Week 96 - My Sunday Photo and Photalife LIGHT

Last week I bought a pumpkin at the petrol station in Monmouth, South Wales, to carve with and for my 5 year old niece. It cost £3. 

When we lived in South Africa, I carved butternut squashes for Halloween as Pumpkins were difficult to find. Last year I was in South Africa for Halloween so I had no idea if they sold Pumpkins in Dubai, so I was very excited to see that they did and I wanted to buy one to put on the gate to let the local children know I had sweets to give away. however at £5 per kilo, it meant the pumpkin I chose would've cost me £25.

So I bought a melon to carve, I've carved them before and pomelo's as well as other fruit and veg and at least I'll eat the melon and it was LIGHTer on my wallet.

Week 95 - My Sunday Photo and Photalife

An unexpected trip to the UK for a family funeral on Monday, as sad as the occasion is, it is lovely to be home and have the opportunity to see family and friends again.

The weather in Dubai has been cooling down, with temps now consistently below 35c in the day and 30c during the night. That still sounds hot to you, but for us living there, it means we can now spend time outdoors, start the gardening, walk the dog and leave a window open to get some fresh air.

We don't get seasons in Dubai, it's either hot or hotter and anything that provides a splash of colour amongst the beigeness of the desert is artificial and requires a lot of work to maintain.

I took this photo of the berries, hydrangeas and autumnal leaves in my mum's garden this morning.

Week 94 - My Sunday Photo and Photalife - Life

Dubai is man made, apart from the sand and camels. Not a lot can live here without water desalination plants and air conditioning.

The temperatures are cooling enough now for people to start getting outdoors during day light out hours.

This photo was taken on Friday at Zabeel park, about a 20 minute drive from where we live. I will be exploring it further with How Does Your Garden Grow, next week.

Week 93 - My Sunday Photo and PhotalifeAutumn

Things are looking up. The day time temps are in the mid 30's in Dubai, the last time we had mid 30's was during the night back in the summer.

It's autumn now, there are clear signs that we are heading into winter. I'm now driving to work in the dark every morning, I took this photo whilst out on a walk before sunset and we can sit outside first thing in the morning on the weekends and drink a cup of tea.

Week 92 - My Sunday Photo and PhotalifeNight

It's 5.30am on Sunday morning October the 2nd 2016.

In Dubai it's the start of the working week and my normal waking time, however the cat doesn't know it's a public holiday to celebrate the Islamic or Hijri New Year and wants to play. I want to go back to sleep but it thought it was ok to keep knocking on the bedroom door until I got up.

The Islamic New Year starts on October 3rd, the calendar is lunar so next year will fall on September

22nd. The Islamic lunar year is 12 days shorter than the Gregorian year. This marks the first day of the holy month of Muharram which is the 2nd holiest month in the Muslim calendar following on from Ramadan.

Over the next 10 days prayers and fasting will feature daily and is said to commemorate when Noah left the ark and God saved Moses from the Egyptians. One of the most popular dishes eaten at this time is Noah's Pudding or Ashure meaning 10th day, which includes 7 ingredients water, grain, pulses, fresh and dried fruit, salt and honey.

Week 91 - Photalife Animals and My Sunday Photo

I love photo prompts, without them I'd probably just be uploading photo's of the cat and dog all week.

We've been fostering Clyde (bottom right) for the past two weekends, he's a pit bull mix and the brother of Bonnie, who we fostered for two weeks in June. Bonnie found her forever home and was adopted in Abu Dhabi, where she has settled into a loving family with another dog and 2 children.

Clyde is energetic and was neutered last week, we had him immediately after the surgery for a few days before returning him to kennels, but his kennel was too big and allowed him to jump around and he's not recovering from the surgery as well as we'd hoped for. Sadly this means Clyde has to be crated most of the day and night, where he can rest, we tag team our cat and dog to allow Clyde to spend some quiet time out of the crate with me in the house and the garden where he is calm.

Bob the Dog and Pushkins and the husband have been forced to bond with being restricted to the lounge when Clyde is out of his crate. The cat is as nervous as anything, but that's pretty much her normal state and has been able to spend the odd night outdoors now the weather is cooling.

Bob has enjoyed more time outdoors at the lakes in the desert and evening walks around the neighbourhood.

A couple paid a visit to meet Clyde, yesterday and I'm pleased to say they have offered him his forever home and left with him, for a two week trial in Abu Dhabi, with approval from DAWS, Dubai Animal Welfare Society. Sadly the trail failed after 24 hours, Clyde just wouldn't settle and became dominant and firmly in charge, so back to kennels for him now while we'll come up with a new plan.

My next challenge is to spend the week driving around Dubai collecting donations of curtains, blankets, duvets and pillows etc to make dog beds for rescue dogs, like the one bottom left in the photo.

Week 90 My Sunday Photo and Photalife - Macro

This weeks photalife theme is Macro. I'm not very good when it comes to using the camera without auto settings and absolutely no good with editing unless it's on my iPhone, so I end up taking most pictures on it, rather than transfer the pictures from my memory card via iTunes. Seeing as I've spent all my spare time on the laptop, I thought this would be a good subject for the photo prompt.

