Visa run

Five short weeks after sitting on the plane from Qatar to Abu Dhabi and exclaiming "I'm never setting foot in that country again as long as I live!" I was back in Qatar again yesterday on a visa run.

I had to do a visa run because N still doesn't have a visa, and I can't get a visa until he gets a visa. My marriage certificate, which I sent to the UK to be attested three weeks ago, is also required before I can get a visa, but that's unfortunately missing in action. Perhaps it's

Beauty therapy and hypnotherapy.

Today I cashed in my beauty salon voucher and had a half day of pampering. I bought the half day as a treat to myself, shortly before N and I had a 'chat' about our household budget. Unfortunate timing - but I'd already paid in full, so there was nothing for it but to go and enjoy myself - we can live without food for a couple of weeks...

So I had a mani/pedi, facial, neck and shoulder massage and a set of eyelash extensions. I didn't really know what the eyelash extensions entailed, but it sounded interesting. Turns out it involves sticking individual fake eyelashes to your existing eyelashes - one by one - for two hours - while a woman tells you to stop flinching. I had no idea - I hadn't

Expanding and shrinking

I'm shrinking! Or at least it feels that way, thanks to my latest hire car - a Peugeot 207. I remember the days of the Trailblazer - when I was king of the road in my monster truck. I considered 'downsizing' to the Kia Sportage a huge reduction in road presence - now i'm basically a sand mite in a desert of UAE 4x4s - but surprisingly I love it. I wouldn't go

Baby Stuff

I managed to hold out for 30 weeks, but today the time came to drag N around Mothercare to buy cotton wool and Sudocrem. For 30 long weeks I have spent my days standing in Mothercare, Mamas and Papas and every supermarket in the GCC, staring at nappy brands and muslin squares. I put everything I need into my basket, then I chastise myself

Fun stuff I've done

It's not all form filling and suicidal driving you know - I've done some fun stuff here in Abu Dhabi. Let me tell you about it:

Pakistan v Sri Lanka Cricket
Not long after we arrived, N and I went to see the T20 cricket at Abu Dhabi cricket ground. As always, understanding the system wasn't easy and it took us two and a half hours to locate the correct ticket booth, collect our tickets and get seated in the stadium. Luckily N had misread the start time on the website and we'd turned up three hours too early - so in an unheard of twist of fate, we were sitting in our seats 30 minutes before the match started. Neither N nor I

Bureaucracy

OK - so i'm not saying bureaucracy here is worse than elsewhere - in fact I imagine it's pretty grim in whichever new country you rock up in - but let me share with you a little of my bureaucracy pain.

In two weeks I am due my 30 week maternity appointment.
Before I can do that I need to get my health insurance.
Before I can do that I need to get my visa sorted.
I can't do that until N gets his visa sorted.
He can't start that until he

My name's Eve and I'm an expat wife

OK - well I've been a fully fledged expat wife for a whole week now. I've found it to be a mixture of lie ins, guilt, low level productivity and drudgery - so far.

The hardest adjustment so far has been the lack of structure - it makes me feel like I'm floating about with no focus to my days. You don't last 15 years

Things I did in the UK that I could not have done in the Gulf

Played 'is that a dog turd or a mouldy leaf on the pavement?' with my nephew. There are no dog turds in Qatar, or leaves (mouldy or otherwise) or pavements, or....sadly....little nephews.

Caught a cold. 

Swam in a municipal swimming pool surrounded by school kids (possible source of cold..?). Shocked by the lack of Molton Brown toiletries and

I'm pregnant! I'm unemployed! I'm moving to Abu Dhabi!

I've not blogged for months because for months i've only had four things to say:

• I feel sick
• I hate my job
• It's too hot
• Qatar's rubbish

And as my Mother says, if you've nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all.

But now i do have some nice things to say:

• I'm pregnant! 
• I'm unemployed!
• The weather's a bit cooler!
• I'm moving to Abu Dhabi!

