Maybe a change...?

I need some help, advice maybe...

When we started this blog back on Travelpod it was a travel and family related blog. However, it is now clear that it is just me choosing to write and when I do it's not always about family events and days out.

Any thoughts on the name change? Anyone gone through the process? Where can I get the inspiration for a new name?

Those that know me, any suggestions?! Keep it clean, this is a family show!

X

....Eh????

I couldn't think of a title that could sum up what's in it. It is more of a reconstruction of my reaction when I read the press release that prompted this entry.

I was going to use this entry as a bit of a rare rant about some of the protests here in Oman. One in particular, the students of Rustaq College for Applied Science want to be guaranteed jobs for them after graduation. This is the clincher, and I quote,

“Students of English and Arabic want to be employed as teachers when they graduate without being subjected to tests by the Ministry of Education.”

Not only that, they want the score needed to get a teacher’s job to be reduced from 6.5 to 5.

And they want the expat teachers to be replaced by Omani teachers.

Really? Have you sat the test? No, right, OK, no problem, yes I’m sure it’s absolutely fine to teach not having been monitored. Maybe the English system should do away with all the monitoring, skills tests and NQT/QTS registering….there’d be no shortage of teachers then. Not good, conscientious, aware, determined, genuine ones, but hey ho.

I was going to vent my disbelief and anger that this is what they are demanding – what kind of example is that to set to their future students? This particular group seem to want things to fall into their lap (as are many other groups of protesters, am I right?) and have it made easy for them by having the pass mark reduced, and in English and Arabic, no test at all.

Is there any wonder that schools here employ expat teachers….? What happened to striving for what you want, seeing how far you can push yourself and developing and demonstrating the motivation to continue studying, learning and self-developing even when you become a teacher AND as a result, the rewards that come for having the impetus to do all this as well as showing to your pupils what you can achieve when you make the bloody effort to try. I can just imagine lazy and apathetic teachers in the future here…

This could have gone on for the whole page but in light of the current natural state of the world I really haven’t got the energy and I’ve gone on too long as it is. And quite frankly getting a bit cross is putting negative words and energy back in the world and it doesn’t need any more of that…

Some random thoughts from the day

Well, as well you may/may not know, it is International Women's Day. I never knew it existed. It has been celebrated for 100 years. I have just read one of a few blogs wishing all women a happy day; Happily Married to a Biker touched on how it is celebrated in Russia. It instantly occurred to me that I have never known it celebrated in the UK. Does anyone? How? Did you know it's a national holiday in Afghanistan? AFGHANISTAN! And it's not in the UK!

I have just read on the International Women's Day website that the UK is now the global leader for International Women's Day activities...well, I can't remember seeing the publicity for that when I was at home two years ago.

Maybe I was too busy being a woman, wife, mother, daughter, sister and friend...

Is there an International Men's Day? I can't imagine many women being happy with pampering their men in their lives as the women get pampered in Russia, for instance.

I watched early morning Sky News today (I don't usually, I was al-Jazeera'd out so needed a 'break'. I didn't last long with Sky; I never do...). Anyway, they were talking about a joint survey that was carried out today saying that British women think sexism is dead.

"Fewer than four in ten say they have experienced derogatory remarks or behaviour because of their gender."

"Nearly two-thirds of women say their biggest concern is balancing work and family life. Only one in 20 feels the greatest problem facing them is sexism at work – though three times as many men believe this is women’s major challenge. Only one in five women describes herself as a feminist – and three out of four say they definitely would not use the label."

Are women embarrased to be called a feminist these days? Is this not so trendy/radical anymore?

So anyway, just before I became al-Jazeera'd out and tuned into Sky for all of 4 minutes, I caught Riz Khan's show. Very interesting and actually stopped me in my tracks.

The question from today's show asked 'Why does maternal health remain the luxury of the world's most privileged - and what will it take to make motherhood safer for the world's poor?'

Riz Khan - Model Mothers It's worth a watch (make a cup of tea, it's 24 minutes).

One fact I can't get from my mind...1 woman and 18 infants will die in one minute around the world in childbirth.

Belated 'current' events update, other news

Sorry about the lack of any news via t’internet. Our connection was down for a few days. After an initial panic that the internet communication was down nationwide (a la Egypt par example) we wondered if the bill needed paying….and yes, that was the reason...oooooooooooops. Hahahahaha!!! I can laugh now!

So, what I am writing in this entry is basically to update my family and friends. Virtual friends/bloggers, please don’t expect to get any new gems of information from me, it’s merely to put everyone’s minds at rest at home. I have based it on what I have read in your blogs and also talking to friends here. I’ve taken the international media’s perception/writing on the situation with a pinch of salt, having worked in the media myself.

Blimey, they overplayed this one. It’s amazing how some journalists can word a sentence so as to make the readers think the world is falling around their ears. Cynical? Moi?

