Saturday 7 February 2015

Week 6 of Project 365

Our first full week in the house, a home at last. This week we've purchased and fixed curtain poles/rails and hung all the curtains. I've had to adapt the ones we brought with us to fit the windows and the new over locker had a trip out today as I made curtains for the front window 3.4 meters wide and a 2.7 meter drop and in this heat it was no mean feat. An early night having stayed up late to watch the rugby and I'm aching from head to toe after a sea swim today, it's been a while since I last swam, let alone in the sea.

Day 32 #onedailypositive #onmyplate #fmsphotoaday #sundayroast #snaphappybritmums #project365

Our first weekend in our new home, still unpacking and haven't got round to calling the gas people yet so today's roast was purchased in Waitrose, our local supermarket. Hubby has requested more food prompts as he enjoyed tonights dinner.

Day 33 #onedailypositive #mail #fmsphotoaday #bramleyapple #snaphappybritmums #project

The 3 files on the top left contain every letter received and a copy of every letter sent since we started our expat journey in January 2011. The postal system in South Africa was very poor and I know a lot of cards and gifts, both ways, went missing. Today I'm being positive by reaching out to old friends and family with our new address in Dubai to see if I can rekindle some friendships lost. On my way home from the post office i'll pick up an apple pie and some custard for tonight's dinner, which reminds me I must call the gas people and get the oven connected.

Day 34 #onedailypositive #water #fmsphotoaday #babysleep#snaphappybritmums #project365 

I'm loving these photo prompts. I wanted to buy material to make curtains for our new lounge so headed down to Bur Dubai, although the haberdashery market was on the same side of the creek as the bus stop I couldn't resist a taxi boat over and back again for less than 20p. The closest I got to combining the 2 photo prompts of #water and #babysleep was a picture of my cat in the bath. Although my kids have left home a) there was no water in the bath and b) the cat is an animal and NOT my baby lol

Day 35 #onedailypositive #reward #fmsphotoaday #TheLetterA#snaphappybritmums 

That's it now, everything has arrived from South Africa. Whilst unpacking the A is for Airfreight I came across this jelly tot chocolate bar. My little reward.

Day 36 #onedailypositive #somethingblue #fmsphotoaday #now#snaphappybritmums #project365

something blue today is me. Life as an #expat never gets easier. I'm currently in #Dubai with 6 days remaining on my 2nd tourist visa, despite all of hubbies visas being in place no one appears to be in any hurry to support the wife. When you live as an expat spouse you lose your identity and after 4 years in South Africa it was a constant battle to reinvent myself without small children at the school gates or a job in which to network and socialist. A move to Dubai puts me right back at the beginning again and although I can work here it'll be a while before I do. Right now I'm writing letters home, most will go unacknowledged and that makes me feel down. Also because I'm still without my visa and ID I have to use hubbies work address with his name which strips my identity further. My daily positive is, at least the postal system works here unlike South Africa

Day 37 #onedailypositive #makemesmile #fmsphotoaday #redclothes #snaphappybritmums #project365


Well I shall be smiling when/if Wales win tonight, although now we are no longer in South Africa I don't get the same level of satisfaction wearing my shirt out in public. My daily positive I'm starting to enjoy living in our new house, now we are unpacked and the curtains are up and we can sit down and relax while watching the rugby.

Day 38 #onedailypositive #stripes #fmsphotoaday#party #snaphappybritmums #project365 

party #brunch on the #beach with our South African friends in their stripey swim trunks. @danblake1995 school friend, father and #expat community weekly beach get together. Making friends and feeling happy.

20 comments:

  1. Was looking at your photo of the creek and I can recognise a few buildings from my visit years ago but lots of new ones too. Glad you are settling in, and hope you get your visa sorted soon #365

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    1. I wonder what my Father would think of it now having worked here in the 70s and 80s we should him the view from our hotel room and he said that the golf course used to be a 20 min drive out of town lol

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  2. It must be a strange feeling to have lost your identity like that. I hope you find it again soon! It's good that the postal system works well - and you're settling in to your house at last!

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    1. well i found it again in SA, then moved here, so I've just got to tweak it again

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  3. Brunch on a beach sounds good to me :) And your desk looks SO much tidier than mine - I love the layout of it. #365

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    1. don't be fooled by the desk, thats because its not operational yet...lol

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  4. A jelly tots chocolate bar!!!!!! I'm glad you have all your boxes now and you are making it feel like home. I'm glad you have a place you can go to make new friends x

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    1. it was delicious and on my list of things to buy when i visit SA later this year

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  5. Ringing lots of bells for me. Our expat adventure is over but I recall many of those elements - making friends, worrying about post, nothing fitting the new space! We were lucky enough to have a Waitrose element to a supermarket in Mumbai - helped a lot!

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    1. there's a wait rose here and we can get a lot of British and South African goodies in it

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  6. awww what a really lovely idea to reach out to lost friends .. i got back in touch with my friend from 7 years ago and it was the best thing ever!

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    1. I already know those who won't bother but can't say i didn't try

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  7. It must make a difference settling into your house now - even if still worries about the visa. So nice too to escape to the beach or swim in the sea.

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    1. i need to get a car, it almost killed me walking to the beach in this heat today

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  8. Lovely photos! It must be strange losing your identity like that....I hope you get it back soon x

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    1. i only just recovered it after the first move

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  9. I'm glad that you're settling into your house now, that must make all the difference. As a fellow expat I can relate xx

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    1. its a little comforting knowing that the same thing happens to everyone

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  10. It's good that the prompts are helping through the transition to Dubai. I feel your pain with the visa situation, my is in Australia and he's been having issues with his permanent visa.
    and WOW a waitrose in Dubai...

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