I'm bursting at the seams having not written for three weeks due to the school holidays and some more child minding. Here comes the mixed media monologue deluge.
The Easter holiday is always joyful for me wherever I am. After the service, a friend took me to visit the Non-Moslem Cemetery, which is the only one in the country. Then followed a swift fly by the old Dukhan airport. There's not much to comment on there apart from the fact that the buildings all look brand spanking new? The cemetery moved me though, housing many small graves for babies and children. We looked through the locked gate a while, then when walking around the wall we vowed to one another that we would both be laid to rest in our home turf, not the desert.
'If you would indeed behold the spirit of death, open your heart wide unto the body of life.
For life and death are one, even as the river and the sea are one.'
From The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran, first published in 1923.
Romeo embarked on a mini golf tour north of Dubai in the UAE for three days, so I was left in complete control for a change. I decided to take the kids to the cinema one afternoon. The main problem was going to be choosing a film suitable for both a Mini-Me and a Dirtbag. You know I love a challenge.
Susie to Josh: (optimistically) How about Batman v Superman?
Josh: I hate Batman! I'd like to watch Kung Fu Panda 3.
Susie: Oh Josh, I'm not sure Ellie will like that one. How about The Divergent Series: Allegiant? It's a bit like Star Wars, (gulp, little white lie and rated PG-13).
Josh: OK, I'll try it but I might not like it. Zootropolis looks good.
Susie: Thanks love.
(shouting down the corridor) Ellie, we're off to the cinema to watch Allegiant!
Ellie: Really? Great! (smiles).
I bought the beggars the biggest buckets of popcorn on sale, sat between them to prevent any elbow nudging annoyance and to deflect any major public quibbles. When it started raining blood on the giant screen I sneaked a sideways glance at Mini-Me just to check his reaction. He stared straight ahead nonchalantly, continually stuffing the crunchy caramel-coated puffs of corn into his mouth.
After the film had finished and we were on the homeward bound journey he made his point bluntly and somewhat accusingly.
'Well, thanks for that, now I'll have nightmares for the rest of the week!'
Sometimes the harder I try the worse things seem to get for a least one of the kids. Or is it just the way it has to be? You just can't please everyone all the time, can you?
Bruce the almighty puppy came to stay for another week with us, the lucky dog. He was well behaved and enjoyed his walks in the wind and rain. I'm sure he winked at me one morning just after I'd pegged his freshly washed mini jumper on the washing line to dry.
We made it onto the all welcome, quirky guest list of a friendly desert couple celebrating their anniversary at a barasti. It was a full day of fun in the sun; we relaxed, swam, chatted and ate together. The groovy outdoor evening disco underneath the stars was brilliant. What more could a girl wish for? There was even a huge carpet laid out on the sand, cushioning our bare dancing feet. When White Wedding by Billy Idol blasted out, we all raucously belted out the refrain, 'It's a nice day to start again!'
Our Aquapark day trip was a great success especially as I found myself sat next to some lovely Yorkshire folk. We chatted merrily away in between swims, slides and food, like long lost relatives. This really was the perfect day out for us as a family of four, at our different life stages; everyone was happy all at the same time; a modern day miracle.
The weather has been really strange lately culminating in some spectacular storms. The thunder and lightning show of the most recent storm raged constantly overhead for hours. It was of course, brilliant! Romeo was nevertheless enticed onto his beloved golf course and has video footage to prove it but here's my Blair Witch Desert Storm Project:
Last week I had the privilege of looking after a lovely 16 and half month old boy. He made me smile so much. I reflected on how difficult it can be to communicate with and/or appease my own three, in comparison. Don't give up Susie. One day while the little fella was contentedly reading (he is a very clever toddler), I spied a pocket Italian phrasebook chilling out on his mum and dad's bookcase. Grabbing it gleefully off the shelf I got stuck in because it's never too late to learn a new language is it?
'Mamma è bello, papà è alto, io non parlo italiano, sì, ciao, grazie!'
I thoroughly enjoyed twisting my tongue around the words pretending to be an authentic signora Susie. Effective communication is the key to my life. I really want to be understood and understand others through words spoken, written or sung. It makes me so very happy when I truly connect with people of all ages, genders, nationalities, abilities, all faiths or indeed none.
Wherever you are and whatever current situation you find yourself in be encouraged, as I am, by the following phrase from The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.
'Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.'
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm8ClRnVxtE
With Love xx
Reading: Mile 81 a short story by Stephen King.
Listening to: CD 2 from the Strange and Beautiful compilation (2003), Legend album by Bob Marley and the Wailers (1984).
Singing and dancing to: Connected album by Stereo MC's (1992).
Watched: The Passion of the Christ (2004), Changeling (2008), Honeymoon (2014), The Name of the Rose (1986) Control, (The Tragic Tale Of The Singer Of Joy Division, 2007) and 24 Hour Party People (2002).
