OK so my brunch adventure was over a week ago, I have been a bit tardy since then and not suffering from a MEGA hangover. Thankfully. I actually escaped a hangover which was a small miracle considering the lack of drinking since I have been here. I think owing to the fact we drank ALL day it started just as I was getting into bed and I slept through what would no doubt have been the mother of all Hangovers.
Back to brunch. It was a very fancy affair at the Ritz Carlton. It involved a crazy amount of different foods to choose from, I swear I have never seen anything quite like it and sparkling wine, on tap. Marvellous. I went with a lovely colleague from work and she taught me like a pro how to pace my food intake and how to get the food to wine ratio just right.
Although at the end everything was fuzzy and I ended up with the biggest cheese platter (but where are the GRAPES?!?!) and then we went dessert bonkers. The desserts are like artworks, little mini paintings, and you can't work out what they are but they are very pretty. They were arranged in a variety of hanging displays, glass stacks, bookcases, and sideboards. I was too distracted to take a photo but there's a blurry one somewhere of our selection which I will try and upload. Our selection by the way was vast. We pretty much got one of everything, the bubbles in the wine fuelling our grabby hands. Well we had to try a bit of each just to see. Lets say that blue meringue tastes of blue and not a lot else.
We finished a few hours later with more bubbles and a few buckets of coffee before moving on to somewhere for the sundowner (or something). It seemed very glamorous until a plane took off overhead, not great being right near the airport. After that we headed off to another fancy hotel for some Reggae on the beach. I was very happy until a lack of RP threatened to ruin the night. I didn't have my passport either - at the office whilst they process my RP. No copy of passport with me. Bugger.
We sit sad faced for a bit pondering what to do, hoping the nice bouncers will take pity and let us in anyway, the bubbles bubbling in my head telling me there is a solution. Ah ha! I have a download of my passport on my phone, will they accept that? Yes for some bizarre reason they will and we're in, or on the beach as the case may be. A bit more booze later and we're dancing on the sand with some lovely young boys on a student exchange from Blighty. Such fun! Then a Nigerian approached us, I knew he Nigerian the minute he asked if he could 'snap' us. For some reason we changed our names and I was Mary. He told me I was the Mother of God. Well I have been known to have magical powers from time to time. Mary dances well he says. (Mary is off her face). We decided it was home time. A wise choice. Can he meet us here next week? Of course we tell him, be waiting with 5 bottles of sparkling wine, each. I hope he didn't turn up, poor love.
So that was 'Brunch'. It was VERY much fun. I hope do 'Brunch' many times whilst in Doha, it is the done thing apparently.
Monday, 26 May 2014
Friday, 16 May 2014
Birthday in Doha
Still waiting for my RP and so the wait for everything else continues. Bah! This is a shame because my new car is ready for me but I can't get it yet as I can't get my Qatari Driving License until of course you guessed it, I get my RP. Ah well not much longer of being driven everywhere, hopefully.
In other news it was my birthday this week. For those of you that know me well you will also know I have never worked on my birthday, ever. I always take the day off to do nice birthday things or for the last couple of years have proper birthday adventures. Thank you Gili Islands and Hamner Springs.
So this year I was a bit horrified that I had to actually go to work. I jokingly told my team that it's OK I would shut the shop and we would have a party. They haven't quite grasped my humour yet so for a short while they thought I was serious. I think they were very disappointed when they realised we wouldn't actually having a dance party whilst customers banged on the shutters.
We did have a fun day though, they surprised me a with a fancy cake and we had some now obligatory jelly throwing in the store. Just to clarify for the non Lushies, this is the shower jellies that LUSH sell not actual eating jelly. When the shop is quiet we do various things to draw attention and foot traffic inside and this is one thing that the team really love, although I may now be regretting introducing the concept of jelly throwing to Doha. This has led to cross mall throws to other shops, security staff either joining in or telling us to 'keep it inside', jelly to the face and jelly everywhere really. It has been very successful though, the team love it and it really raises the energy when it's quiet plus they engage with passing customers getting them to join and then come inside the shop and wash their hands. Once inside we can show them all of the other lovely things!
