THE WEEKEND
Our first weekend in Oman. The weekend falls on Thursday & Friday, with Friday being the holy day, and many businesses shut, or open for half a day only. The first weekday is Saturday & last day of the week Wednesday. Quite an easy concept to understand but still seems to be confusing my poor brain & scheduling.
COLES BIRTHDAY
Cole finally turned 4. It feels like it's been forever in coming. People all thinking he was already 4 or even 5 or 6! It's a relief to now be able to say he's 4. He had a great day & really played out his privileged status of being the birthday boy. He loves his big boy bike and won't let it stay outside at the moment, only inside. Thankfully it is one favourite new thing that he can't take to bed with him. Something he's always liked to do since baby age. All the books, toys & odd items that have been found in his bed over the last 4 years... He also got some more Thomas train set to add to their other parts when they arrive by ship. Cole was most upset to discover Kaija's kindy had a train set but that his nursery school didn't have one. Having one at home, that doesn't need to be shared amongst many has finally put that whine to rest.
We had NZ$18 bacon for his breakfast. A real treat, & surprising it could be purchased since Islam doesn't permit the eating of pork. We bought each of the kids a little dress-up outfit, to wear on his birthday, since they were so gorgeous & so reasonably priced compared to back home. They enjoyed prancing around home in those, but we didn't let them wear them out of the house as it feels quite conservative dress-wise in that regard, even for children.
Our traditional birthday cake breakfast didn't go down too well this time. We had to make do with a birthday cake from the local supermarket that funnily enough, the kids didn't like. It looked great but wasn't to their taste. Cole still managed to eat it even though it wasn't mummy's usual secret chocolate cake & icing. We had to use matches for candles, which worked very well. The kids didn't even notice. And had to each have a turn to blow out "the candles".
OLIVE PARADISE
We will be on an olive diet by the looks of things. There has been a lot of delicious olives to buy but yesterday at one supermarket we had a huge selection & the bags cost us NZ$1.50 and NZ$2.00, coming from Egypt I think. No more fighting over the last olive.
OLD MUSCAT
Cole finally turned 4. It feels like it's been forever in coming. People all thinking he was already 4 or even 5 or 6! It's a relief to now be able to say he's 4. He had a great day & really played out his privileged status of being the birthday boy. He loves his big boy bike and won't let it stay outside at the moment, only inside. Thankfully it is one favourite new thing that he can't take to bed with him. Something he's always liked to do since baby age. All the books, toys & odd items that have been found in his bed over the last 4 years... He also got some more Thomas train set to add to their other parts when they arrive by ship. Cole was most upset to discover Kaija's kindy had a train set but that his nursery school didn't have one. Having one at home, that doesn't need to be shared amongst many has finally put that whine to rest.
We had NZ$18 bacon for his breakfast. A real treat, & surprising it could be purchased since Islam doesn't permit the eating of pork. We bought each of the kids a little dress-up outfit, to wear on his birthday, since they were so gorgeous & so reasonably priced compared to back home. They enjoyed prancing around home in those, but we didn't let them wear them out of the house as it feels quite conservative dress-wise in that regard, even for children.
Our traditional birthday cake breakfast didn't go down too well this time. We had to make do with a birthday cake from the local supermarket that funnily enough, the kids didn't like. It looked great but wasn't to their taste. Cole still managed to eat it even though it wasn't mummy's usual secret chocolate cake & icing. We had to use matches for candles, which worked very well. The kids didn't even notice. And had to each have a turn to blow out "the candles".
OLIVE PARADISE
We will be on an olive diet by the looks of things. There has been a lot of delicious olives to buy but yesterday at one supermarket we had a huge selection & the bags cost us NZ$1.50 and NZ$2.00, coming from Egypt I think. No more fighting over the last olive.
OLD MUSCAT
We decided to take a break from roaming the commercial & shopping areas of Muscat and take a drive to find old Muscat. It was a really interesting drive, and feels quite different from the suburban/commercial areas around which we, live, work & shop. Old Muscat has very old forts, gateways, buildings, etc. The Sultan's palace is there also. Some parts have a feeling of the Portugese settlement Macau Island which is now part of China. (Old Muscat icon - roadway arch)
But then the environment & terrain here is so foreign to me at times. The old part of Muscat is situated amongst some of the ragged rocky peaks and is quite picturesque but feels a little forboding. It really is quite different from what I'm used to.
