Our Holiday in Qatar

  We have been back in the UK for two weeks and I have finally found a few moments to look at some of the lovely pictures that Wendy took while we were visiting them in Qatar. Such happy memories looking at the pictures so thought it would be good to share them with you.

There are so many beautiful buildings but most are the same colour, the colour of sand.

I have tried not to include some of the pictures that have been used in previous posts here and on the Lynese Morris blog.

Enjoying watermelon juice at lunch in the Souq.

Walkabout at the Souq

How did they get the chickens to be these colours?

The Eid parade at the Souq

We were taken to many different parts of Doha so we could absorb the different culture found there.

I tried my hand at more professional photography.

Father and Son watching the antics on the water

It was always very hot during the day so the only time we could venture out doors was in the late afternoon. The Park was a popular place as the cherubs could enjoy the equipment there as well as ride on the bikes while the adults followed closely behind to ensure their safety.

After all the activity the cherubs enjoyed their picnic supper in the park before it was time to start the homeward journey.

On another day we went to see some different sights and were impressed by the beauty of this Mosque.

At home, where it was cool because of the air conditioners,  we enjoyed playing card games together. 

The Christmas Fair

The annual Christmas Fair at Downham was a success. The weather was good and the event was well attended by locals as well as visitors to the town. It was lovely to see so many families having fun together and everyone enjoying the fellowship and food.

 Father Christmas, in his Grotto, enjoyed chatting to his 75 young visitors and they in turn seemed to love seeing him. In fact several of them brought him gifts that they had made in the Craft room.

Young and old enjoyed the many different games on offer. Refreshments were available in the Function room so tired parents could relax while the children enjoyed themselves. (Some adults also enjoyed the games)

The variety of sales tables gave everyone a chance to get into the Christmas spirit and at lunch time, when the weather became rainy and cold, the delicious soup and French bread that was served in the function room proved very popular.

 As the afternoon drew to a close, Father Christmas left his Grotto so that he could do the draw for the different Raffle prizes and then it was time to pack up and clean the rooms so that all was ready for the services the following day.

Christmas Fair Preparations

Tomorrow is the day of our annual Christmas Fair at Downham Market so we decided to have lunch at the church and then get the grotto ready for Father Christmas' visit tomorrow. The church was a hive of activity with everyone doing what they had to do in preparation for the big event tomorrow. By 16h00 we were ready to go home satisfied that Father Christmas would be happy with his grotto. The gifts have been wrapped and Mother Christmas just hopes that she can remember what they are so that the children all leave the grotto happy with what they have received.

Service of Memory

On Sunday we had a service of Memory at Downham Market. I always love candles in the church and during this service as each name was read a family member came forward to light a candle. This was all rather moving and it was lovely to see all the candles flickering at the end of the service. After the lighting if the candles the service ended with Holy Communion.

Remembrance Sunday

Today is a special Remembrance Sunday because it falls on the 11 November and so the time of the service was changed so that we could have the 2 minutes silence at 11h00.

 Douglas coped very well with all the reading that he had to do and I was glad he still remembered the routine so that he could guide me for when I had to do my bits of reading. I had taken some medication before the service so that my nose was decongested and so managed to read without having to blow my nose.

 At the memorial outside I thought my nose had started running because it was cold outside but discovered it was bleeding so was glad that I did not have to do any reading there.

 Everyone seemed happy with how the service had gone so our prayers were answered. Tonight he has a "Songs of Praise" service but I will be excused as others can read the prayers etc because there is no sermon. Douglas will just say a few words after a short meditation is read.

Our last day in Doha part 3

We all piled into the car and set off to see some sights and have a special dinner for Owen's birthday treat and our "Last Supper".

 We decided to go to a Lebanese Restaurant for our meal and once there, having placed our orders, Owen was fascinated to see a lady making the bread we were to enjoy with our meal.

 The starter arrived and Brendon had to warn us that there was still a main course as we were enjoying the started so much that we ate far to much.

 Once the main course arrived we all ate with enthusiasm as we shared the platters of food we had ordered so that we could all have a taste of the different items on the menu.

 The menu had some interesting spelling for chicken but despite this the food was delicious.

The staff loved the children and kept stoking Owen on his head and entertaining us all with the "Magic" wipes and the fork trick.

 When we left it was dark outside so we could enjoy the magnificent display of lights.