Catwalk Fashion

Hey there, what a night I had,

I'm crossing this off my list of things to do before i die,

at a real fashion gala night, Dubai Austyle fashion night, with pink champagne, a white catwalk, real models who are on the front of the mags, and the top Aussie designers,
even sat in front row, Felt very special and the cameras were clinking all around us, nowhere to hide, and videos,

got a youbeaut gift bag full of makeup,

Had my photo taken by a number of magazine photographers,

felt like a Star,

Great fun, great laughs and even Darren couldnt keep his eyes off the models, beautiful, yes he actually enjoyed himself, very special and very nice indeed

Thanks so much to Claudia and Mat for our VIP seats. And above a photo Claud saids is of yummy mummies....well .... ok.

RUGBY

MY RUGBY STAR

So here I am at a Rugby 7s tournament. Knowing absolutley nothing and having to support and encourage a son who has found his gift in sport. Like a duck to water he moved swiftly onto the field and no-one or nothing was getting in his way to make tries (is that the right word??). Well i enjoyed it. Met some really nice people, and watch Josh score, score and the team congratulating each other, and yes although I thought hmmm, not much thought goes into this game, I soon learnt that spin passing is actually difficult, and that tatics tactics tactics and very important, so although not much kicking, certainly not just a catch and run game. You really need to have your wits about you, cause if you dont, pain and agony follow fast.

Just when I thought i know the Rugby, they tell me the next tournament in 2 weeks is Rugby with 15 a side, Maddy I think I'm gunna need some tips on that from you fans. At least Ill be ready to watch the Dubai Rugby 7s. Its great to pick up new sports and news ways to live, it keeps you on your feet and makes life very interesting. No-one could believe that Josh had never played let alone never watched a game before. Very technical though and he picked up quick. Im a proud mum with a very happy and content son, yipppeeee.

Eid Mubarak !

Festival Time,

Yes Ramadan is ending, ended and now behind us. It wasnt anywhere near as bad as last year. I think we are use to it now, but we knew to sneak our Maccas and Icereams into the car and eat below the windows during daylight hours. We had a lot of time together, Darren taking the boys to school at 8.00am and then all home by 3pm, so lots of time going to the beach and across the road to the club, where Darren and the boys did some gym/squash and I sat by the pool, Yea well no, I had to join in the squash, but not all the time. Cant believe we have used our own pool a few doors up. Well we might be soon they've doubled the club fees.

So after 10 weeks of holis, were 4 weeks into term and yes another week off, Yipppeee never had that before in my working career, paid for more than 4 wks a year holis........You know this time is like the Arabic xmas time, much partying and gift giving.

So where to go, hmmm Darrn co. cant make up their mind how long they should give their staff off of an Arabic public holi, damn Aussies. Was going to go to Jordan great specials, but needed to know exact dates...too late....Shall we go to Muscat teh home of Ali Barber and forty theives . Next time.....Everyone has enticed us into a camping trip in Oman Acacia forest.

Hmmm, buying tents, chairs, hey dont we have this stuff at home !!!!

Seven familes head off. Can you beleive it mum and Kel, 3.5 hrs at border....best way I can describe the road to Kansab, Great Ocean road without any vegitation. Beautiful. Got to our spot down unmade roads and into the forest, A friend who is a security specialist, (hmm, yes your thinking would be correct...... ) tells us it is much like the plains in Africa. well heres a picture,

This is our tents, same as home, very very dusty, no water.

Hmmm, what shall we do with the rubbish, while we go off to the beach, yea....we'll put it in the trees the goats cant get up there...yea....right !!!!

After the beach, everyone was going on the boats, Josh decided to go out on the boats again with his mate and their family snorkeling and watching dolphins, while Darren Nath and I went for a drive up the mountains.

Unbelieveable. We drove all the way up to the plateau, I think I read 3,000mt above sea level !! You can see in the far distance the top first point where the plateau is, a farming village was there, then a little further to the top, you cant see it in the picture, to the listening area, where the defence notice said to KEEP OUT! So we did.

