Great Achievement Mima !!!

My first visit to Saudi almost a year ago was highlighted by a somewhat disastrous visit to a bathroom facility that did not resemble anything I was familiar with.
Well,I'm here to announce that great progress has been made in that area......so much so Dave felt it was worth documenting.
You'll just have to take my word for what went on inside the walls of the pictured WC,but no longer am I intimidated by combining extreme heat,a long black abaya,a floor level "facility" and of course NO toilet paper,when it comes to answering an urgent call from nature.

I came out victorious, with a smile on my face ....and dry sandals !!!

A cake afterall!

In the absence of the pics eluded to in the previous post that are too big to download apparently, will share the cake and candles that did materialize afterall.

Happy Birthday to my precious Dave...what a wild ride this crazy life you've given me has turned out to be.

The Birthday Boy !

Yes,it's Dave's Birthday today and rather than just post the Birthday dinner,cake and candles, I thought I'd give you a glimpse into his life.
Dave and his "castle".
Dave's daily Birthday gift....having his car washed (not by me of course).
Dave and his new toys....golf clubs and practice net.
........aaaaagh.....the internet seems to want to keep Dave's "big day" a secret,so no pics....you'll just have to use your imagination.
Maybe tomorrow when demand is down I'll try again.

The Dilemma!

On arriving in hot and steamy Bahrain a few nights ago,the vehicle we had requested for transport across the causeway to Saudi Arabia was not available....thus the dilemma!

How to fit 4 HUGE suitcases,1 SUPERHUGE golf bag,complete with everything a man could need in the pursuit of becoming a champion golfer.....don't get me started!!! !!!!
Plus....2 maximum sized carry-on bags,a computer bag...and don't forget my travelling bag, with a sizeable quantity of newly purchased Cadbury chocolate from London.....oh yes,and 2 exhausted,less than happy passengers.....and the driver.....in a less than adequately sized vehicle!

Well,they say a picture says it all.....except I look calm and happy.....don't be fooled !!!

Believe it or not it worked, after much consultation between the driver,airport staff,us, and interested onlookers.
At one point the vehicle was moved into the exit lane of the airport so all doors could be opened....simultaneously,to assess the various logistic possibilities,blocking passing traffic.
Fortunately I was too tired to be embarrassed,despite having an area of about 6 inches to sit.....and just munched on my chocolates and checked my email, as the mayhem played out around me
....and who said this expat life is easy ? !.

Now that's a 1st !!!

Having been back in Saudi just a couple of days, I was priding myself with how well I was able to slip back into my desert dwelling existence.
That being said,I acknowledged I needed to be eased gently off my daily Starbucks "fix".
As I've mentioned in an earlier post,the "pride of Seattle" does exist over here in the Kingdom,but locations are limited.
I was prepared to travel some distance for the soothing comfort of the familiarity and consistency offered by this worldwide establishment (well, except for the segregated entrance thing....again.... see earlier post) to satisfy my craving....but it was only when I decided to visit the ladies room that I discovered,try as they may,all Starbucks are not created equal.
As I prepared to utilize the "facilities".....which is never easy in a floor length abaya....I was aware of an intense heat eminating from the said commode.
No...the plumbing had not been installed improperly......this is what happens when the outside temperature excedes well over 100 degrees and the external plumbing is exposed to mother nature's furnace all day....now that's a 1st !!!!!
But wait...... this idea has potential Mr Starbucks.... for added customer satisfaction on those cold winter months, in countries that actually have winter......a hot coffee and a warm bum bum......no extra charge !!

Summer break is over when........

....you're not snuggling with your grandkids of a morning as they wait for their papa to make his world renowned pancakes.
.....you're not sitting on your porch swing till 10 at night watching the sun go down......with a glass of something in your hand you won't find in Saudi!!!
...... you're not sitting on the deck eating newly caught crab from Bellingham Bay with neighbors you miss.
.......you're not riding your bike at Whistler and being confronted by a bear!!!
........you're not spending hours at the NW Washington Fair with the 3 little ones you love so much it hurts.
......you're not riding the zipline at Whistler, British Columbia,or eating biscuits at Cracker Barrel in Knoxville (editor's note.....Dave did the zipline I did the biscuits!)
..........................................oh enough already....I'm depressing myself !

