Wednesday 23 November 2011
Thursday 17 November 2011
Friday 11 November 2011
Monday 31 October 2011
Wednesday 19 October 2011
Saturday 15 October 2011
Rain
On the day of the opening night, not only was there a massive sandstorm that made everything look yellow that hurt your eyes and reduced visibility to less than 100 metres, but it was followed by rain.
The locals looked at all the ex-pats as if they were mad just because they were happy to stand in the rain getting wet.
It was the first rain since last year and lasted about 10 minutes.
Happy days!
The locals looked at all the ex-pats as if they were mad just because they were happy to stand in the rain getting wet.
It was the first rain since last year and lasted about 10 minutes.
Happy days!
Turandot review
link
Oman's Royal Opera House begins its inaugural season
Rebecca McLaughlin-Duane
Oct 16, 2011
Oman's Royal Opera House in Muscat was packed to its gilded rafters on Friday night for its inaugural performance. Women - mostly European - in floor-sweeping evening gowns and fur stoles, accompanied by gentlemen in sharp tuxedos, and a healthy contingent from the UAE, all took to their plush red seats.
Salma Al Riyami, a doctor from Abu Dhabi, says the world-class cultural calendar offered by Muscat will encourage her to make the trip from her home in the capital more often.
"It's amazing the Gulf now has something like this with international productions, performers and really great names," she said.
In the coming months the imposing marble, gypsum and wood-carved venue will host the Italian operatic star Andrea Bocelli and the celebrated American soprano Renée Fleming. Friday's performance of Puccini's final masterpiece Turandot featured the chorus and orchestra of the Fondazione Arena di Verona, Italy, conducted by the Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo.
Xiu Wei Sun took the title role as the fatally beautiful Princess Turandot who, despite having sworn never to be possessed by a man, eventually succumbs to the persistent and charismatic Calaf, played by Mario Malagnini.
Slightly eclipsing the renowned cast and unforgettable score was master cinematographer Franco Zeffirelli's set design and creative direction. Best known for his 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet, which saw him nominated for an Academy award, Zeffirelli has been directing and producing operas since the 1950s, having worked with many of the greats, including Maria Callas in La Traviata.
More than 1,000 costumes and elaborate sets were prepared for the three acts of the Muscat production, which premiered at Milan's Teatro alla Scala in 1926.
"Oman has gone big right from day one," said Geoffrey Wheel, technical director of the opera house. "Normally, a large touring opera would come with, on average, about 10 to 12 sea containers - Turandot had 22! Carmen, which is coming later this season, has even bigger sets, with real horses on stage, too."
One of the evening's most memorable moments came in scene two, where the set drew gasps from the audience who then burst into spontaneous applause as the curtain lifted on a three-tiered Chinese imperial palace courtyard with a waterway staircase. Recessed deep and high at the back of the enormous stage was a gleaming pagoda beneath which sat the emperor on his throne, flanked by countless courtiers holding satin lanterns and banners heavily decorated in gold brocade.
With Turandot running for just two nights and Oman now in permanent possession of Zeffirelli's titanic backdrops, it was vital to ensure they be preserved well, said Wheel.
"We're building new storage facilities in Ghala about 15 minutes from the opera house with stores for about 70-80 sea containers and also workshops for carpentry, metal, painting, costumes wigs and make-up - basically complete production facilities."
Despite the weighty responsibility for all visual aspects of production, Wheel was not intimidated by the size and scale of Zeffirelli's vision for Turandot, thanks to the new venue's remarkable versatility.
"There's nothing comparable in the world," he said. "It stands alone because it's a theatre, an opera house and, if need be, a cinema in one - there aren't many of those around. We've got some of the best lighting systems in the world and in terms of staging and acoustics it does everything incredibly well, making it easily as good as Sydney Opera House or London's Covent Garden."
The 25,000-square-metre site has the capacity for around 850 people within its main auditorium, which can - by hydraulics that move the proscenium and VIP boxes - seat more than 1,050 for concerts such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra's visit with cellist Yo-Yo Ma in early November.
Hinting as to what might be pencilled in for next season, a backstage tour of the premises revealed the theatre's pièce de résistance.
"It's a magnificent pipe organ designed by Philip Klais of Bonn, Germany," said Wheel. "It is made entirely of wood and ornately hand-decorated with gold leaf. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said is very fond of pipe music and it could work for the beginning of Tosca, but it will most probably be used for a future organ concert or recital."
