if you find these....

I really want these shoes....

gorgeousness from ZARA soft leather, comfy considering the height of the heel and pretty cool - perfect for the desert!!!

I need them in size 39 (squeezed my feet into the 38 but they looked liked sausages and I couldn't move my toes!) but they didn't have them in any of the Riyadh stores and it seems that Zara online in KSA is not an e-commerce site and UK online don't have them - I guess that means I can't have them !

Chocolates and stuff....

We had 45 for supper last night as DH's boss is in town for a few days staying with us ( Riyadh after a sandstorm really isn't a good look!)

The food cooked by our lovely chef Vijay was, as always, delicious - I think I could happily eat curry for breakfast, lunch and supper everyday ( Vijay is from Kerala in the south of India so his curry always features a good helping of coconut milk - sweet, creamy and just FAB)

So, knowing I wouldn't have to worry about the cooking I thought I'd make Rosie The Londoner's amazingly simple and utterly delicious Salted Chocolate Truffles - get the recipe from her blog here (btw if you haven't ever found her blog before you must - she's young gorgeous AND she cooks!)

So I've made these many times before, when we lived in Notting Hill they were my regular treat for going to supper with friends ( always impressed even the most die-hard chocolatiers!) - usually I made them in too little time whilst trying to cook supper for the kids before heading out - so this time it was so easy..... Vijay had already broken all the chocolate into small pieces and measured the butter and cream into seperate bowls for me - all I had to do was mix it all together!! I felt like a TV chef without the camera crew! The only down side is I wasn't able to find my fave Green & Black's Milk Chocolate  ( and Saudi Milk Chocolate just doesn't taste the same - even the Dairy Milk here tastes different!)

Pre-Milk Chocolate dipping!

Sadly everyone loved them and there were none left for me to photograph .... except for the small dish I hid at the back of the fridge especially for my morning treat pre-pilates!!

Try them, you will love them!

(Empty Bunny dish from Anthropologie, London)

A Whirlwind of Royal-ness.....

Its been so so busy in Riyadh the past few days

We went to a gloriously English Garden Party at the British Ambassador's Home to welcome Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall to Riyadh. Sadly I had to leave my camera and Blackberry with security at the entrance so no photos but DH did take a quick snap before we left (Note the Miu Miu bag has come out to play!!)

The garden at the HMA Residence is just lovely - lots of beautiful trees which are currently full of blossom ( just like the streets of Kensington in May!) so there was some shade and a little breeze which helped as the temperatures were hitting 90 degrees centigrade - it was like a little slice of (warm) England in Riyadh - we had afternoon tea, tiny little sandwiches, cakes and fruit juices whilst we waited for HRH The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall to arrive.  

There was a beautiful ice sculpture of The Prince of Wales' emblem which amazingly didn't melt! No Vodka running off it OBVIOUSLY!!

 This was the centrepiece on the tea table and it did look very impressive ( photos courtesy of REX)

When they arrived they each started on a different side of the garden and made their way around the different groups - we had HRH Prince Charles who was very chatty and keen to hear about life in Riyadh - including asking what the Ladies managed to find to do...Much to DH's horror I replied 
"Shopping Your Highness, we even have a Harvey Nics" Much giggling and guffawing from around the table including Prince Charles!!

After about an hour they left the gardens to prepare for their next appointment - it really is a whistle stop tour of the Middle East for them and so much to pack in.

We sped off to change into Evening dress for our dinners - the men were dining with HRH Prince Charles and the Crown Prince and the Ladies were whisked off to a tented banquet hosted by  HRH Princess Hessa Bint Tarrad Al-Shalan, the wife of King Abdullah on the King's Farm outside Riyadh - we had flashing lights, police cars, 2 lanes of limos and 4x4's all very exciting (especially as we didn't really know where we were going and the drivers didn't speak any English...)

Not a great photo but you can just about make out the flashing lights of the Police cars at the beginning of our convoy as we rushed through red lights....the nearer we got to the destination the more Police cars appeared and Tanks and soldiers.... 

We arrived somewhere out of town in the desert to an amazing huge tent - the floor was lined with beautiful carpets and rugs and the room was full of Princesses and  21 of the 30 Ladies recently appointed on the Shura Council. 

These Ladies come from a variety of professions - I met a Professor in Mathematics, a Consultant Obstetrician, a Consultant Opthalmic Surgeon and a whole host of other interesting ladies and Princesses ( including the King's very beautiful and eloquent daughters). 

