Beach ponderings

I spent my morning today in my very favourite spot in Doha - curled up in a beach pod with PW.

Left in my own company when he had to shoot off, I got to thinking (Carrie Bradshaw style) about a lot of things.

The amazing weather, my gorgeous home, and the small cluster of people I care about are what keep me happy being here in the desert.

I've been here 7 and a half months now, and am only just starting to feel settled. In five days time I learn whether or not I have passed the probation period at work. If I pass, then the choice is mine about whether I feel I want to stay here beyond the World Cup.

It's a daunting thought, and not one to take lightly. I'm missing my home and my family like mad - the biggest lure of heading back to the UK is so that I can spend quality time with them. Every day that I'm here is another day not spent with them, and I worry that I won't get that time back.

(On the bright side...I'm going home soon to visit everybody and I CANNOT wait!!)

I have no idea what the job situation is like in the UK, but when I left it was pretty bleak so I can't imagine much will have changed on that front. I'm so lucky that I have a good job when so many people are desperately trying to find one. I don't think I could leave here without knowing that I was going back to something. Not to mention I haven't yet been able to save anywhere near as much money as I hope to save out here. The whole reason for coming, apart from the life experience (think iv had a good share of that now!) was to save for a house deposit. I think I'd need to stay and do another year to save anywhere near the figure I'd need for that.

Then I wonder what the people I care about here are thinking about their plans for Doha. I only have the smallest cluster of close friends here, and if any one of them left I'd be completely lost. I know that this is part of the reason that PW and I are not 'together', because neither one of us knows where we will be in a few months time. I never in a million years expected to come out to Doha and fall for someone like iv fallen for him. We are making the most of just enjoying our time together here, because at some point the time will come where one of us will inevitably choose a different path to the other. I'm sure not looking forward to that!

All these serious and daunting thoughts have left me feeling pretty blue, so iv done the only sensible thing that there is to do - tuck into a box of Biscotti chocolates :)

 

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Dinner in paradise

Last night, PW & I hopped in a taxi and set off to the Grand Hyatt hotel for dinner.

The GM Christoph had kindly given me a voucher to use in any of the hotel restaurants, and knowing PW is a huge fan of steak, I decided to book in for dinner at The Grill. I emailed Christoph to the menu, said I was coming with the guy I like, and little did I know that he would go all out to make it a very special evening indeed.

We were led outside to our very own private dining area, with one table only set up for two, overlooking the pool and the beautiful gardens.

 

Wine ordered, we perused the menu, and out came the head chef to greet us, and to say the kitchen were there for anything that we may want. Top service!

We both opted for steak, and enough sides to feed a small army. The dangers of ordering when you're hungry!

Next out came the restaurant manager, to welcome us to the The Grill.

We ploughed our way through freshly baked sour dough bread and butter, and then our dinner was served by the head chef, restaurant manager, and our very sweet waitress.

Midway through dinner, Christoph popped by with his wife Rachael to see if we were enjoying our very romantic meal and setting.

After dinner, before even thinking about attempting pudding, PW and I took a stroll around the gorgeous Hyatt gradens, which look amazing at night.

I wanted to seize the moment and canoodle under the flowered archways like something out of a cheesy rom com but a Qatari couple were also wandering the gardens, so we thought better of it.

We headed back to our beautiful pool side spot, gathered our things and headed inside for pudding (which I demolished before taking a photo...chocolate fondant pudding lasts five seconds around me!)

To top off the evening, Christoph had two complimentary boxes of my very favourite cupcakes from the Biscotti cafe in the hotel sent over. So lovely!

We hotel hopped back to the St Regis and finished off the night with a cocktail in Hakkasan...I had my usual, The Hakka, so good!

 

Ran into my very favourite member of Regis staff on our travels - Gabriel, who looked after me and my parents so well when they were staying here and while I was ill. I wrote the GM a really long review and sung Gabriel's praises and I'm so glad I did because he was delighted to tell me that he had won Employee of the year! Totally deserved it, what a lovely happy man.

 

Needless to say I woke up this morning and started my day the healthy way ;)

 

Such a perfect night! Feeling a very happy girl right about now.

 

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