As I write this I am watching the third of the Chilean miners being reunited with the wider world. I actually felt emotional for this one, as he hugged and hugged his wife, who looked a stoical sort of woman. The second guy was so exuberant he was tearing around hugging everyone that he hardly gave his pretty lady a look and she had done her nails specially. (Blue and green)

What a topsy turvy week. My emotions are all over the place…one minute we were leaving Doha on 3^rd November, so the priority for me was to use up all the stuff in the cupboards, not to mention soap and Christmas present powders from 2 years ago, nice, can’t think why I haven’t used them before. I suppose we are always waiting for some special occasion for that lily of the valley or damask rose. Anyway it’s all been very aromatic and frantic.

Imagine how I felt when I heard we may be extending for 6 more months. I can’t believe these guys. I know I wanted to leave work, but when I actually did, I must admit I felt a little sad and had lots of pangs when the new school session resumed. I also miss the money. Still, I have been enjoying my new life as an expat woman, shopping and meeting for coffee in luxurious settings. Not a hardship, and you do meet nice people and hear some very funny life stories…but I can’t get over the obsession with Fitness and Beauty. For myself, I have always been a believer in the brisk walk.

Yesterday I went to a taster session at the Dado Spa with my friend Sue. We were given the spiel about the lay out and the therapists etc, and then we were allowed to have a ‘treatment’ to see how we liked it. I thought I might like to get my eye brows dyed!!! Images of that fierce Hollywood actress, who played in Mommie Dearest,…can’t think of her name, came to mind. She was a vision in manly suits and eyebrows.

The other ladies flocked to the nails and feet seats, they had obviously done this before so Sue, and I were left with no therapists to see to our needs. We were joined by the effervescent lady I met a few weeks ago, whose dancer son (with the gay black brain surgeon partner) and married to the Mexican lesbian were trying to get a job in Los Angeles. Anyway she joined us and we caught up and then discussed hair and lengths and so on and so forth, and before I knew it, my ‘growing out’ locks that I had persevered with for 5 months, were lying in a golden pool on the floor. Somehow the hairdresser, Ginger, agreed that my face suited short hair and so she started the chop chop process, whilst Natasha dabbed on a jet black potion on to my eyebrows. It all happened so quickly.

I went to pay…trying to add it all up in my head, and blanching just a bit, only to find it was FREEEEEEEEE!!! Brilliant.

Happily Sue was waxed and dyed as well, effervescent lady was ‘threaded’ all at the cost of the salon. So…a good day out! I actually like my hair…I feel about a hundred years younger and my eye brows are actually light brown, and quite nice. (Not like Hollywood diva at all).

Had to giggle the other night at Massage class, where I am now the expert on front of legs, feet (a little reflexology) and abdomen (always go clockwise) when one of the ladies was talking about her 11 years in Saudi. She was a nurse with the Royal Family, and she was just chatting on, and was trying to explain where something was in Riyadh. Well you go left at the lights and then go straight then around Chop Chop square!!!!

Not hair in this case, but the whole head. Hmmmm.

Today I am going to wean myself off the wonder drug. I do hope the back pain and sciatica doesn’t return…if it does, well I have renewed my prescription and it will be back to La La land! Nice.)

Now off to the shops, then back to marinade a shoulder of lamb in harissa, garlic, cumin and coriander.

Adios…as they say in Chile.