Well, I haven't used that phrase yet on the kids but I know parents who have. The child is never sure they're being serious so start to behave just in case.
Today was priceless...
Pops was having his usual morning tantrum in the car on the way to school. My usual trick is to turn up whatever crap track is being played on the radio to drown him out and distract him. (Actually, it was Transvision Vamp, so a lot better than usual). So we are stuck in the usual jams and an ROP (Royal Omani Police) motorcyclist weaves throughthe traffic and pulls up alongside us. I think he must have heard the loud music being played by the heathen western woman in the Kia and so stopped. But then he clocked the Boy in the back having his meltdown. I took this opportunity and wound the back window down so the Policeman could talk to him. Pops saw him and immediately shut up! He did turn away and hide his face but he was quiet straight after! So I can legitimately say to him, "if you don't behave I call that policeman on his bike to come and see you!"
As Daddy Books said, "sincere adulation for a perfectly timed moment".
Music update: I've tried to download Radio 1 podcasts...to no avail. At least on my laptop anyway. It knows I'm not in the UK and so can't access anything. I may have to make do with my limited collection on the mp3 player.
Maybe it's time to refresh my collection and download some new tunes!
Any recommendations?
Sunday, 3 October 2010
Saturday, 2 October 2010
It might be of interest to someone....
I didn't think I had much to write about! But here I am again! Not bad when you put your mind to it! Off goes the televsion, music on (Mumford and Sons tonight) and there we go. I wonder how long this will last! This will probably be it for the week! I've got my neighbours worried I might divulge some of their antics! [snigger] You know who you are!
YAY!! Mama and Daddy Books are about to book to come and see us next year! Along with a couple of sets of friends coming over it's going to be a lovely spring! We decided that we were travelling so much 09/10, we really missed spending the best time of the year in Oman. But I guess it was the first full year we have been here so felt we needed to go back.
So we're in autumn now and I can start to see the weather is changing. The temperature is a little more comfortable (not by much though, humidity still gets me...and my hair) but you can really see the difference over the mountains. They're not set in a permanent dust haze, they're looking really clear and magnificent! They are the first impression I had of this country as we flew into Muscat International in November '08 so are really special. As much as I love being near the beach and the sea, there is something quite humbling driving through the mountains.
And as many of you know I like to think of weather/geography as my speciality. Although I seemed to have had most of my memory wiped by Motherhood...Husband probably knows more than I do, in fact, I'm sure he does. About everything. But hey, that doesn't stop a Spotter spotting, does it?!
So anybody want to get to know the climate here? Anyone interested? Oh, please don't go! COME BACK!!! OK, just humour me and it'll all be over in a few minutes!
Muscat , Oman
Note the 'Dangerous' level of discomfort from heat and humididty in June! So we're not being rude when we say don't visit during the summer! And although the record in the summer has been recorded at 47, this is probably the offical recording. Husband and I can vouch that it reached at least 50C last summer.
At this time and in the spring, we can never say what the weather will do day to day because it is usually a battle of the desert wind and the sea wind - think of the country's location and situation. So when the desert wind takes over, the temperature shoots up but it is a dry heat and is actually bearable. When the sea wind takes over the humidity increases as the water content in the air has increased. That's why you'd see more in the way of clouds on a humid day. Needless to say, it can feel very unpleasant.
The northern part of Oman consists of the Jebel Akhdar, a mountain range rising to just over 3,000 m/10,000 ft. The annual rainfall on the higher parts of the Jebel Akhdar probably exceeds 400 mm/20 in. In the rest of Oman the annual rainfall is below 125 mm/5 in except in the hills of Dhofar in the extreme south.
Along the south coast the cloudy rainy season is between June and September, but in the Jebel Akhdar and in the lowlands of the north rain may fall at any time of the year. Very occasionally a tropical cyclone in the Arabian Sea brings a spell of very wet, windy weather to the coast of Oman and this may cause damage through wind and flood. Google Gonu and Phet!
Temperatures and humidity are high throughout the year on the coast and the period May to September is the hottest and most unpleasant season. Temperatures rise even higher inland towards the Rub' al Khali, but here humidity is lower so that the high temperatures are more tolerable and the nights are cooler.
