As I write this entry my whanau back in New Zealand are all in Levin celebrating my Dad's 80th birthday. I'm sitting in my son's swandri and a newspaper party hat to get into the spirit of things, awaiting a skype call. However, it seems technology isn't working today so I sit with my glass of bubbly awaiting a toast. Never mind it's been poured since 6.30am when I got up! Even by my standards that's a wee bit early for a wee drinkie.
Why a swandri? Well each time I skype Dad he is in his, as apparently the weather isn't up to much with strong winds and lots of rain. From my 'tour' yesterday around the newly erected shelters I think many there will be in their swannies. Funny that you don't see them much over here???
It has been a week of birthdays over here beginning last Thursday with the teenagers 17th! Wow! I managed to get all my friends into the apartment and took a couple downstairs to look around. Of course they all want to move here now as the facilities are so much better than anywhere else. We had a great catch up and shared a few bottles of Marlborough tipple. Yum! I'd forgotten how good it can be...
Then this Thursday (remembering that Thursday is your Friday) we had two birthdays atop the roof of our old building, Danat A. The view over the city was amazing and reminds me how wonderful life on this island is. Another wonderful balmy evening was spent catching up with old friends and making new ones. My contribution was Marlborough mussels in the shell and a nice drop of Marlborough wine (Spy Valley seemed apt after all the wine I've drunk up by the golf balls! Locals will get that one and have a chuckle.).
I've just had a long interruption while I feel as if I've been to the party in Levin. Finally the technology worked and I've seen all my whanau and talked to most guests at the party. You can imagine that that took a while. It was neat to see my three children and catch up with them 'in person', so to speak. Everyone looked well and happy. It sounds as if the party went off well with the obligatory oversupply of food (all those worries about not having enough) and as I signed off the drink seemed to be taking a hit. I didn't know youngsters liked whiskey, must be a throwback from our Dad! Glad I'm not there to clean up the mess!!!
It seems like the guests, and Dad, were very impressed by the surprise haka and waiata from the grandchildren. This, of course, had been practiced in secret via facebook. Those without modern technology just had to improvise on the day. I'm hoping to get some video footage of this show. Who says youth of today can't do anything? Certainly not our family.
The weather had lived up to its reputation and everyone was well wrapped up in jackets, scarves and hats. In typical kiwi style they were all still outside drinking although there was a warmer shed empty, awaiting the revelers later no doubt.
I have no doubt that Dad was proud to have such a wonderful party and is blessed (sometimes a mixed blessing) with such a large whanau who made this possible. One thing we can all do is party. I'm sure it is a gene we've inherited from our parents though...
No one mentioned the memories that we supplied to our niece which she then put into individual envelopes and presented to Dad on the day. I'm yet to hear if she got 80 of them which was what she had hoped to do. Here is a link to a website showing the idea.
http://nothingbutbonfires.com/2011/06/sixty-years-memories
While driving to the BBQ on dusk on Thursday night we witnessed an amazing phenomena. I was looking out the car window and spied what appeared to be a space shuttle or large comet in the sky. I watched silently for several seconds trying to figure out what I was seeing then spoke up. The ever-knowing teenager immediately knew what it was and gave us the history behind the event. Bear with me as I now need to go online to get the details for you.
The Red Bull Stratos "space jump" planned by Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner, 43 is planned for Oct 8th. http://www.redbullstratos.com
I tried to snap a photo on my phone as it was an amazing sight but it was gone before I was able to get a clear view again. The sun was just setting and the sky was very hazy with dust so the image was a clear as anything. However, by the time we moved away from the traffic lights and into the line of sight of the space craft the vision quickly disappeared. We were so lucky to catch a long glimpse of the unusual sight. No-one else I spoke to witnessed it, a once in a lifetime event. As one friend recently wrote to me, life isn't how many breaths you take, it's how often your breath is taken away.
School is settling down into a routine and my classes remain smaller. It was touch and go for a week as the powers that be have visited twice and demanded that our three G4 classes merge into two. That would make my classes very big indeed and I wasn't happy to be told this. It would also mean that we'd probably lose another teacher. Luckily our VP met with us and the Arabic teachers and we all said we didn't want it to happen. So far, so good, but one never knows what will happen tomorrow.
