The garden is getting itself ready for Spring.

There are quite a few jobs that need doing in the garden. Starting with the removal of this shed. It's been two and a half years since we got the new shed, 2 years since the new kitchen and 1 year since the extension was built and 9 months since I emptied the shed so it could be taken down. Hopefully with a week of dry weather, it's something that can be done sooner rather than later. I need to remind the neighbour to get their fence fixed. 

I can then get the table and chairs out on the old shed base and put the umbrella frame up and get a small chair to go with the pod and table under the canopy so we can use this area for its intended purpose better.

The walls are going to be clad and I will be putting up some old pub, road and car signs that I inherited from my father and clear some more space in the attic rooms. 

Scaffolding planks to go up on the wall under the canopy.

Then we can start clearing these mounds of earth and build some raised beds and a compost bin and start to use and enjoy the garden more.

Then sort out a couple of areas that are still flooding since building the new patio.

I've purchased a couple of gardening magazines and dug out my garden plans and have started to make some designs.

In the meantime, lots has been happening in the garden all by itself

A visit from a bumble bee.

Hollyhocks, and herbs.

Cyclamen and Primrose.

Hyacinths.

I planted chard and parsley once and it just keeps on growing, such a cheap and tasty crop.

How's your garden faired over the winter? Is it showing signs of spring?

October and Autumn in the UK and Dubai and Spring in South Africa

With 4 boys, the UK year was run around the school holidays. We knew two birthdays could possibly be outdoors if it didn't rain, but the other 2 were indoor events for sure. We marked the year also by events, such as Easter, holiday, halloween and bonfire and of course Christmas. Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter taken care of. We weren't big gardeners, so things got hacked back when over grown or planted out when bought from a nursery.

On moving to South Africa our seasons turned back to front, celebrating Christmas when it was in the middle of summer and 35c was confusing. Spring and autumn were similar to the UK's autumn and winter, the rain in South Africa is in summer, not winter. Summer in SA is the UK's winter, so to some extent it felt the same. But having temps of minus 5c in June and witnessing snow in July was all very weird and for the 4 years we lived there, I never really got my head around it.

Of course now living in Dubai, it's pretty much summer all year round. They have 3 ways of measuring the temperature here, which are 'hot, hotter and 3rd rock from the sun' Nothing happens outdoors during the summer, the humidity is high, condensation forms on the outside of the windows as the hot air hits the cold of the air con the other side.

In the UK the condensation is inside the room.

So whilst it's autumn in both the UK and Dubai, it is spring in South Africa. The UK is preparing for winter, giving the garden one last tidy before the frosts, rain and snow, yet Dubai and South Africa, although in opposite seasons are preparing for the outdoor life, wlaks, parks, picnics and BBQs or Braai's as they call them in SA.

October in the UK

South Africa

Dubai

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.

My Sunday Photo - Week 151 Z is for Zip

I've now seen all 4 seasons in the UK, starting with a short trip in Spring and a visit to Northern Ireland before cutting my visit short to fly out to Hong Hong to the Rugby 7s for a long weekend and then returning to the UK with Peter for a week for our youngest Childs 18th birthday.

I was then back in Summer where the temps were somewhat better, arriving in the week where temps topped 30c and still here in Autumn where everyone was moaning how they'd had a crap summer weather wise in the UK, how short are some people's memories.

I left the UK on October the 19th and returned to Dubai until November 6th. The weather was still quite mild in the UK when I left, however since my return it's been cold, wet and dark by mid afternoon and definitely winter here now.

It's quite a challenge to know how to dress each day, plenty of layers to combat the cold of the mornings, plus the rain, my boots aren't waterproof anymore, I'm damp all the time, my hair is frizzy from the moisture and my skin is drying out from the heating and the cold. My chill blains are back in my fingers and hands and so far I've managed to misplace 2 umbrellas.

As much as I miss having weather, living out in Dubai, I certainly don't miss the UK winter. Mind you the summer in Dubai isn't pleasant either when temps reach high 40s.

