Quiz Night

Well it's Monday night and the GR 5 team are yet again at Rydges ensconsed at our usual table ready to take on the world and it's Quiz master. Tonight was going to be our swan song, our last attempt at glory in front of all other other expats (Poms). Well we started with a rush, 10 out of 10 and tied for first place, at the end of the second round still holding onto first place victory and a tab of 250 Riyals looking good. Oh no somebody forgot to tell us round three was stacked if you didn't come from the UK you were history. Needless to say with obscure questions relating to Soccer who would call that football and other unkown TV personalities we crashed and burned. Ho hum - al-hamdu l illah.

High Tea

Well insn't this just all very cosy, Colleen, Julia, Martin and me took time out to experience how the rich and famous enjoy their afternoons. A trip to the Ritz Carlton and high tea ordered, with scones, cucumber sandwiches and fresh berry's with whipped cream and rich chocolate sauce. Mmm very nice and all rather ponsy but worth it.

Boys and their Toys

Spotted this while out for a stroll, the first time I didn't have my camera and there were actually more machines working in this site than the photo shows, if I remember correctly I think there was at least 14 machines all brand new working together digging this massive hole, no expense sparred by these guys. Catapillar must love Qatar.

Rocky Outcrops

We have taken nearly 5 months to find these rather elusive rocky outcrops but never the less at last we were successful. Qatar is just a flat expanse of desert so anything that rises out of the landscape that isn't man made is significant. These outcrops rate as the highest points above sea level in Qatar.

The Swords

These monstors are on Al Hamad St, and are one of the symbols of Qatar and as you can see they are massive.

Going Up

Spotted this little gem the other day while out walking, well John saw it first, Martin takes the credit for the photography but it's to good to leave out. Your imagination could just go wild.

The Al Hitmi Hilton 1 Star or Less??

This is our apartment building, right next to a Mosque and several other building under varying stages of construction. As apartment buildings go it has it's faults. If some of the issues could be attended to by the owners it wouldn't be too bad a place to live. The biggest issue is the poor air conditioning with room temperatures often sitting at 30 degrees C is does not make for a good sleep. Floods are common, our apartment was totally flooded the other day from a burst pipe, our neighbour had no water for the whole day another burst pipe then he arrived home to find his lounge flooded from a blocked drain pipe on his Air Con. He now can't use the sink as the waste has broken and no body will come to fix it. The property manager is incompetent, refuses to answer his phone and does nothing about getting any of the issues attended to. We think he is too scared to front up as there are quite a few people who would like a piece of him.

Shifting House

We discovered these guys on the side of the road, no it's not Colleen's purchases and she wasn't trying to get it all shipped home unnoticed. The local Police seemed to take a mild interest in what they were up to but soon drove off. They fired up the car and headed off on their intrepid journey to wherever they were going.

Close Shave or What?

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Hard at Work

John caught taking time out to reflect on the project at hand and his next strategic move all in favour of progressing the cause of course.

Half Century

Yes it really is 50 degrees, and it's been hotter but no photographic evidence to support it, note the time of day, this is real swimming weather, don't you wish you were here, we are missing the cold NOT!!!

Shisha Time

One thing Ash wanted to try before she went home was a Shisha. Off to the Souqs and take your pick most cafe's and restaurants have them available. Colleen wanted tea and Ash and I tried a Shisha pipe with Apple flavour. For somebody who doesn't smoke it wasn't too bad ,nice taste of apple and not to bitter and didn't taste strongly of tobacco. Ash enjoyed the experience she reckons it made her light headed although I don't know it may have just been the heat.

And Ash Arrives

Well now Ash is here getting a taste of the desert life, enjoying the heat and dust. She has spent the last week taking in the sights, smells and life of Doha, seeing the crazy driving and being ogled by the locals. Another trip north and village ruins, forts and more desert and dust. Plenty of trips to the souqs and malls to cover the essential shopping requirements and gifts for those at home. Ash has also tasted the local fair with an Arab meal with all the culinary delights you would expect. Last night saw a boat ride on the harbour around the corniche stunning views.