Last week it was hectic getting ready for the journey up to Amman and then on to Cyprus for me!
Said goodbye to quite a few friends last week who are leaving the Magic Kingdom and beginning lives in other countries. Yep, you guessed correctly, a few parties were necessary.
We stayed in Amman on Wednesday night in the Four Seasons, most disappointing. I began my flight last night and arrived in the villa at 2.00AM, tired and very cold.
However, this morning the sun is shining and the villa is beautiful.
The garden is awesome. Take a peak below and on my Photoblog.

As you may already know, so forgive me for repeating myself, when I travel, or go into town, I have to wear an abya. Well my present abya is now 5 years old. It is wonderful for seating several people in the desert on a picnic, it is great for putting in the boot of a car to put plants on, it's terrific for halloween costume parties and amazing for wrapping yourself up in at Jeddah airport when your flight doesn't leave until 3.00am!!!! With all of this use, is it any wonder that it is looking very tired? So tonight we are off to buy a new...abya!
Would anyone like the old one? It would be great to line a dog basket.

We took the Murano out for a spin today.



Don't you just love new cars? Why is it that the first few weeks even a fly splatting on the pearl-white paint sends you screaming and scampering for a cloth to restore it to its pristine newness?
Our trip took us to Astra Farms to buy plants and here is one of them, a beautiful white jasmin.

Today was a sad day because I said goodbye to "The Wagon"! We have had the 4x4 for seven years now and it has been a very reliable vehicle.
It has taken us down dry river beds, into desert canyons, onto golden beaches miles from the nearest road, many times to Jordan and even the treacherous route from Dharan to Riyadh. We have followed in the steps of Lawrence of Arabia and explored Turkish Forts. Only once have we been totally bogged down in the desert sand in temperatures of 50 degrees plus (130 degrees Fahrenheit) and you may need to ask Ed who was driving at the time:)
Today the new SUV arrived and we now have a Nissan Murano. It is so beautiful but I can't help feeling a tad guilty because 'The Wagon' now has a new owner.

Not long back from my weekend in Aqaba where we celebrated my birthday. Last night we went to The Royal Yacht Club with friends for a superb meal and then fun and frolics in the hotel nightclub.
Coming back today the 'wagon' started juddering and so we proceeded slowly and cautiously. Phil thought it was the prop shaft but we certainly weren't prepared for the sudden bang and the front tyre just delaminated (the tread ripping away from the tyre) sending the vehicle sliding across the road. Phil amazingly kept the car under control and he was able to pull it back over to the side. So one wheel change later we were able to get underway and proceed back to Tabuk.



Look out for the link to my new photograph album that Ed has done for my birthday.

Ed: "Lynne's Photos" can be viewed at www.eddequincey.com/lynnesphotos/.

The title is just to wring that last little bit of sympathy from you. It actually lasted only 2 days but left me feeling very tired and sorry for myself.
This week has been busy at work and it seems to have 'flashed' by. Now, lo and behold, the weekend is here and we are off to Jordan tonight for a jolly jaunt to celebrate my birthday!
So..."Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday to me..."

Second day of being sick, very sick! The Doc at the Med Centre says it's possible that I have a bug from drinking contaminated water! He also doesn't dismiss the possibility of this coming from Thailand, apparently the incubation period can be anything from 48 hours to 2 weeks.
Oh, well it doesn't diminish the wonderful time I had and there is no certainty that it came from there.