One Daily Positive - Week 12 How we're managing in Dubai with the Covid-19 virus

Wasn't sure how this week would pan out with the spread of the Virus. All schools were closed on March 8th for 4 weeks. Over the weekend, all theme parks and cinemas were closed and twitter informed me, that after Tuesday there would be no further visas issued. Malls reduced their opening hours, bars and nightclubs closed, restaurants remain open as do supermarkets. I've never seen Dubai so empty.

The roads at rush hour are empty as people are now encouraged to work from home, I've never seen it so quiet even at 2am on an airport run, there's usually a lot of traffic, I never venture into the Marina or onto the Palm by car outside of 10am- 2pm as it's chaotic and a 15 minute trip can often take over an hour at peak times. As all the tourist spots are closed or closing down, I'm taking our visitors for a drive around Dubai to show them the size of the City and the various building projects that are going on.

Airports are empty and I've been able to park right by the door at the malls. My flight was cancelled but rebooked for the afternoon flight on the same day at no charge. They're condensing flights from 3 to 1 a day, makes sense not to fly half empty planes. All flights into Dubai are now cancelled.

Spirits are high from the people I meet out, but the workers are worried about their jobs if the few remaining places left open were to close and after dinner out on Tuesday we received a text message from the restaurant to say a big Thank you for our custom at this difficult time.

Thankfully we're still in winter so spending a lot of time outside, walking, sitting in the garden and enjoying the peace and quiet, whilst still enjoying the views and maintaining social distancing.

Our son phoned from Australia, his visa expires in April. He's decided to stay put as he's already applied for a new one and his home is there, the shops are advertising for staff to help keep up with the demands for goods and he works were a transport company which will guarantee an income during this time. If the government advise foreign nationals are to leave, he will take this advice.

75 Sunday Stayed in bed till midday then a food shop, no one is panic buying and shelves are fully stocked, hand sanitisers every where for the pubic and workers and not chained down. Home to finish the cleaning and washing ready for Peter's sister and her friends arrival tomorrow morning. The weather is warming up and storms are forecast.

76 Monday An early start to the airport, we went out to the Marina and beach area for coffee, walk and lunch and had a BBQ in the garden in the evening. T1 Dubai.

77 Tuesday Peter with his sister and friend took the Ferry to the Creek, I drove up to meet them as I'd done the trip last week and after lunch on the waterfront we explored the souks. home to change then out to the Souk Madinat for dinner, it was like a ghost town. The Burj Al Arab was lit up green for St Patricks Day but the Irish bar was closed, so no celebrating. I finished the evening with a migraine, probably sun exposure and lack of fluids, I don't normally spend this much time outdoors.

78 Wednesday The medication killed the migraine, but I opted to go to the coffee shop while our visitors spent the morning on the beach, we then went off to Dubai Mall, Peter joined us in the evening for dinner. All our coffee shop and restaurant visits have been outdoors with no other customers.

79 Thursday Was supposed to be visiting the Burj Khalifa today but it's closed until the end of March, so we drove out to the markets in Masafi, Fujeriah and had lunch at the Radisson Blu, home for a quick shower and change then out for dinner on the Palm.

80 Friday Up early to take Peter's sister and her friend to the airport, flight took off on time. I rebooked my flight. Home to sort paperwork, plan for move in May, just in case I can't get back and pack my suitcase. Until these places close, or we develop any symptoms, we will continue to visit, however we are choosing places with outdoor seating, using contactless to pay and if there are too many people were walking away.

81 Saturday Spent the day rearranging the house, deciding what stays in Dubai, what is going to the UK and what we are disposing of. We went to the Marina for a walk outside and chose a coffee shop with outdoor seating that was empty. There is far more work than I thought to sort the house so will be doing downstairs tomorrow.

On the blog this week:

Why is no one applying logic to wearing masks and gloves when out? They're still spreading the virus unless they're changing their gloves as often as we are advised to wash our hands.

How complicated is your life? As an expat it is complicated by it's very nature, the Covid-19 virus has slowed us down and still have no idea if I'll be able to travel to the UK next week or not.

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A weeks holiday (staycation) in Dubai

Living abroad means we get lots of visitors, from family and friends to colleagues. Some are just passing through on their travels and stop with us for a day or two. Some are here with work and stay in hotels and we meet up for dinner. Others come solely for the purpose of visiting us.

We love having visitors, but we have to keep reminding ourselves we're not on holiday and it can get quite tiring and expensive, especially when Peter is at work or day, or our visitors stick to their own timescale and we're hanging around wondering if they'll be back for dinner or are eating out.