So the nature of this blog is likely to change yet again: first wedding blog, then new job in Qatar blog, and now expat wife blog. That's right - now i'll no longer be working, i'm going to seek out the life of a proper

Abu Dhabi

I'm back home after a weekend in Abu Dhabi. We liked Abu Dhabi, it's a bit like a cross between Dubai and Doha. At least we think it is, we didn't actually see very much of it, for the first 40 hours we didn't leave the hotel. But we did manage to see some interesting stuff during a six hour sightseeing spree this afternoon. We started the day at the mosque, where I had the opportunity to wear an abaya (well, you have to or you're not allowed in). I won't lie, I enjoyed wearing it, it was basically dressing up, which I like.

Here I am:

 Posing with my husband - no touching.

It was seriously hot in that courtyard - hottest part of the day, hottest part of the year, hottest part of the world.  Grim.

I was hoping N would have to wear a thobe (traditional floor length white shirt worn by men in the Gulf) - but they only gave those to men wearing shorts - and my husband is far too culturally sensitive to make such a faux pas.

Later we went to the

Doctors

I'm posting this from a doctors surgery, a doctors surgery with free wifi. Imagine. It's a doctors surgery that calls me a 'guest', and has velvet sofas in the waiting area, and has a tea lady with a trolley with drinks that are free. That's right, I've gone private.

It's also a doctors surgery that makes you queue for the cashier

Dinner

Last week we cooked at home every single night. It was a real first, and surprisingly comforting. Five months in, perhaps we're starting to make Qatar our home at last?

It was comforting because we cooked exactly what we would have cooked at home. However, we've still not quite got the kitchen fully kitted out, so

Car crime

I have decided to take a break from filling in my Lulu Hypermarket raffle coupons to write this blog. I'm competing for a Mercedes Benz - a slightly better incentive than the 'set squares for schools' coupons you get at Tesco.

They do like cars here - but you never hear of anyone stealing a car, in fact, people leave their keys in the ignition and the engine running when they go into shopping malls. Rather than turn their aircon off, they just leave them going - car parks full of

Acclimatisation

When N and I left work this afternoon, we both remarked on how much cooler it was outside. It was 37.5 degrees. That was when I realised we'd become totally acclimatised. Literally.

It also struck me that I only really notice one example of dangerous driving a day now, and half the time I'm the perpetrator.

And I like to think I've hit a groove with my middle eastern wardrobe. Long skirts are going down very well with lady Arabs, as is the

Photos of Doha

Thanks to clever friends with cameras, I now have some photos of Doha to share with you. 

Thanks J&J.

 This is a bit of Doha. Skyscrapers? Check. Palm trees? Check. Building site? Check.

 A camel, some desert and a Toyota Landcruiser.

Now you have a real sense of Doha. The rest are just for fun.

On the plus side

Don't worry, it's not all bad.

This post is designed to counteract the last one, which suggested things were bleak, when in fact, I just have to get a new cheque book.

On a more positive note, I am now the proud owner of a water cooler. Do you know anyone else with a water cooler? I bet you don't, catapulting me to the top twenty

Annoying.

Arrgghhh - this place can be challenging. Petty annoyances drive me to distraction. N and I can't pay half the rent each, because the landlords accountants will find it "too confusing". This after I'd already written out 12 post dated cheques (the Qatar way of doing things). Now I

Days out. Days in.

The house move went just fine I'm thrilled to report. I'm now two weeks in my new pad and very nice it is too. Still no Internet access unfortunately, so I'm writing this from the W cafe.

An hour with Internet access after two weeks without is a glorious thing. I checked my bank balance, caught up with Facebook, read the news, cleared my emails, checked my ex boyfriend's blog for defamatory comments. Now I'm ready to blog.

We were lucky enough to receive visitors last week, My good friends J&J came for a

QUICK! I've got internet access

Well, I seem to have a bit of internet access for the first time in ages, so i'm going to take this opportunity to write a few words. Seeing as i've just stepped off an overnight flight from the UK, I can't guarantee that my words will make much sense.

I've just spent a glorious week in London, testing

What I've learnt so far

As I sit here eating cereal for dinner after another 11 hour working day, I find myself reflecting on what I've learnt these past few months. For example, yesterday I learnt that my new car has a blind spot the exact same size as a 32 seater mini bus.
I've learnt that all roundabouts in Qatar

Friday brunch - royals on the box

Well, wasn't that lovely. We had a proper Brit style brunch to celebrate the Royal Wedding, with roast beef, yorkshire pudding, cucumber sandwiches, tomato soup, fish and chips, scones, apple pie and Pimms. Not to mention the food less likely to inspire cliched nostalgia: eggs benedict, waffles, pancakes, sushi,

A terrifying near death experience.

