Happy New Year!!!

We hope you all have a wonderful night celebrating the coming of the New Year.....or sleeping, or whatever else takes your fancy :) Stay safe, stay happy and may 2007 bring you much joy, love and happiness.

As they say in this part of the world....."Eid Mubarak"

Happy Christmas :)

"Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given--when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes."

--Joan Winmill Brown--

We wish you all the most fantastic Christmas. We hope you are richly blessed as you spend time with your family and friends. We hope Santa spoils you all rotton! Take time to relax and enjoy the day as the memories sustain you for the following year to come. Our love to you all. xxx

Vital Statistics

When we first started doing our research into moving to this beautiful country, we very quickly learnt that the average rainfall here was 2 days per year. The first rainfall that we were here to experience was on 20th November 2006....I was extremely happy thinking this would be a rare occurance for us......however...I was wrong, very, very wrong! It has rained HEAPS here since then.

Below is a list of facts as reported in the Time Out Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 51, December 21-28 2006.

It never rains....

(this was the name of the article)

# 53 dams filled to the brim collecting up to 4,620 million gallons of water.

# Dubai's rain makes headline news on UK television.

# 73mm of rain falls in a single 24-hour period.

# 52 rain-related traffic accidents in one day in Ras Al Khaimah.

# Average monthly temperature of 23.5 degrees celcius.

# The heaviest rain since December 1995

We will do our best to send some rain home to Australia as we know how much you need it!

Golf in the Gulf

We had the opportunity to "learn golf in a week" at the Nad Al Sheba Club, so we decided to do it. There are 5 lessons over 7 days (no rest for the wicked!) We began last friday morning, with an introduction to the game, a brief description of the golf clubs and when to use them, the "set-up" position and a few hits (or a few misses in my case, but I did manage to hit more than I missed, i'll have you all know!!!)

Saturday evening had us recapping what we had learnt on friday morning, as well as learning the full golf swing.

Sunday evening was our night off, however being the diligent perfectionists that we are, we went out for a hit, and went through a bucket of balls before relaxing in the club over dinner.

Last night (monday) we went out and had a look at the fairway, before going back to the mats to practice hitting the ball off the tee with a wood (not made out of wood, rather metal, but in the "olden days" this club was in fact made out of wood). This was alot harder as the wood club felt a lot different to the iron club (which is what we had been using consistently up until this stage).

Tonight (Tuesday) we have an introduction to the short game, including bunkers and how to get out of them by chipping and pitching! (I can imagine, a VERY handy skill)

We get a break on Wednesday night before Thursday night when we get to go onto the golf course to learn putting and the rules and ettiquette of the game.

We have had a great time throughout our lessons, with real value being the small group of 6. The instructor goes between each keen golf learner and offers constructive criticism, suggestions and ideas for how to improve your stance, grip or swing. The guys are great, very friendly, professional and lots of fun. I am sure this means more games of golf in the future and further practice.

Bring it on!!!

Angels....Our friends in disguise

It's always your friends that see you through your darkest hours. They may not even know the part they play to get you through....whether it be a text message, a phone call, a message or even just an email....but it is enough to cheer you up and see the light at the end of the tunnell. My friends are the ones that support me, love me and get me though any emotional turmoil in my life.

So, to all my angels, spread out over Australia. I hope you know how special you are to me.

Thank You So Much and I Love You All :)

A Little Warning....

Things certainly are different in Dubai to what we are used to in Australia. There's no doubt about it. Not that these differences are bad.....just different. This was highlighted last night when we were at Carrefour doing our grocery shopping. As I have mentioned in previous posts, Carrefour is more than just a supermarket.....you can buy anything from toys, electrical and household equipment, linen, clothing, shoes, fruit, veg, spices, fresh fish and then all the other items that we would find at home in good ol' Coles or Woolies.

One of the fundamental differences, however, is that once you bag your fruit and veg....you then need to go to the "weighing counter" where it gets weighed and stickered (with a description of the item and a price). As you are all aware (well you should be) in Australia, this all happens at the check-out, however here it doesn't. So, it was quite a long wait for Cameron last night (I had ducked to the toilet) as the girl in front of him had forgotton to weigh her trolley full of fruit and veg (she had two trolleys worth of stuff - poor thing) so, we all had to wait while one of the staff went to get it all weighed and bought back to the check-out for her to pay for her shopping!!!

So, just a warning to anyone who comes over here....

WEIGH YOUR GROCERIES BEFORE GOING TO THE CHECK-OUT!!!

Dubai, Saturday 2nd December 2006

We were supposed to be going to the last day of the Rugby 7's today and even though it was raining we were still eager to go, however, once we arrived (by taxi) at the stadium it was POURING and quite cold....there was no shelter from the rain (apart from shadecloth) and the line up of people leaving and waiting for taxi's went on for miles so we decided to turn around and go back home. Unfortunently, as much as we wanted to go to the games (the best day as it was the finals and presentation of the overall winner) we decided it wasn't worth getting sick over. It took ages to get out of the stadium, but at least we were dry in our taxi, as opposed to the thousands of other people trying to get a taxi.

