Well today is my birthday. So I am having a reflective day. Later Adele, Trudy, myself and perhaps Lebo and Yathreb are going to Bona Banana for lunch and a stroll around the Souk behind Tamimi in Khobar. I have be given mixed reviews about Bona Banana, John said it was great to sit and watch the Kornaish, Trudy and Kellie went with Margaret a few days ago and watched the fireworks while being hit on the head by the screens that divide the bachelors from the families. Anyway we are going to check it out.

I was also trying to plan things to do if I can organise a visa for Pippa. Half Moon Bay has a Holiday Inn resort. Also British Aerospace (BAE) has a resort as part of their compound that other expats can use. I need to be a member of the Hospital Social Club, which I can do now as I have passed my probationary period. Half Moon Bay looks really nice and seems to be like a real resort. However in Saudi Arabia where women are not allowed to travel alone and most hotels would not risk booking in less than a group of 4 women without a male chaperon, hotels can look great but still be restrictive. For Pippa and I as a couple (carrying a copy of our wedding certificate) there is generally no problem.

But if I want to go away for the weekend with a friend, just to get out of the compound, it is really difficult. Like most male nurses around the world a great deal of your work friendships are with females. In fact there are currently only 4 male nurses here. Winston & Raymond are shift coordinators and Richard is in Education. All senior positions and this can make it a little difficult to socialise with them as I am the only staff nurse. But in a country where unmarried mixed company is strictly against the law, a social life becomes inhibiting.

Trudy, Kellie and I go shopping together in a crowded shopping mall people turn a blind eye to westerners. But say going to Jeddah for the weekend is near impossible. I can go alone no worries. But not with Trudy as we are not married and asking to book separate rooms adds to the problem. And Saudis wonder why the causeway to Bahrain is crowded with Expats every weekend.

So this brings me back to what to do for my birthday. I originally wanted to go to Bahrain, mainly because I did not want you, Tina, to be the only person celebrating your birthday overseas this year. Also it would be nice to have a glass of Shiraz without lemonade and ice. But sitting on my own was not the way I wanted to spend my birthday, and Trudy and Kellie don't have their visas yet. Going somewhere else in Saudi is not a choice....see previous paragraphs... so Khobar it is.

Adele knows of a chocolate cafe near the Al Issa Souk area and the orient restaurant so we may end up there.

I was reading about the BAE compound here. 11,000+ residents over 6000 North Americans. The compound has several bars, pools, two schools, golf course, it really sounds like a small town. People probably rarely leave. Our compound has no bars (that are spoken of) rumour has it Sid & Rose have been here, a small dirty pool with broken pool furniture, and a gym next to a games room with not enough space around the tables to play the games. Additionally you throw the darts over the pool table towards the dart board. There is an 'entertainment tent' which is available for functions, but mixed company is closely chaperoned by the guards.

Anyway, can't complain, I do earn money and this will get Pippa and I to England soon. Hope all are well Keep in touch