Al Ain and Jebel Hafeet

Daisy and Sanna at the Al Ain Zoo

Is it called Geoffrey?

The zoo was also good viewed from the comfort of a buggy

Sunset from Jebel Hafeet

Zack relaxes in our room and is pleased to hear Daisy is sharing with Grandma

Sanna discovers a novel way to keep Daisy contained

Zack kicks back by the pool

We recently went on a weekend trip to Al Ain and Jebel Hafeet with our friends Tara and Dajon and their daughter Sanna who is great pals with Daisy.

Al Ain is the second city in the emirate of Abu Dhabi and is built around a seven natural oases. It has a population of about 400 000 but seemed very quiet and tranquil with big tree lined avenues and mainly low rise buildings.

We spent the afternoon Al Ain Zoo which was very good and greatly enjoyed by the girls before heading off for the half hour drive up to Jebel Hafeet which at 1180 metres is the tallest point in the UAE. Our hotel was perched atop the mountain and gave spectacular views over the whole area. Apart from our hotel and another buliding that may have been a palace, there was very little on the mountain, however in true UAE style the road up there was a pristine 4 lane highway. Nice.

We had a relaxed evening watching the sunset then dinner and spent the next day hanging out round the pool with breaks for massages for the girls and squash for the boys. Daisy and Sanna had fabulous time hanging out together round the pool. It was only a short trip away but we headed for home feeling very relaxed.

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Family visit.

Daisy, Madge, Bob, Steve and Andy checking out the boats at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel

While Zack and me lounge on the beach in front of the Burj Al Arab

Then Zack and Julia take in the view of the JBH

Madge, Bob and Steve came to visit a couple of weekends ago. We had some nice days out and about enjoying the balmy weather. Daisy was thrilled to have three grandparents and an uncle to amuse her and Zack enjoyed the extra hands to carry him around.

We've taken advantage of Julia's in house babysitting service a couple of times recently which has been very nice. We had a night out to a house party for our friend Katie's birthday and a night out at the Buddha Bar for our 3 year anniversary. I'm very much enjoying being able to have a few drinks again although I haven't gone mad as I'm too knackered. I'll probably be regretting my restraint once Julia leaves and the opportunity has passed.

Daisy and Zack are still both doing well. We've taken the plunge and registered Daisy for Repton School, starting autumn 2009. The way waiting lists are here, we'll probably be getting Zack's name down before long too. Zack is full of smiles and coos which of course has us all entranced. He's eight weeks now although seems older. I suspect because he weighed in at 8 weeks what Daisy did at 18 weeks. Cripes!

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Cuddles

Daisy's always asking for Zack to sit on her knee and loves it when he's allowed to. I'm not sure that Zack loves it so much but he's normally very good about it.

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We're still here.....

Dreaming of Rugby World Cup 2027 Glory.

And then I put my hand like this and voila, tulips!

Hanging out with Daddy at Marina Walk....

....while Daisy cools her heels with Grandma.

Looking sharp.

.....and haven't dropped off the face of the earth! I'm not finding I'm getting much computer time though with the two little ones keeping me busy. And when they are asleep I'm finding I'm too brain dead for much more than reading The Sun online and watching the BBC Food channel. Oh, and eating. Porker.

I'm really enjoying things despite that, Daisy's mental growth and Zack's physical growth are both amazing me every day. Daisy has become a champion jigsaw puzzler and top talker and Zack has started smiling and developed rugby thighs to be proud of. Daisy still adores Zack and smothers him with love every chance she gets and Zack is over his terror of her and she gets his best smiles and he and puckers up nicely for her numerous kisses.



We've been getting out and about enjoying the beautiful weather. Julia needed her visit visa extended so we drove to Oman at the weekend. Zack is still passportless so we drove to the Hatta Fort Hotel which is a few kilometers short of the border and had lunch then Andy and Julia carried on and left Daisy, Zack and I waiting under a grove of date palms. Luckily they came back about an hour later and we headed back to Dubai. The scenery was nice, sand dunes, camels and bedouin tents (which were actually quite shabby) then rocky jagged mountains. Very arabia.



We're off to the Polo Club to meet friends now. Daisy loves watching the horses and can't wait to get a pony. Obviously Andy is thrilled...



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