Back to birthday fun now, I had a nice dinner at an Italian with my housemates the night before, finished with proper gelato yum! I skyped with my family in multiple calls and today I'm off to experience a Doha tradition of Friday Brunch. Remembering Friday is the first day of the weekend here and technically this is a dry country, brunch is a big deal. All the western expats seem to go for 'brunch' which is in fact an afternoon session of all you can eat food at whichever hotel you happen to choose with 'house drinks' included. I'll report back on this later. Or possibly not later depending on many 'house drinks' I have consumed. Happy Birthday Kasia!
In other news it was my birthday this week. For those of you that know me well you will also know I have never worked on my birthday, ever. I always take the day off to do nice birthday things or for the last couple of years have proper birthday adventures. Thank you Gili Islands and Hamner Springs.
So this year I was a bit horrified that I had to actually go to work. I jokingly told my team that it's OK I would shut the shop and we would have a party. They haven't quite grasped my humour yet so for a short while they thought I was serious. I think they were very disappointed when they realised we wouldn't actually having a dance party whilst customers banged on the shutters.
We did have a fun day though, they surprised me a with a fancy cake and we had some now obligatory jelly throwing in the store. Just to clarify for the non Lushies, this is the shower jellies that LUSH sell not actual eating jelly. When the shop is quiet we do various things to draw attention and foot traffic inside and this is one thing that the team really love, although I may now be regretting introducing the concept of jelly throwing to Doha. This has led to cross mall throws to other shops, security staff either joining in or telling us to 'keep it inside', jelly to the face and jelly everywhere really. It has been very successful though, the team love it and it really raises the energy when it's quiet plus they engage with passing customers getting them to join and then come inside the shop and wash their hands. Once inside we can show them all of the other lovely things!
Back to birthday fun now, I had a nice dinner at an Italian with my housemates the night before, finished with proper gelato yum! I skyped with my family in multiple calls and today I'm off to experience a Doha tradition of Friday Brunch. Remembering Friday is the first day of the weekend here and technically this is a dry country, brunch is a big deal. All the western expats seem to go for 'brunch' which is in fact an afternoon session of all you can eat food at whichever hotel you happen to choose with 'house drinks' included. I'll report back on this later. Or possibly not later depending on many 'house drinks' I have consumed. Happy Birthday Kasia!
Sunday, 4 May 2014
The Residency Quest: Parts 1 - 3,678
So I have been a bit quiet of late on the old blog, sorry about that Mum and anyone else that's reading. The reason was the lack of any real Wi-Fi connection at the Hotel I was staying at. I did try a few times to update the blog and came very close at one point to lobbing my laptop out of the window. Only the window didn't open, which didn't help the situation. Anyway, Wi-Fi woes be over! And why are they over? Well I have moved into my shiny new home at long last. I will write more about that in another post, it is very shiny. Today's ramble is dedicated to the process of gaining my RP or Residency Permit. Fun times.
The RP is apparently the key to life here in Doha. You can't get anything without one like a booze permit for example. It's been at least 30 days since I purchased alcohol. This is a concern. Not 30 days since I drank it of course, I have my ways. But still, I can't actually buy my own booze yet, or drive, or get a current account, or sign any kind of contract for anything. So you can see getting your RP is quite important for getting yourself set up when you arrive.
The RP process actually started back when I was in good old sunny Nelson. I had to dig out copies of various documents and send those off and then I had to get my lovely Mum on the case with getting my Degree signed by countless people in the UK like the Foreign Office. This apparently was all so I could have the title 'Manageress' on my RP which was very important, to my new employers at least.
Then on arrival in Doha came the photographs. Pretty easy, 12 passport photos needed on blue background. No handy passport photo booths here so have to go to photographer and sit in dodgy backroom studio. All very strange.
