There is a phenomenon amongst expats that I wasn’t aware of until I partook in it myself. It is the double wedding. As in, get married and then get married again, usually in a different location. Usually with different guests. Sometimes there is a significant time delay. Sometimes there is a delay of just [...]

  “Dear mustlovedust,  My husband and I are considering moving over, and I wanted to find out what compound you lived in; as it seems to be dog friendly. We need a garden as we have a young toddler and a very busy puppy.   Thanks very much, Devoted Reader”   Dear Reader,   I [...]

  Before I moved to Qatar I obsessed about what to wear. Obsessed. Now that I’m here, I can see that there’s nothing to worry about. It’s all about staples and layers. One of the best pieces of advice I got about dressing in Qatar was from Kirsty at  4 kids, 20 suitcases and a [...]

Since giving up gluten nearly 2 years ago I have had an inextricable desire to bake. It’s really very poor timing. If I was in Sydney it would be fine – just go to an overpriced healthfood store and you’re sorted. Here in Doha, not so much. We have to hunt a little harder for [...]

I did a little Q & A with InterNations recently about expat life in Doha. You can check it out here. InterNations is an online expat community. To join, you have to be invited by someone who is already a member. Once you’re approved there are different membership levels to choose from (i.e. free or [...]

There comes a time in many people’s week (or let’s face it, day) when they need to relax, blow off some steam and have a nice glass of … grape juice. Or wheat juice. Or potato juice – whatever. If you are licensed, that juice may be drunk at home. That’s nice. But if you [...]

Some lucky (or not?) ladies get to shed the dreaded trailing spouse tag and actually sponsor their husbands in Qatar. This comes with its own set of complications, one of which is the issue of exit permits.   What is an exit permit? For those of you who are new here, let’s do a brief exit [...]

Images top left to right:  Dhow Boat; Outdoor safety campaign on Al Waab St; Vintage cars at Sheikh Faisel Museum; Roof racks on B Ring road; Festive desserts on Qatar National Day; Fort walls; Rock formations near Al Thakira; Not sure what this photo is of!; A basil plant thriving on B Ring road.

; Christmas in Qatar is not an assumption. Christmas is a work day. Christmas is celebrated in advance, at brunch, with friends and strangers. Christmas is not affordable, after I spent QR5,000 to find out my dog is dying. Christmas is a story I tell my friends who don’t celebrate it. Christmas is a ‘Season’s [...]

Happy Qatar National Day everyone! To celebrate this auspicious occasion I have compiled a list of some of the things to love about this lovely little boiling hot country.   Everyone calls you ‘Dear’ or ‘Habbibi’ You get to fly Qatar Airways everywhere, the BEST airline in the world! Limes are really cheap (about 15c each) You [...]

Images (top left to right): Qatar lovin’ from the Cornish; Doha’s Falcon Souq; Camels training on a Saturday; Aspetar in the evening; Incense at Spice Market; Crepe guy at St Regis brunch melts whole chocolate pieces into the batter!; All in a row. Qatar Airways ready to fly; Weather! One of the best things about [...]

  There is a common preconception that all expats, especially ones living in the Middle East, are rolling in money.  And fair enough I guess – from the outside I can see how it seems that way: tax free, nice house, lots of travel etc etc. And let’s face it, many people wouldn’t ditch their [...]

The Sheikh Faisal Museum is one of my top sites for visitors to Qatar. Maybe top 3. Definitely top 5. It is the most unique museum with the most eclectic collection I have ever seen. There is something for everyone:  history buffs, art lovers, fashionistas, rev heads. There is so much to see. It is [...]