Finished for the day.

 Silence in the back of the car is a rare thing....

and it signifies the end of a day well spent for mouse. 

Scuba girl

A step in the right direction towards Daddy's dream...next step is to get the real thing strapped to her back.

Mini picasso

 Rosie is now churning out artwork at the rate of around six pieces a day. Utterly obsessed with painting and drawing is she.

The pictures are fantastic, but that smile alone says it all. 

The weekly shop

Wife dressed and ready for the supermarket.

Bake time!

 Check out these muffins...made them myself!

 Mummy helped I bit I suppose..

Which one shall I eat first??

Halloween witch

 A terrifying witch has just flown in on her broomstick, ready for Halloween. 

Complete with witches mouse shoes and pointy hat. Truly scary.....

Sleeping beauty

Rosie and pink rabbit, out for the count. It doesn't look very comfortable, but it seems to work for her...not sure about pink rabbit though.

Rowdah

Our lovely new house in Rowdah. 

This is my name

After a quiet ten minutes at her little table, Rosie came and presented us with this stunning achievement today. Her first time writing her name, all on her own. Genius!

In the garden.

In rare, pensive mood. Peace and quiet.....

Silver sands

 A day trip to Silver sands, just outside Jeddah last week. Wasn't really expecting much, but it was really nice. Beats any beach spots in the UAE hands down. It feels distinctly tropical, and there are no restrictions.....no Saudi's allowed.

 Pipkin enjoyed it. Beach life is in her blood, and she fully appreciated getting back into it.

 Mummy and mouse in the Red Sea. 

Who said Saudi is a hardship posting ???

Friends

Rosie and Yousef. School is ok. 

Max

 Rosie's turn to bring the class mascot home. Choices, choices...Barney the cat or Max the bear. Why not both!

I don't think she has grasped that Max has to go back to school. Here he is, settled in nicely for afternoon tea. 

Things are getting serious with Max...

Best friends...

Party time...again.

Looking like a proper angel...or fairy (if Rosie has anything to say about it)

Off to yet another party. Alex's 4th today.

The tension builds as pass-the-parcel kicks off..

Yes! Music stops....and Rosie has the parcel!

To much excitement..and maybe too much chocolate milk.

Daddy at school

 Daddy recently accompanied Rosie to school for 'invite your parents and build a cupcake morning' Luckily Daddy is not considered too much of an embarrassment yet..... 

 or is he?.........

Cupcake done. Queuing nicely for the return to the classroom.  

Back in class....funny how Rosie always finds her place right next to teacher.

Right next to Mrs Pierce. Teacher's pet or what....

World peace day

World peace day today at school. Rosie representing the Kingdom.....

My first compound party

 Party dress on! Time for a party at a house around the corner. A beautiful, grown-up girl.

At the party....spending most of the time pretending to be a new-born in the neighbours baby-gym. Oh well...

British International School of Jeddah - a new pupil.

 Another new milestone for Mouse. Last week she sat an assessment for the best school in Jeddah..and passed! Even better, a place came up (it is normally completely full) and so school life begins. Four thousand pounds down for the first term (thank you British Council!), and she is ready to fly.

New uniform, school bag ready...open the gate Mummy. Time to go!

 Waiting for the school bus..7am.

Here it is! Straight out of Woodstock!

My cool driver - Mr Ismail from Yemen. I kiss him every morning.

An exciting new adventure is underway..bye bye Mummy. See you at lunchtime!

Fulla

Saudi barbie....meet Fulla. 

The weekly shop.

Katrin dressed for the supermarket. I am sure the religious police would approve thoroughly...although might not appreciate the fag.

My first scooter

 A few tentative trips up and down the garden path

and a surprisingly small number of cross-country excursions....

 and now she rides it like professional, whizzing round corners and screeching to a halt at will.

Friends

A few days into my new home and country, and I have a friend to boss around, and although Daddy has spent three weeks trying to keep him out (including throwing him over the eight foot high wall into next door's garden)...it looks like that might have been a waste of time and effort..