My last day in Doha before I fly back to the cold. It is actually ‘fresh’ here and the beach is now a place for long walks and the playground of the kite surfers. Still unbelievably beautiful, and after a 10km walk in bare feet, we come home braced and fit with very pink lungs.

The run up to holiday time is in full swing, and I have enjoyed meeting with my various friends;

eating Rose’s amazing morning teas, drinking mulled wine at the book club get together, having the sewing diva’s lunch at Pixi’s,

being amongst the masses at the Tuesday Ladies Group lunch where the full turkey spread was served. That night I had a carrot for dinner and left John to his own devices. (egg and chips) Because of my hiatus hernia troubles I have avoided all fats and pastry so feel OK, and of course Pam and I had the final ‘game’ of the season. She plied me with 2 glasses of fizzy first, and promptly beat me, with no trouble, especially as I scored 3 home goals. Oh the shame. Thank God there wasn’t a gallery of spectators!

John and I did decide to be tourists for once. The state mosque tour was interesting…led by a born again muslim called Dominic from Luton. He had a long straggly beard, elfin ears and a too short dish dash. But he was funny and entertaining and we were there for the evening prayer which was interesting. The ladies were ushered upstairs and were hidden behind the wooden lattice. It was quite nice and actually quite peaceful. Outside the sky was on fire.

The mosque itself was a bit disappointing. With all the Qataris’ money I thought it would have been more special. The paving outside has already started to crack and the plaster on the minaret was blotchy and uneven. It wasn’t a patch on Muscat which had the shimmery Carrera Marble from Italy and the exquisite carpet from Isfahan. Anyway all the women were robed and I felt quite a wally in my abaya. Didn’t realise I had such a fat face. John was confused as he couldn’t find me…had to keep searching for my flip flops! Anyway at the end they made me a gift of an abaya so it will be good for future murder mystery parties!

After our stimulating walk on Friday we decided to go and see ‘Maman’. A tribute to the artist’s mother.

Louise Bourgeois likened the spider with metaphors of spinning and weaving and nurturing and protection. Her own mother was a weaver and she also repaired tapestries, before sadly dying far too young. Louise created this huge spider, 30ft height and 33ft wide with 26 marble eggs in the egg sac. The original is in the Tate Modern in London, and the other permanent fixtures are in Canada, Bilboa, Japan, South Korea and here in the Conference Centre in Doha. It was quite amazing.

There is a definite feel of change in Doha. I think it is coming from the new Emir, and also there is a lot of concern about the workers’ plight due to the Amnesty International’s report. There are so many young men dying needlessly from lack of water, heat and bad food. Meanwhile some of the constructions they are part of building are disgustingly irrelevant. There are 11 luxurious houses being built of man-made hills that John and I have watched grow over the last 4 years. On these sand hills they have forced grasses and flowers and trees to grow. Anyway we can have our thoughts, and the men suffer the frustrations of working here, but really in the end, we are of no consequence. With Dubai winning the Expo 2020 a lot of people are considering other options. Especially since the latest rumour has ripped through the expat society. ‘They’ say the new Emir is shutting down the booze souk. This is deadly serious, so John went out on Monday, during his lunch break to stock up till July (when we leave). I was concerned that there might be a bottle of brandy amidst his vast order of whisky but he thought of everything! Phew!

The Hyatt is now dry, and the Intercontinental is not serving out by the pool, so it all looks dodgy. The schools have been told to close on the 12th (a week early) as they want the roads less busy as FIFA are visiting and they don’t want the officials to see the true traffic chaos!! The IB students are at a critical time, as are the A level students. Not a good time to curtail the school year. Of course it would be fine for me in Grade 1! Yippeee I would say!

I have packed up the sewing machine and tidied ‘my’ room, so farewell from Doha for this year. Christmas is calling and I have a feast to prepare…two married daughters and husbands are coming, I can’t wait! Deck the halls, Fa la la la!