Catching my breath

I'm back. I've been in my cave trying to make sense of all that is happening in Christchurch and the wider world. I tend to do that, focus inwardly, when things get tough. I take some time to reflect away from the hustle and bustle of daily life, living my work and then getting time out. I've returned to the gym, looking in the mirror was not such a happy event so decided action was needed. I really enjoy the head space that exercise gives me.

I need the head space because there is such a lot going on. I've written my to do list and am ticking things off this long list. My police check is done and getting translated, my medical check happens on Wednesday and other documentation is underway. Such a lot to do. Tonight is a quiet one, pumpkin risotto cooked with brown rice and an early night. The risotto took ages, it was worth it. Totally delicious and enough for two meals, a bonus of living alone. I find cooking relaxing, music, fresh ingredients and an uncritical audience of one with a nice red in hand, perfect.

The weekend, may it roll around quickly, should also be a quiet one with the highlight happening at around 5am my time on Saturday. Noah is getting christened in Christchurch. The place this was supposed to happen is unserviceable so it's now happening at home and I'll hopefully manage to join them via skype. I can't wait to see everyone. It's hard to believe that Noah is one this week, it seems like he's been part of our family forever. A sunny, happy little boy who is loved by everyone. The invitation is on my fridge, a collage of photos that bring me joy every time I'm in the kitchen. Happy birthday habibi, big kisses from grandma.

Movement

At the altar of the unknown

You must put on your gloves and leave

Ride the wind on your bike

Travel under God's skies

And play your own tunes

Saad Jumaa

Abu Dhabi Culture and Heritage February 2011 publication

Images of Christchurch

The photos and video clips are distressing, heartbreaking, a once beautiful city in ruins. A city of parks, hill walks, excellent coffee and restaurants, old stone buildings to remind us of the past, new buildings showing progress. Most importantly a place of people living their lives. Working, loving, families with children privileged to grow up in this place. A place where my family are beginning to pick up the pieces. They are all safe and well, thankfully. Their stories telling me the close calls they had, seconds in the balance between safety and damage.

My heart goes out to those waiting the long wait to hear about their loved ones. Hoping beyond hope as hope fades that they will be found alive. My sympathy goes out to those who have had their losses confirmed. My thanks go out to those in the front line, especially those who have come from overseas to support New Zealand in these days of need. The police and search and rescue teams doing a tough job in stressful conditions. I only hope the reports I've just seen of more massive after shocks don't lead to any more death and destruction.

My city will look very different next time I see it so here are some photos I took on past trips.

And the earth shakes again

The scenes from home are horrific, I can't imagine the terror as Christchurch shakes again. My family are safe, I hope they leave the city soon before there are more shakes. It's horrible being away from home at times like this. Horrible not knowing what's really going on. The news reports and TV clips are not comforting. My heart goes out to those who are trapped and those who have lost their loved ones. Buildings and things can be replaced, people can't. Lets hope the morning, New Zealand time, brings some good news and that the shaking stops. Kia kaha, thinking of you all.

What to do

Leaving a job can be stressful, negotiating the next position and moving country takes time. It's the small stuff that tends to get to me, the details. Job one today is to write the list I keep in my head on paper so I can tick off the jobs as they're done. I did my police clearance check yesterday so that's a big one ticked off.

Leaving the UAE there seems to be a lot of paperwork. Without that all completed I can't leave so I do need to get everything sorted out. Selling the car, closing my bank accounts, canceling my residency, sending all that's needed to my new employers and giving back all that's needed to my current employers. I have a flat to pack up, freight to organise and friends to say goodbye to, not a final goodbye because I'm not very good at that. Just a masalama, see you when you come and visit me or when I'm back over this way or in your home country.

So the day begins, well it began at the call to prayer, my morning alarm that I will miss, with my head full of thoughts and ideas and the need to write a to do list. Guess I kind of just have.

I wish you enough

Well this brought tears, Paulo Coelho has a way with words. Below are words from someone else he has shared, very special.

(today a received an email from a very close friend of mine. I asked her if I could share it here, and she agreed)

Feb 14, 2011

Dear Friends,
Amongst all the activities I enjoy in London (shows, galleries, big parties etc…), the moment I enjoyed and cherished most was spending time with my 86 year old neighbor, who always took time to make me his own special coffee with a plate of cookies so graciously served to me on a white linen We used to spend hours talking…primarily me talking and he listening… with his advice whenever I asked.
Yesterday, I sent an email to him (the text is not mine) which was bounced back to me, and after having my husband (who is presently in London) check on him, I received a call to tell me that he had passed away on Jan 28th. My message of appreciation to him was a bit too late…
Below you find my message
Love
I.C.

