Christmas fun with pets. Bob meets santa.

Every year Bob and I visit Santa. 

We chose our outfits.

Made new friends.

Played in the snow

And thoroughly tired ourselves out.

Pushkins has her share of Christmas fun also.

Just because the kids have left home doesn't mean I still can't take part in all the Christmas Activities.

Visiting Santa without the kids. Christmas with Pets in Dubai.

When in Dubai.........

And why not? I say.

Since leaving school I've made friends via the work place and through having kids. But when you relocate from one country to another and your kids are all grown up and you don't work, then how do you make friends?

Well you join clubs/groups/attend coffee mornings. But that's not my style. In South Africa I did volunteer work and met the most amazing people and made life long friends. In Dubai, I took my dog out and about and met people. I even spent a year teaching in FS1 in an Arabic school after meeting a woman out walking her dog in the desert.

As my husband works away a lot and spends the days in the office talking to people he likes to come home in the evenings and switch off, me? I like to quite literally chew his ear off out of boredom, so Bob and I go out and join Dog groups, meet people, explore new places and generally have fun.

This is our 4th Christmas in Dubai and they do Christmas here big in all the malls and shops and as well as catering for all nationalities they also cater for our 4 legged friends. Bob and I attend Valentines lunches and Halloween parties and we love nothing better than a visit to Father Christmas.

We have 2 events this year. A secret Santa and swimming session at Dog Walk this coming weekend and last weekend we visited Santa at Paw Parking.

Oh and on Thursday Bob and I are going for a spa day. I'm off to have a manicure and pedicure ready to see John Bishop in the evening and brunch on Friday, while Bob is off for a grooming session at Paw Parking for the day.

And don't forget the cat. Pushkins joins in with Christmas also.

I'm pleased to say she doesn't mess around with the tree or the presents, but she did attack and eat half the contents of her advent calendar when left unsupervised.

My Sunday Photo Week 153 X is for ... Getting ready for Christmas in Dubai

This weekend is a Bank Holiday in Dubai. Martyr's Day on Thursday, National Day and the Prophets Birthday. As a result the City is celebrating and decorated with the Country's flag and is coloured red, green, white and black. This extends to decorating vehicles, houses and public places.

Once this event is over, Christmas will hit Dubai full force. There will be trees, Santa's grottos, Christmas music blasting out in all the malls, only interrupted for the call to prayer. The coffee shops already have their Christmas cups and festive drinks in their stores and I'm happy to partake in as many as possible.

The only thing Dubai doesn't do is religion when it comes to Christmas, so you won't see Jesus as a baby in the manger or hear religious hymns or carols being played or sung. But you'll have traditional carol singers belting out 'jingle bells' coming door to door. Believe it or not you can go to midnight mass here in one of the many Christian churches and all faiths are recognised, you just can't publicly advertise or display your faith.

The supermarkets and stores are already stocked with Christmas items, exactly as you'd find in the UK. Tins of chocolates, advent calendars, mince pies and enough tinsel and lights to decorate the Burj Khalifa. I heard 'I wish it could be Christmas every day' being played in Hallmark cards in early November before I left for the UK.

We moved house this week, so our decorations are sitting here in a box in the lounge waiting to go up  by next weekend. All cards were written and posted when I was in the UK, it will be interesting to see how many arrive here in time.

There is a pile of presents brought back from the UK from 3 of the kids, including child 3 and 3a who sent something over from Australia. Friends organised gifts and there are presents to be bought with the money my mum gave us both.

The cat and dog have their advent calendars, as do I.

Over the next 2 weeks I have another X for Xmas and a Y for Yule to show you more of Christmas in Dubai, followed by a N for the New Year Celebrations, just leaving me a Q for Quiz night in our local pub, so yes, there are pubs in Dubai and we can buy and drink alcohol here also.

Christmas is also in full swing for child 4 in the Middle East where he's deployed. I sent him over a box full of decorations to brighten up the barracks.

When the magic of christmas is no longer there.

In December 2010 we moved out of our home and into a hotel ready for a new life in South Africa, we're now in Dubai and the past 6 years have meant Christmas has been in the sun.

I know that Christmas is in the sun for a lot of people, but after 39 years of it being in winter time, it's still very strange for it to be so hot.

I just don't get in the festive mood anymore. I love walking around the malls and seeing all the decorations, I buy and wrap the gifts, I write and send cards in September to family and friends around the world to ensure they arrive in time.

The advent calendar I bought myself was only opened for the first 10 days and that was on day 10.

Only 2 of our 5 children were still living at home when we left the UK and as we've both been married before, all 5 of the children would often spend christmas with their other parents, so the day itself stopped being magical a long time ago, but the build up was still there and what ever day we held Christmas on, I still felt more than I do now.

