Not easy to do this blog resting the keyboard on my lap.
Anyway, its good news, Ammar is collecting his visa at 2 today from Rabat. I emailed the visa manager asking if they could fast track his application. A couple of days later he rang me and said that A. could have the visa and then he asked me a few questions.
I have booked his flight with Ryanair for Saturday from Marrackech to Bristol. I have also booked a night at the Ibis for him. On Sunday P and T are going to collect him from Gloucester railway station and bring him here. So the countdown begins.
All that running around Rabat was worth it. The last hurdle is to get the boarding card - which has to be printed from the Ryanair website. So we'll do that today.
Haven't yet got round to putting new photos onto the new pages.
Monday, 8 November 2010
Tuesday, 2 November 2010
Back home
Not a lot I can do with a broken leg but I can do my blog, which I neglected to do much of in Morocco.
A lot of the time was spent getting documents ready for the visa application. Finally we went to Rabat. We took the bus from Merzouga to Meknes and then the train to Rabat. I met a nice little bissy at the station with huge whiskers. It canme onto my lap and was very happy there and having that moggy made the time pass and was a lovely way to spend the time.
Once in Rabat we tramped round finding a cheap hotel - using the Rough Guide to help us. We settled on the Hotel Galulois. It was fine and the next day we set out to get the marriage document translated. Stupidly we went for the one that's near to one of the official places. It has an advertising board outside and has touts too to bring in business. Try to hide your documents round there. Anyway I was charged 410 dirhams for a both job - we found no end of mistakes - particularly in our names. Then we had to go to another place to get it stamped and there the said that the translation place hadn't signed the dsocument. So I looked at it again and found another mistake, we Ammar did - it said that we had married in 2010. They changed that and there were still mistakes. Anyway they rectified them and then we returned to the government office and got it stamped and signed. We then went to another government place for another stamp. No queue but when the woman looked at the original document she told A,mmar that we had to go back to Er Rachidia to the court to get it stamped and signed by the court president. So back on the train to Meknes and a visit to Youssef's place to while away the time until the coach at 9.30 p.m. Then we met up with Mustapha and Ahmed (former students) and they chatted to us with Youssef and Idir.
Back to Merzouga and the next day to Er Rachidia to the court. It was simple, not a lot of waiting round. We spent the est of the time at the home of Ibrahim, one of Ammar's cousins. There was a wedding going on outside and we were able to see some ahidous - young men standing round the grooms with tambouirs. The grooms were getting hennaed and clothed in the wedding clothes. They wore the same clothes as at a Merzouga wedding but in a slightly different way. I wasn't allowed to take photos but I can remember. The red cloth was put around the forehead and not covering the face, as in Merzouga.The grooms also had tassels a bit like Merzouga brides. Didn't get to see the brides but apparently they don't wear tassels and their veils are longer. This tradition is from the area of a town between Rissani and Tazzaine - Alnif I think. The tent wasn't a traditional camel hair one but a plastic white one, fully enclosed.
The bus took us back to Meknes and we caught the train again to Rabat. Actually I think it was on this trip that I met the whiskery cat as on the last trip there were people that Ammar knew at the station.
Decided to stay in another hotel - Hotel Berlin. Got the marriage document translated in another place and the woman was fantastic. She charged less and was not stroppy when we pointed out a couple of errors. Back to the first stamping place, then the second place, all went well, and then to the third stamping place. A great queue was outside, one of men and one of women. We were called eventually and given a ticket with a number. Then we sat downstairs until we were all called upstairs. Ammar went to get the document stamped and signed. That being done the next task was to get a photocopy of it.
Finally Ammar had to get a new photo and where it was done the man was very nice and chatty. He even gave us a large copy of the photo for nothing.
Our next task was to do something for one of Ammar's brothers. We went to the address given but they had moved premises. After lunch we took a taxi miles and miles to the new premises of the pension department of the government. A super bouilding but we werer going to have to wait for hours to get to see someone. We waited an hour but nothing was coming our way so we gave up.
