Almost done...

Didn't blog yesterday because, well it was a pretty 'normal' day. (Says he sat in Saudi Arabia!)

Training was a bit tougher - but we got there in the end. Once chap really didn't get it (or maybe didn't want to), but even after some one to one, he didn't return after dinner. And we had one lady who kept making up how she thought it should work. Her: "So why can't I do this by clicking on this and saving that there...?", Me: "Well, because that simply won't work. It's not written that way", Her: "Why not?"...etc. But she was all smiles by the end of the day.

I guess what *I've* learned is that, when it comes to training, people are pretty much the same wherever you may be... :)

Anyway, got back to the hotel and simply crashed!

Today I was at the bank all day doing a couple of meetings and writing up notes etc. Steve took me to a 'cheap & cheerful' curry house for lunch. Everything was buffet style, but again really nice. Already sort of getting used to the heat - when I step outside obviously it still hits you, but the novelty is wearing off now - it's more 'Hmm, still hot' rather than 'OMFG! The Heat!!!11!!"

At the end of the day, arranged my museum visit tomorrow with Nouf. We're off to the National - which looks really interesting. Once that was done, we were packing up to go when Nouf, Sara and Enam presented me with some gifts. And not just a couple, this little lot:



I've been saying that this trip has shown me the genourosity of spirit of the Saudi's and this just topped it all off. I was genuinely touched - a fact that seemed to please the ladies greatly. They'd picked up that I really liked the Arabian coffee, so there's a dellah (if I remember correctly - and if I have, I've probably spelt it wrong!), and a framed picture of one, an insence burner, a sand picture, some painted eggs and a woven picture, all popped into a really nice camel hair bag. Fantastic! Maysa has also typed up some information about the Bedouin traditions around coffee, and a recipe.

So, last night. Wasn't sure if I was going to get the chance to go shopping tomorrow, so I had a quick look round the hotel shops. Had a nice chat to the owner of one. There's was some really nice stuff in there, but a lot of it was very pricey. Anyway, found some bits and pieces for Sarah, Josie and Chris. If I come out again, I'm definately going to try to get to a souk...

So, this'll be my last blog until England I think. So, a quick list if little things that I've noticed and/or like

• The call to prayer. Still make me stop and listen - there's something about it...
• All the ads that appear in my browser are arabian!
• Saw a couple of cats today - the lovely Egyptian kind. They didn't hang around long enough for me to photograph them
• The pickup trucks piled high with melons from the south, parked up and selling on the street
• Driving where the horn takes the place of the indicator
• How nice it is to walk into an air conditioned room after walking all of 10 paces from the car to the building...
• Seeing a BHS store on my travels...
• Tea boys - want a drink? Call a tea boy.
• Arabian Coffee - mmm Cardamom
• Turkish Coffee - mmm Chewy ;)
• Switching on the TV and seeing Coronation Street!
• Explaining the concept of weather forcasting (they don't really need it here - it's either hot or hotter)
• The chance to talk to and learn about people I know little about apart from though the UK media engine...
• Experiencing what hot really is...
• Warm water from the cold water tap
  

There'll be more that I've forgotten. I may edit this as I remember them... :)