26 June

Hi all

Temps are now soaring into the 44-46 deg range, with 70-80% humidity. I'm told it doesn't get much hotter than this but that the humidity will exceed 90% during July & August. Sounds very uncomfortable.

I rode my bike to a worship team meeting last night and although it was good to be on the bike again, it was like riding through a steam bath. I perspired all the way, even when riding at speed - no matter how fast you go, there is no cooling effect of the wind and the perspiration does not evaporate due to the high moisture saturation levels in the air. Sis, hey! (I've avoided using the word sweat because I am reliably informed that horses sweat, men perspire and ladies glow. They wouldn't need streetlights here during summer because all the ladies glowing in the sticky heat would create perfectly adequate illumination if it wasn't for the fact that they are all covered up like ninjas. Talk about hiding your light under a bushel...)

The National guitar came - bright and shiny and loud and bluesy. Not a nice mellow woody sound like my other 2 guitars but a raw middy metallic sound. It kicks!

I fitted the LR Baggs IMIX pickup system to the Martin over the weekend and what a sound! It knocks the old Fishman pickup on its rear. In fact, when amplified, I can get it to sound just like the Martin - only louder. I've been waiting for this all my life.

The kids have 3 days of school left and that's if for the year! They leave for SA in the early hours of the morning of the 5th July. We're driving them to Abu Dhabi (1 1/2 hours away) because the flights are cheaper form there. J & I will spend what's left of the might on a hotel and come back the next day. Should be fun.

Casey brought home her report yesterday and it is good. I'm not surprised because she is a good kid and works hard. She's a blessing. Greg's report hasn't come yet but I expect it will be good too.

We had a scare with Greg last week. He had a school medical 2 weeks ago and they picked up a heart murmur. We took him to see a paediatric cardiologist and he had an ECG and an Echocardiogram. The tests revealed no source for the murmur, so the doc classified it as an "innocent" murmur and said there was nothing to be worried about. The tests, however, also revealed Mild Pulmonary Regurgitation, which means that one of his heart valves has a slight leak. The doc said this was also nothing to worry about and that he would not normally have mentioned it. Bottom line is nothing to worry about - these things usually rectify themselves but even if they don't, they should have no effect on Greg. The doc told him he had to eat more...nice try! I told Greg that I'm not surprised his heart is murmuring, what with the amount of complaining his northern orifice does.

I'm thinking of getting involved in the church worship team - not sure yet - I'll see how it goes. Still don't really know why we're in Dubai - can only think it is some type of preparation and learning for what lies ahead. It would be nice if God just said "this is the reason you're here and you'll be going to (place) at (time) on (date) to (action)."

Work is still a mess but there might be a light at the end of the tunnel. Various heavyweights are expected to descend upon us from the UK office to set in motion proper strategies and procedures, and to wrest control from the local partners. This is good and I can only pray things change. We're also due to move offices within 2-3 months - out of the stinking ratty roach-infested industrial premises into more salubrious accommodations befitting our corporate image. Only problem is the traffic from the potential new area basically sucks like an Electrolux.

We have another interesting little issue in the office. The toilet comes fully equipped with a wall mounted shower hose type device for use by those of a certain religious persuasion in place of the more traditional toilet paper. The procedure is, I'm told, you do your thing then stick the shower goodie under your rear and squirt away. Trouble is, it would appear that those of said persuasion are severely challenged in the aim department and tend to squirt absolutely everything - toilet, seat, walls, floor, roof, roaches etc. The result is that the bathroom is always left looking like a tsunami has recently passed through. And do you think they will clean up after themselves? Not a chance! They are quite happy to use the attachment to remain ceremonially clean but are even more happy to ensure the next poor user becomes ceremonially dirty.

What to do? To combat this, I closed the tap, unscrewed the entire attachment from the wall and threw it away. The result was a nice clean toilet for about 3 weeks until some enterprising fellow had it replaced. I then resorted to a nice, discrete note about hygiene. Ignored. I then posted A3 signage instructing them to clean up. Ignored. I now regularly close the tap, loosen the hose from the wall or the shower head from the hose and wait for the next hapless user of the said persuasion to use it, discover no water, open the tap and watch the hose or head pop off under pressure and soak them. This is my own private entertainment at work but I think they've learned to check the fitting prior to use now.

Next, I shall close the tap, unscrew the head, empty it out, fill it with either green dye or deep heat or pepper or turpentine or something similar, reattach it and wait for the howls.

Any other suggestions on combating this issue would be welcome. Have a go - I'll describe the results in later posts.

The knee is steadily improving, however it has been stiff and sore for the last few days. No Idea why. I have now also developed a very painful left shoulder - sore for the past month and getting worse. I cannot recall any specific injury and so can only attribute it to either additional strain caused by using it to favour my right knee, or age, or a combination of the two. I'll give it another week or so then go have it looked at. I'm beginning to suspect a torn rotator cuff - hope not, please pray. I know the devil is chucking every possible curve ball at me at present and this can only mean we're in the right place and doing what God wants. If we weren't, I don't imagine we'd be seeing as much opposition. Hallelujah!

J is settling in slowly. She's also not having much fun at work. She works part time for a crowd that build yachts, drawing up interiors etc. She's working on AutoCAD, which is not her favourite and is not user friendly, so she's experiencing much frustration. She doesn't complain much but I know its bugging her.

The aircon, electrical supply and water supply at our rented villa are all giving problems at present and the landlord is a deal loss - a company that is hardly contactable and speaks little English. I've called and written with little result and I'm beginning to think I'll have to find their offices and go and make a noise. These things are sent to try us.

All for now - have fun and check back.

Blessings

The Balls

10 June

Strange weather in Dubai. Instead of rising, the temperatures fell to around 38 degrees last week due to cyclone Gonu in the Arabian Gulf. The cyclone caused much flooding and damage in Oman and so far the loss of life stands at 61. Waves and floods also hit one of the UAE Emirates called Fujairah and caused serious damage. Fortunately for us, the only effect in Dubai was some wind, high cloud and cooler weather.

I ordered the National guitar a week ago and my credit card has been debited, so now I wait in excitement for its delivery. I also ordered a new pickup for the Martin (The LR Baggs IMIX), the Baggs Parametric DI, and other smalls, so its gonna be like Christmas soon.

The company situation gets worse! Rentals are paid annually in advance in Dubai and companies tend to pay the rent up front and then recover the cost monthly as a salary deduction. The jokers I work for suddenly decided not to do this any more, which leaves us in an even more difficult situation. Once again, God is my rock. I know He'll continue to provide and need to ask you to pray that He'll sort this particular situation out. I guess he wants to teach us some things but I'd really like to leave Dubai as soon as possible. It is truly an awful place.

The kids have 18 days of school left and are counting down the days. They are looking forward to their SA trip and it'll be good for them. And for J & I.

Blessings to all and keep on keeping on!