By the time we got to the top the temp had dropped from 38 down to 31, wow and a cool

Its actually hard to see from the pictures but we drove up the mountains on a verticle dirt road, very hair raising, at one point Darren click the shift down and a big clunk was heard and i screamed thinking we lost the breaks and were going to go straight over the clift, I reckon it was about a 1000mt drop at the end.

In this picture you can make out the road we drove along and at the very bottom, in front of the furtherest mountains , you can see the flat land where we drove up from.

A spot of cricket then pack up and on our way home.

And a great chat with my mate maddy when I got home, finished off a good weekend.

Hi All,

I'm not even sure how longs its been since I had time to sit down and type. Since summer break its been quiet hectic and I havent really stopped. The boys have moved to new schools with Josh now in Grade 7 high school and Nath G5. They both love it and enjoy the greater amount of sport on offer. Josh is loving Rugby and his coach says he is a natural, straight into the forward line, had a bit of problems with the NZers at the school, I think they thought they were pretty hot at the rugby until the Aussie boy came along and gave them a run for their money...they werent impress initially and now I think they have warmed to the new kid on the block, their pride dinted a little.

We have met an absolutely fantastic family, they are wonderful, friendly and a joy to be with. From the yarra valley they have 5 boys (so they know all about my woes and trials) 2 boys are here with them and the others home. Both are Josh and Naths age and get along like long time mates, yippppeeee, it really makes me feel more settled here. Jen and I have so much in common, she is an easy target like me and we get into a lot of funny trouble but we laugh and move on. I think if i had my time again I would have moved out to the country with my boys they would have loved the space too.

School for me is going great. Alot of organising, planning and teaching though. But we are moving forward so I suppose Im OK, I often think of a missed mate during work as he got me into this work, So my love and thoughts are always with him.........I think its because he helped me so much, that this week, my boss is nominating my department for an award, the best run team in the companies group - hotel, construction, schools and cars. I was touch and my buddy Silvia was rapt, all our hard work has been worth it. So who knows, well at least we may get a free night out at the formal award function....stay tune. Oh and we just had an award night for Darrens company, very nice, got to frock up and everything . And Darren's mate Muzza won an award. So the spot light fell on our table. Well it fell three times, we seem to be with the winners.

We headed up to Oman in Aug. with Wendy, Murry and family and stayed at the Golden Tulip again, very nice.

and checked out the fort while we were there. Heres the boys hunging around.

And here I am, caught eating the dates off he date palm, Yummm, you havent had a date until you eat one straight from the tree, So sweet, my dad would love them. Like soft warm toffee.

The view out the fort window looking toward the beach, about 42 dgrees in the shade.

Can you count the sea birds along the rocks??

They were lined all along the waters edge, as it is breeding time for them. They were also all on the water and our boatman drove straight through them and they flew all around us.

Wendy and Josh watching the birds take off. What a great day, snorkelled and saw Dolphins, The colour fish and coral fantastic. No stingers this time Kel!

Just when you think your doing the right thing !

Sad but true, a religious experience.

So, there I was at the supermarket with my trolley full of items excited because I was going to make an effort in my cooking that night. I have been so lazy with my cooking since leaving home. SO that night I was making, Japanese, beef tataki then chicken terriaki, our favourites, would have loved to make Goyza but i haven't been able to find the pastry.

Anyways, a lady was standing , very regal in all her black garb (which incidentally was lined with a lot of gold bling bling) finishing loading her items onto the conveyor belt. I thought to myself, what is the right thing to do, having had a number of experiences, and read all the local customs and visited all the local religious spots and asked all the questions, I waited for her to finish. Once all items were scanned and she had moved her trolley forward, then waited for her counterparts (other women in black) to drop their favourite lollies on the counter, post groceries scanned, two more dropping things, cashier told her her bill was totalled to 800 or so dhms (about 265 aussie bucks), she looked at me, she looked at the bag packer, she looked at the roof, ignoring all around her. Hmm, i thought to myself and still waited patiently, not putting anything on the conveyor belt. The cashier again mentioned the amount to be paid, and the lady glared, the packer then also mentioned the amount to be paid. I thought, well all her things are packed, the money asked for, nothing on the conveyor belt. I will commence loading the conveyor belt.

