Week 23 - Project 365

It's been a much better week health wise, my back is almost better compared to this time last week, but it's still not 100%. I find driving is ok, but I'm in discomfort afterwards, as is sitting down. Bending down to lift anything is still not possible and I've been advised not to. I've been swimming in the sea every night this week. It's really strange to enter the water when it's the same temperature as the air. There's no way to cool down at all in Dubai so I visited the ski dome, on Saturday, not for skiing mind, just to have some coldness.

The temperature in the UAE topped 50c this week, making it the hottest place in the world and you don't half know it. Think sitting in front of your oven, full blast and door open, then add a hairdryer on full blast to your face and you'll experience what it's like here.

I've also been on my own all week, with hubby in the States, he's not back till next weekend and with child 4 of 5 in South Africa I'm juggling 4 different timezones with communication, hubby is a day behind me right now and in less than 2 weeks I'll be in Canada and the timezones will be reversed. Son is 2 hours behind Dubai and the rest of the family in the UK are 3 hours behind. I need one of those airport clocks.

Day 151 ‪#‎onedailypositive‬ ‪#‎HaHaHa‬ ‪#‎fmsphotoaday‬ ‪#‎IWant‬‪ #‎snaphappybritmums‬ ‪#‎project365‬ 

I want something different to eat other than salad and oh how I've laughed at my stupidity stood in the kitchen cooking 2 portions for 2 of beef strog and Mexican stew for the freezer to heat up and serve with rice and 1 portion of sweet chili chicken for tomorrow's dinner, it's 44c outside and I've spent the afternoon quite literally slaving over a hot stove with the air con blasting on the back of my neck.

Day 152 #onedailypositive #many #fmsphotoaday#OpenWindow #snaphappybritmums #project365

Many windows on the roof of @OasisMallDubai there appears to be some kind of crank/handle that might just open window(s)

Day 153 #onedailypositive #lookingup #fmsphotoaday #mixupyourmenu #snaphappybritmums #project365

This photo was taken yesterday of the plane my son was in as he left Dubai for South Africa. He will be stopping over in Dubai next week for 4 days so things are looking up in more ways than one.


Day 154 #onedailypositive #silly #fmsphotoaday #garden #snaphappybritmums #project365

It would be #silly to sit in the #garden today, it's not much cooler when the sun goes down either.

Day 155 #onedailypositive #StartsWithB #fmsphotoaday #DaysOut #snaphappybritmums #project365

Well there aren't many days out in Dubai in the summer. This is our first summer living here and wow it is hot, in fact the UAE has been the hottest place in the world the last few days. I do of course go out, a lot of expats leave the UAE for summer but we don't have the luxury of being able to afford 2 homes. Hubby is away in the States so he's having a couple of weeks respite and I'm off to Canada on the 17th for 3 weeks. Apart from walking round malls my 'outdoor' time is restricted to early mornings and late evenings. So not technically a #DayOut on the Beach, but if you add up an hour every evening this week, I've had the equivilant and it's just as good on the beach after sunset.

Day 156 #onedailypositive #LookingDown #fmsphotoaday #abstract #snaphappybritmums #project365

Looking Down I see water, I'm in the desert in the UAE, some 60kms outside of Dubai. Although not entirely abstract as there is actually a lake here, the concept of putting a lake out in the desert shows that anything is possible when you have enough money.

Day 157 #onedailypositive #WhoIAm #fmsphotoaday #TreeInBloom #snaphappybritmums #project365

I've been struggling with my identity since relocating from the UK to South Africa and to Dubai 6 months ago. This is my family tree, not only does it tell you where I came from but also, Who I Am.
I can trace back on both sides to my Great Great Great Grandparents with the earliest recorded birth as 1770. Unfortunately a lot of children died very young. The only recorded divorces, that I know of are me and my sister and 1 cousin. Children born out of wedlock were for me and 2 cousins, plus one aunt who divorced pre children. There are stories of many more children and divorces, but I guess I may never find that out.

Week 21 - Project 365

After last weeks food poisoning, I start this week with so much pain in my right hip that I'm crying in agony when I try to move.
I've had a niggling ache prior to my trip to the UK in April, but over the past 36 hours it's just hit me full force.
Doctor has given me pain meds and diagnosed Sacroiliitis (inflammation of the joint between the pelvis and the spine) and has referred me to a physio. The additional stress of sorting out the medical aid hasn't helped, the physio has helped but the pain meds just aren't doing their job. I've been told to walk and to swim and to avoid sitting down, so if I'm not on my feet or at the physio or walking round in this heat, I'm lying in bed filling in a tax return. It's not been much fun this week.

Unfortunately last weeks food poisoning wasn't due to pasta I ate, it appears it was from a tub of ice cream and having eaten some more of it last night, it has returned with a vengeance.

Day 137 #onedailypositive #home #fmsphotoaday #HandMade #snaphappybritmums #project365

This is the dog's spot, the cat prefers the wardrobe. I've made several dog beds scattered around the house. I also made these curtains for our previous house in South Africa there are 6 pairs which used to be all in one room, now in 5 different rooms.

Day 138 #onedailypositive #musical #fmsphotoaday #vintage #snaphappybritmums #project365

Hubbies electric guitar and Marshall amps, bought in the 70's. All still in working order and original parts and the guitar and amp aren't in bad condition either :-)

Day 139 #onedailypositive #MyMoodToday #fmsphotoaday #landscape #snaphappybritmums #project365

My mood today is generally good but is being hampered by chronic pain in my lower back so I'm a bit up and down today like these buildings in Business Bay #dubai #mydubai #myview

Day 140 #onedailypositive #equal #fmsphotoaday #midday #snaphappybritmums #project365

Equal amounts of sun over the chicken at midday in Dubai.

Day 141 #onedailypositive #InADrawer #fmsphotoaday #ILove #snaphappybritmums #project365

In a drawer, by my bedside. My Grans hanky, a love letter from hubby, a key ring from my dad's old company and an unexpected find of extra strong mints.

Day 142 #onedailypositive #weather #fmsphotoaday #Black&White #snaphappybritmums #project365

This photo was taken back in March this year, despite the rumours of constant none stop sunshine it's not always the case, there are storms, it does rain and the fog can be very dense. It's not often, it doesn't last long and the rest of the time there is just sun and blue skies. So today I'm sharing my no filter/lenses/editing to give you a natural Black and White picture of the different weather than expected in Dubai.

Day 143 #onedailypositive #GoodTimes #fmsphotoaday #ISpy #snaphappybritmums #project365

From time to time I get homesick and not for the UK, but for South Africa where we lived for 4 years prior to relocating to Dubai in December 2014. I miss my friends, my routine, my lifestyle, the opportunities, the experiences and it makes me sad to know SA will never again be my home. I heard a rumour that there was a Mugg and Bean cafe near by and 'I spy' the Waitrose from my travels on the bus, so I took a little detour on Wednesday and I wasn't disappointed. I actually cried after I'd ordered my coffee, updated my dear friend Laura to tell her where as I was as I was so excited to be experiencing a little bit of home and reliving the good times.