Where is everybody?

I'm feeling a little lonely. OK, I know I don't post entries onto this blog that often, but I have had no subscribers yet - not a one! I guess it is a classic "chicken and the egg" situation....I don't post often because I feel I'm writing to myself, but if someone followed me I'd feel obliged to be a bit more active. I'm too shy to try and solicit interest in my blog. I have a lot to say, but standing up and telling it to a room full of empty chairs is not really so rewarding. I post comments on others' blogs, together with the link to mine, but no-one has yet joined me in mine.

Oh well....I'll keep going.

Burger King returns to Oman!

What's this I hear about Burger King returning to Oman? They must have been gone quite some years. I left Oman in 2005 and they'd been gone for 3 or 4 year by then. I heard that they were ousted due to some indiscreet remarks made by someone high up in the company in response to the original US bombing of Afghanistan in 2001. Not sure what the comments were but 9 years out in the wilderness must mean they weren't too complimentary!

I must admit I visited Burger King once or twice during my time living in Muscat, but I haven't been into one for a good few years now. I'm getting older and need to watch what I eat!!

What a difference two months make!

Well, two months after I was in Finland, I'm back again.....and what a difference! Last time it was bitterly cold, snowing and resembled a scene from the high Arctic. Now it is 26 degC, sunny and very Mediterranean. The Finnish climate does seem to rush headlong from winter to summer without so much as a by-your-leave to Spring! I'm not complaining, it is good to get out of the cold and rainy conditions we've been having in the UK for what seems like the last 10 years (really about 3 or 4 weeks). I hope when I get back at the end of this week it has improved!

Back to Winter!

As the UK slowly comes out of winter and into what's turning out to be a wonderful spring, I've had cause to travel to Finland this week to be confronted with....... -12 degC and snow! Talk about a long winter here! When I last came in November it was already below zero with snow on the ground. They must really enjoy summer up here as it is so short!!

Thinking about winters, I really do miss the winters in Oman. Days were comparatively long and the weather glorious. I was lucky enough to live in Oman as Ramadhan and the accompanying Eids Al-Fitr and Al-Adha made their way back around the calendar from March to October, so I had the pleasure getting the 'long' holidays in the good weather of an Omani winter. As Eid holiday entitlement back then wasn't exactly fixed in stone and additions were made at the last moment, being forced to stay in Oman due to lack of other plans wasn't all that bad. The beaches beckoned and the sun shone; the nights were cool and the stars amazing.

Oh how I miss some winters more than others!

Ski-ing!

If you've never tried skiing - do it. Soon! It was 17 years since I last went skiing. That was, of course, until last month when myself and my partner headed off to Whistler for a skiing holiday. To say it was one of the most thrilling holidays I have ever had would be quite an understatement. I'm not surprised Whistler is currently hosting the Olympic downhill and sliding events. Sitting here watching the pros go at it reminds me just what a beautiful place Whistler is, what a terrible skier I am, but what fun I had struggling and careering down the slopes. I came away from Whistler exhausted, bruised (I fell...several times) but exhilarated. There's nothing like a sustained adrenaline rush to make you feel alive again! Every day was a new challenge. Every photo a 'screen saver shot' and ever memory a wonderful reminder of just how good life can be sometimes. I will go back there, that is a certainty.

Post surgery

I'm recovering from surgery - the first time I've been through this! I'm not sure how I feel, if truth be told. I guess I'm relieved it is over, but I am also rather apprehensive as I am facing the results of tests which determine if I need further treatment or not. Here's hoping that someone is looking down on me and will hand me an early Christmas present.

I know one thing for sure ... gone are the days when I walked through life feeling indestructible. I have a very sobering sense of vulnerability right now.

Going skiing!

It's been almost a year since I wrote a post on this thing. Work, life and just about everything else seems to get in the way of it. I have also not been invited into the Oman blogging community, so I am a bit on the outside really. However, I will keep plugging away at this and hope that someone out there reads it!

I'm off skiing next month in Whistler, Canada! I can't think of anything more different to Oman and experiencing all that the country has to offer, than to go skiing where it is bitterly cold an full of snow. I guess the mountainous landscape is common to both, as is the excitement!

The downside of all of this is that my next trip to Oman has to be put back to the winter of 2010/11. However, I am already making plans to spend Christmas and the New Year in the sun and warmth, surrounded by friends. It'll have a gap been 3 years by that time - long enough!