First to leave Australia

Kate left Australia September 1
After 26 hours travel, having my bottle of Bombay Sapphire confiscated at Dubai transit because the Sydney Airport Duty Free shop didn't seal the bag (!?! - may be a scam by the traders at Dubai, but note, the booze is cheaper by far there than at Sydney, and the shop was open even though it is Ramadan and Emirates wasn't serving alcohol on board the flights), arrived in sunny, pretty warm, Amman. The heatwaves of last month are gone, so now it is only high 20s - 35 in the day, but there's a lovely cool breeze in the evening.

(ACOR Amman) (my room in Amman)

ACOR is like my second home now - it was lovely to walk in the door to be immediately hugged by Barbara Porter (Director) and Chris Tuttle (Assoc. Director). It is quiet at ACOR now, as the dig teams and language school students have gone back state-side, but still a few familiar faces around, as well as all the ACOR staff. Happy to see Sarah Harbinger is now Assistant Director.

(view from my room) (East terrace ACOR)

So I walked down to University Street to get my phone card, and after lunch went to Carrefour to buy a hairdryer, mouse & mousepad, and a few other things that just wouldn't squeeze into my suitcases - even though Emirates had nicely given me an extra 10kgs. Made the amateur mistake of getting a taxi from outside Carrefour (that 3JD surcharge means I'll walk the extra 50m up to the main road next time).

Lounged about yesterday pretending to work, but today (Day 3) have actually started doing stuff - interrupted by a trip to Dr Yang's Body and Soul Chinese massage and acupuncture clinic. Very relaxing, apart from the bit where the lady seemed intent on pulling my toes off. And I am now under acupuncture treatment from Dr Yang for my swollen fingers and toes. Over the winter at home I'd kind of forgotten how bad my fluid retention problem was, but now in this heat, it is a good job I got my wedding ring cut off 2 months ago - might have to go and buy a ring to still look married, until Franz & I meet up in Damascus and hit the gold suq ... heh, heh, heh!
Tomorrow (Sunday, Sept 5) - off to the Museum to meet my Jordanian colleagues and move the project into the slightly more active stage.