28th November 2013

Well I have now been in the land of sand for 2 weeks and the sun is finally shining. 

I have been out on my own twice without Keith lol.  I got on the compound bus and went shopping to the malls, Hyatt and then to Kingdom mall.  I have never seen so many designer shops and western clothing for women.  Seems to be little clothing for men when approx 4 million of the population of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) are men who only wear western clothes.

Despite being so far away the world is such a small place! Just 3 houses down live a couple called Fiona and Paul Rizzardi.  Fiona used to work for Surrey Community Health as a staff nurse at the Jarvis centre and then in the breast screening clinic.  Fiona attended the University of Surrey and Melaine Coward was her personal tutor and then to top it all Fiona and Paul attended Pam Frost's wedding. Amazing!!!

I have been offered a deputy director of nursing post at the King Saud University Medical City (KSUMC),  but who knows whether it will be followed up with a contract who even a job description and even then it's going to take sometime for my igama (residency) to be transferred from Keith's company to KSUMC which may result in me returning to the UK for many weeks.  I have told this could take as long as 3 months.  The recruitment process is very different here and not something I am used to. 

I have also been interviewed for a service manager in a rehab hospital in the middle of the desert managing 4 clinical managers and responsible for 104 beds.  Said they will let me know in a week, but too far to go each day by taxis 48 kilometres each way at a cost of 60 SARS each way ( 6 SARS to a £).

Looking forward to starting work and the huge learning curve I will experience with the culture and the different way health care is delivered.  Looking forward to putting in place visiting lecturers so watch out some of you may be getting an all expenses trip to KSA.  Very exciting! :)

I am learning about Islam and women so that I have a better understanding of what is expected of a Muslim woman.  Today I found out you woman shouldn't wear nail polish as a woman cannot perform Wadu (ablution) for prayers as water cannot penetrate the nail polish and so you are unclean.  Interestingly a company have produce breathable nail polish which lets air and water through to the nails.  Its called O2M (Oxygen and Moisture) so problem solved for all Muslim women.  For my next lesson .......................... only kidding unless you found it as fascinating as me.

We were invited to Keith's boss house Tony's for tea and I met his wife Vivienne.  Really nice couple.  They have a rescue dog called Dudley who is so sweet and gentle spent the whole time on my lap.  No I am not having a dog.............. Need to wait once I have started work and then we will see. 

Have started doing my decoupage again and have even found that Jariri bookshop sell the paper mâché shapes which is great and so much cheaper than the UK just need to source the decopatch paper here and I'm in business.  Have been asked to show someone how to do this so maybe could start some classes up.  knitting has not come out of the cupboard so not that bored yet and as for being a housewife! I don't think so lol

Went to Kuwaiti souk last night and got the opportunity to try on some jewellery for fun.  Didn't like the pieces, but was nice of Muhammad to allow me to do this.  Diamonds everywhere and so many different cuts of diamonds you just can't believe they are real.  Just mind blowing. 

Anyone wanting any shopping done just let me know.  Easier if you send a picture of what you would like and I can then have a look and send you a picture of what I find which is similar and the cost.  Some of Keith's friends from the UK who also work here come back to the UK on a regular basis so no problem in getting your items to you.

Well that's it for now. Will write again soon.