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Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
Showing posts with label life. Show all posts
It's real, It's from Karama
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Best Marzipan Cake Ever!
The other half recently baked the most amazing cake for me that I have ever tried. It is spongy, moist and so full of flavour. It must be the ultimate marzipan cake. Some people don't like marzipan, but the marzipan flavour is not overpowering in any way. It's more like an almond favour with benefits.
The marzipan in the cake, however, helps giving the cake its characteristics and its moistness.
Ingredients:
250 grams butter - preferably unsalted (softened)
250 grams marzipan (softened)
150 grams caster sugar
¼ teaspoon almond essence
1 tsp vanilla powder / or seeds from a vanilla pod
6 large eggs
150 grams all-purpose wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
You will need a 25cm / 10 inch springform tube pan or patterned ring mould, buttered and floured.
Preheat oven to 170ºC/gas mark 3. Chop the butter and marzipan to make them easier to break down, and put them in a bowl and use an electrical mixer, with the sugar. Mix until combined and pretty well smooth. Add almond essence and vanilla powder/seeds, process again, then break the eggs one at a time, mixing again each time. Add the flour and baking soda, mix yet again, and then pour the mixture into the prepared tin, scraping the sides and bottom with a rubber spatula.
Bake for 50 minutes, but check from 40. Then, when the cake looks golden and cooked and a cake-tester or fine skewer comes out cleanish, remove from the oven and leave to cool in the tin before turning out.
The fact that you could easily get 12 slices out of this is another reason why it comes in useful when you've got people coming for dinner or tea. That it keeps for a good week is another point in its favour (if you can keep off it!); you don't have to be fiddling around with all the courses just before lift-off.
It's really a variation over the pound cake. But so much more interesting than the original. It may cost a few pounds to bake it, but its yumminess guarantees that you will gain a few pounds once you start eating it. Not a healthy creation, but it's heaven on a plate. Go on: get baking!
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Rents on the rise in Dubai
It's history repeating:
Rents in Dubai have shot up sharply in the last six months, in some cases leaping more than 50 per cent, leaving many middle income expats in a bind.
Annual average rents for a 1-bedroom apartment in Bur Dubai have risen to Dh40,000 –Dh65,000 (up to £10000) from Dh30,000 to Dh55,000, while in Discovery Garden they rose from about Dh40,000 to over Dh50,000 now and even in the relatively affordable communities like International City, rents for a one-bedroom apartment have risen from Dh25,000 to more than Dh40,000 in the last six months.
Sharjah has always been a magnet for middle income expats who preferred to stay there and work in Dubai, braving maddening traffic bottlenecks and long travel hours. However when the market dipped in 2008-09 and rents in Dubai plummeted, many of these expats began moving to areas like International City, Discovery Gardens and JLT in Dubai.
However, their joy has been short-lived. Many of the residents moving back to neighbouring emirates now say they do not mind extra commuting time if it meant huge savings in rents.
With the current spikes in rent, it's like traveling in time back to 2007 when rents were becoming almost unaffordable to even quite well-paid expats. Being relatively new to Dubai at the time, rents were horrific and it was difficult to even find a place to live. For more than a year, my only option was to rent a room in a house sharing kitchen and bathroom with several other tenants. A practice that was illegal, but there was no other choice for me at the time. I paid Dh5,000 for a room with a bed and a cupboard not even 100 sq. ft. Renting a villa in - say - The Meadows would set you back 250-400K a year.
Traffic was horrendous back then, especially if you were traveling to/from Sharjah or Ajman which could easily take a couple of hours during rush hour - and you can begin to see it coming back to a similar situation now.
My latest rent was Dh60.000 for a two-bed in Tecom in 2012. The landlord is now asking Dh85.000 for it - much more than the maximum allowed annual increase, but he can easily get that kind of money for it. It may soon again come to a point where expats may have to consider if staying in Dubai paying atrocious rents is really worth it or if they should move to one of the other emirates - or away from the UAE altogether.
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How not to leave Dubai broke
It's not rocket science. It's common sense, really: If you earn Dh20,000 per month and have no money left in your account by month end, you are likely to retire from the UAE no better off than a tea boy.
Yet this is the sad truth for thousands of expats who come here with dreams of making big money, only to end up broke with hardly any savings to write home about, after years spent on living the high life or lured by shopping festivals and discount offers. Those who succumb to the temptation to upgrade — to a nicer car, a bigger villa, the latest gadgets — are in effect trading their present for a bad future. They are de facto loosing out on their once in a lifetime opportunity of building up their life savings whilst being tax-free.