With its lush, manicured gardens, rooftop performance area, black-box studio and "Maidan" palazzo-type entrance, well-suited for winter al fresco events, the Royal Opera House Muscat has undeniably put Oman on the world cultural stage.
Wheel is keen its productions be accessible to all, with language, in particular, proving no barrier.
"On the back of every seat there's a touch-screen allowing you to pick the language you want to understand the performance in - if you're watching an opera, for example, where the classic language might be Italian," he said.
Next month the Egyptian legend Umm Kulthum will be honoured when the acclaimed diva Reham Abdul Hakim pays tribute to her in concert.
In the wake of Hakim's appearance and Magida El Roumi's performance next month, more Arabic events are scheduled alongside global ballet and opera productions in 2012.
Oman's Royal Opera House begins its inaugural season
Rebecca McLaughlin-Duane
Oct 16, 2011
Oman's Royal Opera House in Muscat was packed to its gilded rafters on Friday night for its inaugural performance. Women - mostly European - in floor-sweeping evening gowns and fur stoles, accompanied by gentlemen in sharp tuxedos, and a healthy contingent from the UAE, all took to their plush red seats.Salma Al Riyami, a doctor from Abu Dhabi, says the world-class cultural calendar offered by Muscat will encourage her to make the trip from her home in the capital more often.
"It's amazing the Gulf now has something like this with international productions, performers and really great names," she said.
In the coming months the imposing marble, gypsum and wood-carved venue will host the Italian operatic star Andrea Bocelli and the celebrated American soprano Renée Fleming. Friday's performance of Puccini's final masterpiece Turandot featured the chorus and orchestra of the Fondazione Arena di Verona, Italy, conducted by the Spanish tenor Plácido Domingo.
Xiu Wei Sun took the title role as the fatally beautiful Princess Turandot who, despite having sworn never to be possessed by a man, eventually succumbs to the persistent and charismatic Calaf, played by Mario Malagnini.
Slightly eclipsing the renowned cast and unforgettable score was master cinematographer Franco Zeffirelli's set design and creative direction. Best known for his 1968 version of Romeo and Juliet, which saw him nominated for an Academy award, Zeffirelli has been directing and producing operas since the 1950s, having worked with many of the greats, including Maria Callas in La Traviata.
More than 1,000 costumes and elaborate sets were prepared for the three acts of the Muscat production, which premiered at Milan's Teatro alla Scala in 1926.
"Oman has gone big right from day one," said Geoffrey Wheel, technical director of the opera house. "Normally, a large touring opera would come with, on average, about 10 to 12 sea containers - Turandot had 22! Carmen, which is coming later this season, has even bigger sets, with real horses on stage, too."
One of the evening's most memorable moments came in scene two, where the set drew gasps from the audience who then burst into spontaneous applause as the curtain lifted on a three-tiered Chinese imperial palace courtyard with a waterway staircase. Recessed deep and high at the back of the enormous stage was a gleaming pagoda beneath which sat the emperor on his throne, flanked by countless courtiers holding satin lanterns and banners heavily decorated in gold brocade.
With Turandot running for just two nights and Oman now in permanent possession of Zeffirelli's titanic backdrops, it was vital to ensure they be preserved well, said Wheel.
"We're building new storage facilities in Ghala about 15 minutes from the opera house with stores for about 70-80 sea containers and also workshops for carpentry, metal, painting, costumes wigs and make-up - basically complete production facilities."
Despite the weighty responsibility for all visual aspects of production, Wheel was not intimidated by the size and scale of Zeffirelli's vision for Turandot, thanks to the new venue's remarkable versatility.
"There's nothing comparable in the world," he said. "It stands alone because it's a theatre, an opera house and, if need be, a cinema in one - there aren't many of those around. We've got some of the best lighting systems in the world and in terms of staging and acoustics it does everything incredibly well, making it easily as good as Sydney Opera House or London's Covent Garden."
The 25,000-square-metre site has the capacity for around 850 people within its main auditorium, which can - by hydraulics that move the proscenium and VIP boxes - seat more than 1,050 for concerts such as the London Philharmonic Orchestra's visit with cellist Yo-Yo Ma in early November.
Hinting as to what might be pencilled in for next season, a backstage tour of the premises revealed the theatre's pièce de résistance.