But then the environment & terrain here is so foreign to me at times. The old part of Muscat is situated amongst some of the ragged rocky peaks and is quite picturesque but feels a little forboding. It really is quite different from what I'm used to.
In NZ I love the huge expansive horizon you feel with access to a large skyscape. Other countries & cities have the cityscapes overwhelmed with skyscrapers that fill up any sky space, but also looks incredible. Around old Muscat it seems to be situated in valleys surrounded by peaks of jagged rocks & hills formed by arid piles of stones, & dust. They tower around, & it feels almost claustrophobic. Some of the homes are built right up to the rock faces. But it is really, very impressive.
(Old Muscat area houses)
THE WEATHER
Some habits are hard to break. As I go about my day I still constantly find myself looking out to the sky to to see if it's overcast, rainy or cloudy when about to do washing, get dressed, pack a bag preparing to go out etc. And each time, I then remember that there is no rain, no overcast moments, no cloud, just sun. Hot, hot sun, everyday from when it rises to when it goes down. Everyday can be a washing day.
SWIMMING POOL
The complex's pool is wonderful to have, but it isn't overly used. Seems people find it cooler just to stay inside in the air-conditioning. Which is true. It's still refreshing though, as it is so hot outside the water still feels cool, especially when you first get in. The kids are slowly overcoming their fears in the water & now prefer to stay in for long periods of time. We went and stocked up on floatation devices so we can all get in at once. It requires a bit of effort to coordinate when doing it solo however, as the kids are in & out, & still demand to be held. They also have one volume level - super loud so I feel sorry for our neighbours. Our kids in the pool seem to bring out the other kids in the complex like the pied piper with a flute.
FEEDING CATS
I've mentioned before that there are quite a few stray cats around, & lots of ads looking for homes for cats as ex-pats return to their home countries. It's been ages since I was into cats - preferring dogs since I gave up my semi-tamed, little wild cat ET, after he'd been dragged through a few flats with me. However I think we might end up taking on 1 or more kitty cats when we get a home as the kids have been loving them. In the meantime, still missing my dog & having no one to give meat leftovers to I decided to try the stray cats that hang out around the pool area.
Well that was a bit of a mission! I forgot how unsociable & stubborn cats can be. The skinniest little black cat, that I first offered food to, was such a slow eater & never going to get through all the food. I then divided it between the 3 cats all waiting, but old skinny black decided that as I befriended him he was the only one allowed to eat from any of the plates. In fact they all started eating but then greed got to them & they wanted each other's food. They're so skinny & hungry & there was plenty to eat but could they share? No way. I could see a bit of a fight was starting up so had to scare them away from each other by throwing precious water & take the food & putting it in the bin. That was after spending 45 minutes guarding them & trying to organise them to be sharing cats. It takes far less time to make my kids share.
NZ FOOD
NZ butter & cheese. After having a stand-off between the kids & the plastic-looking cheese, coloured orange, just like US cheese, that they wouldn't touch, we tracked down some NZ products. NZ yellow cheese & butter made by Anchor in the UK but sourced from NZ it appears. Much more popular with the kiddos.
We also have an excellent selection of NZ beef & lamb at all the supermarkets we've been. The best cuts. Amazing! It was the same in Japan, at the international supermarket in Tokyo we could get beautiful cuts of NZ meat. Cuts that back in NZ are only carefully hunted down in specialist butcheries usually in the more expensive Auckland suburbs.
Marmite. My girls are marmite kids & nothing else. It has been hard to get bread down them without NZ marmite. I was planning to buy jars of it & bring it in my suitcase but the freight guy thought it wouldn't be allowed. I'm not so sure now. I saw nothing about not bringing in food items, especially processed ones. I was hoping to track down some good old kiwi marmite somewhere but could only find bovril & English marmite. There wasn't even the Australian vegemite. I finally caved in and bought the English marmite. Surprisingly it's going down a treat with my palette, even though I usually can't stand it. Siena is buying it but Kaija is not too convinced.
MOST ILLUSIVE THING
Still haven't found one sink plug. Have looked in many shops, yet none found. There are no plugs in our home. Maybe they weren't lost from the house after all, but never existed. If we ever find anything, it's going to be like finding gold or should I say striking a fresh water well.
(The back view of our townhouse - yard from the communal outdoor area.)
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