Take the case of Richard, a European working in Dubai for seven years. The 42-year-old has no children, but has racked up a combined debt of Dh210,000 on five credit cards, and has a Dh90,000 car loan. His rent, food and bills take up most of his Dh26,000 pay cheque, with nothing left at the end of the month.
Dev, 40, a divorced airline executive, gets free accommodation and does not have a lavish lifestyle. But family commitments prevent him from saving anything.
He earns well, has no debt, but also has no savings — not even an emergency fund.
When you come and live and work in Dubai, the attraction of tax-free earnings would suggest that the majority of people would build up decent savings to help them in their future.
But the rapidly increasing fixed costs of living eat into monthly salaries. Large shopping malls and the ‘eating out’ culture — to name just two of Dubai’s attractions — take away whatever is left.
The temptation to upgrade to a bigger apartment/villa, a nicer car — and the high cost of schooling for children — is also a constant challenge for expatriate families.
So how does one get out of the rut? Probably the best piece of advice you can get is to take a step back: Accept that your time in Dubai with tax-free savings may be limited.
Maximise your time here by listing your financial priorities. Most debt-laden expatriates have also had to part with their end-of-service (ESB) or "gratuity" benefits, which banks collect at the first sign that a person has lost his job.
In 2010, UAE authorities and the International Labour Organisation discussed establishing a pension fund for expatriate workers to guarantee they receive their ESB.
In March 2012, a senior official of the Department of Economic Development in Dubai (DED) said they have completed a feasibility study for an expat pension fund, which was to be launched by end-2012 after clearance from relevant authorities. How ever unlikely it may seem, if pushed through, Dubai could become the first Gulf state to launch a pension fund for expatriates.
UAE lawyer Mohammad Al Suwaidi thinks that a pension fund is a step in the right direction. “It’s a good idea, but it needs sound regulations from the start.”
Al Suwaidi said, however, that clubbing an employees pension fund with their ESB may be problematic, since by the definition an ESB - as per the very unique and tricky UAE Labour Law - is only due when an employee’s service comes to an end after a minimum period of service and grows over time as an employee’s salary rises.
Other experts also feel a pension fund would help protect expats in their old age.
Most expats are capable of saving at least 10 per cent of their salary, but they are reluctant to alter their lifestyle. There is a vast amount of expats who spend a lot, get into debt and leave broke. This applies especialy to younger Western expats and people earning less than, say, Dh8,000 per month who are struggling to survive, especially when they send money home for families.
UAE-based Americans and citizens of EU-countries do save and invest at least four times the equivalent of their counterparts back home.
An example is Andrew, a 55-year-old from Manchester, who moved to Dubai in 2006 with his wife. The parents of two started to save $500/£350 (Dh1,836) per month, and then grew it periodically. In recent years, the wife has paid all of her salary into their investment plan to prepare for retirement. Their joint investments now exceed $300,000/£200,000, with three or four more years of saving before going home.
Another British expatriate Robert, 56, a managing director of a consultancy agency, blames the weather and the many “distractions”. For much of the year it’s too hot to do anything else — either you stay at home or you can go to the mall. If you go to the mall, you don’t just go there to walk, you’re tempted to spend and buy things. Expats also face the situation of paying everything in advance — rent, school, etc.
Many expats come from countries where there are no school fees. Not many people have the luxury of their company paying for these expenses so they end up borrowing money to pay for these things. People come here and they do not realise that you need to pay for a lot of things in advance.
Another major culprit, as countless expats will have experienced, is the relatively easy access to credit cards.There’s no central database in monitoring the bank customers’ personal borrowings. This allows expats the opportunity to borrow too much money and too easily.
DO’S and DON’TS
- Pay yourself first. Include savings in your budget. Investing in National Bonds is a good start (it prevents you from buying things you don’t need, like more expensive cars or accommodation).
- Think of it as rescuing the old man/woman (you in future) from the follies of the young man/woman, (you today).
- Saving between 10-20 per cent of your pay is a good guide.
- Have emergency funds – between two to three month’s salary — in a deposit account
- Diversify. Do not to put your ‘eggs in one basket’. Hierarchy of diversification: a) Cash in the bank is secure and accessible; 2) owning a property, which generally increases in value; 3) combine other assets classes such as stocks and managed fund, as these offer good long-term growth potential
Live for today, but also plan for tomorrow. Life is about balance. Enjoy your time in Dubai, but work on personal financial plan
Balance your own interests against your family’s demands/needs. Due to cultural traditions among Asians, many send home a fair percentage of their salaries, which can sometimes be a drain and pressure on those people living here
Don’t buy a new car on mortgage, especially if your existing one still works fine
WHY IS INSURANCE IMPORTANT?
