Oh no!

I'm having computer issues so normal transmissions will resume as soon as I've been to the Apple shop to get it fixed and to hopefully buy another way of communicating. It was an excelent choice of accommodation, an old mill on the Avon River. A more picturesque river than it's namesake in Christchurch. Photos and stories will follow soon, for now please check out Di's site in my links section.

London!

I'm in London, even better I'm in London with Di staying with Claire and enjoying a lovely meal, wine and chats. Plenty of chatting of course. I've been up since 5am UAE time so am wilting fast and now need to get some sleep. Will write more tomorrow, sat nav and finding Di stories and probably finding Bath stories too.

Last days

I've just had a special treat. I was given a voucher for a deluxe foot spa and I used this tonight, my last pedicure for a while I suspect. The deluxe part was sitting in a massage chair, with the remote control. With my attention span, that kept me occupied for about 10 minutes as I played with the settings and got pummeled by the mechanical thingys in the chair. It was quite nice for a while as I'd had a gym session and needed a loosen up.

The young woman who was looking after the feet end was from Vietnam, a very pretty young woman with a nice smile. She conducted the pedicure ritual, with extras such as a leg scrub and massage. We chose the colour carefully and I now have lovely shiny new red polish on my nails, smooth feet and relaxed legs, what more could a girl ask for.

So I'm home now after saying goodbye to another friend over coffee, sitting in my bare living room and soon to go to bed in a bed half covered with the clothes I'm packing to take with me. Warm clothes for the UK and work clothes for the Caymans. The movers still haven't fronted so I may have to go to plan B and pack it all up myself and air freight.

I'm so lucky that I have a friend in the company I work in who is the fix it up chappie. I knew when we talked about my moving dilemma today that he would say, no problem just let me know what you want and I will organise this. He is the ultimate organiser, mover and shaker and font of all knowledge of what needs to be done and when it needs to be done in this part of the world. I'm hoping we can collaborate on an article for the magazine on the how to of leaving the UAE.

It's only 5 sleeps, counting the one I'm about to have, two more days at work. I feel like I need a holiday and booked this place in Bath for Di and I. It will be our base for exploring, I can't wait although I hope the weather is not too chilly. Might need a hot bath in Bath.

The rain in Al Ain

Ahh the smell of hot rain on a hot road, an earthy smell that defies description. One of my favorite smells as  it reminds me of hot summer childhood afternoons when it rained at about 3pm to relieve the heat of the day. Hot, fat rain to dance in. When no one was watching.

Well, tonight the heavens opened up in Al Ain. The rain is late this year, I wonder if it waited until my last week. You see, every time I go to leave the UAE it rains. I leave soon, this time for a long time. I heard the thunder, saw the flash in the sky and retired to the roof to watch the fun. Deidre, another storm chaser, was already there, enjoying. As we watched the humidity changed, the wind picked up, the dust was flying so we had to run for shelter. Then the clouds burst and the hot rain fell, big wet drops soaking us.

It was all very sudden from the noise to the rain. Great sheets poured from the sky, we hoped for floods and maybe an unworkable day tomorrow. The sirens began as we watched through the open window, driving conditions treacherous with this twice a year downpour. It's sticky now, hot and humid, 35 plus at 9.30pm. Through the open window I can hear the slosh of tyres in the puddles, the toots of horns from the main road. I'm so pleased to be in my safe house and not out and about.

I will sleep with my window open tonight listening to the novelty of rain, dusty hot rain washing the sand from the clouds. The hot wafting, muddy smell of hot rain on the hot road. Ahh I should sleep well tonight.

Up on the roof

We had a nice evening up on the roof, a small gathering of friends. The evening flowed with laughter, music and conversation, as well as the odd drink and some local food. The warm wind made for a pleasant temperature. We have had shamals for the past few days, the north wind that picks up sand and dust on it's way across the desert and deposits it in my kitchen and bathroom as well as everywhere else in Al Ain. I almost changed the venue but on cue, just as asked, at 5pm the wind dropped so the roof was the best place to be.  Friends pictured are Jane, Nola and Belinda; Debbie and Kate and Gillie and Liz. More photos to follow when I get some space to look at them properly. My new flash has been an excellent investment. 

12 more sleeps

To be able to leave the UAE, your work visa needs to be cancelled. This has now happened in my passport and best of all, I have my passport back. There's nothing holding me back now apart from the 12, soon to be 11 more sleeps. I've got heaps done and my apartment is looking bare with much gone and the rest sold and ready to go. It helps being one of the first to leave.

My cleaner had her last visit today and went off with some bags from my cupboards as well as a few clothes and bit and pieces. She was really thrilled to be given my drag bag, the suitcase that housed my computer and resources as I travelled about. To me it was past it's use by date, I didn't need it and it was beginning to look tatty. To her it was a means of carrying her clothes home when she visits her family on her biannual visit in July/August. She told me it would save her having to buy one.

You see Cora and I are the same age only we live very different lives. Her life revolves around working to send money to her family in the Philippines. She works in a school and gets paid very little so this is no mean feat. Living here can be expensive so picking up work from people like me is the best way for her to manage this and send money home. I am amazed at how industrious these women are, many work 12 hour days then clean for others. Cora is one of the luckier ones in that her hours aren't that long and she gets some time off.

Many of the things that I see here, many of the stories I'm told, shock me a little. Well it actually shocks me more that I have come to accept this as the way it is. I suspect I've been here long enough and a change to a place that seems at least to be more egalitarian is a good idea. Maybe I'll write some of the stories I've been told when I am at a distance, I know I have a couple of travel ones to include. Keep watching this space. 

It's April

 

Already! I've only got days left in the UAE, the time has flown by. I had a lovely weekend in Abu Dhabi catching up with friends, saying goodbye. I'm not very good at goodbyes, prefer not to have too much fuss. Besides everyone that I saw this weekend are in my life for a lifetime, or at the least a season, so I expect to see them in my new place some time.

Friday evening was well spent, socialising and photographing Mike and Gavin's band. They have a young Lebanese drummer and he is amazing. They kept the crowd happy with their acoustic covers and even had an adventurous group up dancing. There was a man behind us, he sang harmony really well. We got talking to him and his wife and it seems he had a band in his younger years, a similar band. He certainly had a great voice and could dance.


Today, the grandmas braved Baby Gap and stocked up on a few bits for the babies. It was fun shopping with another grandma, a kind of excitement. Kate's also a great shopper, gets what she wants and gets out of there quick smart. The way I like to shop, well for clothes anyway.


So tomorrow is the beginning of my last two weeks of work, then a break, then off to the Cayman's. I'm getting excited, especially when I got the information of my home for the first week. It looks fantastic, on the beach and, I suspect, close to where I need to be. I am getting a little excited.

The photos are of the band, three very talented musicians. Mike and I had a play with the pics to make good poster images. I like them, good action shots!