Well here we are again, almost at the weekend. The days fly by here so quickly that I am sure that here on the equator there must only be 20 hours in the day. It certainly seems that way. For the last three days I have been rising early and driving down to school at 5am. Why? In order to swim in the pool for one hour before work. That's three days in a row now. I plan to try to keep it up. Because its only a 2 minute drive I can easily come back for breakfast where my darling wife has sausage bacon and eggs ready on the table. NOT!!!! She is still safely tucked up in, it has to be said, a pretty comfortable bed. I think she might be taking to this lady of leisure idea.
I still do not have a car organised although I am optimistic that I may have found what I am looking for.I have decided that I do not want to buy brand new because you do take a hit on them so I have been looking at second hand. The problem there is the lack of trustworthiness of the dealers. Garages seem to sell only new cars or the sell second hand, its not like in UK where you get all the decent trade-ins available with a little bit of dealer security. The second hand guys? Well you pays your money you takes your choice. All cars and I mean ALL are advertised with one careful owner, low mileage (even if its not) and 100% no accident even if they are really 2 halves of two cars sellotaped together. I am looking to buy privately where I think the least risk actually lies (without buying new). I have found a car that is less that 1 year old and is low mileage so fingers crossed when I see it that it turns out to be as described.
We are getting the kitchen units fitted tomorrow so fingers crossed we will be completely functional by the wend of the day. I will post some pictures of our furnished abode after that is done.
OK breakfast over, time to get ready for work.
David
Friday, 12 September 2014
Thursday, 4 September 2014
First week of school almost over
If I were still in Bahrain I would be celebrating the start of the weekend but alas (and thankfully) I am not. Still one day to go but it has been an enjoyable but extremely busy week. It is easy to forget how much there is to learn about a new school and everything here is a bit different. But different in a positive way.
As expected the students in my classes are all delightful and seem very keen and interested. I had my first "duty" today as a playground patrol man. It was the most pleasant stroll around a leafy courtyard and over the little wooden footbridge that crosses the small pond at the end. Gold fish, koi carp and some kind of brown fish swim by without a care in the world as do the students. The sun shone and all was at ease for a few minutes in a busy, busy day. I could have stayed on that duty for a long time. Can't wait until next week!
Our house is coming along and all our deliveries are here. It's a little bare looking because (a) we have no curtains yet and (b) furnishing a house this size from scratch take a few more ringgits than a two up, two down in Halbeath! The owner is providing the curtains but because we were keen to move as soon as possible we are in before they could be ready. Same goes for the kitchen. We have a dishwasher as a worktop and a microwave and slow cooker. Sheila is being somewhat resourceful in trying to prepare a sumptuous meal with no equipment. Cooker and kitchen in a week or so.
The house is fantastic though. The en-suite is only a short taxi ride from the bed at the other end of the room. Can you get out of your bed and take ten full paces without walking into a wall? It's pretty big ... and even with a king size bed, two bedside tables, two chests of drawers and two three-door wardrobes it still doesn't look cluttered.
I think I just heard the microwave ping suggesting that the next offering is ready.
Have a great day wherever you are in the world.
David
As expected the students in my classes are all delightful and seem very keen and interested. I had my first "duty" today as a playground patrol man. It was the most pleasant stroll around a leafy courtyard and over the little wooden footbridge that crosses the small pond at the end. Gold fish, koi carp and some kind of brown fish swim by without a care in the world as do the students. The sun shone and all was at ease for a few minutes in a busy, busy day. I could have stayed on that duty for a long time. Can't wait until next week!
Our house is coming along and all our deliveries are here. It's a little bare looking because (a) we have no curtains yet and (b) furnishing a house this size from scratch take a few more ringgits than a two up, two down in Halbeath! The owner is providing the curtains but because we were keen to move as soon as possible we are in before they could be ready. Same goes for the kitchen. We have a dishwasher as a worktop and a microwave and slow cooker. Sheila is being somewhat resourceful in trying to prepare a sumptuous meal with no equipment. Cooker and kitchen in a week or so.
The house is fantastic though. The en-suite is only a short taxi ride from the bed at the other end of the room. Can you get out of your bed and take ten full paces without walking into a wall? It's pretty big ... and even with a king size bed, two bedside tables, two chests of drawers and two three-door wardrobes it still doesn't look cluttered.
I think I just heard the microwave ping suggesting that the next offering is ready.
Have a great day wherever you are in the world.
David
Saturday, 30 August 2014
Ah the weekend
Finally a moment to contemplate the events of the last couple of weeks. It feels like we have been here forever and yet it is only just over two weeks. As always, when moving to a new country, there is so much to do and so much to sort out.