Basically, being in the UAE, you're on your own. No one is going to save you if your should be suffer a serious illness or be involved in an accident that incapacitates you. Taking outa proper insurance is a must - moreso here than in most places. You're an expat and your home country may not be inclined to help you if need be.
There are many types of insurance, but basic protection should cover income (or loss of it), health, life and investments. Buy insurance that works for you
Some insurance packages also offer investment-like features, allowing you to gain from market growth while protecting yourself and loved ones
USE CURRENCY HEDGING?
Hedging is a way to guard against foreign exchange fluctuations. If you invest in a fund and the growth is good over a 12-month period but the currency moves against your base currency, then this growth could be wiped out.
In Dubai, where the majority of people are paid in dirhams (fixed against the US dollar), a practical approach is to use dollar as the currency to start your savings. Then you could switch to your base currency in the future when the currency exchange rate is to their advantage, said Ormond
HOW TO INCREASE YOUR SAVINGS
- a few tips:
• Consider saving as a mandatory expense
• Open a savings account that’s harder to get to than your checking account
• Systematically (monthly) save to that isolated account on a regular basis
• Pair your raises with increase in savings
• Set milestones with rewards
• Write down expenses in three to six-month goals
• See where your money is going (A daily coffee may cost you only Dh12, but if you add that up over a one-year period, this could set you off Dh5,400)
Before buying electronics, jewellery or fashion items on impulse, wait 30 days (you might realize you don’t need those things at all. This could save you thousands by the end of the year)
Remember: Saver’s remorse is non-existent. No one complains about having money in the bank. But if you buy that new car, phone or tablet during a promotion, you may regret it soon afterwards.
And you money will be gone.
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Happy Happy People
The worst storm for ten years is over the country, trees are falling, people are hurt and even killed and the damages to buildings and cars are extensive. The economic upturn seems less strong than hoped. A political scandal is rolling with the former PM having been found daft enough to have spend a lot of the tax payers' money on expensive 1st Class tickets and the clocks have just been set back one hour to winter time. It's dark, wet, dreary, Yet, once again the Danes have been declared the happiest people in the world. After all, something must be going quite alright after all in that motherland of mine...
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Epitaph for Dubai
Waves of hope from a sea of drowned promises
What did you do to the kid with the 3D glasses?
A beautiful pixelated world
Does your art rhyme with pop chart?
This one’s for Smithy
The spice must flow
Peace, Love, Paroxetine
Will work for Oxytocic
The invisible war on your mind
No scene
Next box
Evolve
We are nearly Gods
We all search
I’m so plain
Modernity is melting
Mutation is bored
Rumours can grow black leather wigs
You thought you saw God, but they assured you they were only clouds
The big, big white out
What happens after the singularity?
You did this, when you conjured up despair
The sky is collapsing, but the device is in your hands
You, you, you (& your empire)
The villain within
Nostalgia saved the cat
Puppets replace puppets
When the truth is known, cities will burn
Hate breeds hate
The world has gone from blue & green to black &
yellow
Will we dream during the process?
Quarantine that dream
Plastic dreams and primal screams
We salute the suit
Be who you are, don’t fool yourself
The ghost finally broke out of its shell
Only to find itself in another automated hell
Toto, I don’t think we’re in Festival City anymore
Nowhere near a damn rainbow
Pandora’s box stinks
Time has strange properties
A glance can take an eon to decipher
Today just might last forever
You said it would last forever
It’s mute out here
Empathy erodes
Your force field thickens
Prostrated & abluted
Mind's still tawted & polluted
Love is an untameable beast
She finally bowed down to the mannequin
She kissed his lips knowing
The birds are falling
I love you, but not your hologram
It’s lunacy, this love
And that, my dear, is the story of how love turned back into
hate
Welcome to the soulless city
Far North of Hyperborea
All roads lead to Sirius,
All these stars exploding inside
All these lights and nothing to display
Liquid display – disarray
Noise
The Karma Police are on the take
Self-righteous machines all quietly watching over us
Ripley… there’s a commotion in the colony
All humanoids report to Facebook immediately!
Don’t panic, my brain is organic
Smile, you are disintegrating
Serendipity crashed
Magic gave birth to the code
And then there was plight
It’s always the perishing moments that never seem to last
Rats race with more civility
Wired to everything, feeling nothing
Pull the cord - I’ve seen enough
I am nowhere - I am home
Lift me up, Moby
The end of…
-o-o-o-o-o-
Spin & Turn
Loose & Earn
Rise & Shine
Fall & Find
Live
Love
Learn
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Return
Walahi habibi, yalla, yallah!
So after a solid break it seems an appropriate time to pick-up blogging again.
