Listening to the bird in the garden, and about to launch myself out of bed. Rex long gone on his private charter bus to work. Have a list of “must do’s” before we hit the road at 8.15am. Looking forward to Jay starting school in September and carving out some “Mummy time” with no interruptions!

Earlier in the week I managed to face making another phone call. I say that because although I am more than capable of making a phone call, it’s the actually “talking” and “getting the message across” that is excruciating. I called Home Maintenance to enquire about getting the tiled terrace roof cleaned off. Clearly explained that the roof was covered in leaves from the tree in the back yard, that there was loose wiring hanging off it from the previous dwellers satellite dish, and a fly screen off someone’s upstairs window. Home Maintenance seemed a logical place to start. They were unable to help and suggested Sanitation. OK? Called Sanitation, they didn’t know what to do, they couldn’t come inside the house, they only dealt with outside the house. Fine this was clearly an “outside” issue. No cigar, they couldn’t help. In the meantime, the Garden Consultant came knocking and I walked him outside and around the yard and explained what needed to be done. He had come, I assumed prepared to measure and take notes, he listened and said he would be back to measure and take notes. While he was in my grasp, I pointed to the roof and asked what he would suggest. He told me to talk to the guy who does the garden. I thanked him for his time and shook his hand as he was leaving and asked him his name. “Horggue” he replied. “Hlaughe?” I responded. “Horggue” he said again. “Hllaughe?” I repeated. Exasperated he said, “Madam, like the bush.” “Oh, George?”, “Yes, Madam, Horggue.” Now if he’d come to the point and said, “I’ve never had a bad meal, a bad wine or a bad woman.” I would have said “George!” and given him a hug, alas he wasn’t our dear George! Three days later and I’m still waiting to see or hear back from George! We have subsequently decided that we’ll do the job ourselves. We have a driver arranged to take us to Al Kohbar to shop for the bricks for edging and as soon as the bricks are in place the ARAMCO Gardening people can put the lawn down. I think Rex and I are more than capable of putting a few bricks into sand to make an edging! We’ll keep you posted.