Hey there all! Good morning!

Came back to a really chilly spell of winter here... Boy, its freezing (though not like Antarctica-freezing!)

I was at the airport then, when I saw a mother holding her child and keeping her warm by embracing her. The Girl was dressed up in her woollens, but yet, it was the warmth provided by the mother that must have soothed the child.

I guess this teaches us that the human touch and emotions have powers far greater and unrealised potential.

What else can fellow QLers offer and can think of when it comes to learning through Winter? What have you learnt or have come across a piece of wisdom, during the winter season.

Cheers!:)

Reports about a young
boy being badly assaulted
by a private school principal
have once again brought to
the fore the issue of corporal
punishment which is banned
in Qatar.
Despite the ban, such incidents
are reported in the country
almost every year. Experts
attribute the repeated instances
of spanking to a severe lack of
training and awareness among
the teaching community and parents.
Besides being often beaten
up in school, children are also
considered most vulnerable to
domestic violence.
Parents of the Grade Two student
have filed a complaint with
the police seeking action against
the principal, who allegedly
stabbed the boy with a sharpened
pencil several times, injuring
him in his arm, hand and
the back.

Source: Peninsula 05/12/2011

I told my husband lets do it in Burger King Al Sad, he doesnt want to coz 2 of our friends did their kids there so it will be the same. I don't like MacDonald party room at all !!

We did our son's 2nd birthday last year in Rays Reef Royal Plaza and we loved it! But we need another place this year for his 3rd!

I read here about Cafe Ceramique in The Mall, but I called the wow, QR75 per kid?? I know there are additional activities but its too much since i think we r inviting around 12-15 kids.

Help!! his birthday is on Dec 5!!!!!!

Hi all, I am wondering if there are any parks in Doha (preferably near Al Sadd area) with good night-time lighting, swings for kids, BBQ grills (optional) and track for walking / jogging. I want to take my family for regular strolls at night. For those who have been to Abu Dhabi, I am looking for a park similar to the one opposite to Sheikh Zayed Mosque there. Thanks in anticipation for your help.

Its raining in Doha, and winter is getting full grip, a pause of rain in DownTown Doha was nothing but a chance to grab the blazing lights in cornish.

Qatar's traffic department has started changing the number plates of vehicles in a process expected to take one year.
All new vehicles will be have the European modeled plates while those in circulation will receive them upon renewal of their roads permits, Qatari daily Al Raya reported on Friday. The new plates will carry the white and maroon colours of the Qatari flag.
The change of the plates is in line with a decision taken by Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) traffic officials to unify their specifications.
According to the daily, the officials agreed to take the European plates as a model on the basis that it allows the clear reading of the numbers from a distance.

Hi Everyone

I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the people on Qatar Living who took the time to vote for my sister Aisha Al-Naama in the Sahem competition, whom, without your support, we wouldn't have made it to the top 5 finalists!

We're really grateful for what you've done for us and I wanted to share this joyous news with my fellow QL'ers. The competition isn't over yet, and now that we're in the last leg of the race, we still hope we've got your support!

Here's a link to the video we submitted for the competition..please have a look and let us know your thoughts and feedback..and bare in mind it was done quickly because of the time constraint before the deadline so pardon us if the text appears a bit small..

Apparently Qatar is the world's fattest nation now. I wonder whether this study considers stats from entire population was considered or only natives. Either way - interesting read...

http://www.theatlant...

There is an interesting article in the GT today:-

http://www.gulf-time...

Qatar, which has 7,790km of road and traffic density of 78 motor vehicles per kilometre of road, has an estimated $3.8bn worth of ongoing road projects at the end of June 30, 2011, according to Kuwait Financial Centre (Markaz).
Qatar’s $3.8bn worth projects comprises 22% of the total GCC road projects valued at $18bn, Markaz said in a latest report.

Great news again. Al Sadd was awarded the title of Best Asian Club in Kuala Lumpur. They're on a roll!

KUALA LUMPUR: Qatar’s Al Sadd won the Asian club of the year honour  at a glittering awards ceremony here on Wednesday.

Sadd, managed by Uruguayan Jorge Fossati, recently became the first club from the country to win the revamped AFC Champions League.

Uzbekistan’s Server Djeparov was crowned Asian Player of the Year for the second time in his career.

Read ful story here: http://www.dohastadiumplusqatar.com/djeparov-asian-player-year/

Its lovely weather in Doha..The fresh air moving my window curtains is amazing.Do not you think winter in Qatar is wonderful.Last year I came across these beautiful words describing winter but I can not remember the writers name The air had landed as a kiss upon my cheek.A secret message,just for me to share,to take to heart but never dare to speak.

Good news for IKEA lovers.

IKEA, part of the Al-Futtaim Group, is due for completion in Q4 2012 with 32,000sqm of space in the Biggest Mall of Qatar which is expected to be completed 100% by the last quarter of 2014.

Qatar is set to have its biggest mall when Doha Festival City, a major state-of-the-art retail, entertainment and leisure destination in the country, is fully completed.

The mall located on the northern highway linking Doha International Airport with the proposed Qatar Bahrain Causeway is Owned and developed by Bawabat Al Shamal Real Estate Company.

Watching the raindrops doing their pitter-patter on the dark, tarred roads, I couldn't help noticing how persistent raindrops are... they keep on dropping gradually over time, and soon enough we have a nice puddle of water in a short while.

I guess they teach us to be more persistant in life. Keep working at things... Because you never know, when life takes you from a scanty drought to an everflowing stream of water, just because you were persistent with the raindrops of life.

Good morning, and may you all have a wonderful day ahead!

It seems Pork Bacon Sausages are already available in QDC Qatar! Can anybody confirm?

EDIT: It's confirmed! A pack of 10 sausages cost 28QR . Same goes for a pack of Pork Bacon (don't know how many grams). It seems people have bought lots today and stocks seems to be dwindling. It might be chaos tomorrow at QDC as people get to know the availability of Pork products. Not sure if I want to be there tomorrow. When will the Pork slabs arrive? Really soon it seems. Since Pork products are already being made available in Doha, the Pork cuts are soon to follow. Might wait till the dust settles.

It seems like the nature is preparing herself to welcome winter.

The scene this morning was so beautiful.

Shared here, for those who missed the view.

.