Friday 22nd October was the day for Ammar to give in the documents we had collected and to get a biometric photo and fingerprints done. Early in the morning I went to the toilet and on my way out I stepped down to the floor of the room and slipped on a shiny tile that had water on it. I went down with a bang and knew at once that I had broken my leg.
A lot of the time was spent getting documents ready for the visa application. Finally we went to Rabat. We took the bus from Merzouga to Meknes and then the train to Rabat. I met a nice little bissy at the station with huge whiskers. It canme onto my lap and was very happy there and having that moggy made the time pass and was a lovely way to spend the time.
Once in Rabat we tramped round finding a cheap hotel - using the Rough Guide to help us. We settled on the Hotel Galulois. It was fine and the next day we set out to get the marriage document translated. Stupidly we went for the one that's near to one of the official places. It has an advertising board outside and has touts too to bring in business. Try to hide your documents round there. Anyway I was charged 410 dirhams for a both job - we found no end of mistakes - particularly in our names. Then we had to go to another place to get it stamped and there the said that the translation place hadn't signed the dsocument. So I looked at it again and found another mistake, we Ammar did - it said that we had married in 2010. They changed that and there were still mistakes. Anyway they rectified them and then we returned to the government office and got it stamped and signed. We then went to another government place for another stamp. No queue but when the woman looked at the original document she told A,mmar that we had to go back to Er Rachidia to the court to get it stamped and signed by the court president. So back on the train to Meknes and a visit to Youssef's place to while away the time until the coach at 9.30 p.m. Then we met up with Mustapha and Ahmed (former students) and they chatted to us with Youssef and Idir.
Back to Merzouga and the next day to Er Rachidia to the court. It was simple, not a lot of waiting round. We spent the est of the time at the home of Ibrahim, one of Ammar's cousins. There was a wedding going on outside and we were able to see some ahidous - young men standing round the grooms with tambouirs. The grooms were getting hennaed and clothed in the wedding clothes. They wore the same clothes as at a Merzouga wedding but in a slightly different way. I wasn't allowed to take photos but I can remember. The red cloth was put around the forehead and not covering the face, as in Merzouga.The grooms also had tassels a bit like Merzouga brides. Didn't get to see the brides but apparently they don't wear tassels and their veils are longer. This tradition is from the area of a town between Rissani and Tazzaine - Alnif I think. The tent wasn't a traditional camel hair one but a plastic white one, fully enclosed.
The bus took us back to Meknes and we caught the train again to Rabat. Actually I think it was on this trip that I met the whiskery cat as on the last trip there were people that Ammar knew at the station.
Decided to stay in another hotel - Hotel Berlin. Got the marriage document translated in another place and the woman was fantastic. She charged less and was not stroppy when we pointed out a couple of errors. Back to the first stamping place, then the second place, all went well, and then to the third stamping place. A great queue was outside, one of men and one of women. We were called eventually and given a ticket with a number. Then we sat downstairs until we were all called upstairs. Ammar went to get the document stamped and signed. That being done the next task was to get a photocopy of it.
Finally Ammar had to get a new photo and where it was done the man was very nice and chatty. He even gave us a large copy of the photo for nothing.
Our next task was to do something for one of Ammar's brothers. We went to the address given but they had moved premises. After lunch we took a taxi miles and miles to the new premises of the pension department of the government. A super bouilding but we werer going to have to wait for hours to get to see someone. We waited an hour but nothing was coming our way so we gave up.
Friday 22nd October was the day for Ammar to give in the documents we had collected and to get a biometric photo and fingerprints done. Early in the morning I went to the toilet and on my way out I stepped down to the floor of the room and slipped on a shiny tile that had water on it. I went down with a bang and knew at once that I had broken my leg.
Saturday, 9 October 2010
Dates
Yesterday we went to the Ksar Bicha in Merzouga to see Ammar's niece. She was in the house with a circle of female relatives who were sitting around a mound of dates. They were cutting or picking out the end of the stalk and throwing thedates into palm baskets. When the baskets were full the dates were poured into a blue plastic bag. K. told me that they had already filled twenty baskets.
