We just finished our first 'proper' weekend since before our trip to Austria. It's been a busy time with Christmas dos and visitors, so it was lovely just to potter and do weekend stuff. Movies, furniture shopping, stopping for coffee, a kid's birthday party, playing in the park - an average weekend.
Now that life is back to normal, it's time to work on our social situation again. Throw out some lines, put ourselves out there and set up a social network. By the end of the year, I felt pretty exhausted from small talk and being 'on' all the time. I felt like I was constantly making playdates and coffee catch ups and drinks plans and nothing really coming to fruit. So I took a break.
Funnily enough I've had a few invites this week - a playdate, a girls night of tapas & cocktails and a friend coming over for coffee and chat - so we're definitely not lacking. But it would be nice to expand the circle, meet and speak to people we wouldn't ordinarily meet. Find more like-minded friends, set up a fun and interesting group of friends. I think that would be healthy for us all. It won't happen overnight but it's good to plant the seeds.
I'm also planning some time just for me and Skip, because that's important too. First plan? Tickets for The Stone Roses!
Now to get online and look up some gourmet nights, playgroups and tennis clubs...
Sunday, 13 January 2013
Friday, 11 January 2013
Getting back on track
A week ago, while our mums were still here, Skip and I grabbed an opportunity to take a night away.
In the past five months, opportunities to spend time together without the kids had been very few and far between. Knowing the kids were in good hands, we booked into the Meydan Hotel, a stunning place with luxurious rooms and a lobby that had my eyes popping out of my head.
The part that thrilled Skip the most? The fact that our room's balcony overlooked the racecourse. The enormous grandstand at Meydan houses all the racing facilities plus a five-star hotel. Incredible!
Being able to watch the night races from your balcony was pretty spesh. In fact, you could probably watch them from the kingsize bed, which is about as good as it gets for Skip.
We ate at the restaurant - prawns & lobsters - watched the races, talked without being interrupted and ate without kids whining. The biggest difference between Aussie and Dubai races? The quiet, there was no cheering or whooping, it was quite eerie. After stuffing ourselves with seafood and the races over, we decided against another drink and a shisha and collapsed into the comfy bed instead.
The morning brought a breakfast buffet (I do love a breakkie buffet) and then back to bed for another snooze. Bliss.
The hotel has 24-hour check in, so you check out whatever time you checked in. Brilliant idea! And it gave us the whole day, no rushing to check out at 10am.
We made the most of the day and snoozed until it was time to head to the movies. The grandstand is so huge that there is an IMAX cinema in there too, so we went and watched Les Miserables which was great, even Skip enjoyed it.
Then it was finally time to head home. I actually started to miss the kids by then. Fifteen minutes at home in the chaos and it was all just a lovely memory.
This post was in no way or shape sponsored. Just wanted to share our wonderful 24 hours.
In the past five months, opportunities to spend time together without the kids had been very few and far between. Knowing the kids were in good hands, we booked into the Meydan Hotel, a stunning place with luxurious rooms and a lobby that had my eyes popping out of my head.
The part that thrilled Skip the most? The fact that our room's balcony overlooked the racecourse. The enormous grandstand at Meydan houses all the racing facilities plus a five-star hotel. Incredible!
Being able to watch the night races from your balcony was pretty spesh. In fact, you could probably watch them from the kingsize bed, which is about as good as it gets for Skip.
We ate at the restaurant - prawns & lobsters - watched the races, talked without being interrupted and ate without kids whining. The biggest difference between Aussie and Dubai races? The quiet, there was no cheering or whooping, it was quite eerie. After stuffing ourselves with seafood and the races over, we decided against another drink and a shisha and collapsed into the comfy bed instead.
The morning brought a breakfast buffet (I do love a breakkie buffet) and then back to bed for another snooze. Bliss.
The hotel has 24-hour check in, so you check out whatever time you checked in. Brilliant idea! And it gave us the whole day, no rushing to check out at 10am.
We made the most of the day and snoozed until it was time to head to the movies. The grandstand is so huge that there is an IMAX cinema in there too, so we went and watched Les Miserables which was great, even Skip enjoyed it.
Then it was finally time to head home. I actually started to miss the kids by then. Fifteen minutes at home in the chaos and it was all just a lovely memory.
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| The view from our private balcony. |
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| Skip, pretty happy with our accommodation. |
The following morning.
This post was in no way or shape sponsored. Just wanted to share our wonderful 24 hours.
Thursday, 10 January 2013
And they're gone...
The best and worst part of living overseas? The visitors.