"It's a magnificent pipe organ designed by Philip Klais of Bonn, Germany," said Wheel. "It is made entirely of wood and ornately hand-decorated with gold leaf. His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said is very fond of pipe music and it could work for the beginning of Tosca, but it will most probably be used for a future organ concert or recital."
With its lush, manicured gardens, rooftop performance area, black-box studio and "Maidan" palazzo-type entrance, well-suited for winter al fresco events, the Royal Opera House Muscat has undeniably put Oman on the world cultural stage.
Wheel is keen its productions be accessible to all, with language, in particular, proving no barrier.
"On the back of every seat there's a touch-screen allowing you to pick the language you want to understand the performance in - if you're watching an opera, for example, where the classic language might be Italian," he said.
Next month the Egyptian legend Umm Kulthum will be honoured when the acclaimed diva Reham Abdul Hakim pays tribute to her in concert.
In the wake of Hakim's appearance and Magida El Roumi's performance next month, more Arabic events are scheduled alongside global ballet and opera productions in 2012.
Wednesday 12 October 2011
Official opening
Today is the official opening of the Opera House, everything is ready. Set built. Rehearsals completed. His Majesty the Sultan is coming to tonight's performance so everybody is getting totally over-excited.
There are armed guards on all the entrances. We had been told that we are not allowed to use the car parks, and that we are not allowed to bring mobile phones into the building (though Omanis are - I don't know the thinking behind that one). What we weren't told was that we aren't allowed to bring cameras, cigarettes or lighters into the theatre. Don't know the thinking behind that one either.
Needless to say everybody was late getting to work as all the bags had to be searched and everybody was made to go through a metal detector. We made it though.
At the moment a thorough search of the building is taking place and once that has been completed no-one is allowed in or out of the building. We have to stay here until after His Majesty has left, what ever time that may be.
The sets are fantastic and spectacular (though they were difficult to build). The first act is set in a Chinese village and the second and third acts are set in a palace.
Placido Domingo is conducting the orchestra. I have never worked on a show with so many people in it. When they are all belting it out it is quite moving. Nessun Dorma is in this show. I wonder if it will get a round of applause.
Tonight's show is invitation only, but the price structure of the tickets means that 20 Riyals (£34) is the most expensive ticket. Every show for the season has been sold out.
I have heard that $1.2billion has been spent on the theatre in total. £4.2million on this show, including £2.4million on the set alone and it has taken £55,000 in ticket sales.
I am working on the fly floor (moving bars that the scenery & backcloths are attached to) which is automated - everything is moved by electric motors. Although I am not actually pressing the buttons, I am ensuring that all the pieces fly past each other (its known as brailling in the trade)
There are armed guards on all the entrances. We had been told that we are not allowed to use the car parks, and that we are not allowed to bring mobile phones into the building (though Omanis are - I don't know the thinking behind that one). What we weren't told was that we aren't allowed to bring cameras, cigarettes or lighters into the theatre. Don't know the thinking behind that one either.
Needless to say everybody was late getting to work as all the bags had to be searched and everybody was made to go through a metal detector. We made it though.
At the moment a thorough search of the building is taking place and once that has been completed no-one is allowed in or out of the building. We have to stay here until after His Majesty has left, what ever time that may be.
The sets are fantastic and spectacular (though they were difficult to build). The first act is set in a Chinese village and the second and third acts are set in a palace.
Placido Domingo is conducting the orchestra. I have never worked on a show with so many people in it. When they are all belting it out it is quite moving. Nessun Dorma is in this show. I wonder if it will get a round of applause.
Tonight's show is invitation only, but the price structure of the tickets means that 20 Riyals (£34) is the most expensive ticket. Every show for the season has been sold out.
I have heard that $1.2billion has been spent on the theatre in total. £4.2million on this show, including £2.4million on the set alone and it has taken £55,000 in ticket sales.
I am working on the fly floor (moving bars that the scenery & backcloths are attached to) which is automated - everything is moved by electric motors. Although I am not actually pressing the buttons, I am ensuring that all the pieces fly past each other (its known as brailling in the trade)
Tuesday 11 October 2011
Wednesday 21 September 2011
Friday 16 September 2011
Tuesday 6 September 2011
Where to go?
We've got a few days off next week, so we have decided to take advantage of our position in the world and get away to somewhere unusual. The image shows the destinations you can get to from Muscat airport.
Update
We're going to Colombo on Monday!