I'm so grateful for the blessing of summer memories, but excited for what lies ahead, in the months ahead, in this land of sand,heat and camels......yes,we're back.....good bye summer, see you next year!!!!

A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do!!!

As my advance arrival in Washington extends toward a month,I guess Dave just had to make the most of being alone......so golfing in Bahrain seemed a good choice!

Note the oil well in the background......a unique way to pay for course maintenance!

No Excuse!

I wish I had an earth shattering reason for my lack of blogging recently,and briefly considered making one up, but nothing believable came to mind,except "life"got in the way.....which is a bit lame, but it's the truth.
There will probably be no-one reading this, as my vast (ha,ha) blog audience have given up I hear.....but here goes anyway.

For anyone who is vaguely interested,I'm actually in beautiful Washington, and Dave's still in hot and sandy Saudi.

After a 6 week delay, I have to admit I'll be anxious for him to return to the reality of being a homeowner, with all the responsibilities that go with that.
On arrival 3 weeks ago, I soon discovered my car was officially dead....so that's task number 1 Dave.....fix it!
(He knows too well that lifting the hood of my car is not a skill I plan to learn at this late stage of the marriage game......let alone messing with the battery)
Fortunately his aged vehicle is still "alive"......so I'm mobile....just!!!
Task number 2....the trash disposal seems to have gone on strike,in sympathy with my car I believe ....so another challenge for Dave.
THEN to be absolutely sure he feels needed when he returns, I used a somewhat creative ploy to remind him that his Mr Fixit's skills are in demand.
In great haste to take advantage of a beautiful sunny Bellingham day,I managed to "walk through"the screen door on the way to my porch swing.... (anxiously anticipating some crucial concentrated holiday reading).......knocking the said screen door totally out of the frame,then distorted it beyond recognition as I staggered to stay upright!!!
NO I had not been drinking (come on people it was 2 in the afternoon!) but none-the-less,the screen may be even beyond Dave's ability to rescue.
So with the reality of home maintenance beckoning.........Dave needs to get here.

PS. I miss picking up the phone and simply calling the "maintenance department"......a great perk of expat living.......and they never complain!

Greek Eyes!!!!!

On a recent trip to Greece and Turkey,a "local" made the observation that I had "Greek eyes"...whatever that means.....so let me give you a little glimpse of our recent travel experience...through my eyes!!!!

Ancient,ancient history, colliding with current 21st century reality, created an amazing perspective as we cruised, and ate, and staggered over miles of ancient cobbled stones,in awe of civilizations that preceded us.

.................That having been said (and don't think for a minute the poignancy was lost on Dave),but when alcohol and pork products of any description have not been "on the menu" for quite a few months....well your priorites seem to change.

Mounds of bacon were consumed whenever possible,and certainly not restricted to breakfast,but the most interesting observation I made, was Dave's new,somewhat curious attitude, to my shopping.

I experienced a freedom like never before,as he generously offered to sit at a nearby "taverna" while I navigated the winding streets and "did battle' with the storekeepers in pursuit of a "fair price".

I finally was a wakeup to Dave's ploy,and wish I'd suggested he keep a rated tally of the numerous" taverna's" he frequented.

As an aside though, the mellowness that goes with "taverna hopping",was a definate blessing I believe, when Dave went toe to toe with a Turkish carpet salesman.....!

I was relieved no violence took place......and a carpet was purchased......but it was not pretty....!

Interestingly enough,I don't have any documented evidence of Dave's "taverna visits" so you'll just have to take my word for it.

We really were in Dubai!!

The world's tallest building is,well....tall......but just too much for Dave!!!

What temperature did you say?????

Hello, from the sweltering sands of Saudi !!!
No, we have not melted into oblivion,but some days I believe it could be possible.
I'm told we're only just moving into the hot season,but when the temperature is over 100 (or almost 40 for you Aussies) day in day out,you venture out at your own risk....especially in that stylish black neck to ankle abaya.

