Home sweet home

So now we're back from Dubai. And what a place to get back to. Swedish summer. Is there anything as beautiful? I can't explain how it feels to be able to walk outside, breath the fresh air, watch the kids play in the woods, getting all dirty and messy and having a great time. The temperature is perfect, not too hot, not too cold. The look on Emma's face when she saw all her friends at a class party on Friday...she looked like she didn't know wether to laugh or cry. She was completely overwhelmed and so happy. Isabelle also had a birthday party on Saturday and she was just as happy. She didn't quite know how to behave though, she kept acting like the cool girl who couldn't speka Swedish anymore. I just speak English now, she said to her best friend Lina, who just stared as her. After a while they played like they had never been away from eachother and when I picked her up she was wearing one of Lina's dresses, like always. So, She feels at home again...
I feel like this is going to be a great summer, I intend to make the most of it. We have the perfect plans, Lidingö, England, Gotland...love it. And when it all ends, we will go back to sunny Dubai and enjoy the life there. I'm especially looking forward to winter in Dubai, when we can really explore and enjoy the cooler weather, and all there is to see and do outside.
Jon is currently in South Africa, so don't feel sorry for him. He is watching football, going on safari and eating full english breakfast...but of course he misses us a lot and we miss him. He is the best.

Sweden's national Day - 6th of June

Yesterday it was Sweden's national day. Jonathon and some colleagues had been invited to the celebrations at the Swedish Business council's reception at Sas Radisson Blu in Abu Dhabi. I was also invited and really looking forward to it, hoping to get some Swedish food that I miss so much.

We left the children in the safe hands of Chaturi and went on a coach along with 30 other Swedes, which took about an hour. At the reception there were 500 people, who were greated by blonde Swedish children handing us blue and yellow flowers to wear. They looked so pretty! In the main hall there was a band playing Swedish music, one girl and two boys playing the guitar. It reminded me very much of me and my brothers signing, kind of the same songs as well. I did get a lump in my throat actually.

Then there were tons of people to say hello to and be introduced to. This was a mingle party, the idea being that buisnessmen (like Jon) could meet other businessmen, exchange businesscards and have a drink together and eat Swedish food. I of course intended to just enjoy myself and eat lots of food.

There was a speech by the Swedish embassador, thanking a lot of people and introducing the emirate businessmen who were also invited, like the trade minister of Dubai or something. They looked very stylish in their white dishdashas.

We got talking to a very nice emirate man who was there with his brother who seemed to be a very important man. He said he had met the Swedish king when he was in Dubai recently. And that he loves Volvo cars. He has them specially made, quicker than Ferraris...not very legal but he imports them in some roundabout way. Said he would love to go to Sweden, the only reason not to go is that he probably wouldn't want to leave.

Then there was a Swedish buffe' with lots of food, like Jansson's temptation, princess cake, salmon, herring, caviar, roast beef, meat balls. Nice, but not at all like dad's.

I talked to a lot of interesting people, a russian couple who works for Fagerhults designing lamps, a Pakistani couple who'd lived in Dubai since the 70s, Sony Ericsson expat Swedes, a couple from Sudan invited by ITT. Talk about multicultural evening. And everyone connected to Sweden in some way or other.

I truly enjoyed myself.

Now it's time to concentrate on packing. 10 days and counting and I'm really, really looking forward to going home to dear Sweden. After all, Dubai and all its glory, what can be better than a Swedish summer day? And to be honest, I don't care if it's raining this year....

Enjoying Dubai

After weeks of making an effort to find friends for me and the kids, getting used to school routines and driving, taking care of sick children, and finding ways to entertaining the kids inside, I have finally had a week of (almost) pure pleasure.

On Sunday I was invited to a another Swedish Anna's house for breakfast. We were 4 mums (from Team Sweden - golf, remember), enjoying latte, homemade bread and smoothie in Penthouse 1, Tiara Residence on the palm. James was playing with Anna's Julius who is one week older than James. The view from the enormous windows was incredible. After breakfast, Ulrika and Malin was going for their first workout with a personal trainer at Lakes Club (as you do...) and I went to Satwa to pick up Emma's curtains. Satwa is the complete opposite of Tiara residence. Indian/Arabic market place, dirty, crowded, but great fun. It cost £10 (140 skr) to have two long curtains made. What a bargain! The only thing was, I forgot which exit to take, which meant I ended up driving round Dubai Mall 3 times in heavy traffic. Strangely enough, I didn't get stressed about it....somehow I must be used to it by now.

On Monday, I went for coffee with one of the mums in Emma's class. She took me to Aspen, the posh restaurant in Mall of the Emirates, next to Ski Dubai. It's supposed to be like a ski resort cafe'. Very nice but expensive. It was my turn to pay unfortunatelly.... :-) We had a great conversation about life in Dubai, I realised that we live very different lives, considering she only has one 7-year old son, and has lots more time for herself and spend lots of time in nice restaurants with her family. She does charity work and read books by the pool. Sounds pretty nice. After coffee I spent a few hours shopping in the mall. Found 2 lovely skirts in Monsoon. Since they were quite expensive, I asked when the sale starts. She whispered - tomorrow! So, obviously, I didn't buy them. Decided to come back the next day. Then I picked up Isabelle and her friend Maya at 12 o'clock since they had a play date that day and Maya has no kidcare, like Isabelle. I was amazed at how much English Isabelle could talk with Maya. She even had to interrupt me at one time, when I was asking Maya about something in Swedish. She just stared at me and Isabelle said - Mum, Maya does not understand Swedish!

On Tuesday I couldn't go back to Monsoon as early as I wanted since I had an important breakfast meeting with Fiona, the wife of Jonathon's boss, at Shakespeare Cafe'. What a supurb breakfast that was, fresh fruit salad, yougurt, asparagous omelette, latte of course, etc. and James was entertained by the staff. One of the waiters even came to wipe his fingers with a wet wipe when he thought James had made a mess of his sandwich...

After breakfast and food shopping, I left James with Chaturi and went back to Mall of the Emirates. One of the skirts was still there, less than half price, yippi! So I had to buy another one, similar. And an extra dress for the beach...When Jon came home I explained to him how much money I saved him by going to the sale....I learnt that from his dear mother, thanks Diana, it kind of worked...

In the evening, it was time for Ladies night! Dressed in one of my new skirts, I went to Hotel Media one with 3 other Swedish mums, to enjoy no less than 6 free coctails. Standing at the bar with a cosmopolitan, I felt at least a little bit like carrie in Sex in the city. A film which is not available in Dubai, since it includes things that are not ok here, like women having sex when they are not married (at least I think that is why...). Oh dear! At the bar, however, I saw at least two prostitutes, oh yes, everything that happens in other cities, aslo happens here, even though Sheik whatever, probably wouldn't admit it. Anyway, a fantastic night all in all! Although I spilt Chicken Tikka all over my new skirt at the end of the night.

Anyway, today I'm taking the girls to see the new Shrek film with a bunch of other kids. Looking forward to it. After all, a mum is what I am foremost, the rest is only icing on the cake, Dubai icing...oh I like.

See ya!