Only a few more days here in Doha. Most of the items on my “things I have to do
before leaving Doha” list have been done. Like going to the hair dresser with
the boys and for myself, last time going to the souq, last time going to the
camel races, getting the cars
thoroughly cleaned before delivering them to the new owners, making sure all the library
books are returned to school, finishing all the food in our fridge and pantry,
getting medical records from the hospitals (that was a nightmare!), getting my
US visa (another huge nightmare), having a garage sale, selling all the 220V electrical appliances
(iron, vacuum cleaner, washing machine, hair dryer, citrus press, waffle maker,
blender, clock radio, mobile
phones etc etc etc)
The boys are getting ready as well. While I am writing this they
have their very last swim training with the swim squad they joined at the
beginning of the school year. For all the people who do not have facebook (BTW:
please sign up so we can keep in contact!): Olav set 4 (!!!) new club records in his age group
for boys. With the fifth stroke he came in second. All in all pretty
impressive. It is a shame we have to leave this (Scottish) swim club…
Many people ask how the boys feel about moving. Olav’s first
response was quite neutral. He didn’t like it, but he knows moving is part of
our life, so it is like it is and he didn’t complain. Now he is a bit more looking forward to it,
but still neutral. Lars doesn’t like it at all, he is the one who doesn’t like
changes. He will not talk about it, but when asked he will tell you he is going
to miss his friends. Nils can’t wait to move, his very first question was: “are
we going to visit Disney Land?” and when we told him we would some day he
started whooping. He tells every one he is going home (he was born in the US,
but he doesn’t
remember anything, he was only two years old when we moved to the Czech
Republic).
I had my “farewell coffee morning” two days ago with all my
girlfriends. It was nice to have them all around me for the last time and I
took many pictures.
Tomorrow is the farewell party for the boys, they each invited 5 other
children. We will go bowling and after that making our own pizza in a pizzeria
in the same mall. For Olav and Lars it is also their birthday party. Their
birthdays are in the last week of November. As every parent knows: (birthday)
parties are the most important thing in a child’s life and so they are talking
constantly about it. When that is finished they will be mentally ready to
leave.
Romke will come back to Qatar on the 29th. It has been a terrible
long six weeks. Absolutely NO fun to be alone for so long, and to organize the
packing and so on on your own.
On Nov 2nd
we will fly to Singapore, we are very much looking forward to that holiday, and
to being together again.