It's been a busy week and I've struggled to keep up with my photo prompts and blogging, other than a couple of linky's, has been on stand still since the beginning of July.

I've been travelling and since getting back we've had 2 of the kids out for 2 concurrent weeks. My iPhone and SD card are full of photo's over the past 3 months and I really need to set aside some time to do so, but it's back to school with a new year and a whole new set of children, most of them are first timers so the settling in period will take a few weeks, then I'll see if I have any energy to do anything other than just transfer the pictures into a folder marked 'too sort'

Week 89 - Back to school and cold tea My Sunday Photo and Photalife

For many parents, they are celebrating Back to School by finishing a drink while it's still hot.

For me, I'm struggling to find time to make a drink let alone finish one while it's still hot, as my back to school is teaching.

Sunday is a working day in Dubai and despite only being back in school for 2 weeks, we are now off this week for Eid Al Adha.

Eid Al Adha is one of the holiest celebrations on the Islamic calendar. Known as the Feast of Sacrifice representing the end of Hajj. Ibrahim was about to sacrifice his son, but God told him to sacrifice an animal instead.

The day is celebrated with a morning prayer and the exchanging of gifts and food, with family and friends and the poor.

Week 87 - My Sunday Photo and #photalife #sunrise

Taken at 5.57am sunrise in Dubai. Current temperature 31c, humidity 84%, humidex (feels like) 42c, visibility 6.4km.

The view from my doorstep this morning, you can just see the Burj Khalifa in the middle of the picture. Sunsets are easier for me to capture as the sun sets out to sea, 1km behind me. There are too many buildings in front of me. By the time December comes I'll be driving to work in the dark at this time and I'll arrive just in time for sunrise.

#Photalife Instagram prompts.

Joining in with weekly photo prompts with Darren Coleshill over at Photalife

Week 26 #photalifebuildings in South Africa you don't see buildings without looking past the security.#solo #travel #expat #explore #friends #roadtrip #tourist #tourism #southafrica #adventure

Week 25 #photalifeWater

Week 24 #photalifeChildren
This is my favourite photo of our 5 children together taken in 2002, it's a rare photo and one of only a handful we have of them all together. The last time we were all together in the UK was 2007 and the photo I took then wasn't the best, then in 2015 we were all in the UK but there was always at least one child missing each time, due to their work commitments, schooling and transport.

Week 23 #photalifeB_W
It's my 45th birthday this month, so what better picture to share than this one of my 1st birthday. This photo has been prominently displayed my entire life, but I don't relate to it actually being me in any way at all. I've still got ALL these cards in a scrap book.

Week 22 #photalifeFUN beauty on the go, tripod legs fold up into carry case, but it's heavy and I'd worry things would break/spill being lugged around.

Week 21 #photalifeNATURE despite the heat and conditions in Dubai, I sat outside this morning and watched a butterfly go about their business, listened to the dawn chorus and marveled at how this pepper, grown from seed, is thriving in the sand.

Week 20 #PhotaLifeBeach the #beach at the bottom of our road. One of the best things about living in #dubai#seaside #summer #sunset #mydubai #MyViewm#dubailife

Week 19 #PhotalifeREFLECTION Bob in the desert.

Week 18 #photalifeWALK arrived in the desert at 7am this morning, it was already 28c, we met another dog and owner to walk round 2 of the 5 lakes with. #mydubai #myview #dubailife #alqudra #lakes#desert #dubai #dog #walk #pets #family

Week 17 #PhotalifeGREEN

Week 16 #photalifeSIGN St Lucia, Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa

Week 15 #photalifeCOUNTRY this was a difficult one for me this week, living as an expat. I'm originally from Wales, grew up around the UK, moved to South Africa and now in Dubai. I've lived in 11 different counties in the UK and in 18 different houses/flats/bedsits and long stays in hotels. I no longer know how to answer the question 'where are you from?' So as I'm currently in Dubai, I thought I should share a picture of the country where I currently live.

Week 14 #photalifeCOLOUR just so you're aware this cake was eaten purely for a photo prompt @photalife I'm blaming you for this 

Week 13 #photalifeTRAVEL as an expat in Dubai we can buy everything we need/want, not much is grown locally, but many global brands manufacture under license here. I picked up these well travelled bottles of #IPAin Ras Al Khaimah on the weekend, all the way from#cardiff #brains #craft #brewery which will be taken to #Newport in July and then driven to #Munich as a gift for my friends from #SouthAfrica who are huge Gavin and Stacey fans. I took my friends to #Barry#Island a couple of years ago to show them my roots.

Week 12 #photalifeEASTER flowers for Easter to brighten up a hot, but overcast day.

