January 25, 2011 Kay's Journal Kummah Class

Oh dear, she is checking up on my stitches again!

  Leslie and I off to Kummah class at the Omani Heritage Gallery which Leslie had organized for Muna as a “test” of this new workshop.  The Director of the Gallery, Muna Ritchie (Omani woman married to a Brit) had set up this non-profit organization to promote and preserve the old handicrafts.  Muna had been the speaker at the AWG Christmas lunch and this workshop and been conceived by the ladies as they were interested in learning how to make a kummah (the traditional Omani man’s cap). Twelve women, Australian, UK, India and 2 Americans, Leslie and myself. The Omani women as instructors supplied each of us with an 8”x8” piece of uneven stenciled Kummah cloth, white with choice of colored thread, a sewing needle, thimble and a large needle for puncturing a hole to begin the sewing process. Close work, must pay attention to the design.  Leslie passed, myself…the Omani instructor was concerned on leaving me alone for fear I would make a wrong stitch again.  She diligently returned to my cloth every few minutes to correct my stitches.  Very sweet indeed. Roger and David went to the fish souk for Hammour while we were at the Omani Heritage Gallery. Also went to “Gents Tailoring” to check on Roger’s night shirts and repaired button holes.  Onto Sr Bosches home for laundry and emails etc.  We were to pick up the hammour grilled by “Fisherman Grill” at 12:30.  We arrived a few minutes late, Leslie bounced out of the car and disappeared into the “Fisherman Grill” returning with a lovely grilled hammour and fresh baked Arab bread. Met back at the house for a quite delicious lunch, changed and off to the Al Bustan gym, pool, sunbathing. Left at 4:45 to change clothes and back to the Hotel for the archeology lecture by Lorena Giorgio (Italian archeologist) on Omani civilization beginning 4000 BC.  Lorena is one of Leslie and David’s neighbors. Interesting and informative. A number of sites in her presentation we had visited which made the presentation more appealing to us.  Back home for a light salad before retiring. Early rising scheduled for tomorrow – 5am.