Opening night tomorrow
The first show of the newest theatre in the world opens tomorrow night. We got the set in on Thursday. We built it on Thursday and Friday. Technical rehearsals started on Saturday. Dress rehearsal tonight and opening night tomorrow. Box Office even opened the other day. The website has been updated (www.rohmuscat.org.om)
I am now officially working in the flys. Promotion already!
As far as I can see the technical team are ready and raring to go. Not sure about everybody else.
I am now officially working in the flys. Promotion already!
As far as I can see the technical team are ready and raring to go. Not sure about everybody else.
Wednesday 24 August 2011
Friday 19 August 2011
Sink hole
This is a massive hole in the ground (there's a person in the bottom right corner for you to get the scale). The water is 50 metres deep and is fed from the sea via an underground waterway.
Tuesday 16 August 2011
Weather
The temperature was 29C (84F) last night. This is the first time the temperature has got below 30C since we got here. It may be that the worst of the summer is behind us.
According to rumour everybody can stop work if the temperature goes above 50C (122F) and the official temperature never goes above 49C. A couple of weeks ago every day was above 50C for the whole week.
There has been a lot more cloud here than I was expecting - basically I was expecting hot sunny days every day - it has still been as hot as I thought it was going to be though. It hasn't rained here this year yet, though it did rain last year.
Everybody here says the weather during the winter is fantastic, the temperature will be in the 20s C (70s F). I'm looking forward to it.
According to rumour everybody can stop work if the temperature goes above 50C (122F) and the official temperature never goes above 49C. A couple of weeks ago every day was above 50C for the whole week.
There has been a lot more cloud here than I was expecting - basically I was expecting hot sunny days every day - it has still been as hot as I thought it was going to be though. It hasn't rained here this year yet, though it did rain last year.
Everybody here says the weather during the winter is fantastic, the temperature will be in the 20s C (70s F). I'm looking forward to it.
Saturday 13 August 2011
Wednesday 10 August 2011
Organ tour
We were shown around the inside of the organ today. Now I understand why it takes so long to tune. There were literally thousands of pipes inside - from small metal ones that had a diameter of 10mm up to the large wooden ones that were 9.6m long. It was fascinating to see.
To give some idea of the size, there were two sets of stairs inside to allow access to the 3 levels, six of us were inside the organ at the same time. There were wooden walls inside that moved to create baffles to change the sound of the notes being played.
Monday 8 August 2011
Organ tuning
The organ is being tuned at the moment. We have been subjected to Smoke On The Water by Deep Purple, The Winner Takes It All by Abba and Downtown by Petula Clarke. it's all a bit surreal having an enourmous organ playing these tunes. Apparently organs take up to 3 months to be fully tuned, so I am expected a variety of tunes to be blasting around the auditorium in the coming few weeks.
Sunday 31 July 2011
Friday 29 July 2011
Wednesday 27 July 2011
Medical
I did the last piece of hoop jumping (bureaucracy) yesterday - I took my medical to find out if I am fit enough to be able to do my job and well enough to stay in the country. Foreigners with AIDS are not allowed to stay in the country. I didn't have AIDS last time it was checked so I think I'll be alright.
I discovered I am 1.81m tall and weigh 93kg. The doctor told me to lose 5-6 kg as I am overweight and to get some exercise. I am going to buy a push bike to cycle to work every day. A bog standard bike costs 35 Rials (£50).
My blood pressure was high (a family trait) 160/100 the first time it was taken and 150/70 the second, so I have to go back on Monday. I am pleased to say that my heart-rate was 48, not as good as it used to be, but still very low.
The process was another demonstration of the lack of urgency in Oman. We were asked to get to the office at 7.30, we had 50 minutes of sitting around before we set off. Once we got to the medical centre we had 3 different lots of waiting around - once to see the doctor, once for the x-ray and once for the urine & blood sample. But - as I said when I worked for the civil service - I wouldn't like to organise an alternative system country wide.
The lack of urgency just has to be accepted as the way things are done here. It is frustrating at times, especially when it is your wages that aren't being paid on time. When I was at Sunderland I always maintained that the first rule of management is that "the workers get paid what they are owed when they are owed it". It is now 4 weeks since I left Blighty and I still haven't been paid yet. Though I have to say I am fortunate to be in a better financial position than a few of the other lads here.
I discovered I am 1.81m tall and weigh 93kg. The doctor told me to lose 5-6 kg as I am overweight and to get some exercise. I am going to buy a push bike to cycle to work every day. A bog standard bike costs 35 Rials (£50).