Blood typing came next. I was told it would take 5 minutes at the clinic next door to the mall where the Lush shop is. I scoffed. Surely you mean I make an appointment, I turn up, I wait for my appointment, I wait a bit more, I wait REALLY patiently and then go in at least 30 minutes late for said appointment, I probably faint (it's me after all), I then get told results will be back in a week. Nope, it literally takes 5 minutes. I go in pay at the front desk, nice lady takes me round to the blood typing area, another nice lady pricks my finger, runs the blood through some magical box thingy tells me to wait two minutes, she calls me back and hands me paper with my blood type on it and I leave. Now that's efficient, or witchcraft one of the two.
OK, so after this came the least fun part of the process which involved the public chest x-ray and blood test. I got taken by a driver to a building on the outskirts of the city where by I had to go into the 'ladies' entrance and was given a number, much like at the cheese counter in the supermarket. Although it turned out the number was pretty much pointless. I sat for ages whilst nothing happened and more and more 'ladies' arrived. Finally numbers were randomly called, not in chronological order of course. You handed in your paperwork and were stamped. After that we were vaguely directed to the blood testing area where what I assume were Vampires took our blood because before you knew it was over, blood taken another stamp acquired and you had been moved along as if nothing had happened.
Then came the aforementioned public chest x-ray. Crazy x-ray lady barked at everyone to either get into a gown in a changing room or just take off their bra depending on how loose their tops were and then we lined up and were marched into an x-ray room. No-one really seemed to know what was going on, frankly it was a bit alarming. We were then told to stand behind a line in a line, no-one moved so she shouted at us to do it again and being British and quite good at forming a queue I thought I'd start us off. I'm glad I did I got to go first and get it all over with. I once again handed over my paperwork, got my x-ray and my final stamp, quest complete! Or so I thought....
This morning came the final (I really bloody hope) part of the RP quest. I was supposed to be picked up to go for my fingerprinting at 8am by one of the drivers. A lovely driver did come but part way into the journey when we started picking up some other lovelies also on their way to Landmark Mall I twigged that all was not quite right. Turns out the message got lost, or my driver did.
Anyway, on arrival at the mall and now late for my appointment I get into my second minivan of the day and head off. I end up god knows where, miles out of the city but the building does say fingerprinting, plus some other stuff. The man from the office with my paperwork for more stamp collecting is calling frantically to ask where I am, 'I'm here!' I reply. He can't see me anywhere and he's right outside. 'I'm the only lady, I'm quite obvious' I tell him, everyone is of course staring at me. I am indeed the only lady to be seen. At that point a small but nagging alarm bell begins in my head. Yes why are you the only lady Kasia? Hmmm? Check with the driver. He asks someone. We are at the wrong place, we are the fingerprinting place for men. Ladies go somewhere completely different.
Back in the van now an hour late for my appointment. We drive to another building quite far away and on arrival the man from the office points out all of the obvious things. 'You are late. You went to the wrong place. This is the place for the ladies. You need a black pen.' Wait, what? Why? Are they going to draw my fingerprints? I have only blue pens!!! Argh! Will this quest never be over?!
Yes, yes it will, a black pen is found, turns out it's for my signature which we could have done many times at the office. Brilliant. Then I go in for fingerprinting, with the ladies, I'm given another cheese counter number and I want to weep. We know what this means. Only this time I'm ushered straight in, there's no one there, I'm in and out in five minutes, quest complete! After that we went on some other mission to god knows where with a mysterious bit of paper, I think I have literally seen ALL of Doha today. Maybe that is also part of the RP process, a secret final test of sorts but damn it I didn't get my stamp!
The RP is apparently the key to life here in Doha. You can't get anything without one like a booze permit for example. It's been at least 30 days since I purchased alcohol. This is a concern. Not 30 days since I drank it of course, I have my ways. But still, I can't actually buy my own booze yet, or drive, or get a current account, or sign any kind of contract for anything. So you can see getting your RP is quite important for getting yourself set up when you arrive.