We are just waiting to be given the keys for the house and after thinking it would be a couple of weeks yet we were told yesterday that we should hopefully get them on Monday. So last night it was all hands on deck to get the furniture bought and delivered on Monday. Ever thought of trying to get a whole house load of furniture bought and delivered on a holiday weekend? It was off to our good friend Mr Ikea. He has lots and lots of things. A house in a box.
Armed with our list we set off to the shop in the middle of the Friday night rush our traffic. What were that chances of then (a) having all we wanted in stock and (b) being able to deliver it all on Monday? Well as it happens, apart from a slight change of colour of the sofas all WAS in stock and all CAN be delivered on Monday. So there we were in the queue at the checkout with two trolleys piled as high as you could safely pile them. It was some time before anyone else joined the queue that we were in!!!
After paying for it all we headed for the delivery desk to arrange delivery and decided that it would be wise to pay the fee to have the stuff assembled. I could picture the scene of me cursing and swearing and fretting trying to puzzle out what bit goes where. If it was a race, by the time I had the first box open and the stuff laid out Mr Ikea Assembly Guy would have the first unit built and Sheila would have it full of clothes. So we booked a full assembly service except for the sofas and bed mattress. I said I would manage those myself.
After the main furniture was purchased it was a quick bite in the restaurant and back into the goodies hall to fill up with all the bits and pieces from the bits and pieces section. Another laden trolley and a flash of plastic to the nice girl at the checkout and we were done. Well except for the fact that we had to repeat the process at the electrical shop.
Dishwashers are pretty expensive here in Malaysia but we decided, well I decided, that we can't manage without one so the bullet had to be bitten. Dishwasher and washing machine. "Have you got them in stock", I asked optimistically. "Yes", she said. "Can we get them delivered on Monday?", says I, hopefully. "Sure, no problem", she replied. Unfortunately they didn't have any fridge freezers or tumble driers that we liked, well to be honest, they didn't have any with prices that we liked so that's today's task.
So breakfast first then it's off to get more stuff.
David
We are just waiting to be given the keys for the house and after thinking it would be a couple of weeks yet we were told yesterday that we should hopefully get them on Monday. So last night it was all hands on deck to get the furniture bought and delivered on Monday. Ever thought of trying to get a whole house load of furniture bought and delivered on a holiday weekend? It was off to our good friend Mr Ikea. He has lots and lots of things. A house in a box.
Armed with our list we set off to the shop in the middle of the Friday night rush our traffic. What were that chances of then (a) having all we wanted in stock and (b) being able to deliver it all on Monday? Well as it happens, apart from a slight change of colour of the sofas all WAS in stock and all CAN be delivered on Monday. So there we were in the queue at the checkout with two trolleys piled as high as you could safely pile them. It was some time before anyone else joined the queue that we were in!!!
After paying for it all we headed for the delivery desk to arrange delivery and decided that it would be wise to pay the fee to have the stuff assembled. I could picture the scene of me cursing and swearing and fretting trying to puzzle out what bit goes where. If it was a race, by the time I had the first box open and the stuff laid out Mr Ikea Assembly Guy would have the first unit built and Sheila would have it full of clothes. So we booked a full assembly service except for the sofas and bed mattress. I said I would manage those myself.
After the main furniture was purchased it was a quick bite in the restaurant and back into the goodies hall to fill up with all the bits and pieces from the bits and pieces section. Another laden trolley and a flash of plastic to the nice girl at the checkout and we were done. Well except for the fact that we had to repeat the process at the electrical shop.
Dishwashers are pretty expensive here in Malaysia but we decided, well I decided, that we can't manage without one so the bullet had to be bitten. Dishwasher and washing machine. "Have you got them in stock", I asked optimistically. "Yes", she said. "Can we get them delivered on Monday?", says I, hopefully. "Sure, no problem", she replied. Unfortunately they didn't have any fridge freezers or tumble driers that we liked, well to be honest, they didn't have any with prices that we liked so that's today's task.
So breakfast first then it's off to get more stuff.
David
Thursday, 28 August 2014
Quick update
It's been a couple of busy days since I last posted. I have been at work for two days now and its been pretty manic. It is always a very busy time at the start of the year and we go into information overload. My classroom is fantastic and from it I can see our new house. We are hoping to get the keys in the next few days and can start the moving in process.
We got our TV yesterday - got my priorities sorted out!!! It's a 50 inch LED TV which is highly satisfactory. Can't wait to get it plugged in.
