Just when you think your doing the right thing !

Sad but true, a religious experience.

So, there I was at the supermarket with my trolley full of items excited because I was going to make an effort in my cooking that night. I have been so lazy with my cooking since leaving home. SO that night I was making, Japanese, beef tataki then chicken terriaki, our favourites, would have loved to make Goyza but i haven't been able to find the pastry.

Anyways, a lady was standing , very regal in all her black garb (which incidentally was lined with a lot of gold bling bling) finishing loading her items onto the conveyor belt. I thought to myself, what is the right thing to do, having had a number of experiences, and read all the local customs and visited all the local religious spots and asked all the questions, I waited for her to finish. Once all items were scanned and she had moved her trolley forward, then waited for her counterparts (other women in black) to drop their favourite lollies on the counter, post groceries scanned, two more dropping things, cashier told her her bill was totalled to 800 or so dhms (about 265 aussie bucks), she looked at me, she looked at the bag packer, she looked at the roof, ignoring all around her. Hmm, i thought to myself and still waited patiently, not putting anything on the conveyor belt. The cashier again mentioned the amount to be paid, and the lady glared, the packer then also mentioned the amount to be paid. I thought, well all her things are packed, the money asked for, nothing on the conveyor belt. I will commence loading the conveyor belt.

SO i loaded and packed the conveyor belt full of my things, still the lady stood, ignoring everyone. I think, like the cashier may have, she was waiting for the man to come and pay!!

NO, I was so wrong.

She glared at me, and yelled in a loud voice, get your things off here, i have not finished.

Imagine my shock, the cashiers shock, the packers shock, who by now was standing with the trolley ready to take it to her car.

Sorry I said. GET IT OFF. Sorry I said. YOU - GET THAT OFF.

You have finished i said. I HAVE TROLLEY COMING. (oh i forgot to say she stood at about 6ft2)

I then said , no I'm sorry you have finished and there is no trolley in sight and i have loaded my things. I DON'T CARE, GET IT OFF. At which time, she commenced pushing my items off the conveyor belt, being quick i caught the couple of items that fell off the back.

I said i don't think so. You have finished - HALLAS. Using one of the Arabic words i am comfortable with. She glared at me YOU GET IT OFF NOW and started to push me away.

The things that went through my head were not pretty i have to say, and if you know me i am very forthright and always say my peace, well when i am being wronged by a stranger, or having to pay for things i shouldnt (but too shy when people i know do it to me). So i took the submissive approach I tend to take when friendships and family (and possibly my freedom) are at stake. I bowed my head and looked at my trolley....what to do, what to do, what to do.....pop my bacon on the counter....!!!!!maybe not.

I stood and looked at her, i then started to pack my things pack in my trolley. Can you imagine,
the lady in black with gold trim (obviously head lady in the house), three or four sub ladies, a couple of their kids in national clothing, the cashier, the packer, the customers, staring at me, waiting to see what i would do. I felt like crying.

The lady pushed me, telling me to hurry and shoving her body in front of me, I glanced up to see two trolleys coming, stacked high, Filipino maids pushing them....Ohh i felt so sorry for them.

When the trolley got there she started pushing it past me and again shoving me into the counter. OK THAT'S ENOUGH... I turned to her and said this is disgraceful, that she should have told me she wasnt finished and that this was not right. I was feeling very intimidated and . She said YOU ARE IN MY COUNTRY AND YOU DO WHAT I SAY. I just repeated this is not right.

A boy - one of the sons, Nath's age - 10 , came up from behind the lady and started laughing in my face. I said to him, it is not a right thing to do this, you should have some respect. The woman said, YOU STUPID WOMAN, you talked to the baby, you are nothing. Oh boy. what the !!!

I replied, you are a disgrace to your people, and you show me no honor (yep i heard that this is The best way to speak, better than ###****++++)

She was horrified and stared at me. I pushed her trolley back, I slowly unloaded and gracefully moved to the next counter. The people waiting in the queue behind me were so shocked they just stood there in the queue while the two trolleys were pushed pass them.

I looked back to make sure i had everything and she then, caught my eyes and swore at me in Arabic, i recognised some of the words. I couldnt believe it, it was like she had just spat at me. I stared at her, told her i thought i was in a Muslim country and that swearing was against their religion. As her mouth dropped, I turned away and didn't look back.

I know I should have walked away while my things were on the belt, but i so wanted to make our favourite meal.

You know its fear built in here, I should have reported her, but then who am I!


HAPPY SUPERMARKET SHOPPING.

WarHammer 400000

Warhammer 40,000

frustration is upon us.......

So we unpacked our gear and set up for model building....let see, 27 Necrons, an army tank, pods, flying machines, scary motorbikes. Off and running. Wow! Little fingers working feverishly and mine. How long will it take? Hopefully until the end of holidays...