Despite that consideration,Dave and I braved an "out of this world"experience recently by visiting Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Words like" wow",and" incredible" and "amazing" hardly do the place justice.
Truly a blend of east and west on steroids.
Miles of architecture that just takes your breath away,with the pinnacle being the world's tallest building.....the Burj Kalifa.
Oh BTW....a somewhat unsettling aside..... the very day we were planning on "soaring" as high as is allowable in that same building, a poor soul decided he would make history and be the first to take his life from one of the platforms.....thus it was closed.....mmmm....sad on both accounts.
We'll venture inside next visit!
Quite bizzare to see "covered" women,with just their faces exposed, enjoying the luxury of a 5 star restaurant patio,and puffing on a huge pipe, that back in the 7o's would have had you arrested.
(I'm told the contents of the pipe are not what I initially suspected!)
A return visit is definately in order, as a purchase from the "gold souk"has not been made yet (hint hint Dave).
Oooh yes.....that, by the way, is a definate requirement for my current flagging ego, as a visit to the local palatial hospital, for a non-urgent health matter, prompted the doctor to suggest botox should be on my "to do" list!!!!!
I guess that's one way to pay for the chandeliers in the foyer....and I'm not kidding!!!

Who can pick the REAL Heather???

I know my blog posts have been somewhat sporadic recently,as I lead this somewhat crazy "double life".

A Birthday celebration in Seattle and a Cultural event in Saudi...all within weeks of one another,will give you an interesting visual of my current identity crisis!!!!

So who is that woman with Dave????

From Soggy to Sandy.

Mmmmm.....some observations as I prepare to return to Saudi.
I will never grow tired of being welcomed "home" enthusiastically by wonderful friends and family,adding bacon to just about everything,simultaneously driving and enthusiastically singing worship music....loudly,loving on my grandkids,shopping with my adorable daughter-in-law (your turn next time Sarah),and being thankful for....well, just about everything.....BUT....one day of sunshine in a month.....!!!!
Maybe in time I'll get so sick of heat and sand I'll crave a month of rain....maybe!!!
Thank you Seattle and Bellingham.....see you in the summer.

Great Wolf Lodge

Our time back in the States has been great,but on a scale of 1 to 10,our visit to Great Wolf Lodge rated a 10 in terms of excitement......an indoor waterpark that is beyond your imagination.

Ever the kid at heart, Dave was "game" for anything,much to the grandkid's delight.

Deputy Dog !!!!

Dave has a new appreciation for teachers, having had a turn at being "Deputy Dog" at Riley's school last week.

With one proud grandson in tow, he parked in the designated "Deputy Dog" parking space,donned the "Deputy Dog" vest and anticipated a day of fun and frivolity.

.....he soon discovered things have changed in the world of education.

"Do you know they do math differently these days?"

"There's no such thing as a chalkboard."

"So what was that teacher doing when I agreed to read to the class?.....I read and read and read."

(Apparently you lose control of the class when you stop 'mid-book' and add some personal comments!!!)

"There was no way I was responsible for that little kid on the playground being knocked to the ground on my watch!

By the time he hung up his vest, "Deputy Dog"staggered home with his tail between his legs.....but Riley was happy .....thanks papa !!!

It's all about the Grandkids!

With Dave now on his way back to Saudi, it's time to reflect on a fast and fabulous fortnight (for you Americans that means 2 weeks!!)

From being "Deputy Dog" at Riley's school to being fearless at Great Wolf Lodge water park,papa is the best!

Oh....did I add that as a parting gift from Bellingham.....it snowed this morning!

You know you're not in Saudi when....

You know you're not in Saudi...... When it snows in April ! When you can drive to the supermarket....alone and unaccompanied. When you pay $63 for a tank of gas. When you can go to a movie. When pork and beer appear on the menu. When you can read your grandkids a bedtime story. When visiting a waterpark does not involve an abaya. When the words "family section" do not appear anywhere. When turning left involves actually being in the lefthand lane. .....mmmmm....the simple things we no longer take for granted (except for the snow and the gas prices)!!!

Yes....we are still here!!!

I know I'm suffering from "blogger's remorse",as no posting has appeared for some time.
Dave is proving to be an unreliable source of material of late,so for now, the reality of celebrating a Birthday in Saudi Arabia is as good as it gets.
It's scary when 60 is closer than 50....a LOT closer!!!!

