Preparing the garden for spring

Last weekend I rewrapped the Bay Tree, rebuilt the green house, tided up the shed and planted more seeds.

I wasn't going to grow anything this year as we're having an extension built and a new shed/workshop so the back garden isn't really going to be useable for anything, but that doesn't stop me growing tomatoes and potatoes and herbs in pots at the front of the house which is in direct sunlight when the sun shines all year round.

I'm reusing these old dustbins from the days before whellie bins. Will buy soil conditioner/compost from the local tip to fill them up with.

The shed has been tidied but it will be moved so we can get the scaffolding in place for the roof and gutter repairs. I'll be able to access the front of the house through here.

The lawn needs mowing and edging.

The pots need moving to the front of the house, will wait till the shed is moved to save on distance carried.

I'm loving the look of the front garden, there's been nothing done to it over the winter, looking forward to planting out the hollyhocks I've been over wintering from seed in the conservatory and creating more of a cottage garden look at the front. Eventually we'll have a wall built along the front and the garden levelled,  but need to wait till all the building work is finished. 

We've also got Open Reach and Cadent (gas) threatening to dig up our garden to lay new cables/pipes.

I fancy a blossom tree and a magnolia to replace the large tree we had to cut down last year.

There's a lot of weeding that needs to be done and I fancy a little table and chair out the front so I can enjoy the sun in the front in the evenings. I'm not worried about people walking past.

But for now, all I can do is sit here and enjoy the sun and plan my next steps.

Christmas in Dubai 2018

Yes they do do Christmas in Dubai. They play carols in the malls, they sell decorations in the malls and they erect huge trees in the malls.

You can't escape Christmas in Dubai.

From shopping, through Santa to Christmas Brunch on the QE2, it's Christmas everywhere.

Mum is visiting us for Christmas this year, she came in 2016 and is on the hunt for the biggest Christmas tree she can find, we're going to every Christmas market, eating Christmas cake from M&S, watching movies, shopping and she's getting freaked out by spending days on the beach in December.

So far Mum is disappointed with the Christmas trees she's seen, there's no point taking her to the biggest ones in her first few days. She has no concept however of the size of the malls she is in and says this tree is too small.

Another disappointment, but this tree is inside a shop in the mall.

Here we go, she was happy with this tree, but wants more.

The Souk Madinat

Mall of the Emirates I'm stood on the 3rd floor to get the tree in one shot.

I'll be adding more photo's leading up to the big day, so don't forget to check back as the trees are going to get bigger and better.

I'm wondering if Costa Coffee are using the same throughout their stores like they are in Dubai.

It's too hot in Dubai, despite it being winter, so I have a selection of Christmas t-shirts from Primark bought over the years. It's the Christmas pub quiz on Wednesday, help me choose one to wear.

Wild flowers and Weeds in Wales. My Summer in Monmouth.

“A weed is but an unloved flower.” 
― Ella Wheeler Wilcox

I can't get enough of this UK weather.

I live in Dubai, you'd think I would've had enough of the sun by now, but for quite a large chunk of the year, it's too hot in Dubai to enjoy the sunshine.

As well as the sun, I can't get enough of the countryside, the greenery, flowers and even the weeds.

Did you know that Monmouth has a castle? The birth place of Henry V

My Sunday Photo Week 156 X is for Xmas in Dubai

Well here are the last of the photos of Christmas in Dubai. Apart from Christmas day itself which will be spent at the JW Marriott Hotel at the Gardens on the Sheikh Zayed Road, with all the food and drink you can manage, with a taxi both ways. Presents will be exchanged in the morning and the evening will be spent on the sofa, complaining that we'll never eat again.

Dubai Marina Mall

Dubai Mall. I'm not impressed with this years decorations.

Souk Madinat and Burj Al Arab

The Ritz Charlton

Next week is N for New Year, not sure what we'll be doing this year. Sort of seen it all and done it all the last 3 years spending New Year on the beach in Dubai watching the fireworks go off at the Atlantis and the Burj Al Arab. There's not a lot left in life that can top the experiences we've had here in the past 3 years, other than the 4 years before that living in South Africa.

Other Christmas related posts:

Christmas is in full swing in Dubai

Pub Quiz, Christmas Jumpers and Beer 

No Kids? you can still visit Santa. Bob the Dog meets Santa Paws

Christmas shouldn't be something you need to survive

Christmas build up in Dubai and life size Santa Claus for your home

My Sunday Photo Week 155 Y is for Yule. Christmas in Dubai.

So Christmas is now in full swing in Dubai. Sorry but there will be more than 5 photos today Darren.

I've been having a few discussion on the internet about representations of Christmas in regards to what is seen as religious and what is acceptable as a Winter Festival.

Santa Claus has it's origins in Saint Nicholas, obviously religion. He was a Saint. Jesus in a manger in a Nativity scene is obviously celebrating the birth of christ to the son of God. I'm sure there are many others, but as I've said previously I'm not here to write about religion, it has just intrigued me.

