The Beast!/La Bestia!

We finally got our new car last week. After waiting for months for my civil ID (you can only apply for a Kuwaiti driving licence with a civil ID) followed by two interesting (?) visits to the traffic department I eventually got my licence. We went down to see our friends at California Motors and bought this beast. For those of you who don't know its a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer LT automatic. It's great! It is like mission control inside and has leather seats and plenty of room. It's not the most economical car (it's a 4.2 litre engine) but it's Kuwait where petrol is only marginally more expensive than water. We put 65 litres in the other day and it cost only 4 1/4 KD, about 9 pounds/11 euros! We can now get out and about (we've already been to Ikea).

Por fin tenemos un coche. Despues de esperar meses por el DNI de Kuwaiti para Mat (solo asi puedes conseguir el carnet de conducir) y dos "interesantes" visitas al departamento de trafico, por fin Mat consiguio el carnet. Fuimos a ver nuestro amigos de California Motors (un concesionario de coches cerca de nuestro piso) para comprar esta bestia. Es un 4x4 del 2003, un Chevrolet Trailblazer LT automatico. Esta fantastico! todo automatico, asientos de cuero! Aqúi la gasolina esta tirada: 65 litros por 11 euros.

Tommy's New Shoes/Los Zapatos Nuevos de Tommy

As the weather is getting colder here (it dropped below 20 degrees the other day) we thought Tommy should have some sturdier shoes for walking around in. He really likes them and Mat is thinking of buying some the same.

Como hace más frío (hemos bajado de los 20 grados el otro día) pensamos que Tommy necesitaba unos zapatos más fuertes para corretear. Le encantan y Mat está pensando en comprarse unos iguales.

At the beach/En la playa

Despite it being November 30th it is still warm enough here to go to the beach. Thomas loves the beach as he has lots of space to run around in, shells to collect and watching Dad make sandcastles.

Aunque es 30 de Noviembre todavía hace suficiente calor para ir a la playa. A Thomas le encanta la playa porque tiene un montón de espacio para jugar, conchas para recoger y ve a papa construir castillos de arena.

First photos/Primeros Fotos

At last we have a cable for the camera so you can see the first photos of us and our building (the one on the right) in Kuwait.

Por fin tenemos un cable para la camera asi podeis vernos y ver el edificio donde vivimos (el de la derecha) en Kuwait.

Hello and welcome/Hola y bienvenidos!

Hello everybody and welcome to our Blog. We thought this would be easier than sending mass emails.

As most of you may (or may not) know we moved to Kuwait. Mat got here in August, Belen and Tommy arrived in October. It's been a bit of adjustment for all of us but at least Belen and Tommy missed the joys(?!) of Ramadan. Our flat is spacious and light if a bit rough around the edges. Still it's free and a few more trips to Ikea and the Friday market and it should be just like home.

De momento hemos hecho algo de turismo pero principalmente a los centros comerciales, era imposible estar al aire libre con estas temperaturas. Los fines de semana los pasamos en la playa y la piscina. De momento no hemos aprendido arabe pero Belen se maneja ya con los numeros. Thomas todavia no habla ni en espanol, ni ingles ni arabe, hay que darle tiempo con tanto idioma!!!

Mat is teaching at Gulf English School. The school is good and although it is hard work, as it always is when starting a new school, he is enjoying it and the money is pretty good! Belen, for the time being at least, is enjoying being a lady of leisure (!). Tommy has settled in very well and is enjoying the attention.

We'll try and update as often as we can. Para que podais ver como crece Thomas.

Bye for now / hasta pronto

Mat, Belen y Thomas