Recently I overheard a father and daughter in their last moments together at the airport. They had announced the departure.
Standing near the security gate, they hugged and the father said, ‘I love you, and I wish you enough.’

They kissed and the daughter left. The father walked over to the window where I was seated. I tried not to intrude on his privacy, but I could not refrain from asking:
‘When you were saying good-bye, I heard you say, ‘I wish you enough.’ May I ask what that means?’

He began to smile. ‘That’s a wish that has been handed down from other generations. My parents used to say it to everyone.’
He paused a moment and looked up as if trying to remember it in detail, and he smiled even more.
‘When we said, ‘I wish you enough,’ we were wanting the other person to have a life filled with just enough good things to sustain them.’
Then turning toward me, he shared the following as if he were reciting it from memory.

I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright no matter how gray the day may appear.

I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun even more..

I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive and everlasting.

I wish you enough pain so that even the smallest of joys in life may appear bigger.

I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting…
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.

I wish you enough hellos to get you through the final good- bye.

A new direction

While I was writing the last post, I got a phone call that rings in some changes in my life. Another job, in another country, in another part of the world, completely. I haven't seen all there is to see here, a weekend to Egypt is in my plans but may have to wait until things are more settled. I promised my father I would get a photo on a camel in front of the pyramids like his father did during the war. It's a promise I want to keep.

I did a little dance, as you do when exciting things happen. I wondered if the job offer may have been withdrawn with this small piece of madness but the man on the phone just laughed. I'm off to the Cayman Islands to work for the government on a reform project. I didn't realise where I was going until I saw peoples faces and listened to their comments when I shared my news. It seems I'm going to a Caribbean paradise, the photos tell me this is so. I suspect I may get many visitors, some have asked me to make sure I have a large house so they can bring all the family. Looks like I might be in just the right place to achieve my diving goal that I had put on the back burner.

So for now I'm going to explore as much of this place as I can before I go. There should be plenty of photos coming up. I have to sort my stuff, not much to pack really so that's good. I still need to finish the Liwa story, maybe tomorrow night as it's been a big weekend. I went to the Waitangi Day ball in Abu Dhabi. Imagine a room full of kiwis, mix with some good food, a few drinks and lots of singing and dancing, it was a good night.

Liwa

It's been a busy month so far, too busy out and about to write much. The first weekend was SANZA, an afternoon event where New Zealanders, Australians and South Africans do what they do best. It ended up being a slightly messy but a very enjoyable afternoon with my good friends. I even met one who I knew in a past life, we had lived and worked in the same place in our youth. It was fun catching up, we both look a little older of course.

Last weekend it was Jane's 40.5 birthday weekend in Liwa. Yes, on 3 February Jane was halfway through her 40th year, worthy of celebrating. Heading to Liwa was a treat. I've always wanted to go out into the empty Quarter, out to where Sue lives at Madinet Zayed and to where Wilfred Thesiger explored in the days before oil changed the demographics and landscape of this place. His photographs are stunning and the BBC link also tells some of his story.

The journey did not disappoint and the hotel was stunning. Tilal Liwa Hotel sits on it's own in the middle of a stretch of sand that includes a well used camel race track and is the site for the annual camel festival. It rises from the sand like a mirage, complete with infinity pool. When I checked in and the man at the desk said to me that I had a desert view room, I had a small giggle. Is there any other view, I asked with a smile.

The hotel was quiet until the contingent of kiwis and honorary kiwis arrived. We had a lovely evening complete with pizza, celebrating with Jane and each other. Breakfast was a treat, I can eat heaps at breakfast and managed to have a social first breakfast with Debbie, Julie and their families and then second breakfast with others as they arrived. I may even have managed third breakfast but who's counting.

It was chilly outside, after a week of unpleasant weather the wind still remained, so we lay by the pool until it was time to explore the area. Sue was our guide, this is her patch, so we headed to Liwa and the largest sand dune in the UAE. The story and photos will have to be in part two, I need to get some work completed, procrastinating at the moment.

Oasis Living

The February issue of Oasis Living is out. Check out the story and photos on page 32 about my trip with Sue to Jordan during Eid. I'm in the process of writing part two now. Enjoy the magazine, there are many people who work really hard to get it published on time every month. It's free in all the malls in Al Ain as well as online. I can send a copy if anyone wants one.