Saturday, November 28, 2009

Accents, Friends and Conversations

I'm in heaven - I really am... There is one thing that I have enjoyed all my life and that is listening to other people and listening to their accents...

And here in Muscat - if there is one thing that is NOT in short supply, it's the vast amount of different accents there are. Over and above the National's accents, you have the British, which as you know not one of them sounds alike, then there are the Aussies, the Kiwis, the American, the Candians, the Indians, the Pakistanis, in fact I dont think there is a country that is not represented here.

In fact, just looking at my kids class - out of a class of 20 - there are 17 Countries represented and 21 languages spoken - I cant wait to hear him in a years time so see which ones he has picked up over the year. Hubby and I have decided that the minute he stops saying "JA" but says Yeah or Yes - thats when we send him back to SA to get his Saffer accent back... Already he is dropping his "t"'s - I have to keep correcting him that wa'er is water and be'er is better... but then I find myself dropping 'em also!

What I find strange is back in RSA - people easily picked up that I was not South African, yet here - they all know I'm from RSA - weird that...

Anyway I could sit and listen to the various accents found here all day - I find it amazing - and I really want to get out there and listen to them all...

I used to think that any accent from the UK was the best - but I have to say that I have found a better one - Canadian... WOW - now if I could just find a Canadian who would be willing to talk all day... :)



Have you ever had to go out and make a whole new circle of friends? And at what stage can you actually say they are your friends? Whats the rules? If you've met them once are they "people you know", twice "acquintances", three times "friends". What happens if you exchange numbers, or facebook details - what are they then cyberbuddies? I find this a very interesting train of thought and its been on my mind a lot lately.

I remember moving from UK to RSA waaay back when I was a wee girl (yes I can remember that far back) and we had to make new friends - but seeing as I was in school it seems to be so easy - I dont recall my parents having problems either - but then again I was a kid - I was wrapped up in my own little world.

Then of course you go through your school life, early adulthood, work, etc etc and you always seem to be surrounded by friends - friends you can call for a quick cuppa, or the one that goes shopping with you for that perfect outfit, or the ones that come over to watch the rugby, and even the wingmen that you play drinking games with - but you always had friends. You might meet new people, but because you are surrounded by your other friends its not really noticeable.

Just try coming to a completely new place and having to start from scratch... its not easy - esp. for me.

Now, even back in RSA, I had an extremely low sense of self esteem, and it took me ages to feel comfortable that people liked me for me, and they weren't just feeling sorry for the weirdo, I worry that I have overstayed my welcome and end up irritating them, I worry that I contact them too often to arrange things. Of Course it doesn't help your sense of self esteem when ONE person, out of a hand full that you counted on as being your best friends, hasn't contacted you in all the months you've been gone.

What I have decided to do - is to just get out there and meet as many people as possible! And so far I think I'm doing a damn fine job! (even if I say so myself!) I cannot for the life of me remember who told me this - but someone mentioned once that the joys of moving to a completely new country is that one can re-invent themselves - OH WAIT - I think I remember now - sorry I sometimes suffer from C.R.A.F.T - but they were actually talking about jobs... (oops!) but anyway, I've decided to take that good piece of advise and shift it over to my personal life - I'm re-inventing myself - I'm gonna start being a more confident person - and just pretend everyone likes me... :)

Oh dont worry - in the dead of night I'll still wake up worrying I wont get invited anywhere - but at least I will worry with more confidence ...:)

I've met some really nice people since I've been here... some of them I have met via the internet, some of them from the kids class, some of them via introductions from other people - I'd like to say that some of them are friends already - again I'm not really sure what the rules are - at what stage can I call them friends??? But I will confidently say I'd like to call them friends.... :)



This place is weird for conversations with people you have just met - I can guarantee you every single conversation will have the following topics in it...

