Happy 31st October

Because all our stuff had not arrived we had to improvise and use an IKEA sheet torn in half, obvious that Isy is a ghost but in case you are confused Maddy is the Bride of Dracula who died and came back as a ghost (not dressed in a toga!

A note from Maddy

Today I am very excited and happy because after giving a speech to my class they have voted for me to represent them on the School Council.

I planned my speech over the weekend and thought carefully about what was important.

I have spent a lot of time jumping up and down today because I am so happy! My friend Logan is the other Class Rep.

Love Maddy xxx

Sunset from the patio

Sorry to be the bringer of bad news but this how it looks virtually every evening from our patio, becoming a little cooler in the evening but still haven't needed a cardi yet.

Photos of the house

For those interested some photos of downstairs in our house, please remember it looks pretty sparse as we still only have what we brought in bags on the aircraft,

There is loads of space and with so little in the place echoes. Please also note Isy is very kindly modelling using the WII in our lounge with lots of room to do WII Dance.

The girls have started football club

Isy was so pleased to find that there was a football club here on a Tuesday evening. Unfortunately, the first week we were turned away due to a lack of shin pads; however, after another shopping trip both girls went armed with shin pads.

Maddy thought an hour and a half of football was a bit too long but did enjoy it and Isy was just thrilled to be playing football. Isy is desperate for a football shirt but I am being hard nosed over that and saying no! This weekend we had to buy the socks and the girls reckon they need boots if they want to play matches against other teams.

What a shocking mother I am, Maddy wanted to do ballet at the beginning of term didn't manage that so football instead

Is it a bit early for mince pies?

I have just bought 3 jars of mincemeat (obviously without added booze) to make mince pies nearer the Festive Season. Cannot believe I have bought it so early and am so pleased with my purchase, however, it really isn't something you see out here a great deal and I have learnt quickly if you see something imported and you like it buy it in bulk fast as you may never see it again. Since arriving here I have seen only one bottle of tonic (which I obviously purchased) on the supermarket shelves and to be fair I have visited a fair few different supermarkets since I arrived.

Just need my stuff to arrive so I can actually make the pastry for the pies!

Vania x

(very frustrated baker with no baking kit, made bread yesterday guessing the weight of the flour etc)

Maddy's Class Bear came to stay last week

For the second time this term we had the class bear. Have to admit the fact that it is only overnight makes it a bit of a flying visit. Anyway we took him to the pool to sunbathe, didn't think he would like the pool so managed to keep him dry.

Maddy in the pool

Maddy uses a lovely kitchen sponge to apply a tattoo before the fun run, Isy models the finished product

Fun Run

The girls model their fun run t-shirts

On fri morning we did a fun run in aid of Terry Fox a young man who died of cancer and every year runs take place all over the world in aid of his charity.

The run eventually started at 8.20am but it was pretty hot by then and poor Maddy was not amused. Isy ran a fair bit and I dragged Maddy round, I think passing our house half way round the course did not help her motivation.

I now have a great deal of work to do before the next fun run in early December! Maddy is already thinking of reasons not to do it.

The girls in the patch pool

The girls still love the pool, infact I dread to think how many hours we spent there over the weekend. Isy went to play with a friend on wednesday after school and Maddy and I spent over 3 hours by the pool with school friends.

What a life

Sisterly Love

When we moved out here we decided that with so much space the girls could choose whether or not they wanted to continue sharing a room. Maddy was adamant that she wanted her own room and started personalising her chosen room. Isy on the other hand was quite content to share a room with Maddy and so the 2 shared a room and double bed on the proviso that Isy moved into the other room when they started school.

Several weeks later the other room sits empty and they are still sharing a double bed. I often go in after they are asleep and they have fallen asleep holding hands. Such a sweet picture.

The question is when will Isy move out of Maddy's bedroom, hopefully before she is 21.

The girls ready to go out on a Thursday evening

Strange things I have seen

Living in a foreign country means you regularly see some strange things, however, this is the strangest so far. We went to a shopping mall and the children went to the fair in the mall - these are in virtually all the mall, bit like a mini theme park in a corner of the mall. They have log flumes, mini roller coaster and much more. In the middle of this particular fair was a stall selling pets, not exactly your run of the mill pet shop. Crammed in a glass tank were loads of brightly coloured (not a natural colour in sight) chicks which I believe are used as gifts for party bags. We did see a little girl buy one of the purple chicks and a couple of terrapins, it was like some bizarre "pet in my pocket" toy thing but REAL.