We had 1 family christmas in South Africa, in 2011, but the boys were then 12 and 16 in 2012 and 2013 we spent christmas with friends and 2014 was spent in a hotel as we moved to Dubai. Last year we had the youngest child with us, then aged 16 and this year Dan the second youngest came out to Dubai, but he's 21 now.

I still did him a stocking and there are gifts under the tree for the youngest and our niece who arrive tomorrow night.

The build up to Christmas has left me, gifts are wrapped with the labels intact and receipts are often included. There's no one to share the excitement of the build up, although I did sneak into the 21 year olds room with a stocking which I know he appreciated.

Even if we'd stayed in the UK, we'd still be on our own for Christmas, we popped to my Grans for a couple of years, when the kids were away, we went to friends and shared christmas with their families or we popped to my Mum and Dads or Peter's mum for a few hours on the day.

But something has changed this year. On our return from Christmas brunch at a hotel, Peter announced he'd have to go to work today and didn't return home till 6pm. Dan and I hit the shops for the sales and then spent the afternoon on the beach.

I guess at 45 with all my kids grown up now and left home that things will always be like this from now on. I'll just have to find a way to liven things up a little for next year, maybe go away and remove the expectations, but it won't be back to the UK. If I'm going to spend the next few years living in the sun, I think we should go somewhere where it snows, even if it's just the ski dome down at the Mall of Emirates for the day.

Week 104 - My Sunday Photo. Christmas in Dubai 2016

The child woke at 7am to open his presents, the child is 21 years old and yes, Santa brought him a stocking. He then spent the morning playing with his new gadgets.

Peter made tomorrows dinner and prepared a curry. I flaffed around catching up with the soaps and having a leisurely bath using my new smellies.

Taxi to The Sheraton grand for 1pm for all we could eat or drink christmas brunch, taxi home at 4.30pm.

Peter now dozing on the sofa in front of the TV. Dan in his room and I'm in my PJ's in bed.

Peter took a day's holiday but is back in work tomorrow so Dan and I will hit the first day of the sales in the morning.

Youngest child, Alex aged 17 and 24 year old niece arrive early hours of Wednesday morning, there will be more gift giving, eating out and getting ready for the New Year.

Hope you've all had a very Merry Christmas, wherever you are and whatever you're doing.

When Bob met Santa - My Sunday Photo - Week 50

Seeing as my kids are no fun anymore I accepted an invitation to take Bob to a Christmas party and meet Santa.

Operation 'Get Bob in the car' is quite a stressful process, as the second he see's any indication he's going out gets over excited and can no longer follow instructions. It's the same getting out the car the other end and by the time I'd negotiated several doors, completed registration forms, Bob almost didn't go to the party as he was so naughty, pulling on the lead, tripping me up and puling me in the opposite direction, mind you I don't think he was happy in his party t shirt and santa hat, that he removed before I had chance to take a photo.

There was space to run off the lead

 Other dogs to play with

Supervised and supported swimming

 And brand new experiences, such as being licked in the face

Disclaimer:
I am aware Bob is actually a dog and not a replacement child, I was invited, it was a bit of fun, Bob loves socialising and after all, this is Dubai.

What have your children asked for this Christmas

I've seen lots of Christmas wish lists being written to Santa over the past few weeks, parents taking photographs of children snuggled up in bed reading the Argos catalogue.

I read about parents worrying how they are going to afford christmas this year and have seen the face book post that is doing the rounds how parents must only give the children small gifts from Santa.

I contacted a facility last week in South Africa, a children's home, with 17 kids, living in Pretoria who have been abandoned, absurd, orphaned or the parents haven't had the money to look after their children.

Some children are reunited with their wider families, some fostered, some adopted. Some of the children have been in the home for a long time.

I asked the house mother for a christmas wish list, I said I probably couldn't afford to buy everything on the list, but I'm hoping one or two of you would like to donate via Go Fund Me or Paypal to help make their wish come true.

I've already collected a few bits and pieces from various places, but here is the list if you can help in anyway.

You'll see it's more of a 'need' than a 'want' and very basic

Boy 12
Rugby Ball, Pyjamas, slippers, sandals and some nice clothes for church.

Girl 9
Doll, Puzzle, Teddy, Pyjamas, slippers, sandals and nice cloths for church

Girl 7
Horse toys, teddy, doll, pyjamas, slippers, dress and jeans

Girl 4
Doll, teddy, t shirt, jeans, sandals, dress, underwear, pyjamas and slippers

Boy 13
Sandals, pyjamas, slippers and clothes for church

Girl 8
Doll, dress, sandals, teddy, pyjamas and slippers

Girl 13
Teddy, long dress, heels, ballet lessons

Girl 6
Doll, teddy and tea set

Girl 14
Sandals, dress and money for her operation

Boy 14
Sandals, pyjamas, slippers and clothes for church

Boy 10
Cricket set, pyjamas, slippers, sandals, clothes for church

Girl 6
Clothes for church, shoes and a bag

Girl 12
Jeans, hat, shirt and shoes

Boy 3
Toy car, sandals and nappies

Girl 17
Dress and sandals

Girl 15
Clothes and shoes for church

Girl 10
Clothes and shoes for church

How did you spend Christmas day?