SO i loaded and packed the conveyor belt full of my things, still the lady stood, ignoring everyone. I think, like the cashier may have, she was waiting for the man to come and pay!!

NO, I was so wrong.

She glared at me, and yelled in a loud voice, get your things off here, i have not finished.

Imagine my shock, the cashiers shock, the packers shock, who by now was standing with the trolley ready to take it to her car.

Sorry I said. GET IT OFF. Sorry I said. YOU - GET THAT OFF.

You have finished i said. I HAVE TROLLEY COMING. (oh i forgot to say she stood at about 6ft2)

I then said , no I'm sorry you have finished and there is no trolley in sight and i have loaded my things. I DON'T CARE, GET IT OFF. At which time, she commenced pushing my items off the conveyor belt, being quick i caught the couple of items that fell off the back.

I said i don't think so. You have finished - HALLAS. Using one of the Arabic words i am comfortable with. She glared at me YOU GET IT OFF NOW and started to push me away.

The things that went through my head were not pretty i have to say, and if you know me i am very forthright and always say my peace, well when i am being wronged by a stranger, or having to pay for things i shouldnt (but too shy when people i know do it to me). So i took the submissive approach I tend to take when friendships and family (and possibly my freedom) are at stake. I bowed my head and looked at my trolley....what to do, what to do, what to do.....pop my bacon on the counter....!!!!!maybe not.

I stood and looked at her, i then started to pack my things pack in my trolley. Can you imagine,
the lady in black with gold trim (obviously head lady in the house), three or four sub ladies, a couple of their kids in national clothing, the cashier, the packer, the customers, staring at me, waiting to see what i would do. I felt like crying.

The lady pushed me, telling me to hurry and shoving her body in front of me, I glanced up to see two trolleys coming, stacked high, Filipino maids pushing them....Ohh i felt so sorry for them.

When the trolley got there she started pushing it past me and again shoving me into the counter. OK THAT'S ENOUGH... I turned to her and said this is disgraceful, that she should have told me she wasnt finished and that this was not right. I was feeling very intimidated and . She said YOU ARE IN MY COUNTRY AND YOU DO WHAT I SAY. I just repeated this is not right.

A boy - one of the sons, Nath's age - 10 , came up from behind the lady and started laughing in my face. I said to him, it is not a right thing to do this, you should have some respect. The woman said, YOU STUPID WOMAN, you talked to the baby, you are nothing. Oh boy. what the !!!

I replied, you are a disgrace to your people, and you show me no honor (yep i heard that this is The best way to speak, better than ###****++++)

She was horrified and stared at me. I pushed her trolley back, I slowly unloaded and gracefully moved to the next counter. The people waiting in the queue behind me were so shocked they just stood there in the queue while the two trolleys were pushed pass them.

I looked back to make sure i had everything and she then, caught my eyes and swore at me in Arabic, i recognised some of the words. I couldnt believe it, it was like she had just spat at me. I stared at her, told her i thought i was in a Muslim country and that swearing was against their religion. As her mouth dropped, I turned away and didn't look back.

I know I should have walked away while my things were on the belt, but i so wanted to make our favourite meal.

You know its fear built in here, I should have reported her, but then who am I!


HAPPY SUPERMARKET SHOPPING.

WarHammer 400000

Warhammer 40,000

frustration is upon us.......

So we unpacked our gear and set up for model building....let see, 27 Necrons, an army tank, pods, flying machines, scary motorbikes. Off and running. Wow! Little fingers working feverishly and mine. How long will it take? Hopefully until the end of holidays...

