Merry Christmas 2008

Here is a copy of my Christmas email:

Dear all

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2008

Seasons greetings from the desert. It was cold yesterday (25 degrees) so there were plenty of jackets, scarves and hats at the Christmas carols down at the Madinat Jumeriah. Last year there was a full on Santa show with dancing snowmen (Daisy loved it). Yesterday it was a train set and a few carols (Daisy still loved it, as did Zach). Times are tough in the Gulf.

It feels a long time since our last Christmas email. Bec was eight months pregnant at the end of 2007, hence we entered 2008 full of nerves and hope (Andy) or feeling fat and uncomfortable (Bec).

Zach was born on 20 January 2008, exactly 100 years to the day from the birth of my late Grandfather Jack Ellis. He was a bit scrawny looking at first, but he is soooooo cute and cuddly now. We have been very lucky with him, as he has been pretty easy going and is so full of fun. However, he hasn't been the best sleeper and Bec is still trying to catch up from the endless sleep deprived nights. Thankfully, he seems to have sorted himself out over the last month or so.

Daisy has been a terrible two for the vast majority of the year - quite literally! She is chatty, charming and funny but can swing from being an angel to a whining brat seamlessly.

I'm not going to give you all a blow by blow account of 2008, because a) I can't be bothered b) none of you will read it and c) I'm running out of time.

You can, of course, see what we have been up to via http://blog.becandy.com

The abridged version is as follows:

• We love Dubai
• Children are tiring
• You cannot get enough coffee or beauty treatments
• An accountants life is frequently dull
• We bought an off plan villa
• Just before the credit crunch
• Oops!
• At least they are still building it
• Zach is fat
• We like that
• Daisy is still beautiful
• We went to see Kylie and Maroon 5 - we have a social life again, hurrah!
• We have lots of nice friends
• Hopefully, they won't or we won't lose our jobs
• We still love Dubai

Anyway, we wish all of you a very Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year. We miss all our family and friends terribly, I don't think we are homesick as Dubai is now home but we are definitely friendsick.

We wish we had the time to keep in touch better, and we hope to see as many of you as possible in the year to come. Please let us know if you are passing through this part of the world, and most importantly, please keep in touch.

Lots of love from

Andy, Bec, Daisy and Zach x

Eid al-Adha

Daisy and Sanna enjoy a book at Dubai Mall.

Andy practises using the zoom from our balcony.

Zack sneaks up on Daisy for a quick shoulder tap....

....then dash.

It's a holiday bonanza at the moment, last week was Eid al-Adha which meant a three day holiday, hurrah! We didn't partake in the traditional sacrificial slaughtering of animals (apart from a few ants in the garden) but we did have a nice time anyway. The highlight for Daisy was going to the movies to see Madagascar 2 with Sanna, Lucy, Phoebe, Oscar and Matilda. Zack's highlight was having lots of bonus daddy time.

Bx

Winter

All rugged up for a morning walk.

Gotham. No wait, it's Dubai.

We've had some very welcome rain in the past couple of weeks, brilliant. It hadn't rained since January so it's been great to have all the dust washed out of the air. Everything seems sparkling, shiny and clear. Lovely. It's also gotten a bit chilly at night which is a welcome change. The days are cooler too so it's been nice to break out the winter clothes. If it's under 25 degrees Daisy likes to have a jacket and scarf to hand.

Bx

The Lost Chamber at Atlantis

Fish, fish everywhere.

Look! It's the whale shark.

Bizarre.

Last weekend we checked out the Lost Chamber at the new Atlantis hotel. It was very Stargate like and atmospheric. Kinda spooky weird but good. The fish were pretty amazing, the main tank was mahooosive and the whale shark wasn't as squished in as I imagined from all the 'free the whale shark' protests going on.

Bx

Fun in the garden.

Smile!

Daisy, Phoebe and Lucy, looking sweet.

Smile again! Note the very green new grass.

And looking cheeky!

We've really been enjoying the garden lately. We had the big trees chopped back and the grass redone and it's lovely out there.

Bx

National Day

Daisy Clouseau

Zack strikes a pose.

Followed by Daisy.

A marmite sandwich is all a boy needs.

Tuesday was National Day which meant a day off work for Andy, hurrah! We didn't partake in any flag waving but had a very nice lunch at the Madinat which was near deserted. After lunch Daisy and I went on an abra (boat) to get cake from Al Qasr (a hotel). I like Al Qasr, when I asked if they had any cake, they gave Daisy a box of it. She's a lucky girl.

Bx

Rugby 7's

Daisy catches the on field action.

Zack catches 40 winks.

Last weekend was the Dubai Rugby Sevens. We all went on the Friday and had a really good day. Daisy loved the cheerleaders and the kids were both excitedly dancing to all the tunes. I thought they (particulary Zack) might find it a bit noisy and hectic but they both really enjoyed themselves.

Andy enjoyed himself further the following day when he went back to the corporate stand for copious amounts of beer and rugby watching. I had a great time at home with two grumpy children, one of whom was fond of yelling 'I want my DAAAADDY' and 'I want to go to the RUUUUUGBY. So did I Daisy, so did I. I've baggsed next year.

Bx