The coffee shops, like the UK and I assume other countries have their Christmas takeaway cups out. They are also selling cookies in the shape of bells, trees, stars, snowflakes and reindeers. At Birmingham airport last month I had a Santa cup in Costa Coffee, in Dubai I had a snowman. Both cups say made in the UK. I posted a picture on Instagram to ask if both cups were available in both countries and so the discussion began about religious representations of Christmas.

In the stores they are playing anything from Jingle Bells to I wish it could be Christmas everyday. There are trees, decorated to excess, decorations galore, signs for winter festivals, signs for Christmas Village. In 2 supermarkets there are nativity scenes for sale, Jesus in a Manger and life size Santa Claus in the Garden Centre. There's even a Santa's grotto in several of the Malls. I took the dog to see Santa. We've decorated our house on the outside as well as inside also.

There is an assumption that when one lives in Dubai, it is in an expat community. That the local malls cater for none Muslims and that's why certain things are available in certain areas. In our first house in Umm Sequiem, our land lady was Muslim, we rented over the Christmas period. On Christmas day, which isn't a public holiday, we had workmen fixing some plumbing, she apologised for interrupting our Christmas. My Muslim friends will wish me a Happy Christmas as I wish them a Happy Ramadan. The new area we live in, half our neighbours are Muslim and some of the children have come over to ask if Bob the Dog can come out to play and to look at the Christmas decorations, while their Mother waved from her front door and said 'hello'

I'm sure I could go out my way to find someone who is upset by all this. Who would rather I and others didn't do the above, that Christmas didn't happen in Dubai, along with numerous other things like selling alcohol and pork products or people wearing bikinis on a public beach. But I'm not here for that reason. I'm here to merely show you how Christmas is done here in Dubai if you choose to celebrate it or not.

There will be more photos next week as we have guests and I'll be getting out and about further a field. We've also booked a brunch for Christmas day while we'll eat and drink to excess, come home and watch a Christmas movie on the local TV stations.

Google 'origin of decorating a tree at Christmas' if you want to know more about how this all started. 

I must say I do think Dubai decorate their trees better than I do.

Jumeriah Beach Residence

 Ibn Battuta Mall

Mall of the Emirates

My surprise find this year was an actual tin of Quality Streets like the ones we get in the UK with soft centres, my favourites being the strawberry and orange creams.

Other Christmas related posts:

Pub Quiz, Christmas Jumpers and Beer 

No Kids? you can still visit Santa. Bob the Dog meets Santa Paws

Christmas shouldn't be something you need to survive

Christmas build up in Dubai and life size Santa Claus for your home

Christmas in Dubai 2016

I'm slightly disappointed with Christmas in Dubai this year, probably because I've been working all year and just haven't had the time to explore fully. This is our 3rd Christmas in Dubai, the first year was spent in a hotel with 2 teens; and the boys had their Christmas lunch in Subway while Peter and I sat around the corner eating salad in The French Bakery.

From what I've seen this year, it's pretty much the same as last year. We're off to see Santa tomorrow with Bob and his friend Jelly. I planned to go to Carols in the Desert, but I just don't have the energy, there have been a few Christmas Jumper parties, but I just didn't get the energy up to go along.

I'm not feeling christmas this year, we've booked lunch with child 4 of 5 at the Sheraton Grand and we've plans for the New Year on the beach with child 5 of 5 and our 24 year old niece who is visiting also.

Christmas chocolates have been bought and replaced several times already. Any one else do this?

It's also been particularly warm even though it is winter, although gloves, fleece and scarf are worn on the way to work at 6am and a good coffee has helped out.

I'll add more photo's to the blog as now I'm no longer working, I'll have time to visit a few more places.

The shops have been full of christmas stuff since the beginning of November.

Carrefour Supermarket.

 Ace Garden Centre.

There are very few 'real' trees in Dubai, and at around £140 for an 8ft tree we certainly won't be buying one.

Our purple tree of nothingness. no theme, just a home to hang all the owl decorations that we've collected for some reason, we're not owl fans.

Our main tree, that the Pandas on the Veranda (Elf on a shelf alternative) have been messing around with.

Having lived on 3 continents, Europe, Africa and Asia over the last 6 years, we've bought lots of local trinkets which we like to hang on the tree.

UK

Dubai

South Africa

Not designed as a Christmas Tree but looks good.

Display Windows in Dubai Mall

 The Souk Madinat Jumeriah.

Mirdif City Centre Mall

The Palm

 Mercato Mall.

The Walk at JBR.

Mall of the Emirates, Ski dome. We still need to explore the rest of the mall.

We're off later to Festival City and of course there is still the Dubai Mall to fully explore, but for me this is the best Christmas tree in the world.

The Burj Khalifa with it's daily LED display.