To recap.......I encouraged both boys to take up a game we played a lot last summer. Warhammer 400000. Not sure if you know it, a model game of waring armies and battles, with 5cm tall model armies, tanks, spore mines etc. So the boys have their armies to make and paint, (mine and most of Josh's are done from last year)

Nath chose the Necrons quite creepy skeleton things. He just got for his birthday. Gemma you can see the book you gave him..yes very educational - reading, following directions and problem solving..well done

Oh and when we opened Josh's extra box of space marines we found we had purchased a whole other army..so it seems he is passing his old army off to his dad and he will spend his time constructing and painting his new army. Chaos Space Marines.

We built a desert model / battle field last year (easy in a country full of sand). Which worked well but the boys are hoping to create a forest/green/hilly model / battle field this year.

Josh is playing with his space marine army (blue and gold men) and Nath is playing with mine army Tryanids - insect like spiky-ant-lizard men (red and blue)

Lets see what battle ground we build this time...for now its building armies.

Time to get creative - but its pushing it a bit....why didn't I have girls...barbie dolls are looking good at the moment.

Registration

I thought I was on Dubai Time...but it seems more like Fiji Time !!!!

So its re-register the car time. Wot to do. Feeling slightly anxious, you know girls dont get much intellectual attention here so maybe i shouldnt be doing this mans job..and oh yea remember nothing in this counrty is in my name ...so hey...what am i doing in a vehicle unregistered by a whole month and its not even mine......!!!!!.....wait for Darren..wait for Darren...OK not impressed I didnt do it myself...but too anixous..OK. Head off to Rego place..Servo..where to go..hmmm. OK go to this window. OK need ticket and drive through to garage for inspection. leave car and go wait with all the men..not one other woman in sight. OK. Ticket no. comes up to go to counter. Failed! Have slight indent in frnt side panel.

(Yea. another accident in car...two months ago..parked under school in garage..everyone always parks you in and then you can wait up to 1.5 hr for them to come and move..so decide to navigate way out with help of security guard....keep coming...keep coming. bang..sorry was that the column u hit.....sorry ....yep...Security guard has a little laugh.....oh well. only small indent in panel ..will get it fixed later.)

OK . Go chat to car inspector. First guy said yep i would have passed it..next guy, who did it says you must have it fix before registration. but this doesnt effect the operation of the car..NO car in excellent working condition...but must be fixed. Speak to supervisor..you people have lots of money get it fixed.. but.. sorry it doesnt look good on our roads...but.. oh do you have police report..but i hit a pole backing out, what does this have to do with police...U need report, u must go back to where it happened call police. bring report..i see what i can do when you come back....

OK.. on my own again. early morning. sitting outside the school. rang police...hmm. no residency..no man to help..no support..very anxious..thinking about wot its like inside womens prison .. if they have one...maybe I'd have to go in with the men...betcha no tellies or swimming pools in these prisons.....hmmm..driving unregistered car. which is not mine. no residency only on tourist visa (can only drive hire car if on tourist visa) ..no cover at all...wot will they say...

Flag down police car going past. very nice helpful. have a joke or two...police man tells me maybe i need glasses to see...(you now i do) ... standing in the heat - 42 - looking into large 4wd Police vehicle...trying to speak in bestest broken English... saying nice easy things, heart pounding sweat dripping.. stick head inside car to see paperwork...nice and cold... hmmm. waiting waiting...more paper work....passes me paper...tells me to have a good day..PHEW....

Back to rego dept. Go to inspector, give report...tells me go wait in room, go wait with even more men this time....eyes staring....finally number comes up......yep passed now.......sent to insurance section...I have my own insurance...sent to typing pool to have invoice typed for payment.....Only 1 month insurance left on car, needs to be twelve months...but i will do it at the end of policy...bad luck...must have full twelve month comprehensive insurance or no registration....OK..Leave... have to go to insurance and pay next twelve months......

