Saturday 19 December 2020

Week 51 - One Daily Positive

I'm on my own this week, Peter is in Saudi. It's really strange not having the cat and dog here, really wish we hadn't moved them to the UK earlier this year, but we had no idea covid would strike, separating Peter and I for 8 months this year.

I've a list of things on my mind at the moment that are irritating me. I did have car hire issues dating back to December 2019 where I'd been over charged £97. Emails, calls and tweets were being ignored and at one point they investigated, found me to be wrong and closed the file. Anyway i got my £97 back. Seriously hoping I get the £500 owed to me by the shipping company, who I've now threatened with legal action.

Insomnia - I'm waking around 3.30am nearly every morning.

Swimming pool - The pool opposite only offer min 6 monthly memberships. Whenever I've used the pool it's been empty over the past 3 years, yet they won't allow monthly or pay as you go access unless you are a guest of a member.

Food - I'm eating too much crap.

Shipping container - Still no refund on the insurance the agents failed to take out on our behalf and no one is answering any calls/emails in regards to who is at fault for the delay.

Sleep - Not getting any.

Covid - Apart from mask wearing, you'd not know covid was here in Dubai, I'm spending as much time as possible outdoors, schools have broken up and tourists are arriving back and it's so busy. Not Dubai busy, much quieter than normal, but not as quiet as August/September. Social distancing can be difficult and although hand sanitisers are available outside every shop, they're not being used every time people pass them. I've not met anyone in the UK who has been diagnosed with covid, but have met at least 10 people here in Dubai who have had a positive PCR test since April.

Social distancing - In general people aren't, so I'm avoiding the busy times and preferring to go out in the mornings before it gets too busy.

348 Sunday Last day of the golf, the player I walked round with was out on the clock for slow play, which meant I ended up running 7 holes carrying all the equipment. The European Tour Producer came out to thank us personally for working with them over the week, there were 8 of us doing the job and all volunteers. The sound we provide is used for the Golf Channel and Sky Sports. 

This little fella scared me half to death in the garden.


349 Monday I dropped Peter at the Airport, he's off to Saudi for a week. I stopped at the nail bar on the way home for a pedicure to sort out the hard skin on my feet after 2 weeks of wearing trainers at the golf.

McDonalds on my way home, which I ate in the garden after swopping the roll for a gluten free one.


350 Tuesday Spent the day at Dubai Mall with a friend. The evening was spent in front of the TV.

The worlds largest Christmas decoration inside the worlds largest mall. The nutcrackers are two storeys high.


351 Wednesday Did some gardening, washing and cleaning. Watched the UK soaps via youtube. Went to the Dr's in the afternoon and then to Mall of the Emirates and to the pub quiz in the evening. Went to bed at midnight, slept till 4am.

My favoutire Christmas tree in Dubai, although this is the 4th year it's been displayed.


352 Thursday Back to Mall of the Emirates to exchange some clothes, met a friend for coffee and home by midday, did the washing, some blogging, had a tidy round. An afternoon nap, then popped to Peter's colleagues apartment to collect their spare key so we can water their plants while they're away for a few weeks. Spent the evening in front of the TV.

No idea what this will turn in to.


353 Friday Headed off to the Marina in the morning for Breakfast and a walk. I did nothing in the afternoon and I spent the evening watching Love Actually and Notting Hill on Netflix. I also did some washing and ironing.

Our 10th Christmas in the sun, something I'll never really get used to.


354 Saturday Swept sand out the house and mopped, took a walk round the neighbourhood in the afternoon and took more photos of the construction work that is going on here. Spent a lot of the day in the garden.


On the blog this week:

Working on the European Golf Tour during Covid - The Race to Dubai.

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16 comments:

  1. So sorry you are alone. I must be so strange not having your pets there with you.
    That's great news about getting the £97 back. I hope the shipping company follow suit and return your money.
    Eek! I would have ran a mile if I saw that lizard but I suppose it's normal in Dubai to see things like that.
    The decorations in the mall look amazing and so, so big. What a pretty tree. x

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    1. Still chasing the shipping company up, I'm really fed up now with it all. The lizards do make me jump but I'm used to them now. The mall decorations are always so pretty

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  2. It must be strange being on your own especially without the pets too. Hope Peter is back soon. Fingers crossed you get your £500 back. That’s frustrating about the swimming pool not offering monthly membership or pay-as-you-go. Love the Christmas decorations inside the mall. I can’t quite imagine spending Christmas in the sun but it does look lovely there. Hope you have a good one. #project366

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    1. Peter should be back later today, fingers crossed. no sign of getting my money back, it's so annoying

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  3. Its definitely been a tough year...so much separation for you both. Glad you got the £97 back and hope you get the £500 back too.

    The tree at the mall looks lovely.

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    1. thank you, tougher than usual, we may be used to it but we don't like it. No sign of getting any money back just yet

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  4. It must be so annoying for you to still be alone after flying halfway around the world ! Lovely sunny surroundings though, so I don't feel too bad for you ! ;-) So glad you got the £97 back, fingers crossed you'll be lucky with the shipping company too ! The Christmas decorations in the mall look amazing. Hope you had a very happy Christmas xxx

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    1. it's sods law, isn't it, we got so close to spending time together

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  5. Sorry to hear Peter is away for a week, I hope it passes quickly. Wow look at those decorations I bet the mall was amazing. I actually had a flight of fancy and looked at holidays in Dubai for a few nights before Christmas but the price was ridiculous. And that was before we headed back into tier 4. Hope you get your £500 back and that you had a lovely Christmas.

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    1. Peter's work trip for a week ended up as two weeks and he's still not home, I certainly wouldn't be risking a holiday during covid

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  6. Really really alone this time :( I loved being in Turkey and seeing reptiles but would be terrified to see any in the UK. Christmas in the warm seems strange to me! #project366

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    1. Christmas in the sun has never felt right, I miss the just snuggling up under a blanket and watching a movie

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  7. It seems silly they let the pool sit empty rather than offer monthly membership! I would love a swim right about now. Our local pool hasn't reopened since the very first lockdown. Make the most of the sunshine and keep enjoying your morning outings! But must be hard when you have Peter away and the pets back home. I love the lizard picture, I think they are quite cute and like spotting them when we are in warmer destinations. Fingers crossed you have your £500 back by the next update.

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    1. It has been a very strange visit back home. I've discovered I can have day access to the pool for £7 a day, I just had to know how to ask for it. The lizards just seem to appear on the wall and rarely move

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  8. Must be so nice to see some sunshine, it has gone really cold here and sadly no snow for us. Hope you get your container money sorted very soon, it has been dragging on such a long time. Wishing you all a very happy new year x

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    1. Container money now refunded but doesn't sort the rest of the issues with the company sadly. It is nice to see the sun again

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