Hot!

You know it's hot when it's still 40C at 11pm. You know it's hot when its dropped to a sweltering 38C by 3am. By comparison the fact it's 32C now is a blessing. It's so much hotter in my new apartment, I get to watch the sun rise and somehow it keeps the heat of the day. People have been surprised at my power bills here, that they are low because I didn't often use aircon.

I can't sleep with the noise of the aircon so use the kitchen unit to cool my room. Last night that wasn't enough and I resorted to turning my bedroom one on for a while. There was a big blow last night, due to the heat stirring up the desert, and it kept me awake. The noises are so different upstairs. This morning the kitchen and bathrooms have sand dunes in them, lucky I hadn't cleaned yesterday.

I hope to get out to take photos this afternoon, out towards the Saudi border on the truck road. On the map there's some small settlements, on the map it looks so close to get to Liwa where Sue lives. In reality, the desert is impassable and I have to drive via Abu Dhabi. I still haven't made the journey to Liwa, too much on these past few weekends.

So I suspect today will be much like yesterday, hot, dry and dusty. A mostly inside day, a day to catch up on the rest of my packing, getting my car serviced and generally chilling.

Sam

Sam passed away on 23 May 2010. He was 12 years old and will be sadly missed by all who loved him. And to know Sam was to love him. I have never met a better natured dog, a dog who had a strong sense of belonging to the people who loved him. He lived across three houses and knew the rules at each, although he wasn't adverse to bending them if he was miffed at us. For example if we went out and left him on his own he'd sleep on the couch.

We tried to talk Tim out of getting a dog, he was at an age where I suspected we might be left holding the puppy. How wrong I was, Tim and Sarah were the very best masters a dog could hope for. I remember the day we picked him up, such a cute, sleepy little bundle of fur. Sam was raised around people. On the coast in the service station he slept in the office and wandered out amongst the cars, not so good for a pale pup. He learnt to live with the ginger cat, sleeping on a chair with him on occasion.

When he moved to Christchurch he loved to walk around Hagley Park, to go to the beach and to go up to Victoria Park. When Tim and Sarah traveled, he was shared between his coast home and his other Christchurch home. I so enjoyed having his company, having him there to force me out for a walk. He was stubborn to walk, if he didn't want to go somewhere there was no making him. If I took him out and it was too cold or a little wet, he would look at me as if to say, you must be out of your mind and turn back up the steps to the fire.

When I saw him on Skype last weekend, little did I know that it would be for the last time. He always greeted me happily when I returned home, I won't have a wet nose in my face this trip. RIP Sam, you'll be sorely missed by us all.

Moving

It's been a hectic week, hence no entries here. I've moved upstairs into a much bigger and brighter apartment, many trips up the stairs. I still haven't finished the shift with some bits and pieces to gather and deliver. I was amazed at how much stuff I had, the small stuff like books, shoes and clothes. At least I don't have to clean my apartment, the company does that. I pay but that's OK with me.

My new apartment has a view over the neighbourhood. It's got big windows and the sun shines in in the morning. I can't believe how much more space I have. I've still got lots of arranging to do to make it my place, my weekend job. It's a funny feeling coming into the light, I really needed to be out of the dark, closeness that was my old place.

Work calls, thank goodness it's Thursday. I'm so looking forward to the weekend. I feel like I missed last weekend completely with packing and feeling under the weather. I'll post some photos of the new place soon.

Out of town

This is where I'm traveling to this week, out past the place we camped at new year, out past the big dunes. This morning I regretted not taking my camera but as I was running a bit late, decided stopping on the way to take photos wouldn't be a good idea. The sun rising above the dunes cast a lovely light over the landscape, the camels added to the ambiance. The photo here is one a prepared earlier just off the road I was traveling today.

There's so much to see out in the countryside. The ever changing dunes, the men working on the roads, the camels and their herders, the scrubby plants that will grow until the heat burns them off. And talk about hot today, it's 45c now and I suspect where we were it got to almost 50. Sweltering heat that makes people faint and knocks the stuffing out of even the hardiest ones.

Getting into my car to drive home was like getting into an oven and the air con took some time to cool it. My car needs a service, especially with the travel I'm up for this week, and I'm procrastinating. It's too hot to go out to Toyota and get a taxi home, it's also too hot to go to the gym. I might just continue to rest for a while, until it cools and I've re hydrated, then go and do my out and about tasks. Sounds like a plan to me.

Hot!

It just hit 40C outside, yep very, very hot. I suspect that the expected high of 45 will be exceeded today, luckily I've got an inside day planned. I'm packing up all my bits and pieces for the move upstairs. I can't wait to be in a bigger place, a more open light and airy place. The best thing is that the people before Kate had a fire and burnt their old uncomfortable couch, one the same as my current one. That meant that Kate got a new couch and chairs, a couch perfect for laying on to watch TV. Well in my case to lay on and watch the computer. Others have tried to steal this comfy couch, no deal!

