Bubbalicious at the Westin - finally!

Last Friday I finally had the opportunity to enjoy bubbalicious, a Friday brunch, Dubai-glamour-style, at the poshest hotel in town of course, The Westin. What can I say, it was truely amazing. We were 12 Swedish ladies who decided to give our friend Malin a goodbye-party that she would remember forever, and always make her wonder why they ever decided to leave Dubai. The brunch was a 1pm and included free food and beverage until 5pm. In Dubai that means incredable seafood dishes, goose liver, sushi, any kind of steak cooked to your liking, Indian curry station, Italian and French delicacies, any dessert you could ever imagine, including dark and white chocolate fountains...and of course free-flowing REAL champagne, coctails and whines. Oh my God, you have to be there to believe it. If you´re a food connoisseur, like me, or just a food freak...(maybe that´s more me) it´s equal to heaven...

Luckily, I didn't feel stuffed after the meal, must be because I mostly had fish and meat. No potatoes, past or rice at all. That would have been a waste of tummy-space. After the meal 4 of us took a lovely walk along the beach, jumped on a golf-buggy (it´s like the hotels´private beach cars) and went out on the pier, where the driver showed us the sheik's yacht. Pretty nice, we all wondered if he would like the company of 4 Swedish ladies. But then we realized that he wouldn't have any champagne on his boat, being a true muslim and all, so we went back.

What a day, like a dream it was...then I came home to a husband and 3 kids, ouch, reality check or what :)) No, kidding, I love them to bits of course. Have to say though, I was a little bit tired and grumpy the next day...

Maths helper and some history...and more swimming

Do you like my new cushions that I bought in the Marina sale? Beautiful aren´t they?! Hopefully I can talk Jon into buying the sitting cushions to match...

A lovely morning that started off with maths in Emma´s class. I was math helper today between 8-9am and really enjoyed it. A great bunch of kids, really polite and positive. I think they like having parents in the class. Emma´s teacher showed the class how to use division on the interactive smartboard. Yes, of course they have all the latest IT stuff, considering how expensive the school is. I was very impressed with Miss Katherine´s teaching. The kids were really quiet and she was making the kids interact with her in different ways all through the lesson, so that they wouldn´t stop listening.

Since I came home I have been entertaining James with different games while Chathuri has been cleaning the house for the last time. On Friday she is moving out. I´m sure we´re all going to miss her. Especially James. Very sad.

Today, if james sleeps that is, I am finally going to do some studdying. No more excuses, I just have to finish my work on what happened when Sweden allowed the Germans to cross over Swedish territort to get from Norway to Finland during the Second world war. Heavy stuff. Yes, how could Sweden do it? Cowards? Of course that´s what Jon thinks. We shall find out...What I do know is that it lead to a mayor crisis in the Swedish government.

This afternoon i will take the kids to the Lakes club for some swimming. It´s better that having them fighting in the house...the temp today; around 35, but the humidity is only 32% which is good!

See ya!

Weekend in Fujeirah

Ready for a weekend in Fujeirah. Isabelle took a picture of me in my new short haircut and my new huge glasses.

Playing in the fantastic pool was the best of course.

I kind of thought drinking at the pool was the best...no, that was a joke. I only had a mint cooler, no alcohol this time. How come Sam looks so slim and I look so fat in this picture?....must be something wrong with the camera...

Obviously we all enjoyed our free drink in the top bar between 7 and 9pm. The kids played pool and soccer games and James was charming the waitress the best he could. Or stealing peanuts at different tables, or jumping off different tables. However, after a double gin and tonic you don't seem to care so much...Anyway, he had a great time.



After a late evening, Isabelle thought the resturant chairs were great for sleeping in....bless her.

All in all, a fantastic weekend we great friends. Waht a hotel, we´ll definitely go back again!

The maid situation

And so another month has passed by since my last entry. What can I say, the inspiration wasn't there, ot rather a lot of other things have been here to steal time and energy...

First of all, we had a fantastic week in Sweden, beautiful weather, wonderful friends and great Swedish food. The kids had a super time, we spent as much time as we could ouside, in the forest, at the farm, or just walking and walking everywhere. What a wonderful feeling!

Unfortunatelly, I came back to a crashed computer and a sick maid. The harddrive seems to have died a slow death for the last few weeks and now there seems to be no chance of survival. Well, there may be a chance if I take it to a place that fixes computers, but it´s not cheap...

Hopefully I have learnt my lesson and from now on I will always have a backup drive. I have now managed to set up Jon´s old laptop which is working ok. At least I can get on to the Internet, which is definitely most important!

Regarding the sick maid, it has been a really hard 3 weeks. We found out that she has been lying about a few things, which I couldn´t accept. Since her visa is up for renewal i 2 weeks and we had promised to pay for her visa another year, it was all really akward. In the end, I decided that I didn't want to keep her. She is too young and naive in some ways and I don't feel like I can really trust her again. So, it wouldn't work. Chathuri was not happy about this of course and she is now trying to find a new sponsor, so that she doesn't have to go back to Sri Lanka in 2 weeks.

Anyway, enough of that. My studies are not going so well anymore...like I said, been too ocupied with other things and James is now a big boy who loves to say 'no' and sleeps only 30-45 minutes a day. So, there goes my Anna-time. But a piece of good news is that James has been accepted to the nursery that we want him to go to in September. I am so happy for him, he really needs to be more active and meets more friends. Especially when it´s as hot as it is now, 37 degrees this morning 8am...

Here are some lovely photos of our Easter holidays!

Emma at aunt Sofia´s birthday party.


Emma and Olivia Uliana at Djurgården

Painting eggs on Easter Eve with family. My cousin Lina and Isabelle.





Isabelle and best friend Daniella playing mums in the their lovely garden.






Best Lidingö friends Lina, Isabelle and Maya as Easter witches before going trick or treating.