Dubai: week 1

Well it is nice to be back... in the sun and at the beach!  Got my beach view room again at Basma's place, the boys moved back into their 'play room' - so everybody is happy.

Khaled

Ahmed

The markets are on....

Always some activity at the weekends...

Today, Monday, I have to go and buy myself a suit... have a job interview with an agency tomorrow and nothing to wear!  I can only find some nice pants and a blouse... took me forever to find this.  Basma lets me borrow a jacket - I am straitening my hair - my new look....Basma and I are exchanging beauty tips!

In the evening we catch up with Gabija over a sheisha.  Sooo nice and relaxing!  We have a good catch-up and a good laugh about my car hire story....I am actually trying to change this car to a smaller, automated one....why? God only knows.  Am keeping on about petrol usage... but here that actually doesn't matter.  I am filling the tank with 20A$....

Tuesday, I have to get up early (for me) my appointment is at 10.30 a.m.  It goes well - have to do stupid typing test... the consultant actually wants to put me forward for a job in a 'social business' of microfinance... sounds good!  She also wants me to change my CV around... so off I go back home and do that.

In the evening Basma and I are going for sheisha again... wonderful! And JBR is buzzing as always, people, fancy cars and bikes.... never a dull moment here...

Is it a truck? or a smarted up car????

My 'bling bling' car... the whole car is studded with swarowski crystals....even the wheels... It must be a sheikha from Qatar with UAE ties...(from the number plate & flags). we waited, but the lady(ies) never showed....

I've been a bit stressed about getting another visa for Sudan.... couldn't think of anyone to ask to go with me to the consulate to help me and to translate for me..... Then I decided:  if I can't do this myself, then I am not meant to do it!  So Wednesday morning, off I go....got all my documents etc...  to my pleasant surprise, the consular staff are very nice, polite, dressed in suits and they speak English!  I am trying my little Arabic on them, which pleases them.... then the staff pays his condolences for the loss of my husband.  There is me thinking:  ok now how did he know that?  Did he know Hisham?  Found out later, that a previous visa given to me had the remark that I was the widow of a Sudanese.  Well.... there you go.  I filled in my papers, paid my money, and the staff assured me that I would get the visa and to come back the next day.

Al Hamdullilah... this was easy!  I am very happy!  I text Walid  to warn him I am coming!  I drive to the Creek, get myself a chai masala (special Indian tea) for 2AED  and sit and watch the abras and dhows on the creek and remeniss about past times...

The yellow thing floating is the Wonderbus, that can drive and float...it's from Australia I believe.

In the evening I am catching up with Talal who is in town on business... we go to a Japanese Restaurant at the Emirates Towers.... very yummie food.  Great to catch up with Talal....It is so 'normal' to see him here!

Thursday morning I get up around 9.00am and go for a walk on the beach... it is sooo beautiful!  Then I drive to the Sudanese Consulate to pick up my visa!  Success - I have 2 months before it expires and can stay for 1 month....  I drive back to JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residence) and treat myself to a coffee at Tim Hortons! - Thinking of Becky, my Canadian ex-colleague...

Late afternoon, the car hire company is supposed to bring me a new car... they finally arrive with a smaller car, but it has 100,000kms and bumps and scratches.... even the driver tells me that this is not right.  It is very obviously an accident car that has not been fixed. I can actually get in trouble with the police if I don't have accident papers....  So I call the office and have a go at them!  Screaming and shouting of course.... anyway.. still don't know why I bother, as I will have to extend the car hire on Saturday anyway.... So off I send the driver - apologizing to him for his trouble... and stick with the car I have.

Now I definately need another sheisha.... off we go Basma and I!

Friday: it's hot and windy and a sand storm is coming through.  Basma's family and I are having lunch out, then a lazy afternoon.  In the evening Basma and I go to the Festival City as she has to do some shopping, then we have sheisha at the waterfront - and there is live music... very pleasant and relaxing!

 Saturday - I have to drop the hire car back at one company in the media city... the weather is nice, so I walk back to the Marina - about 1/2 hours walk - I make it back in time to have lunch with Basma's family at CheChe's including sheisha of course!

What a change from the cold and snow!  Getting my vitamin D intake...

In the evening I go with Basma to Geant - a hypermarket - for her weekly food-shopping.  While we are at the hypermarket, we actually see a real life rat.... we alert the staff, the first one is telling us, oh yes you go to isle 2 and... there is us: No - we don't want to buy one there is one running around in the shop!  None of the staff nor security seemed to care or know what to do.... I think we need to report them to the Municipality!  This is a health hazard - put us off the food!  Anyway, we made it out of there by midnight - when the place closes!  Great fun!

Sunday: I walk to the Marina to another car hire company to pick up my next car, which I booked for a week.  They are very nice there and I get a small car, semi-automated.... but I don't complain!  It's a good car and it has petrol!

All in all a good week  with enough excitement and lots of sheisha! Good to be back!

It feels right to stay here... it's not going to be easy.... a lot of memories here - this is where Hisham and my life was for 13 years!  But I need this right now!  So Inshallah - everything will work out.  I have great friends here - and as long as I can smoke sheisha....

LoL

S & D & L