Jule's Hikoi: And then there's a change

As always happens, as one path is being embarked upon, another opportunity comes calling. This time a chance to escape the UK winter for three weeks, visit a place I used to live and put my early years hat back on. That hat was rusty and sitting in a box marked 'do not open' and I suspect it was quite pleased when I dusted it off, said hi and packed it to go. I thought I may have lost my mojo so was a bit worried. I'm up for taking a risk so with my very last minute ticket off I flew to Abu Dhabi, jumping into a taxi to my old home Al Ain. Reliving my first trip there in 2009, sitting alongside Tracey, heading towards a new future very late at night. I have been back twice, once in 2013 and once in 2018. Both short visits with friends.

Roll forward almost 17 years. I had hoped I'd be based in Al Ain but was only there for two days of training. I did get to go for a wander to the oasis just on dusk but the gates were mostly shut so I just enjoyed being out in the dusty heat wandering around the walls. The training was great and it was wonderful to meet some new friends as we negotiated a new way of working and the structures built around this by one of my old colleagues from my earlier time in Al Ain. I stayed at an old haunt, my yoga and bar place formally the Hilton.

Thursday late afternoon we were whisked away to a new hotel in Abu Dhabi because our work was there for the next two weeks. And on Friday that begun. What a busy week! I hardly had time to eat or sleep, or wander in the heat to the local restaurants. And there was no beach time as I worked all weekend. No good at all really. Friday night I did get to have dinner with two old friends from my Al Ain days. Sitting outside in the balmy night air eating the best Italian and enjoying a wine or two. A nice catch up after a 12 year gap.

The next week was easier as I kind of knew what I was doing. Did I mention it was inspection work? With lots of tools and guides and tips to make things easier. Many covered in the training and giving me aha moments as I began to apply them in practice. Hanging the work on the scaffold provided by the training and more experienced folks. It's been a while since I've learnt new stuff so it was a gift for this lifelong learner.

The balmy days and evenings were enjoyed the second week, a friend and I finding the best Indian vegetarian restaurant where I could eat everything on the menu. Yummy fresh food and beautiful people running it. I enjoyed the fresh juices and people watching as the local folks were out and about. I also found a local supermarket with the best nuts, dates, tea and coffee. I went a bit mad on my last day and bought some of all of them, over 2 kilograms all up! The tea has been a treat, the nuts so much better than I can buy here and the dates delicious local ones.

The coffee, now that was a surprise. I didn't read the fine print and instead of the single origin Brazilian arabica coffee I was expecting, it was cardamom coffee with the arabica mixed in. Luckily I love cardamom coffee so I'll enjoy the large bag I bought for the months to come. The house smelt lovely when I made it, the ghost of those beautiful Arabic and Indian flavours lingering in the air.

So things I've learnt. Always say yes, it will usually work out and if not take the lesson. People are lovely. People are helpful. You just have to ask. The team of inspectors I was part of made me very welcome and we had some great chats over breakfast and whenever we managed to get together. Abu Dhabi Emirate has changed. It's a lot more cosmopolitan and finished than it was when I lived there. It's very built up and it was a treat being driven to work past so many familiar places. And finally, waffles with berry coulis, maple syrup (just a little) and fresh fruit salad topped with some local yogurt is the breakfast of champions. And coming home, even to the chilly UK weather, is the best.