Anne's blog travel 06-07

Monday December18th 2006

Beautiful radiant sunny day today and the water of the gulf is turquoise as I run mid morning on the Corniche.

I packed some things to send back to Australia from the Post office in the Main Press Centre (MPC) yesterday and Ahmed comes in to have some pictures done for stamps so I jump in the photo with him and he buys me a set as well. He says he's happy to see me as he was looking for people to hand them the message he gives me. He's printed off an email because he doesn't have everyone's email...

Dear Friends
Six and half years in Qatar now, and this has been my most unique experience working with people from all colors, religions, beliefs, backgrounds and cultures. It was such an honor working with you all, and a pleasure having you as friends. I have learned a lot from you, we have laughed, shouted, got furious, shared meals, partied and discovered the beauties of this country together.

I am a richer man knowing you all, and I thank you for that.

I would like to keep in contact with you, and look forward to meeting you again, someday, somewhere. So please provide me with you personal contacts.

I might not be able to see you in the coming few days as I will be doing this heart operation, so I would like to wish you all a merry Xmas, Happy Eid, Happy New Year...etc.

Lot's of love

Ahmed (me) Hashim (my father) Saeed (my grandfather) Al-Hadithi (family name)

Even in this message I learn that the second and third names are in fact the names of the father and grandfather. I didn't know that.

We haven't set foot in the MPC today. I had lunch with Lorraine and Michelle. Michelle is flying out tonight for Canada. Lorraine will be here until Friday. I fly out thursday at this stage but am considering changing this to Wednesday as I have to move out of the hotel Wednesday and go back over to Patsy's. It's just hard to be so far out. And I'm going to Dubai for a few days to catch up with my father who I haven't seen in four years.

I'm tired right now. There are celebrations every night with the MMC party tonight at the venue. I'm sure this is an alcohol free party. Tomorrow Jawarah (Jewels) has invited me and most others from the MPC to her house for a party. She is Qatari so that will be interesting. Wednesday night is the Rushmans diner at the Rydges which I'll miss if I leave early but we'll see. And plenty more invitations to go have diner and lunches and do things and not enough time really.

I promise to try and keep updating my blog. I'm sorry if for some reason it's sporadic at times beause of lack of internet access but I'll keep trying.

Bye for now and thanks for reading.