We've had our mums here for the past couple of weeks and it's been really nice. Just spending time and chatting. Being with people who know you well and you can relax with. It was wonderful to have their visit as something to look forward to, as well.
They left late last night. This morning, I've been tidying up the house. Getting it back to non-visitor state. Finding items that were left behind. It feels quiet, sad and a little lonely.
Even though, I love living here and don't want to return to Australia, it's sad saying goodbye. It's sad not having your loved ones nearby to call on at a moment's notice. Knowing that the kids will be bigger, older, different next time we see them.
I've spent the morning hoping they enjoyed themselves, that we didn't drive them too crazy, that I wasn't too moody, that we showed them a good time.
Today feels like going back to work or school after a long holiday. Having to get on with it, everything feeling a little different and strange. Knowing the normal routine needs to return, missing the holiday routine you created.
So while it's lovely having the moment where you reunite with family, the downside is that moment you have to say goodbye. It makes you miss your old friends and family just that little bit more. While I'm happy here, you do miss the comfort of old friendships and people who know you well. As time moves on and your out of sight, you hear just that little bit less from people too, which is normal but a little sad.
So this morning I'll mope for a little bit. Then I'll suck it up, laugh with some new friends this afternoon and look forward to a weekend spent with my little family of 5.
We've had our mums here for the past couple of weeks and it's been really nice. Just spending time and chatting. Being with people who know you well and you can relax with. It was wonderful to have their visit as something to look forward to, as well.
They left late last night. This morning, I've been tidying up the house. Getting it back to non-visitor state. Finding items that were left behind. It feels quiet, sad and a little lonely.
Even though, I love living here and don't want to return to Australia, it's sad saying goodbye. It's sad not having your loved ones nearby to call on at a moment's notice. Knowing that the kids will be bigger, older, different next time we see them.
I've spent the morning hoping they enjoyed themselves, that we didn't drive them too crazy, that I wasn't too moody, that we showed them a good time.
Today feels like going back to work or school after a long holiday. Having to get on with it, everything feeling a little different and strange. Knowing the normal routine needs to return, missing the holiday routine you created.
So while it's lovely having the moment where you reunite with family, the downside is that moment you have to say goodbye. It makes you miss your old friends and family just that little bit more. While I'm happy here, you do miss the comfort of old friendships and people who know you well. As time moves on and your out of sight, you hear just that little bit less from people too, which is normal but a little sad.
So this morning I'll mope for a little bit. Then I'll suck it up, laugh with some new friends this afternoon and look forward to a weekend spent with my little family of 5.
Gorgeous, scented blooms left behind as a thank you.
Tuesday, 8 January 2013
Only in Dubai - Part 4
I haven't done one of these for a while so I thought it was about time.
Only in Dubai....
* is shiny black marble considered a great flooring product. They love it. I don't, especially when a drop of water turns into an instant ice skating rink.
* is all-you-can-drink, free-flowing alcohol buffets the norm, yet I can't buy a bottle of wine to drink at a restaurant or a picnic.
* is there often a man at the parking lot boom gate to help you put the ticket in. It really is quite strenuous to reach across and do it yourself, you know.
* are the sunrises and sunsets so glorious each and every day.
* do you see Rolls Royces and Bentleys in the school car park. Or a Bugatti pull up to your apartment complex.
* is it OK to cross four lanes of traffic at the very last second to make your exit on a major road.
* will the leader send everyone a text message to say "Happy National Day"
* will you shiver, say 'it's a bit chilly' and put on a jumper when it's 25 degrees celsius.
* do you ask everyone you meet "Where are you from and how long are you here for?"
* can you buy an apartment and they'll throw in a new Audi for free.
* is a puddle a major traffic diversion.
Only in Dubai....
* is shiny black marble considered a great flooring product. They love it. I don't, especially when a drop of water turns into an instant ice skating rink.
* is all-you-can-drink, free-flowing alcohol buffets the norm, yet I can't buy a bottle of wine to drink at a restaurant or a picnic.
* is there often a man at the parking lot boom gate to help you put the ticket in. It really is quite strenuous to reach across and do it yourself, you know.
* are the sunrises and sunsets so glorious each and every day.
* do I get called 'Madame' each and every day.
* do you see Rolls Royces and Bentleys in the school car park. Or a Bugatti pull up to your apartment complex.
* is it OK to cross four lanes of traffic at the very last second to make your exit on a major road.
* will the leader send everyone a text message to say "Happy National Day"
* will you shiver, say 'it's a bit chilly' and put on a jumper when it's 25 degrees celsius.
