Celebrating Manal

Celebrating Manal

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.… Read the rest

The Penguin

The Penguin

Another perfect Dubai winter’s day.  Twenty eight degrees Celsius and clear skies.  Top top it all off, we have an invitation for The Penguin.

The Penguin herself

We’ve been out on The Penguin before, however, today is special as we are farewelling our hosts and will be sad to see them leave.… Read the rest

Antarctica, World Islands

Dubai Skyline

Far from La Dolce Far Niete, the art of doing nothing, today we head out on a Dubai Marina Yacht Club rally to the World Islands. We have a line up of things to do!

JBR Skyline, morning

We reach the marina around 8:30 a.m.,… Read the rest

Too Busy, Too Tired

Too Busy, Too Tired

“I’m too busy” I think to myself on the commute home, “I’m just too tired to go out tonight”.  It’s been a bit of a rough day at work.  After a day like today, going out isn’t the most appealing thought.… Read the rest

Dina

The cake #cupncakesdubai_adult

We had about 70 people at our wedding.  I’m not sure how you muster that many people for a birthday party, but somehow our lovely diva Dina has.

Melissa (co-organizer), Hamish (Melissa’s hubby) & I are the first to arrive.… Read the rest

Park Run, The Palm

#parkrun

We ran our first Park Run a little over a year ago.  My friend, Alison, used to participate in Brisbane when the children were babies although where she got the energy from in those days, I’ll never know.  Then, last year when we visited them in Bristol and thoroughly enjoyed the experience at the Kings Weston Junior Park Run (4-14 years).… Read the rest

Halloween

Crazy pumpkin doughnuts and coffin cakes

It’s Halloween.  The kids are excited and the ghosts and ghouls are out.  Despite the popularity of Halloween these days a couple of things strike me as rather ironic tonight.

Firstly, the fact that most people don’t even really know what Halloween is.… Read the rest

Swan Lake

The night’s program

Add ballet to Tchaikovsky and what do you get?  Well, actually, there are a couple but by far the most famous is Swan Lake.  The story is based on the fairytale where the beautiful princess, Odette, is cursed by an evil sorcerer.… Read the rest

The Green Planet

#The Green Plant

It’s funny how we (I) can live our lives in such a bubble.  Opened in 2016, The Green Planet, like most things in Dubai, is relatively new.  However, it still surprises me that I didn’t know about it until a birthday party there a few weeks ago.… Read the rest

Al Mamzar Triathlon

Al Mamzar triathlon

There’s one thing to be said for triathlons – they’re over nice and early!  Yes, you might have to get up at 5am but by 9am the day is yours again.  And so it goes this morning at the Al Mamzar triathlon.… Read the rest