- Where you come from - this on is fairly easy to contend with - you are introduced as - This is Gatvol, she's from South Africa - remember the good old days when you were just Gatvol - then you became Gatvol, so n so's wife - and then you became Gatvol, so n so's mother - well here you are Gatvol from South Africa. Of course if the country does not come up in the introductions - the very next sentenace will be ... "so thats a south African accent... which part you from?"

- Where you live - of course this is what everyone wants to know... :) we want to know if you have easier parking, closer to the shops, are you closer to the schools, do you have to contend with the traffic - of course for me to explain where I live - they end up in Upington (now apparently I can like one of my older posts HERE... but I have no idea how... just go read the older posts DAMN IT!)

- Booze licence... This comes up all the time... It seems to be that since one is restricted to certain hours and value limits on your Booze - one tends to think about it more often... I know I do... I CANT FIND JAGERMEISTER HERE!!!! :(

- Dust - why's there's so much, how it gets everywhere, how it procreates and multiplys, how its family and friends come back to avenge the death of the dust you just wiped away with no thought to his wife and kids back at home waiting for him (you get the picture right?)

- and Finally when will your Residencey Visa / Work Contract expire... MY WORST NIGHTMARE... meeting new friends (whats the rules?? are they friends yet??) to have them disappear out of your life in a eye blink...


One thing I do like about meeting new people tho.... they haven't heard all my crappy stories yet... ROFL...


anyway till next time...
xx

PS - you gotta, JUST GOTTA, go watch NEW MOON... TEAM JACOB!!!! :)

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Not sure if I'm cut out for this

I am not a bloggers arse... I realise this...

Geez - I have typed and deleted about 10 times now... (did I mention I'm not a bloggers arse?)

Anyway I decided to cut a long story short... Instead of making a short story long like I usually do... :)

Surfice to say since I have been in Oman I have discovered a whole new world of bloggers... I have done a complete 180 degree turn on what type of people bloggers must be - I WILL NOT tell you what I used to think of them - and seeing as I am now in that category - I had better do a 180 degree turn.

I wont bore you on how I came to the point of reading blogs - but I will tell you that now I am reading blogs I am enjoying each and every one of them and I really get depressed if none of them have updated for a while - I get offended... can their lives be that busy that they forget about their followers??

Some are funny, some are informative and a lot of them do a loooot of research before they blog - but all of them give a little bit of insight of life here in Oman, the ups and downs.

There are many entries that I want to scream at - shouting "that happened to me" or "I know what you mean" - its really weird - I feel as if I know these people. I also at the same time get a sinking feeling - there are so many things I want to tell you all - but they've done it first and they've done it better... :)

I am not sure of the ethics with regards to blogging, I cant seem to find any written rules or anything - so I am not sure if I am allowed to make reference to them in my blogs but what I can tell you is that I have certain blogs that I follow like a stalker... on the left hand side of this page is a list of those I follow - if you get 5 mins you have to start reading them - they are really good.

When I go out and meet people, if I happen to meet say a Greek, a Aussie or a Candadian - my mind goes into overdrive, looking for clues to see if I find out if they are the bloggers I follow.. YA RIGHT - I have an overactive imagination - the amount of expats living in Oman and I would happen to meet the very people that I follow... what are the odds??

I have also had a look at the amount of people that follow them - wow they have loads. At the last count - I think I have 5 followers - and that suits me fine... :) after reading how well written the other blogs are - I'm in no way or form competiting with them at all - I mean GEEZ - I haven't even got the energy to to create a logo for my blog nor have a learnt how to put up some pictures... so I guess you could say I'm not very good at this. (Just in case I forgot to mention - I aint a bloggers arse!)

But someone told me that to blog is good for the soul, you can rant and rave and get it all out of your system - and I must admit it works - everytime I tell a story here - I feel so much better... :) and of course theres the added advantage of when people ask me why I haven't emailed them - I just say - but all my news is up on the blog... :)

So I guess I aint gonna stop just - I'm just letting you know I aint a very good blogger... :)

Oh and if anyone wants to tell me how to load up pics or has the energy to create a logo... feel free...

