My ever changing view from the balcony in Dubai

This was the view from the garden in January 2018.

The top photo was taken from the balcony August 2018

This photo was taken August 2020

As the crow flies from our balcony:

Metro station is 600 meters

The new building is 5.13 kms

The Dubai Eye Wheel is 6 kms

I've been documenting the construction of buildings in Dubai and construction projects around the world as well as photographing and research unusual building designs. 

You can see more photos of other building projects by clicking here Construction Photography

HDYGG Gardening in Dubai

I found some time to finally get round to planting some seeds that I've been collecting. In typical 'Suzanne' style I haven't labelled anything, threw the empty packets out and I have no idea what will come up, where or when.

 I was totally amazed to see the lettuce and cress sprouting the following day. These are inside the house, the tray outdoors took 5 days to sprout.

There was a trip or two to the garden centre and I'm loving all the Christmas decorations.

The weather is cooling, but it's not consistent. At 4.38 on Tuesday it was 26c and on Friday at 7.11am it was 19c. It makes me laugh that the weather app on my phone says 'mostly sunny'

We've been spending as much time as we can outdoors. Dubai is simply stunning, this picture was taken after work at Costa Coffee.

 The new Dubai Water Canal is now officially opened. The skyline has changed dramatically. I'm looking forward to Safa Park being fully restored.

A visit to Malvern and a trip down memory lane

For 3 weeks in August/September, Peter and I were traveling around the UK, visiting family and friends.

We moved to Malvern in 2002, where we raised our 5 children for 8 years, before moving to South Africa and now Dubai.

We've made a couple of trips back to Malvern over the past 6 years, where we rent out our family home and make time to catch up with friends.

On this visit we spent 3 nights at The Montrose Hotel in the town and took a trip down memory lane.

The Garden at the hotel

The Winter Gardens or Priory Park

This tree is over 150 years old

Our youngest wouldn't walk over this wooden bridge and we'd always have to wait for him to go the long way round. Behind is the town's swimming pool.

The bandstand with the theatre in the back ground

The tree of life, where we'd sponsor a light in memory of my Gran

The view of the bandstand from the theatre

One of the many paths 

C S Lewis was a pupil at Malvern College and along with J R R Tolkien was a regular visitor to Malvern and took his inspiration for The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe from these Victorian gas street lights. Tolkien is also recorded as saying the Malvern Hills reminded him of 'The White Hills of Gondor'

Great Malvern Priory

The grave of Charles Darwin's only child, Annie, who died aged 10

Malvern Spring Water is still bottled in the town. The Wells have been 'dressed' since the 12th century to give thanks to St Oswald for the water cures. Queen Victoria refused to travel without Malvern Spring Water and Elizabeth 1st would drink the water in public. 

Great Malvern and statue of Edward Elgar, composer of Pomp and Circumstance, better known as Land of Hope and Glory.

Looking down the town

Great malvern Train Station, opened in 1862

A game of petanque being played in the distance

Designed by sculptor William Forsyth 

Public toilets in Barnards Green

Morgan Motor Car Company

Pickersleigh Park, home to Malvern Town Wanderers Football Club, where most of my Saturday mornings and Sunday afternoons were spent for 8 years 

Malvern Common

The best sledging spot in the whole of Malvern

View of the Malvern Hills

View from the Malvern Hills

My Sunday Photo - Week 58 February 2016

Sunset on Friday at Dubai Festival City.