Qatar July 26th, 2011

Have almost been here a month and I've got a month to go before I go home and collect my bride.

We (my bride and I) are getting serious about our discussions regarding her move.  What to bring, how to pay our bills from here, timing of events at home and in Qatar.  It is an exciting, but scary time for both of us.

On the apartment front, I've bought everything I am going to buy before she gets here, except the furniture for the balcony.  I have been to the Home Centre and Carrefour to look at their wooden tables.  I think the Home Centre store will win.

On the project front, our regional president made a site visit to the one project we are managing in Qatar.  I'm sure it was a tick in the box that he visited the site and talked to senior staff.  After he left the Project Director and I sat down and started to map out the teaming requirements for the Doha Metro.  Wow.  What a powerful discussion for me.  It is amazing what can come pouring out of one person when the energy is right.  It is also amazing how two people can collaborate when a common goal is at hand.

I am really looking forward to this exercise and see how it plays out with teaming and winning work in Doha.

Qatar - July 23rd

I've been here 23 days now.  Just completed the third week.

So much happens in a day, much less three weeks.

I'm committed to making this a daily habit, so to catch up a bit I'll just recap as best I can what the last three weeks included.

I am settled into the apartment.
Cleaning is done by two guys every Saturday morning from 7-9. They do a fabulous job and all I have to do is watch.  Four weeks costs 340QAR or just under $100.  Nice.

I go to the Lusail project at least twice a week.  I'm trying to help our PD stay focused on the basics as well as learn and help with the issues on the project.

I have been going to the gym hit or miss over the last three weeks, but I'm proud to say I've been there everyday for the last six.  I am working on the 0 to 5K  Podrunner Intervals by DJBeatsmith every other day and on the off days I do the bike or elliptical.  I must say the treadmill seems to go faster, but both the bike an elliptical are fine after the first 15 minutes.  I have been doing the weight machines the days I do the treadmill.  My goal is to lose 40 pounds or about 20Kg.  There is a backstory to that and maybe one day I'll share it.

Yesterday I got to the point that I felt like I didn't have a lot of running to do to get  cable, internet or furniture so I took a ride to find the Catholic church.  I found the church and went to the 7:30p mass.  I must say the church is beautiful, but the kneelers are a bit hard on these American knees.  I think I was the only white face there - lots of Indians and Philipinos.  I'll add pictures later.

Today I'm grocery shopping and looking for balcony furniture, maybe I'll by a scale too.

Return to Qatar - Frustrations and successes and a cool tour

July 10, 2011

I left the U.S. on June 29th and arrived in Doha late on the 30th.  The down fall of the 14 hours of travel against the sun.  You lose fourteen hours in time and 7 time zones which equates to 21 hours of your life.  It is not all lost.  I spent 90 minutes in London Heathrow, which gave me a much needed chance to stretch my legs and get a cup of Starbucks.

I landed in Doha at 9:30p.m. picked up my car and went right to Carrefour to pick up some groceries and head to my appartment.  Make the bed and grab some sleep.  Of course, after 21 hours of travel (so to speak) the body isn't ready.  Tylenol PM to the rescue.