On that note, it is sad to see a couple of our friends return to NZ suddenly as his job contract finished. Here today, gone tomorrow is very much the way they do things here. He isn't employed in our education sector but the advice to not be complacent rings true.
School is going very well for the teenager and he is enjoying it, even getting himself up at 5.30 am, a first! He has made new friends and is involved in playing volleyball and basketball at school. His first game of U19 rugby yesterday was cancelled so that is yet to begin. Like me, he was struck down heavily with the 'spring flu' which lots have had. More like a major chest infection or bronchitis in my case and a course of antibiotics was necessary to clear it up. It is good to see him meeting up with others his own age rather than hanging out with 30 year olds which most of our group are. Mind you, I've had many comments from these guys here about how mature he is and how he fits in with the guys. They are all impressed with him and are happy to pick him up for sports and to watch rugby games. They are surprised when they find out his age as he doesn't fit the 'normal' teenage mould and can hold his own mixing and mingling with others. I was recently asked if he'd spent a lot of time with adults?
I had my kiwi friend in for the night from the desert on Thursday. It is always good to catch up and we spent the morning talking. Our new whanau here is increasingly important as we have all committed to staying for several years and I have formed some strong bonds with some of our group who came when we did. I am 'affectionately' know as Mama G by the Maori boy (in his 30's) downstairs and that name is now being used by others. My Aunty G would like that one.
Yesterday and today the view from our apartment is spectacular. The difference is the noticeable drop in the temperature and resulting clearer air. I can see to the other side of the island of Abu Dhabi which I didn't even realise I could do. You realise how small the city is when you can see it all like this. The water is bluer and the sky is less hazy. It was the first time I've walked outside in the day and look forward to getting out more in the next few months. I went downstairs for a swim several nights ago to find I had the pool to myself. When I asked the lifeguards why, they replied that it was too cold. I asked what the temperature was and he replied 26 degrees. Funnily enough I spent about an hour in there alone, enjoying the water before succumbing to the lure of the jacuzzi. The outside air temperature was only 32 degrees so the high temperatures have dropped markedly. Highs are only around 38-40 now so about 10 degrees less than last month so life is much more manageable.
The city view looking towards my work and Abu Dhabi Mall. Construction has halted on both these buildings in the foreground at the moment.
The view looking back towards the city and Al Whada Mall. On the horizon is the water on the other side of the island. In the foreground is the workers camp which houses thousands of men who surge out at start and finish time each day. The sites work 24 hours but less men are on at night. Each day around 40 buses arrive at the building site on the left to disgorge workers then collect them later. They look like ants scurrying to and fro. Quite a sight to see.
Why a swandri? Well each time I skype Dad he is in his, as apparently the weather isn't up to much with strong winds and lots of rain. From my 'tour' yesterday around the newly erected shelters I think many there will be in their swannies. Funny that you don't see them much over here???
It has been a week of birthdays over here beginning last Thursday with the teenagers 17th! Wow! I managed to get all my friends into the apartment and took a couple downstairs to look around. Of course they all want to move here now as the facilities are so much better than anywhere else. We had a great catch up and shared a few bottles of Marlborough tipple. Yum! I'd forgotten how good it can be...
Then this Thursday (remembering that Thursday is your Friday) we had two birthdays atop the roof of our old building, Danat A. The view over the city was amazing and reminds me how wonderful life on this island is. Another wonderful balmy evening was spent catching up with old friends and making new ones. My contribution was Marlborough mussels in the shell and a nice drop of Marlborough wine (Spy Valley seemed apt after all the wine I've drunk up by the golf balls! Locals will get that one and have a chuckle.).
I've just had a long interruption while I feel as if I've been to the party in Levin. Finally the technology worked and I've seen all my whanau and talked to most guests at the party. You can imagine that that took a while. It was neat to see my three children and catch up with them 'in person', so to speak. Everyone looked well and happy. It sounds as if the party went off well with the obligatory oversupply of food (all those worries about not having enough) and as I signed off the drink seemed to be taking a hit. I didn't know youngsters liked whiskey, must be a throwback from our Dad! Glad I'm not there to clean up the mess!!!
 |
| Happy 80th Birthday Dad. I'm sure that bottle's still half full, not half empty. |
The weather had lived up to its reputation and everyone was well wrapped up in jackets, scarves and hats. In typical kiwi style they were all still outside drinking although there was a warmer shed empty, awaiting the revelers later no doubt.