Tonight one of my worst nightmares came true. Not the one where I lose my footing and career to my death down a flight of tube station stairs, the other one, the one where i'm running on an out of control treadmill.
It was dreadful.
There I was, happily

Beach Tower

Next month I will be moving into Beach Tower. Here it is:

You can see more pictures here.

We're getting this one on a long term lease, plus it's only semi furnished, so i'm going to have to fit out the whole place from scratch: crockery,

London

Today I am mostly excited about my trip back to London in May. I am planning it, like I do all things, like a military operation. I've already booked in a book club meeting, a trip to the theatre, a museum visit, a hair cut, lunches, days out. I need to soak up some culture,

Three months today

N and I have today celebrated our three month anniversary in Qatar. I marked the day by eating cereal for dinner and watching four episodes of Project Runway back to back. I thought N was celebrating with an extra long gym session, but after a short investigation,

Shoes and cars

I have thirteen pairs of shoes here now. How is that even possible? I didn't come out with anywhere near that number. In fact, I distinctly remember being proud of how few shoes I brought out, that I was travelling light. Then

Kissing

I seem to spend my entire time in Qatar NOT kissing my husband. When we're at work I do not kiss my husband. When he drops me at the shops I do not kiss my husband. When we're walking down the street, or meeting at a

Dirty words, clean living

N and I are so exhausted at the end of each working day that we don't have the energy to do much. Perhaps a trip to the gym, or a stop off at the supermarket. Yesterday I caught the last 20 minutes of Masterchef and an episode of Glee. The fact that

Sushi fail

Turns out I can't eat unlimited sushi after all. It was a major sushi fail. The couple on the table next to us got through THREE plates of sushi and sashimi - we only managed one. The waiter kept asking us if we wanted more yet, he kept giving us another 5 minutes, but we couldn't do it. We were full. It's all that protein, it's surprisingly filling.

Here are my top five sushi items, in order of preference:
Yellowtail sashimi
Salmon sushi
Tuna sushi
Crispy crab roll
Shrimp tempura roll

Dust and rubble

Today we decided to hunt for some adventure.

We found our first dose of adventure driving on the road south out of Doha. Close to the industrial area, the long road that winds through the rocky wasteland is choc-a-bloc with

Goodbye Nannie Vi

I'm feeling a long way from home.

My family is at my Nannie Vi's funeral and i'm here, in Doha, in the middle of a sand storm.

Unfortunately my residents permit wasn't completed in time, and I still haven't got an exit permit - so I can't be there in person. I thought

Resident Eve-il

We are now officially residents of Qatar - our Residents Permits have arrived - too late for me to make it home to my Nan's funeral, but arrived nevertheless.

To celebrate this monumentous occasion, we have decided to bring our six weeks of eating out for every meal to an end and finally

Today sucks I'm afraid

Well, I'm sorry to say I have not had the best ever day today. On the contrary, I have found it to be most unsatisfactory. It started fine. I had a pleasant day at work, followed by a surprisingly successful trip to Lulu Hypermarket. I won't bore you with the details.

But then it all started to go horribly wrong. First I was

Goodbye mother, hello ruin.

My mother has gone and we're falling into the old routines here in dusty Doha. The best thing my mum brought over with her, besides her excellent company and the wedding thank you cards, was her fresh pair of eyes. We'd been a bit snobbish

It's not over yet you know

To those of you who were there, our wedding may seem like a distant memory now, but let me tell you that that is not the case for me. Oh no. Our wedding is still keeping me busy on an almost daily basis.