All the above info is courtesy of the Beeb weather site. Although I wouldn't trust them. They have had all sorts working for that department ;-)
There you go! Painless, huh? HUH??? Am I really that boring...?
I've had my weather fix now, although I'm teaching year 3/4 weather around the world tomorrow in Geography! YES! They're doing a presentation on anabatic and katabatic winds next week. Joke.
Anyone have Arcade Fire's new album (probably several months old now....)?
Why have I not seen Glee until now???!! The College Football players dancing to Beyonce was just classic television. Loved it!
PS I would post this evening's sunset picture but my lens was filthy *slap wrist* so I'll sort it out and maybe post it tomorrow.
Take care, y'all.
YAY!! Mama and Daddy Books are about to book to come and see us next year! Along with a couple of sets of friends coming over it's going to be a lovely spring! We decided that we were travelling so much 09/10, we really missed spending the best time of the year in Oman. But I guess it was the first full year we have been here so felt we needed to go back.
So we're in autumn now and I can start to see the weather is changing. The temperature is a little more comfortable (not by much though, humidity still gets me...and my hair) but you can really see the difference over the mountains. They're not set in a permanent dust haze, they're looking really clear and magnificent! They are the first impression I had of this country as we flew into Muscat International in November '08 so are really special. As much as I love being near the beach and the sea, there is something quite humbling driving through the mountains.
And as many of you know I like to think of weather/geography as my speciality. Although I seemed to have had most of my memory wiped by Motherhood...Husband probably knows more than I do, in fact, I'm sure he does. About everything. But hey, that doesn't stop a Spotter spotting, does it?!
So anybody want to get to know the climate here? Anyone interested? Oh, please don't go! COME BACK!!! OK, just humour me and it'll all be over in a few minutes!
Month | Average Sunlight (hours) | Temperature | Discomfort from heat and humidity | Relative humidity | Average Precipitation (mm) | Wet Days (+0.25 mm) | ||||
Average | Record | |||||||||
Min | Max | Min | Max | am | pm | |||||
Jan | 9 | 19 | 25 | 11 | 31 | Medium | 72 | 71 | 28 | 2 |
Feb | 10 | 19 | 25 | 12 | 32 | Medium | 73 | 73 | 18 | 1 |
March | 9 | 22 | 28 | 17 | 42 | Medium | 71 | 70 | 10 | 1 |
April | 11 | 26 | 32 | 19 | 41 | High | 64 | 68 | 10 | 1 |
May | 12 | 30 | 37 | 24 | 44 | Extreme | 58 | 60 | 0 | 0 |
June | 12 | 31 | 38 | 26 | 47 | Dangerous | 72 | 72 | 3 | 0 |
July | 9 | 31 | 36 | 25 | 45 | Extreme | 77 | 77 | 0 | 0 |
Aug | 10 | 29 | 33 | 24 | 42 | Extreme | 82 | 80 | 0 | 0 |
Sept | 11 | 28 | 34 | 23 | 42 | Extreme | 75 | 77 | 0 | 0 |
Oct | 10 | 27 | 34 | 21 | 41 | Extreme | 69 | 74 | 3 | 0 |
Nov | 10 | 23 | 30 | 17 | 36 | High | 69 | 72 | 10 | 1 |
Dec | 9 | 20 | 20 | 16 | 33 | - | 70 | 71 | 18 | 2 |
Note the 'Dangerous' level of discomfort from heat and humididty in June! So we're not being rude when we say don't visit during the summer! And although the record in the summer has been recorded at 47, this is probably the offical recording. Husband and I can vouch that it reached at least 50C last summer.
At this time and in the spring, we can never say what the weather will do day to day because it is usually a battle of the desert wind and the sea wind - think of the country's location and situation. So when the desert wind takes over, the temperature shoots up but it is a dry heat and is actually bearable. When the sea wind takes over the humidity increases as the water content in the air has increased. That's why you'd see more in the way of clouds on a humid day. Needless to say, it can feel very unpleasant.