Sorry its a bit short but I have to get ready for tomorrow. Hopefully more news to follow at the weekend.
David
We got our TV yesterday - got my priorities sorted out!!! It's a 50 inch LED TV which is highly satisfactory. Can't wait to get it plugged in.
Sorry its a bit short but I have to get ready for tomorrow. Hopefully more news to follow at the weekend.
David
Monday, 25 August 2014
First Golf Game
Today I had the absolute pleasure of playing a game of golf in what can only be described as majestic surroundings. Bukit Ungal Golf Course lies slap bang in the middle of an area of tropical rainforest/jungle and from there the only sounds you can here are those of the animals and birds of the forest. On the way round we could hear and see monkeys swinging in the trees and climbing on the rocks and we could hear a variety of birds that were not visible amongst the foliage. It was truly awesome in the literal sense of the word. It is a distinct possibility that this will be our chosen golf course as it is one of those that is both reasonable near to our new home and affordable to play. The course has a fabulous layout although the greens and fairways could be in better nick. This is more than compensated for by the location. The clubhouse is also a little tired but who noticed that?
We signed the papers for the house today and got a hint that we might be able to move in on 1st or 2nd September as originally planned. Fingers crossed for that. The house we eventually signed for is the actual house on the pictures I posted and we can't wait. We have chosen most of the furniture and even Sheila has had to agree that the best value telly we have found is a 51 incher. I am going to buy it tomorrow before she changes her mind! We are furnishing absolutely from scratch so we need everything. We have a few bits and pieces still to decide but should hopefully be able to arrange delivery as soon as we get the keys and I will post a few pictures as soon as I can. We will then be open for visitors. Who will be first? Form an orderly queue please. Free food, accommodation and airport transfers. Best book early to avoid disappointment. This is a truly amazing place where you can be in the heart of a massive city one minute and in the middle of a tropical rainforest the next. Well not quite the next because the traffic is a bit busy.
Another game of golf with one of my new colleague tomorrow. Back to Bukit Ungal methinks.
David
We signed the papers for the house today and got a hint that we might be able to move in on 1st or 2nd September as originally planned. Fingers crossed for that. The house we eventually signed for is the actual house on the pictures I posted and we can't wait. We have chosen most of the furniture and even Sheila has had to agree that the best value telly we have found is a 51 incher. I am going to buy it tomorrow before she changes her mind! We are furnishing absolutely from scratch so we need everything. We have a few bits and pieces still to decide but should hopefully be able to arrange delivery as soon as we get the keys and I will post a few pictures as soon as I can. We will then be open for visitors. Who will be first? Form an orderly queue please. Free food, accommodation and airport transfers. Best book early to avoid disappointment. This is a truly amazing place where you can be in the heart of a massive city one minute and in the middle of a tropical rainforest the next. Well not quite the next because the traffic is a bit busy.
Another game of golf with one of my new colleague tomorrow. Back to Bukit Ungal methinks.
David
Saturday, 23 August 2014
Cultural visit
Today we visited the Batu Caves which are located a short train ride north of the city centre. The trains are pretty expensive here a bit like UK. We were on the train for about half an hour and it cost 2 Ringgits which is nearly 40p. Extortion.
We arrived and saw that it was a very steep climb up 272 steps to reach the caves. In 33 degrees of heat I can tell you that I was sweating more then a little when I reached the top. Sorry perspiring. Sheila was glowing (Pigs sweat, men perspire and women glow - correct?) Well Sheila was glowing good style and I could have been perspiring for Scotland.
Anyway we made it to the top and bought a much needed bottle of water. A tourist attraction this busy in UK would undoubtedly cost a good deal to get in so we looked around at the bottom for the pay booth but there was none. At the top I thought there would be a pay booth to sucker you into paying AFTER the climb because lets face it who would pay lots of dosh to climb those stairs. Well there was no pay booth. It is totally free.
Off this evening to a supper at the Head of School's place.
David
We arrived and saw that it was a very steep climb up 272 steps to reach the caves. In 33 degrees of heat I can tell you that I was sweating more then a little when I reached the top. Sorry perspiring. Sheila was glowing (Pigs sweat, men perspire and women glow - correct?) Well Sheila was glowing good style and I could have been perspiring for Scotland.
Anyway we made it to the top and bought a much needed bottle of water. A tourist attraction this busy in UK would undoubtedly cost a good deal to get in so we looked around at the bottom for the pay booth but there was none. At the top I thought there would be a pay booth to sucker you into paying AFTER the climb because lets face it who would pay lots of dosh to climb those stairs. Well there was no pay booth. It is totally free.
