Smitha's Surprise Arrival

 Yesterday was Shirley’s birthday and Kathy made a reservation for four at Isaam, reportedly the best Thai restaurant in Doha.  At least reported by the Thai masseuse who gave Shirley a massage last week.  Solid recommendation?  It’s in the Grand Hyatt Hotel, a 5 star, VIP a hotel.  This is distinguished from a 5 star VVIP hotel where only VVIPs can stay.  Seems that the VVIP designation goes to emirs, presidents, kings, and others at that pay grade.  VIP is the next level down.   Kathy thinks there may even be a classification above VVIP, but those are the people with one and two digit license plate numbers.  Kathy has a six digit plate number, so you can see why we don’t get invited to VVIP hotels.  License plate numbers are another story all together in this crazy country.  So back to dinner.  Isaam is lovely restaurant where the main kitchen has a mountain of red chilies welcoming guests.  So we get there, and the table is set for five, ( but the reservation was for four—Shirley, and I, JoJO and Kathy) and out of the shadows jumps Smitha yelling ‘ Surprise’ and crashing the birthday celebration.  She just decided that she needed to be at the party.  Smitha is a character—a Zambia-Indian national who is just a lot of fun.  She is a great friend to Kathy and someone who takes energy to the next level.  She was supposed to be in Zambia with her parents but a positive Covid test for one of her boys put the trip on hold for a week, so why not crash the birthday party.  

Had a nice walk tonight at QF with the dogs.  
There is this unusual public art piece in the park adjacent to the QF headquarters building.  Several hundred glass soccer balls arranged like a Christmas ornament the view from Shirley’s birthday dinner was almost as good as the food.   

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