Photos

The photo upload function is really, no really, frustrating so I've stuck a link to 'latest photos' on the right.

Photos will appear there instead until I can work out what the hell is going on.

Andy

Photos

We still cannot upload photos, hence I'm trying another option. Click below to see some recent photos of Daisy.

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/becandy/MayInDubai

Hope it works!

Andy

Jules and Gianni's wedding

I still can't get photos to load. Grrrr. It hasn't worked since moving to the Ranches so may be the connection here. Very frustrating.

Daisy and I just survived our first drive without Andy. The roads here are terrifying and scare the bejesus out of me. Everyone drives too fast, the roads are a mess, lane discipline is non existent and the body count is horrendeous. I have a Pajero on order but it will take until July to get here. JULY! Until then I'm in a sedan which feels rather small compared to all the monsters on the road.

Anyway, this post is meant to be about my recent trip to Australia. I was a bridesmaid at Juliet and Gianni's wedding which was amazing. SO annoying I can't put photos on. It was held at Thala, a resort just out of Port Douglas in North Queensland. It was a bit of a flying visit, only there for four nights as Andy and Daisy were still in Dubai. Andy could only get a few days off work and the trip was too long to put Daisy through for a short time so they had to stay behind *sob*.

Ruth and I stayed in an apartment in Port Douglas which was great. We both arrived on the Wednesday and went out for a few quiet drinks in the evening. It felt very odd to be sans baby.

Thursday was the Hen Day. We had a snorkel/dive trip on the Great Barrier Reef. We went to the outer reef which is quite a long way out and it was rather rough so there were a few green faces and sick bags out! We went to three locations during the day and each was amazing. The diversity and abundance of life once you peeked beneath the waves was astounding. In the evening we went to a great restaurant then headed off to a few bars afterwards. I think Jules had a good night which was the aim of things.

Friday we had a wedding rehearsal in the morning then Jules and I spent the afternoon being pampered at a spa. Ahhhh. We had a wedding party and family dinner in the evening then had an early night in preparation for the big day.

Saturday dawned bright and clear and I headed out to Thala to join Jules and get ready which we did over a relaxed lunch and champers. Jules looked absolutely stunning. She was always going to look amazing but she really did look perfect. Plus not a wedding jitter in sight! Golf carts took us to the start of the beach path where we began our walk down the longest aisle in the world. It was a beautiful ceremony, on a slightly raised area overlooking the beach. As is always the way, it seemed to be over in a flash, congratulations Mr and Mrs Pannozzo! Then it was photos photos and more photos and the reception began which was held in a gorgeous open walled circular platform amongst the tropical rainforest. It all went very well and we danced up a storm before bidding Jules and Gianni farewell and heading off on a wedding coach to town. Needless to say much more dancing followed and we got back to our apartment as the birds were getting up then cracked open the champers. I don't get to do it often so figured I may as well do it in style.

We headed to the airport at 10am on Sunday morning feeling well and truly partied out. About 26 hours later I was dashing up the stairs in Dubai to smother Daisy in kisses. I missed her awfully and from the sounds of things she really missed me too. From the stunned look on her face she had given up hope of ever seeing me again and wouldn't let me out of her sight for days. I think Andy was pretty pleased to see me too, he discovered that it's not all about lying round and drinking coffee!

Bx

A lot going on - and photo upload isn't working Argh!

There has been an awful lot happen since my last post! We've moved house and I've been to Australia. Daisy has also become a full time walker, it's quite odd watching her toddle round.

Two of Daisy's friends turned 1 recently. Oliver who held a pool party and Jamie who had lunch at The Lime Tree followed by a trip to Favourite Things. Much fun was had at both parties and Daisy loved the chance to eat as much cake as she wanted.