Well we spent our first Christmas in Dubai in a hotel as we are in the middle of relocating from South Africa.

We are used to the sun shining and it being hot on Christmas day, so that wasn’t a new experience for us. Christmas in Dubai happens, however it is optional. Although the malls are decorated and the Christmas songs are playing everywhere and the shop staff are wearing Santa hats, no one wished you a merry Christmas and it entirely up to you if and how you celebrate it.

After breakfast hubby and I played Santa and woke the boys up with last minute purchases as the  Christmas presents are in the airfreight, which is still in South Africa, then headed off to the house to walk the dog and wait for the builders to arrive, which they did, eventually, but that’s a whole other blog post. We met the boys back at a café near the hotel where hubby and I had a chicken salad, cookies and coffee and the boys went to Subway.

We then drove to the beach, which wasn’t as busy as I thought it would be.

Afterwards we headed off to Dubai mall where the sales have started, did a bit of car shopping and had dinner in the food hall of burgers, pop and ice cream.

We then skyped family and friends back in the UK and South Africa, ate chocolates and drank wine out of a mug.

Christmas wasn’t stressful, there was no washing up, no family logisitics to organize, we still had the family arguments lol.

What did you do differently this year? What would you like to change for next year?

The family Christmas for us is now over (insert sad face) the 4 older kids have left home and are spread out over the UK, the youngest who will be 16 by next Christmas has opted to spend it in the UK with family, so I guess unless hubby and I travel back to the UK, we’ll be spending Christmas in Dubai, but at least we’ll have our own home, tree and oven to cook a dinner in.

More on @santashoebox

A couple of people have asked if their shoe box for Africa ever actually reaches its destination and what happens if there aren't enough boxes for all the children.

I never really gave it much thought when we took part in operation Christmas child, the UK scheme. There are 5 children, 4 boys and 1 girl and the children made a box for a child the same age and sex as themselves and the boxes were dropped at school or the local library

About 6 weeks ago I tweeted to ask 'Do they do shoe boxes for Africa, in Africa?' and I was given a link for @santashoebox

I attended a training session last night to prepare for the drop off days next week that I've volunteered to assist with and found why this scheme came to being and what happens to the boxes.

I can't guarantee what happens to the boxes from the UK, but I can tell you what happens to the ones here.

@santashoebox is part of www.kidztokidz.co.za

Mission Statement
Kidz2Kidz Trust achieves it's Vision as a liason organization between the donors and the recipients by acting as a Facilitator between the various parties concerned ensuring that:

•Projects are initiated to benefit needy Children
•Children learn the"art of giving" through their involvement in the various projects run by the Kidz2Kidz organization
•Donations received are distributed to the needy communities
•An abundance of giving is created through the Kidz2Kidz Santa Shoebox Project
•Communities are built and empowered through fundraising and skills development.

@santashoebox has 70,000 boxes pledge to children in South Africa, these children are abused, abandoned and neglected. Various organisations are requested to submit the names, ages and sex of all children in their care, a child here is up to the age of 21. these children are in hospitals, interim care homes, foster care and from depriaved areas of society.

To ensure all children receive a box in an organisation, as names and numbers are collected in advance, generic shoe boxes are also requested. This ensures all children in an organisation receive a box and also caters for waifs and strays that turn up on the day from neighbouring areas, ensuring no one is left out.

So what about unsuitable items that are put in the box, these are either distributed to more appropriate facilities, ie bibles are donated to local church groups, battery operated toys, mobiles are sold and the funds ploughed back into the scheme to purchase clothing or toys more suitable to the child's age, and unsuitable food such as chocolates which melt and crisps, biscuits that get crushed are given out on 'Celebration Day' when the boxes are distributed.

So everything is used, every child gets a box within an organisation and the boxes go directly to where they are needed.

Don't worry about the boxes that have extra stuff in it, that child does has a little bit more.

If you are doing shoe boxes this year, here's a list of do's and don'ts and remember the older child too..there's a shortage of donations for boys aged 15+

Remember you don't have to spend a fortune, this scheme came about as a way for children to share and to give surplus and unwanted items to others less fortunate.

Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Face Cloth
Bar of soap
Cuddly toy
Educational equipment (colouring book, crayons)
Deodorant (not sprays, can trigger asthma)
Toy (age appropriate, ie marbles and 2 year olds don't mix, no symbols or war, toy soldiers, guns, knives)
Sweets (again age appropriate, no chocolate, biscuits, crisps, they melt and get crushed)
Item of clothing (remember it's Summer in Africa at Christmas time)
NO LIQUIDS (they leak they not only spoil the contents of one box, but the others around it)