Wordless Wednesday (almost)

My son missed his flight from Dubai this morning, so all his plans are now delayed by 24 hours - he should arrive tomorrow afternoon some time.

I thought I'd post this photo I took when I was in Dubai in January!

Something To Look Forward To..

I'm quite excited this evening as tomorrow my son comes home from Dubai. He will be in UK for only just over 12 hours before flying off to Brazil for a week or so. When he returns from there he will spend a week with us before returning back to Dubai again!

He's become quite a jetsetter in recent years and I'm so pleased for him having the opportunity before he gets tied down maybe with wife and kids. He really does work and play hard!

It will be lovely to see him again and I'm hoping my girls can find some time to be here for that week, it's been well over a year since the three of them have been together at the same time.

The only annoying bit is that I have holiday from work next week, that's the week of his Brazil trip, and not the week he will be here, but if he's the same as he was then he will be in bed till at least noon everyday!

My Adventure In The Arabian Desert

Two weeks ago today was one of the best days I've had. We were in Dubai visiting my son, who that day hired a 4x4 car for us to go off roading in the mountains.

I was so excited as we drove along, out of Dubai itself, through Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, and onwards, the mountains came into view, it was like another world after the hustle and bustle of the last few days.

We had our passports ready as we were planning to go through Oman. As we approached the border guards, there was a long queue and several cars were turning back. Not long before we realised a lot of people were being denied access to pass through. We waited patiently, but sadly we also were told or rather just gesticulated at to turn round, to go back.

At this point I was rather disappointed, however my son has a book of alternative routes and places to go. So instead of going through the mountains we decided to go into the desert.

It was a long drive, part way back the way we had come and then onto another route. As we drove along we saw camels in the distance, I was hoping to see some a lot closer up!

When we eventually got off the road I was completely amazed at the beauty of the desert, the sand dunes rising up, all rippled and seemingly untouched as the sand had hidden all traces of those that had been there before.



I couldn't wait to get out of the car and just run freely up the dunes, such a sense of vastness, a sense of freedom, we couldn't see another living creature and the silence - well that was something you never experience in the city even in the dead of night!



My partner found what we believe to be some old camel bones!



As there had been a few showers in the past week the sand dunes seemed quite firm, so my son decided to drive right up a dune - BIG mistake...

When we decided to move on we realised we were STUCK! The sand just clogged up around the back wheels and the more he revved up the engine the deeper the tyres dug in.

I was laughing so much, here we were in the desert with no one else in sight and not much clue what to do. That's where the camel bones came in useful.. I tried digging us out with one, but it wasn't much help!



Whilst we were all busy digging, still laughing, getting a teeny bit worried an Arab guy appeared just (it seemed) out of nowhere. He spoke no English, but recognised our predicament and bought out a rope which he tied from his car to ours.



Unfortunately the rope snapped as soon as it became taught! The Arab man drove off into the distance leaving us there, still stuck, with a rope dangling uselessly off the back.

A bit more digging, a bit more forceful, desperate effort, on my sons part and amazingly the car suddenly shot forward.

We were free, we could move on, we wouldn't die of thirst and hunger and cold in the desert after all!!

We drove down the dune in the direction the Arab guy had gone, we felt we should give him back his rope. As we approached where he had parked we saw there was quite a little group of men.



They were out with their falcons. Some birds were resting on little posts in the ground, some were eating (poor) little chicks and some were flying, swooping down for the meat that one of the guys was swinging around on a rope for him.













We stayed and watched for sometime, although none of these men seemed to speak any English they were very friendly and gave us water to drink.

We then decided to press on and continue our journey, I still wanted to see camels up close!

Didn't have to wait long, I leaped out of the car and took photos, they growled a bit and I was very brave..lol







We drove on, but then noticing the sun was starting to go down we realised we should turn for home, didn't want to be out there in the dark, can only imagine how pitch black dark it would in fact be!

As we drove back we saw other camels, racing camels, being led in groups.







As the sun went down that evening I felt I'd really had the best day ever!









All photo's best viewed large..

To see the whole photoset of this day go HERE

LIVE From The 21st Floor!

I know I'm a soppy mother but I was very amused seeing the live webcam from my sons office in Dubai.

It's not directed on his desk but still it's nice seeing exactly where he is (we didn't get the chance to have a look round when I was there)

Maybe I'll catch sight of him passing through one day... OK I know that makes me a real saddo..

The Best Nando's Meal

I really enjoy eating Nando's chicken here in UK. When I saw they had one in Dubai I was very pleased!

Some things on the menu were slightly different and I made my order, can't remember what it was called, but it was something we don't have in London.

When it arrived I was even more pleased. It looked delicious and tasted even more yummy. The chicken was hanging on a skewer over a plate of roasted veggies, and I can say I had the most enjoyable meal.

Another thing I wish they had in UK!!

Dubai Underwater

Whilst I was in Dubai last week the weather wasn't the best, there were quite a few showers and the sky was frequently overcast. I was actually a little disappointed, but today my son messaged me that it's become a LOT worse. They now have suffered very heavy rain and flooding. As it rains there so infrequently the drainage system has been unable to cope.

So in reality, last week wasn't too bad at all!

Gulfnews: Agony continues as relentless rain floods the roads

Photos Of Dubai

I am so tired today. I could never be one of those people who regularly travel as it really takes it out of me.

Thankfully I have the rest of the week off!

I've now uploaded the holiday photos, there are a lot of them but I hope you'll have a bit of a browse through them either here on the slideshow or on Flickr

I'm Back From.....

DUBAI!!!

Just spent 7 wonderful amazing days in Dubai, visiting my son and celebrating my half century birthday. (Shhhh, let's keep that bit quiet!)

Got back last night and right now I'm sorting out the photos we took, over 1000!

We had a really busy 7 days, seeing the top most popular sites, it's truly an amazing city, even though it's still much of a building site with more cranes than you'd see anywhere in the world. Also the weather was not that brilliant, it's was mostly overcast, quite a bit of rain and not particularly warm.

My son had lots of time off work to chauffeur us around and show us the best (and worst) of Dubai.. He was a wonderful guide and I'm so grateful to him as he made it the best holiday ever!

I will be uploading my photos to Flickr soon.. and no doubt I'll be posting more about my adventures!

Worlds Tallest Building - Dubai

Watching this guy go up this building gave me a very funny feeling, I know it's not finished but even when it is I think I'd be too afraid to go to the top..

Well, in January I will be visiting my son who currently lives and works in Dubai, will be exciting to see this place - as long as my feet are firmly on the ground!

Who Lives In A House Like This!

Today was quite an ordinary day, work then shopping then home. But when I got home I had waiting for me an email containing photos of my sons villa in Dubai. They have been a long time coming, he is rather a slow communicator at times.

It is really stunning and I do look forward even more to staying with him at some point in the not too distant future!

Just a couple of taster pics here to show how wonderfully spacious and lovely it is!

A long way from the little flat we live in here in London, I think he will feel quite claustrophobic when he comes home, not that we have any idea when that will be!

Anyway it's good to know things are going well for him.