Dubai

I'm on the final leg of my journey back to the UK, a week in Dubai and surrounds. Having stayed here often for work, after the years living in Al Ain, I know the main city quite well. Including how to get about easily on the metro. The metro was quite new when I was here last in 2018. I was surprised to see in my Facebook memories that was five years ago. Even more surprising, I was here at the same time, for the same days doing a piece of work on an early years project. I know from the many trips from Sydney in 2017-18 I don't really like living in a hotel for long periods of time. It's okay for a few days then it gets tiresome. 

On my last visit I stayed at an apartment hotel in Deira, a lovely old part of Dubai. It was a bit shabby, cheap and cheerful and had all the amenities I needed to live comfortably. It was close to the creek and interesting places to wander of an evening. This time I chose another apartment hotel in Deira. A less shabby one with the loveliest and most helpful staff. I arrived very early in the morning after the long flight from Brisbane, the 14 plus hour one over night and into the next day. I'm not the best at sleeping on a plane. This time, after two movies, I nodded off for a bit to my latest audio book. A short bit of a proper sleep. The decision to book an extra day and early morning check in at the hotel was a very good one, it also came with a much needed breakfast. 

A shower and rest were in order with nothing planned for the day. It's Ramadan here and school holidays so it's quieter than usual. I was a bit worried things would be closed, not so. It's been five years since I caught up with Rau and the lovely Maya, now a big 9 year old. Lunch at the Lime Tree Café didn't disappoint and as usual we picked up where we left off. A nice in person catch up. Most of my old peeps are in other places for the holidays. Kim and her family are still here and they are today's catch up. Heading out on their boat a bit later to catch the sunset. Then there's a car to pick up and trip to Al Ain. I may also explore the northern Emirates. It's been a while since I did that.

In the mean time, I'm heading across to the local supermarket for a few supplies then it's back on the metro to Dubai Mall to have a wander.  I don't really have the space to buy anything so it will just be a window shop. Well except if I find something I really can't resist. Possibly something special from here I can't get elsewhere. Something small, handbag small!

Not a bad spot to relax and read my book

Of walking to school and dogs and things

One of my greatest joys with my school aged grandies is walking them to school. And not because they're going to be at school all day! We have the best conversations as we wander along, usually hand in hand, and fond farewells at the gate. Conversations about their lives; school; sport; their friends; what they love doing and their ambitions; what they have planned that day, that week and further into the future; and everything in between. It's a joyous time for me getting to know them well, especially when I get one on one time.

Then it's time to wander a bit further, usually with a dog in tow. Today it was Waffle, a gorgeous cuddly little dog who is not so energetic and loves to amble, rolling in the soft grass as we go and greeting people along the way.

Dogs are great for meeting people and cuddly dogs attract mums with small children. Like yesterday. Miss nearly 4 and her little sister had not had close contact with dogs so Waffle obliged, laying on her back and encouraging pats. Miss nearly 4 was delighted and played with Waffle for a while. A gentle play, unlike Waffle's boy at home. He loves rough and tumble. Mum and I had a short chat, as you do dog walking. They were out for a picnic by the lake. A perfect day for it, just before it got stifling hot. 

Waffle and I waffled along to the coffee caravan and got an apricot Danish and long black to go. Foolishly really as I had to juggle hot coffee, a sticky bag, my phone and the dog lead. My phone lost and I had to stop my conversation to get us safely across the road. Did I mention it got hot? Trust me to be around for the hottest day in 2 years - 37C meant pool time. After school pick up Frankie and I enjoyed some time cooling off. Night was something else, way too hot to sleep properly and the mosquitos had me slapping the air for a bit. We were all a bit tired this morning!

Reflecting on my time with with family, I really enjoy the close bonds I form with the grandies when I stay with them. Sort of condensed time rather than the slow time when I live nearby. I've only really lived close to my Sydney now Newcastle crew, having day to day contact. That makes a difference. I saw the Brisbane girls, just over an hour away, quite a lot and they came and stayed too. Lockdowns meant long absences and I didn't cope too well with that when they were so close by. My time in New Zealand in 2014-15 was not close to my NZ family so not ideal and I didn't last long there.

This got me thinking about the different models of grandparenting. The stay put ones who are on tap for their family, often still in the family home; the less local ones who come to visit and to help when needed; the very distant ones who build relationships via Skype and FaceTime and when they come to stay; and the ones who don't really see or have time for their grandchildren. I like to think I've been the second and third type with a smattering of number 1, except for the family home. Our family home is the place I've lived for the longest time ever, around 15 years. There was nowhere like that in my childhood. We left our family home when the kids went to the city. We made a new family home for them there for a while, for the time they needed it. 