My blood pressure was high (a family trait) 160/100 the first time it was taken and 150/70 the second, so I have to go back on Monday. I am pleased to say that my heart-rate was 48, not as good as it used to be, but still very low.
The process was another demonstration of the lack of urgency in Oman. We were asked to get to the office at 7.30, we had 50 minutes of sitting around before we set off. Once we got to the medical centre we had 3 different lots of waiting around - once to see the doctor, once for the x-ray and once for the urine & blood sample. But - as I said when I worked for the civil service - I wouldn't like to organise an alternative system country wide.
The lack of urgency just has to be accepted as the way things are done here. It is frustrating at times, especially when it is your wages that aren't being paid on time. When I was at Sunderland I always maintained that the first rule of management is that "the workers get paid what they are owed when they are owed it". It is now 4 weeks since I left Blighty and I still haven't been paid yet. Though I have to say I am fortunate to be in a better financial position than a few of the other lads here.
Sunday 24 July 2011
Today's lesson
Today I learnt that it is best not to leave your trousers in the living room overnight. The air conditioning is not on in the living room overnight, and when you put your trousers on in the morning they are warm or hot depending on the weather.
I really want to stay cool as long as possible in the morning before the onslaught of the day's heat.
I really want to stay cool as long as possible in the morning before the onslaught of the day's heat.
Saturday 23 July 2011
Oman 2-0 Myanmar
We went to see a World Cup 2014 qualifier today. Oman took on Myanmar, which is the official name for Burma. It was free to get in. The match was at the Seeb Stadium which has a capacity of 12,000. Oman had Ali Al Habsi of Wigan Athletic in goal, who pulled off a spectacular save late in the second half. The quality of the football wasn't particularly good, but it wasn't spectacularly bad either - neither team are going to qualify for the finals in Brazil. All in all a good night out. A good turn out by us as 11 of us were there - Bruno, Craig, Dan, Dano, Donald, Mick, Seigfreid, Steve, Steve, Tim & Tom.
Friday 22 July 2011
New flat
Anna & I are lucky enough to have been invited to share a flat with Craig & Sayeh. It is in Qurum, which is less than a mile from work. The rooms are massive & the rent is only 500 OR a month, which means we are paying 125 OR a month each - bargain.
We won't move in until the beginning of August, so we have a week or so to find a bed, a television, curtains, pillows etc. Fortunately Craig & Sayeh have a lot of furniture and other household stuff. We really have been very lucky.
We won't move in until the beginning of August, so we have a week or so to find a bed, a television, curtains, pillows etc. Fortunately Craig & Sayeh have a lot of furniture and other household stuff. We really have been very lucky.
Wednesday 20 July 2011
Tuesday 19 July 2011
Doctor Fish
I let fish eat the dead skin off my feet today. Ooh it didn't half tickle, I've got very sensitive feet you know - I once kicked a nurse full in the face when she washed my feet during a bed bath. Anyway, the lovely fish gave me a pedicure and my feet are now nice and soft! It only took 15 minutes.
I had my first lesson on the automated flying system at work today. It's not exactly intuitive, but I seem to have picked up the basics. I had a little play on the system and moved a few bars up and down. All the bars are automated, so there's no counterweights to be loaded for the flying pieces, which is nice.
I had my first lesson on the automated flying system at work today. It's not exactly intuitive, but I seem to have picked up the basics. I had a little play on the system and moved a few bars up and down. All the bars are automated, so there's no counterweights to be loaded for the flying pieces, which is nice.
Monday 18 July 2011
Thursday 14 July 2011
Wednesday 13 July 2011
Sunday 10 July 2011
Transport
Some form of transport is necessary in Oman. The distance from the theatre to the bar and cafe is about a 5 minute walk and this is as far as you can walk without getting uncomfortable.
When we arrived Jon & Mike picked us up from the airport and - along with Jurgen - have done a lot of ferrying about since. This is very nice & convenient but a bit unfair on them.
Taxis need to be bartered, before getting into the taxi. The drivers see us as cash cows with unlimited oil money. You need to know how much the journey should cost so you have a base to barter from - rather difficult when you have just arrived.
Anna & I got a taxi from Lulu's (a massive supermarket here) and got chatting to the driver, a lovely Omani man called Ahmed. He gave me a USB stick for me to put some 'European music' on, and his phone number so we could contact him. Basically we now have our own driver now who refuses to accept money for the lifts he gives us.