Here are some photos I took out the taxi window on the way home :)

The roundabout near our apartment - half the road was flooded with water

At the sports stadium - before we decided to turn around and go home

Out the front window of our taxi - mud, mud, glorious mud!!!

The water was so deep in parts that people were wading in up to mid-calf

Dubai Rugby 7's

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi - the cheer rang loud over the sports stadium, the atmosphere incredible. Over 10 teams all competing against each other to be #1. The weather was cool (ish) and intermittently raining, the crowd pumped and the teams ready to score. We were at one of the biggest sports competitions of the year and it was packed. Mum's, Dad's and kids of all ages were crammed in to the best seats hoping to get the best view, despite the rain. Australia won 2 out of their 3 games - the first game was Australia vs. Portugal which, unfortunently we lost by 2 points. (Cameron and I weren't there for that one).

The second game was Australia vs. Kenya.

A great tackle

The Final Score: Australia 24 - Kenya 7

The third game was Australia vs. Fiji.

The score was actually Australia 19, Fiji 14 - they cleared the scoreboard too quick after putting up the correct score, so I could only put this one up :)

It just seemed so real....

These were the words I was uttering this morning when Cameron told me that my so vivid dream was just a dream. It was so awful I woke up with tears in my eyes :(

I'll fill you in....

I was going to the hairdressers to have my hair straightened (which I am actually doing tonight) and when I got there, they showed me in to the chair and ask me what I want done. I explain that I want my hair washed and blow dried straight, then for them to go over it with a straightening iron. I go over to the basin, kneel on my hands and knees, facing the sink (gone were the comfy massaging chairs I am used to) and have my hair washed. So far, so good. The next thing I know they are SHAVING MY HEAD right down to a number 2!!!!!!

I look in the mirror and start bawling my eyes out, to which my mum comes in and she begins bawling her eyes out (probably because I am.) I then start blabbering about how long it has taken to grow my hair and how much I loved it long....when I feel a touch on my shoulder. I turn around and Cameron is there saying good morning and asking me how I slept....I love that, he wakes me up to see how I have slept...how cute :) I then turn around and feel the back of my head, all knotty, curly and LONG and continue to say "Thank God, Thank God" (while continuing to touch and play with my long hair. I then realise it was just a dream, but I was quite shaken for awhile after that.

It is awful that some dreams feel so real and are so vivid, but at least there was relief when I woke up that my hair hadn't been shaved off after all!

Now I just have to make sure at the hairdressers tonight, that they straighten it, not shave it!

Zeke

Ben (my brother-in-law) made my day when he sent us another MMS of our nephew (his son) Zeke. We get them fairly regularly, considering we live on the other side of the world, and always eagerly download the picture from the internet to see it. Today was no different. I opened the file and there smiling back at me was our goreous little "wee-man" (as we have nicknamed him) and smiling!!!! He looked so happy and has such the cutest little smile I could not resist posting it up on our blog for you all to see. It is unfortunate that we will not get to see him (and his brother and parents) in Adelaide for Christmas this year, but they will be in our thoughts throughout the day as they always are. I am sure when we next see him he will be running around and jabbering constantly :) Oh well.....we will still call him our little "wee-man".

Photos from Australia #3

Okay - this is the final installment of photos. I hope you enjoyed them :)

Grandma & Me

Grandpa & Me

Andrew, Geraldine, Chelsea & Me

Chelsea - 6 months

Photos from Australia #2

My niece Jasmine (10) and God-son Ben (almost 5)

Jodie (aka Bushpig) and Me

My friend Luke and his daughter Stacey

Cheryl & Barry (Jorja's parents)....Cheryl wearing MY denim jacket!

Dad & Me

My 2nd cousin - Maddi

Photos from Australia #1

Here are some of the photos I took (or someone else took) of my family and friends while I was back in Australia.

Kalee and I when I was in Perth - Ben took this photo :)

Mum and Me - I took this photo on Sandra's camera :)

Mum, Ashley & I - Sandra took this photo :)

My God-daughter Jorja - aged 2 & a 1/2

Lucius James...

I promised photos of my newest nephew....so here they are :) Lucius is approximately 5 weeks old in these photos.

Our first cuddle :)

Lucius - Sound Asleep

Welcome home Kathryn & Happy Birthday Karen

I'm back! I arrived home safe at 5:45am this morning. I was a little nervous going through Passport control and customs but all went fine and I got home relatively quickly.

Happy Birthday Karen - we hope you have a fabulous day and get spoilt rotten :)

Oh - FABULOUS news....today it rained!!!!!

Since we are living in the desert and it only rains on average about 2 days a year here - I am so lucky to witness it. I was only saying to Cameron the other week that we couldn't go back to Australia until we had seen rain....and now I have. Unfortunently, Cameron is in Abu Dhabi for work for 2 days so he may miss it :(

Happy Birthday Pat

Dear Pat

"Twinkle twinkle Birthday cake
Forget the years for goodness sake,
and think of all the people who
have a brighter life because of you."

