It is that time of year again! Shall I go for length or quality? I guess it will probably be neither.
Seasons greetings from the desert. A pleasant & sunny 26 degrees today, although it did rain (very briefly) earlier. Dubai is a very different place to a year ago, although in many ways it is a better place. There is less traffic, prices of everything have stopped going up, rents are reasonable again, and things are generally less frenetic than before. However, a lot of friends and colleagues have lost jobs and most people here have been impacted by the financial meltdown somehow.
It has been another wonderful and interesting year. Daisy has started school and received her first report card already, which states that 'she is a quiet and contented, well behaved girl and she has pleasing manners'. Quiet & well behaved? Either they've got her confused with someone else, or she's sharing a class with a pack of wilderbeast. To be serious, she is a beautiful and clever girl, and we are very proud of her.
Zach has also grown up into a handsome boy (he looks like me of course), who loves singing and dancing. His speech is just amazing, which is probably because he mimics everything Daisy does, and by 'ell, she does a lot of talking. He's lost his baby chubbiness (*sob* - Bec) and his favourite hobby is shouting (loudly and constantly). He has also started playgroup, and talks about his friends there a lot. He insisted the other day that it was school not playgroup - such a big chap.
I can't quiet believe that there will soon be another one (boy, due mid feb). I think we've worked out how to fit them all in the car, but not the buggy. Zach is not going to like losing 'my' buggy. Bec is coping wonderfully with the kids and the pregnancy, but I'm not sure how she does it. I have to go back to work for a rest after each weekend.
Work has been absolute carnage. My company has basically collapsed under a sea of debt and inept decision making (not my decisions, honest!). We had already made 400 redundant earlier in 2009, then His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum got out his gold biro, and with a swift flick of the wrist, transferred 80% of the company to Dubai Media Incorporated (DMI), which is proper Government. Hence, another 100 support staff had to be made redundant, and we are now down to less than 250 staff from a peak of over 2,000. It has been very hard work, scary at times, and I don't think we've hit rock bottom yet, although we are now leaner and profitable.
We've also moved house, which has been incredibly hard work (for Bec). I've been so busy at work, that Bec has organised everything and she has done a fantastic job. The decoration is perfect and the garden is wonderful, hence we are very happy with our new home. It is also bigger, and better located, so let us know if any of you are passing through this part of the world.
Anyway, I think that will have to be it. Time for beer and a Christmas movie.
We wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a (more) prosperous New Year. Please keep in touch.
Lots of love from
Andy, Bec, Daisy, Zach and Pookie 3 x
Stockings, thanks Santa!
The obligatory chocolate Santa.
Finger puppets!
Waiting very patiently.
A Thomas book! 
Penguin puppet!
Zach flexes his muscles to play Santa.
First try on the new scooters.
Sticker time.
Zach copies mummy's pose...
...while Daisy gives Daddy a cuddle.
