Do you get to enjoy your garden?

Do you ever just sit in your garden and relax? Or like me, find there is always something that needs doing and by the time you've finished, you realise you've spent all day in the garden but working, not relaxing.

This is the garden at the end of summer. it's very humid in Dubai and the plants, tree's and grass just grow and grow.

We've installed an irrigation system to allow us to water next summer without standing out in the heat

The climbing plants are taking hold now providing some privacy in the garden from people walking past

Upstairs balcony is set up, but cushions etc have to come inside every night or they get covered in sand and there has been some rain here this winter.

Seeds planted in November are now producing fruit, veg and flowers. They germinate really quickly in this climate.

4 days later.

Now.

The lawn has been reseeded, twice, it doesn't help that we have a dog who likes to dig.

Whilst the garden looks relaxing and inviting, it takes time and effort every day to set it up, especially having to sweep the sand and clean the table and chairs daily.

The balconies get covered with sand, the windows too and I seem to spend all my time cleaning and setting up just to be able to sit outside for 5 minutes to drink my now cold cup of tea.

So this is what I use most of the time, this balcony area off our bedroom, you can see the sand on the floor, swept only 3 days ago, it gets in the bedroom.

I can't be bothered with taking the pod cushions outside unless I'm spending the day at home and only put the chair cushions out when we have guests in the garden and we BBQ.

 The garden today after sweeping and hosing the patio down.

When the summer comes everything gets put away and covered to protect it from the sun. I can't be bothered to spend the time setting the garden up just to show you what it can look like, just for a photo.

The idea of a lovely garden with cushions, umbrellas and decorations is nothing but hard work and therefore it rarely happens. A lot of our neighbours have maids whose job it is to set it all up and put it all away at the end of the day on their behalf.

Do you spend much time in your garden? When you do are you just relaxing or working in it to create a relaxing environment that you rarely use?

Week 63 - My Sunday Photo

It's been difficult choosing a photo this week as I like to post a picture I've not already shared on social media and share a little bit of the week ahead.

It's been a busy week exploring my home in Dubai as a tourist as my friend came to visit from the UK. 

We've visited all the sights, been on a desert safari and witnessed an amazing storm that not only flooded the streets but our kitchen also and the Mall of Emirates sprung a few leaks too. We also witnessed lightening strike the Burj Al Arab and ate our body weight in cake by spoiling ourselves with afternoon tea at Laudree for Mother's Day and breakfast at the Atlantis on the Palm. 

This is me right now after a day back at work, I've parents evening this week, my first one ever as a teacher and a school trip to an animal sanctury to look forward to. My henna design is still going well and I need a bit more sleep than I've been getting recently, but on the whole, life is good and the #teen will be here in just over 2 weeks and I have some more time off work. 

My Sunday Photo - Week 31

I don't know about you, but despite not having a job or children at home, I always seem to be on the go and never really just sit down and enjoy our home.

5 months ago hubby and I went to Ikea to buy curtain poles, it was touch and go if either of us would come out of there alive after hubby called me a 'f**king psychopath' and we came away empty handed.

I went out on my own 3 months ago and bought the poles we needed, where they sat in the conservatory until hubby finally put them up yesterday.....it was a smooth process, this time I managed to keep my opinions to myself, although it was an effort to do so :-)

I spent most of the morning, hanging and re hanging the curtains until I got them just right, but due to  the way the room has been built, hubby couldn't get the pole any higher, so the curtains will have to come back down and be shortened and then re hung.

It's made a real difference to the room, keeping it much cooler during the day, apart from putting the step ladder away, we now finally have curtains up in every room, each room is how we want it.

Apart from keeping up with the housework, I'm hoping I will now just sit and relax more in the house during the day and finally get on with those little craft projects I've been collecting for the last few years.

I sit here thinking about......trying to relax

.....rubbing cream in my cracked heels. But I may have to get up to answer the door and I can't be arsed to find the cream.

.....painting my nails. But I may have to do something and smudge the polish.

.....listening to music. But I have to find my headphones.

.....blogging about why I don't.

So I now sit here with cream on my heels, wet nails, my music on, a cuppa of tea and I can't relax..... waiting for the door bell to ring, realising I might have to do something, but I have my head phones plugged into the laptop so I can't go anywhere and I'll not here the door bell ring.....I'm relaxed.