sheikky,

thank you for the reply, and I am sure that if things progress my wife would appreciate a womans perspective on expat living, however could I continue to pick your brains in the meantime.

My problem is I really do not know what to expect, in some respects I have a pre-conceived conception that the Middle East is almost like a third world country with Hi-tech facilities, so its a matter of starting very basic and working from there.

You mention that the Middle east is "safe, secure......" and you have "alot more free time, and the quality of life is very high."

I hear you say "safe and secure" but in the next I hear "compound living" that strikes of a contradiction and conjures up an image of how South Africa used to be, living in an almost siege style inside your own four walls.

How do you have alot more free time? Is that as a result of an effort from you, or is it due to the work culture? What is your working week like?

In what way is the quality of life higher? Everyone is saying that the cost of living is comparable to the UK?

Sorry to fire these questions at you, and if you would prefer to answer of the board please email PM me

Thanks

Mark