It's Eid holidays here now - a whole 9 days hols (including weekends) so many ideas so little energy... :) One thing I do know is I'm off to watch New Moon tomorrow - cant wait... :)

till next time
xx

Monday, November 23, 2009

The Brit and the Pea

Man - I have been meaning to tell you all about this and I keep on forgetting... It's called C.R.A.F.T people...

I was at a supermarket called Al Fair (although a lot of people here call it Un Fair no idea why yet!) they are about the only supermarket chain here that sells products imported from RSA (amongst other countries) So I pop in there every now and then to stock up on KOO cans and Today products, oh and Ina Paarmans, n Robertsons.. OH man lots of products.

Anyway - so the other day I was in there with my wingman, and I came across KOO peas... Now those of you who know me... know that I am famous for my cooking... NOT!!! but I do make a damn fine salad - as long as it comes out of a can... ROFL...

Anyway - one really nice salad is the KOO peas and Mayo...

So walking down the aisle with me wingman, and there on the shelf was KOO PEAS!!! so I started piling them into the trolley.... it's the done thing here - once you see something you like - take it all... who knows when you will see it again (you would think that the people here would use their initiative - if it sells make sure you buy lots more and keep it stocked - it doesn't seem to be the done thing here - one day its on the shelf and the next its gone for months.... weird really!)

Wingman was like Yummo you can make salad... and I was talking to the cans telling them how much I missed them...

Then this other shopper in the aisle asked what's that - so I explain about KOO being the best peas you can get in a can - mix it with Mayo and Voila instant easy salad - and she (amazingly a Brit!) started telling me how she makes the same with Mielie (corn for you non Saffer's) - SEE a woman after my own heart - quick and easy salads...

So she asked me if I had taken all the cans - but I kindly allowed her to take one.. and give my salad a go...

Hey who knows I might have started a trend here in Muscat... :)

xx

Eish... it's been a weird day...

Well, I've sorta gotten over my I hate everything day, but I could add a few more things to that list... so dont get me started... :)

But I just have to tell you about my day today - it high-lights a typical day in Oman.. :) Okay well maybe not in Oman but definitely in my life at the moment...

Okay - so our mission today was
1) Renew Kids Passport
2) Amend plane tickets
3) go to DHL to collect a package - apparently - they DONT deliver here... WEIRD!!!
4) Do a deposit at The National Bank of Oman
5) pop into a mall we hadn't been in before - they had signs of 50% sale up!!! it was a must!

So we set out on our "adventure"

Before I get to the knitty gritty - I have to explain the roads here - if you want to go ANYWHERE you have to go VIA somewhere else (a good RSA saying explaining this would be you have to go via Upington to get there... ) a lot of the roads are one ways so you have to go passed / around the place you want to go and make your way back to it.. and of course you end up on the wrong road and happen to pass by where you want to be on the other side... It really makes for fun trips, we just pack in a picnic...

So - off we go via upington....

1) At the SA Embassy - In TYPICAL South African Government style - when I collected the application form - they had forgotten to give me half of it, as well as the list of things needed - so we accomplished - NOTHING - however - I must admit it had me and hubby in hysterics on having a typical "South African Government worker" (wink wink) assist us - it was like being back home... ;)

Then over the road is the place to amend the tickets - but it took us many trys and errors, round trips etc to get to the Emirates Building...

2) Where I had forgotten our passports and tickets on the desk at home... oopsie daisy... (can I tell you how impressed hubby was....)

on to the deposit

3) we spent an HOUR driving up and down and round and about no avail no National Bank of Oman. Millions of other banks but NOT the one we are looking for - but we happened to pass (in the right direction) the Mall we wanted to go look at...

4) Zankher (I think you spell it like that) Mall... It only opens at 10!!!! and it was 9'o'clock...

WELL YES - hubby was not impressed with me at all... But what is it with this place - there is NO standard times for anything opening or closing here - its hit and miss and really really weird times. Our Local DVD shop only opens at 18h00???

