra cost.
10. The only real gripe is parking: for some reason no-one planned that any of us would possibly have guests over, so there is zero, zilch, nada, no visitor parking! Also - supply a fabulous mini-mart, drycleaner, ATM machine, and admin offices right next door to the nursery school and all of them right at the entrance/exit of the compound ....and then provide no place to park - the traffic jams are endless. And still waving the parking banner: provide no designated or reserved parking for those of us who live here and watch the parking spots right outside your villa brazenly taken by other inhabitants who...and there are various excuses - don't want to park in the sun, don't want to walk that far to their building, don't have a designated spot so decided on yours instead, thought yours was better than theirs, gave it to their visitor who needed it "just for awhile".

Like Alice, I am finding my way slowly but surely in my new surroundings – love some the new wonders, gawp at some of the new styles, sometimes feel like stamping my foot in frustration, and generally feeling a new sense of appreciation for life as we know it.

The Joys of Moving House.

The contrast between our peaceful sojourn in Burlington and our return to Doha, has once again been highlighted by the chaos that engulfs when moving house ex-pat style.

After three days of back and forth from hotel to villa, we are finally in our new abode. Six suitcases used twice over, brimful with all our current worldly possessions, have been unpacked. Our goods take up far less space than is available to us and have pretty much disappeared from view, swallowed up in the cavern of five bedroom, five bathrooms, and the ballroom space that constitutes the kitchen, living, family, and dining room downstairs.

We bid a sad goodbye to the Ramada Plaza and its wonderful team of staff who had lavished attention on us for four months and spent our first night in the villa on July 3. Three days later, I am beginning to wonder at the wisdom of our decision to become independent.

There is great advantage to being the first inhabitants of a new home – not having to deal with the previous tenants “leftovers” (whatever those might be), brand new furniture, and no maintenance or repair issues. The dark side of this equation is that you start off with a list of builder deficiencies. We have had the plumber come round three times: the drain pipes are blocked with building debris, and the kitchen sink pipes were never tightened or glued properly, hence creating deluges of water and flooded floors on three occasions in three separate areas so far. Lamps that don’t work, a pool light switch swinging in the breeze, and no light fixture in the laundry became tasks for the electrician. The carpenter, yet to see him, will have to put door handles on a bathroom door and fix various other items. I now have everyone’s cell numbers on a list strategically placed on the fridge, with Alex the supervisor on speed dial on my cell (I am sure he sighs every time he sees who is calling).

The new furniture is tasteful and well-placed, the decor is modern and co-ordinated. Unfortunately, you need to be a stoic or a Spartan to enjoy a good night’s sleep - the mattress is as hard as a rock. Be careful when you sit down as you might just bruise yourself, or bounce right up and out again. Rising in the morning is a groaning affair. We are currently combing the local stores looking for a new mattress – our best bet is that we will get one only two or three weeks from now as they have to be ordered and flown in.

The cherry on the top was a driver (I can’t help but comment on driving it seems) who decided to practice parking in front of our villa and instead of driving away from the house, punched a hole two feet by three feet into our outside wall. Of course, he/she chose a spot directly aimed at the water pipes. We came home to find the toilet in the hallway, and the water pipe spouting a fountain into the pond that was the bedroom downstairs. We have had two days of repairs so far, with the water to the entire house switched off during working hours. I am hoping that they re-attach the toilet tomorrow and I can finally bid goodbye to the dozen or so workers traipsing cement and dust into my new home.

The very worst of our move: no internet and no chance of internet for at least a week, if not two weeks. I don’t know if I can stand it – I may just have to scurry back to the hotel and beg for an hour’s connection. Alternatively, if you are seeing this, I have found an internet cafe – yahoo!