I have no doubt that Dad was proud to have such a wonderful party and is blessed (sometimes a mixed blessing) with such a large whanau who made this possible. One thing we can all do is party. I'm sure it is a gene we've inherited from our parents though...
No one mentioned the memories that we supplied to our niece which she then put into individual envelopes and presented to Dad on the day. I'm yet to hear if she got 80 of them which was what she had hoped to do. Here is a link to a website showing the idea.
http://nothingbutbonfires.com/2011/06/sixty-years-memories
While driving to the BBQ on dusk on Thursday night we witnessed an amazing phenomena. I was looking out the car window and spied what appeared to be a space shuttle or large comet in the sky. I watched silently for several seconds trying to figure out what I was seeing then spoke up. The ever-knowing teenager immediately knew what it was and gave us the history behind the event. Bear with me as I now need to go online to get the details for you.
The Red Bull Stratos "space jump" planned by Austrian skydiver Felix Baumgartner, 43 is planned for Oct 8th. http://www.redbullstratos.com
I tried to snap a photo on my phone as it was an amazing sight but it was gone before I was able to get a clear view again. The sun was just setting and the sky was very hazy with dust so the image was a clear as anything. However, by the time we moved away from the traffic lights and into the line of sight of the space craft the vision quickly disappeared. We were so lucky to catch a long glimpse of the unusual sight. No-one else I spoke to witnessed it, a once in a lifetime event. As one friend recently wrote to me, life isn't how many breaths you take, it's how often your breath is taken away.
School is settling down into a routine and my classes remain smaller. It was touch and go for a week as the powers that be have visited twice and demanded that our three G4 classes merge into two. That would make my classes very big indeed and I wasn't happy to be told this. It would also mean that we'd probably lose another teacher. Luckily our VP met with us and the Arabic teachers and we all said we didn't want it to happen. So far, so good, but one never knows what will happen tomorrow.
On that note, it is sad to see a couple of our friends return to NZ suddenly as his job contract finished. Here today, gone tomorrow is very much the way they do things here. He isn't employed in our education sector but the advice to not be complacent rings true.
School is going very well for the teenager and he is enjoying it, even getting himself up at 5.30 am, a first! He has made new friends and is involved in playing volleyball and basketball at school. His first game of U19 rugby yesterday was cancelled so that is yet to begin. Like me, he was struck down heavily with the 'spring flu' which lots have had. More like a major chest infection or bronchitis in my case and a course of antibiotics was necessary to clear it up. It is good to see him meeting up with others his own age rather than hanging out with 30 year olds which most of our group are. Mind you, I've had many comments from these guys here about how mature he is and how he fits in with the guys. They are all impressed with him and are happy to pick him up for sports and to watch rugby games. They are surprised when they find out his age as he doesn't fit the 'normal' teenage mould and can hold his own mixing and mingling with others. I was recently asked if he'd spent a lot of time with adults?
I had my kiwi friend in for the night from the desert on Thursday. It is always good to catch up and we spent the morning talking. Our new whanau here is increasingly important as we have all committed to staying for several years and I have formed some strong bonds with some of our group who came when we did. I am 'affectionately' know as Mama G by the Maori boy (in his 30's) downstairs and that name is now being used by others. My Aunty G would like that one.
Yesterday and today the view from our apartment is spectacular. The difference is the noticeable drop in the temperature and resulting clearer air. I can see to the other side of the island of Abu Dhabi which I didn't even realise I could do. You realise how small the city is when you can see it all like this. The water is bluer and the sky is less hazy. It was the first time I've walked outside in the day and look forward to getting out more in the next few months. I went downstairs for a swim several nights ago to find I had the pool to myself. When I asked the lifeguards why, they replied that it was too cold. I asked what the temperature was and he replied 26 degrees. Funnily enough I spent about an hour in there alone, enjoying the water before succumbing to the lure of the jacuzzi. The outside air temperature was only 32 degrees so the high temperatures have dropped markedly. Highs are only around 38-40 now so about 10 degrees less than last month so life is much more manageable.
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