Exploring the Middle East has been somewhat hampered by the ever increasing escalation of unrest in this region.
I'm trying not to take it personally that there has not been a problem with civil unrest in Bahrain for 17 years,and as soon at the Emerson's arrive.....well you read the news.

We actually head back to the US in 2 days for our first R and R, and can't wait to see the family.
We have lots of Mima and Papa hugs to catch up on, and Dave is salivating at the thought of a glass of port.....or 2 !
With the Bahrain causeway "out of bounds",our route home is a little more complicated, but we are confident....still doable.

It's been an incredible 3 months,filled with a multitude of new experiences.
I'm grateful that our worldview has been expanded,as we realize humanity is humanity,and that we have more in common than we ever imagined.

Yes,camels drool.....a lot !

Yes,it REALLY Happened!

Dave......a tent, a camel.....and let's not forget the latte......warm and with foam apparently!....Mmm!

The Camera never lies!!!

You're just going to have to trust me....the camping experience really did happen.....but as of now my photos are being "blocked"....mmm.....but I do think I hear Starbucks calling!!!!

Camping....Saudi style !

Nothing says"Saudi Arabia" like the desert,a camel and a tent.....oh,and Dave.


When he told me he was heading out to the desert on an adventure with his co-workers.... in a tent......I imagined a manly camping trip, where discomfort is a given......you know.... a tent so small you have to crawl into it to get to your sleeping bag, and an open fire with some charcoal encrusted sausages....basically no creature comforts......boy was I ever wrong !

My female radar should have been on high alert, when nothing he wore said "REI",and there wasn't a backpack in sight..

Well,let me tell you.....tent living has taken on a whole new meaning as the photos will prove...if they will "publish"!

A tent so big you could park multiple vehicles in it.
Palatial rugs and cushions to ensure continual comfort.
A massive spread of delicious lamb and rice (complete with the lamb's head on display, with eyes glistening....I'm not making this up ....and no charcoal in sight),with local date delicacies, chocolates and Arabian coffee.....oh, and I forgot the pre-dinner appetizer of freshly "acquired" camels milk.

Now for some clarification on the camels.....they were not just any camels....but,a special herd (?) of privately owned camels,led by a VERY happy,contented male camel (worth a fortune I'm told) accompanied by a multitude of female camels just begging to "visit" Mr Studly!!!

The event went well into the night,and the "stories" of the experience have almost become legendary.

Naturally Dave consumed more of the frothy warm camels milk than anyone......and no-one told him of the possible gastronomic "side effects".....but fortunately he made it home without the need for an urgent pit stop.

.....Being the entrepeneur that he is,Dave feels there could be a definate market for camel milk lattes, and can't understand why Starbucks are not answering his calls....mmm !!!

A visit with the Prince.

Have been very remiss in not mentioning that Dave had an "up close and personal" visit with a Saudi Prince last week.
Sent him off to Riyadh looking spiffy(is that even a word?) in his suit and tie,a new haircut and new business cards....complete with an Arabic translation....just in case the Prince needed to contact him again and invite us to his palace.....need to check my messages !!!
Just another example of the, "I can't believe that happened" moments we are experiencing here in the Kingdom.
Wish I had a photo to prove it....but apparently that would have been a bit tacky to ask!!!

The King is back !!!!

Yes,he's back........but not the king from Memphis you're thinking of...but King Abdullah. "Custodian of the 2 Holy Mosques"(yes,that is his correct title) is back from having surgery in the USA.....and Saudi Arabia is in celebration mode.
With the green flags of Saudi proudly displayed, vehicles decorated and horns blaring... it's clearly party time.
All government workers have been given a wage rise,and without any notice at all, the whole country was granted a 3 day weekend.
With our regular weekends being Thursday/Friday (see previous post), to add Saturday... just somehow felt luxurious.
Sadly for we expats, who love to rush across the causeway to Bahrain at every and any opportunity to enjoy a taste of some "forbidden fruit",the current unrest in that country forced us to think of plan "B".
A quick flight to India was briefly considered, to watch the Aussies thrash the Kiwis at cricket....but Dave, being the romantic that he is, settled for a day trip to Jubail" The Industrial City",(yes,that's what it's really called)....and a visit to Starbucks....mmmm.
All in all,with one down and 2 to go....life's pretty good.

What day is it....really???

