Today i learned how to get water delivered to our door in Doha. It’s wonderful, as it was one of the items i was stressing about being able to procure. The tap water is too salty for drinking for us or the dogs to drink regularly.
The relief of having potable water available highlights another one of my new life roles. Procurement. A critical function in the Covid world. I also learned about so many people back home in the US waiting in line for food and the lack of connection between farmers, who are losing crops for lack of restaurants to supply, and foodbanks and families who could use them.
Again, profundity seems increased in an unfamiliar supply chain and community and in a weird world that’s devolving and evolving simultaneously, everywhere, every day. Bottom line, procurement sparks gratitude daily. I have never been good at being a minimalist, but right now there are so many items that are genuinely thrilling to have around, day, by day, by day.
As the local delivery economy here creaks into a new Covid gear every few hours, i try to research and adapt. The restaurant take-away and delivery system here is pretty amazing. It’s the success of the Dabbawalas, in reverse – these guys are on fire. Services like “Talabat” buzz through the city on mini-motorcycles. Doha was already built on a robust delivery system for restaurants pre-Covid. They are figuring out how to add items and even new small suppliers seem to pop up every day. Other things are promised, but not ready yet; apps and online shops appear, and quickly fail in beta. Since i arrived for the shitdown, Ikea will be open for 2 days, then closed for 3, then open for delivery again.
Vendors are changing messaging and operations as Ministry of Health standards and compliance update regularly and demand excels exponentially, like the Covid numbers and the rules of life play.
Locals are preparing for Ramadan, which increases demand as well. I have employed a strategy of always having an open order, and if they call every week or so, I see what they actually have in stock that could be delivered. A couple of big Indian grocery stores will deliver things, if you plan about 10 days out. So horde ahead! It simply requires a little planning and a different approach to shopping. I stay up late and wait for things to become available online or delivery slots to open up for a a week or two in the future. Dishwasher soap, bleach, dog food and paper towels have presented a worthy challenge. The dogs are happy to subsist on sardines and rice. Then yesterday I found a new vendor that will send over Snickers, Clorox, kitchen rolls and American potato chips. It’s likely some one in a flat near mine, who is heading to Carrfour weekly and knows just what we wish for. The farmer’s market just put up an online portal and brings beautiful things within 3 days. We have a weekly box of organic vegetables, thanks to our wonderful neighbor sharing her delivery with us. Fabulous. Seeds and soil – we have some. We even got internet and TV installed yesterday! ‘Restarted quarantine but it seemed worth it. We are well pretty set-up now.
In one of my classic, crazy packing moves, i brought along our hammock from NM. It probably cost me $50 bucks in baggage fees just to fly with it, but it turned out to be money well spent. It is one of the most critical items we have. On our rooftop, which is very large but very empty. – currently a giant, dusty, hot, cement slab – J and i are up in there in there at night like Robinson Crusoe. Without the captives, mutineers, and cannibals yet, of course. Thank goodness, we brought our kitchen knives from Dad along.
Below is a list of just some of the things i’m so grateful to have found a way to source. Every day a couple seem to be added.
A rug, sofa, scissors, slippers, flowers, chicken, eggs, soap, internet, tea kettle, dish towels, houseplant, coffee mugs. So many little things i never had to miss before. We have moved way past camping now and glamping is way more fun long-term. Still dreaming of a mini trampoline which is rumoured to be on the way, loungewear (why did i give up my cashmere sweatsuit? 😂), an abaya (seriously, i want one and can’t get one – and all i want right now is to wear is something black with my face covered – not to worry, can’t go out yet), a deck of cards, and most of all books – how i miss them. Someday, i’ll hug people and touch a horse again. But seriously, we are grateful, grateful, grateful, and most of all for all of you. ❤️
The current rooftop scene