So we go home..

We get onto the National Bank of Oman's website - click on the Branch Location Button - and it gives a list of all branches - NO OTHER INFO!!! WTF - so it says Al Khuwair Branch and thats it - well that was EXTREMELY helpful in finding out where they are located... not even a bloody phone number...

Then I had a brain wave - get hold of Oman's version of Wiki... OmanForum!! (hereafter refered to as OF) its a forum for both Expats and National's either in Oman or was in Oman (although we have one member who's never even been here! WEIRD!). You can paste any question, and you will get good answers within minutes if not seconds. Of course there is the social side of it too (DOH! like where I have meet all my friends... haha - yes I have had to scoop that low to make friends here... ;) (JOKING PPL you know I love ya!) but it really is the most amazing place to find really good info on Oman. And really within 10 minutes I had an answer and knew exactly where it was.

So then off we went again and started all over again,

We decided to not amend the tickets just yet - as we are still argueing on when we are going back on hols.... I will NOT be in Cape Town during the 2010 World Cup - forget it!!

SA Embassy - again - GREAT South African SERVICE... at least it was a laugh.. But what was funnier was that when I asked how long before the passport will be ready - she said 3 months... WOW! thats better service than what you get in South Africa... ROFL - I would recommend you all come here to get your passports renewed... :)

National Bank of Oman - I walk in and it didn't look like the banks I know back home in RSA... Opps after about 5 minutes of wondering around pretending I can read arabic signs I found the tellers right at the back around the corner (how weird is that!). Join the queue and wait my turn. Then some national female goes to the one teller JUMPING the whole queue... boy was I peeved... the audacity of it all.. but I let it go, deep breaths... Then the teller started banging on his window and tell me to come here - but he wasn't being that friendly - so I was like FFS what now... so he tells me, "why you standing in queue - this is a ladies only teller" and he helps me before that National who I thought was pushing in... GOOD JOB I held my words... hahaha

DHL - nothing major happened here - except the whole weird way you had to go to get there.. and you end up passing it 100's of times before you figure it out!

Then we finally got to the Mall - the sale was good, but oh my golly gosh the taste in furniture - erg disgusting - but I did see the most amazing desk I WANT!!!

Then hubby says we can have a coffee... Cant for the life of me remember the places name.. I ordered the Iced Chocolate Cuppachino... ERG it was disgusting... basically it was like Frisco instant coffee (for those who dont happen to know what Frisco is - it must be the worse instant coffee you can get (erm apologies for those who like it) its basically just chicory not even caffeine) so a cup of that coffee with 3 ice cubes in it... Where the hell was the chocolate??? erg I'm getting shivers just thinking about it...

Anyhoo... Off to a more decent coffee shop tommorrow - where I will make up for todays mistakes... Off to meet some random strangers I met on OF... erg hope they not mass murderers... but its all good - taking my wingman with me... ERG - I met her on OF too... ;)

Oh one other thing that had me giggling today....
Got an email from Kids teacher with "forthcoming attractions" And there was a note at the bottom - Swimming is stopped for the winter season.... WTF!!! it's over 30 degrees outside people... OMW!!! imagine having a school tell you they stop swimming when the temperature reaches 30!!!

Till next time
xx

Saturday, November 21, 2009

I'm having a "I hate everything" day today...

Erg, I woke up in a I hate the world kinda mood today and I cant get it out of my system - so I have decided to create a list of things I hate - hopefully this will help me to get over myself...