So I've been updating my Dad by text (due to 'curious' lack of internet (!)) and I've been saying that it's about unemployment basically so 50000 jobs have been created plus job seekers' benefits. The population lost all sympathy for the protesters because they have got violent. I tried to compare it to the students in the UK that protested recently. Some Omanis are calling for political reform but more to the sort the corruption in the ministries.

Other views that back this up:
'At the same time, some in Oman say that they were not challenging the rule of Sultan Qaboos but would like simply to improve their living conditions. “The Omanis love the Sultan and respect and consider him a father to them,” one commenter on the Facebook page. “This is only about a few demands and not a coup against the Sultan.”


Another said in a Facebook post: “We don’t live in fear. All we want are jobs, better salaries and economic reforms.”'

J. David Goodman contributed reporting from New York.

A recent article from Foreign Policy that's worth a read:
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2011/03/01/omans_renaissance_man

I'm a bit concerned to hear that some of the protesters had come in from the U.A.E. to basically stir everyone up...

I love the title of Muscat Mutterings latest blog, "Well now that's all over, how about some football?”!! Kinda sums it up really!

Other news:
~~ A super week with the Gillies. So happy to see them and spend some quality time with them at last. It was great showing off our favourite bits of Oman....although it was a bit touch and go over the last couple of days what with local events! AND just so you know, Mrs. Gee made the Boot Camp!! Miss you all X

~~ 30 Seconds to Mars are coming to Muscat! (Sorry, Noora, still no Mumford and Sons!) But we're otherwise engaged so no rocking for me on the 10th March...

~~ Eeurgh....no other news!! A family trip up Wadi Shab is planned this weekend though!

Enjoy your weekends...

So close....

I was almost on track for a new laptop earlier this morning! (She wishes...)

Mine was grinding along as it is prone to do now and it seemed to freeze a lot especially today. So the standard ctrl-alt-del came into play. Next thing I know my screen looks like this:

So I was going through the task manager holding the laptap like a large book, keypad on the left, screen on the right. Quite funny actually, as I had absolutely no idea how this happened. Hubby came in at the right time for me to show him the screen and for me to flash the puppy-dog eyes and plead for a new 'puter. We even got as far as talking about a Netbook.

So I do the 'switch-it-on-and-off-again' trick to no avail. I still had to look at it with my left ear on my left shoulder.

Then it occured to me; did I press anything along with 'ctrl-alt-del'? What's next to it - the left cursor arrow...so I press 'ctrl-alt-[right arrow]'...TA-DAAAAH!

Revelation: 'ctrl-alt-[arrow]' changes the orientation of the screen. WHY you would want to look at it upside-down, I just can't fathom out. But I did have a hilariously childish 5 minutes on the sofa this morning, going through all the direction arrows! Try it! Not sure if it works on Mac, I daren't try, based on my track record with That White Thing in The Corner...

Garden update mid-February

Has anyone grown Aloe Vera from seed?

Red Hibiscus: my favourite flower:

But the mealy bugs love it. I haven't had too many this year though:

It's the grey-white speck directly above my thumb nail.

Canna lilies are settling and new growth is there:



The plant in the pot to the left (Joseph's coat/Parrot Leaf???) in the picture above is spreading, a few leaves broke off and I planted them to see if they would take root. And they have! Yes, they are my Christmas Ponsettias in the pot on the right!)

Our Rosemary plant that we were so excited about seems to not be as happy as we are? Too much water? Too little water? Too hot? We've been using it lots though!

My first Omani rose bloom:

The Kumquats are changing colour on one plant and new flowers are appearing on the other:

Fresh growth on the Orange tree at last:

The fig tree is flourishing; no sign of new figs though :-(

A saunter up a hill, weekend camping, Toad-in-the-hole cake

A saunter up a hill

The Captain is off to Everest Base Camp in April with 3 other guys. So he's been training intensely the last few months. He's been walking and running up a few of the 'hills' nearby and for the first time I went walking with him. Not to his level or speed though! Just a nice husband-and-wife walk... I couldn't help get worried when he put his camel-back on, adjusted his walking boots, set his heart rate monitor and GPS and extended his walking poles...

This is where we were heading...the highest point of course!

Did I mention my neeeeeeeeeew Camera takes black and white photos?!

At the bottom of the steps that appeared randomly halfway up

It was so worth it in the end, the views are always beautiful. I'm glad they still take my breath away.

On the drive back I saw the ruined claybuild watch towers:

Last weekend camping at Sifah beach:

Hubby had made friends with the Omanis that camped next to us. Mohammed on the left of the picture is his new BFF! He gave us loads of fish from their catch and even called hubby on Friday evening asking if he wanted more!

They caught a huge sailfish...it's my favourite fish so I didn't really like to see it there in the boat. BUT this is worth at least 50 OMR to these guys AND it made a good picture.

Once a month I manage to cook a half-decent dinner; February's culinary amazement was Toad in the Hole.  I got a recipe online from Queen Nigella Lawson. She comes to the rescue again. I have never made a good Toad in the Hole...until now. Although it did start to look like a massive cake! Nigella needs to be made a Saint.