It’s easy to forget those born in December and January, or indeed any other busy time of the year when individual birthdays may rank second to larger and more public, religious or commercial events – Christmas, Easter, Eid, Chinese New Year, Thanksgiving, Halloween and the like. As we got older, we focus on our children, families and loved ones and sometimes forget to cherish ourselves as much as we should. So tonight we are celebrating Manal.
We’re supposed to focus on all those moments of finding lost socks and library books, cooking another dinner that the kids won’t eat and spending endless hours driving to and from (and waiting at) another sports activity. If we’re not doing that because of work or other committments we are feeling guilty about not being there. When we are there, we’re feeling guilty if we don’t always want to be! You can’t win.
I know there is a move towards mindfulness and living in the moment. This seems like a reasonable theory. Live in the now, making a conscious decision to choose happiness with whatever task we must undertake. This is easier said than done. I know that children grow up quickly and all too soon they’ve flown the nest. But right now, when I’ve found hours of hard won homework at the bottom of school bags long after it should have been handed in and I spend afternoons searching through a sea of lego for just the right piece, mindfulness seems a lot harder in practice.
Likewise when I’ve had a rough week at work and all I want is some peace and quiet only to find that’s another pile of homework and a deadly lego trap (those little pieces that get stuck in the rug and then, in turn, stick in your foot!) waiting around the corner.
All this makes it even more incredible to meet a businesswoman and mother of three juggling career, children, home and life who always has a smile on her face and never seems overwhelmed by the now. In fact, Manal positively shines in the now.
Manal is a managing partner at MCFID, a wholesale and retail carpets and furniture company. Yet to talk to her you would never know that she is a successful businesswoman. Tonight she put her success aside and is ready to celebrate the now. And we are ready to celebrate her.
We have gathered at Zengo a restaurant and bar that is part of the Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa in Dubai. Zengo touts itself as Pan Asian with three bar areas, each with its own theme. There are three bar areas, all very nicely done but I don’t detect different themes specifically. We have an area reserved outside. There is a pretty great view, I must say, however when Melissa arrives, she declares it not big enough for our group (she has called three times to confirm!). The manager comes over and after a quiet word, more chairs and tables are added to accommodate the celebration.
Drinks are ordered and shortly after, our food begins to arrive. A couple of sushi platters kicks us off but the pick of the night for me are the duck pancakes and the crispy vegetarian maki. My fruity gin cocktail washes it all down nicely.
Apart from the sushi and excellent duck pancakes there is a mix of dishes available. The Pad Thai and beef teriyaki and are very tasty although slightly difficult to manage as the set up is essentially for finger food. We balance our plates on our laps and carry on regardless.
Then the dancing begins. This group of girls is fun loving all round and love to let their hair down on the dance floor. Tonight there is no dance floor – never mind, we’ll create our own. I’ve heard that dance is the hidden language of the soul. These soul sisters are fluent as as they sway to the Dj’s rhythms, the gentle breeze in their hair.
The cake arrives and we sing ‘happy birthday’ meant to convey our wishes not just for a particular day but for what we wish her all days – health, happiness, love and laughter.
As we dance some more, the group’s numbers start to dwindle and as fun as the celebrations have been, a weariness washes over me and I am ready to go. It’s after midnight, pumpkin time.
The next morning some photos come through with messages of thanks and best wishes after another fun night. Manal, you are an incredible woman. Too often our special moments go by whilst we are busy concentrating on other people or things. I’m glad that I got to celebrate you. Not just celebrate with you but to celebrate who you are and everything that you do.
After all, no one wants to be forgotten. And some people are especially worth remembering!
Good To Know
They say that you ‘take all the tastiest bits of the ancient spice route from Asia through to the Far East, encase them in a beautifully decadent yet elegant wonderland and there you have Zengo.’
Zengo at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa near Dubai Marina and JBR is a lively Tuesday night venue with good food, good music and good times. Our group had a fun night despite an awkward space that was too small for the size of our group and slightly wedged up against the bar. We made the most of the music, creating our own dance floor in what was essentially the walkway. None of this dampened our spirits in the slightest.
Zengo hosts ladies night every Tuesday with three complimentary drinks and 50% off food for the ladies (25% off if you have a mixed group). The discount is applicable between 7 and 10pm.
Would I Return?
Yes. The food was delicious, the view was nice and the venue was elegant and inviting. I must admit though, as the night progressed Melissa was proved right, the space allocated to us wasn’t ideal for our large group. Especially when care had been taken to confirm the booking three times.
Oh, and check out some of the other Supermum Squad antics:
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