I decided to join in and just used my left thumb to gouge out the stalks. Not good for the nail.I was refreshed by some tea and gateau - small homemade biscuits.
Last weekend we were in Erfoud to see the International Date Festival. The main tents were just outside the town so we walked there through sand and stones. It is amazing what can be done with the palm tree. Jam is made from the dates and a juice is boiled out of them which is called tahlaoute. I have tasted it with ta'am - a sort of big cous cous boiled like porridge.Another important part of the tree is the leaf. Many useful household things are made from them. In the past the trunks of the palm were used in the constuction of ceilings in kasbahs. At the exhibition we saw how the irrigation canals were used and small bridges over the canals were made from slabs of palm trunk.
On our way back to Merzouga we visited the centre of Erfoud to see a small exhibition of local crafts.It was there that I tripped and fell, luckily onto a carpet. I hadn't fallen for a while so it was a bit of a shock. I was glad to get home.
Ammar has filled in the visa application form and his interview is booked. We made lots of photocopies and still have a few more to do. The main thing left to do is to translate our marriage document. And of course to get the application fee from the bank.
I decided to join in and just used my left thumb to gouge out the stalks. Not good for the nail.I was refreshed by some tea and gateau - small homemade biscuits.
Last weekend we were in Erfoud to see the International Date Festival. The main tents were just outside the town so we walked there through sand and stones. It is amazing what can be done with the palm tree. Jam is made from the dates and a juice is boiled out of them which is called tahlaoute. I have tasted it with ta'am - a sort of big cous cous boiled like porridge.Another important part of the tree is the leaf. Many useful household things are made from them. In the past the trunks of the palm were used in the constuction of ceilings in kasbahs. At the exhibition we saw how the irrigation canals were used and small bridges over the canals were made from slabs of palm trunk.
On our way back to Merzouga we visited the centre of Erfoud to see a small exhibition of local crafts.It was there that I tripped and fell, luckily onto a carpet. I hadn't fallen for a while so it was a bit of a shock. I was glad to get home.
Ammar has filled in the visa application form and his interview is booked. We made lots of photocopies and still have a few more to do. The main thing left to do is to translate our marriage document. And of course to get the application fee from the bank.
Thursday, 16 September 2010
Hassles
Had a hard time getting into this blog. But all is fine now.
My combi boiler has crashed. A man will be here to fix it today - so the insurance people say. No hot water and no heating. So more duvets. It will need to be fixed for P. to use. The man was supposed to be here by 11 and now its just past that time. Hey ho, these things are sent to try us.
Anyway back to Morocco. Ammar is setting off from Rissani on the long way round trip via Beni Melal. He will be at Marrackech just about 6.30 a.m. We decided it would be a good idea for him to go to the Ibis for a rest so I booked it for just one night. He will be able to stay there from 12.00 noon and have a rest and a shower and then come and fetch me in the early evening from the airport.
I would like to stay at the Marana again but this time we need to catch the early Supratour bus to Merzouga and it goes from near the railway station and the Ibis is also near to the station. So we will go to the Marana on the way back.
Ammar told me yesterday about one of his nieces being pregnant. That is three babies on the way now and two of the mothers are his nieces and the other one is his nephew's wife. I hope one of them is born when I am in Morocco.
Ammar has nieces and nephews in 6 families. Well not exactly correct as one sister has 5 sons and is daughterless. But now two of her sons are married and so she has help at home at last.
I am knitting another hat in my spare Moroccan wool. Its a stripy number in green, blue and red. I have a lot of red but have now run out of green and only have a bit of blue left. There are some great hats on the net to knit. And I learned to do the ladder stitch to sew up knitting. I watched it on a youtube video.Youtube is a great resource for learning. I will definitely have a good look when I return.
So I am just going to ring about the boiler man. Well that's great, they weren't even coming out today. So I have arranged for them to come here on Saturday and P will have to deal with the man. So now to email him about it.
The more you rely on these inventions the more you will have to deal with the difficulties they present.