Since the kids left home, managing visitors is easier, no school runs to stick to and less cleaning. However the cat and dog have added to our stress when we have visitors due to not letting the cat outside and the dog being over fed.

But now it's just Peter and I. The cat and dog relocated to the UK last month. My MIL is looking after them while I'm out in Dubai for 3 weeks.

So what have we done this week?

Our friends arrived late on Friday night, quick tour of the house, a drink, chat and off to bed.

I didn't go in to most of these attractions as I've done them numerous times over the years. I will go if a friend or family member travels on their own, but otherwise I just wander around, shop and drink coffee.

I've added photos taken this week and the links are to old blog posts written at the time of my first visit to each place.

Saturday The Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi, a quick visit to Yas Mall and the Ferrari world shop, calling in at the liquor store then to the supermarket to buy sausages and steak for a BBQ in the garden. We exploded all the myths about Dubai in one day.

Sunday Boat trip from the Marina to the Creek and a visit to the souks, lunch and driverless train back to the Marina, home and dinner in the garden.

Monday The Burj Khalifa, Dubai Mall and the aquarium. We watched the fountains and had lunch together. We drove home via Ras Al Khor Nature Reserve to see the flamingos.

Tuesday A visit to the Souk Madinat for coffee with views of the Burj Al Arab. Then off to The Mall of the Emirates, Dubai Miracle Gardens and met Peter after work at Global Village for dinner.

Wednesday Off to the beach, then our visitors were collected mid afternoon for a desert safari.

Thursday Off to the Frame, then dropped visitors off at Dubai Mall for them to do some shopping  Out for dinner in the evening.

The next lot of visitors arrive on Monday morning, we'll be repeating a lot of the same trips. The beach on Monday and a BBQ. Tuesday the Ferry trip, but they will go on their own and I will drive to the Creek to show them around then drive home rather than catch the train. Wednesday will be the Souk Madinat and Mall of the Emirates, then they'll go on the desert safari. Thursday to the Burj Khalifa and Dubai Mall and dinner out in the evening. They fly home on the Friday.

Post Comment Love 13th-16th March

Our friends leave today. I met Debbie in the playground in 2002, she also lives a few doors down from us in the UK. Her eldest son and our child 4 were best friends for a few years, they haven't kept in touch.

I've got till Monday morning to change the beds and clean the bathroom and relax before my SIL and her friend arrive on Monday for a week. I'm also going to pack my suitcase for my flight home to the UK next week. I don't have to pack any clothes, just a few items I've discovered I need in the UK. It seems pointless buying things again when I can use my luggage allowance to bring things back with me.

I've been exploring Dubai as a tourist for the week, rather than a tour guide. Living out here for the past 5 years means I look at things differently than a visitor does.

Before I return to the UK in 4 days time I have to make a list and itemise the replacement value of everything in our home for insurance purposes that we wish to pack in a container and take with us back to the UK. I have kept the lists from our 2 other international moves so it's not as difficult as it sounds. This is for my Transfer of Residency, so I don't have to pay tax/duty on our personal belongings in the UK.

I've also been in touch with an agent out here to help us find an apartment for Peter to move into in May and the company who will do the internal and international move and I've advertised our garden for sale. Our friends will be having the plants, but we need to sell the fence and the tiles.


Stephanie and I would love to know what you've been up to this week.

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One Daily Positive - Week 10 Back to Dubai

I'm back in Dubai now till the end of March, via a night in St Albans with a friend as I flew from Heathrow. It's nice to back in the warm and looking forward to 3 weeks of holiday as my friend and her husband are visiting the end of the week, then my SIL and her friend are out the following week. My MIL is house and pet sitting while I'm away.

It is weird being 'home' without the cat and dog, the weather is warmer but still a bit chilly in the evenings

61 Sunday A walk to the retail park for coffee with Bob, then home sorting out photo's, online accounts and blogging, a Sunday lunch early evening and my friend Debbie who is visiting Dubai this week, popped up to say hi and will be walking Bob daily either side of her trip.

In Dubai Bob's nose was more pink, sinc he's been out the sun, it's going dark again.

62 Monday Not taking much with me back to Dubai, my case has just my over night stuff for tonight and 2 nights back in St Albans on my return. Train took 3 hours with 2 changes, let myself in and then popped out for a coffee and a walk around the City.

63 Tuesday Up early to Heathrow for my midday flight, arriving at midnight, same time as Peter who had been in Saudi since Sunday. Flight was half empty, both Terminal 1 and 3 were unusually quiet for that time of night.

Whats wrong people? I lay down and slept most of the fight, these seats were unoccupied for the whole flight. They stayed in their seats, sleeping sitting upright.

