DUBAI MALL SLIDESHOW

DUBAI MALL

I took my first look at the new Dubai Mall today. Tim had been shortly after it had opened and had been impressed. I wasn't really expecting too much, but did want to have a look at the recently opened bookstore as friends had said it was huge.

Well...the mall is amazing!

Although almost half of the shops haven't opened yet (they need better Retail Design Management team I think!) there were still many stores opened, that I hadn't seen elsewhere. The space is huge without feeling cold or impersonal - contemporary but comfortable too. By far my favourite Mall so far - its a shame it isn't closer.

The ice-skating rink and aquarium are impressive features but the best, best, best part for me was the bookshop - Kinokuniya. It is just so big and filled with amazing books. I can find just one fault - the cafe is not open yet.

I am hoping that Lilli wants to take up skating again. I can take her to her lesson, do the grocery shopping in Waitrose and then we can go and mull over books for an hour or two. Yes, amazingly Lilli will spend just as much time in a bookstore as we can - it's in her genes.

http://www.thedubaimall.com/en

HOME SLIDESHOW

OUR HOME AT THE DUSIT

A slide show of our new home.

It is smaller than our place in Bahrain, but twice the cost even after discount! We were offered a discount as the residence is brand new and not yet completed. There have been quite a few teething problems, but the staff there are lovely and work hard to make it a warm and inviting environment.

It is a pleasant apartment but the views make it really special. We overlook the Dubai Marina so have water and boat views during the day and lovely twinkly lights at night.

*Having trouble embedding the slide show so will try it in another post by itself*

Celebrating UAE National Day at Home (Dusit)

UAE NATIONAL DAY

We are on holiday today, celebrating the UAE's National Day. Tim will have the day off, but the school will be on holiday for almost two weeks. The National Day holiday for the children is to be combined with the Eid holidays.

We celebrated the day yesterday at school - photos to come. Here is a brief history of the UAE for you.

The National Day of the UAE is celebrated on 2nd December every year.

UAE

The United Arab Emirates is a federation of 7 emirates, namely, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaimah, Umm Al Quwain, Sharjah, Fujairah and Ajman. From a desert land of yore, the UAE has emerged as a glittering metropolitan with the spirit of globalization permeating its very veins.

Let’s taste a slice of history

The UAE was formed in the year 1971 under the leadership of Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. In the beginning the UAE was a federation of six emirates to which the emirate of Ras Al Khaimah was added a year later. The national assembly has representatives from each one of the emirates while the Ruler of each emirate has to vote in the Supreme Council of Rulers.

http://emiratesupdate.wordpress.com/2007/11/12/significance-of-the-uae-national-day/

WE HAVE MOVED

Our new blog is at: http://sharandtim.blogspot.com/

GOING APE IN LA-LA LAND

DOME

The other day we went to Dome in Juffair, one of our fav cafes. As it was most likely to be the last time we went there before leaving for Dubai, I thought we should take some photos. Lilli offered to do the job, and between her and the staff, she created this little expose. The black and white newspaper format has 'helped' a few of the photos :-)

The staff at Dome are wonderful and were perfectly patient and encouraging with Lilli. Apart from the fantastic staff and spacious environment Dome is the only place in Bahrain that I have been to where you can ask for a flat white and they know what you are talking about. It is also very kid friendly.

The food is good too. We particularly like the antipasto.

THE TOOTH FAIRY VISITS UMM AL HASSAM RESIDENCE

Well, despite not being 5 yet, Lilli has lost her first tooth! It happened quite quickly and I was a little bit worried that maybe she had bumped it to make it loose. But no, there is a brand new big tooth coming up the rear.

I hear on the grapevine that the tooth fairy was a bit unprepared - apparently she would have liked to have left shiny new coins or notes + a new toothbrush and toothpaste. Never mind - Lilli was thrilled with the manky old notes.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!

OUR LITTLE COUNTERFIETER

I left a cheque on my desk to remind me to bank it. When I picked it up later something about it just didn't seem right. On closer inspection I found that Lilli had been poracticing her writing/copying skills. Now we have to decide whether it is worth trying to see if they will honour the $36.00 cheque, or whether it is a $36.00 keeper!

QAL'AT AL-BAHRAIN

We recently visited the fairly newly opened Qal'at al Bahrain. Qal'at Al Bahrain is quite a small museum built on an archeological site. The museum showcases the anciet harbour and capital of the Dilmun Empire from 2,500BC until about 16thC. It has only been opened a few months and is located quite near the old fort in Seef.

The architecture and decor of the museum is very modern, airy and open. It is not yet fully opened - the cafe is not functioning. The entry was free and it was small enough to feel like you had seen everything without skipping anything. The view from the outdoor patio is one of the nicest natural views we have seen here in Bahrain.

BABY BEAUTY

One of my treats since being in Bahrain has been to have regular trips to the "beauty saloon" (no, not a spelling mistake). I can get my eyebrows plucked for $3, a leg wax for $9 and a pedicure for $12. The pedicures are a bit more because they spend ages exfoliating all the dry hard skin on your feet.

