Hot and cold

Sorry for not writing, but I have been very tired this week. Jon has been away all week, Egypt and Lybia, and the heat is definitely getting worse. It's hot and humid. The windows are wet in the morning. The first day I thought it had been raining in the night, but I soon realised that it was the humidity. Today the temperature showed 42 degrees as I was driving the girls home from English class att 11am.

Last Sunday, the girls were off school, so we decided to do something crazy, we went to Ski Dubai to escape the heat. We went with another Swedish family, whose kids go to the same school as Emma and Isabelle. They all went skiing, but Isabelle was to unexperienced, so we had to stay in the snow park. But that was great, we had a lot of fun, until forty crazy Indians decided to take over the slopes. The had obviously never seen snow before and were acting like children, throwing snow and chasing each other. Isabelle and Emma were quite astounded by the whole thing. Until one man stole Emma's sledge and she started crying. But we still had fun and never enjoyed the cold so much.

On Tuesday I had my last golf lesson in the sweltering heat. Luckily, the course was quite breezy, so it wasn't too bad. We played about 5 holes, great fun. It's coming back to me more and more.

Isabelle has also been to a friend's house this week, an American girl named Maya G. She had a great time and obviously had to speak and understand English all afternoon. When I picked her up, Maya's dad said 'what a well-behaved girl, so charming and good manners, and she ate all her food'....I thought - are we talking about the same girl here, Isabelle Kiely, stubborn, naughty 4-year old who never eats her food....So I came home a proud mum. At least she knows how to behave, that's the important thing :-) Actually, Isabelle has been really happy all week, and she is talking a lot of English now, even with me.

On Friday Jon was home and we all went to The Lakes club to go swimming. We were 6 Swedish families together and the kids had a great time. In the evening Jon's boss, Brian, came for a meal with his family. Very nice and the girls were entertained by his 15-year old daughter Carly.

Today we're taking it easy, I've been running (in the gym), Jon's been working, the girls have been to English class and Emma's now playing with a school friend. Right now they are giving all the Barbie dolls a bath. Jon has gone to the fish shop with Isabelle to buy 3 more fish. Another one died this week...and James just locked himself into Emma's room...have to go.

Bye!

Dubai Dolphinarium

Today, we had a great family outing to Creek Park, where there is also a Dolphinarium. Isabelle has been going on about swimming with dolphines for a long time, but it's mega expensive, so we thought this would do for now. The show was really nice, seals dancing the tango and dolphines painting master pieces with brushes in there mouths...maybe not so natural, but quite entertaining. James was mostly interested in all the popcorn people were eating. It seems to be his favourite food at the moment. Anyway, we all really enjoyed it.

I have realised that we still have a lot to discover in Dubai, which is good. When we return in August it will be too hot to be outside, so all the indoor activities will be popular of course. More than anything, I am looking forward to winter, october and onwards when we will be able to do more outdoor stuff, which have been somewhat hard so far. Even the beach is too hot now. The pool still works though.

It's been a great weekend all in all, me and Jon went out on Thursday night to a great restaurant called Left Bank, we sat by the sea and had a great meal and lots of wine. We celebrated 15 years together. Chaturi was babysitting and for the first time she had to put them all to bed. It went well, but she looked tired when we came back, James had been awake the whole time. On Friday we had Swedish dinner guests for the second time, lovely family and the kids had great fun. I think Isabelle has found a new friend, no doubt.

Finally the kids are well...touch wood!

Well, so maybe Karate wasn't Emma's thing, but at least we tried. Emma has been my biggest worry this week, not Isabelle or James for a change. She is not as active and full of life as she normally is. I think she needs more friends or more to do when she is not in school. I do regret not signing her up to any after school activities when they started or the Swedish school. I thought they needed more time to get used to school first. But anyway, no use looking back. We did what we thought was right at the time. Luckily, Emma has some nice friends at school so we just have to get used to arranging play-dates every week. None of them live here, so it' s a matter of coordinating, driving, etc. And the teacher has to know at least a day in advance who is picking up your kids, etc..not like in Sweden when all her friends were round the corner. Anyway, she now has a playdate tomorrow and Friday, so that feels great. The way we mum's worry...

I managed to play golf yesterday, great fun. Did I mention that the instructor apparently taught Tigerwoods sometime years ago...After golf we had coffee, croisant and ceasar salad, suddenly I felt very much like someone in Desperate housewives....byt only for a short moment...after picking the girls up from school, James had fever again, so no play group at the Swedish church as we normally do on Tuesday afternoon. The girls were not happy. And James was crying. So, back to reality once again.

Today, Wednesday morning, started with Body Pump. Only the second time I go, but it's good. Last time I could hardly walk for two days. James was also much better, so we went to TFI for lunch with a friend. James kept flirting with her 2-year old daughter, by making noises and spitting out his food, so I thought he must be ALOT better.

It has been a good day, but unfortunatelly, Emma had to be a real pain when I was putting them to bed. All beacuse I found a BIG pile of hair hidden in the bathroom under a towel. Emma had decided to cut her own fringe...leading to a somewhat strange haircut. After that she was not happy with me...or herself I think. Poor thing.

Time for bed!

Monday morning - temp is rising...

Morning,

Isabelle is back at school for a few hours today. She is pale and has lost weight. She still goes on about how I promised her a present if she took the horrible medicine everyday, though. She has decided she wants a Nintendo DS. Hm...not what I expected, I though she would say a pink nailvarnish or something. But, no she wants a PINK Nintendo DS. Great...

