One Daily Positive Week 1 2019.

I'm starting this year by including the last 2 days of last year in this weeks post also. I also went into the new year with a bloody migraine and my chronic pain has flared up, I'm aware of every part of my body hurting, including my teeth.

The thing is, resting makes no difference, it comes and it goes, it mainly stays. I came close to going to the hospital on Monday, once Mum goes home next week I'll go back to the Dr's for some more medication.

364 Sunday Having a lazy day, dropped mum at the local pool while I blogged, washed, cleaned and generally sorted stuff out in the house and measured up for new furniture on the mezzanine. Popped out in the evening to Riverland an area of restaurants and shops from which you can access Legoland, IMG world and Bollywood theme parks.

365 Monday The day's plans were cancelled as I had to give into the migraine on day 5 and spent the day in bed. Spent the new year at a friends house, to watch the fireworks for New Year from their roof top. They're in the UK for new year.

2019 Happy New Year

1 Tuesday Up at 8am and drove home. Peter and I took Bob to the dog park as he'd been stuck indoors for 15 hours, thankfully no mess, but the cat thought it was going to starve to death. I went back to bed, blogged and watched TV in the afternoon and we had a BBQ and an early night.

2 Wednesday Had my car re registered similar to a MOT, no problems. Went to Miracle Gardens with mum and called in at the Mall of Emirates, chilled out in the afternoon. Pub quiz was cancelled.

3 Thursday Mum spent the day pool side, I tidied the garden and did some batch cooking went to the Marina for dinner in the evening after Peter finished work. The Dubai Shopping Festival fireworks go off every Thursday and Friday at 8pm till the 2nd of February.

4 Friday Took a drive out to Masafi to visit the local markets, had lunch out. Drove to Fujairah and paddled in the Indian Ocean and chilled out in front of the TV in the evening.

5 Saturday Dropped my sewing machine and overlocker off at Dragon Mart for repairs and ordered a new sofa, just need to sort out a TV unit, desk and side tables, so a trip to Ikea is called for. Went to Dubai Mall to watch the LED show on the Burj Khalifa had dinner overlooking the fountains. Finally found a Christmas tree big enough for mother. All 828m's of it.

On the blog this week:
My year in pictures

An InLinkz Link-up

Dubai Ferry trip

There are several routes available, travel along the coast  or take a look at The Palm from the sea, or just pop to one of the fabulous beaches in Jumeriah away from the tourists.

For up to date information on times, locations and costs visit the RTA website

Catching the ferry from either Dubai Marina or Al Ghubaiba, Deira Creek is a must do if visiting Dubai. The trip costs AED 50 and lasts for 90 minutes. After a brief safety demo, the ferry sets off out the harbour.

We started our trip from the Creek, catching the bus from our house on the Al Wasl Road, on our arrival at the Marina, we travelled home on the tram, train and bus. 

Food and snacks were served on the ferry and you were free to walk around talking as many photos as you wanted, which of course my son and I did in abundance.

The ferry travels approximately 1km from the shore line and the views are simply stunning. On this day I had a headache so stayed mainly indoors, so please excuse the reflection in the windows. To be able to see all of Dubai in one go is astounding.

We can see the Burj Al Arab from the beach near our house, but when approaching from the Mairina area by road you can only see the top half of the building and despite the sail looking very close to the Al Arab there is now such much building going on around the area you can only see this iconic view now from the air or sea.

The last part of the journey is entering Dubai Marina, again the shore line is simply stunning.

Dubai Marina Mall, final destination from where you can get the tram, tube or a taxi back to your hotel or home. After a spot of lunch and shopping of course.

Week One - Project 365, FMSPHOTOADAY Snap Happy Britmums. One Daily Positive.

It's been a rough few weeks as we relocate from South Africa to Dubai, there have been more things going wrong than right. I started to blog about all the issues but it dragged me down too much.

My Facebook feed has been a mess, my whatsapp group are picking up the pieces and twitter has just really been pretty much left alone for a while.

I decided what I needed to do was to focus on the positives and look for the fun stuff in life.