The RP process actually started back when I was in good old sunny Nelson. I had to dig out copies of various documents and send those off and then I had to get my lovely Mum on the case with getting my Degree signed by countless people in the UK like the Foreign Office. This apparently was all so I could have the title 'Manageress' on my RP which was very important, to my new employers at least.
Then on arrival in Doha came the photographs. Pretty easy, 12 passport photos needed on blue background. No handy passport photo booths here so have to go to photographer and sit in dodgy backroom studio. All very strange.
Blood typing came next. I was told it would take 5 minutes at the clinic next door to the mall where the Lush shop is. I scoffed. Surely you mean I make an appointment, I turn up, I wait for my appointment, I wait a bit more, I wait REALLY patiently and then go in at least 30 minutes late for said appointment, I probably faint (it's me after all), I then get told results will be back in a week. Nope, it literally takes 5 minutes. I go in pay at the front desk, nice lady takes me round to the blood typing area, another nice lady pricks my finger, runs the blood through some magical box thingy tells me to wait two minutes, she calls me back and hands me paper with my blood type on it and I leave. Now that's efficient, or witchcraft one of the two.
OK, so after this came the least fun part of the process which involved the public chest x-ray and blood test. I got taken by a driver to a building on the outskirts of the city where by I had to go into the 'ladies' entrance and was given a number, much like at the cheese counter in the supermarket. Although it turned out the number was pretty much pointless. I sat for ages whilst nothing happened and more and more 'ladies' arrived. Finally numbers were randomly called, not in chronological order of course. You handed in your paperwork and were stamped. After that we were vaguely directed to the blood testing area where what I assume were Vampires took our blood because before you knew it was over, blood taken another stamp acquired and you had been moved along as if nothing had happened.
Then came the aforementioned public chest x-ray. Crazy x-ray lady barked at everyone to either get into a gown in a changing room or just take off their bra depending on how loose their tops were and then we lined up and were marched into an x-ray room. No-one really seemed to know what was going on, frankly it was a bit alarming. We were then told to stand behind a line in a line, no-one moved so she shouted at us to do it again and being British and quite good at forming a queue I thought I'd start us off. I'm glad I did I got to go first and get it all over with. I once again handed over my paperwork, got my x-ray and my final stamp, quest complete! Or so I thought....
This morning came the final (I really bloody hope) part of the RP quest. I was supposed to be picked up to go for my fingerprinting at 8am by one of the drivers. A lovely driver did come but part way into the journey when we started picking up some other lovelies also on their way to Landmark Mall I twigged that all was not quite right. Turns out the message got lost, or my driver did.
Anyway, on arrival at the mall and now late for my appointment I get into my second minivan of the day and head off. I end up god knows where, miles out of the city but the building does say fingerprinting, plus some other stuff. The man from the office with my paperwork for more stamp collecting is calling frantically to ask where I am, 'I'm here!' I reply. He can't see me anywhere and he's right outside. 'I'm the only lady, I'm quite obvious' I tell him, everyone is of course staring at me. I am indeed the only lady to be seen. At that point a small but nagging alarm bell begins in my head. Yes why are you the only lady Kasia? Hmmm? Check with the driver. He asks someone. We are at the wrong place, we are the fingerprinting place for men. Ladies go somewhere completely different.
Back in the van now an hour late for my appointment. We drive to another building quite far away and on arrival the man from the office points out all of the obvious things. 'You are late. You went to the wrong place. This is the place for the ladies. You need a black pen.' Wait, what? Why? Are they going to draw my fingerprints? I have only blue pens!!! Argh! Will this quest never be over?!
Yes, yes it will, a black pen is found, turns out it's for my signature which we could have done many times at the office. Brilliant. Then I go in for fingerprinting, with the ladies, I'm given another cheese counter number and I want to weep. We know what this means. Only this time I'm ushered straight in, there's no one there, I'm in and out in five minutes, quest complete! After that we went on some other mission to god knows where with a mysterious bit of paper, I think I have literally seen ALL of Doha today. Maybe that is also part of the RP process, a secret final test of sorts but damn it I didn't get my stamp!
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