I came back this side of the world, despite other offers, because my kids were having kids. I wanted to be there to support them and get to know these new little people in my life. I came back to NZ and Wellington for a short time then over to Sydney, where I worked for a bit and set up my consultancy, traveling locally and abroad with some interesting projects. A job took me north to the Gold Coast and when that ended, my consultancy kept me there as I worked on various client projects.  

I was reading an article this morning where a returned traveler wrote about how people get the travel bug, and there were parts that resonated. Kellie wrote about how the hardest part of traveling was going home. I've found that too. Kellie, I'm assuming, is very much younger than me and I could feel her struggles with returning, and the judgements laid at her door by people who never left. Finding fellow travelling spirits and freedom cup fillers helps, and I did in most places. I still keep in touch with many of them and visit whenever I can. 

I loved these pieces from Kellie about not quite fitting in back home, not being able to share 'what’s going on inside of your head. The way your dreams have changed, the way you perceive people differently, the habits you’re happy you lost, the new things that are important to you. You want everyone to recognize this and you want to share and discuss it, but there’s no way to describe the way your spirit evolves when you leave everything you know behind and force yourself to use your brain in a real capacity........This is the hardest part about traveling, and its the very reason why we all run away again.' 

For me it's not running away. It's more about forging new adventures and adding value to the systems and people I interact with in my roles. It's about being present and open to adventures, people and places. It's about change and making this work positively for people; about being a good human in a world where others may not be. It's about making stories; taking photos; enjoying interactions and engagement with others from different places; about having different experiences; and hopefully touching the lives of others in positive and empowering ways. 

Just a note on running away; well I did run away from home often from the age of two (so I've been told!) and was returned home by people who recognised me. My faithful doll Mary-Loo and I used to leave home when my mum wasn't looking, wander up to the old peoples home and entertain the elderly residents. I do remember, and still enjoy, the taste of peppermints from this time. When the staff found me, I suspect I slipped in unnoticed, I was evicted and off to the local pub I went. It was a very small town, one I revisited a few years ago and it is really small, so everyone knew this wandering child. The staff would sit me up at the bar with a raspberry and lemonade and call my harried mother to come and pick me up. And come she did, sighing. Not a great distance to travel. It was hard to keep me in, my freedom cup usually prevails. 

Some grandparents are settled in their homes; some are still working; some are retired and off out seeing the world. We come in all shapes, sizes, ages, dispositions, beliefs and ways of being with our grand children. One thing I know is we love them unconditionally whatever flavor of grandparent we are. 

So meandering thoughts today as I sit outside overlooking the pool soaking up the warmth of the day. Must be time for another coffee - maybe a cold one and no Danish this time!

A fiery sunset on a stifling evening

A visit to London

One thing about being away on holiday is having small spaces to catch up here. There are stories untold, ones of visiting Plymouth and the call of the sea. Ones of catching up with old friends and family and seeing a place I know my brother would have loved to. Battersea Power Station, his favourite bands album cover. It's changed a bit now though, it's been a few years since Pink Floyd's flying pigs. Plymouth is next, first lets venture on another trip to London town. An orienteering journey of trains and tubes and walking for miles to see two very special people. 

Taking the train from Farnborough is so very easy. It arrives without fuss at Waterloo taking between 45 mins and one hour. Then the fun begins, how do I get to Jen at Chiswick near Turnham Green? You see Jen is a lovely friend from the Cayman's. We used to sail together and have fun with sundowners after. Facebook has kept us in touch and she is one of the many friends where it's easy to pick up where we left off. She hasn't changed a bit - well we're both slightly older than in 2012-13 but who's counting! We had a coffee catch up and a wander after working out how to get to Battersea in time to see Kate during a break in her work day. We've made plans for a longer catch up next time, so looking forward to a few quiets somewhere nice.

Off I went, back on the train then the tube with Kate's instructions on where to meet. Our last catch up was a pre Christmas one and she had stories of Hogmanay adventures in Edinborough and her recent trip to Lake Como. A girl after my own heart, Kate is making the most of her work to travel lifestyle, one she's going to share with her mum and little sister when they come over in April. I'm hoping I'll be back to share at least part of that. Kate's also very clever with a degree suitable for international jobs and, being of the right age, a young adult working visa for the UK. Her dad would be so proud of her, and delighted she's living near his album cover. 

