Category Archives: Fun
What’s on my Bucket List?
At the end of 2007, I ended a toxic and stagnant relationship. I was young and unsure I if I could cope on my own. I had never spent long enough learning to be me; to be strong, independent and to find my own way in the world. I found strength in the support of […]
Creating a whole new atmosphere
In teaching, every now and then you have one of those days where it feels like it’s all worth it and that they’re actually listening. Today is one of them. I’ve fled through a stack of fifty papers in the past two days, all creative writing, and I’ve been thoroughly impressed. At Year 7 level, […]
Monday Moment: Stacking Pebbles
For those of you in the Western world, Monday signifies the return to the working week. I feel for you. I do. Seriously. Because right now I’m somewhere in Egypt. I can’t even really tell you where. The fact is, it’s just so nice to escape the world of work and to do lists. It’s […]
On turning twenty-five
Nine days ago, I turned twenty-five. The quarter-life crisis fad was bandied about but I barely had time to think about it. When I turned twenty, I had a hard time coming to terms with no longer being a teenager, but I’ve had no fear moving from there to twenty-five as my nearest and dearest […]
The ups and downs of a very flat course
I finally ran the Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Half Marathon on Friday. I say finally because I was supposed to run it last year, but my darling and most wonderful husband booked an early birthday weekend over the top of it. Instead of running, I spent my time sampling gourmet delights, lazing by a pool, […]
Monday Moment: Just a Fruit Bowl
Some days are pretty crappy in Dubai. Some days are downright awful. There are weekends, like this one just gone, that get wiped out by sandstorms and heavy hot-snaps. There are weekdays where the stress and pressure of pushing an entire city forward get to be too much. There are, some days, just too many […]
Monday Moment: Carpet Goodness
We finally bought a new carpet. Sounds decadent, I know, but it’s not. We’ve just been putting it off for a long time. We live in a 600 sq. ft. apartment made of marble tiles. It can be cold and a bit lifeless if it’s not filled with internationally collected goodies, and today, we finally […]
Nothing like a little GRIM…
I’ve been teaching the kids narratives of late and you know I love to share their best work. I’ve been encouraging them to do all kinds of grim, evil, awful things to think outside the box and take a new attitude to work/life etc. Thus, we wrote a story together. It came in parts, coming […]
Monday Moment: Like Romeo & Juliet
Two years ago, I ran away with you. Two years ago, I said I would cherish you forever. Two years ago, we stole away from the world and began something together. We did a Romeo and Juliet, without the dying part. Two years later, the rest of our families finally know that we ran away […]
Photo Essay: An Eid in Dubai
Eid breaks are usually a little longer than just three days off, and we usually run away on a jet plane. This time, not so. That’s why you’ll find us lounging around Dubai like lazy lizards, soaking up sunshine, the quiet atmosphere and sharing plenty of time together. Here’s what a day down by the […]
Abu Dhabi Film Festival 2011
Let’s get this straight from the outset: I am no film boffin. So, as you read my little review of a weekend at the Abu Dhabi Film Festival, keep that in mind. That aside, I am a fan of weekend breaks, plush hotel beds and movies that dig deep into the heart and soul of […]
A Change in the Air
There is a change in the air, and it’s not just another shamal whipping the sand around with the winds from Iran. Spirits are improving, schedules are getting busier, and there’s a buzz in the air of shared excitement and outdoor events. Summer is over and Winter is here. We don’t have four seasons here […]
