The New Necessary

Maybe we're tired, maybe we're nuts, or maybe we're just really easily amenable to the power of suggestions.  Whatever the case, I'm not sure if it's really safe to let H or I go shopping this week.

After a marathon of Downton Abbey, I came home with this claret.  For 3.89 GBP, I couldn't resist.  I did resist the crystal goblets to drink it out of (you're welcome H).  But I wouldn't say no to a butler to serve it; sadly I never did unwrap one for my birthday.  Alas, if I got my butler, I would probably need to get some appropriate glassware.

Not to be outdone in weirdness, after a glorious lunch of dim sum, I found H at the checkout line of the neighboring Chinese supermarket with these two giant bamboo steamers:

 

Apparently these are necessary to steam the frozen dim sum he had also selected.  Forget the fact that the rice cooker has been used to do the very same thing for the past three years and the fact that we have two small cabinets in our tiny kitchen to store all cookware and containers in.  Two steamer baskets + one lid, each with a diameter of ~16 inches = NECESSARY.  However, as the official sous-chef/chief taster for Master Chef H, I can't really object to his kitchenware selections.

One day I'll have to do a pictorial inventory of our overseas kitchenware titled either What Our Kitchen Cabinets Look Like After Moving Overseas in Four Suitcases and Leaving Behind All of the Gorgeous Items From Our Bloomingdale's Wedding Registry or Expat Kitchen Essentials.  Either way, prepare to be astounded.

Happy March 27th

Please excuse me while I go put on this

and these

to go out in the multiple inches of snow that fell overnight.

This week in Doha, it's forecast to be a high of 95° and a low of 68°.  In Perth, it's forecast to be a high of 88° and low of 59°.   In both places, the forecast is showing unrestricted sunshine.

And here?  We're showing a high of 45° and a low of 30° with snow showers/rain all week.

While I don't regret moving here for a second, today I really wish that I could be relaxing on the beach in Australia, or even compound poolside in Qatar, instead of trudging through the snow.  One day I am going to get myself a pair of snowshoes to get around town here; in the meantime, I'll be browsing for a hot vacation destination ASAP.

Tourist Time

Given that I am actually overseas and do attempt to do a fair amount of site-seeing, I figured that I should share some of the latest and greatest tourist shots from my parents' latest trip to visit us.  These were actually taken by my Dad (thanks for sharing).

Dunnottar Castle, always a favorite.

 

Drum Castle, on 'magic' filter.

Scottish sheep, because I < 3 them.

Castle Fraser, also on 'magic' filter.  The estate may or may not have been closed, courtesy of 'icy road' conditions...call us rebels.

 

Tolquhon Castle, specifically selected since its (ruined) interior is open on winter weekends...until we got there and it was closed until further notice due to 'inclement weather.'  Fortunately we could still get up close and personal with the exterior.

 

And then, courtesy of it being the 'off' season which means that most of the more popular/well-known sites are closed, we decided to go in hunt of  less discovered Scotland, also known as, stone circle hunting.

Unbeknownst to me before we moved here, the northeast of Scotland has one of the densest concentrations of stone circles, standing stones and other megalithic sites in all of the United Kingdom.  Armed with vague directions from the internet, my parents, and an outdated Garmin, I set off to find them.  We trekked through manure, mud and snow filled fields (and cemeteries), dodged cows, large trucks and the occasional security camera, and made a lot of u-turns to find the following.

Easter Aquhorthies Recumbent Stone Circle

 

Cullerlie Stone Circle

 

Midmar Kirk Recumbent Stone Circle

 

What we thought was the Kintore Stone, turns out, it was not.  To quote Bigstones, it was still a fine example...

Sadly neither H nor our latest visitor was keen to revisit these with me, or search for new ones.  So I'm currently in need of another person to go stone circle/recumbent stone hunting with me.  Any takers?

The Ultimate Test of a Loving Marriage

After over a year of living in our flat, I realized yesterday that we don't have a single full length mirror.  This cognizance came when I excitedly went to try on two new pairs of pants that had arrived in the mail and couldn't find a single appropriate mirror to see how they looked.  Fast forward eight hours to when H walked through the door from work:

Me: "H, I need you to be my mirror and tell me how these two pairs of pants look."

H: "Umm, maybe you can stand on a chair?"

Me: "No, I need a full length, 360 view, just be honest."

H: "Are you sure this is a good idea?"

Me: "Yes, they're just pants, tell me how they look."

