A busy weekend is nearly over and its been a mix of party, chill, and sunshine.
Thursday night met at Brian and Linda’s (from Middlesbrough, Maths and English respectively) place for a few beers before we went off to he Royal Plaza Hotel to check out the bar there. Wasn’t a bad night, beer was more expensive than the Intercontinental but it was a nice place.
Thursday was chill out and shopping day. Went to the Lu Lu Hypermarket. They have just about everything you could want on 2 floors, with the top floor selling all the clothes, electrical items, kitchen/bedroom stuff etc and the ground floor the foodstuff. You can get a full pineapple freshly cut into rounds for about 800 biases (about £1) and it tastes absolutely gorgeous. Had to get myself some isotonic drink mix as you really sweat buckets here and I needed to replace my salts. In fact all the fruit (and there is everything you can think of) is cheap and so is the vegetables. Meat is reasonable although I haven’t bought any pork (which is very expensive due to a tax on it) and you are able to everything your used to and even camel!
Today, India wanted to stay in and chill and Cirst was out with friends so I had the car to myself. Phoned up Donald (Philippine, Geography teacher) as he had been talking about going to the beach at Ras Al Hamra. I picked him up and off we went. Didn’t get lost this time as I had a good idea where we where going but just before we got to the place we came across a lovely little beach (Marjan Beach), which the guide book said was a great place to snorkel, so we decided to give it a go. It was brilliant! You only had to go out about 10 feet and there was loads of brightly coloured fish, I must have seen at least 10 different species and even one fish that must have been about 2 foot long! Took some pictures of course, click the link to see them (not for the faint hearted cos I’m in them!)
http://picasaweb.google.com/Lezmcg54/BeachesAroundMuscat
Ras Al Hamra was a washout, you have to be a member of the club to use the beach etc, so it was a good job we had found Marjan Beach.
Friday, 29 August 2008
Wednesday, 27 August 2008
Wednesday 27th August Temp 31c
The weekend starts here!
Well it’s all been happening over the last few days, got all my paperwork sorted out now. Got my driving license, my bank account and most important of all got my liquor license! Went to the liquor supermarket as soon as I got my license to stock up as it will soon be Ramadan, which means no alcohol is served. Prices aren’t bad about the same as England and they do have a good range of products (couldn’t find any Brown Ale though).
Been teaching since Monday but only to a few classes as the AS and A2 students don’t come back till this Saturday (don’t forget our weekend is Thursday and Friday) so will have a pretty full timetable from then on. Been given a new course to teach which has a programming module (going to use VB6) so if anybody has any resources that may come in handy please email them to me.
Weather is already starting to cool down a bit as we move into autumn, even turned my AC off at about 8pm last night as it wasn’t needed, the temperature in the apartment was just right for lazing around in shorts (and nothing else).
The internet connection here isn’t as reliable as back home, so for those of you who are on my messenger list, I am not ignoring you, its just that sometimes it can be a day or two before I can connect.
This is going to be the first weekend when we are going to go out with a lot more people from school; plans for tonight include a nice meal then to the Crown Plaza Hotel to check out the Aussy/Kiwi pub there. Will give you an update tomorrow.
A quick note to Jessica who’s coming out to join us soon. Most things are available here and the prices aren’t too dissimilar from the UK. Books seem to be about the only luxury, although having transport is a MUST. I’m lucky to be sharing the cost of a rental car but there is cars to be bought for reasonable prices (you can get a good second hand 4x4 for around OMR 4000).
For those of you who may be interested I have added a few more pictures at :
http://picasaweb.google.com/Lezmcg54/VariousPictures27thAugust
Well it’s all been happening over the last few days, got all my paperwork sorted out now. Got my driving license, my bank account and most important of all got my liquor license! Went to the liquor supermarket as soon as I got my license to stock up as it will soon be Ramadan, which means no alcohol is served. Prices aren’t bad about the same as England and they do have a good range of products (couldn’t find any Brown Ale though).
Been teaching since Monday but only to a few classes as the AS and A2 students don’t come back till this Saturday (don’t forget our weekend is Thursday and Friday) so will have a pretty full timetable from then on. Been given a new course to teach which has a programming module (going to use VB6) so if anybody has any resources that may come in handy please email them to me.
Weather is already starting to cool down a bit as we move into autumn, even turned my AC off at about 8pm last night as it wasn’t needed, the temperature in the apartment was just right for lazing around in shorts (and nothing else).
The internet connection here isn’t as reliable as back home, so for those of you who are on my messenger list, I am not ignoring you, its just that sometimes it can be a day or two before I can connect.
This is going to be the first weekend when we are going to go out with a lot more people from school; plans for tonight include a nice meal then to the Crown Plaza Hotel to check out the Aussy/Kiwi pub there. Will give you an update tomorrow.
A quick note to Jessica who’s coming out to join us soon. Most things are available here and the prices aren’t too dissimilar from the UK. Books seem to be about the only luxury, although having transport is a MUST. I’m lucky to be sharing the cost of a rental car but there is cars to be bought for reasonable prices (you can get a good second hand 4x4 for around OMR 4000).
For those of you who may be interested I have added a few more pictures at :
http://picasaweb.google.com/Lezmcg54/VariousPictures27thAugust
Friday, 22 August 2008
Friday 22nd August Temp 32c
Don't forget to scroll down and find the links to my photo albums!
