Sunday 27 December 2020

Week 52 - One daily Positive. Our Covid Christmas.

Things are much more relaxed in Dubai with covid than they are in the UK, although they did have total lockdown at the beginning, they closed the borders, introduced PCR testing prior to departure (now available on arrival) and enforce social distancing and the wearing of masks, including outdoors. However, I've witnessed large groups of people hugging and shaking hands, of all nationalities, people with noses hanging out of masks and if you leave a gap in front of you, either a whole family will try to fill it or the person behind breathes down your neck. As a result I spend as much time as possible outdoors and it is the reason my husband is stuck in Saudi until the New Year.

355 Sunday Swept and mopped downstairs, watched Burlesque and About a Boy. Took a walk to the local shopping centre to buy ingredients to make a pizza for dinner and get a take out coffee and to take more photos of the ever changing construction projects in our neighbourhood. Evening spent watching Emily in Paris, blogging, commenting and sorting photos.


356 Monday Woke to the news Saudi have closed their borders, no one in, no one out. Guess where Peter is right now. After a morning of feeling sorry for myself, I headed off to the Souk Madinat for a coffee and a walk, thought about some retail therapy but there was nothing I wanted. Afternoon spent sorting out files on laptop, TV on in the back ground and waiting to hear from Peter.


357 Tuesday Spent the morning on the only remaining beach that hasn't been commercialised, won't be long though as there are now life guard towers and it is a prime location, by The Palm and the Burj Al Arab. In the evening off to the Marina to meet my friend Cindy, from South Wales who moved here with her husband and daughter in August, Cindy arrived in October. We met through facebook and covid cancelled our UK plans for meeting. We had coffee and a snack and a long chat. 


358 Wednesday Popped to the local mall for coffee and a bit of food shopping. The rest of the day just happened with TV, packing, washing and ironing and then off to the Polo Club for the pub quiz. 4th tonight. 


359 Thursday Managed to sleep solidly for 7 hours, stayed in bed till around 10am then Starbucks for a coffee, called in at friends to drop/swop Christmas gifts and a natter, then onto the hotel. Check in was at 4pm so I spent time on the beach had a picnic then a swim and a walk around the area. Checked in, set up Christmas decorations, unpacked, went for a swim, shower and drank G&T in bed with a box of after 8 mints.


Had the shock of my life at 9.15pm when I was woken by a man entering my room to clean it. FFS, I've never been so frightened in my life. Hotel was noisy, I was overlooking the pool and I'd already been moved once. The hotel was basic but did have a restaurant/bar (service was slow) and popular due to it's beach front location

360 Friday Early morning wake up call when the sound system at the beach started up, full volume, demanding I dispose of my rubbish correctly. Drank tea, unwrapped presents my lovely friends gave me when I was in the UK, walked on the beach at sunrise and an early breakfast. I spent the morning on the beach reading and swimming, then back to my room to make the Christmas calls, then out for a festive (ish) lunch. Afternoon nap then an evening stroll and watched the fireworks.


361 Saturday Too cold to swim in the sea, the sun rise was gorgeous, I ate breakfast and read my book on the beach, followed by a stroll along the sea front, had a coffee, returned to the hotel for a swim in the pool, before showering and checking out. Met a friend for coffee down at the Marina for a coffee on the way home.


On the blog this week - My Balcony View 2 years on.

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12 comments:

  1. It sounds like you get idiots everywhere with regards to covid. I can't stand those who get to close behind you. I am not a confrontational person but have told some people to back off.
    It is absolutely rubbish that Peter is stuck in Saudi. It seems so unfair after all the stress you've had getting back to Dubai.
    You had such a different Christmas day to us. It was freezing here and woke up to a little snow on the ground. I would have preferred sitting in the sunshine on a beach. hehehe
    Wishing you all the best for the new year x

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    1. Now I would've preferred a snowy Christmas morning to a sunny one on the beach, I need a face mask with 'back off' written on it

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  2. Wow, that's a great last view. Hopefully you get to celebrate Christmas once Peter's back.

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    1. There will be an exchange of gifts but Christmas is over now

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  3. How bloody annoying! When you said about someone coming into the hotel room I initially thought yay he got out... sorry it must have been rubbish to be seperated over Christmas and I am guessing new year. I hope you have a wonderful 2021 and that Peter makes it back soon x

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    1. It was really bizarre in the hotel room, esp being on my own over Christmas. Peter made it back for the New Year

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  4. Sorry to hear you and Peter were separated over Christmas!

    Can't believe they just came into your room like that. I hope you complained!

    Love the sunrise pic

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    1. I did complain but nothing came of it, very annoying

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  5. Awww sorry to hear you didn't get to spend Christmas together. Hope you managed to enjoy your hotel stay anyway, the book on the beach picture looks very idyllic! I would have had a shock too, its very late for them to be doing rooms.

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    1. It was lovely spending Christmas in the hotel, would've been better if Peter had been there

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  6. Such a shame you didn't get Christmas with Peter. I remember being asleep in bed at uni when the cleaner barged in: I was terrified! #project366

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    1. Never get much rest in a hotel there's too much going on

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