Doha. We wanted somewhere different, I think we got it!

We made it! Very exciting, the heat is a shock (don't come visit during summer, we won't be here!) and the airport is massive, we had a twenty minute bus transfer from the tarmac not a great start but we're here. The first few days were pretty rough due to lack of sleep. The killer on the first day was no food parcel (we'd been expecting a large welcome pack like a weekly shop), they'd had a holiday the day before and we arrived at 9am so hadn't got it done. We were collected from the airport which was great and the staff were lovely but then dropped off at our apartment, no food, no car and no idea where anything was. Kids had been up most of the night so it was a lot to ask. We unpacked the best we could and decided to find a mall.


The heat hits you in the face like an open oven door every time you go outside, my contacts struggle a little. Incredible. In the taxi (always air-conditioned much to Scott and Jackson's relief, Millie and I put our cardies on) the kids were tired but still excited and argued who was going to get the window seat, the mall was about 15 minutes away so we got to see a little of the city. Doha is amazing, an architects dream, I'm not sure what they are trying to achieve but it's exciting to be in a place where there is so much happening. Construction and cranes everywhere.
Our first meal in Doha, KFC! and it was only KFC because McDonalds was being renovated, not what I had in mind but man did it taste good!

Our second floor apartment in Golf Gardens Compound is large, white, three bed, three bath, four toilets. We are only using two, I'm not cleaning them all! (one very small bathroom and bedroom is the maids room, you would never put anyone in there but its great storage) , and a large lounge, but there is not a lot in it, so it is a bit sparse. No colour. 

We found the new massive Ikea, I got me some red cushions and other essentials. Can't wait for the boxes to arrive. The pools are great, in fact I would hate to be without them. Still a few days before the kids start school...where is everybody? Nobody comes out until 4pm too hot we guess, Scott will be spending the next few days at school getting ready for the new academic year and we will be left to our own devices. Time to decorate the rooms! x