Today we hired a car - it costs 150 OR (£240) a month including insurance, but at about 5 OR a day it is the cost of two short taxi rides a day. When we picked it up it was completely empty of fuel, so we filled it up for 4 OR (£6.40).
The car is automatic, I haven't driven an automatic for 30 years. Driving in Oman is an interesting experience, Omani drivers don't drive like UK divers, Omani roadsigns (although in both Arabic and Roman alphabets) are not positioned the same as UK roadsigns and Omani road markings are not the same as UK road markings. We managed not to have a crash today.
When we arrived Jon & Mike picked us up from the airport and - along with Jurgen - have done a lot of ferrying about since. This is very nice & convenient but a bit unfair on them.
Taxis need to be bartered, before getting into the taxi. The drivers see us as cash cows with unlimited oil money. You need to know how much the journey should cost so you have a base to barter from - rather difficult when you have just arrived.
Anna & I got a taxi from Lulu's (a massive supermarket here) and got chatting to the driver, a lovely Omani man called Ahmed. He gave me a USB stick for me to put some 'European music' on, and his phone number so we could contact him. Basically we now have our own driver now who refuses to accept money for the lifts he gives us.
Today we hired a car - it costs 150 OR (£240) a month including insurance, but at about 5 OR a day it is the cost of two short taxi rides a day. When we picked it up it was completely empty of fuel, so we filled it up for 4 OR (£6.40).
The car is automatic, I haven't driven an automatic for 30 years. Driving in Oman is an interesting experience, Omani drivers don't drive like UK divers, Omani roadsigns (although in both Arabic and Roman alphabets) are not positioned the same as UK roadsigns and Omani road markings are not the same as UK road markings. We managed not to have a crash today.
Saturday 9 July 2011
My first weekend in Oman
I was lucky enough to have the whole weekend off this week (weekends are Thursday & Friday in Oman). We got a flier on Wednesday afternoon so went straight to the Intercontinental Hotel - its only a 5 minute walk from the Opera House but that is as far as you can walk without melting - needless to say, being a Stabler, I won the "let's see how much we can sweat competition", but managed to cool down in the air-conditioned bar with a couple of pints of lager.
When we left we had to reject 5 taxis who all asked either 4 or 5 Rials before we found one that would give us a lift home for the correct price of 3 Rials (£4.80). At home we watched "The Fighter" - a great film in which Christian Bale gives a fantastic performance.
On Thursday we did the compulsory laundry - our apartment has semi-automatic washing machines (for 'semi-automatic' read 'manual'), had a severe haircut, something to eat, lazed about a bit, then eventually got round to going to the souk (market) in Muttra. I managed to get the driver down from 10 Rials to 5 Rials, but when we got there it was closed! We had checked it would be open on Thursdays but it shut for the afternoon just before we got there (we had been told this, but with the amount of information our brains had taken in over the week we had forgotten). Anyway, we had a look around Muttra, saw the Sultan's (massive) yacht, saw the Sultan's (massive) spare yacht and saw the Sultan's yacht that he uses for his vehicles when he is on one of the other 2 yachts. We could have stayed until the souk re-opened but as we had been invited to a barbeque we decided to leave early.
The barbeque was in Muscat's equivalent of Ramsey Street where all of the grown-ups (management) live. It was a great night - it was even only a little bit ridiculously hot. Yet again the management excelled with lifts, food, drink. music et al being provided. They really are making everybody feel welcome, at home and at ease. There were a few other people there I hadn't met before, including Craig - a Pars fan. Everyone seemed to have a good time although there was one case of dehydration. Arrangements were made to meet up & go to Dive Beach the following day.
Again the management excelled themselves with phone calls & lifts to get everyone to the beach. Entrance was 6 OR and the food and drink was expensive but the beach was excellent, the Arabian Sea was nicely warmed - it didn't take me the customary 10 minutes to get my shoulders in the water. I saw a school of fish that were diving out of the water in a synchronised swimming sort of way and a massive puffa fish that was getting on for the size of a football.
On the way home Jon took us through Ruwi, again giving us a running commentary - explaining that the main street used to be the runway of the airport, that it is an area where a high proportion of the residents are Indians, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans, that there is a fantastic curry house there (I must remember to find out the name of it), an amazing tool shop and welding shop.
All in all a fantastic weekend, I only hope that all my weekends here can be as good.
