Dear all
MERRY CHRISTMAS 2016
'Tis the season for another annual update from #TeamEllis ho ho ho!
Several hours later, and I've only managed to check the email list. My Christmas spirit (plus the beer fridge) has reduced by about 50%. Each year I get some emails that bounce back and I have to hunt around to update the list. Keeping an up to date email list is an incredible bore to be honest, and unfortunately some people drop off the list as I no longer have a valid email. I'd love to use the speed of Facebook instead but as I have discovered, a lot of you don't use Facebook (really)!
Anyway, I may use both. If you don't receive both, then you are missing off one of my lists. If you don't receive either, then you are not even reading this (some of you are wishing this was you by now).
Well, it has been a good year (I think). It started out in New Zealand and in last year's email we talked about a potential move there, 12 months later and everything is set. We all go to New Zealand on 12 January (eek!). If everything goes to plan, the kids will be starting new schools in February, then just I will be coming back to Dubai for a few months (double eek!). I have given work advance notice of my leaving, but I won't formally resign until later, as I will finish my ten years with the company first. Hopefully, I will be back in New Zealand by the end of May or maybe June.
It is a bit scary to be honest (for all of us). The kids have been generally OK, but definitely had some wobbles, as things have come to an end (school, playgroup, football training, swimming lessons etc). Daisy has been at Repton for over seven years. We have had kids at Lisa's playgroup for over eight years. Expat life is all very transient most of the time and we are used to losing friends every year, but you cannot help making long term connections if you stay somewhere for a while.
The scariest part (for me at least) is entering the job market again after ten years with the same company. After working for 25 years for only three employers, I've spent very little time job hunting. Just to make it easier, another new country and a probable change of sector beckons (yippee!).
We will miss Dubai, especially our friends and the weather (mostly). The kids have grown up here, so it will always be a special place for us and them. However, we are ready to go. Dubai has felt like a bit of an expat bubble and not part of the "real" world. Very nice when the kids are young, but we've never wanted them to spend all their childhood here. Time to take the red pill, and see how deep the rabbit hole goes! (?!?) Hopefully, the kids won't hate us (too much) for wrenching them from their cozy expat life, and dumping them at the (arse) end of the world!
The kids have all had a good year. Max is adorable but he can be a truculent little mister at times. All the boys are really enjoying their football, and Zach was voted the players' player of the year for his team at the end of last season. Sebastian's football has improved dramatically this year, and he is very capable now. Both Zach and Sebastian dropped rugby (boo!) but Daisy has still been enjoying it. The rugby club network and junior tournaments have been a fantastic part of our Dubai experience, and I hope the kids can get a similar experience in New Zealand, especially Max, who hasn't really been old enough in Dubai.
Daisy is still loving acting, and it was a very exciting moment at the cinema when we spotted her as an extra in Star Trek Beyond. It was a fleeting glimpse, but she looked great as a pink alien. Unfortunately, Zach's scenes did not make the final cut.
All the kids have been doing really well in school and their school reports are simply amazing. Bec is very quick to tell them that kids inherit their intelligence from their mother (whatever!) but hopefully they will inherit my sparkling wit (er.....)!
Dubai has been a bit down this year. Unfortunately, there has been lots of redundancies and the overall economy is still struggling. My company is doing incredible well though (steady financial management probably!). However, we have reduced our exposure to live events, as it has become very difficult to make them work financially, and this has had a knock on impact on the number of concerts we have attended this year. In fact, we've had a pretty quiet year re going out etc.
Our main holiday in the summer was in Croatia and the UK. We flew to Zagreb and did a pleasant three hour drive to Rovinj, to meet up with family and friends. Rovinj is simply wonderful and it was a great holiday. The villa we hired was perfect and we loved the setting. After a nice one night stay in Zagreb, we flew to London and had a great few days hanging out on the South Bank, before Bec has some girl time in Bath, and I took the kids up to Yorkshire to see grandparents and Uncle Steve. Unfortunately, my Dad's health has deteriorated quite severely this year. He needs oxygen regularly and cannot get around too well, but it was lovely for the kids to see them in (sunny) Rotherham for a change.
Right, that's about enough of me wittering on (hurrah, you all say!).
We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a very happy New Year!
Lots of love from
Ellis Inc x
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