A really quiet and restful day. Just cleaned my apartment and cleaned up some terrace furniture whilst getting a bit of a tan. Can’t really stay out in the sun too long as it starts to feel like your melting!. So tend to stay out between 15 and 20 mins before coming back into the air conditioning! Had to go back to the opticians this afternoon to see about my glasses, going to cost me OR 30 for a new frame and to fit my old lenses which isn’t bad I suppose, about the same as England but I will be able to puck them up on Sunday (don’t forget the weekend here is Thursday and Friday). Then just did a little shopping and met another teacher from The American,British Academy for a coffee. Had a bit of a chat and fixed her laptop as well! After that just came back to the apartment to make myself some late tea and just generally play about on my laptop. Don’t seem to see many people on MSN, remember at the moment I’m 3 hours ahead of you. Send me an email or leave a comment on this blog, give me some feedback on my little diary so far. Catch you soon.
A really quiet and restful day. Just cleaned my apartment and cleaned up some terrace furniture whilst getting a bit of a tan. Can’t really stay out in the sun too long as it starts to feel like your melting!. So tend to stay out between 15 and 20 mins before coming back into the air conditioning! Had to go back to the opticians this afternoon to see about my glasses, going to cost me OR 30 for a new frame and to fit my old lenses which isn’t bad I suppose, about the same as England but I will be able to puck them up on Sunday (don’t forget the weekend here is Thursday and Friday). Then just did a little shopping and met another teacher from The American,British Academy for a coffee. Had a bit of a chat and fixed her laptop as well! After that just came back to the apartment to make myself some late tea and just generally play about on my laptop. Don’t seem to see many people on MSN, remember at the moment I’m 3 hours ahead of you. Send me an email or leave a comment on this blog, give me some feedback on my little diary so far. Catch you soon.
Thursday, 21 August 2008
Thursday 21st August Temp 36c
Left to Right:
India (Australia), Susan (Canada), Cirst (Scotland) at the Bar-B-Q
Been quite busy the last few days getting paper work sorted out etc and starting induction at the school. Tuesday was mainly spent getting lost driving around, the roads here are a bit of a challenge as a lot of building work is going on and the contra flows, lane changes and turns seem to change daily. Tailgating seems to be a popular sport here as well as overtaking on either side and cutting other drivers up, not a day goes by without seeing a crash of some sort, especially on the main freeway. On Tuesday we visited the Grand Hyatt Hotel (as the girls wanted to check out the Gym and sports facilities. They got a good deal for use of all amenities and even discount off beverages etc). I checked out the martial arts suit and went to see the instructor after school on Wednesday. We also met a few friends there and had a bit of a natter and a cool drink (dead expensive…Iced Tea OR3 200 Baisa..about £4.50!). That evening we took Donald (Philippines) over to Ruwi to the Arab restaurant as me and the girls had enjoyed it last time. Again it was great.
On Wednesday morning we started our induction at the school and there were very few surprises. My time table is all ICT courses but also teaching year 9 and 10 Computer studies (which I am waiting to find out means exactly what?). After school we got ready to go to the Grand Hyatt again so the girls could start using their gym memberships and I could see about the martial art class. Again we got lost, the roads can be very confusing especially as very few of them actually have names! Anyway we arrived too late for the martial arts class so I just watched and then had a quick talk with the instructor. He has told me there is a Ju-Jitsu club in Ruwi and I am going to check it out.
Just played around on the computer that night and was in bed by 10.15, felt really tired! Got the MSN web camera link going though and had a good chat with Andi in Cramlington.
Thursday it was more of the same, induction at school then a little shopping (my glasses broke so trying to get new frames), we took a wrong turning this time and spent 20 minutes trying to get back on the freeway!.
Tonight some of our fellow teachers had a bar-B-Q and invited us over, it was good meeting them and getting to know them a little better (think I have volunteered to play on a cricket team…..help! which way up do you hold the racket!).
And so to the end of the day, by rights we shouldn’t have been in work today as Thursday is now our new Saturday, but we have had a mini holiday since we got here so I can’t complain!
Wednesday, 20 August 2008
Tuesday, 19 August 2008
Monday 18th August Temp 36c
Well today was another early start, although I could have done with a lie in after watching the match! A pint of Fosters is about £2.80 so not too bad. Good result for us!
Anyway today we had to go to get our resident permit, which meant we had to be finger printed, and then we had to go to another place to have our photos taken our fingerprints checked and signature specimen taken. I had to be different…..seemingly my finger prints on my thumbs are practically none existent! Anyway still got my resident card so me and the girls went off to hire a car for a couple of weeks. We ended up getting a cheap Nissan Sunny (OR 160 about £210) for a month! Going to see about opening a bank account soon and also about getting a liquor licence.
The car is an automatic which is ok for India but me and Cirst have to really concentrate…………I’ve had a couple of near things trying to change gears when I haven’t got a clutch! But I’m getting used to it (although I think I’ve taken a few years off India!).Just used the car to go shopping and to get our internet sorted out, that how I’m online from now on, so I hope to hear from you all soon
Anyway today we had to go to get our resident permit, which meant we had to be finger printed, and then we had to go to another place to have our photos taken our fingerprints checked and signature specimen taken. I had to be different…..seemingly my finger prints on my thumbs are practically none existent! Anyway still got my resident card so me and the girls went off to hire a car for a couple of weeks. We ended up getting a cheap Nissan Sunny (OR 160 about £210) for a month! Going to see about opening a bank account soon and also about getting a liquor licence.
The car is an automatic which is ok for India but me and Cirst have to really concentrate…………I’ve had a couple of near things trying to change gears when I haven’t got a clutch! But I’m getting used to it (although I think I’ve taken a few years off India!).Just used the car to go shopping and to get our internet sorted out, that how I’m online from now on, so I hope to hear from you all soon
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