Our new house is great, although a little empty as our things are still en route from London. It's at Arabian Ranches which is about a 20 minute drive out. It's a semi detached villa with 3 bedrooms upstairs and study downstairs. Plenty of room for guests. We have a garden with a gate that leads on to a lake path - excellent for walks. Over the road is the communal area with a big pool, a baby pool, lounging area, grass area with bbqs, a playground and a tennis court. Result! Arabian Ranches has a central area with a golf course, polo club, school, spa and shopping centre. We are very pleased with it. Daisy is particulary pleased. She has gone from no room of her own for the past three months to a lovely big bedroom, her own bathroom AND and a playroom. The lucky bubba.

Australia post is up next.

Bx

Happy Birthday Andy!

A birthday cuddle for Dada

The pool and gym area as seen from our balcony. It's one of the things we will miss about this apartment.....

.....and this is one of the things we won't.

Andy's the big 37 today. We've had a nice relaxed day. We went for a drive this morning and checked out Arabian Ranches which is one of the places we might move to. We filled the car with petrol for the first time - a full tank cost 65 dirhams which is about 9 GBP. In a very expensive town, petrol is certainly the exception!

Andy has had two days of work so far. It looks like it's going to be hard work but he's quite looking forwards to the challenge. Now the job is sorted, we have to find a house which isn't much fun. Very expensive, very little around and very little time to do it in. Eeek.

Daisy did her best ever solo walking effort today at Caribou. Seven shaky little steps in a row. She's more that capable of walking, it's just a confidence thing but I'm sure she will be running round in no time.

We have friends coming round for dinner tonight which will be nice. A good opportunity to enjoy some of those bottles of duty free wine. Hurrah!

Bx

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaay!

Daisy and Oliver enjoying a paddle. It's a bit grainy and was a few weeks ago. We've been very slack on the photo front.

Andy has a job! Six weeks and five days after arriving here, he's signed on the dotted line and we can begin to start our new lives in Dubai. The bizarre thing is, after all the stress and worry and countless applications and interviews on Andy's part, it's a job that he first interviewed for via telephone when we were still in London. In November. An interview which took place by the Thames in Richmond whilst having lunch with Lydia and Neil.

He is the new Finance Director for Arab Media Group. They own radio stations and newspapers and are about to launch MTV Arabia. How exciting, I love MTV! He starts Wednesday, now it's all happening, it's happening really quickly. He's all a bit nervous about it but Daisy and I are very proud of him and know he'll do a great job.

I'm so pleased we can now begin to get things sorted here. It's been incredibly frustrating to be living in a place that we can see is a fantastic place to live but to not be able to get on with our lives and really settle here.

So, next up, finding a villa to rent, cars to buy, and the best bit, getting all our stuff shipped from London. The day I read 'Oh The Places You'll Go' to Daisy then put her to bed in her own cot will be a very happy day indeed.

Bx

A bit stressed

Trouble? Me?

Steve, Madge and Bob, Jumeirah Madinat.

Adrian and Jacob, at the Madinat again. It's a great place to go out.


The Burj Al Arab. It's pretty impressive.

It's been stressful times here lately. Everything just takes so long and it feels nothing is easy. The whole job process is very slow. Daisy is still unsettled (no doubt picking up on how we are feeling) which is hard on all of us. I've been feeling very guilty so letting her get away with being a bit of a toad which is only making the problem worse. We always knew the first few months were going to be hard, we just need to be patient. It will all be worth it in the end (I keep reminding myself).

We've had visits from Andy's parents and brother, my mother and Ness and Bob which has been fantastic. Not only was it great to see them, they all came via duty free so our evenings are no longer bereft of alcohol. Hurrah! We obviously can't go out much in the evening with Daisy so being able to have a drink at home makes things much better. I never thought I could appreciate a well stocked fridge so much. We also caught up with Adrian, an old workmate of Andy's who was here on holiday and had a great night out with him and his friend Jacob. Daisy spent the night next to our table, parked up in her pj's fast asleep.

We've got a couple of things on this weekend with people I've met in coffee groups. Husbands are coming too so it will be a good chance for Andy to have a break from the the tedium of job hunting.

Bx