We had the best coffee. New Zealand style in a gorgeous café. Last time we didn't get any photos, too much conversation going on, so this time I got the best couple of selfies especially for my mum. I'll print the best ones and leave them for her in a frame. The visit to Battersea Power Station on the way to the train was quite short. I'm not a fan of malls/shopping centres so it was a quick look at what they had done to make this such an amazing space, off to Zara's for some gifts for the girls then back to the train home. 

Of course I cut it fine and missed the train I was meant to take. My day pass had also stopped working so the kind staff at the gates smiled and let me through when I flashed it. I was a bit tired and hungry when I sat down so ventured into my bag for some Scoobie snacks. Anyone who travels with me more than once knows I need constant feeding or I get hangry. Because I'm not so good at remembering, my lovely man had slipped a couple of chocolate bars in my bag so all was well. I never get tired of train travel. 

I love being on the rails and reminded of other longer trips like the 2004 adventure in France and the 2008 adventure through Italy. We followed the Tour in 2004 so trains gave way to a rental car and a tent. So many stories from that time untold. Suffice to say it was a blast and I've got plenty of small places in France I'd love to go back to. Especially Carcassonne where the folks at the hospital were so kind and where I was in a sling for a while, all courtesy of an un-drunken marble staircase tumble.  I also have the map of the route we followed, a big blunt map with scribbles all over it. There were no iPhones back then so it was all a big adventure for two not yet seasoned travelers from NZ! Italy was trains and I told some of that story here in my 2008 posts. Not the back story, just the fun bits.

The lovely Jen

See the likeness?

A wander through Battersea Park.....

finding my way to the big chimneys.....

and this spot. 

Back south

It's been lovely coming back to Australia and catching up with everyone. Enjoying some lovely sunshine and beach time. Funny to think I'm heading away again in a few weeks, brings back memories of my nomad country hopping days. As one of my family said to me, it seems odd to be doing this at my life stage. Picking up and starting again. Yet to me it seems so normal, so natural to be going on another adventure. Unencumbered with things and debt and responsibilities. It's so very freeing. Being lighter. Being open to other ways of being. 

I'm really lucky because all the special people in my life are doing very well. The grandies are thriving in their schools, sporting endeavors, socially, and within their families. You see I have the very best daughter in laws as mums to my grandies. And of course my sons are the best dads too. So all is well in the southern hemisphere. I do feel privileged and grateful for this. Very grateful to have mr 4 snuggle up for the night and miss 8 (and a half) taking space on the other side of me. Very grateful to watch the Brisbane girls enjoying athletics and touch and netball and how they interact with their sporty friends. 

Next stop is New Zealand. This might not be the best of stops because my mother is not doing so well. Her freedom cup has been curtailed as she is no longer able to wander outside on her own and she does do her best to escape where she is. I'm staying in the bush, off grid, on our family land at my brother's place. A bath under the stars is planned and a wander through the stand of native trees. I'm more a salty than a freshy - more beach than rivers and bush but I do like that space too. 

It will also be the best of stops with mr just 13 yesterday. I can't wait. And then there's Jane and Smarty to catch up with. I usually hire a car and enjoy a road trip or two in NZ but the cost of a rental car made this unrealistic. I can't believe how expensive things are there. The conversations about interest rates and families struggling to make ends meet are common. I remember how it was in the '80s when the rates went to a staggering 20+%. We needed two incomes to cover that in a time when one income was usual. 

Today sitting in the sun and enjoying my book is the plan until the kids need picking up. Then it's full on fun and quite possibly pool time. It's lovely here. 

Oh loading the pics I remembered the flight. The second one I'd prefer to forget really! Over fourteen hours it's never my favorite although I've done it many times and will do it many more times. The first leg I sat next to the loveliest men; one a high school teacher, the other his brother in law. We had a lovely chat about education and different ways of working to engage kids. I got a little sleep too, my audio book providing a sleeping background over the hum of the plane. Dubai airport is always a treat and I picked up some goodies there for the family. I wandered and glanced up at the board to see my plane was boarding. Eeek I had to run for the gate! Thank goodness for the bag search before boarding.

The second leg, oh my the most interesting seat mates. One a very stressed and nervous 30+ heading to see her boyfriend in Aus. Her first flight on her own, her first long haul. When she wasn't sleeping she bounced around alternating between tears and conversation. I did feel for her as did the elderly flier sitting between us. She was a frequent flyer and yet did not know how to operate the screen. A few quick lessons and some lovely conversation later we had it up and running. I enjoyed her and she was so kind to miss 30+. I knew her age you see, because we had to help her with the forms needed. Otherwise I might have supposed her to be much younger. At least they helped make the flight entertaining, entertaining too the passengers in front and behind with miss 30+'s antics!

A girl and a dog 

Plane selfie - ready to fly!