Back In Homeland

We're back from the sandpit. One fine day in July last year, the husband woke up and said, 'Let's do it'. Boom, the resignation went in by the month end, and just like that we found ourselves with only three months in the sandpit. I didn't know what to make of it. Happy? I wanted a change, yes. Whether it's a change of location for us or perhaps another appointment for the husband, I was good either way. At that point, one thing seemed certain; there were no plans, and the open-ended nature of it thrilled me to no end. Where were we going to go, the whats, hows and whos. I liked not having any answers to the million curious, worried, concerned and just nosy questions directed at us. In November, bags packed, goodbyes said, we left Qatar. 

Five months later, here we are, still in Malaysia. After a nice, long break of doing absolutely nothing but sipping coffees, going on small holidays and sorting out the home, the husband has accepted a job here in Kuala Lumpur. The next phase commences in April. It'd be interesting for him, given that he'd spent most of his years working outside of the homeland. To be honest, a part of me did hope that we'd return to some place else in the Mideast. What is there not to love about the charming land of camels and dates, despite all of its quirks. 

We've been car hunting the last couple of days. Going from one showroom to another, being served more coffee (and cakes), test-driving, each sales person trying to sell his machine as the 'best'... Quite frankly, all I want in a car at this point is an excellent air-conditioning system. The current heatwave is the worst I've experienced here. Pure torture. Also, I wish more cars came in tan upholstery rather than the stark, black and grey leather. I know many would think it's sleek but I'm always in black myself. It's like the only colour I ever wear. That aside, I still haven't found a single car that has every thing I like. Earlier today, I took out a lovely machine with excellent handling but the seat positioning was too low for my liking, given my height. Before that, I tested a vehicle that the sales person described as the 'perfect one for a lady driver like yourself'. It gave me the vantage point I desired but it did feel like I was driving a giant can with shiny wheels. 

And these cars... are all so expensive here. Car shopping is much pleasant in Doha without the tax! I just regret not having gotten that Jeep Wrangler then when I had the chance. Bummer. 

We'll see how it goes but it ain't going to be that Wrangler.