I hate
- waking up in a I hate everything mood
- housework
- dust - it procreates and triples every time you clean
- the size of my floor surface in this place
- that my washing machine is broken (again)
- that I still havent unpacked
- that I still dont have a kitchen
- that people some times dont catch my sense of humour - its not my fault its a British humour mixed in with a South African humour for good measure.
- the fact that we have put our live and soul into this freaken company - and its not working out yet
- the fact that we have left some unfinished "business" back in RSA and its all going to pot and I seriously doubt it will ever be rectified
- the fact that there are no decent sweets here - oh my life for a Rowntree's fruit gum, and son dear is constantly talking about Jelly Tots... bless him
- the fact that I dont have my own car
- the T-Junction at the end of the road - it links up to a main road - and to cut a long story short it must be the worst T-Junction I have ever had the pleasure to try and cross
- that the drivers here in Oman who are totally inconsiderate of anyone else on the freaken road
- that I have to go outside for a smoke

(having just gotten back from a smoke break and a deep breath)...

I hate
- that its overcast (wonder if that means rain in this place... rofl)
- that I eat too much when I'm in these moods
- that I'm over weight
- that I have a low sense of self esteem
- that I think the whole world hates me
- that I have just finished a whole packet of Timtams by myself... (oh the horror!)
- that my husband irritates me today
- that my dog is following me around like a lost puppy... oh wait... he is a puppy..
- that there are no libraries in this place
- that I have no money of my own
- that I cant afford books - erg... okay that just depressed me further

Geez I could go on - but I think I'm depressing myself further and I dont want that... I only have a couple of packets of timtams... :)

I think I need to seriously go and get drunk... but then I would have to add a few further things on my hate list...

- that I dont know if they sell my favorite tipple here
- that I dont think I could afford it if I did !!
- that I dont have my drinking partners / wing men here
- that my wing men have completely ignored me since I left RSA ... what type of friends were they... :(

Anyway - hopefully tomorrow my mood will be better

and then I'll start on a list of things I love PROMISE

xx

Pro's and Con's of live in Oman...

Geez - I apologise for the mess this post is in - but I cannot figure out how to work this blog programme (feel free to send me hints and tips!) but what I can tell you is that this will be the last time I type it up in word and copy and paste - its a messs..... SORRY! :)


Well we’ve been here just over 4 months now – well – that all depends on when this blog gets put up on the net!

I started this blog to make my life easier with regards to sending out emails – and what do you know – I have writers block – that just SUCKS… I’ve got tonnes of things to tell you all – but don’t know how to put it down on paper – err blog…

What I can tell you is moving to a new country has it’s pro’s and con’s – but then again life in any country has it’s pro’s and con’s so I guess it’s really just a matter of over looking the con’s and getting on with your life…

And I can honestly say I am definitely still enjoying the pro’s of Oman.

One of the Con’s of living here is that I am really missing the news of friends and family – since I have been here – very few of you have written me more than one liner emails to tell me what is going on in your worlds – what little info I do get – I have to get it of your facebook status’s - So come on people please – send me some emails, letters, news anything – I am really starting to feel you’ve forgotten about me – it’s also kinda tough to write letters to you all without feedback… How do I know if I’m entertaining you…

Anyway – one EXTREMELY important factor to me with regards to where I stay is of course the COFFEE…. And this place is pure BLISS…

Coming from RSA where coffee shops are kinda thin on the ground.. erm what do we have there – Mugg & Bean and Wimpy are the only 2 good ones I can think off – Oh wait Mickey D’s made a good Cuppa too didn’t they? Anyway – this place is a coffee lovers paradise… I am in HEAVEN…

There’s Starbucks, Costa Coffee, Carribou Coffee, Second Cup, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, Coffee Republic – those are the ones I can remember and the major “Chain” like ones – there are also tonnes of little coffee shops every where – everyone drinks coffee – its amazing… OH and traditional Omani Coffee – Yummo!

And to add to that – Second Cup has a DRIVE THRU!!! (apparently) I say apparently because I have only ever heard about it and driven passed it… its on the other side of town from me on the way to the boat club, so if I go that way I’m with husband dear – and do you think he’s gonna stop so I can getafix???