We were greeted with traditional Arabic Coffee made with Cardamons followed by chocolates and dates - then we moved into another vast tent for a banquet - Tables were laden with Arabic delicacies and a 3 course supper was served on beautiful white china with gold edging.  Never have I felt more welcomed and so well looked after. It was a total pleasure to spend the evening with such interesting and interested women - I felt totally humbled by how hard some of these ladies had worked (and in one case bringing up 5 children at the same time as studying - all 5 children are now either Doctors or training to be doctors!) Inspiring to say the least..... This is the true side of Saudi that most Westerners are not lucky enough to gain access to - these ladies have worked hard and achieved the top of their game and now are seeing a change in their country of which they can be part of - really amazing .

I arrived back at my Villa at 145am and DH had waited up for me ( even though he had early pick up at 630am the next day- ahhh what a husband!)

AND his necklace is bigger and better than mine!!

What to wear for dinner with Princesses?

DH tells me I need a frock for a garden party and another for a dinner with some Princesses - both on the same day.  So today I spend most of the day shopping ... started at Faizaliah Mall found a lovely Missonni beach dress - no good for either events so I didn't buy it!

Next stop Harvey Nichols - strange thing about shopping in HN Riyadh is the number of male assistants and shortage of Ladies to help - they really need me on the shop floor as a personal shopper - the lady who carried my dresses to the changing rooms ( what a treat to actually try things on - v rare in Riyadh to have changing rooms!) dragged them across the dusty floor - not a good look for a dress that is £1k now covered in dust, sand and grime! No water cooler no nice furniture all a bit sad really - HN call me I will come and sort it out!!

I'm digressing... tried on 4 lovely dresses

1st one Alice by Temperley lovely cream column dress with tulle overlay so pretty but too big

 - they sent the tailor to come and advise but I think it would have ruined the line of the dress so that sadly was a no... but have  a look at it here it was gorgeous... (photos courtesy of Temperley website and it is also available at Harvey Nichols Riyadh)

Next up was a Laundry by Shelli Segal Black silk jersey one shouldered dress - lovely but as my friend said - it is just like the one you have at home but not as nice ( also by Laundry and much loved and worn!)

ONWARDS....

Another 'nothing' dress came next which made me feel very middle-aged and frumpy ( not the look I was after!) and then the best one

A beautiful ISSA London floor length Black silk jersey dress with cutout back - I can't find it anywhere online but it was mostly black with the same insert at the chest as this one Very classic cool gown

(Photo courtesy of Issa London website)

It was fab-u-lous perfect for meeting Princesses and Duchesses. It was a tad too big ( and they only had the one size) but it was over 7000 Saudi Riyals which is more than £1100 .  Do I really need to spend that much cash on a dress...

NO

We'd done Harvey Nics by now so did all the other shops in the Mall with no success, onto our Pilates Class and then 2 more Malls (in between prayer times!). Still no new dresses so it looks like I will be wearing my old Black Laundry dress for the dinner and a Vintage Chiffon flowery frock for the garden party...photos of the outfits will follow!

Moral of the tale - don't try to buy a last minute outfit in Riyadh!!

Any hints on shopping in Riyadh greatly received!!

The Escarpment, Riyadh ....

WOW is my first thought on writing this post!

We have just got back from an AMAZING day out in the desert - a different kind of desert to Shark Tooth Valley ... more rocks, gorse bushes and Acacia Trees..... and a few camels!

There is a place about 80-90kms out of Riyadh called The Escarpment and also known as The Edge Of The World.  I'd seen pictures, read about it in a guide book, seen it mentioned on Blogs and spoken to people who'd been - lots of mixed reports.  Believe me IT IS WORTH THE VISIT!

I'm not a travel writer but this place was awesome ( I think it helped that we went with 9 other really cool, interesting people some who had been before but all who were excited about the views!)

If your interested in taking a visit you will need:

GPS or Sat Nav
4 x 4 vehicle and at least 1 other 4 x 4 with you ( in case you get stuck in the soft sand (spade also a good idea as is sand ladders) and need pulling out or have a puncture etc...NEVER go into the desert alone!!)
Lots of water ( and diet coke/juice)
Amazing picnic to have under the trees
SUNSCREEN

The co-ordinates to programme into your GPS are listed in this post....

