Update - The Qatari Files (04/02/2020)

So, early Feb has arrived, and spring is definitely NOT in the air in Doha! Temps range from low to mid-teens in the early morning hours, and brisk winds which have started to make their appearance – probably the early showing of the Shamal – bringing the ambient temperature down to below 10 degrees (Celsius) at times.

Not too much of a problem for us, being "robust" South Africans (although I suspect my blood is getting thin), but I can see the locals and the expats from the subcontinent aren’t too keen on the weather. In fact, the predominantly Indian and Pakistani fellows who attend the mosque next door on Friday mornings at 11, look decidedly sorry for themselves.

Suppose I would be too if I had grown up in these climes, especially summer. South Africa has a moderate climate compared to here, although it can get down to about zero in the winter in the northern regions where we stay. Or shall I say, used to stay.

It’s the upper end of the spectrum which is of course more of a problem here (for us), come July to September…

Staying busy, what with consulting, training interventions and studies. Have also now started writing articles for on-line publications, so the days are growing very short. Doesn’t help much either that sunrise is late, and sunset early – just something so fundamentally wrong with having to work at night! As it is I’m still battling to get used to the Sunday work thing, even after all these years.

We will be off again to South Africa in March to do training there in Johannesburg and Cape Town – my wife for pre-school teachers, and myself for clients who may be interested in the fields of Strategic Planning, Risk (ISO 31000), Team Development, and 4IR.

We return to Doha early April, and that will probably be my last trip back to Doha before we finally settle in SA towards end June, unless something relatively dramatic happens in the work arena. We’re both quite keen to do one more "tour" (military people will understand) or so somewhere in Europe or the Orient, but will let ourselves be led by fate as far as that is concerned.

Anyhow, I suppose it’s time to focus on work and stop being distracted (which I'm very good at)...