I need to plan better for next year, at least I can leave all my winter gear in the UK and my summer clothes in Dubai and travel light.

One Daily Positive - Week 46

There have been a couple of trips to the pub, to see friends, lots of walks and bike rides and plenty of lie in’s this week. I’ve started on a course of steroids and I'm feeling much better, although I've now started to feel sick when I lie down at night.

316 Sunday Poppy
I joined in with Remembrance Sunday service in town. Disappointed with a handful of women who talked through the two minute silence, Lords Prayer and National Anthem. Feeling worse health wise, shortness of breath now and constant coughing, antibiotics finished and started a course of steroids. Watched TV and had a sleep after lunch and late afternoon I walked to mums to collect her car for the morning.

317 Monday Silhoutte
Off to Gloucester with child 2 and 2a to visit child 1.

318 Tuesday Beauty
Posted the last parcel to child 4 in the Middle East and to 4a for Christmas. Sent of a box of goodies to 3 and 3a out in Australia and a few bits and pieces to friends in the UK. I had an upset in Waitrose thinking about my Dad when I realised I won't be doing any Christmas shopping for him this year, a few kind words from a stranger who recognised my struggles was much appreciated and prevented further tears. Spent the evening with a friend.

319 Wednesday Happy
Had a lovely lie in and Mum phoned she had cabin fever and wanted to pop out for a bit so we went to Abergavenny for a spot of shopping and lunch. I fixed one of dads bikes up and cycled back to the flat. Child 1 was taken to hospital after being unable to weight bare, X-rays showed nothing broken but a worrying few hours while we waited for news.

320 Thursday Muse
Christmas cards and letters written, made several phone calls to sort out Mum's flat purchase and helped friends out with some advice. A new neighbour moved in, he's very noisy at 6.30am in the morning, what is it with people unable to walk upstairs without clanging the rails with their shopping and inability to close their flat door quietly?

321 Friday Nature
Coffee in town with Mum, more phone calls and paperwork then over to mums for a family party. I cycled over and took the car back dropping off a bay and olive tree for my friend to look after when Mum moves.

322 Saturday Colour
I had a lie in and wandered into town for a coffee and post the last of my Christmas cards, I then spent the afternoon in the flat, blogging and catching up with the week's linkys and popped out to visit a friend, before having a long soak in the bath and an early night.

On the blog this week:

My Sunday Photo - R is for Rain. I was only away from the UK for just under 3 weeks, it appears I've returned to winter now.

TriumphantTales TweensTeensBeyond PoCoLo Mother of the Groom. Child 2 and 2a are getting married in June 2018. What the hell am I going to wear?

AnimalTales and linking up with Z is for Zoo. Dubai Zoo closes it's doors after 50 years.  and Bobs pre school assessment. Day care for Bob the Dog.

Gardening in Dubai in the rain.

3 weeks of rain glorious rain here in Dubai and I'm loving it.

 There was a bit of damage at our local car park after high winds and sadly numerous car accidents

 I've been able to wear my favourite purple croc boots and my supermarket, leopard print boots bought in South Africa.

 I was given some organic seeds to sew a few months back, but I have absolutely no idea what these are, so I've planted them in rows, thinking potatoes?????

 I spent over an hour tying up all the plants after heavy winds, my back was killing me.

 I'm hoping to see a bit more life in the garden over the next few weeks, my tomato plants are producing fruit at 1-2 per week and the strawberries which are growing better are very bitter.

 There has also been some regrowth from last year, plants I thought I'd removed but they'd obviously seeded, I'm happy where they are though.

 The nasturtium is growing well, I managed to get it to flower last year, lets hope it does again this year.

 You've probably worked out by now that my gardening is pot luck, I have no idea what these bulbs are, but they're growing.

 The are more seedlings to be planted out, some are sunflowers, which I put into bigger pots.

 These two seeds trays have yielded nothing for the past few weeks, I moved the trays indoors and seedlings started to sprout within 36 hours. Sweet peas need a constant temperature to germinate, I recall now that last year they did the same thing.