Hey All, Sorry for the severe lack of email replies, the first week here has been so eventful. Many thoughts have sadly come and gone and hopefully they'll come back to me in the coming weeks. I have now started work in my office (DAGOC Building 1) and to have to say that I am surrounded by a heap of Aussies. The funny thing is that everyone's doing similar roles to M2006 so a chunk of familiarisation is taken care of! So interesting stuff - I am staying in a plush guest house and get picked up each day for work (no charge). We work 7.30 til 2.30 Sunday - Thursday. I had my birthday on Tuesday - THANKS for all the messages, my mates and family are truely legendary! I spent the day touring Doha, went to traditional Souq's (Markets) and spent the arvo shopping. 15 of my new closests mates took me out to a traditional Arabian Restaurant for dinner. They guys even sprung a cake on me and belted out a rendition of Happy Birthday. The A team (housemate Ellen and Steve from Sydney) rounded out the evening with a nightcap Scotch across the road at the Ramada. Who would've thought, 4 days into my time in the Middle East and the dry zone was irradicated! Ha! If I want to purchase grog for home I need to get my alcohol licence. It allows you to buy whatever you want spending up to a tenth of your monthly wage on booze! Yes so if you are hitting hard times you cant drown your sorrows! Okay too much to say but I'll wrap up by saying that I spent last night swimming and jet skiing on a sand bar off Doha. A collegue of mine took about 20 of us out on his 2 jet boats (one is 2 weeks "old") and three jet skiis. As Grant mentioned - they seem a little strapped for cash here! I learned how to operate a jet ski and was swimming in 35 degree plus crystal clear water after midnight! Truely surreal experience. Not bad for my first day in the office! Keep the responses coming and hope you enjoy the pics! Bec