I will have to empty the airing cupboard. Oh joy!
My combi boiler has crashed. A man will be here to fix it today - so the insurance people say. No hot water and no heating. So more duvets. It will need to be fixed for P. to use. The man was supposed to be here by 11 and now its just past that time. Hey ho, these things are sent to try us.
Anyway back to Morocco. Ammar is setting off from Rissani on the long way round trip via Beni Melal. He will be at Marrackech just about 6.30 a.m. We decided it would be a good idea for him to go to the Ibis for a rest so I booked it for just one night. He will be able to stay there from 12.00 noon and have a rest and a shower and then come and fetch me in the early evening from the airport.
I would like to stay at the Marana again but this time we need to catch the early Supratour bus to Merzouga and it goes from near the railway station and the Ibis is also near to the station. So we will go to the Marana on the way back.
Ammar told me yesterday about one of his nieces being pregnant. That is three babies on the way now and two of the mothers are his nieces and the other one is his nephew's wife. I hope one of them is born when I am in Morocco.
Ammar has nieces and nephews in 6 families. Well not exactly correct as one sister has 5 sons and is daughterless. But now two of her sons are married and so she has help at home at last.
I am knitting another hat in my spare Moroccan wool. Its a stripy number in green, blue and red. I have a lot of red but have now run out of green and only have a bit of blue left. There are some great hats on the net to knit. And I learned to do the ladder stitch to sew up knitting. I watched it on a youtube video.Youtube is a great resource for learning. I will definitely have a good look when I return.
So I am just going to ring about the boiler man. Well that's great, they weren't even coming out today. So I have arranged for them to come here on Saturday and P will have to deal with the man. So now to email him about it.
The more you rely on these inventions the more you will have to deal with the difficulties they present.
I will have to empty the airing cupboard. Oh joy!
Saturday, 11 September 2010
Returning
I have just done a preview and couldn't get back to this page. Also I forgot to save my blog.
So here I go again. Next Saturday I am flying out from Bristol with Ryanair, as usual for my 12th trip to Morocco. The plane lands at Marrakech, where I will be met by my lovely Ammar. We will probably stay at the Ibis there as it is near to the place where we have to catch the Supratour bus to Merzouga. The bus goes all the way there now so we don't have to break at Ourzazate and stay overnight. So Supratours now have two routes to Merzouga.,the other one is from Fes.
I will be travelling down by train on Friday - buying two tickets to make the journey cheaper. I expect I could do the journey on Saturday as the plane leaves in the afternoon but I would rather take it easy and stay overnight at the Ibis near Temple Meads Station.Maybe I could even find some charity shops to visit in the afternoon.
Ramadan is over now so Ammar is back to his usual self. I don't know how he manages to do it. I really admire muslims for taking it on. He sent me a lovely photo of Ayman, who is now lying on his back and chewing on melon rinds - his teeth must be on the way. I have been at home since February and so he is about 7 months now.
It would have been nice to have more photos of the kids but skype was sending files so slowly. The kids were all dressed up for Eid and Hamid wore a turban.
I am also getting excited about seeing Tricky and her new kittens. They were born after I left. I hope they are still there when I get there. My darling little Shrad died and I was very upset, but I have some photos of her and some nice memories, especially of her following us home and sleeping in the cardboard box Ammar put out for her. And jumping at the bees and eating them. And climbing up onto my shoulder.
My suitcase is almost packed. Just got to put some trousers in and maybe another top. I hope I am within the weight limit of 15kg. I am taking a smaller backpack so can't take so much in it. I left the larger one with Ammar.
Today I ironed and one of the things was a length of cloth that I will get another caftan and trousers made from. Its light yellow with green and red stars. It's cotton so I have washed it so that it will shrink before it's made up into garments.
On this visit I want to go to Chefchoaen - I hope I have spelled that correctly. I must look for a suitable place to stay on the net. I hope there are cheap riads.
Another thing I want to see is my black shawl, which is going around the family to be embroidered by the womenfolk. It will be unique.
