well im going to write a little bit now as i havnt updated the blog for a while, ive been back in doha a little longer than a week, and every thing is the same, its a little hotter – 55 today with 90% humidity the sand is still here, but a lot of people have left for the summer holidays, so the early morning commute isnt as bad and the driving on the road is a lot better.

Its an up hill struggle through to the end of October now – the heat of august, ramadan and eid are taking over September and October so things are going to be slow, with the imminent departure of my head of section and the departure of my boss things at work are going to become difficult at work for a while too until long term replacements are found.

Ive also decided to keep my head down for the time being and focus on 'me' stuff – im not going to be out and about as much as i was as i have a couple of personal projects that i need to get on top of. i also need to decide what i want to do with my future – as i have said to people before, i dont have much out here apart from my career and half a dozen great friends, also ive decided to continue the diet and try and take another 2 stone off – if i can get down to the weight i was at 17 i will be over the moon, i also need to try and get 'fit'.

Sorry I haven’t written sooner – yes im back – but I got hit with a dose of food poisoning on my return to Doha, so spent two days doubled up in pain, two nights of psychedelic dreams (the ones you get with bad) about trying to smuggle laser defense systems out of Russia via train.

Suffice to say the trip was fantastic, just what I needed – an escape from Doha – back to normality - well as normal as a 3 week trip to the ex-soviet block can be.

Croatia was stunning – thanks to eddie and gail for the party and the inspiration

Serbia and exit – were – well massive – I have never seen 50,000 people go off so hard as they did when prodigy played ‘out of space’

Mum and dad seem to be settling down without me again – I think there enjoying Romania – the transition of Romania into Europe seems to be fascinating – Romania is changing and changing fast.