The rooms are bigger, the bedrooms in particular. I'll be able to have my bed out from the wall so making it will be so much easier. I'll also be able to set up an office in the spare room so I'll be able to free up my dining table for dining. Sue's coming to stay soon so can't wait to see her then it's home for me for a few weeks. I'm hanging out to see Noah and the kids, not hanging out to be in the depths of winter. It will be such a change from the oppressive heat here and a change is as good as a holiday so they say.

Driving

I seem to drive a fair bit here. It can be like playing Russian roulette, driving to the conditions while others power past at high speeds barely in control. Today's been a high milage day. I worked in Abu Dhabi yesterday so stayed the night with Debbie. We went out for a meal and had the bonus of catching some good Kiwi music, a couple who took our requests with good grace.

The drive back to Al Ain for my work day here began early, but not early enough that I didn't have to speed a little to get there on time. I've always mocked people who have those travel cups in their cup holders, people who take a coffee on the road with them. I saw that as deserving of a good mocking. I may have to confess that that was me yesterday and today. It seemed like the best way to get my much needed morning cuppa.

Today ended with a return trip to Dubai to drop Kate at the airport for her trip to New Zealand. I had to laugh when I went through to the passenger only part of Terminal 3 with her to help her check in. She had a trolley piled with way more than her 20kgs, my job was to wait with the stuff she was going to carry on so she didn't sprung for it as excess baggage. Fair enough, but are you actually going to carry that neatly rolled up 10kg+ carpet as carry on? Oh add to that a large bag on wheels, a carry bag big enough for two or three small dogs and a hand bag. What was she thinking!

Last I heard, she was at the gate with all her contraband in tact. Although she did get told she wasn't allowed something, perhaps the carpet, through the gate. She protested and told the man that the others had said she could, stood her ground in typical Kate fashion. I would have loved to see the poor man's face, I bet it brought back memories of fierce school teachers for him. So it seems my offer to pack the carpet in my suitcase wasn't needed and Kate will have another Middle East story to regale her friends and family with.

On the return trip I had a catch up with Sarah, it's been a while. I'm actually getting quite good at driving in Dubai, at finding my way around. I now know how to get to all three airport terminals without missing a turn, that I've taken a wrong turn at the times I have and how to get back on the right track, and most importantly, how to get onto the Al Ain road.

There are extensive road works on the road home. The sign I love the most is the one that says Al Foah 5km. That means I'm almost home. Tonight there was an accident on the road, a light truck, a 4wd and a car so far as I could see. The mess was horrific, debris on the road and the police cleaning up and reinstating the median wall between the carriage ways. It was awful and as always we all slowed to a crawl, went into one lane with our hazards on and rubber necked.

I hope the people were not hurt too badly, I suspect they were given the damage. And did the cars slow down, nope they didn't. Off they raced, weaving in and out at speed through the road works. I hung back, a wise choice. A friend shared a trick that works on the road bullies who power up behind you and expect you to pull out of their way, even if there's nowhere to go. If I give a flick on my indicator, a flick left in the fast lane, they back right off. It helps that I have an Emirati type vehicle. They back off, I just have to take care they don't see a petite western woman at the wheel.

Sleep, elusive sleep

I've got that I'm not going to sleep tonight feeling. There's far too much kicking around in my head for sleep and I know I'll regret that in the morning. I'm also unwell, the high levels of dust have zapped me over the past days and I was out when the dust storm hit with a sudden fury that reminded me of the dust storms in Qatar.

End result, I've got a horrible cold like thing, part of breathing in the dust. When I lie down, it goes to my chest and sleeping sitting up is not cool. My headache is impressive too. I'm sipping on ginger and lemon tea as I write, it's not helping. I suspect I may have to go to the docs tomorrow, something I've not done for years. I might be ok, if only I can get some sleep.

I got my tickets home to NZ yesterday. I found the Emirates office, a good move it seems. Not only did I get a discount for being a teacher, but also a complimentary limo to the airport and home, free changes to my itinerary and excellent service. With all the trips I've been doing, my airpoints are really looking healthy, may be at gold after this trip. The magic ticket didn't eventuate but I got some good advice on how to plan my trip on to Europe.

Things are in a state of flux here, people coming and going, jobs changing, working conditions changing, the feeling that I'm selling my soul some days. I find it hard when people leave. I get to know people well, make friends with them, and then they leave. Many I'll never see again, some I will. Most keep in touch for a while then that slows and stops. That's the way life is I suppose. As Rose always says, people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. The key is to pick who comes in for what, time will tell for most.

So I suppose I'd better hit the hay again. I've finished my book, best I look for another to read to lull me off to sleep, finished my tea so it's back to bed for another go at sleeping. Wish me luck, or more likely feel sorry for the people who have to deal with little Ms Grumpy tomorrow.