So you head out of Riyadh on the 535 The Salbouk Road heading North and take a left turn off this road at these co-ordinates
 N24° 57' 21.2" E046° 13' 41.6"

Looks like these pic below!!

The fun driving starts now - there is a track to follow, don't drive too slowly in the soft sand and take it easy on the steep ruts in the wadi...

Enjoy the view

You will come to a concrete bollard gate like think
(these co-ordinates for your GPS are N24° 55' 05.5" E046° 10' 30.9")  
(see pics) then you drive on a little and come through an actual gate.  This gate  closes for the night ABOUT sunset time ( we made sure we were at the gate by 5pm in order to leave otherwise you are stuck for the night....

This is the gate that is locked by sunset...

The drive through the desert is rocky and pretty bumpy ( though DH managed it with broken ribs!) but really FAB we saw camels just lolopping along the scenery is like your oun mini set of Pyramids and you can see where the water floods through the valley...

The drive from leaving the main road to the foot of the The Escarpment is approx 39 kms though the rocky, bumpy desert track! 
Final co-ordinates for The Edge of The World are N24° 56' 41.4" E045° 59' 32.1"
and here is what it looks like....

That is DH standing on The Edge of The World...

The best was still to come LUNCH!

These guys know how to travel in style in the desert - tables and chairs and rugs and cushions under the trees...

My new line in head gear - better than a hat!

Piece de resistance was the hot water boiler - we all want one now.... 1 litre of water boiled in about 5 mins - we need one of these for the beach in Norfolk ( DH tried to explain to me how it worked..... little fire underneath etc etc!!)

One last Camel on the way home .....What a great Friday! If you go just remember to get back through the gate before sunset!! 

If you want to find out more about The Escarpment, Riyadh have a look here and here

OMG...

Had to take a quick trip into town on Wednesday afternoon as I needed to go to the mobile phone shop and change my sim card for a nano sim for my new iphone5.  DH was still away in London so I arranged for my driver to take me to one of the big modern shopping malls - we went to The Granada Centre, he dropped me off at the entrance and I made my way upstairs to the MOBILY shop ( Mobily are one of the 2  mobile service carriers in KSA).

Just for the record I was wearing a full length, all black, long sleeved abaya AND a black headscarf covering ALL of my hair - so a pretty demure look and hugely respectful to the people of Saudi Arabia (as always).

The shop was busy so I look around for an assistant to help me - a young man in his mid 20's went over to one of the assistants and was pointing at me - Great, I thought, he's telling the chap to come over and assist me... WRONG.  I was asked to leave the store, yup ASKED TO LEAVE!

So, a little shocked and surprised I asked him "Why do I need to leave?"
"Madam, you need to be with your husband or sponsor in this store otherwise we cannot serve you"

What can I say?

I will not be changing my current STC (Saudi Telecom) sim over to Mobily!!

One Man and His Shed

One of the reasons DH was looking forward to half term in UK ( apart from spending 9 days with his gorgeous children obviously!) was that he might get around to finishing his shed... This is the shed that he and L started to build in AUGUST 2012!!!

So we have this lovely OLD house in Norfolk near the sea - It was built in the 1820's and the people we bought it from hadn't done ANYTHING to it for years and years and it neeeded gutting ( but we didn't have the cash to gut it and start again) - we are now into our 2nd decade of works - it will never be finished ... and in the meanwhile Boss ( as he is known in Saudi) decides we need a new larger shed.  

It would have been quicker ( and probably cheaper in the long run) to have had someone come and build it but apparently a man likes to build his own shed! So the boy and DH started in August 2012 during our summer holiday - Boy found my old boots to wear so I naturally took a photo ( they look much better on him than they ever did on me!)

Anyway I'm digressing again! 

So the shed didn't get finished over Summer then DH moved to Riyadh and the Shed was half built  and we had other works going on in the house so no pennies left to pay for someone to finish the shed.

So February is cold and snowing and DH is outside all day for 2 days working on his masterpiece - and I have to say it looks beautiful - he designed it from scratch, ordered the wood, cut the wood and did all the other bits ( whatever they are?).  

By Sunday ( day 2) boy is bored of the shed and is off to see his friend on his bike so DH continues alone.....

Unbeknown to me DH had fallen off the roof of the shed whilst banging in some nails and landed 12 feet below on the hard (frozen) garden and he now has a couple of broken ribs !!!

By the way the shed is still not finished.... but our house looks lovely!