odd molly

That's not me in the photo - that's a model modelling the dress I bought today in a secret sale...
We were driving past the Exhibition Centre en route to the supermarket to buy bread -the large billboard outside was in Arabic - the only thing we could read was '90%'
"It looks like a sale!" I said, excited.
"But why is the the writing in Arabic?" asked Maud.
We decided that probably it was sale of designer abayas - or jewelled cufflinks for thobes - something that wouldn't appeal to the average Western shopper...
I said: "Even so....90% off is not to be sniffed at..."
We turned the car at the lights and drove back to the Exhibition Centre - to discover the sale was a clearout of the most expensive, most exclusive boutique in Bahrain - Seventh Heaven which stocks just about every fabulous brand in the world...
I'm sure I don't have to tell you I spent all my money and time at the sale and there will not be toast for breakfast tomorrow.

A Cautionary Tale

I was in Cosmetic Surgery this morning buying a tube of face cream - (mesoestetic hydra-vital factor K) - and having the usual fun chat with the surgeon -
He says: "Botox would fix those frown lines on your forehead"
I say: "No thanks"
He says: "I would recommend filler in your top lip."
"No thanks"
"Non-surgical lifting and tightening?"
"No thank you, I'm here only for the face cream"
Then the telephone rings. The nurse answers. I try not to eavesdrop but the woman's voice is hysterical and after a few terse questions and answers:
Nurse: "Of course its not permanent, Madam."
Woman: "How do you know it's not permanent?"
Nurse: " It cost only BD150. It will not be permanent at that price."
The hysterical woman had been for some filler in her lips but had decided it wasn't enough - it was too natural looking - and had gone somewhere else for a 'top up' and now had lips like....

Somewhere

Somewhere there waiteth in this world of ours
for one lone soul, another lonely soul -
Each chasing each through all the weary hours,
And meeting strangely at one sudden goal;
Then blend they - like green leaves with golden flowers,
Into one beautiful and perfect whole -
And life's long night is ended, and the way
Lies open onward to eternal day
Sir Edwin Arnold (1832-1904)

Happy Thirteen

Thirteen years ago it was just him and me - and it really was just him and me - getting married in spite of the doom-sayers: "You can't marry him, he's a Catholic." "You can't marry him, he's divorced." "You can marry him, he's too old for you."
Just as well I trust my own judgement.
Thirteen years and all of them happy.
As Beatrice said this morning: "Happy Adversity Mummy and Daddy"

Mother Knows Best

Maud, 11, had a dressage lesson while I schooled Waif in the paddock. Afterwards, we cooled off together.
She said, "I'm learning how to 'shoulder-in'. I'm finding it rather difficult..."
I gathered up Waif's reins and gave her a quick demonstration. I told her: "It's all to do with weight distribution..."
She was opened mouthed with admiration.
"He did it for you!" she said. "The first time you asked him, he did it!"
I had to laugh at her innocence for eleven thinks it knows everything these days and eleven's mother is just an old dear, useful only for driving eleven to riding lessons...
I said: "No need to look so shocked, darling..."

Wish Me Luck

I'm jumping Waif tomorrow. Wish me luck. I'm going to need it.

The Law of Supply and Demand

My favourite food is mashed potato and butter - so when our local supermarket announced it was selling potatoes for 100fils (16p) a kilo - for one day only - hurry hurry - I engaged my sharp elbows and sales shopping skills in the rugby scrum round the potatoes. On the way to the checkout I chucked into my basket a pound of salted butter. To discover the supermarket had cleverly predicted a run on the butter today and had shamelessly doubled its price.

Lunch

Nick and I went down the Suq to collect my birthday present earrings - sapphires set in white gold - I picked the sapphires myself and Mr Lucky Gems set them - It was lunch hour and we followed the crowd into a Filipino cafe - a modest establishment jollied up with Christmas lights; the waitresses didn't speak English, the menu was in Tagalo and all dishes were served with a huge mound of steaming sticky rice.
"I never realised Filipino food was so popular in Bahrain," said Nick.
But it wasn't the Filipino food which was proving such a big hit with the customers -it was the wide screeen TV at the back of the room showing a Filipino game show with beautiful girls in bikinis. When the game show regretfully ended and a fully dressed soap opera came on the cafe quickly emptied.