Just the visa to be done now ....

Hi there!!

Hmm yes folks I'm still here in London nearly one week after my brief but has-to-be-said successful medical checkup exam in Harley Street, London as reported before ...

Now it seems I'm still waiting .... The latest I've heard is as follows (taken from an email received today):-

"I cannot check whether the medical was satisfactory, however we shall assume so  until we hear to the contrary. ... At the moment, we are awaiting the arrival of contract and the notarisation of your medical. .... Once this has been completed, we will send you a visa application pack. ... Simply, you will need to complete the application form, sign the contract and send it. ..."

Did you get all that? Not so bad I guess though a lot of checking and sending seems to be going on. Fair enough though since it is of course the Christmas season over here in the UK and 29th December is the Islamic New Year. So two lots of delays.

Actually I don't mind this. All that matters is that things are happening and that I am one step closer to being there.

When that email came those few months ago telling me of the two people who had dropped out and asking me if I was now interested, it was like a real OMG moment. I hadn't expected to hear from the Bell International people again quite honestly, and didn't expect that I would actually contact them in January as they said I would need to. Hehe - how things work out, eh?? And now I'm looking at the reality of the whole thing and getting ready. 

Got my Arabic culture book, getting my Guide to Reading Arabic Script book from Amazon, TRYING to get my sunglasses (with difficulty it seems if today is anything to go by - one quote of 149 pounds for putting just the lenses into the frames I had!! Yep I SURE knew where the DOOR was in THAT optician's). What else? Well some kind of sunhat but I guess I'll get that when I'm there cos it won't pack too well and I'd look a right divvy at Heathrow sitting there in the freezing London winter conditions with my panama on :D :D

But today there is one slight concern - the Israeli attacks on the Gaza strip that have been going on this past three days. Now, it seems that in the past the rest of the Arab world doesn't get too involved in what Israel do in their backyards. And Saudi Arabia is far enough away. But since Israel have said today that they are in this to "the bitter end", then it sounds like a thing that could go on like that time they were bombing the hell out of Lebanon a few summers ago.

Now I'm not taking any political stance either way, and why would I? All I'm worried about is tensions that might overspill into something bigger and therefore compromise the security situation in the Middle East as a whole. Yes, it's not the most peaceful part of the world in any case, but let's not do anything rash now boys, eh?? C'mon - I need this job and I need what it will give me. Perish the thought that anything might happen to jeopardise my going out to Saudi. Would be a total DISASTER!!

OK, that's enough of that. OK, again not much to say, but anyway WHOSE BLOG IS THIS, EH?? Nah, only joking :)

So I'll sign off for today then and see you again here soon. Keep smiling!!

Had the medical checkup examination today

Hi guys :)

Well I thought I'd begin today since I'd been waiting for this medical exam with FEAR for ages. Not because I had anything to hide (which I don't), but just because everything depended on it. Ah, that and the visa I now have to apply for but that's a formality.

Pfffffff WHY DID I WORRY??

WHY did I worry? And more to the point WHY did I HAVE to have this in London on Christmas Eve morning instead of in Poland? Mind you, I guess I avoided the language issue of having it there ..... well and the extra expense too. Yeah OK OK so maybe it was easier here. AND I got to see the world famous inside of some of Harley Streets buildings .... well two of them.

The first was getting there. Nothing to it!! Just checked on the tfl.gov.uk website, printed a map and went and got the 134 from Wilton Road. Took a while to get to the University College Hospital bus stop but was just a bus ride away and no bother really. Then got out, got out my map and kept on down the streets till I found it. In fact I was one hour early so camped out in Starbucks for a while. No coffee - didn't want to drug myself unnecessarily :) Well hey, there was a lot riding on that medical and one cup of coffee could have been the END for all I knew :) :)

Nah just joking :) :)

OK all I had to do was go get a chest X-ray (and try to look like I was interested or informed about what the doctor was showing me was the contents of my chest - jeez they must laugh about this at Xmas parties!!), urinate in a test tube for a sample, answer a few yes/no questions on past medical history, lie on a couch to give a blood sample (didn't feel a thing!) and sit on a chair for a blood pressure test and a pump in the arm.

Was I worried? Only time I got spooked was when I was waiting for the chest X-ray and was flicking through the property magazine on the table. Trying NOT to pop out the eyes too much on just how much some people might be paying per week for large unfurnished flats in this part of London AND just how many millions I would need to live here. Nahhhh who would want to anyway? Living next door to Doctor Harley?? Pfff you can keep him!!

So sorry guys I don't have the X-ray of my chest to show you. But don't wanna put you off your turkey tomorrow.

OK OK so this is a pretty dull text only entry today. But hey - I'm in London, I'm on my mother's Mac, and there ain't no bluetooth here for taking stuff from my phone. But I'm working on that. And anyway, you ain't really interested in London so much as Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, are you? Nah, me neither.

So next thing after Xmas is some form-filling to get that visa and then I'm as good as there :) :)

See you on the other side of the festivities :) !!