When we left we had to reject 5 taxis who all asked either 4 or 5 Rials before we found one that would give us a lift home for the correct price of 3 Rials (£4.80). At home we watched "The Fighter" - a great film in which Christian Bale gives a fantastic performance.
On Thursday we did the compulsory laundry - our apartment has semi-automatic washing machines (for 'semi-automatic' read 'manual'), had a severe haircut, something to eat, lazed about a bit, then eventually got round to going to the souk (market) in Muttra. I managed to get the driver down from 10 Rials to 5 Rials, but when we got there it was closed! We had checked it would be open on Thursdays but it shut for the afternoon just before we got there (we had been told this, but with the amount of information our brains had taken in over the week we had forgotten). Anyway, we had a look around Muttra, saw the Sultan's (massive) yacht, saw the Sultan's (massive) spare yacht and saw the Sultan's yacht that he uses for his vehicles when he is on one of the other 2 yachts. We could have stayed until the souk re-opened but as we had been invited to a barbeque we decided to leave early.
The barbeque was in Muscat's equivalent of Ramsey Street where all of the grown-ups (management) live. It was a great night - it was even only a little bit ridiculously hot. Yet again the management excelled with lifts, food, drink. music et al being provided. They really are making everybody feel welcome, at home and at ease. There were a few other people there I hadn't met before, including Craig - a Pars fan. Everyone seemed to have a good time although there was one case of dehydration. Arrangements were made to meet up & go to Dive Beach the following day.
Again the management excelled themselves with phone calls & lifts to get everyone to the beach. Entrance was 6 OR and the food and drink was expensive but the beach was excellent, the Arabian Sea was nicely warmed - it didn't take me the customary 10 minutes to get my shoulders in the water. I saw a school of fish that were diving out of the water in a synchronised swimming sort of way and a massive puffa fish that was getting on for the size of a football.On the way home Jon took us through Ruwi, again giving us a running commentary - explaining that the main street used to be the runway of the airport, that it is an area where a high proportion of the residents are Indians, Pakistanis and Sri Lankans, that there is a fantastic curry house there (I must remember to find out the name of it), an amazing tool shop and welding shop.
All in all a fantastic weekend, I only hope that all my weekends here can be as good.
Saturday 2 July 2011
Resident's card
I went to the police station today to get my residents card. With all the red tape I was expecting to be there all day, I armed myself with a book (Sid Wadell's Beer Bellies & Bullseyes) and expected the worst.
Salem (our driver for the first few days) gave us a lift to immigration and once we were there we were met by Samir (our fixer). We were told to queue jump whenever we could, which with the help of Samir we managed to do quite successfully. Obviously, the sexes were separated, which resulted in Anna getting done way before Mick and I, but we were fingerprinted, photographed and issued our cards within 2 hours - an absolute result. The funniest bit being when Mick was asked if "Theatre Director" was the correct job title - not wanting to upset the apple cart, and wanting to get through the process as quickly as possible, we just agreed that it was correct. I doubt he will get a pay rise to match though.
I am now alowed to live in Oman. Happy days!
Wednesday 18 May 2011
Application for the job
Anna told me that there were jobs going in a brand new theatre in Oman. She said she had an email address to send a cv to and that that was all the information she had.
The timing was pretty good as I had been recently updating my cv so had an up to date one. Of course, I didn't apply straight away and put it off.
A few days later I heard that Anna's application had been rejected as she applied too late, so I gave up on the job.
A couple of days later, Anna phoned me to say that she had been shortlisted for the job and would be having a telephone interview. I immediately sent off my application.
Within a couple of days I received the following email:
18th May
The timing was pretty good as I had been recently updating my cv so had an up to date one. Of course, I didn't apply straight away and put it off.
A few days later I heard that Anna's application had been rejected as she applied too late, so I gave up on the job.
A couple of days later, Anna phoned me to say that she had been shortlisted for the job and would be having a telephone interview. I immediately sent off my application.
Within a couple of days I received the following email:
18th May
Dear Tim,
This is to let you know that you have been shortlisted for the position of Senior Stage Technician.
Before we arrange a telephone interview; we would like inform you of the package on offer.
:Six month contract with possible extension to a year.
:3 nights in a hotel when you first arrive. (We are looking into rented accommodation)
:Full medical care.
:Return flight for yourself and spouse.
:Pay xxxx OMR per month.
:If successful when could you start?
Kind regards,
Jon Turner
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