I will be doing knitting - this time its hats not scarves. Last time I noticed that a stall in Rissani sells yarn already wound into balls. When I decided to take up knitting scarves I could only find wool in skeins and Rkia and Zohra helped me to wind the wool. I still have some and I have already knitted three hats from it.
So here I go again. Next Saturday I am flying out from Bristol with Ryanair, as usual for my 12th trip to Morocco. The plane lands at Marrakech, where I will be met by my lovely Ammar. We will probably stay at the Ibis there as it is near to the place where we have to catch the Supratour bus to Merzouga. The bus goes all the way there now so we don't have to break at Ourzazate and stay overnight. So Supratours now have two routes to Merzouga.,the other one is from Fes.
I will be travelling down by train on Friday - buying two tickets to make the journey cheaper. I expect I could do the journey on Saturday as the plane leaves in the afternoon but I would rather take it easy and stay overnight at the Ibis near Temple Meads Station.Maybe I could even find some charity shops to visit in the afternoon.
Ramadan is over now so Ammar is back to his usual self. I don't know how he manages to do it. I really admire muslims for taking it on. He sent me a lovely photo of Ayman, who is now lying on his back and chewing on melon rinds - his teeth must be on the way. I have been at home since February and so he is about 7 months now.
It would have been nice to have more photos of the kids but skype was sending files so slowly. The kids were all dressed up for Eid and Hamid wore a turban.
I am also getting excited about seeing Tricky and her new kittens. They were born after I left. I hope they are still there when I get there. My darling little Shrad died and I was very upset, but I have some photos of her and some nice memories, especially of her following us home and sleeping in the cardboard box Ammar put out for her. And jumping at the bees and eating them. And climbing up onto my shoulder.
My suitcase is almost packed. Just got to put some trousers in and maybe another top. I hope I am within the weight limit of 15kg. I am taking a smaller backpack so can't take so much in it. I left the larger one with Ammar.
Today I ironed and one of the things was a length of cloth that I will get another caftan and trousers made from. Its light yellow with green and red stars. It's cotton so I have washed it so that it will shrink before it's made up into garments.
On this visit I want to go to Chefchoaen - I hope I have spelled that correctly. I must look for a suitable place to stay on the net. I hope there are cheap riads.
Another thing I want to see is my black shawl, which is going around the family to be embroidered by the womenfolk. It will be unique.
I will be doing knitting - this time its hats not scarves. Last time I noticed that a stall in Rissani sells yarn already wound into balls. When I decided to take up knitting scarves I could only find wool in skeins and Rkia and Zohra helped me to wind the wool. I still have some and I have already knitted three hats from it.
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Silent Dongle
Ammar has joined the Aicha Gazelle Rallye. He has been working for it for the past two years. I got a phone call from him last Saturday to explain that he wouldn't be coming online because he was tired after walking to a spot in the dunes. He was certainly huffing and puffing. So I rang him on Monday and he was eating dinner at the bivouac at Alnif. He will be with the rallye for about a week. I must look it up on the net.
You can read about it on Wikipedia.
Ammar's job is to wait at one of the points that the drivers have to go to. He stamps their book or signs it. A bit of a lonely job I would say. I don't know how many participants he sees in a day. You can even follow the rallye live if you connect to the website - you can find it on Wikipedia. Somewhere on that map is Ammar's spot. I think they are now south west of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga.
Next time I visit Morocco I want to stay in a riad in Fes. I saw a lovely one on another blog. It's a good price too for the night. We will just go for the visa next time, no matter what.
You can read about it on Wikipedia.
Ammar's job is to wait at one of the points that the drivers have to go to. He stamps their book or signs it. A bit of a lonely job I would say. I don't know how many participants he sees in a day. You can even follow the rallye live if you connect to the website - you can find it on Wikipedia. Somewhere on that map is Ammar's spot. I think they are now south west of Erg Chebbi in Merzouga.
Next time I visit Morocco I want to stay in a riad in Fes. I saw a lovely one on another blog. It's a good price too for the night. We will just go for the visa next time, no matter what.