To recap.......I encouraged both boys to take up a game we played a lot last summer. Warhammer 400000. Not sure if you know it, a model game of waring armies and battles, with 5cm tall model armies, tanks, spore mines etc. So the boys have their armies to make and paint, (mine and most of Josh's are done from last year)

Nath chose the Necrons quite creepy skeleton things. He just got for his birthday. Gemma you can see the book you gave him..yes very educational - reading, following directions and problem solving..well done

Oh and when we opened Josh's extra box of space marines we found we had purchased a whole other army..so it seems he is passing his old army off to his dad and he will spend his time constructing and painting his new army. Chaos Space Marines.

We built a desert model / battle field last year (easy in a country full of sand). Which worked well but the boys are hoping to create a forest/green/hilly model / battle field this year.

Josh is playing with his space marine army (blue and gold men) and Nath is playing with mine army Tryanids - insect like spiky-ant-lizard men (red and blue)

Lets see what battle ground we build this time...for now its building armies.

Time to get creative - but its pushing it a bit....why didn't I have girls...barbie dolls are looking good at the moment.

Registration

I thought I was on Dubai Time...but it seems more like Fiji Time !!!!

So its re-register the car time. Wot to do. Feeling slightly anxious, you know girls dont get much intellectual attention here so maybe i shouldnt be doing this mans job..and oh yea remember nothing in this counrty is in my name ...so hey...what am i doing in a vehicle unregistered by a whole month and its not even mine......!!!!!.....wait for Darren..wait for Darren...OK not impressed I didnt do it myself...but too anixous..OK. Head off to Rego place..Servo..where to go..hmmm. OK go to this window. OK need ticket and drive through to garage for inspection. leave car and go wait with all the men..not one other woman in sight. OK. Ticket no. comes up to go to counter. Failed! Have slight indent in frnt side panel.

(Yea. another accident in car...two months ago..parked under school in garage..everyone always parks you in and then you can wait up to 1.5 hr for them to come and move..so decide to navigate way out with help of security guard....keep coming...keep coming. bang..sorry was that the column u hit.....sorry ....yep...Security guard has a little laugh.....oh well. only small indent in panel ..will get it fixed later.)

OK . Go chat to car inspector. First guy said yep i would have passed it..next guy, who did it says you must have it fix before registration. but this doesnt effect the operation of the car..NO car in excellent working condition...but must be fixed. Speak to supervisor..you people have lots of money get it fixed.. but.. sorry it doesnt look good on our roads...but.. oh do you have police report..but i hit a pole backing out, what does this have to do with police...U need report, u must go back to where it happened call police. bring report..i see what i can do when you come back....

OK.. on my own again. early morning. sitting outside the school. rang police...hmm. no residency..no man to help..no support..very anxious..thinking about wot its like inside womens prison .. if they have one...maybe I'd have to go in with the men...betcha no tellies or swimming pools in these prisons.....hmmm..driving unregistered car. which is not mine. no residency only on tourist visa (can only drive hire car if on tourist visa) ..no cover at all...wot will they say...

Flag down police car going past. very nice helpful. have a joke or two...police man tells me maybe i need glasses to see...(you now i do) ... standing in the heat - 42 - looking into large 4wd Police vehicle...trying to speak in bestest broken English... saying nice easy things, heart pounding sweat dripping.. stick head inside car to see paperwork...nice and cold... hmmm. waiting waiting...more paper work....passes me paper...tells me to have a good day..PHEW....

Back to rego dept. Go to inspector, give report...tells me go wait in room, go wait with even more men this time....eyes staring....finally number comes up......yep passed now.......sent to insurance section...I have my own insurance...sent to typing pool to have invoice typed for payment.....Only 1 month insurance left on car, needs to be twelve months...but i will do it at the end of policy...bad luck...must have full twelve month comprehensive insurance or no registration....OK..Leave... have to go to insurance and pay next twelve months......

Drive to other end of Dubai..Twelve months insurance fee in advance thankyou.........pay mine and while im there pay Darrens..........drive back to rego dept (Check boys OK at home)

Ok back to typing pool.....is this your vehicle ...ummmmm ... no......oh whose is it...husband...looks into my eyes....OK No problems i will help you !!!!!!!! Types out doc..pay fee for typing...ok next desk......(the place is now jam packed with men....to the point i cant move).......I think the guy at the desk realises my panick.....do straight to next counter NO.10...but gives me a no. anyway......im no. 6224 and they were currently serving ticket no. 6011...thank you...straight up to counter, pay rego fee.......sent to next couter for rego card.......men packed around counter...try to sqeeze through.....yuk..yuk..yuk......ok at desk....looks at me....tells me to go sit and he will call me..squeeze back thru crowd....everyone looking at me....waiting waiting waiting..........."Derrringng"......."derrrringing"...........young man waiting at counter in amongst all the others...pokes his head out of the crowded area...and says to me...i think this is you.....OH........thankyou...i said.........is this all i have to do...yes saids the man behind the counter...hallas - finished.......

