Here We Are

It's taken almost 2 weeks to get a fully functioning internet connection in our new house in Dubai. It's going to be a while therefore before I'm able to fully update on how and what we're up to as we start our new life here in the Middle East. We were very sad to say goodbye to our friends and family back home but it was high time that we moved on to the next chapter and it feels quite surreal to be living in a new country, in a new house and seeing Andy every night after work. There are a number of enormous changes for all of us. Rosie and Emily have started at their new school; watch this space for more details. The currency is obviously different and I'm still feeling a bit like mister mcgoo in the supermarket as I try to pay for groceries. The range and variety of groceries available is both refreshing and mind boggling. Who knows which type of hummus is the best? Which dates should I buy? Exactly where is the pork section (I found it behind a curtain at the back of the shop!)? The right side of the road is the wrong side for me (as I found to my cost earlier today when I had a near miss with a speeding taxi). The heat is stifling and if I ever thought that tropical heat was oppressive, now I know better. Ramadan is in full swing and the whole population is affected, muslim or otherwise.

So we're taking baby steps to settling in; unpacking boxes, hanging pictures, settling the girls into school, concentrating on driving on the correct side of the road and not getting lost and enjoying our lovely new home.