It’s not been all bad. I’ve made the gym and the pool my friend, I’ve honed my cooking skills (well, that’s probably stretching things a wee bit……I’ve got a new curry receipt and developed a good low fat (well, lower fat) flapjack. I’ve lost nearly a stone in weight (probably due more to not being able to afford to eat than anything else !) and I’ve made a few decisions – entering the Abu Dhabi Triathlon being one of the most notable.
I’m off back to the desert tomorrow, to stay in the Tilal Liwa for a few nights, meet some of my potential staff (I’m supposed to be interviewing them but seeing as I have more vacancies than staff and it’s a bugger trying to get people to work out in the middle of nowhere for crap money, I may have to be nice to them whilst getting a full understanding of their training needs !) and go for the inevitable desert run with Psycho – which will almost certainly cost me dinner ! It’ll be nice to be back in the old place again, and to see some of the old faces – I’m even looking forward to the dreaded buffet in a rather perverse way (smoked salmon and scrambled eggs for breakfast anyone ?).
I’m afraid that I haven’t got much to tell you really. I’ve got sore feet from running 10k yesterday, although doing it on the back of a 2am brandy hangover and a cooked breakfast wasn’t really very clever idea…….still, I should say that we live and learn but I’m not sure that I do really…..I think that’s for a whole different therapy session !
I’m currently looking after Julian’s son (aged 12) cause Jules has gone to play golf. I say “looking after” but it’s almost 9.30 here and there’s no sign of him waking up yet. We had a debate last night where I was saying “what shall I do with him tomorrow while you’re out” and Julian was convinced that he’s still be asleep when he got back……time will tell, but I’m starting to think Jules will be right. The rest of the day is equally interesting……… I think I might wander over to the Mall for a coffee and read the paper for a couple of hours and then back here for a swim, chili and a pack ready for tomorrow. I’ve got to iron some shirts but other than that (and put a load of washing on) I don’t even have any domestic tasks to keep me occupied.
I’ll be nice next week, to be able to fill in my days and evenings without too much effort. I remember getting back from work, a nap on a sunbed, gym and then dinner, quick chat on Skype with the family and then bed. There was a pleasant simplicity about it (which began to border on insane simplicity after 5 months……..!). Suffice to say there are merits in both ways of life (that one and my current one) and I’m looking forward to finding some middle ground, which can be both frugal and entertaining (and that doesn’t make my feet hurt quite so much !) The addition of a car next week should add a bit of sanity, never mind the ability to go to the off-license, as well as just allowing me to go and visit some of the friends I’ve got in Dubai.
Right, time for some breakfast I think, so to the inventory – the usual for cigars, alcohol and money (the cigar and alcohol consumption is falling daily, despite the brandy hangover !). I’ve no intention of taking any alcohol to the Tilal this coming week so in that sense we could be onto a bit of a winner this week……till Wednesday night at least !
The exercise/gym session we’ve already discussed briefly. I’m up to 26 lengths (30 is the target) and should add another 2 to tonight’s session (700m). The Tilal pool is also 25m so I shall carry on as normal when I get down there (I have a desert run booked in with Psycho on Monday night so at very worst I need to get a bike ride in – maybe a trip to the camel track and back is on the cards ! I’m supposed to have a rest day on Sunday but I’ve been thinking about moving my rest day to Thursdays so maybe this is a good opportunity ?
The weather is just the same as always although it’s getting more pleasant in the evenings. It occurred to me that although I’d been here a whole month I hadn’t actually been out to lay in the sun yet and that I’m as pasty white under my clothes as I ever was – time to do something about a Christmas tan I think !
Food has been pretty similar to all the other blogs I’ve written here – I have, as I mentioned, developed a very nice flapjack receipt, and last night I had a go at Lebanese chicken kebabs (with some measure of success but there’s still some way to go I feel !).
The pool match has taken a bit of a dive from my perspective. Not very long go the score was 5 all. I subsequently lost about 3 matches on the trot to go 8 – 5 down and it’s currently 10 – 6 I think. We’ve started playing 9 ball instead of the full game, but making it first to 9 frames rather than best of 9 (first to 5). This is probably better for me but we will have to see how it all pans out in the next few weeks.
Right, breakfast it is – see you all back in the sand. COYS.
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