The longer I live here the more I realize how programmed we become to certain things.....that just "are".
The most curious example of this very thing, is having it firmly ingrained in your psyche that the weekend is Saturday and Sunday.....not Thursday and Friday.
Dave has declared "it's just not natural" any other way.
When our pseudo weekend is over, I still wake up the next day and proceed to fulfill whatever requirements I have.... for Monday....well of course I do!
So appointments are missed ,that don't even know they're being missed,and voicemails of "where are you?"are.....well, they are really annoying.
So you stagger through Monday....or whatever you want to call it,and wonder why no-one in the USA is home to reply to your email....because it's the weekend...aaaagh!

Proof of the Aussie camel jockey!

Yes,that's me....with Dave accompanying me on his trusty steed.

I must have been quite a sight, as vehicles were stopping and shouting encouragement.

To be honest,it's not all it's cracked up to be....my back is still recovering.....but you can't live in the Saudi desert and not ride a camel at least once.

A Day in the Life.....

Having passed the one month anniversary of living in Saudi,it seemed fitting to share some observations and experiences.
Having someone clean your house and iron your husband's shirts is heavenly.
Riding a camel is hilarious.....and somewhat humiliating......pictures to follow!!!
Wearing an abaya to the beach is not only divinely comfortable, but the need for sunscreen is completely removed.
Waving daily to your machine-gun-toting front gate attendant is strangely reassuring.....until you notice he hangs his hat on the barrel !
Harassing the executive chef of a swanky 5 star restaurant to share his secret recipe of a Saudi specialty dish is worthwhile.....despite sacrificing your famous pavlova recipe !(only my Aussie readers will appreciate that).
Discovering "bingo" is a blood sport.
Caving to undue pressure and learning how to play bridge....well I had a lesson!
Discovering that totally covered Muslim women are so normal, they shop for groceries with screaming kids and a list....just like us!!!
And best of all.....learning that smiling is an international language that cuts through all barriers.

Some things just don't seem right!!!

As I try to embrace the sights and sounds of living in Saudi,there are just some things I'm not ready for....and camelburgers is one of them!

Aussie Day in the Desert !

In the absence of Dave doing something newsworthy,I put him behind the camera to capture something of the terrific Aussie Day celebration we've just had.

Aussies from almost every State of Australia....doing what we do best....having fun....despite none of the usual lubricant!!!

Proof of "Streams in the Desert"!

Having now moved from a slightly soggy guesthouse to our condo,Dave felt it appropriate to offer some comic relief before we changed residences.

Mrs Noah

I am not in the habit of posting more than one blog a day,but who would have thought, just hours after my previous post, that the unrelenting rain would personally pursue me ?
....so here I sit with a deluge dripping from the ceiling of my guesthouse !!!!
I wonder if Mrs Noah had to tolerate buckets in her bedroom????

If it doesn't rain...... it pours!!!!

Woke this morning to a rare phenomena.....heavy rain in the desert.
Washing this rain-deprived sandy country, of the dust that covers everything is welcomed,but add wet roads and water-filled pot holes to the already crazed mind-set of drivers here, and you have a disaster waiting to happen.
Might suggest Dave sleep at the office,as his fledgling Saudi driving skills are NOT finely tuned yet.....and I know for a fact he hasn't read the chapter on "wet and wild".

Sand toys ????

Just wanted to prove how much sand there is in this vast array of desert...and the enormity of the project Dave is here to help create.

No,these are NOT matchbox toys....but the real thing!

Sand and Starbucks

Armed with a Starbucks,Dave ventured waaaay.... into the desert this morning to visit our company's new worksite.
Apparently sand and camels predominate.....plus powerful 4-wheel-drive vehicles driven at break-neck speeds.
I was more than a little relieved that he was a passenger with a reasonably seasoned driver...an Aussie no less....come to think of it that may not have been a good combination!!
He set off with the camera, and strict instructions to get "a decent pic for the blog"....so stay tuned.

Having reached the 2 week mark since leaving Bellingham,becoming a desert dweller is working out pretty well.
I had the privilege of visiting LA yesterday....."Little America"...AKA...the 10 acre Aramco compound....wow !!!!
Made lots of new friends (almost all with Texan accents),ate great food and shopped in an amazing commissary.
Wondering if it's too late for Dave to learn a little about oil so we could live there!!!
Actually have invitations for 3 more visits in the next 3 days....with Dave....so maybe he can leave his application at the front gate as we present our passports.