Tuesday, 9 March 2010
Dongle news
Ammar is regularly contacting from his room, so much better than going to the net, as we used to say. Yesterday I got a look at the family shawl. Rkia is doing really well, she has put the fringe/tassels along two of the sides and it looks really good. She asked if I had started my own shawl but I had to say no.
It was nice to see Ayoub and Khowla. Now I am just waiting to see Nazha. And one day Ammar will take the laptop and dongle to the cafe so that I can see the cats and kittens.
I have found some beldi music that I used to hear in Des Amis (the cafe in Merzouga). It's by someone called Jellouli and can be found on http://music:.zizvalley.com/
Beldi music is my latest find in Moroccan music. It's not Amazigh but Arabic. It's the oud sound I like and it's so jolly.Abdou at the cafe always has something interesting playing for the customers.
Ammar has lent his camera to the headmaster, who is taking photos of some gifts donated by the people on the Raid 4L. A raid is a bit like a rallaye. This one consists of Renault 4 cars covered with stickers going from place to place, including the desert. Some of the cars are very colourful. There are three on this blog, but I think there were 1000 cars in total. I would love to have one of those cars, there are plenty of them in Morocco. I used to get a lift to my second school (when I was teaching) with a Miss Jenkins, who had one. The main difference between it and other cars is that the gear stick is on the steering wheel column. I was always fascinated when I watched Miss Jenkins change gears.
The family in Ait Meloul is ok. Ammar rang Hassan. Adam, the new baby is crying all through the night. Of course I was asking questions about the family but Ammar didn't ask them. Of course it was one man talking to another and they talk about different things.
Ammar has sent me the rest of the photos he took in Marrakech, then ones of door knockers and a carved piece of stone at the Badia Palace and views of the palace and the storks' nests there. He also sent some more photos of the kittens with their eyes just opening. I will miss that lovely stage when they come out of their 'nest' and start to explore. He is still giving Tricky and Shrad some sardines and they are now feeding side by side with no animosity. I don't think they know that they are related.
Got a bit waylaid and looked at my Facebook page and then to my Moroccan groups. Found a lovely singer called Hindi Zahra so I'm going to find out more about her on Google.
It was nice to see Ayoub and Khowla. Now I am just waiting to see Nazha. And one day Ammar will take the laptop and dongle to the cafe so that I can see the cats and kittens.
I have found some beldi music that I used to hear in Des Amis (the cafe in Merzouga). It's by someone called Jellouli and can be found on http://music:.zizvalley.com/
Beldi music is my latest find in Moroccan music. It's not Amazigh but Arabic. It's the oud sound I like and it's so jolly.Abdou at the cafe always has something interesting playing for the customers.
Ammar has lent his camera to the headmaster, who is taking photos of some gifts donated by the people on the Raid 4L. A raid is a bit like a rallaye. This one consists of Renault 4 cars covered with stickers going from place to place, including the desert. Some of the cars are very colourful. There are three on this blog, but I think there were 1000 cars in total. I would love to have one of those cars, there are plenty of them in Morocco. I used to get a lift to my second school (when I was teaching) with a Miss Jenkins, who had one. The main difference between it and other cars is that the gear stick is on the steering wheel column. I was always fascinated when I watched Miss Jenkins change gears.
The family in Ait Meloul is ok. Ammar rang Hassan. Adam, the new baby is crying all through the night. Of course I was asking questions about the family but Ammar didn't ask them. Of course it was one man talking to another and they talk about different things.
Ammar has sent me the rest of the photos he took in Marrakech, then ones of door knockers and a carved piece of stone at the Badia Palace and views of the palace and the storks' nests there. He also sent some more photos of the kittens with their eyes just opening. I will miss that lovely stage when they come out of their 'nest' and start to explore. He is still giving Tricky and Shrad some sardines and they are now feeding side by side with no animosity. I don't think they know that they are related.
Got a bit waylaid and looked at my Facebook page and then to my Moroccan groups. Found a lovely singer called Hindi Zahra so I'm going to find out more about her on Google.
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