Saturday 13 June 2015

Week 24 - Project 365

Last week ended with me being in agony again, I haven't had physio all week as he was full up and not even a cancellation in sight. I did quite a bit of driving as it was far too hot to be out walking and I spent Sunday cleaning the house, which involved moving furniture and making beds. However the week got much better on Monday, after coffee with friends and my 20yo son arriving after a week in South Africa on his way back to the UK. It was lovely to see him and hear about his new life in the army.
We went out on the Dhow Cruise for dinner on Tuesday, Wednesday we went out for lunch and a spot of shopping, spent a couple of hours on the beach and out for dinner in the evening, then on the beach. Thursday after my physio we caught the bus to Dubai Mall, more shopping followed by a late lunch/early dinner. I had another long drive into the desert on Friday then it was off to the airport to see him off, there were a few tears, mainly mine, but I'll see him again in September in the UK for his passing out parade.

I had a couple of hours at home to wash the bedding, clean the bathroom and then it was back to the airport to collect hubby who had been in the States for 2 weeks with work. Saturday we were back out in the desert walking Bob with a group of lovely people. I'm itching to pack my suitcase  as on Wednesday I'm off to Canada to meet a twitter buddy for 3 weeks. But hubby has just returned from the States and the case is still full of his stuff.

Day 158 #onedailypositive #forgotten #fmsphotoaday #butterfly #snaphappybritmums #project365

I've forgotten what it is like to be me.

I feel like I'm in a chrysalis, hiding away from the real world. My world is one where my children have a better future, where my husband has a career that takes him all over the world. Where my family have their lives that I am now isolated from.

For 5 years as an expat I have been cocooned away from the 'real world' one of work, responsibilities and opportunities. I am just here, resting on the outside, while inside I'm a hive of activity, wondering what my future will bring.

I'm waiting to be released, flap my wings and fly.

It is with great sadness that I blow yet another myth about life in Dubai. I can drive, eat pork, wear a swim suit, work, celebrate Christmas and Easter and I don't have to cover my face and body when I go out. These assumptions are made regularly and I also get asked if it's hot enough to cook an egg. So I had a go. The answer is no, this was 1pm, the fire pit had been exposed to the sun since 7am and was too hot to touch, but it wouldn't cook an egg.


Day 160 #onedailypositive #disgust #fmsphotoaday #SpringClean #snaphappybritmums #project365

Meet the dust bunnies, I think they're going to be featuring quite a lot in my life, I might have to give them all names but then I won't be able to bin them if they have names. I am disgust(ed) by the thought of ever having a carpet again. I did a full spring clean on Sunday. With the cat and dog and the air con on, it doesn't take long for all this to build up again.

Day 161 ‪#‎onedailypositive‬ ‪#‎anger‬ ‪#‎fmsphotoaday‬ ‪#‎cake‬‪#‎snaphappybritmums‬ ‪#‎project365‬

I am angry I forgot all about today's photo prompt and I didn't get to eat cake. I am angry that as I live as an expat I miss my adult children's and family birthdays and other events. But I didn't miss my niece's wedding back in April this year so I'm showcasing the cake my talented sister baked and decorated for her daughters big day.

Day 162 #onedailypositive #fear #fmsphotoaday #8pm #snaphappybritmums #project365


I fear missing out on news from one of the many places we have family and friends, by getting confused with the time difference. Hubby is on a flight to New York on his way back to Duabi which I'm trying to track and son is flying back from Dubai to the UK tomorrow and on Wednesday I fly to Canada for 3 weeks. hopefully this will help me remember when to Skype/phone and not wake anyone up.

Day 163 ‪#‎onedailypositive‬ ‪#‎joy‬ ‪#‎fmsphotoaday‬ ‪#‎yellow‬‪#‎snaphappybritmums‬ ‪#‎project365‬

All day I've been looking for yellow. I'm sitting on the patio, there's a mop with a yellow handle, it's been used today. The laundry basket is yellow, it too has been used today. I bought a burger from Hardee's drive through it has a yellow smiley face for a logo. I saw a yellow Ferrari, I've been out in the desert and just returned from the beach. Sand is yellow, right? But I didn't take any photos, I was busy looking for yellow. Then I realised as I sat down to drink my tea and search for something yellow that brought me joy, I realised, my tea mug is yellow and I'm wearing yellow flip flops. Why has today been so full of joy? Well my son came into the desert with me on his last day of vacation to take his dog for a walk and play in the lakes, he won't see Bob again for maybe a year, but they both had so much fun. And how can a mop and laundry basket bring joy? Hubby flys back to Dubai tonight after 2 weeks away. The house is clean, there are fresh sheets on the bed and it means we can just chill out for the weekend.

Day 164 #onedailypositive #OnMyMind #fmsphotoaday #feet #snaphappybritmums #project365

Can you believe with as much international and local travel that hubby and I do, we only have one suitcase between us? I mean just the one. A handle broke on his, then my zip went so we bought a new one. 
Just think the average suitcase probably makes one return flight a year, maybe a coach trip and often a car journey. Since getting our new suitcase it has travelled from the UK to Dubai, been to South Africa and Turkey twice, made a return trip to the UK, has just returned from America and on Wednesday it is heading off with me to Canada. It's next trip after that will be to the UK, but with both of us flying we'll need to invest in another one. Not only does the suit case travel miles on a plane, it also travels quite some distance on it's wheels, which means our feet are also covering quite some ground. I usually travel in sensible footwear, as when I reach my destination I have buses and trains to catch and you know how much walking is involved getting across London even when you use public transport. But for this trip to Canada I'm being collected at the airport so I'm wearing these for a bit of fun.

13 comments:

  1. Sounds like an inspired week and I especially love the snap of the dust bunnies (I have these here too as life's too short to clean up when both daughters make a rare appearance at home). Good luck to your son as he starts his new career in the Army - you must be so proud of him. Hope to see you in September when you're over in the UK.

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    1. looking forward to meeting you also, the dust bunnies are the bane of my bloody life and I'm looking forward to a break from them

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  2. What a busy time you've had....
    Ahh! I am actually gutted to see that the egg didn't cook....That really has surprised me :)

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    1. apparently the heat cause the egg to evaporate and prevents it from cooking, i need to put a lid on the pan for it to actually cook

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  3. You are a poet, who even thinks of naming the dust bunnies. I thought the fried egg myth related to Australia rather than Dubai.

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    1. ha ha the dust bunnies are my friends, they follow me from room to room. i think the fried egg myth applies to anywhere that is mega hot all year round

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  4. my biggest problem with the case is that i over pack and put too much pressure on the zip and the amount of walking i do around the UK after my flight

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  5. That is a great cake and I'm loving the yellow sandals. Have fun in Canada with your Twitter friend :D

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    1. thank you, I'm planning on having lots of fun once i adapt to the time difference

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  6. I know you are on your way to Canada now - have a lovely trip. I'm sure it will be lovely to catch up and get away from the heat for a while.

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    1. Hi Erica, arrived safely and it's so nice over here weather wise, nice and cool but still sunny

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  7. I hope you are feeling better. One suitcase? You must both be expert packers! Kaz x

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    1. I'm sure i could travel a bit lighter...lol

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