Drive to other end of Dubai..Twelve months insurance fee in advance thankyou.........pay mine and while im there pay Darrens..........drive back to rego dept (Check boys OK at home)

Ok back to typing pool.....is this your vehicle ...ummmmm ... no......oh whose is it...husband...looks into my eyes....OK No problems i will help you !!!!!!!! Types out doc..pay fee for typing...ok next desk......(the place is now jam packed with men....to the point i cant move).......I think the guy at the desk realises my panick.....do straight to next counter NO.10...but gives me a no. anyway......im no. 6224 and they were currently serving ticket no. 6011...thank you...straight up to counter, pay rego fee.......sent to next couter for rego card.......men packed around counter...try to sqeeze through.....yuk..yuk..yuk......ok at desk....looks at me....tells me to go sit and he will call me..squeeze back thru crowd....everyone looking at me....waiting waiting waiting..........."Derrringng"......."derrrringing"...........young man waiting at counter in amongst all the others...pokes his head out of the crowded area...and says to me...i think this is you.....OH........thankyou...i said.........is this all i have to do...yes saids the man behind the counter...hallas - finished.......

Get in car wipe sweat from my brow and think thank goodness....three quarters way home...ssssshiiiiii !!!!!!! didnt get new sticker for rego plate...at next counter......baddddddd luck...

Get home 2pm............airconditioning problem...a whole other sagga from day before...where i couldnt get anyone in Dubai to come service our aircon......ended up sending email complaint about services........get a call, from customer relations yes we are coming dont go anywhere.......

hmmm friend waiting at pool,,,, boys yelling...gone stir crazy inside, said i would take them to the pool....wait 1.5 hrs. no show...send email...no response... leave go to pool....get call....coming to look at it, come home........but not going to fix it will only tell you if it is an issue from our previous replacement of motor 7 months ago.........coooking tea.......air guys come...Talk with me......Darren takes over...no problems sir we will fix it for you....(the power of men)....so wot next......Darren booked his own car in for service...hmmmm this will be his cars 4th service...mine hasnt had one yet...........Wait for aircon service men to finish in house while Darren drops off car............then have to go and pick him up when aircon guys are finshed.........

Hmmmm, do dishes...........aircon guys go...i head off to get Darren from dropping off his car for service.......ahhhhhhh...finally get home......sit down........8.30pm..

Darren comes down...wheres a clean pair of pants for me for work rrrr!!!!!

...........hmmmmmm I wonder how many emotions i went through this day ????

just another boring day in the life of a housewife in Dubai..........

5weeks until I get to go to work and have a break too.

Naths Birthday

My Baby Boy turns 10 !

Well I just cant believe the years have gone by so quickly...its amazing and often make me wonder what it must be like for my mum and dad to watch me grow up....I'm so excited..but at the same time scare of the future for them. Knowing the struggles and hardships i have endured i hope they both have a much easier path than i have had to take. Thanks to my mum and dad although i have had many things to overcome they have always been at my side as i will be for my boys.

So its a celebration for Nathan and for all of my family.

It was rapt to be 10, yep not just a single digit... he is trying so hard to catchup to his mentor and bestest buddy Ben, who I have to say he misses terribly.

He loved his Birthday.. although it was very quite. He woke late and run down stairs to see his presents then dragged Darren and I out if bed for the unwrap. He wanted a Nash - 4GB, like an Ipod only better value. and brilliant green his favourite colour.....then to the Warhammer army, yahooooo, Necrons, him a very strong force for Josh and I to compete against in our battles, so we will have to thumb up on strategies for battle. But the painting must come first. Wow so many men, and all skeleton types, grey and black with iridescent green light laser. well this will keep us busy for a few days. Thanks to the Mortons it was brain strain time with the test ur brain capacity - brain academy DS game.....hmmm, i wasnt very quick and we all need to take more vitamins - he loves the game. Jobs identified ---- Darren's- fashion stylist, Nath -Museum Curator, Josh- Michael Angelo.......

He decided on Wilde Wadi for his day activity. Lots of water slides and wave pool and fun water areas. stay there all day and they had a ball.. by the time we got home Nath decided takeaway pizza for tea was the go, thank goodness Darren and I were buggered. Oh NO, yes a Game of Buzz - PS2, was required next and Nath picked Buz Sports which i know nothing about and it showed - Darren 10,000 points, Nath about 6000 with Josh...hmmm mum at 1500. better read the sports paper more - dont think so.

