The requirements for travel are changing often. We now have to have a covid free certificate to be able to fly back into Dubai. There are many places charging a small fortune and I have no idea if the UAE government would accept any of these. The response I get from Emirates is to contact a UK government lab to arrange the test. Do they mean the NHS? Currently they're only testing for people who have symptoms. I find it so frustrating when people in other countries just assume everything is done the same around the world.
Finally found a testing centre in Bristol that the UAE recognise, had to pay £120 each for the tests and then a long wait for an appointment date, has to be done within 48 hours of departure. The rules may change again by the time we fly, but that is the nature of a pandemic, sadly it likes to travel also.
We've had a busy week with DIY and the house is finally feeling like our home again
My to do list: (got ignored last week)
Sort paperwork
Write up address book
Wash dog
Clean the windows, everyone is covered in cat snot
Tidy craft room/dumping ground
Sew bunting
Fix duvet
Clean spare room
208 Sunday The day spent ordering tools and DIY items needed for Peter to start work around the house, they arrive on Tuesday. Nothing else happened other than washing and watching TV.
209 Monday Up way too early, wet and cold outside. Sewed some bunting and tidied the craft room The day end with a Sunday roast, I no longer care what day of the week it is anymore. Our kitchen door doesn't stay shut without a latch, we haven't been able to fond one on line to Peter removed the one from the dining room door, now the dining room door doesn't close without lifting the handle and we seem to spend all our time looking for the cat who hooks her paw round the frame to open the door.
210 Tuesday Tools etc arrived, Peter set about some DIY, I spent the day doing the tax return, sorting paperwork out and booking Covid tests so we can return to Dubai. Have sorted out birthdays, anniversaries and care package boxes all ready to post for events in late August and September before I travel to Dubai. I just seem to place paper son the floor so I can sort, then run out of time and just put them back on the desk again.
211 Wednesday Up at 3am, just couldn't sleep, sat and blogged. Mother in Law and Sister in Law came up for the morning to socially distance sit in the garden. In the afternoon Peter re grouted and re sealed our ensuite. We ordered new wood to re clad the shed.
212 Thursday I had a really good sleep, 9 hours and woke up feeling refreshed. Peter and I removed the internal doors, cut them to the new size for the carpets, sanded them down and I will be painting them in September. In between helping Peter I sorted out bills and paperwork and I cut some foam to size to re make Bob's dog bed which I made when he came to live with us 7 years ago. I made the cover with upholstery material which just needs the seams sewing back up.
Peter and I proving our point that the paper will set alight and doing it on a wooden table top isn't a good idea.
213 Friday Up at 4am Sorted through some more paperwork, made a few more online orders, cleaned the cat snot off the windows. Peter sanded down the outside table I was given early on in lockdown and stained it. We didn't find the heat too oppressive as there was a gentle cool breeze. In Dubai when the weather is hot, so is the wind. I completely forgot I'd made arrangements with my friend to visit today prior to Peter getting his flight, she brought me 1/2 ton of rocks for the garden. My new sewing machine arrived and Debbie and I drank wine and ate chips in the garden. Bob struggled with the heat today, Peter and I loved it.
214 Saturday Dog washed. To do list complete. Cleaned the spare room, fixed the duvet and sewed the dog bed up. All the paperwork is now sorted. The address book will get written up on my next flight as I doubt there will be any new movies to watch. I've started a new 'to do' list for next week. Peter cut and hung the new door for the dining room and painted it. Just the food delivery to sort and dinner to cook. Bob is grumpy in his old age, he hates being bathed, but he loves the rub down afterwards.
On the blog this week:
Collecting Peter from Heathrow Airport
A visit to Eastnor Castle with Bob - Dayoutwithmydog is now on Instagram
The dog looks a bit forlorn after his bath. So annoying that you have to have COVID free certificates to fly back to Dubai and that they cost so much money
ReplyDeleteBob looks forlorn at everything lol
DeleteThat sounds like a lot of stress to arrange a covid test and expensive to too. I hope it all goes well. It sounds like a busy week. You are well organised with birthdays and care packages ready to send out. I love the photos of Bob x
ReplyDeletethe rules with travel are changing daily, it's all so complicated
DeleteAww poor little Bob, he doesn't look very happy after his bath. The covid tests cost an arm and a leg, all the organising of the necessary paperwork sounds utterly exhausting. Looks like you did a lot of work in the house last week. You're so organised with the gifts!