64 Wednesday Slept till midday then off to the mall for coffee and some food shopping, pub quiz in the evening.

The garden was a bit overgrown, will have to sort, but also have to sell it.

65 Thursday Dr's for a blood test, nail bar, coffee and home to clean the garden and the upstairs ready for our guests tomorrow.

All this was washed down from the bedroom bacony.

66 Friday cleaned downstairs, I challenge anyone to find another cat or dog hair. Out for coffee, then off to visit friends here, we do the pub quiz with and see their new house. Lazy evening in the garden and off to the airport to collect Debbie and Paul. Debbie is my friend and neighbour from the UK, we've known each other for 18 years, she visited our old house in Dubai in 2015, this is her husbands first visit here.

Our grandchild's 1st hand and foot prints, our DIL made them out of salt dough, nut sadly in the heat they went mouldy so I cast them in plaster of paris.

67 Saturday Off to Abu Dhabi to the Grand Mosque for a visit, then to Ferrari World and Yas Mall. A BBQ and champagne in the garden. We exploded all the myths about Dubai in one day.

On the blog this week:

Maintaining a long distance relationship

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One Daily Positive Week 14 It's getting hot in Dubai

The weather is changing here in Dubai and with the move into summer comes the dust and sand storms. Not spectacular like you see in the movies, just a continuous dusting of sand in the air, on the cars and in the house all over the furniture. As we've had visitors, little housework has been done and there is a not so fine layer of dust everywhere.

I've had a lovely week with child 4 and his girlfriend 4a visiting and have been rushed off my feet. Whilst I'm looking forward to a rest, I will be spending next week on my own as Peter is flying off to Cairo for a conference, it will be a long and lonely week, but I've plenty of washing and housework to do and visits to dog parks.

91 Sunday Started the day at the dog park. Bob tore 3 of his 4 pads, no idea how. he really doesn't like having his paws touched so we had a bit of a battle cleaning them. Home, showered and took Dan and Alanna to Mall of the Emirates, some housework and then Peter and I picked them up and we spent the evening at Global Village.

92 Monday Off to explore the Creek, some lunch and home for a shower, change and sleep. Peter flew to Saudi. I dropped Dan and Alanna at The Beach and collected them later from the Marina.

93 Tuesday A visit to Jumeriah Mosque, Mercato Mall for lunch and then a visit the Dubai Frame. I've been to these places before so I took my laptop, blogged and sorted photos whilst drinking coffee. We spent the evening at Club Vista Mare on the Palm Jumeriah for an evening of fire and light shows.

94 Wednesday Back to the dog park in the morning. Dan and Alanna went on a desert safari at midday and I spent the afternoon cleaning the house of animal hair and sand, had a soak in the bath and an early night.

95 Thursday Peter arrived home in the early hours. Dropped Dan and Alanna at Wild Wadi water park. Visited the Souk Madinat for a coffee and book a table for dinner and the rest of the day at home, chilling out, collected them at 4pm, home, changed and Peter joined us for dinner at the Souk Madinat.

96 Friday Lazy morning. Dan and Alanna packed and we took them to the airport for their afternoon flight. Stopped off at Festival City for lunch and chilled out as I had yet another migraine.

97 Saturday Had a lie in, popped out to the Marina for breakfast and post child 3 and 3a's birthday cards to Australia, did a food shop, washing and a lazy afternoon with a BBQ tonight.

On the blog this week:

My Sunday Photo - After the fire. The Address Hotel and Dubai Mall and Apple Store
Going Green and PoCoLo - Earth Hour Dubai 2018
Best Boot Forward and Triumphant Tales - Why I don't believe in Luck

Week 8 - One Daily Positive and Project 366

Day 52 ‪#‎onedailypositive‬ ‪#‎project366‬ feeling deflated after my friends left yesterday but have 2 more sets of friends visiting over the next 3 weeks to look forward to. It's not often I spend a whole day on the beach and I over did it yesterday, my skin on my back is very sore, but serves me right for not using the sun cream I was offered.

Day 53 #onedailypositive #project366 after another trying evening with tears and upset a decision has been made. I decided to spend some time in the garden before the weather gets too hot, this is my haul of home grown tomatoes and solitary strawberry.

Day 54 #onedailypositive #project366 how gorgeous is the sky above our street this evening. Been a bit deflated the past few weeks, but things are looking up a little and I feel a lot more positive. The lovely emails and messages from friends around the world kept me going.