A very happy and contented 10 year old hoped off to bed, thansk to everyone for cards and money and presents, he has also brought a couple of DS games.

Oh I forgot to say, when we got home the PS2 wasnt working after Kel had gone to the effort to help us with it.......So I thought, whattheheck...Ill open it up and have a look - you know it must have been the 9mths i spent soldering circuit boards and putting together PCs that gave me the courage - thanks god i gave that job up and went back to school. Anyho, i unscrewed it ripping of the warranty void if removed sticker. Showed Nath the inside, push and prodded, and said see cant see anything unusual.....not that i would have notice anyway.....screwed it back together...and low and behold.....it worked......genius.

My Werribee Painting

Thankyou Maddy and Lee

for such a great gift to take home to Dubai,

A PAINTING OF WERRIBEE RIVER

Gummies, rich Werribee soil, blue sky
and green grass,

it looks wonderful on our lounge wall ,
I sit back and think of myself wooshing through the grass and down to the icy cold river

..........and well just relax..

Aussie Native Flowers

How Beautiful,

Sunny Hot Dubai

Dubai ... great flight, loving Singapore airlines, great service and easy travelling, and they took all my luggage even hand luggage just had my handbag -fan damn tastic.

But now unhealthy, flu flu flu, nice egyptian Dr gave me half a dozen boxes of pills and drops to fix me up. not happening yet.

Miss the green, and freshness of home, but hey its nice and hot here. Lucky, not too bad, only sitting at 39/40, much better than expected 50s. SO a day to relax and chill out, lazed around the house, wow couldnt believe the sand inside, everything was caked. had to organise the cleaner in a hurry, cant come for two days, so had to give a quick go over. Oh well. Headed down to the Burj Al Arab Beach no one about, so a quite swim at 7.40am. crystal clear, and fresh not too hot at all.

Al Ain

Next day off to Al Ain where the late Sheikh was raised, has a 3,000 year old under ground irragation system and green oasis in the middle of the desert.

drive up the Jebel Hafeet mountains for lunch and a swim at the mountain top hotel . Little warmer than Buller. wow but much steeper, and sand sand. Darren reckons this is like a lizard - what do you think ???

Yep Nath having his usual bowl of chips, Me very car sick, too many steep windy roads, what a place high in the mountain overlooking the desert, but lush and sweet.

Is that Darren on the slide ?? What a splash.

The boys got a game of chess in before we left, Nath wasnt impress when i helped him out and Josh got checkmate.

Home for Summer Break

Yep real Kangaroos....gumies and and

old weatherboard house

Short trip home to Aussie Land (way to short)

We love our home and miss it dearly, family, friends, the gum trees, mountains, but not the cold! and damn it was cold. I couldnt get use to it. Jumpers and more jumpers but never enough. Loved catching up with almost everyone, so sorry I missed a few of my mates, but they know they are always close to me and i think of everyone all the time. Mum and dad love you.

What a way to start a visit, straight into my neices Alyce's 18th party, OMG, must have been the lack of Alcohol over the past 14months, cause boy did the Southern go down well. Well actually too well, lucky noone has given me the photos yet. Shes sooo lucky to have such a nice boyfriend in Jason....took him a bit to get use to my humor, but hes just great. Chris cooked a mean BBQ in morn for everyone, except me who spent time on the couch....Great night Lycee. cheers and hope to see you driving when we come back.

Loved all my lunches and dinners......and just to get out and about in melbourne and some country side. I have such a wonderful family, thanks for the car Chris and thanks for making your home welcoming Chris and Norma and Kel. Thanks to Bren and Ange who had us for a night in Ballan, loved the country smell and great company. Cant believe im home (yes our temp home....its where our beds are, so its home for now). So SAD. Maddy always there for me, sorry i didnt have more time. The kids loved catching up with there cousins, in fact couldnt get enought of them, thanks to Aunts and Uncles (and cousins) for taking my boys in and making them feel like they were home and had never left. Boys were sad to leave. But we are glad to be in the heat. But we are suffering bad, colds, flu and ear infection - ow. We crammed so much in in such a short time. Everyone was fantastic. Thanks also to the Granddads and Grandmas for being patient, we just didnt have the time we wanted with you all.