I have just finished an epic Q&A for 'Wedding Ideas Magazine' - who might feature my 'real life wedding'. The further into the questionnaire

Not all plain sailing

Today we had our medical for our residents permits. The experience was high on blood extraction, low on dignity, unfortunately. N pointed out how like Ellis Island it seemed. We were herded in, alongside scores of other nervous looking migrants, sent from room to room

Off roading and high flying

So, we've been getting to grips with the Chevy, driving to and from work every day. N's taken to swerving across four lanes of traffic without signalling, just like a local, and yesterday we went on a road trip and set the beast free over some rough terrain. We've got some

Ladies and gentlemen - Chevy Blazer

We've just had our hire car delivered and it's HUGE. After hours of staring at different options online, we ended up going for a Chevy Blazer because it sounds cool - and when your knowledge of vee-hee-carls is as limited as ours, you might as well make your

Driving us crazy

I'm sorry to sound so bourgeois, but our drivers are driving us round the bend. We've GOT to get a car.
N is no longer on speaking terms with driver No.1 after he left us abandoned by the side of the three lane highway for 45 minutes on Saturday night (he says he couldn't find us). I know

Golf in the Gulf

Well, for someone who doesn't like sport, i'm certainly watching a lot of sport. This weekend I went to the Qatar Golf Masters, where I discovered that golf isn't much of a spectator sport, particularly if you're wearing

Is anybody out there?

Just had a Skype conversation with our two best friends. Unfortunately they don't have a webcam or a microphone on their computer (I assume it's one of those BBC computers that we used at school) - so while they could see and

Hotel living

I'm starting to feel at home in my little skyscraper.

The lady in the gym tells me off whenever I miss a day - which is every time I see her, seeing as I only go every other day.

The nice people at breakfast know my room number, and lay out two white coffees as soon as we arrive.

I ventured down to the lobby in my PJs when I needed

Losing touch with reality

Well - fewer than two weeks in and it's already happening- I am losing touch with reality.
Today I went to the Qatar Motor Show. I walked in as someone who was thinking about getting a cheap car out of necessity, I walked out as someone who thought they could justify buying one of

Doha sports correspondent

Tonight we went to see the semi finals of the Asian Cup - Uzbekistan being humped by Australia. It was at the new Khalifa stadium - which is beautiful. In both the stadiums we've been to they've had very strict seating plans - you can only enter through a certain gate, then you have to go to your allocated bay - but once you get to the correct section of the correct stand the 'spectator services' team totally lose interest and tell

Doing Doha

OK – so we’ve been here for a week now and I’ve settled into a routine of sorts. *Here it is:

0545            Alarm goes off

0600            Get up – get ready for work

0640            Have breakfast of cereal, coffee and juice in hotel restaurant

0700            Driver picks us up from hotel

Come on South Korea!

Well – we’ve just returned from watching Iran v South Korea in the quarter finals of the Asian Cup at Qatar Sports Club stadium. If you were watching it on TV, you might have seen me – I was the one sitting in amongst a load of South Koreans, chanting sounds that resembled Korean songs at the top of my voice. It was

We don't go far in Doha

We’re on day three and so far N and I haven’t had the courage, or energy, to venture far. Up to now we had been keeping to a triangle of three buildings, all within 100 yards of each other: work-hotel-shopping mall. But in a shock move, this evening we branched out and went for dinner at the hotel next door. I

We've arrived!

Well, we arrived in Doha safely yesterday and it’s been pouring with rain from the second we set foot on the tarmac. I’m told this is the first rain Qatar’s had in about a year, so I’m thrilled to have been able to bring it over with me.

The ludicrously good treatment has started already, with a BMW and driver waiting for us at the airport,

Get married - honestly, it's great fun.

Well, that was simply the best day of my life. I loved every second of it. There’s so much to report, but I’m supposed to be packing for Qatar as we fly at 8am tomorrow morning, so I’d better do that first and report properly later. But a few highlights that stick in my mind:

• The fantastic registrar, who made sure the ceremony was totally relaxed and great fun.
• Ellie and Kath playing us in with their beautiful string duo.
• The smiles from the people of Oxford as we had our photos taken around the town after the ceremony.
• The funny funny speeches.
• Walking into the reception hall and finding a friend who’d travelled all the way from Germany, balancing on a chair hooking fairy lights up with the end of a broom, while another

Last day of single life

Well, I’m getting there. I still have a long list of things to do, and an even longer list of people to pay, but I’m feeling that sense of resigned fatalism, which I’m sure all brides get the day before they marry. Sure N’s ring still hasn’t arrived from Germany, I’ve still not organised any transport for anyone and the last time I saw my wedding dress I was handing

The proposal!

N proposed last night. There was champagne, him on one knee, I cried. We've set the date for this Saturday.

