How do you decorate your tree at Christmas? Blogmas18

This is our Christmas tree. Christmas for the last 9 years has been in the sun with temps in the mid to high 20's. It's winter in Dubai, but you wouldn't think so. The previous Christmas's were in summer living in South Africa. 

It's really strange putting up the tree and decorating the house when the sun shines, the kids have now left home, but I still like to mark the seasons and festivities.

We were given this tree by my MIL 11 years ago, it's probably time for a new one soon, but the prices in Dubai are astronomical, a real tree retails around £150-200, so artificial it is.

Our decorations represnt our expat life. I'm Welsh and Hubby is English. Child 3 lives in Australia, the other 4 children live in the UK.

Christmas photo baubles, front photo is when they little, the reverse shows them as they are now.

We collect baubles from our travels, this year's additions are from Germany and Greece.

Lots of animals from South Africa.

We also decorate the rest of the house.

Anyone else have trouble with lights?  These worked when tested, by the time they were wrapped around the tree they'd stopped working.

There decorations are waiting to go up in the garden.

These decorations will go up in the porch out the front.

Stand still in our house and you'll get decorated.

My Sunday Photo - Week 117 E is for Earth Hour, Dubai

Whilst I understand the need for safety and that they build 24/7 and safety lights need to be left on for low flying aircraft, I am very disappointed with Dubai's effort for this years Earth Hour. I'm sure quite a few more buildings and businesses could've switched off a few more lights, maybe the arch could've been turned off also, as there is plenty of light on the footbridge for the handful of people out tonight in the rain.

How does you Garden Glow with Dubai Garden Glow and HDYGG

We should've entered Za'abeel park through gate 6, but I find the roads a little complicated around that part of town and at 5pm, the Sheikh Zayed Road is a little busy and I really didn't want to negate the traffic. We were able to access the Garden Glow via a foot bridge, but sign posting wasn't too good and it took a while to find it. Just remember to turn at the Chinese Pagoda and all will be ok. You can buy tickets at any of the gates and they cost AED 60 each.

 Upon exiting the footbridge you are greeted by the dinosaurs, I wasn't too impressed with this part of the attraction, we walked through quickly and took few photo's, although I'm sure if I'd gone with small children it would've held more excitement. 

Colour changing trees

Interactive musical lights.

 Back into Za'abeel park and home. There were many families having picnics and BBQ's in designated areas, there was even a wedding party, with tables and chairs and caterers.

Dubai Garden Glow is only open during the winter months.

Week 101 - My Sunday Photo

I forgot to link up with Darren last week, for my 100th consecutive post for My Sunday Photo. *insert sad face*

This week the UAE celebrated their 45th National Day, making them the same age as me.....tah dah. Such an honour to share the anniversary of birth in such style.

The whole of Dubai has been lit with the colours of the UAE flag and ended with a fantastic fire work display at The Beach at Jumeriah Beach Resort on Friday evening.

I couldn't choose just one photo for today's linky as I had too many favourites so here's a selection of the best ones I took over the weekend.

Dubai Water Canal and the waterfall off the Sheikh Zayed Road.

City Walk

Firework display at The Beach

The waterfall inside Dubai Mall