* do you ask everyone you meet "Where are you from and how long are you here for?"
* can you buy an apartment and they'll throw in a new Audi for free.
* is a puddle a major traffic diversion.
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| Sunrise taken as I was dropping the girls at school. Ah-mazing. |
Monday, 7 January 2013
Old town snaps
For me, Dubai is a land of skyscrapers. Of glass and steel and marble. It's a place where you can injure yourself from craning your neck skyward and your jaw hitting the ground in wonder. In Dubai, bigger is always better and it's shiny all the way.
So, occasionally, it's nice to step back in time and see what this city was once like. Before oil. Before money. Before bling. There is a little pocket along the creek in Bur Dubai called Bastikiya. A fore-thinking Brit architect helped to save and preserve this area from bulldozers many years ago, and thank goodness for that. It's such a treat and pleasure to see what this once humble town was like.
Yesterday, I took our mums (and our kids) to wander the maze of tiny alleys and explore the heady scent of the spice shops, the colours of the art galleries and the exotic trinket stalls. Then we took in a traditional Emirati lunch and a talk by some Emirati people, sharing their culture and take on the world.
The winter sun had a bite, but the shade of buildings were goosebump cool. The light and shadow was very dramatic, just like the temperatures between the two. It was quiet and peaceful, contrasted by the bustle of the city nearby.
So, occasionally, it's nice to step back in time and see what this city was once like. Before oil. Before money. Before bling. There is a little pocket along the creek in Bur Dubai called Bastikiya. A fore-thinking Brit architect helped to save and preserve this area from bulldozers many years ago, and thank goodness for that. It's such a treat and pleasure to see what this once humble town was like.
Yesterday, I took our mums (and our kids) to wander the maze of tiny alleys and explore the heady scent of the spice shops, the colours of the art galleries and the exotic trinket stalls. Then we took in a traditional Emirati lunch and a talk by some Emirati people, sharing their culture and take on the world.
The winter sun had a bite, but the shade of buildings were goosebump cool. The light and shadow was very dramatic, just like the temperatures between the two. It was quiet and peaceful, contrasted by the bustle of the city nearby.
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| Light and shade. |
Thursday, 3 January 2013
Flashbacks
Sitting in a hospital corridor, waiting to see a doctor and the sights, smells and sounds take me back to Darbs' birth.
The weeks I spent in hospital after his birth and then the months of weekly visits after that. Reception, urine, weight, blood pressure. Sitting in the waiting room, the bulging Manila folder weighing down my lap, my handbag rattling with all the tablets I was taking. Wondering, hoping this would be the last time and I'd get the all clear.
Right now, as I type this on my phone, I'm sitting in a hospital corridor. Thousands of kilometres away. I'm only getting a dodgy mole checked, but it's odd how those same sounds and smells can transport you back to a time and place. Back to an emotion.
The shuffle of rubber soles on lino. The clang of china on a trolley as it bumps down a corridor. The whisk of plastic curtain rings on metal. That pungent smell of antiseptic and handwash.
The weeks I spent in hospital after his birth and then the months of weekly visits after that. Reception, urine, weight, blood pressure. Sitting in the waiting room, the bulging Manila folder weighing down my lap, my handbag rattling with all the tablets I was taking. Wondering, hoping this would be the last time and I'd get the all clear.
Right now, as I type this on my phone, I'm sitting in a hospital corridor. Thousands of kilometres away. I'm only getting a dodgy mole checked, but it's odd how those same sounds and smells can transport you back to a time and place. Back to an emotion.
The shuffle of rubber soles on lino. The clang of china on a trolley as it bumps down a corridor. The whisk of plastic curtain rings on metal. That pungent smell of antiseptic and handwash.
Wednesday, 2 January 2013
Desert dwellers
Now the weather is cooler and the scorch of the sun has been replaced with a warm glow, we're getting outdoors much more. It's a treat to enjoy the sun at midday without fear of melting into a puddle on the ground. We're really loving discovering the beauty of the country away from the air conditioned shopping malls and man-made wonders. Both my and Skip's mum are visiting at the moment so we took them out to the desert (you don't have to go far to find it) to see the other side of Dubai. The kids had a ball climbing dunes and running and sliding in the silky soft sand. Soaking in the endless blue skies and horizons that stretch on forever.
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| Climbing dunes is tough work. |
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| My childhood nickname of Rinny of Arabia has come true. |
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| Just in case we forget who's in charge. |
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| I never tire of the incredible Middle Eastern sunsets. |
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