Far too fragile..

Here in Doha we have had a massive fire, a fire in a place close to home where One sees and feels the direct results.  This was a fire in a place that we frequent often, a place where I have left my own daughter, a shopping centre where many many many people go and feel safe and comfortable.  Through the night we learned that three of our NZ expat community have been lost (the NZ triplets) and many from other nationalities.  Claudio (our spanish carpool buddy) has just lost three of his friends.

Right now I am sitting at the computer keeping an unemotional face as I have two 6 year olds happily drawing in another room.  My heart is not unemotional and my eyes are burning holding back the tears for all of the lost.

I would also like to say, that whilst many have not lost their lives or their families, some will have lost their income and their jobs: it is not going unthought of....

There by the grace of God...

Acknowledgement to the prayer cartoon: Doha-based cartoonist Khalid Al Baih drew this cartoon as a prayer to the deceased.

Only 1.5 hours to go....

There is less than 1.5 hours until Teagan gets home from school.  We now have three families in the compound car pool and this has meant that I only have to do four school runs per week, which leaves me with the bliss of a Sunday completely at home.  Hence, today, I have some time to write up a short blog post!

Count down is beginning.  The academic year is in its last throws with school production, assessments, family fun days and all of the business that comes.  For me also, it is the financial term: tax preparations, portfolio rejigs ("sell in May and go away"...I then come back in November) and finishing off my "to-do" lists before Teagan and I head out of the sandpit for the oven baking summer that Doha turns on.  So today, I am loading onto this blog three of my completely finished outfits.

But first, before the photos, the logical question to raise here (in Qatar) is: "why on earth sew clothes yourself when you could get a tailor to make them for you?"  Easy answer, "because I want the skill myself!"  Clearly, I have no designs on being a tailor, that is a highly skilled and practiced trade but to be able to see and make of my own hands is something I will never lose.  A bit like time really, a skill learned is more valuable to me than money.

The inside of my Collette Patterns BEIGNET No.1005

The BEIGNET: using Liberty of London Cotton

Colette: CLOVER pants No. 1019

Added detail using Liberty of London lawn cotton for the trimming: fabric was  cotton gaberdine

Vogue V8507 dress (modified neckline by me).  Sorry but I haven't done well on the photography so the sleeve detail
does not show up at all.  Fabric again is Liberty London fine lawn cotton.

Am I being good....

Since Sunday, Ross and I have been enduring Teagan's aches and pains.  These acute (or chronic), problems appear to stem from one wobbly tooth.  You see, "it shows I am growing up and it is really hard doing growing up".  Everything came to a head yesterday at school pick-up time when I lifted a rolling whimpering child off the classroom mat.  She had quite a bit of sympathy and accordingly I carried her to the school's nurses.  Fifteen minutes later with no abnormal temperature we were in the car travelling back to the compound.  It was a miracle, she was well again and graced the swimming pool with her presence! (Note: she was put to bed 1 hour earlier than normal and went to sleep quickly!)

The bake-up: step 1

Step 2

Step 3 - you cook it...yes she did burn her fingertips whilst being silly!!

Compliance

Car buddies - and Barnaby Bear

Kitchen independence

Cup obtained

Lowering down

Now to make the coffee

Checking out the lost tooth

Look hard and you may see the gap!

Thursday mornings are tidy the house day....so we make a house

Creations at the desk