Water babies and birthday cake

So it's been 9 days since I lasted posted and we have spent a considerable amount of time at the complex pool. To be honest it's a great way of melting the hours away and quite literally! The average temperature at the moment is about 42 C which is too damn hot!! We have been hiding from the sun mid day and either visit the pool first thing or late afternoon. The kids have loved it and have been making up all sorts of games between themselves which is a pleasure to watch as usually they are winding each other up.......it's bound to happen when they don't have any other kids to pay with.

However school starts next Sunday so we can breathe a sigh of relief as they are both itching to meet kids of their own age. Four weeks of only their own company and mine is enough to drive us all a bit loopy!! Paul is obviously working his rota so is about but gets a break from us!!

Daisy did start a swimming camp last week which was intense and a bit of a shock to the system! She hasn't done any real training since mid July so when we signed her up to swim 5 times a week at hour and half each day she was literally cream crackered by the end of the week! I must add that she did agree to this....we aren't one of those pushy parent sorts! It's something she wanted to continue whilst being out here. A chip off the old block I think! Anyway after 2 days of recovering she is ready to start it all over again this week. Summer camp will finish in a couple of weeks and then if she still wants to it will be training three times a week.......more manageable and no different from the UK.

Today has been my birthday and a bit of a strange one. Usually I am working or if not would usually do something which would involve a bit of alcohol! Not today.... we have got into this horizontal mode since being here and we just managed to venture to the pool this afternoon....again!  Paul is on nights so have seen him briefly, and Daisy made cupcakes! A great day really and no chance of a hangover tomorrow! Always a bonus.
Thank you to all who sent birthday messages....so nice to receive them from so far away. Feeling a little homesick but think that is because I am going cuckoo listening to my own voice!! Haha

Oh I nearly forgot....happy bank holiday to all my UK friends & family!! Last one until Christmas!!

Hello from the United Arab Emirates!

I decided since arriving here that it would be an idea to do a blog to share our experiences in a middle east country! Also I feel so far away and don't want to be forgotten!

I am by no means the Rebecca Stonehill of this world ( respect ) but I thought it may be a way of keeping in touch with family & friends on what we are doing out here.

It is 2 weeks ago today that we flew out to Abu Dhabi to join Paul.... wow that has gone fast already!

It is a weird feeling at the moment because it's as though we should be enjoying all the sights and activities of the city yet I keep having to remind myself that we are here for 2 years and we have plenty of time to do all that. Plus to do everything in a short space of time would be very costly!

My first impressions of the city.........crystal blue seas, white sand, incredible gold & white mosques, traditional arabic dress, pristine clean malls, very US influenced, skyscrapers, beach clubs and sunshine!!

    

The weather at the this time is extremely hot therefore it is difficult to do much outside which is a great shame as there are so many things to do in this vibrant city.... a lot being outdoors! As you know.... school holidays and kids = need things to do.......quite difficult without spending too much money! We have visited many malls.... not to shop but to wander but also the kids cottoned on very soon after arriving that every mall has a kids zone which means they can play on lots of games which of course require coins but they have been happy to spend their money so if that's what keeps them happy so be it!
We have also visited the local bowling alley which is the biggest I have ever seen and we have been to the complex pool almost everyday since arriving. We usually go at around 4-5pm as the sun is not so intense although it is still very hot.
Yesterday I found an arts & crafts shop Art Beat in town so we spent a couple of hours there where they painted some mugs to take home. Again not a free activity but something different!

Today is one of those lazy days where PJ's are still on at midday! Paul is on his second of four day shifts and we are going to bake choc chip cookies and go to the pool....oh and catch up with the second episode of the Great British Bake off! Lif is tough at the mo!!  Since being here Paul has purchased Apple TV so we can stream pretty much anything. I'm not particularly bothered but am quite happy to watch the TGBB!

I hope this finds you all well.... would love to hear how you all are!!