thank you for all your lovely replies in the forum and in the pm, i'm warming to qatar already :) have been looking for a villa with a 'garden' or potential for one, wouldn't mind putting potted plants in a private courtyard to create that illusion. only found a couple in al waab but they're quite pricy. i really will miss the greenery here and the weird thing is that i've been going to the parks (hyde park, kew gardens etc) and will be going to chelsea flower show this week. never been there before but i'm going (probably just because i can). i've always admired it from afar but there was always something more important that came up and it seems that nothing can stop me from my horticultural crusade now that my days here are numbered. how perverse is that? right i'm rambling. you get a picture of how bored i am without hubby, and just like bridget jones the only men in my life for the last year have been two men called ben and jerry... and i've got the waistline for proof :( no pun intended btw