Day 23 - Our Monday, your Saturday

16.5.09 - It's Saturday here, which is the beginning of the week for us. Weekends in Saudi are Thursday and Friday. Takes a while (quite a while) to get one's head around it. Friday nights are now Wednesday nights, Monday mornings are now Saturday mornings. You get the picture. 

Last night with had an unexpected visit, a lovely South African couple from the villa opposite ours, who wanted to introduce themselves. She is 8.5 months pregnant with her first child, and refreshingly relaxed about her pregnancy and giving birth here. She was in fact more concerned about me! And wanted to assure me that I could go to her if I needed any help or had any questions. Her husband and Dirk are 'outdoor smokers' so often find themselves having a cigarette together. Next thing I know, they have brought over some of the famous but as yet unseen or tasted 'own brew', the latest batch we are told not as good as the previous. Nevertheless, I'm very impressed, it smells, and tastes just like r*d w**e. The method is so simple: yeast, grape juice and sugar in a plastic resealable container (large water container will do). The liquid needs to let air out but not in so a pipe is attached to the opening of the container and dipped into a jug of water at the other end. Leave alone for 3 weeks, et voila. Dirk can't wait to get going. After 3 weeks of alcohol free living, I can feel the pleasant effect of the drink after a few sips. Nice way to end the weekend. And adds a merry note to the routine of bath, teeth, story and bed. With the added steps of moisturising the children's skin as it gets terribly dried out and itchy, turning on air con and plugging in mosquito repellent device. By 8, the children are in bed, exhausted after hours of swimming. Dirk is skyping, and I tuck into a good book (Eye of the Needle). Another day gone, and it still feels just like a holiday.