The northern part of Oman consists of the Jebel Akhdar, a mountain range rising to just over 3,000 m/10,000 ft. The annual rainfall on the higher parts of the Jebel Akhdar probably exceeds 400 mm/20 in. In the rest of Oman the annual rainfall is below 125 mm/5 in except in the hills of Dhofar in the extreme south.
Along the south coast the cloudy rainy season is between June and September, but in the Jebel Akhdar and in the lowlands of the north rain may fall at any time of the year. Very occasionally a tropical cyclone in the Arabian Sea brings a spell of very wet, windy weather to the coast of Oman and this may cause damage through wind and flood. Google Gonu and Phet!
Temperatures and humidity are high throughout the year on the coast and the period May to September is the hottest and most unpleasant season. Temperatures rise even higher inland towards the Rub' al Khali, but here humidity is lower so that the high temperatures are more tolerable and the nights are cooler.
The following bar chart for Muscat, Oman shows the years average weather condition readings covering rain, average maximum daily temperature and average minimum temperature.
All the above info is courtesy of the Beeb weather site. Although I wouldn't trust them. They have had all sorts working for that department ;-)
There you go! Painless, huh? HUH??? Am I really that boring...?
I've had my weather fix now, although I'm teaching year 3/4 weather around the world tomorrow in Geography! YES! They're doing a presentation on anabatic and katabatic winds next week. Joke.
Anyone have Arcade Fire's new album (probably several months old now....)?
Why have I not seen Glee until now???!! The College Football players dancing to Beyonce was just classic television. Loved it!
PS I would post this evening's sunset picture but my lens was filthy *slap wrist* so I'll sort it out and maybe post it tomorrow.
Take care, y'all.
Friday, 1 October 2010
Tut...not another one!
WOW! Here I am! I am yet another blogger in the world! Don't worry, I'm not a serious one -I will not be offering wonderfully articulated views and comments on the world's events and peoples. It's another way to say hi to my family and friends and try to make them more a part of our life here in Oman. Faceache is great for immediate 'hellos' and 'how are yous' but this I hope, will give a bit more detail - if anyone wants it of course! Thanks to Mrs. Marleyman who directed me and inspired me - she writes a blog for the very same reasons, having made a huge decision to move somewhere that wasn't quite on the family's doorstep anymore.
As an aside, I went to school with Mrs. Marleyman and we have got back in touch via good ol' FB. We had the same shoes at school...I'm embarrassed that I can't quite remember more than that!
Mum and I have started handwriting letters to each other. I went through a phase a few months ago of writing to a couple of my girlfriends in the UK and my Mum. It felt so therapeutic.... We rely so much on emails now that it's refreshing to see somebody's handwriting AND to actually write something apart from a shopping list! Trouble is, living here, mail takes at least 2 weeks most of the time. Bear still hasn't got her birthday card from Nanny and Grandad :-( So she is still writing the letter, I'll look forward to receiving that.
Admiral Fallow has been playing most of this afternoon in the house....they were on the BBC Introducing Stage at T in the Park this year. We didn't see them until the highlights on tv. Just brilliant, really original and so refreshing. I am really missing British music. Two radio stations of varying quality here (not going to say anymore than that). So any suggestions for getting music here! We download albums into iTunes....but what I'd like to do is download British radio shows and play them on my MP3 player...(I'm not a Apple girl as Husband will tell you....although I could be tempted with an iPod...but then that would mean using the Mac more....oh, god I struggle with the Mac....). I digress - our Apple-Windows feuds are another post altogether. I don't think I can download shows, just 'listen again'. It's Zane Lowe on Radio 1 and Radcliffe and Maconie on Radio 2 in particular. A 25 minute podcast might do the trick but that's just a journey to school and back.
As an aside, I went to school with Mrs. Marleyman and we have got back in touch via good ol' FB. We had the same shoes at school...I'm embarrassed that I can't quite remember more than that!
Mum and I have started handwriting letters to each other. I went through a phase a few months ago of writing to a couple of my girlfriends in the UK and my Mum. It felt so therapeutic.... We rely so much on emails now that it's refreshing to see somebody's handwriting AND to actually write something apart from a shopping list! Trouble is, living here, mail takes at least 2 weeks most of the time. Bear still hasn't got her birthday card from Nanny and Grandad :-( So she is still writing the letter, I'll look forward to receiving that.