He didn't present me with the ring though, because he's hidden that away after i spent too many hours staring at it.

Rip and tuck

Well that’s just typical. After a decade long hunt for the perfect bikini wax, I have finally found it, in London, six days before I move away.

Up until now I’ve been going to a place in Acton for my monthly dose of humiliation. Not only are they fabulously cheap, but they throw in a whole host of thinly veiled insults and criticism – for free. Not only do I have to deal with the pain and mortification of the deed itself, but the beautician also tells me every

High achieving

Today I was like a machine: diverting post, getting spare keys cut, cancelling Sky, Virgin broadband, TV licence… Rather unexpectedly the call centre people I spoke to were delightful. There’s a lovely little call centre somewhere in Scotland full of very helpful and jolly people who are just thrilled about my adventure. I salute you helpful and jolly call centre people. 

I’m pleased to report that the exercise regime finally started today. I told my trainer in the gym that I

Now THAT's what I call wedding music - 2011!

As compiled by my best friend and I today - in no particular order:

Rolling Stones
Prince
Signed sealed delivered - Stevie Wonder
Duran Duran
Bowie (incl Let's dance)
Temptation - Heaven 17
You can call me Al - Paul Simon
Just can't get enough - Depeche Mode
Blue Monday - New Order
Clint Eastwood/Dare - Gorillaz

Wedding world

Rings purchased, caterers catering, sisters decorating, photographer photographing, wedding band tuning up….one week to go and all’s well in wedding world.

N and I spent the afternoon doing test shots on the South Bank with our lovely photographer. N did his surly, ‘I don’t want to have my photo taken’ scowl – I did a cheesy grin. Then we went to Liberty and bought the over budget wedding ring I’d been 

Bad dreams

Last night I dreamt that Allison Janney (the stepmother in Juno) was our registrar. Half way through the ceremony she said she needed to take a quick break and disappeared into a side room. We waited and waited but she didn’t return. After a couple of hours we spotted her all dolled up,

Royal couple stole my wedding

The community centre confirmed! We have a venue! We’re now full steam ahead with arrangements.

This excitement only tempered by the discovery that the royal couple seem to have stolen many of my wedding ideas. The low key arrival at the ceremony? Champagne and canapés*? Buffet style reception? RAF fly past? Come on royals, have a bit of imagination.  

*Alright – cava and kettle chips

The highs and lows of wedding planning

Well – I apologise for not writing sooner. The truth is you see, that I have SO MUCH to report, I haven’t had time to write. But now I’ve settled down with a glass of pinot noir nestling in my hand, and a lamb rogan josh bubbling on the hob, I’ll fill you in.

I’m afraid we have to start on a downer, because that’s how my day started yesterday. I woke up to a killer sore throat and the news that the community centre we had hoped to hire for our reception venue is

ARRGGHHHH! LISTS!

After two weeks of almost non stop dress shopping, I am still no closer to deciding what I’m going to wear. If anything, I’m more confused than ever. N, on the other hand, has bought his suit. After one shopping trip. In one shop. In the same shopping trip he also managed to choose and order his wedding ring. That’s him pretty much sorted.

In contrast, I seem to be spiralling out of control. I think my problem is I make too many lists. Lists should be de-stressing – a way to bring order to brain mess. But perhaps there comes a point when the

Packing

Today I have bought a huge suitcase and started packing. N thinks it’s too early to start packing, but I say you might as well start when the mood takes you. It wasn’t long before I needed something from the bottom of my suitcase and had to unpack everything again, which bolstered N’s theory slightly, but he’s not in a position to give advice about suitcase packing. He once packed for a five day holiday entirely from the dirty washing basket (he can’t explain why). It took us four days to find a laundrette.

Running regime starts tomorrow.

Dress confusion

I whittled down the six dresses to four. Then my sister, best friend, mother and nephew were treated to a wedding dress fashion show and invited to vote on the four finalists. That’s when the trouble started. My sister and best friend voted for number four, my mum and nephew went for number three, while number two got two special mentions. I want to disregard my nephew’s vote, he is five years old after all – but what if he’s the next Alexander McQueen? What if I’m disregarding the sartorial advice of the next design sensation? He also claimed that my three month old niece preferred number two – but I’m pretty certain he made that up.