Lots of Love,

Kathryn & Cameron

oxoxox

Kathryn in Australia

Well, so far my visit has been very busy but also very productive. I have only got our Christmas cards to write and post and then I am pretty much sorted. All of the presents are bought, wrapped and the ones that needed to be posted, have been. I have done our tax, sorted through the boxes at our storage shed and caught up with most of the people that I needed to catch up with. I am on my way to Port Augusta today to stay at Dad & Pat's for a couple of days. I am looking forward to catching up with everyone there and giving them their Christmas presents!

I have another box to post to Dubai on Friday then I will be all set to fly back to the UAE on Sunday the 19th to my gorgeous husband who I have missed more than I even thought possible. I have come to realise that while I am fine on my own...I much prefer being with him. He makes me so happy. Oh well, as they say "absense makes the heart grow fonder" either that or "out of sight, out of mind" although I am sure this is not the case :)

It's amazing - as much as I miss Australia, my life here and all our family and friends - I wouldn't even consider coming back here without Cameron. I guess that is what they call "true love"

Happy Birthday Mum!

Dear Mum
We hope you have a FANTASTIC birthday. You are so lucky to have me spend it with you *wink wink*

What a shame that Cameron couldn't be here as well.

Lots of Love and oxoxoxox's

Kathryn & Cameron

Fog???

Fog? What is he going on about you might say? The departure of Kathryn has sent him mad!
No! FOG!
But it's Dubai I hear you say... what about fog?

Well, Dubai fogs up at this time of the year. Yes, it might be 25degC but that doesn't stop the fog from rolling in. Now, fog by itself is ok, harmless enough, but coupled with a desire for everyone here to speed (I mean, 120kph just isn't fast enough and ' you've got to let those horses run') then 140-160kph on the road when you can't see the third light post in front of you (and you can't see the top of the second) means bad business (and that only on the local streets, wait til you get on the 'open road' on the way to Abu Dhabi, the fog is thicker and everyone drives faster, only difference IS, they drive with their hazard lights flashing the entire way! (unfortunately no photos of that, I'd rather try to drive the car and avoid the other drivers).

Anyone, yes it fogs here, as soon as the temp gets below about 27 degC. A couple of photos from 2 November 2006 and 7th November 2006 for you. Enjoy!

Bon Voyage #1

Well, the time had to come when one of us needed to travel back to Australia but we wouldn't have thought Kathryn would be the first to go. Anyhow, today she's off for a whirl-wind tour of Australia. Flying out of Dubai this morning, direct to Perth, catching up with friends (a 'shout out' to Ben, Kalee, Kim and last but not least Mel!) for the weekend, then off to Adelaide for a couple of weeks. But she won't be sitting around sunning herself (even though I'm sure the weather would allow) - she's got heaps of people (family and friends) to catch up with, some Christmas shopping to do, the tax-man to pay and to top it all off, she's going through our storage shed to organise for some of those little things to make this place feel a little more like home (like all my R/C Flying gear - much to her disgust!). To all those people she manages to catch up with, I'm sure she sends my regards and to all those that she doesn't manage to catch up with, its not that you aren't in our thoughts, its just that time is limited. Hopefully the next trip, we can both make it back and get Brisbane and Sydney (and now with our new friends Andrew and Jo returning to Melbourne - we might end up there too) and catch up with everyone. Bon Voyage my dear - enjoy your first SOLO O/S flight, you'll be a veteren in no time.

Movember 2006

Yes, that time of year has come again – Movember. The month when Australian’s (and a growing band of others all over the world) grow a Mo and raise awareness of men’s health issues.

Anyway, after a year of fine growth (from the inaugural Movember last year), Cameron's facial hair has gone and a brand new Mo is on the way (yes, the “Goa-Tee” had to go to comply with the ‘rules’ of Movember!, the new beard will appear in December, just in time for Christmas!).

Here’s the deal:

During Movember (the month formerly known as November) Cameron will be growing a moustache. That’s right, he is bringing the Mo back because he is passionate about changing the state of men’s health.

Male health is a major issue, did you know:
Men are far less healthy than women. The average life expectancy of males is 6 years less than females.
Every year in Australia and New Zealand 3,300 men die with prostate cancer – about the same number of women who die from breast cancer
Males in the UK are three times more likely to take their own lives than women

Help us change the face of men’s health by sponsoring Cameron's mo.

Please go to http://www.movember.com.au/uk/sponsor, enter his Rego number which is 9597 and your credit card details.

The money raised by Movember will be used to change the face of men’s health by creating awareness and funding research into prostate cancer and male depression.

(if you don’t have a credit card and you want to sponsor – let us know and we’ll work something out!!!)

Thanks for your support.

Happy Birthday Ashley

Happy Birthday Ashley!

We hope you had a lovely day - sorry we couldn't share it with you.

Lots of Love and oxoxoxox's

Kathryn & Cameron

Photos of Abu Dhabi

The Grand Mosque

The Presidential Palace at night