I feel I've taken on way too much in regards to lining all these community groups and projects online, but it was what saved me when we moved to South Africa in 2011. Unfortunately I'm no longer contributing to these groups, it seems I moved on and there was no longer a place for me there.

This week started with me screaming at the builder at our new house and yelling at the landlady and sending endless emails to the HR department and Expat relocation firm firm hired to sort out our visas and the repairs and cleaning to the house.

I'm so tired, 2 weeks of being polite and civil got me absolutely nowhere. I felt better for yelling and then I stepped back and started to relax, enjoy Dubai and chill out a little, the work is now being done, but the timescale we were promised is out the window and instead of being in our new home with our furniture it will be another 2-3 weeks of living in a hotel.


I'm now looking forward to spending the day chilling out and relaxing, wandering around Dubai Mall, snapping at things with my new Nikon camera and this evening will select my favourite picture for #MySundayPhoto

My daily positives this week amongst all the hassles and the photo challenges were
Day 1

This is the view from my front doorstep, it is worth the effort with the landlady and builders to be able to see this every time I step out my front door. #sky #one Burg Khalifia

Day 2

After 4 years in South Africa, it is such a pleasure to be able to use public transport in Dubai, when we moved to South Africa I was housebound until we could sort out bank accounts and loans etc to be able to buy a car, so to be out and about at this stage of the relocation is wonderful #yellow #nature

Day 3

There is very little colour in Dubai, everything is beige, of course there are flowers and trees here, but they require a lot of effort and water to encourage them to flower. The positive today was to be able to take a walk from the hotel to the marina without fear. #metoday #colourful

Day 4

Ok so im cheating here, the themes were #IHear and #Metoday this was taken today outside our villa, the sound of the mosque is something beautiful to be heard even if it is a little flat and out of tune. My positive today is the shouting was worth it, the carpenter is there and the work is finally getting done

A week's holiday in Dubai

Well my first impressions of Dubai wasn't great, but the place has grown on me as the week has gone on.

We're staying at a hotel on the beach front, the Sheraton Jumeriah, with breakfast included and full use of the pool and sun loungers. There are a couple of public free beaches, where you bring your own towels and chairs or for 5 AED per visit you can use the hotels towels and sun loungers.

 The Metro is easy to use and for 16 AED per day you can travel the full length of the city including to and from the airport and all the buses from the station to the beach or inland, be prepared to stand for most of the journey during peak times. You can pick up a bus and metro route map from the terminals, which also names the attractions and hotels so you know where to get on and off. Standing in the rear carriage gives you excellent views of the City.

The Emirates Mall and Dubai Mall can be reached directly from the Metro, although be prepared for a bit of a walk. There is free wifi in Dubai Mall, although the wifi in Emirates Mall requires you have a cell number to have a message sent to, to receive your password.

There are plenty of tours available. The best value is a boat taxi across the river in Old Dubai at 1 AED each way. For a longer trip or a trip round Palm Island out in the Gulf prices start from 150 AED.

The only tour I took part in was the visit to 'at the top' at the Burj Khalifa, The World's tallest tower. I was however disappointed to discover that visitors only travel to 452ms of the 828m height on floor 124 of 160, still the views of Dubai were pretty amazing. It cost 150 AED if you book a time slot in advance or 400 AED if you turn up without a booking and there is space.

Prices appear to be in general cheaper than the UK, but the cost of eating and drinking is far more expensive than South Africa and alcohol is restricted mainly to hotels, there are non alcoholic beers/champagne/cocktails on the menu.

I particularly enjoyed a visit to the old part of Dubai, reached by the Metro and a short walk and a river trip. I felt very comfortable in the Souq, I managed to get out without buying a Pashmina or any real 'fake' goods as they described the phones and handbags they had for sale.

I also spent a lot of time on foot, walking around Dubai Marina. For me living in South Africa I loved the freedom to be out and about, find free wifi and use public transport. I did however get the feeling that I was indoors all the time, I was reminded of Las Vegas and the 'falseness' of the malls and hotels there. The outdoors, indoors.