A new year, a new country, a new city, a new culture, a new apartment, a new job (well for Mark anyway), a new lifestyle (for us both, but very much me), and just pretty much everything else NEW too. It's a very strange feeling, and somewhat different to the feeling I had over 8 years ago when first arriving in London. It's our 4th day here and yet it still doesn't quite feel real...although it's Mark's first day in the office, so it might start feeling very real to him now...I on the otherhand have just finished a gym session and a couple of laps in the pool! A New Years Resolution (although not quite a new one, as it's the same one I have every year...but hopefully this time I will stick to it!) :)
A catch up since Christmas Eve...
The last few days in London consisted mainly of packing...Boxing Day was a good day for it and we pretty much finished the most of it.
We fitted in a small farewell lunch at the Crooked Billet in Wimbledon Common (although the lunch turned into a marathon 12 hour session...), in which the boys decided to drink the pub almost completley dry of their Guinness, while the girls decided to take part in the Pub Quiz, which I'm pleased to say we didn't come last in! :)
We had Mark's cousins, Russell and Miriam round for lunch where Sarah and Daniel kept us entertained with a couple of games of hide and seek. Mark was again quite a hit with the kiddies.
We also had newlyweds Bron and Luke round, (Molly's new 'temporary' parents) to show them the ropes of their new home and how to take care of the demanding Molster....who very much to our dismay, but delight as well, proceeded to make herself quite comfortable on Luke within a few minutes... On our last night Molly decided to give us the cold shoulder and for the first time since moving into our new house, slept almost all of the night downstairs in the lounge instead of nestled under my chin. So unfortunately her stalking around the empty rooms over the last few days meant she had a pretty good idea of what was happening by the end of it.
Before we new it our taxi had arrived and we were en route to the airport. I was on the phone pretty much the whole way and had a strange calmness about me (a first for me since I normally check my bag for the passports, itinerary's etc a million times). As we were flying business class (highly recommended...of course) we didn't have to wait in a queue to check in. We were allowed 40kgs of luggage, and if you can believe it we were about 10 kgs under weight (another first). We then did a a little duty free shopping, before heading to the business class lounge. What bliss! There is free food, drinks, magazines, comfy lounge chairs, you name it.... and we could see our plane on the tarmac right outside the window. The gate through which we would board was also only a few paces away! Once on board, we were treated to fabulous service and food...who knew you actually got proper stainless steel knives and forks, not to mention china plates, and real glasses on a plane? We have seriously been missing out! We watched a couple of movies, received a toiletry bag with....wait for it...Bvlgari products in it and then proceeded to stretch out flat in our seats for a lovely comfortable (for an aeroplane) sleep! DIVINE!
Once we arrived in Dubai, an Emirates car took us to what would be our new home for the next month...an apartment at Chelsea Towers. We were taken up to our room on the 22nd floor, where we were pleasantly surprised with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms and some awesome views (we had expected a 1 bed apartment ).
We went straight to bed, considering it was 4.30am Dubai time (just after midnight in the UK) but not before we heard, what would be the first of many, muslim prayers...blasted forth on the loudspeaker somewhere nearby. I have yet to count, but I think they pray at least 6 or more times a day.
On our first day, our first adventure was to get to the Dubai Mall (one of the biggest in the world) which is only about a 5 min drive from our apartment. We had only taken a few steps upon entering the mall and I saw someone I knew...Janine Roos from school, who now lives in Iran and was out here on hols with her husband and daughter. A very small world indeed...
We did our first grocery shop at Waitrose (a London shop, if you can believe), and got highly ripped off... Regardless of that fact it was nice to see so many familiar South African, as well as London products in the store.
...Old Year / New Year's eve
We headed to the mall again, this time to sort out a sim card (since had had left our passports at home the day before). It was here that I experienced the importance of male company...firstly there is no queue system - you can wait in line as much as you like, but at least 3 or more people will just push in front of you anyway. Males are generally served first, even if you are already in the process of being served, should a male come along they will still be served. Nevermind...
Once we arrived in Dubai, an Emirates car took us to what would be our new home for the next month...an apartment at Chelsea Towers. We were taken up to our room on the 22nd floor, where we were pleasantly surprised with 3 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms and some awesome views (we had expected a 1 bed apartment ).
We went straight to bed, considering it was 4.30am Dubai time (just after midnight in the UK) but not before we heard, what would be the first of many, muslim prayers...blasted forth on the loudspeaker somewhere nearby. I have yet to count, but I think they pray at least 6 or more times a day.
On our first day, our first adventure was to get to the Dubai Mall (one of the biggest in the world) which is only about a 5 min drive from our apartment. We had only taken a few steps upon entering the mall and I saw someone I knew...Janine Roos from school, who now lives in Iran and was out here on hols with her husband and daughter. A very small world indeed...
We did our first grocery shop at Waitrose (a London shop, if you can believe), and got highly ripped off... Regardless of that fact it was nice to see so many familiar South African, as well as London products in the store.
...Old Year / New Year's eve
We headed to the mall again, this time to sort out a sim card (since had had left our passports at home the day before). It was here that I experienced the importance of male company...firstly there is no queue system - you can wait in line as much as you like, but at least 3 or more people will just push in front of you anyway. Males are generally served first, even if you are already in the process of being served, should a male come along they will still be served. Nevermind...
We then came 'home' to chill by the pool where Carol (yes, my Aussie Bridesmaid is here too...she has taken a job with Emirates to become an Air Hostess and luckily for me will be based in Dubai...it's so nice to have at least one friend here) joined us.
For the New Years celebrations we headed down to Jumeirah Beach, for an awesome Beach party at Barasti...it was like St Francis, but bigger (and better), although a lot more expensive too... They had a live band on one stage, at the pool area and a DJ on the stage at the beach. At midnight we were treated to some awesome fireworks from the Atlantis Hotel at the end of the Jumeirah Palm Island, to celebrate the start of 2011.
What a great start to what will hopefully be an awesome and exciting year!
Happy New Year All! I hope your 2011 is even better than your 2010. Wishing you all lots of love, happiness and health for the year ahead.
Sounds like a great start to 2011. Nice that you have found friends as well. Amazing. And thanks for entertaining the family before you left for Dubai.
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