Off this evening to a supper at the Head of School's place.
David
Thursday, 21 August 2014
Driving (Mis)adventure
Well we set of yesterday morning in the hire car to do a bit of exploring in the vacinity of the school and our new house. I have purchased a smart phone with all the satellite navigation technology so we were pretty confident that we could manage to get around. The hired Perudoa Myvi was performing nicely, it was a beautiful day to rival Bahrain in terms of temperature and sunniness and all was well. We arrived at the school location as planned and began to explore the area. We popped into the big Aeon superstore only to discover that it is more than a superstore but it is also a large shopping mall with lots of nice shops. We found a couple of supermarkets so should be able to get all we need within a mile or so of the house.
All was going swimmingly until we realised that my phone had not been charging from the socket and the battery was almost completely flat. My emergency charger doofery thing was in my laptop bag .... in the hotel. No satellite navigation!!!!! OK not to worry, I'll just buy a map and use the old fashioned technology. Sheila is, by her own admission, somewhat lacking in the old map reading department but I was confident we could manage. I am an extremely tolerant chap as you all know. OK let's buy a map. Alas, it is not as easy as you might expect to make purchase of such an item because it seems there is no call for them nowadays. Garages and stores were found and checked without success. I knew how to get back to the Aeon mall so we tried one last try there. Bingo a map was located. We set off back into "traffic city" for the hotel. We plugged the phone into the charger in the hope of accumulation enough joules or energy to help if we got stuck.
Well you will be pleased to know that we DID get stuck. We did however broaden our cultural horizons significantly with some sojourns into uncharted territory. We did however manage to get a little closer to our destination but we just knew that the last bit would be a nightmare because the road system around the hotel is bizarre to say the least. It works OK for taxi drivers who know what they are doing but you have to go round the hotel TWICE to get on the road southwards! Hopelessly lost and unable to get near the hotel we switch on the sat nav in the vain hope that the nice lady in there would be able to muster up the energy to get us home. It was the sweetest sound I have heard in a long time when I heard "in 500 metres turn left". Would she last the pace though. It said that we were 12 minutes form our destination and I managed to make a wrong turn and then it said 17 minutes. Surely it was never going to last. What seemed like an eternity later the nice lady said "you destination is .....". I am sure she was about to say "ahead on the left" because we were right at the hotel. She had made it and boy were we pleased. What a trip.
It transpired that the phone I bought was at fault and so I now have a nice new one from the nice man in the nice Samsung shop. And I have moved the fully charged emergency charger to a more useful location!!!
Undaunted we are going to look at a golf club near the house today. Wish us luck!
David
All was going swimmingly until we realised that my phone had not been charging from the socket and the battery was almost completely flat. My emergency charger doofery thing was in my laptop bag .... in the hotel. No satellite navigation!!!!! OK not to worry, I'll just buy a map and use the old fashioned technology. Sheila is, by her own admission, somewhat lacking in the old map reading department but I was confident we could manage. I am an extremely tolerant chap as you all know. OK let's buy a map. Alas, it is not as easy as you might expect to make purchase of such an item because it seems there is no call for them nowadays. Garages and stores were found and checked without success. I knew how to get back to the Aeon mall so we tried one last try there. Bingo a map was located. We set off back into "traffic city" for the hotel. We plugged the phone into the charger in the hope of accumulation enough joules or energy to help if we got stuck.
Well you will be pleased to know that we DID get stuck. We did however broaden our cultural horizons significantly with some sojourns into uncharted territory. We did however manage to get a little closer to our destination but we just knew that the last bit would be a nightmare because the road system around the hotel is bizarre to say the least. It works OK for taxi drivers who know what they are doing but you have to go round the hotel TWICE to get on the road southwards! Hopelessly lost and unable to get near the hotel we switch on the sat nav in the vain hope that the nice lady in there would be able to muster up the energy to get us home. It was the sweetest sound I have heard in a long time when I heard "in 500 metres turn left". Would she last the pace though. It said that we were 12 minutes form our destination and I managed to make a wrong turn and then it said 17 minutes. Surely it was never going to last. What seemed like an eternity later the nice lady said "you destination is .....". I am sure she was about to say "ahead on the left" because we were right at the hotel. She had made it and boy were we pleased. What a trip.
It transpired that the phone I bought was at fault and so I now have a nice new one from the nice man in the nice Samsung shop. And I have moved the fully charged emergency charger to a more useful location!!!
Undaunted we are going to look at a golf club near the house today. Wish us luck!
David
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