James is sleeping soundly, good, because he is not so well at the moment. He is teething, has a cold and upset stomache as a result. Many nappy changes everyday. I have also been told by other mums that it takes a few months for small children to get used to the bacteria and weather in Dubai. And the weather is definitelly getting hotter and humid.

Today I am defying the sun, I went out for a run this morning (yes, really), sun hat on of course, the temp showing 29 degrees at 7am. And now I am sitting outside in the garden, determined to get my body and mind use to the heat. I think it is working...I'm swetting a bit, but I can take it. It's now 34 in the shade. Very glad I bought a real pair of Rayban sunglasses yesterday. First time ever, that I spend more than £5 on a pair of sunglasses...it's true. But if there is one place where you need good sunglasses, it's Dubai. No doubt.

I have also applied for a job today, at the Swedish school of Dubai, 2h a week from Sept. Emma will also start there after summer, to keep up her reading and writing in Swedish.

Today we are getting a new fridge. That will be interesting. Last time the landlord fixed the fridge, three men came with no tools and asked me to look for a screwdriver, I said we didn't have one. I suggested they could use their car key (seen it on TV). They did. And it worked. Now the thing is falling apart, so he will give us a new one.

Since we feel that we need to activate the girls a bit more, now that we can't go outside as much (and Emma is putting a bit of weight on) we have decided that they are going to Karate this afternoon, a trial session at Lakes club where we live. I'll tell you about it tomorrow.

Have a good one!

Party, party

Last week was as I said a great week. I managed to play golf for the first time on Tuesday morning and it was great! I can't remember it being that good. It could also be because we were actually out on the course, practicing different holes, driving a golf car between each hole, chatting a lot and enjoying some really nice cool weather. Even a few rain drops! So refreshing! And my swing was still there, after seven years. Couldn't believe it. The coach even said I was a natural...never heard that one before, but it made me feel so good. It made me forget all about the car drive to the golf course, I got lost about five times and almost gave up in the end. But, skam den som ger sig, as we say in Swedish. So, all in all a perfect morning.

On the Thursday, Isabelle was invited to a birthday party to one of her Arabic school friends at The Royal Meridian Beach Resort & Spa hotel. But I'll get back to that one later, since I haven't got the pictures yet. It is not one to forget though. You've never seen anything like it.

On Friday we all went to a Swedish birthday party when Linnea turned 5. A great family party, Swedish style with a Dubai twist, I would call it... Strawberry cake, pool and treasure hunt in the garden for the kids, lots of wine and smoked salmon for the parents. And lots of non-Swedes as well. Couldn't have done it better myself. Right up my street. Need I say we had a great time.

3 members from Team Sweden enjoy the rose'.

Jon enjoys himself with 2 drinks, or no he was actually driving. They must have been mine...

No Dubai party without the waterpipe of course!

Scarlet fever

The house is quiet. I'll try writing something before James wakes up or Isabelle's film has finished. I realise it has been over a week since I said I would write more often....but things don't always go as planned. Last week was actually a very good week. This week is not so good. James has a bad cold and Isabelle is home with Scarlet fever, believe it or not. And Jon is in Saudi. So, there you go, no golf, no shopping, no coffee morning. But you have to look on the bright side of things, no Isabelle tantrums, no late school mornings and no stress. And I have managed to clear a wardrobe, find all our missing Cds, and not spend any money. That's always a plus, especially according to Jon :-)

So, poor Isabelle, she really has been very ill, high temperatures, very sore throat, not been eating, hardly drinking and now she is red and blotchy all over her face, neck and chest. However, this morning I said that she would get anything in the world (!) if she took her medication. She said she wanted me to do everything she wants for a whole week....God, she scares me...Then I said I would buy anything she wants to eat. She is now enjoying her second bag of popcorn in front of Bratz Babies, great educational film...So, her glands must be better.

I also promied Emma to spend time only with her on Friday. She has chosen to go to Ibn Bettuta mall to do some shopping and see a film, Alice in Wonderland. Good choice, me thinks. :-)

A week in our lives - Sundays

Sunday

I think it's time I write shorter entries and include more pictures. I also want to explain what a week in our new lives looks like.

That means I'll start with yesterday, Sunday. It's still confusing for us, but yes, the week starts with Sunday.

6am - We all wake up, me (or Jon) drives the kids to school at 7. So, early mornings. Sometimes breakfast in the car... James stays with Chaturi.

10 am - James and I go to Ibn Bettuta mall for Expat woman coffee morning. James plays with lots of other babies and have lots of fun. We have lunch together, mummy has latte and cheese croisant. James goes to sleep, mummy has an hour of shopping.

2pm - I leave James with Chaturi and go off to school again. Hopefully, Isabelle is in a good mood, hopefully she has eaten her lunch. If not, she can be, shall we say, difficult. On the way home in the car, Emma and Isabelle have whatever is left of their lunchbags and argue about who got the most stickers that day. Sometimes they watch a film on the portable DVD, that makes things nice and quiet, so that mummy doesn't crash the car.

When we get home they play outside or inside, depending on how hot it is. Sometimes we go to the pool.

How can I ever be angry with this little angel...?

On a good day they all play together.

James prefers to be naked :-)