I got an email from a friend, working in Qatar Academy, in the mighty Education City (the ‘baby’ of Sheikha Moza) and read with alarm  that their compound was being closed and a helicopter was on the way as a tiger was on the loose. I wrote back, assuming there had been a break out from the Zoo. She replied

“No, it wasn’t from the zoo. It really was a pet – apparently. One of the teachers said that when the tiger became public knowledge, there were kids showing photos of their pet tigers, lions and cheetahs in the LOUNGE rooms at home. Apparently, if you are there at the right time on Saturday morning, you can catch sight of a Landcruiser moseying along the Corniche – with a cheetah checking out the scenery from the comfort of its bucket seat! Last year, the primary Princpal had to ask a guy who was exercising his cheetah on the school oval to put it back in the car so the kids could finish their soccer match!!
At first, I thought the kids were making these stories up about their pet African animals – but no. They’re not, sadly. One kid got a dolphin for his birthday – in the pool! The parents were quite surprised when it died.
It’s a mad place. In June, there was a huge shipment of ivory detected in Thailand – it had come from Doha.”

Yesterday we went for a fare well trip to our beach…so sad, and we swam and floated (effortlessly) and when we left, we left our Russian fishing chairs, bought on a whim, after a drunken lunch in Kiev. They have served us well. I took a photo of them, sitting forlornly on the skyline…just hope that no one thinks we swam away to sea on a joint suicide mission!

The flat is starting to look empty, and I am wondering how to eat the contents of the cupboard…only 3 more dinners. Tonight we are having fresh lobster tails and prawn and pomelo salad. But what to do with the kilo of palm sugar I bought…Oh well. By the way I added a couple of photos that I managed to take of the art exhibition last week, of the little girl born in a Polish concentration camp.

More later.

Went to see the amazing film,(even walked on the red carpet)

The First Grader…you MUST try and see it…a true story of a Mau Mau man, aged 84 who went back to school. True story and just beautiful and inspirational. Ended the day at Villagio with friends Kay and Colin and Loretta…nice to meet up…we were last altogether in Hanoi.

I photographed my embroidery

…and packed it up…but before I go, just want to share the most beautiful sunset taken from the Zig Zag tower.