Day 55 #onedailypositive #project366 top photo am, bottom photo pm. Summer is almost here in Dubai. Last week I was wearing jumper and gloves at 6am on my way to work and temps were low 13c & high of 28c. We had a huge storm last Wednesday/Thursday and now the place is heating up rapidly. The sand storms are due with the changing seasons very soon and are an amazing sight, despite covering EVERYTHING with sand. On a positive, I get to go shopping for new work clothes and the air con is working, although it won't be running full time for a while yet. I have no idea why I had more mileage on the display after I drove 15 miles to work.

Day 56 #onedailypositive #project366 after cleaning out two sandpits and two water trays full of dirty toys I treated myself to a gel polish and booked for a colour and cut for next week.

Day 57 #onedailypositive #project366 had a lovely day, collected @natsliebenberg and Tom from the airport at 6am, drove into the desert with Bob, had breakfast, took a stroll round the Creek, bought new wedding rings from the gold souk (@mulledred ) had dinner at a Turkish restaurant, now enjoying a few drinks at home. Sadly Natalie and Tom travel back to South Africa in the morning.

Day 58 #onedailypositive #project366 you know friends are for life when they spend 2 weeks back packing around Vietnam with 6 packets of dog gravy for Bob that you can only buy in South Africa @natsliebenberg thank you.

Week 61 - My Sunday Photo

We've had visitors for the last two weekends, from Saudi and South Africa & next weekend my friend from the UK. I seem to be spending a lot of time on the Creek. This is Natalie and Tom from South Africa, they stopped over on Friday night on their way back from Vietnam. 

Week 60 - My Sunday Photo

Peter spent last weekend in the UK, we spent this weekend with friends from Saudi, next weekend is with friends from South Africa and the following 2 weekends with my mate from the UK. 

Life has had it's shares of ups and downs the past week, from not coping with my new job, to missing the kids and family back in the UK and wanting to jack it all in, whatever the cost and just go home now and settle down. 

It's totally our choice to remain in Dubai for the time being but when you get sent photos like this, the temptation to leave is just too great.

Our son, his girlfriend and our niece.

Week 7 - One Daily Positive and Project 366

It's been a strange week, having gone from being on my own, to Peter returning from seeing the family in the UK and the mixed emotions of being pleased for him and the kids and being jealous of the time they got to spend together, through to the sad news of the death of a friend and other friends arriving for a long weekend with their children.

Sunday Day 45 ‪#‎onedailypositive‬ ‪#‎project366‬ this is Dubai people, you need a licence to purchase and consume alcohol here and you can only transport it from the store to home, certainly not allowed to drink it in the streets. I found this bottle by the side of the road, outside the school where I work today. It's not just the fact it's alcohol, but that so many people litter as much as they do. On a positive note Peter is home from his travels tomorrow and I'm on top of my game with paperwork.

My Sunday Photo this week is yet another photo of the Burj Khalifa, this time from the beach.

Monday Day 46 ‪#‎onedailypositive‬ ‪#‎project366‬ Peter is home from the UK and brings with him gifts from the family.

Tuesday Day 47 ‪#‎onedailypositive‬ ‪#‎project366‬ I was majorly fed up on my drive home this afternoon that I stopped at the beach for a walk, was feeling slightly better by the time I got home 2 hours later and decided I'd have a G&T in case the foul mood reared its ugly head again.

Animal Tales this week involved the cat and the washing machine incident and how encounters with 2 stray cats unsettled me for different reasons.

Wednesday Day 48 ‪#‎onedailypositive‬ ‪#‎project366‬ I received upsetting news today about the sudden death of someone I used to call a very good friend. I've done a lot of crying today. But there was a positive and the timing couldn't have been better, friends arrived for the weekend laden with their full duty free allowance and these beautiful flowers.

Thursday Day 49 ‪#‎onedailypositive‬ ‪#‎project366‬ lots of positives today as I wandered round the souks with @mulledred and family and a lovely lunch on the creek and fish and chips for supper at home. But especially for this boy who's IPad was successfully recovered from T1 after he left it in his seat pocket on his flight in from Saudi yesterday.

HDYGG involved a stroll on the beach, I was surprised at how much vegetation there is on it.

Friday Day 50 ‪#‎onedailypositive‬ ‪#‎project366‬ ‪#‎brunch‬ @westindubai ‪#‎bubbalicious‬ food and company were fab, but I felt like I was a plus 1 at a wedding. I'm not a big fan of spending that much money and then having to fetch my own food and drinks. My first (& probably) last brunch in Dubai.

Saturday Day 51 #onedailypositive #project366 the weather is perfect in Dubai at this time of year for a wander down the road to the beach and just sit for a while.