Saturday 7 March 2009

The house

I know a few of you are curious to see where and how we live so I have uploaded a few photos of the place we call home on Flickr.

The following link will provide you with a visual tour of the property.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/liquidworld/sets/72157614834648183/show/

I have decided to keep these visible to friends and family only so you will need a pass or a flickr account to view these.

If you have a flickr account and you are marked as Friends or Family in my contacts then you will be able to see these from the above link. If you have an account and you cannot see them send me an email and I will add you to my contacts.

If you do not have an account and don't want to create one but you are still interested in seeing the pictures no worries, just send me an email and I will forward a special pass.

Sunday 1 March 2009

Portaloos

Since the last post we've been paintballing (auch!), to James Blunt concert (and before you do: no need to comment on the choice, there is no choice here), to an environmental walk along the beach front followed by pork-based breakfast with a lovely view over the sun-studded sea at the Crowne Plaza.

The concert was on the grounds of the Intercontinental Hotel. This was a big event in town so we kept on bumping onto people we know, as it happens whenever you go out in Muscat.

This may sound a bit funny but I found myself intrigued by the temporary toilet facilities on site..
Ok have I run out of things to say? No. I always tell you about wonderful places and beautiful beaches I thought that maybe it is starting to get a bit boring for you. So I'll throw some other curiosity in.

The thing is that having eperienced the portaloos at summer music festivals in England I couldn't help to notice the differences with a grin on my face. I know it's a bit sad but it made me smile and if a toilet does that then it warrants some space on the blog.

First of all there were male and female portaloo sections: I don't remember well as it's been a while since I roughed it at a music festival in the UK but I don't think they do this in England (or do they nowdays??). Then there was a toilet attendant sitting outside the row of portaloos to make sure that the cubicles were sparyed with air freshener on a regular basis and toilet paper refilled (!?). Once you got in the toilets they were dry, as clean as you can expect a portaloo to be and also had a packet of dettol wet wipes to disinfect your hands after you had finished your business.
Ah and of course stepping out there was no mud.

I thought it was hilarious. I wanted to take a photo of the male/female set up but I thought I'd look like a bit of a weirdo photographing toilets. I have already been labelled a compulsive photographer. I think it's bad enough that I am putting this on the blog but I am sure that anyone else who has endured the rough reality of portaloos at an open air festival in the UK would have found this just as amusing ;) - maybe this is a sign that I may be turning into an uncanny expat or I am running out of things to blog on ;)

On another note, I know that a few of you have requested to see photos of the house. It is true that I am no longer working and should have no excuses but planning for the future and doing nothing seems to take much more time ;)

I'll get it sorted soon. :)