Since the school holidays I haven't been able to get to the saloon, so in hairy desperation, took Lilli with me last time. She had a manicure and pedicure and got herself some tinsel hair extensions - tres sophisticated!

She had a lovely time and obbiously picked up some tricks - I have had quite a few reasonable foot massages since then YEEEE HAAAWWW!

LAST DAY AT NADEEN SCHOOL

Lilli is officially on holiday and had her last day at Nadeen School. I think I felt a bit more sad about it than she did.
Not quite sure what we are going to do here for two months - especially in this heat. Most of her little friends are going away, many expats here leave over the summer school holidays.

A LILLI BIT

I made a lovely salmon baked in coconut dish for dinner last night. Unfortunately Lilli just couldn't bring herself to eat it because it tasted "too much like mermaid"!

HAPPY BITHDAY DARREN

NEVER TOO OLD TO ROCK 'N ROLL

HAPPY 50th DAGS!

SWIMMING LESSONS

Lilli started swimming lessons a few weeks ago. It has taken us this long to find a class that isn 't full!

I think the instructor, Rajan, is just freshly qualified as he is very enthusiastic and has lots of nice crisp posters. Lilli needed to go into the 7-10 age group class as her age group was really just about water confidence. This class focusses more on developing strokes which was just the right level for her.

The class starts each time with a revision of the swimming safety rules, and finishes with stretching exercises. It also includes some lifesaving instruction, so is fairly comprehensive.

It is held at the Coutry Club, and the setting is just beautiful. Although it is getting seriously hot (44+) sitting in the shade surrounded by all this greenery is such a pleasure.

APPOLINE'S BIRTHDAY PARTY

Lilli's friend Appoline had her birthday party at Látelier Studio. Something a bit different. The children were all seated at a long table and given painting projects. Parents were supplied with tiny little tarts and coffee's in demitasse cups - all very civil. Instead of the usual lolly loot bag, the children got to take home their art work. The Hello Kitty birthday cake was simply sensational.

OUR HOME

Here are some photos of our 'home' swiped from the Umm Al Hassam Residence brochure. The residence is a collection of villas and an apartment block. We live on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the block with the living area downstairs and bedrooms upstairs.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AINSLEY

AINSLEY ANGEL

XXXXXX

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUBY

Happy 4th Birthday

BIRTHDAY WISHES FOR NICOLA

With much love and kisses from all of us xxxxxxxx

HAWAR ISLAND

Knowing that we may be leaving Bahrain soon,we are trying to fit in as much Bahraini travel and culture as we can.

Last weekend we took an overnight trip to Hawar Island accompanied by the Mason's; Xynia's; Ziad, Narthum & 8 month old Marcel; Marwan, Vera & 4 year old Alex.

The trip was booked and paid for in advance, and judging by the flyer, the Hawar Island Resort looked amazing!

After a one hour boat trip on a modern passenger boat (with Mr Bean dvd for entertainment) we arrived on the island. From a distance the resort looks fab, but up close - very tired and drab. Shabby would probably be the best description of the resort, the food far from great and I think the travel agent in Bahrain did a bit of a number on us - however, we had great company and for that reason had a fun time. The children were particularly well catered for as they weren't as concerned about aesthetics. They swam in the pool, had rides with their dads on jet skis and quad bikes, played for hours on the waterslide, kayaked and generally enjoyed the experience.

View from the bedroom window (left)

View from the bedroom window (right)

Riding the quad bikes (Lilli did have a helmet on during the ride)

Waterslide fun.

Mr. TIM'S 42nd BIRTHDAY

Tim celebrated his 42nd birthday last month. The birthday celebrations started the night before his birthday at La Fontaine restaurant with the Xynia's and the Mason's. We ate outside near the fountain with oversized lanterns and candles being the only source of light. It was lovely. The fabulous venue and atmosphere were not let down by the food. Tim and I both felt that it was the best meal we had had recently. The children had a lovely time running around and making cubby houses out of the empty tables - fortunately we had arrived early which meant that the diners coming for a romantic evening did not have to tolerate us all evening.

Tim was shouted breakfast and lunch by Dimitri & Moose, with cake in the office in the afternoon, and the evening was spent outside at the Gulf Hotel at a conveniently arranged staff function. The 3 Amigo's (Tim, Moose & Dimitri) arrived in matching shirts and were quite successful in the prize winning stakes (promotional material from BCC clients) Alex (Dimitri's son) won a trip to anywhere in the world with Gulf Air. Unfortunately the fine print conditions make using it quite difficult.

OUR SICK BABY

Lilli is sick today. We have been up since around 2am with vomiting first and then diarrhoea, now both. Probably a tummy bug or maybe the milkshake she had after her swimming lessson. The security guy (who I bumped into when getting juice this morning) informed me that it would be the milkshake as you can't drink milkshakes in this weather without getting sick - apparently it is too hot this time of year for milkshakes!

It is now 9am and despite being incredibly perky most of the evening, is now feeling really sorry for herself. Poor wee thing. The photo doesn't do justice to white face and black suitcases under her eyes.

MID TERM BREAK

Twins Lilli and Georgia at BuzziBees during mid term break.