Random fun and discoveries in July

 I made a nail bar for my granddaughter

I bought some material from the markets in Birmingham. Unfortunately they also sell fish in the markets and on the way home on the train there was a funny smell of ... fish.

Four way traffic lights outside our house and the zebra crossing no longer works. There's now a traffic light controlled crossing 20 yards away to the right, but no one uses any of it out of school hours.

A year of celebrating Ozzy in Birmingham.

Broad Street in Birmingham

Gifts from son and his girlfriend in Australia brightened up the start of my week.

Hoem grown raspberries and yummy puddings.

BBQs and random foods on my plate and a sun umbrella that puts the washing in shade in the afternoon, that is if we hung any washing out as the paddling pool was taking its turn on the line.

The garden is reminding me of the long summers of South Africa and the winters of Dubai, just being able to set everything up and sit outdoors without having to sweep up sand or bring everything in due to rain. Long may it last. 

Even the wildlife is large and feels adventurous.

This tree and scenery reminds me of game drives in Reitvlei, but it's Croome Park.

I found this picture of my gran and granddad taken around the mid to late 60's My gran would've been in her mid 50's around the age I am now 55. I can't imagine what my gran would think of me now at 55 running marathons and sporting blue hair. Although she was used to me dying my hair random colours.

Week 38 One daily Positive and Project 365. Dubai to UK.

I forgot to add to last week's post that when we checked into our apartment in Dubai we were asked if we wanted a smoking or non smoking room. I hadn't realised that this was still a thing.
Smoking in Australia is pretty much outlawed everywhere, even walking through the city. In Dubai it doesn't seem to matter, yet.
I've missed being in Dubai, not the weather, it's so hot and it's coming out of summer now into winter. We did a lot of walking both inside and out but I walked through the train station's air conditioning when I could.

Sunday 

Day 256 7am and off to the beach. Peter actually went for a swim. He’s not a fan of the salt, water and sand combination. Back to hotel for breakfast, shower and off to Mall of the Emirates to do some shopping. Dinner at the Souk Madinat and back to pack ready for an early flight.

Monday 

Day 257 7am and off to the beach. Peter actually went for a swim. He’s not a fan of the salt, water and sand combination. Back to hotel for breakfast, shower and off to Mall of the Emirates to do some shopping. Dinner at the Souk Madinat and back to pack ready for an early flight.

Tuesday 

Day 258 Dubai Museum of the Future, drive by photography on the way to the airport. Flight was uneventful and I got some sleep. Train home, unpacked, Peter did a food shop while I did the washing and we struggled to stay awake going to bed at 8.30pm.

Wednesday 

Day 259 Drs, coffee, food shop, washing, reading and an early night. Granddaughter asked for Barbie in a wheelchair for her birthday ‘just like Aunty Stephanie’

Thursday

Day 260 Cat collected from mums and off to visit grandchildren. Home at 7pm and off to bed.

Friday

Day 261 Early walk to town for coffee and the post office and rest of the day spent gardening. I was in bed and asleep by 8pm.

Saturday

Day 262 9am train to Birmingham, coffee and walk to the ground. A tense game winning in extra time. Train home and lazy afternoon/evening in front of the tv.

Things to make you smile:

Video call with my grandson who said to his dad 'stand up daddy' My son asked why and grandson replied with 'I want to show Granny how big you are'

Things that made me happy:

Despite having the best time with child 3 and our holiday in Australia and Dubai, it is lovely to be home and back in our own bed. Birmingham won 1-0.

On the blog this week:
Word of the week - Brunch (in Dubai)

Post Comment Love - link up with any post written this week

Walking in Australia - Part 2

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The good bits of August 2025. UK and Australia.

We started August in up north and ended the month in Australia. It's been really busy, too much travel, jet lag and on the go non stop in the garden also.

But I wouldn't have it any other way (other than Business class flights if the price was right)

UK

Nightly hedgehog visit.

Loads of books read this month.

Three football matches.

Recreating photos with our granddaughter.

Work in progress in the garden.

We sifted all the soil from here to the front, now we can start on our new path.

I've been really surprised with the growth of these melons.

We do love our coffees out.

Australia.

We're still doing the same things, just in a different location and lots more walking, with beaches and lots of meals out.

Animals. Nuggie

Out for a walk in Centennial Park

Holiday cat

Beach Turkeys

Bin Chicken

Books

Sport - SCG

Olympic Stadium

Grandchildren - Breakfast for grandson, dinner for us.

Gardening - wondering what this is. A cabbage fern.

Not identified this yet

Coffee - Not so sure what they've drawn here 

I'll be writing separate posts about the places we've visited, the walks we've been on more about the flora and fauna of Australia over the coming weeks.

2021 January 8th-10th Post Comment Love

Happy New Year and welcome back to Post Comment Love #PoCoLo a weekly linky run by Stephanie from Lifeat139a and I, where you can link up with any blog post written each week. We share the posts on twitter and comment on all linked up between us, we just ask that you Post, Comment then share the Love. 

Christmas was a strange affair for Peter and I, he spent it in Saudi and I spent it in a hotel on a beach. Due to the new covid strain in the UK, Saudi just closed their borders overnight without warning. We weren't happy especially as it had been hit and miss as to whether or not I'd make it back to Dubai at all this year, oh the irony, it turned out it was his travels we should've worried about.

Well 2021 got off to a fantastic start for Peter and I, he made it back from Saudi in time for the New Year which we celebrated by taking a midnight walk in our neighbourhood to watch the fireworks go off on the Atlantis and the Beach and spent New Years Day walking along the canal then seeing the fireworks again down on the beach followed by a drone light show. Dubai do everything so well, they even celebrate the New Year twice. 

I also started the new year off by getting the Chinese vaccine, Sinopharm, which is available to all residents and citizens in the UAE. I need my 2nd jab on the 25th January. I've blogged about why I chose these vaccine on this weeks link up.

Then disaster struck, I was admitted to hospital for 2 nights with severe lower back pain and no known cause, turns out I have a herniated or slipped disc and have been assigned 7 days bed rest as from today. I also have surgery on Saturday for an unrelated issue and I have a full time job ahead of me when I recover filling in all the medical calm forms as so much wasn't pre approved so you pay up front and claim back later. 

So I'm no confined to bed till next week, I've plenty of blogging and reading to do and have a whole back catalogue of Crimewatch from the mid 1980's on youtube lined up to watch, it's frightening just how many murder cases are still unsolved from those times.

I know 2021 is going to be an up and down year for us, regardless of Covid, I turn 50 this year, I'm unsure where I'll be living for most of this year, UK or Dubai but I'm grateful to have a secure home in both countries, who knows when borders will shut again and where I'll be, I was shut out of Dubai last year. If I'm honest I don't mind if I get shut out of the UK, it's tough being there, so near, yet so far, from family I'm usually separated from due to being an expat, it's harder when I'm only a few miles down the road and can't see them. But I'll take what I can get, be grateful for our health, the covid vaccine and the medical aid.

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