Admiral Fallow has been playing most of this afternoon in the house....they were on the BBC Introducing Stage at T in the Park this year. We didn't see them until the highlights on tv. Just brilliant, really original and so refreshing. I am really missing British music. Two radio stations of varying quality here (not going to say anymore than that). So any suggestions for getting music here! We download albums into iTunes....but what I'd like to do is download British radio shows and play them on my MP3 player...(I'm not a Apple girl as Husband will tell you....although I could be tempted with an iPod...but then that would mean using the Mac more....oh, god I struggle with the Mac....). I digress - our Apple-Windows feuds are another post altogether. I don't think I can download shows, just 'listen again'. It's Zane Lowe on Radio 1 and Radcliffe and Maconie on Radio 2 in particular. A 25 minute podcast might do the trick but that's just a journey to school and back.
It was a lovely sunset here this evening. The cloud formation reminded me a little of the clouds I saw when Husband drove me to the hospital when I was in labour with Bear. Except then, it was at night time!
 |
| Looking west from our roof |
 |
| A few minutes later |
Well, another weekend over :-( It was a peaceful one with a party at the pool yesterday and a chilled day today. Have planned school for most of the week...I've only got 2 weeks left! Husband is back home Monday...inshallah.
Good luck for the Hammers tomorrow...God knows they need it....
Saturday, 25 September 2010
Hello! Remember us?!
Well, it dawned on me that we have not written anything here for over a year now. I may have to redo the opening blurb...apparently it was something about ramblings about our adventures here. I had in mind that we would be writing excitedly about every single thing that happens to us....
Let me explain. I hope.
It is TRULY wonderful here. We settled in so quickly and are all very happy. I thought this blog would be all about everything we get up to....but these adventures are part of our normal life, I am very grateful and happy to say. On a weekend, we can either drive in to the mountains or go out on the boat for an afternoon's snorkel and picnic, or decide to stay by the pool. So I didn't have the time to write about everything we did, as I originally thought we would! Plus, the musings about the same place that we love to go to may become a tad tedious for any reader.
Of course, that highlights the fact that this is the idyllic, sunny, social lifestyle but there is the frustrating 'otherside' of living here as an expat.
I recently started to visit a blog of a writer here, who has since moved away as he was entirely disillusioned and somewhat tired of the bureaucracy and the media amongst other things... he loved the country, its people and its beauty but felt that a lot more 'reality' was on offer elsewhere. Apparently the magic has worn off. I am fully aware that this may be the case for The Mitchells one day but until then we fully intend to enjoy the opportunity we have been given, appreciate the society and culture here for what it is, maybe get to be part of the local life here and make some amazing and gorgeous friends. One of those friends has already moved away after their stint here. We miss them like mad, but its the nature of the expat life, I am now realising. Hence more of a reason to make the most of the life and people here. This blog will not contain any political or financial thoughts and comments. I'm not that kind of writer and more importantly do not want to be censored and deported.
Let's leave that there...
On the up- and rather glamourous side, I've also been visiting a rather more lovely and less serious blog, How To Live Like an Omani Princess (apparently she's Not Omani). I came across it looking for tips to survive as an expat during Ramadan. I became completely distracted and now drop in every now and then to enjoy their observations of society here.
So this will now be more of a diary about day to day life, although definitely not everyday! Maybe one sentence, maybe a page. Hopefully Husband will put his amusing take on it all!
I've had a few comments on age-old posts, so thank you for that. I guess that's also prompted me to get back here. Oh, and a dear friend, C who's starting on a venture online - I'll post her site when it's sorted.
OK, I'm off to watch the rest of Little Miss Sunshine. Our camper story's a long one if you've not heard it - that would have 4 weeks worth of amusing blog entries...
Let me explain. I hope.
It is TRULY wonderful here. We settled in so quickly and are all very happy. I thought this blog would be all about everything we get up to....but these adventures are part of our normal life, I am very grateful and happy to say. On a weekend, we can either drive in to the mountains or go out on the boat for an afternoon's snorkel and picnic, or decide to stay by the pool. So I didn't have the time to write about everything we did, as I originally thought we would! Plus, the musings about the same place that we love to go to may become a tad tedious for any reader.