Due to the weather tho’ I have gone of hot coffee – I am now enjoying the range of Iced Coffees that everyone sells – at the moment – my fav’s are Mint Condition from Carribou Coffee (mint flavour with crushed peppermint crisp on top), Mocha Frappachino from Starbucks, and one I found last week from Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf – I have no idea what it’s name is – but its basically Iced Coffee with extra kick – double the caffeine… er…I’m drooling whist I type this… LOL

So this is definitely on the Pro side

HOWEVER have you seen the size of my hips lately??? Maybe I should change this to the con side….


One thing that will definitely go onto the Con side is this house I am staying in... I am STILL not unpacked - and I still do not have a kitchen... erg... No I have no been taken over by aliens, No I am not going crazy - but DAMN I am missing my kitchen... :)

For those of you who have not received my "installment" emails - let me explain... Hubby's business partner rented this house years ago, then the company took it over for offices, and now we have moved in - so for the past few years - the kitchen in this house has been used by men only - and if you had to see the men in this part of the world you would understand why I would not touch the kitchen when I moved in... erg - I get shivers just thinking about what it looked like. We have had someone in, plus ourselves, scrubbing it down top to bottom with special chemicals a few times now - I think its been scrubbed a total of about 5 times now - and its almost up to my standards - there are a few things that need to be done still - like change the basin, change a part of the counter top, put in a aircon, get a stove and fix up the window and back door - so its still not livable - and yes as weird as this may sound I miss it - I am sick and tired of cooking on a teeny weeny table and washing the dishes in the bathroom basin.


Why haven't I fixed it up you ask? (you didn't?) oh! oh well I'm gonna tell you anyway - it would cost in the region of OMR 500.00 (that's around ZAR 10 000.00) to fix up the kitchen still. and that's a lotta money!!! We had the landlord around recently pointing out all of the major maintenance problems on the house - his answer??? "I would rather have the house stand empty then spend money on it".


Now if you are wondering why he has that attitude - I have no idea - if he maintained the house properly he could get a WHOLE lot more moola for the place - I have compared rentals - and we have a 4 bedroom Villa, 4 stories, with a HUGE basement - and we are only paying OMR 320.00 a month - that's around ZAR 6400.00 a month - now compared to what I have heard - that is CHEAP!!! :) yay me - usually the houses our size goes in the region of around OMR 1000.000 per month (ZAR 20 000.00) sooooo yes - we will have to put up with the cheap crappy house... :)


So that actually falls under both the Pro and Con of living in Oman... :)


Oh oh - before I end of this blog - I gotta mention the weather - that is definitely a PRO!!!! WOW - its the middle of winter here - and the temperature during the day is around 30 - 35 deg c... :) okay the mornings are a tad cooler, around 17 - 19 degrees. BUT wow man imagine being able to spend the day on the beach during the middle of winter... yay me! :) (pity I hate sand doh!)


The other day - I had a Blondie moment (yes I am prone to have those lately!) I went for a shower in the evening and was TOTALLY frozen... I ended up getting winter tracksuit pants out of the storage to put on, as well as my slippers... when hubby saw me - he was shocked - so I explained to him how cold the shower was... and I think the geyser was broken... :( until he kindly pointed out to me that we haven't had the geyser on since I got here... DOH!!! so.... yes now its getting kinda cold - so we have to turn the geyser on about half an hour before we want to shower - that's not such a bad inconvenience for a warm shower now is it...


Anyway - till next time... xx


Sunday, November 15, 2009

There's a Rat in mi kitchen what am I gonna do?

Firstly, my apologies to UB40 for using their song title! :)

We have rats, big ones, little ones, fat ones, thin ones, young ones - ALL of them - in fact I think all of the rats in Muscat have decided that my house is the place to party. Seriously tho' - our house is a semi detached house, and the house next door is being used as a office cum kitchen for a whole bunch of male office workers - and we assume that the kitchen part of it - which obviously will have large catering size bags of rice, flour etc, - is a nesting zone for these little buggers, and of course they just walk over the roof onto our side.