Maddy really is desperate to wear an Abaya

Maddy is so keen to wear an abaya and head scarf, she improvises at every available opportunity. In Maddy's world anything can be used to make an abaya/headscarf. Clearly she is not that interested in the black version, pink is far better.

Hooray at last I can upload photos

After many hours of faffing and despairing at my inability to upload photos onto our blog from the ipad I seem to have sorted it, be prepared for loads of pictures.

Vania z

Some more pictures from the Faisaliah Tower

Both girls keep trying to pinch me hard scarf.

Have to admit it probably looks better on them than me, that said I haven't had to wear it yet it I just carry it around in my bag in case.

Sunset over Riyadh

Riyadh at night

Riyadh at night the large building shaped bit like a bottle opener is Kingdom Tower and you can see it for miles.

Yummy Chocolate

Maddy was obviously not sure whether to wear or eat the chocolate. Thank goodness for stain remover

Wow a chocolate fountain too!

Not my choice at afternoon tea but the girls loved the chocolate fountain.

The girls enjoy afternoon tea in the Faisaliah Tower

We had a really lovely afternoon tea in the Faisaliah Tower on Friday afternoon. I think Isy nearly ate her weight in sushi. Great views and we timed it so we got to watch the sun go down.

At the top of the Faisaliah Tower

Nice photo taken by Maddy

Maddy is blown away at the top of the Faisaliah Tower in Riyadh

We went for afternoon tea at the top of the Faisaliah Tower in the centre of Riyadh, as you can see from the photo it was a little breezy at the top. I struggled to maintain my dignity in my abaya.

Will I ever see my things?

I am mourning the continued absence of my possessions. A few weeks ago they said our stuff was due in Riyadh on 7 Oct. Clearly that date has passed with no news. After chasing it they have emailed me to say that our stuff is at a port in Dubai and they will email forms to us to clear it through customs. Obviously I haven't seen the forms yet, Rich is back in the UK and think I will be lucky if I see anything before the end of Oct, dare not even contemplate if it will be here before Christmas. The stuff left our house in the UK on 4 Aug, that now seems an awful long time ago.

So at the mo we have what we brought in bags on the aircraft and a march in pack which has some pans, 6 knives/forks/spoons etc. I really miss my kitchen stuff, recipe books, coffee machine (costing me a fortune still in take aways). The walls are pretty bare and the house echoes a bit as it lacks stuff. Unfortunately, I keep acquiring things to fill the house to make it look a little more homely. To be honest I can't even remember everything that is coming over so it will be like Christmas unpacking.

Vania x

Sent from my iPad

Thursday night take away and Maddy wants an Abaya

Afraid I am having a few technical problems getting Internet access and uploading picture, will continue trying to upload them as loads to see.

On Thursday night (our Saturday) we decided to get a take away from some place nicknamed the "Kilo BBQ", basically a place by the side of the main road into town. We all piled in the car for the trip, still a novelty to do certain things here, and off we went. On arrival at the place, a small strip of shops by the side of the road, I decided to stay in the car as not another woman in sight and sometimes it pays not to stand out too much. However, that doesn't stop the girls who will go anywhere. So off they went, Maddy wearing her towelling hooded beach dress as she felt it was the closest thing she had to an Abaya. Maddy kept dazing between the shop and the car to give me updates, firstly, her abaya (beach dress) was too short and showed too much of her legs and skin so she really did need a more suitable abaya! Then on one of her tripS back to the car she crossed paths with a local man carrying bags of stuff into the shop, she came running to the car "mummy a real Saudi man just spoke to me and said thank you, his english was so good". It really is the little things, a simple thank you means you are fluent in English.

We eventually played chicken with the traffic and got back on the road home with food. On that particular journey I did see a guy come up to the round about on the wrong side of the road cut across the traffic and wheel spin. Thursday and Friday nights are mad on the roads here. I have said to rich that there will be my handprints embedded in the car door handles soon from me gripping the door as we drive into town, bit like a ride at Alton Towers.

ps the food was yummy!

Testing new ipad

Thanks to my lovely husband and a UK shopping trip ( for him not me) I am now the proud owner of an iPad! I love it. Apparently the rest of the family seem to think this is a joint asset, but I reckon possession is nine tenths of the law.