ReplyDeleteI'm always organise dwith gift giving, I'll be writing christmas cards in sept/ oct
DeleteBob looks so cute in his towel! I'm very impressed that his dog bed has lasted so long. Booking the covid tests sounds like a right hassle, but I'm glad you've managed to get it sorted.
ReplyDeleteThe dog bed is made from upholstery material, built to last by the looks of it
DeleteGlad to see you're still as full on as ever - no rest for the wicked! Ouch to the cost of the covid tests but a necessary evil right now. Won't recognise the place whenever it's ok to be back inside at yours! #366
ReplyDeleteIt's almost like a new house, welcome here anytime, you know that
DeleteTrying to sort out your testing for the flight back to Dubai sounded frustrating. Glad you managed to get it booked. Sounds like you and Peter have been busy in the house this week and glad all the paperwork got sorted in the end. Bob doesn’t look very impressed in that last photo. #project366
ReplyDeleteBob rarely looks impressed but trust me he loves the drying part of a bath. I'm sure the rules for flying will be changing again soon
DeleteI rarely bath Dixie, just when she rolls in disgusting stuff.
ReplyDeleteOh dear all sounds very bureaucratic trying to get back to Dubai.
I tidied my dumping ground this week as well.
It should be the same for anyone entering the UK
DeleteAaagghhh I hear you for the COVID rules. The worst thing is, they keep changing. Even for coming back to the UK to see my family, I'm not sure if we'll manage it. Still checking the confinement rules don't change and the tunnel/ferry prices have rocketed - £400 instead of the usual £50 ! I'm hoping they'll settle down but we've no idea :-/ The COVID test prices are ridiculous ! You've got loads done again this week - I am in awe of you ! Your dog made me laugh - he looks really cheesed off ! lol
ReplyDeleteI understand flight costs going up with less people flying but I don't think airlines are making it easy to help us with keeping us informed of the changes and costs involved
DeleteYeah situations like that are very annoying. Cool to try to light the paper. My dogs pant so much in the heat and after I bring them back for a walk. They hate baths too. Bob looks like a cute little burrito.
ReplyDeleteit's fun doing all the things we told the kids not to do
DeleteAwwww look at Bob!!! How absolutely adorable wrapped up like that after his bath! :) Another busy week for you, especially with all the early starts. I hope you have had a better week of sleep!
ReplyDeleteAfter all the rain we have had, I am certainly enjoying the warmer weather - I have previously experienced Dubai in August and that was bloomin' hot. No escape from that one at all! Hope you are all having a lovely week! Sim xx
No chance of any sleep with a husband who snores sadly, looking forward to a bit more rain before I return to Dubai
DeleteWow that is a lot of money for the tests!
ReplyDeleteAww poor Bob really doesn't seem to like the heat does he? He looks cute wrapped up after his bath though!
It's not just the money it's the hassle of working out what has to be done, when and where
DeleteIts amazing how the rules differ for each country. £120 is steep, but then what is it all costing the NHS?
ReplyDeleteBob looks cute wrapped up after his bath, our dog hates getting wet when its for a wash but loves playing with water if its not! She cant seem to make her mind up!
Yep, Bob is the same and yes I expect it is costing the NHS about the same for each test
DeleteGosh that's a lot to spend out on tests and extra hassle for you to sort. haha you sound like me, I tend to empty out all the drawers make nice piles, then run out of steam and have to chuck everything back in! Bob in a towel what an adorable photo!
ReplyDeleteI can never work through a pile of things, I have to drag it all out and work through it as I put it away
DeleteThe testing thing is mad and frustrating. Sounds like you have had a very organised week and got lots done though.
ReplyDelete#p365 from last week. Sorry it's slightly late
I don't object tot he testing, just wish there was more straight forward info available on what, where and when
DeleteBusy week with DIY and sorting. Sounds like you are really organised. My paperwork always gets left its on my to do list too. Wow thats a lot of money for a test, I think people are cashing in on it. Hope your appointment comes through when you need it and that it all works out okay for the trip x
ReplyDeleteI dread to think how much testing is costing the NHS
DeleteComplicated travel arrangements but they do seem to be responsible unlike our own government (don't get me started!) #project366
ReplyDeleteI know, but half the trouble is there is no consistency
DeleteIt sounds like a busy week. That sounds like a lot to arrange a covid test and expensive. I hope it goes well. Well done on being so organised for the birthdays. Lovey photos xx
ReplyDeleteCovid test was expensive but at least I've made it back to Dubai
Delete