Prior to me moving here, hubby dear was telling me the rats were a major problem running through the whole house in and out of extractor fans, windows, doors - you get the picture. So we bought over our cat and dog in the eternal hope that the rats will stay away - why else would I have paid such a bloody fortune to get them here... But now we have to leave the roof door open so that the dog can go to the loo (why the roof ?? thats a story for another blog!) so the rats are coming through that door too.

But we are happy to announce that the animals are doing their job - since they have been here we have only spotted one rat - although hubby dear believes its a little mouse - DAMMIT thats part of the rodent family isn't it?? And this rat / mouse didn't last long - the dog got him fairly quickly. Although it was rather strange - the cat strolled into the room - promptly fell on the floor and fell asleep - the dog was chasing the rat around the room trying to catch it - it even ran over the cat - who didn't flinch... (where was I??? outside looking through the window!)

But since that episode not one rat - nor evidence of them (ie rat droppings!) :)

Yay us! the animals - well the dog anyway - has earned his air ticket.....

UNTIL YESTERDAY....

I woke up yesterday morning and toddle off to the bathroom to attend to my morning ablutions - whilst I was on the loo my young son wondered in and stood in line.... Now I might be a weird mother - but one thing that irriates me is a 6 year old in the bathroom first thing in the morning - he just has NO IDEA on how to get that thing aiming straight - so seeing as I was there - I thought I would keep an eye on the proceedings (as you do!)

IMAGINE our surprise when the toilet paper I had just used moved... YES Ladies and gentlemen it was a rat... somehow it had gotten into the toilet bowl - we assume it fell in through the extractor fan - which was on at the time... anyway.... I instantly hit the flush button and WOOSH away it went... flash backs to the Movie Flush Away flashing through my mind.. :)

TODAY... another rat - although hubby is again convinced its a mouse - whatever - its a rodent dude get over it - was found this time by the cat in our upstairs passage - we moved the furniture away and the rat / mouse made a mad dash for safetly... the cat just sat there !! whats up with that??

Poor dog got into attack mode again - managed to get it and after a few choice karate moves the poor little thing was dead on the floor.... and what did the cat do??? walked up to the dead rodent gave it a good whack with his paw to make sure it was dead, put his paw on top of it and looked at me as if to say "Look what I caught for you"....

Blasted cat - I'm off to call up Cats R Us - to see if I can get a real cat...

Identity Crisis

Just a friendly warning to all I've advised that this is my post... if you leave any comments and reveal my true identity...

1) they wont get posted here - I have to give permission
2) you will have to bail me out of jail when the ROP (Royal Omani Police) arrest me
3) you'll be off my Christmas card list...

Just enjoy the blog and try not to tell the world who the hell I am... :)

New to this whole blogging world....

Well, what can I say... I thought I would give this all a bash... see how it goes... :)

Since I have moved to Oman, and found all this extra time on my hands, I've discovered a whole new world - called Blogging..... :) There are some really great bloggers here in Oman and I really get upset if they don't upload new info every day...

Anyway, one Aussie Blogger told me I should start me own - and I didn't really take that seriously - I mean really now - who wants to follow what happens in my little world - but then I had the misfortune of having 2 email servers crash on me in the space of a week. (Thank goodness for clever family and my cuz in UK has rigged me up with a new email - which hopefully will be up n running soon... :)) So I was in a panic of how can I send out my adventures / installment emails without having emails - DOH!!! I'd write a blog...

This blog is mainly for all my friends n family where ever they might be in the world, and it is just a glimpse into my really really really weird warped mind, my thoughts and views on life in a foreign country, that I LOVE like mad - but it frustrates the h*** outta me at times.

I have no intention of insulting anyone or anything - everything I post here will be tougne in cheek, and should be taken as such - however feel free to leave a comment if you are insulted - I will just delete it... :)

So - hows that for a boring first blog - I'm off to get my dear son from school now... and will have a whole afternoon to entertain him.... Gotta love Cartoon Network...

I am creating a whole list of thoughts n things and am sure I will blog again soon with more ramblings...