We’re back from Borneo and falling into our regular routine of life here in Doha (RD working 2-3 24 hour shifts a week, laying out at the pool, and working out in the gym). I haven’t been riding yet because I’m a bit jet-lagged from all the travel but will get back to it in April. Just before we left for Borneo I bought a small “island” with 2 chairs for the kitchen (the table I bought when we originally got here was just too big for the space). I had the maintenance guys come and get the twin bed out of the maid’s quarter’s and put the kitchen table in there for a work station to make jewelry…now I just need to get more gemstones and what-not to work with (I only brought 10-15% of my “stash” with me the last time I came back from Montana).

On the 27^th our neighbor had a surprise 30^th birthday party for her husband. RD was working so I was on my own. Darrin had no idea so he was totally “gob-smacked” according to Janice, his wife. I think “gob-smacked” is a close cousin of “flabbergasted”…I just love British slang. Conversation was centered around “where to get pork” (apparently the Army base source has dried up…shortage of bacon…and the coffee shop down the road used to have ham & cheese sandwiches but no more), and the fact that the police are now driving Lamborghinis (talk about being gob-smacked) so they can catch speeders…the only ones who speed are the Qatari’s and they don’t have to pay for tickets…

On the 28^th we were invited to an afternoon “tea”…RD didn’t think they really meant “tea” so we showed up with a bottle of wine…it went really well with the pastries and cupcakes…