h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello John,

Well here I am - alive and kicking in Bahrain.

I arrived on October 11th and so far I really like the feel of the place. This has been a really interesting experience and I sense some kind of excitment within myself. Mind u I'm quite excited about myself in general, I have been thru some unexpected but very positive internal changes over the last couple of months. And I'm feeling good....

Maybe I'll start a journal about life in Bahrain.

Hope all is well with you

XOXOXOX

Yes, all is as well as one dares to hope. The days are growing colder and six months of Canadian winter await me, but yes, all is otherwise reasonably well.

Glad to see you've arrived safe and well in the sandy oilfields of the Mid-East. Hope it proves to be an adventure without any misadventures.

Sorry I don't get onto h2g2 very often anymore. Are you still able to communicate via e-mail? It seems to me I still owe you a reply, but first I'd need to know it would reach you.


~jwf~

Hello there!

Good to hear from you.

I'm starting off a journal of my Bahrain adventures - hopefully it will be interesting.

I'm still at the same hotmail address - and I really look forward to hearing from you.

XOXOXOXOX

Got your email. Wonderful stuff. Will keep up with all your Bahrain adventures on your journal pages and reply via email very soon.

Oh, just one quick note here though:
did you know that the name/title we used to spell as 'Caliph' in English indicates someone who is supposed to be a direct decendant of the prophet? Anyone with the name/title 'Khaliph' is not just regal but holy.
It all goes back to the original Islamic schism that followed the prohpet's demise when there was some disagreement among his kids and inlaws over the line of succession which resulted in the still quite lively Sunni/Shia debate.

~jwf~

Hello John,

That's an interesting piece of information. I didn't know that. So thanks for that!

Looking forward to your e-mail.....

4 weeks!
Omigod.
Email finally sent.

~jwf~

I replied a little sooner, lol.

Indeed you did and much relieved was I.

Glad you're enjoying your new surroundings. Can't imagine why I was worried. It sounds like you're having fun and adventure and some social and business success. I do admire you for all that. My clay feet never seem to wander much anymore.

And in case I don't get time to write let me wish you the best in the coming new year, which for us non-churchy types starts Friday morning with the newly awakened sun.

Happy Solstice etc,
~jwf~

Don't worry - be happy!!!

I've heard about the book. It's to be called Angles! (Right, left or maybe Norfolk angles).

Enjoying life and having fun. I wonder where I'll be - and what I'll be doing in 2008?

Flame

How curious!
Here we are half a world apart and me with so little online access and weeks behind in my correspondence, still savouring your latest email comments about the real social order in Bahrain... and here we are just minutes apart in checking out h2g2 this Friday, January 12 '007.

For the moment all I can think to say is you should take the present opportunity to learn how to make a really good curry.


~jwf~

Well an Indian friend came over the other night and made a superb curry. Unfortunately he wouldn't let me into the kitchen to discover his magic - but oh my goodness - it was delicious. There's something about Indian food that is very satisfying - and very addictive!!!!

But I'll e-mail you the story sometime....

Oh, and if you e-mail me your telephone number sometime I'll ring you on Skype. That will be fun

Hello John,

I'm waiting for my free copy of Angles to arrive! But I will arrange for a few spare copies to be sent over.

Look forward to hearing from you - you're slipping again!!!!

Flame

I'm still trying figger out what a Skype is...

~jwf~

A programme that you run through your PC. It allows you to connect to land lines or mobiles at a very, very reasonable rate. A ring my friends from time to time using Skype. It's very good!

I ring my friends - not a ring my friends!

Today is sunny and warm. I'm out and about later on this morning. It's always fun!

Oh my! I'm here and so are you!!!!

We're just back from my favourite Indian restaurant. It's a buffet type establishment but I must admit that I sat down and didn't have to get up again until I left. We go there at least a couple of times a week. The waiters seem to be in competition to serve - and they cooked some of my favourite dishes that were not on the menu tonight..... I think I am very spoiled here!!!!

Then I went shopping and bought something in the sales that I thought would look great. But when I got home and tried it on - well I looked hideous, lol. Such is life!

>> Oh my! I'm here and so are you!!!! <<

Yes I was!

And I was writing you a very clever and well crafted note on several topics of our mutual interest. But even as my finger lingered over the send button the damn computer timed out.

Today, lacking time again, I will be less creative but did want to say:

I have been checking out Skype and discover it requires a download that I cannot do because I still have no internet service at home and the library here frowns on such things. It would in any case be auto-deleted as soon as my time was up.

But in contemplating the possibilities that a voice conversation might entail I have concluded that one of two scenarios would evolve. Your voice would prove as melodic as golden bells in the belfry of a little white church in the birdsung meadow beside a babbling brook and I would fall desperately in love with you. Or, I would find your accent inpenetrable and your laughter might be some hideous cackle.

Since I have come to love and respect you and your writing in the silence of our written words I would ask that we be content to carry on as we are. At least until you learn how to cook your own curries.

I have no doubt that your 'taste' in clothes was subverted by your willing submission to other people's curries and must again heartily encourage you to pursue your own. The skills required to cook a good curry are as hard to come by as good writing skills but equally rewarding.

I also have no doubt that I leave you now wondering why I continue to go on and on about curries. Well of course it's because I have so little time to expand or expound upon other subjects just now, and besides, your failed shopping expedition has proved my point and I can never pass up a chance to say I told you so.


~jwf~

You mean you haven't fallen in love with me already? lol.

Skype wouldn't require for u to do anything. I'd just ring you at home on a land line! I don't think I cackle - but you never know! Maybe you are right to want to leave things as they are. But if you ever change your mind......

I have eaten many, many curries - but I still can't cook a decent one as my Indian friends are reluctant to share their curry secrets! Boo hoo!

I went to the Gulf Hotel last night for dinner with some friends. From the outside the hotel doesn't look much at all - but once you step inside it's very impressive. It has 8 different restaurants to choose from. We went for the buffet - it was very good indeed - and I haven't found another hotel that could beat it yet!

I hope to go to an art gallery this week. Haven't been to one yet and it will be interesting to see what type of work they have on display.

Well no more excitement like I was telling you about in my e-mail. Just as well, lol!!!

Did I mention I went to a private art gallery last week? The artist is called Faisal Samra. His work is modern, and not what I want for myself, but he is an interesting man and it was good to talk to a local artist.

At the weekend I went to the Ritz Carlton for lunch with four other expat women living here. The Ritz is beautiful and it has a great cocktail bar. I love to watch the staff mixing all the drinks. The oriental gardens are amazing and it was warm enough to sit outside and enjoy the surroundings. Women lunching at the Ritz? Wot a life! Whatever next, eh, lol.

I've been writing this afternoon although I don't think I'll do much more as I've been invited to a birthday party on the roof of the building tonight. So I might pop up there later to see what's going on.

I bought Andrea Bocelli's new CD. I really like it very much - listening to it now.....