Of course, that highlights the fact that this is the idyllic, sunny, social lifestyle but there is the frustrating 'otherside' of living here as an expat.
I recently started to visit a blog of a writer here, who has since moved away as he was entirely disillusioned and somewhat tired of the bureaucracy and the media amongst other things... he loved the country, its people and its beauty but felt that a lot more 'reality' was on offer elsewhere. Apparently the magic has worn off. I am fully aware that this may be the case for The Mitchells one day but until then we fully intend to enjoy the opportunity we have been given, appreciate the society and culture here for what it is, maybe get to be part of the local life here and make some amazing and gorgeous friends. One of those friends has already moved away after their stint here. We miss them like mad, but its the nature of the expat life, I am now realising. Hence more of a reason to make the most of the life and people here. This blog will not contain any political or financial thoughts and comments. I'm not that kind of writer and more importantly do not want to be censored and deported.
Let's leave that there...
On the up- and rather glamourous side, I've also been visiting a rather more lovely and less serious blog, How To Live Like an Omani Princess (apparently she's Not Omani). I came across it looking for tips to survive as an expat during Ramadan. I became completely distracted and now drop in every now and then to enjoy their observations of society here.
So this will now be more of a diary about day to day life, although definitely not everyday! Maybe one sentence, maybe a page. Hopefully Husband will put his amusing take on it all!
I've had a few comments on age-old posts, so thank you for that. I guess that's also prompted me to get back here. Oh, and a dear friend, C who's starting on a venture online - I'll post her site when it's sorted.
OK, I'm off to watch the rest of Little Miss Sunshine. Our camper story's a long one if you've not heard it - that would have 4 weeks worth of amusing blog entries...
Tuesday, 14 July 2009
Boating update
Husband writes:
It works! The engineer has been beavering away on our engine and at last it runs perfectly. It turns out the previous owner had barely used the boat in the past year and the whole thing needed a good clean out.
Finally we managed to get the family out and had our first adventure on the high seas. We didn’t go far, just 15 mins around the coast to a little deserted cove. Bear and Daddy went snorkelling, while Pops pretended he was cruising in Monaco, smiling at the imaginary ladies and waving to the landlubbers (also imaginary).
Wifey seems to have found her spiritual home, diving off the boat, floating in the warm water, then walking along a deserted beach.
We had a brief heart stopping moment when the main engine failed to re-start when we were wanted to set off home, but it was soon resolved with a bit of priming and some words of ‘encouragement’.
Another minor problem on the way home was not being able to refuel at the marina - apparently they don’t take credit cards on a Friday. Go figure.
All in all a successful first family voyage. We’re still getting used to handling the boat at close quarters (apologies to the man at the fueling station) but a bit of practice and we’ll be ready to take guests (if you dare).
It has made us think though. This boat is 26’ long and 8’ wide. The Moorings 4000 we have booked for our holiday next year is 40’ long and 20’ wide. Yikes!
It works! The engineer has been beavering away on our engine and at last it runs perfectly. It turns out the previous owner had barely used the boat in the past year and the whole thing needed a good clean out.
Finally we managed to get the family out and had our first adventure on the high seas. We didn’t go far, just 15 mins around the coast to a little deserted cove. Bear and Daddy went snorkelling, while Pops pretended he was cruising in Monaco, smiling at the imaginary ladies and waving to the landlubbers (also imaginary).
Wifey seems to have found her spiritual home, diving off the boat, floating in the warm water, then walking along a deserted beach.
We had a brief heart stopping moment when the main engine failed to re-start when we were wanted to set off home, but it was soon resolved with a bit of priming and some words of ‘encouragement’.
Another minor problem on the way home was not being able to refuel at the marina - apparently they don’t take credit cards on a Friday. Go figure.
All in all a successful first family voyage. We’re still getting used to handling the boat at close quarters (apologies to the man at the fueling station) but a bit of practice and we’ll be ready to take guests (if you dare).
It has made us think though. This boat is 26’ long and 8’ wide. The Moorings 4000 we have booked for our holiday next year is 40’ long and 20’ wide. Yikes!
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