zoom zoom zoom

So we've finally managed to get a set of wheels slightly larger than my little put puttin golf cart who will sadly have to find a home some time soon. *sniff*. It looks something like the picture above but I'm not sure yet because I haven't seen it yet. AJ's just waiting for the Toyota guys to call so he can tell them where to put there car in graphic detail. THe intrepid explorer is taking his first major drive in Saudi this afternoon to get it home along the Highway from Hell. THank god I'm not in the car with him...we'd kill each other. As long as he sticks to the middle lane he'll be fine though. THe eediots pass you on both sides then and leave you alone. THis is a skill many a taxi driver has patiently explained to me while clapping whenever I learn the smallest arabic word. Actually I swear I learn more arabic from patient taxi drivers than anywhere else here. One dropped Aisha and I off in camp from Khobar the other day in front of my golf cart and was so shocked at seeing a woman driving one of those things he had to call his wife and tell her in front of us. I did contemplate running him over but I think he was doing a good job at killing himself laughing.

I'm in a spot of bother with AJ at the moment because I might have decided to recount some relatively gruesome shark stories to him while we were paddling around at the beach yesterday. Its not my fault he's scared of sharks but wont admit it. I'm just trying to 'aid' him in discovering his true fear of large things with pointy teeth.

I've completely chucked a tanty with all things old crusty aramco woman and am thinking that they all should be taken off their testosterone or be given a good rodgering once the cobwebs are removed hmph. (I can hear AJ in my head saying 'you volunteered for a self directed group so its all your fault' but I'm ignoring him)

This last week was the be all and end all of severe generalized nastiness and I'm saving it alllll up to put in a book the minute I finish 'researching' here and move to Bahrain.

Oh on a positive note. I've descided I love carpet shopping. Not to buy carpets...nonono....too expensive...but they give you free cups of morroccan tea and nibblies (baklava ohh how I love baklava!) while showing you their wares. The tightarse in me jumps at the thought of FREE LUNCH! so if you're ever in need of sustenance locate a carpet shop and look interested:)

Anyways I'm off to clean our Garage for the new addition to our stable. Brunhilda is looking somewhat depressed out in the driveway but I may give her a wash to make her feel better before flogging her off to the highest bidder.

Buying A Car in Saudi Arabia...or pushing peas up a sand dune

So as I'm still housebound today and can only doodle on the net I thought I'd share with everyone the experience of buying a car in Saudi Arabia...well more to the point a Land Cruizer in Saudi Arabia because their the only car that's probably safe enough to drive on the roads other than a Hummer and we can't afford one of those.


Step One:

AJ cycles out of camp with a very nice Kamal on a dodgy bike with no brakes into Rahema and goes to the Toyota yard to buy a car. THe dealer informs him very politely that there are no Land Cuizers in stock and that they will have to order one from Jedda which will take six days (inshallah) and the process begins. Oh at the same time they find out that the standard procedure for paying for your car here is to carry the entire amount for the car in cash to the dealership in a dodgy briefcase or backpack...hmmm...so AJ suggests a cheque. The dealer looks surprised as if he's never heard of this before but agrees.

Step Two:

Aj calls the dealership after six days expecting to be collecting the car the next day to be told that it will take another two days (inshallah) for the car to arrive. Duly pacified, he agrees to call back.

Step Three:

AJ calls after two days unfortunately just while the dealer is negotiating his dinner or some other insurmountable task. As a result the dealer appears somewhat surly. AJ asks if the car is ready, the dealer says that it may take "I think, maybe another 10 days inshallah". There is some controlled moodiness at our end and some metaphorical missiling of all things Toyota before AJ asks why it is taking so long. The dealer informs him that he is (thinks...pulls number out of ass) number 50 on a list of people for Land Cruizers. A threatens to go elsewhere the guy doesn't care because aparently he has 50 people waiting for a car.

Step Four:

AJ calls the car company again and gets another guy a few days later who informs him that the only guy who can speak to him has gone on holidays. 'However sir you are on waiting list inshallah.'

Step Five:

AJ hatches an egg

Belated Pictures of UK

Here's a few pictures of our UK trip from a month or two back. I'm not sure which one's I've posted but there's one of Rivleaux Abbey (don't shoot me for my spelling), one of AJ and Grandad ambling through some trees near the abbey. There's also one of the front of the Bronte house and one of the MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOORS (apparently when you talk about the moors in yorkshire you have to put them in Captials.)

Happy Birthday Jen! Damn the Sandstorm.

Happy Birthday Miss Jen! Sorry I've not been able to get through on the phone...but lots of hugs and hope you're having a day full of much gifting and boozing:)


Below is a photo of why I can't cwall... welcome to sandstorm in downtown Ras Tanura. One of the photos is of the beach which you can't see and the other is of just out the back of my house facing down the street. Gah! Apparently this is abnormal for this time of year but we've had pretty regular storms since January so I'm choosing to believe that the season is just sticking around in honour of the King's visit to Aramco which is happening tomorrow. Apparently if he smiles on your kid he had to pay for their education for life so there are many plots to attatch neon signs and hooting things to children in the crowd.