The boys made it to Buller, they had a ball with Craig and Mitch. Weather was great and kids said better than skiing on skidubai.

Way tooo cold for me and i had a Lunch with David, and wasnt giving it up. (Cheers David and Ann, enjoy the new place in the Country hope to visit next time we are home)

Thanks David and Sharyn for a georgeous neice, Darren was just so proud to be her godfather....i doint know who was worse Josh or I, just couldnt put her down. And the boys (Kayne and Trav) I loved our cuddles on the couch watching tellie.

Mum put us up for a night too, she has such a homely home, a great aussie garden. If you have time go have tea and scones, youll love it. yep, and we got ourselves a couple of surf boards - stay tune for the photos....... So Darren says no way were coing back in winter next time, so we will see everyone at xmas or visiting in Dubai !!! come on you can make it there! you too Rob!

DOHA

DOHA for the weekend,

Mid June, Darren had a fantastic offer for work so we headed to Doha, boys were so surprised the flight was only 1/2hr, but it was a very isolated place. Quite amazing really, to think that the Doha Games had been there last year and they had build such strange modern buidlings in the middle of a dusty/sandy desolate place.....hmm...one day it will be a thriving city in the desert but now nothing really....loads of building going on, a whole modern city being built at the same time.....wow these guys over here really want to compete with each other........not for us now, but if we were a couple of year younger and no kids (nothing much for them to do there) we would have done it! oh and dont be fooled by the locely green carpet, used for grass!!!!

The old arabic market place was interesting, music and local food, even a strange gelati....alot of reject shop type stuff with a smatering of arabic culture.

March-April School and Work

Well, we've had a few busy weeks. Both our works are crazy busy. Im coming to the end of the school year and Darrens pushed at work. So we try to fit in things here and there. We have had joshs scuba diving course and certificate - few tense moments but he has his licence to dive now...yeee. The boys have loved their AusKick, and are off to the beach for the final session, getting way too hot for outdoor sports. We had a footy tournament here, auskick playes from around the Arab countries, 6 teams played off. It was great to go to a game and have a few beers, yep even i had a few. Last week end the boys celebrated a good year of soccor - oops get into trouble here - I mean Soccor........Josh got Goalie of the year and Nath Best Team player - they were rapt. We meet some great people, brought ourselves a BBQ and just trying to enjoy the little time we have off.

We're Back

Following popular demand i make it back to my blogger,

you know what if I found that not writing on this meant i heard from everyone and i love talking so........i stayed away for a while, but im back.................Thanks to all esp. Maddy love the chats. I have been at school now for a term and a half and have many many many new friends, but boy we miss our old, tried and true ones. Whats been hapening, tooo much, no well really its been great and in some respects dont feel like im that far away. Well, mums been to visit, Darren mum and dad, Jen and Tanuja from my aussie work, my brother arrives Sunday, cant wait. Its so much fun when someone comes i get to do the touristing ting, shop and lounge in 7 star hotel, hmmm, how nice and fortunate am I.

I last chatted in July was it, hmmm yea lazy yet ive been crazy. I have spent all extra energy on work, now its running smoothly and i have staff so can relax a bit. And i spend a bit of time chasing down airfares and holiday destinations.

We had international Day, Australia Day ball, AusKick, Christmas, Rome and Paris.
SO heres some pictures to keep you going until i return.



Jen and the boys after an exhausting dune buggy chase





Mum at the Burj Al Arab...hmmm, fantastic breaky...and ive been back a couple of times, great...heres to 7 stars.............



Ahhh, Rome, we loved the pasta and pizza...give us more, breaky, lunch and yep dinner.......not as cheap as home, but yummmmy, oh and boys had hot chocolate every breaky too





My favourite landscape, outside of Rome, standing ontop of the catacombs..........