Hunter finished his exams for the IB diploma and is currently chilling in Cyprus with his gal-pal Mariana. She is off to Reading University in October for her pre-law. Hunter heads to Arizona State June 25th, to begin summer school and stay with Aidan until the fall semester starts. Aidan and his friend Cameron scored a 2-bed apt in Phoenix, 3 miles from his campus.
That leaves Aric and I alone with two four-legged, furry kids, Slim and Sammie (now called Miver [meewar] because she has such a pitiful miauw sound!) We are sacking the carwasher, the maid and downsizing to a 3 bedroom home in Garden View, a few miles south of where we are now. It's a lovely home on a slope of Jebel Ali (Mount Ali) which is more like a big hill, but who's picky?
It hasn't been easy to find a new home. You would think we have the pick of the litter with over 2000 homes being released in the last 6-8 months. However, all the homes we have looked at in the past month are either 40 miles out in the desert, or in a sandpit in the middle of a highway pringle, or they are too small, too expensive, too big, too weird in the layout, no garden, too big of a garden, etc etc. We are not being difficult but I'm thinking of an in-and-out option for the kitten who refuses to live behind closed doors. At 8 months she is a holy terror and lanky - loves to sleep outside in 45c temps under my garden furniture.
Yesterday, the 13th of June, was a day of miracles. Our friends Rina and Dave live in the Garden View Villas and I had earlier tried to find the number of the management office who once went bancrupt because of the recession...that's now history - it's amazing who can get a stimulus package thses days (I'd like some stimulus!) so Dave gave me a number and on the 12th I called several times, on hold for most of them, but managed to get a guy who said I had to call Merlin (I always knew it took magic to get a place to live). I called Merlin (who turnes out to be Marilyn...lost in translation) and when I cheerfully asked if I could view one of the villas, she said "Maaam, are you on the waiting list?" WHAT?? There's a waiting list for these unique "can't ever get into them" villas?? Well, no I am not.....so, called the first number again and put myself on the list. When asked how soon we were moving I said 2 weeks, to which I received the answer that I was number 76 and it would take a year. Back to Dave and Rina...Dave said a couple across the street were possibly moving so maybe we could take over their lease. We knocked on the door. Nobody home. Went to the leasing office and I really looked pathetic, both in my riding attire (tank top, jodphurs, boots - caked with a variety of stable and horse particles) and also in my 'sad desperate face' but never mind. I WAS desperate, so it wasn't really an act.
After speaking with Merlin/Marilyn and her boss Mr. Mansoor, a local Emirati, we were sure that it would be a long shot to find someone to take over a lease from and that was the only way to beat the waiting list. Dave said that Mr. Mansoor never even looked at my desperate face, he was more interested in my gold cross around my neck (or could it have been my chest??) Who knows... two hours later, while in a workshop, I got a call from Mr. Mansoor who said "Ms. Pia today is your lucky day!" Allah be praised what a miracle, a tenant had just come in and announced they were leaving and since Mr. Mansoor had my card in front of him, as well as a fresh image of my chest, ehm, my cross, I got the call and beat out 75 others.
Today I went back bearing gifts for Merlin and Mansoor. Dates and Chocolate from the region...it was a big hit. I'm sure they won't forget me. We take over the house on July 5th. Pics to come later.
And in other news, I picked up several new clients in yesterday's workshop, so am now well on my way to earn enough to keep gas in my car and feed my horse! I'm off to Beirut for consulting too later this month. What a day it was...the 13th!!
PROM NIGHT:
