Thursday 20th September

New school building at Rayyan

Yet another return to sunny Cyprus after an unexpected three nights away in even sunnier Doha, Qatar staying at the Kempinski Hotel, West Bay.  I love this hotel in terms of its accommodation and how I always seem to get upgraded to a two bedroomed suite.  Ridiculous really to have two huge bedrooms, and even bigger lounge, kitchen and three bathrooms for just me!  36th floor this time gave good views of Doha.

The purpose of the visit was to 'hurry' contractors to prepare paperwork for Civil Defence approval for a new fire system which has been installed in the three schools.

Fire Pump - who would have
thought I would deal with such things?

Visit to CDD (Civil Defence Department) was typical of a visit to any Middle East Ministry Department. It had moved to a very plush new building next to Al Ahli hospital since my last vsit.  Lots of marble and high ceilings.  As usual lots of men in uniforms sitting behind desks more interested in their mobile phone than the person standing in front of them.  Customer Service – nil point.  However with the help of Ahmed (from the schools sponsor's office) and lots of hand shaking, business card passing and my few limited words of Arabic at the right time meant we gradually moved to the higher ranks until at last we met ….. the man.  Not quite sure who he was but he took our plans and promised ‘inshalla’ that they would be processed that day.  Ahmed and Fouad (Contractor)  were very pleased to have seen ‘this man’. This was a big step as the acceptance of our fire safety plan will mean we will be well on the way to resolving my task.  They just love paperwork, signatures and stamps in Qatar!  How the country will ever escalate its plan to match the likes of Dubai I will never know.  

Flights were via Bahrain using Gulf Air.  Not an airline I have flown with regularly but have to say have been impressed this time with new planes and nice lounges in Bahrain.

Back in Larnaca at 1430 after a two hour stop in Bharain.  We have now become quite good at synchronizing arrivals and pick up.  I phone as soon as the plane lands and by the time I have 'de-planed'(as they say on Gulf Air) gone through the cursory glance at passport control and exited, going upstairs to departures where there is more space for a pick up, Lillian is there!

Home for a some garden inspection, a few work phone calls and swim of 20 lengths.