Week 11 #photalifeSPRING (late entry) I planted this daffodil bulb in October, it's making slow, but steady progress here in Dubai. I've no idea if it'll flower as summer is on its way here and with the average temps in the 40c it makes life difficult for most plants (and humans)

Week 10 #photalifeVIEW another skyline shot of Dubai from the Palm @burjkhalifa @burjalarab @atlantisthepalm

Week 9 #photalifeYELLOW @bakerandspiceme Souk Al Bahar

Week 8 #photalifeCOMFORT switched off from everything, had a long soak in the bath after work, slipped into a pair of 'hello kitty' pjs (as you do) and in bed eating dinner, have wine and catching up with  the soaps.
                 

Week 7 #photalifeLOVE although Peter jokes he's way down in the pecking order with the cat, dog, kids and my niece, he really is the love of my life, despite how corny it may sound.


Week 6 #photalifeHOME Does anyone know what I've come in here for? I never use this room when Peter is away.

Week 5 #photalifeFRESH flowers. Nasturtiums, sweet peas, basil and rocket. All grown outside in Dubai. Apparently this is quite a feat I've achieved as the nasturtiums and sweet peas aren't supposed to even germinate, let alone flower.


Week 4 #photalifeDINNER My dinner for one @shakespeareandco @photalife

Week 3 #photalifeSKY Dubai Marina at sunset viewed from Emirates Golf Club

Week 2 #photalifePRETTY I love a challenge, especially a photography one with @photalife some of the millions of lights @globalvillageuae there will be a few entries this week.

Week 1 #PhotalifeNEW Dubai is growing so rapidly just in the year we've been here, roads are laid out differently, re routed highways to accommodate a new canal, tower blocks have been erected and islands have been made. But somethings haven't changed. Top photo taken Jan 1st 2015, bottom photo taken Jan 1st 2016. I have a whole series of these photos lined up for a new project of mine this year #photalifeNEW @photalife

Week 20 - One Daily Positive, Project 366 and SnapHappyBritMums

A reasonably quiet week, but an insecure one, I'm feeling loved, wanted and needed, but just for myself I don't feel I have a purpose at the moment. I'm just ticking along.

It's difficult to get the balance right, when I wasn't working I had the freedom to go where I wanted, when I wanted, but not the finances to do it all. Now I'm working, I have the finances but not the time to get all the things done I want/need to do.

I've spent the week online researching the holiday of a lifetime and today I got round to booking it. In reality I'm just catching up with family and friends over the summer and I'll be clocking up around 15,000 miles of travel in the air alone, let alone road trips, as I fly from Dubai to South Africa, Dubai, UK, Germany, UK, Dubai. Peter is joining me for the UK part of the trip for 3 weeks.

I've still got a lot of planning and booking to do. Accommodation, travel insurance and car hire needs to be booked for the UK and South Africa. I have to book the kennels for Bob and Pushkins, sort out travel plugs, currency, local bank cards, purchase suit case and new hand luggage bag for the Easy Jet part of the trip.

I've only got 8 days in South Africa and already I've planned a road trip, Sunday dinner, birthday tea and a day in a township delivering resources and updating some teaching.

This week has been quiet on the blog also:

#MySundayPhoto It's getting hot out in the desert.
#AnimalTales Bob has been rather poorly.
#HDYGG and #PoCoLo It's too hot to be gardening.

Sunday Day 136 #PhotalifeREFLECTION
#SnapHappyBritMums daily photo prompt for #May #reflection linked in with #OneDailyPositive and#Project366.

Monday Day 137 #OneDailyPositive #Project366 #MyView #may #SnapHappyBritMums Peter may be back from his recent travels, but he's working late every night at an exhibition, so after work and baking a batch of gingerbread men for another teacher, I headed off to @mercatomall for a spot of shopping and dinner.

Tuesday Day 138 #OneDailyPositive #Project366 #eating #may #SnapHappyBritMums I'm not feeling well, but made an effort to get something to eat, my throat is swollen so Bob finished off the bacon and Pushkins seems to like the brown sauce. 

Wednesday Day 139 #OneDailyPositive #Project366 #work#may #SnapHappyBritMums no work for me this evening, I needed a night off, so it was out for a meal with Peter's work mates, much better idea in my opinion.

Thursday Day 140 #OneDailyPositive #Project366 #pet #may#SnapHappyBritMums sorry Bob but the pavements are too hot for your paws for a walk, so we're going to switch to 5am walks from now on #dogsofinstagram #summerindubai #dog #dogsindubai

Friday Day 141 #OneDailyPositive #Project366 #ticket#may #SnapHappyBritMums planning a holiday of a life time. 10 days in South Africa to include an overnight stay @krugernationalpark and #volunteer#teaching in a #township then 2 nights in #Dubai, a night in London, then #Munich for a few days, followed by a tour of the U.K. With Peter. #travel#solo #explore #expat #holiday #dubai #johannesburg #flights #emirates

Saturday Day 142 #OneDailyPositive #Project366 #may#reading #SnapHappyBritMums Usain Bolt described his race last night as sluggish, I'll tell you what sluggish is, it takes me more than 10 seconds to stand up, let alone run 100m's. But I'm happy to take things easy, after a day chilling at home, we're now watching the sun set on the beach.