A mere ten minutes later (which is quick for me and pants), we had jointly decided to keep the pair I had assumed would be returned and to return the pair that I had been most excited about ordering, thanks to a poor fit.  And not a single mean word or hurt feeling.  Major bonus points to my awesome husband, who also happens to have excellent taste.

Universal Truths

Last week, H had to renew his commentary drive at work.  It basically involves driving around town with a company hired safety representative/instructor, observing road rules and commenting on what you're doing, why you're doing it and potential safety risks that you are passing.  When passing a restaurant, H commented that it was necessary to be aware of cars entering and exiting the parking lot.  This prompted his instructor to start a friendly conversation about H's favorite restaurants around town, now that we have been here for over a year.  H quickly told him that we get food multiple nights a week from a Thai restaurant in the city, that's (obviously) really good.  He asked which one and when H told him, exclaimed excitedly, "that's the best one here!"

Per the driving instructor, Anonymous Thai Restaurant is the only authentic Thai restaurant in town, with the owners hailing from Chiang Mai.  He filed the other Thai restaurants under two categories: Chinese and British (despite some of the proprietors also being Thai).

Then he shared his best kept secret with H...how to tell if a Thai restaurant is going to be good/authentic.  Per the driving instructor, the restaurant must have a picture of the King.

Obviously.  I'm glad to know that some truths cross country lines.

First Ready Meals, Now Ready Wine

Just when I thought that there was no way that Australia could ever be outclassed, with their utes,

inappropriate outings without shoes (i.e. pumping gas, walking through malls, using airplane lavatories),

and love of high visibility work wear as 'going out clothes,'

the UK pulled in for a photo finish with pre-filled plastic wine glasses with peel off lids:

Thank you Sainsbury's Local for enlightening me.  If I'm ever in need of a single serving of wine in a hurry, I now know just where to go.

To Add Insult to Injury

Dear Cleaning Crew,

Thank you very much for packing up all of the supplies that the repairmen left in our flat.  Having the drop cloths, pieces of pipe, dirty rags and other various bits and bobs wrapped up for pick-up or the bin is very nice.  Having my Ugg Boots included in the trash pile, not so nice.

I know I have big feet, I know that they're a bit dirty from my latest hike in the glorious wet British weather we've been having, but these are most certainly not work or workman's boots.

Needless to say, I'm confused why you selected these when we actually did have about half a dozen pairs of these in the very same area of the flat:


 Sadly those also belong to us.

Thanks and Regards,
Anonymous Expat

Hmmm

Arriving back to the flat to find a mini disaster zone (aka plaster blizzard) and a repairman who I could barely understand thanks to the heaviest Scottish accent that I have heard in at least a year, it's easy to say that my Friday wasn't off to the best start possible.  However, on his third tea break in three hours, he asked me where I was from.  After getting a blank look when I said the United States, I repeated it a few times, thinking that he either couldn't understand my accent or I had completely misunderstood his question.  But then he said to me, "Hmm.  But you've picked up a bit of a Scottish accent."

Really???

If I was wittier and wiser, my response could have been:

"Awa' an bile yer heid"

also known as: Away and boil your head!  or Get lost, you're talking rubbish!

Remember When...

I'm currently waiting for time to move forward to the point that 'remember when we had a gas leak and checked into a luxury hotel for a week' becomes funny rather than a pain in the ass.

That being said I am attempting to enjoy my enforced country retreat.  Favorite activities include:

• Morning strolls across the estate (all I need is Isis).
• Thinking up witty different responses for the entire hotel staff when each individual inquires on a daily basis how the gas leak repair is going.  I am beginning to think that H and I are the biggest news story / source of gossip in the hotel.
• Waiting with much anticipation for our tea box to be refilled and then checking excitedly for new flavours.
• Deciding that toast racks are seriously underrated.  
• Afternoon tea.
• Reading the freshly ironed Financial Times in front of the roaring, non gas, fireplace.
• Daily bubble baths and long showers because I have hot water and can do what I want.
• Eating lunch in a bathrobe.
• Observing that the staff has noticed my fondness for sparkling water and has stocked the mini fridge accordingly.
• Twice daily maid service...unfortunately I'm addicted, sorry H.
• Having a personal chef and no dishes or clean-up, see above, sorry H.

Ok, perhaps the pain in the ass is just the uncertainty of not knowing when we can check-out and the fact that we are paying rent and paying for a hotel room.  If we just move out of our flat and into the hotel permanently, that could solve all of our problems.  Well that and the fact that the hotel bar is 'at our disposal' 24 hours a day.