Hayden

I've just been chatting on Facebook to my friend Hayden, while writing reports of course. Hayden lives in Istanbul and has just returned from a stint in Japan to give his travel business some momentum. We met Hayden through Di in 2004 on our trip to Turkey. He arranged our trips within Turkey and we had a great time socialising with him. As New Zealanders do, we kept in touch and Hayden came to stay on a visit home. A great guy I hope to catch up with on my next trip north. 

Here's a link to his site for anyone interested in traveling in Turkey http://www.zenturkey.com/  

TGI Friday

Am I pleased it's Friday. It's been a long week. I don't know why but the weeks I travel south are so very tiring. I don't know if it's the drive, a bit over an hour on a road so straight and full of heavy trucks you lose the will to live; the job I have to do down there, everyone wanting a large piece of me all at the same time; bad radio stations with inane talking rather than good music, music of any kind; or just that they are long days. 

A bonus is that I have found a coffee shop that makes good coffee. It's my first call of the day, my transition from city to country town stop. They even know how I like my coffee and greet me like an old friend when I turn up every couple of months for several days in a row. As I am often on my own, the barista/manager comes and chats with me. 

She works hard, long hours, but always has a cheerful smile for her customers. We talked about that, how she enjoys the people contact with her job. Contact that only lasts minutes so can be enjoyable, on the surface. People she doesn't take to she can hide from behind the coffee machine, others, like me, she can sit and chat with. 

In contrast, my job is all about building relationships and maintaining these over time. My job is to support others, to guide them and critique their practices. This can be fraught and tact is something I am a little short on at times. It is especially fraught in small town New Zealand. It is especially fraught when my critique has to be committed to paper and sent as a report. I have learnt to think before speaking, but sometimes the thoughts come out of my mouth before they are properly discarded. At least when writing, there is time to reword if needed. Although I have learnt that what I write and what others read into that can be quite different. 

Suffice to say, I am over traveling south for this year unless a crisis strikes. Touch wood that doesn't happen. Today I am working from home writing up my reports and appraisals, it's still freezing and there was nothing I felt inspired to photograph this trip. 

The attached photo is of a warmer place, a place I would prefer to be. I have attached a photo taken in Venice because of the movie Annie and I went to at the Italian Film Festival showing the human side to Venice, a story of love, acceptance and a new beginning. 

Snowing

Yes, its November; Barack has just won the US elections, well done Sarah Palin, and it snowed to sea level in Canterbury. It snowed in Ashburton and in the hills behind my house. It was sleeting on the way south and the day just got better and better. Yes, really better and better. Hello, Barack won! No more George W.

I have never followed the US elections like I have this year. It started by reading some blogs, Di's included. Then Tim and Sarah came home from the states and showed me some You Tubes showing Sarah Palin, that was revealing. She was made to look foolish, put into a position where she couldn't quite handle the situation. Makes the New Zealand elections pale into insignificance. Voting, that's Saturday's job.

I am heading south again tomorrow and this time I will take my camera. The mountains looked spectacular with their new winter coat. There was a rainbow that led us home. Like in reality, the pot of gold kept shifting. The closer we got, the faster it moved away. Still, it would have made a good photo. It's freezing outside now, a frost expected over night.

I had to dig out some winter woollies (again) to cope with the 20C drop in temperature from one day to the next. And tomorrow promises more of the chillness. It's funny, where ever I go lately I get fed, good timing really. Yesterday it was German waffles, today hot date scones dripping with butter plus strawberries, cheese and crackers later in the day. People laugh about this, given I am not very big but should be with my appetite. The cafe where I stop for coffee had a fresh batch of yoyos, a childhood favourite, so one came home with me. I wonder what goodies tomorrow will bring.

Thanks.

What a wonderful response I had to my last post, some great emails and phone calls. So people don't leave comments, they still read, some twice a day, some a couple of times a week, some too lazy to leave a comment, some who don't feel the need and just enjoy for the sake of enjoying, some just love the photos. That's all good really. I am looking forward to having some time to add some more photos, not tonight as I need my beauty sleep. I have some long days coming up, heading south for work early tomorrow.

Today I asked for some time off to go and see my Aussie son, so hope to get to Brisbane soon. I haven't seen him for almost a year, too long for me. As soon as I can get the tickets booked and a few days free, I'm off. There is the added bonus of a brand new great nephew to get aquainted with and other family to catch up on. It will be good to catch up with Kier's partner, a lovely lass who just might keep my visit a secret so I can surprise the boy. There will be photos, I promise.

Tonight I helped a friend with a job interview, going through the possible questions over a vino at our local. I seem to be there quite often lately, usually with a different woman each time. The young man who served us promised he wouldn't judge. It's a good place to go, especially on live music nights, a bit like Cheers, a place where everyone knows your name.

As I sit at the computer tonight, out the window there are fireworks exploding in the neighbourhood and all over town. A bonus of hill living at this time of year is being able to see out over the city. I often sit on the deck, in the dark, with a quiet wine or two and watch the fireworks. A friend once told me that was a sad thing to do, I think it's OK enjoying others fun from a distance. Sometimes thats just what I feel like doing.

Blogs

I love looking at other people's blogs. They have some great insights into how people are in the world, what they are thinking and how they interact with others. Many, like me, don't have people leaving comments, some have a great following. I know others read my blog, I see the counter and get comments via email. It would be good, she sighs wistfully, if others did leave comments. I would then at least think I wasn't boring others with my writing.

I know photos are enjoyed so here's another.....the Islamic Art Museum from the Corniche. Note the design, the building looks like a woman in traditional dress. It is quite a special building from all angles, a building that is spectacular in the late afternoon light.

Sealine

We ventured south to Sealine Resort one warm Saturday. Others told us it was a great place to relax away from the city, that might have been true on other days. On the day we chose, a large group of others had a function there as well. This meant loud music, bad 80s music, games and lots of kids running around. We made the best of it, enjoying a swim in the sea and in the pool until a dust storm hit and we had to leave in a hurry.

It was a great day out after a stressful couple of weeks. I even got a touch of the sun being able to lay about in my bikini. I love swimming, especially in the sea, so lazing in the warm water was a bonus for me. The pool, on the other hand, was a bit daunting. It was full of men. Lyn and I were the only ones brave enough to venture in while Kerry stood watch, well that was he lay on a deck chair pretending he wasn't with us.

The photos are of the children's area and some of the Sealine buildings, the dust storm approaching and some Qatari having fun with their quad bikes. Oh, the other constant noise at Sealine is the sound of 4WD's and bikes of all descriptions hooning up and down the sand dunes, not a very peaceful place really. Even the girls get in on the action. The final photo is one of my favourites and it's titled calling our driver. In this land of contrasts, traditions and mod cons, what could be more contradictory than a man on a camel talking on a cell phone. I had to run along the beach to get this shot, on full zoom, well worth it I think.

Cultural Festival

During the early part of our stay in Qatar, we attended a cultural festival in the souqs. This was a mostly male affair, all male performers and mostly male audience. The dancers were amazing, the beats soulful. The men were dressed in crisp white thobes, the photo doesn't do them justice really. They moved together with the beat in a seemingly ancient ritual dance complete with sword throwing. It was interesting that the children at the schools also danced like this for special occasions and I was privileged enough to have them perform for me on my last day in their school. Humbling for this westerner.

The night of the festival there were other performers including this very serene man who was a treat to listen to. Not knowing the words added to the experience as the audience, including three of the team, were mesmerised by the music.

The man with donkey was a regular in Souq Wakif, to be seen daily taking small children for a ride on his donkey. After a while he saw us as regulars and waved his greeting with a big smile as we walked by.