......Lawrence of Arabia is texting me as we speak......I think he just remembered the camera !
Mmmmm....just sent me a pic of the local topography...sand,sand and more sand!!!!
Will wait for my technical assistant to get home to add that to this blog.

On a more somber note,as we sit here in the desert,our hearts break for the absolute devastation being inflicted on an area that was once our " home" in Northeastern Australia.
Many years were spent in that very part of Australia.
We pray for the safety and survival of everyone, as mother nature unleashes her fury.

Guinness and Security.

Up until this point in my life, our dog Guinness has been our only source of "armed and dangerous" security....those of you who knew our precious Guinny will be laughing right now!
Guinny's skills are now being utilized at a far more superior address..... Pearly Gate Boulevard......so I find myself pondering the reality of my latest form of security.
Now,please don't mis-understand my gratitude for the high-walled,razor-wired,armed,multiple check point facilities at my compound gate.
That sense of being "home" when that final, well fortified gate roles open is comforting.....but my deeper sense of peace and well-being and comfort, goes way beyond what my front gate looks like.....and for that I say "thank you".

Have Starbucks will travel.

Somewhat nostalgic to order my "single, grande, non fat, 3 sweet and low" latte from the Arabian gulf (AKA Persian Gulf) this morning.

Only difference was, my status as a Starbucks gold card holder meant nothing... what's that about ?? ... and it had to be consumed in the "family only" section of the restaurant... but this was a small price to pay for a taste of home (apologies to all those Woods Coffee fans from Bellingham).

I'm just curious what perks there are for those males lounging in the "men only" section??
Need to send Dave in on a research mission.

A trip to the market

The other saga that comes to mind was finding a plumbing supply store in a somewhat seedy part of town, to acquire the appropriate plug for my newly purchased hairdryer.

With a certain level of trepidation we park the car, knowing the GPS is in full view, yet deciding moving it would draw undue attention from numerous on-lookers. On our return,we discover that in Dave's haste to make sure the vehicle was securely "locked down", he's inadvertently hit the "windows down" button and all windows are open, freely accommodating any and all burglars... at this moment we are happy to remember the rather stringent punishment for robbery in this country!!!

Did I mention the smoke that poured from this same hairdryer, once plugged in with the newly acquired plug... another story for another day!

So there you have it... enough for just one week. Tomorrow is the weekend... I'm not sure what Dave has planned!! Thank you for your prayers... we need them!!

The gas gauge vs. the temperature gauge

Now, as you know, Dave is actually here to work, so to get to work he has already embraced the Saudi way of driving, which is basically... "may the best man win", or if you like,"dog eat dog"... you get my drift.

For a prayerful, polite culture, control of a large gas guzzling vehicle seems to be the perfect way to vent any pent-up emotions. I have decided the issue is, all drivers are male... thus an opportunity to flex those macho muscles. With basically a "no holds barred" attitude, the roads are treacherous... and what does Dave do?? Runs out of gas!!

Yes, as cars roar by him at literally 100 plus miles an hour, Dave is syphoning gas into his wimpy little Taurus... or whatever it is... but he lived to tell the tale, praise God.

In his defence, he said the gas gauge was on the opposite side to what he was used to, and it was the temperature gauge that he was monitoring!! ...mmmm!!

The saga begins

A week has passed since we left Bellingham and we are overdue with an update. God continues to take care of us, as we are like babies learning how to function all over again. Our transition is still in its infancy, but progress is being made, despite what I like to characterize as "Saudi Sagas".

Life in the compound proves to be pretty "soft" as we (Dave actually) swim, eat, get to know people... and eat some more. Until our condo is available, our residence is actually the "guesthouse", so what else is there to do but.... eat, swim and chat to people.

Most expats have been "back home" for Christmas, so it's a relief for me that slowly they are returning and I can work on getting to know the WHOLE compound. It's when we venture "outside" the sagass start...and so far they all seem to involve Dave!

Welcome to Saudi Arabia!

Dave and I in Saudi!