Get in car wipe sweat from my brow and think thank goodness....three quarters way home...ssssshiiiiii !!!!!!! didnt get new sticker for rego plate...at next counter......baddddddd luck...

Get home 2pm............airconditioning problem...a whole other sagga from day before...where i couldnt get anyone in Dubai to come service our aircon......ended up sending email complaint about services........get a call, from customer relations yes we are coming dont go anywhere.......

hmmm friend waiting at pool,,,, boys yelling...gone stir crazy inside, said i would take them to the pool....wait 1.5 hrs. no show...send email...no response... leave go to pool....get call....coming to look at it, come home........but not going to fix it will only tell you if it is an issue from our previous replacement of motor 7 months ago.........coooking tea.......air guys come...Talk with me......Darren takes over...no problems sir we will fix it for you....(the power of men)....so wot next......Darren booked his own car in for service...hmmmm this will be his cars 4th service...mine hasnt had one yet...........Wait for aircon service men to finish in house while Darren drops off car............then have to go and pick him up when aircon guys are finshed.........

Hmmmm, do dishes...........aircon guys go...i head off to get Darren from dropping off his car for service.......ahhhhhhh...finally get home......sit down........8.30pm..

Darren comes down...wheres a clean pair of pants for me for work rrrr!!!!!

...........hmmmmmm I wonder how many emotions i went through this day ????

just another boring day in the life of a housewife in Dubai..........

5weeks until I get to go to work and have a break too.

Naths Birthday

My Baby Boy turns 10 !

Well I just cant believe the years have gone by so quickly...its amazing and often make me wonder what it must be like for my mum and dad to watch me grow up....I'm so excited..but at the same time scare of the future for them. Knowing the struggles and hardships i have endured i hope they both have a much easier path than i have had to take. Thanks to my mum and dad although i have had many things to overcome they have always been at my side as i will be for my boys.

So its a celebration for Nathan and for all of my family.

It was rapt to be 10, yep not just a single digit... he is trying so hard to catchup to his mentor and bestest buddy Ben, who I have to say he misses terribly.

He loved his Birthday.. although it was very quite. He woke late and run down stairs to see his presents then dragged Darren and I out if bed for the unwrap. He wanted a Nash - 4GB, like an Ipod only better value. and brilliant green his favourite colour.....then to the Warhammer army, yahooooo, Necrons, him a very strong force for Josh and I to compete against in our battles, so we will have to thumb up on strategies for battle. But the painting must come first. Wow so many men, and all skeleton types, grey and black with iridescent green light laser. well this will keep us busy for a few days. Thanks to the Mortons it was brain strain time with the test ur brain capacity - brain academy DS game.....hmmm, i wasnt very quick and we all need to take more vitamins - he loves the game. Jobs identified ---- Darren's- fashion stylist, Nath -Museum Curator, Josh- Michael Angelo.......

He decided on Wilde Wadi for his day activity. Lots of water slides and wave pool and fun water areas. stay there all day and they had a ball.. by the time we got home Nath decided takeaway pizza for tea was the go, thank goodness Darren and I were buggered. Oh NO, yes a Game of Buzz - PS2, was required next and Nath picked Buz Sports which i know nothing about and it showed - Darren 10,000 points, Nath about 6000 with Josh...hmmm mum at 1500. better read the sports paper more - dont think so.

A very happy and contented 10 year old hoped off to bed, thansk to everyone for cards and money and presents, he has also brought a couple of DS games.

Oh I forgot to say, when we got home the PS2 wasnt working after Kel had gone to the effort to help us with it.......So I thought, whattheheck...Ill open it up and have a look - you know it must have been the 9mths i spent soldering circuit boards and putting together PCs that gave me the courage - thanks god i gave that job up and went back to school. Anyho, i unscrewed it ripping of the warranty void if removed sticker. Showed Nath the inside, push and prodded, and said see cant see anything unusual.....not that i would have notice anyway.....screwed it back together...and low and behold.....it worked......genius.

My Werribee Painting

Thankyou Maddy and Lee

for such a great gift to take home to Dubai,

A PAINTING OF WERRIBEE RIVER

Gummies, rich Werribee soil, blue sky
and green grass,

it looks wonderful on our lounge wall ,
I sit back and think of myself wooshing through the grass and down to the icy cold river

..........and well just relax..