A change of scenery

Could this be any different than the United Arab Emirates?  We are in Germany for a week to spend time with Berts father.  We drove from Frankfurt to Burghausen and it was this green and this beautiful.  I love the UAE and I am constantly surprised by just how pretty the desert can be, but goodness Germany is beautiful.

computer problems

I'm sorry my postings have been a rare occurance lately but the computer access here is driving me a little, well a LOT crazy.  I have downloaded a program today that seems to be helping and I got my log in page for my blog in English this morning which is a bonus as logging in, in Arabic is a bit of a hit and miss affair.

I still cannot upload photos, so that will be the next thing I need to work out.

Interesting encounter

Last week I was at the local petrol station getting a drink.  As I approached the cashier a young Emirati woman reached the counter at the same time, she had a magazine and a drink already on the counter and an icecream in her hand.  She said to me, oh sorry you go first.  I replied, oh no its ok, you were here first.  Just polite banter nothing extra ordinary.  She stepped back and said no it's important to me never to push in front of people, so I had no choice but to go first. 

I paid with a 200 dirham note, which is quite a large note for my purchase, and I was digging through my purse for something smaller and found a ten dirham note.  I said to the guy oh hang on a sec, Ive found something smaller.   The Emirati woman said where are you from? Ive never heard an accent like you have.  I said Im Australian.  She replied oh how wonderful do you like it here?  I said yes I do, its a bit hot (it was 41 celcius outside) she said ah yes that is why we have airconditioning, so other than the heat you are happy here?  I said yes I am, I miss my family but otherwise its great.  She said oh really, you want your family here? I can help, let me get them a visa!  I said oh no, thank you its ok (at the same time thinking what is this girl talking about?) I said my kids are both busy with new jobs and careers and my mother is elderly, she doesn't even catch a bus anymore, much less get on a long haul flight.  The woman said seriously, I can get them a visa, let me help. 

So I said goodbye, no we didn't need visas thank you, have a nice day.  I got in my dust covered honda civic, she got into the back seat of the Mercedes and off we went.

So I'm driving down the freeway to go home, take my exit and realise the black Mercedes is behind me and taking the same exit.  They took the exit too, went to the first roundabout and that is where they left me as I crossed the flyover into our compound, they took the exit into the Palace. 

Suddenly the whole conversation made sense.  This young woman was one of the Royal family of the UAE. 

Good Friday

It is Good Friday today, and because we are in part of the world that the weekend is Friday and Saturday church is always held Friday mornings.  As in most churches world wide over Easter and Christmas it was packed full.  We usually sit up the front because visitors don't like sitting up the front, so we sit there to make more space.    This morning people were still coming in 30 minutes after the start of worship time, which is distracting for everyone involved but the parking outside was just mayhem in good Abu Dhabi fashion.

The music was just fabulous today, the sermon excellent but what struck me the most was a small action by the Snr Pastor.  He always sits in a seat just to the side of the stairs that lead up to the platform/stage area.  This morning as the church filled and then overflowed to what is called the overflow room the ushers directed an older Pakistani couple to the front row, there was only one seat.  The wife sat down and Pastor Cam jumped to his feet and gave the gentleman his chair.  Pastor Cam sat on the stairs until the music was over and it was time to preach.

It was just a small act but one I doubt would have happened at our previous church in Melbourne.  The Pastor and his wife there used the front pew for their exclusive use and Im very sure he would not have sprung to his feet like Pastor Cam did.

Easter tree

I bought these cute little Easter decorations back in 2002 on a trip to Germany, but I never really had anywhere to hang them.  Easter has a nasty way of sneaking up on me and I never found them in time to decorate each year.  This year however I was organised.

The pool guy

Having a pool guy is not as exotic as it sounds, see picture and you will understand.  He is however a delightful guy who is always willing to help empty my always packed full car for a 10 dirham tip.  Yesterday I was sorting through bags of donated clothes and there were four pair of socks amongst them.  I walked out and asked him if he would like them.  He grinned like I had just given him the news that he had won lotto. He took the pairs apart and laid them out on our outdoor sofa, looked at them all, thanked me again, paired them all up again and put them in his pocket and went off smiling again.  It really makes me wonder what he thinks of us when four pair of second hand socks makes him so happy.

Berts, Uncle Albert.

ALBERT KRATZER (published on January 29, 2011)

ALBERT KRATZER After a lengthy battle with Parkinson's, it is with great sadness we announce the peaceful passing on January 25, 2011 of Mr. Albert Kratzer, with his family at his side. Born November 26, 1931 in Marktl, Germany, he immigrated to Canada in March of 1956 and in 1965 he moved to Stonewall. With hard work and dedication he worked for Silverline Trailers and C.P. Railway Black Smith Department. In 1977 he started up his own family welding business called K-Indu Ltd. He was predeceased by his first wife Claudia, grandson Daniel, siblings Anni, Michael, Tony, Franz, Joseph and Hans. He leaves to mourn his wife Helga; his three sons Peter (Alana), Gunnar (Lynn), Bernie (Lorrie); his stepchildren Frank, Chris (Patricia), Gaby (Mark); grandchildren Dawn Marie, Neena, Tony, Kevin, Matthew, Tyler, Katja and Matteo; sisters Maria and Rosie; and nieces and nephews. He loved the outdoors, nature and travelling. The family would like the thank the Home Care workers of Stonewall and the staff of Middlechurch Home B1 for their wonderful care. Donations may be made to Middlechurch Home, 280 Balderstone Rd., West St. Paul, MB R4A 4A6 or Parkinson's Society of Manitoba, 7 -414 Westmount Dr., Winnipeg, MB R2J 1P2. Cremation has taken place. A celebration of his life will be held at a later date. MacKenzie Funeral Home, Stonewall in care of arrangements.