Yes, I am still here in Dubai where the sun always shines, soldiering on in the City of Life. The above constituting approximately half of my Arabic vocabulary meaning Something like “Right, Darling, let’s go, come on”. So I will make an effort to get on with it, see if once again I can make blog become a kind of diary, a way to sort-out my thoughts and get my writing skills brushed-off. It’s so easy not to use them properly on an everyday basis in this country. There are so many other things to do, loads of distractions and hundreds of procrastinations that at times seem to lure me into neglecting writing. Distractions, like the idiot on the street outside the barrier to our covered parking area beeping away to make the security guard come out and open it. Too lazy to get out of his car and walk into reception to get the guard’s attention. Instead he is using the horn, which must be annoying everybody in the nearby buildings. But this is normal here. It’s all about me-me-me – the rest of the lot can go elf themselves. I want what I want and I want it now! It pisses me off all the time, but what to do about it, yani? It is definitely part of culture here. Even the taxi drivers are constantly beeping away when they pass you on the street to make you aware of their presence convinced that a middle-aged European male walking the limited pavements slash sand pits in Tecom must be in desperate need for a lift. “Hunk if you’re horny, habibi!” Not!
We have moved to Tecom, a very nice area near The Greens and opposite Internet City and Knowledge Village with one of the true landmarks of Dubai, the Al Kazim twin towers just across Sheikh Zayed Road, build to resemble the Crysler Building in New York City (only there are two of them). Location-wise it is perfect; everywhere we would want to go can be easily reached by car or even Metro. Tecom is really an up-and-coming neighbourhood in what is normally referred to as “New Dubai”. The whole area is but a few years old. We have lived in our beloved apartment for over a year now. It is a well-maintained building, a good landlord and a fair deal regarding rent. They even lowered the rent slightly at renewal even though rents in our area seem to have stabilised following the last two-years of decreasing rents in the wake of the credit crunch. We have a great two-bed apartment with a nice balcony. Needless to say there is a pool and sunbathing area on the rooftop and two gyms (gents' and ladies’) with all sorts of torture equipment in the building, full-time janitors keeping everything immaculately clean – and offering their services washing the residents’ cars 12 times a month for 100 Dirhams. 24hr security. And a covered parking space per flat downstairs where the above-mentioned idiot has just been let in after a good few minutes’ worth of being horny.
Still, it really is a good life here in Tecom, in our little apartment in the city where the sun always shines. City of Life.
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Ramadan Kareem
It is that time of the year again where some of our normal actions, our behaviour and working hours are in practise dictated by the moon. It’s: Ramadan-time again.
Ramadan begins with the sighting of the new moon crescent and it ends with the sighting of the next new moon which marks the beginning of Eid. Here in the UAE it is the Moon Sighting Committee that will announce when Ramadan starts.
The holy month of Ramadan – the ninth month in the Islamic year – has quite a big impact on the things you are allowed to do here in Dubai and in the UAE in general and when you are allowed to do them. For expats, the major things and issues to be aware of during Ramadan are the following:
1. No intake of food and drinks in public from sunrise through sunset.
2. No smoking in public either.
3. Bars will not open til 7.30pm
4. No public entertainment or (loud) music (keep you car radio down a bit).
5. After Iftar – the prayer at sunset – you can assume your normal way of life and eat, drink and smoke in public until sunrise.
During Ramadan, the faithful Muslim will abstain from food from sun up to sundown, but at dusk the family will gather for fast-breaking, known as Iftar. The sundown meal starts with the ritual eating of a date — just as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) was believed to have done. Then it's time for a prayer to thank Allah followed by the meal. In many homes, this is a simple meal of fruits and vegetables along with traditional Middle Eastern fare.
Over time, Iftar has grown into banquets and small festivals. This is a time of fellowship with families, friends and surrounding communities, but may also occupy larger spaces at mosques or banquet halls, where a hundred or more may gather at a time.
Some markets and smaller shops close down during evening prayers and the Iftar meal, but then re-open and stay open for a good part of the night. Muslims can be seen shopping, eating, spending time with their friends and family during the evening hours. In many mid-east countries, this can last late into the evening, to early morning. However, if they try to attend to business as usual, it can become a time of personal trials, fasting without coffee or water.
During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating or drinking starting from dawn till dusk. To prepare for the fasting, Muslims wake up before dawn and the fajr prayer to eat a meal (Sahoor). Muslims break their fast at Maghrib (at sunset) prayer time with a meal called Iftar. Muslims may continue to eat and drink after the sun has set until the next morning's fajr prayer call. Ramadan is a time of reflecting , believing and worshiping God. Muslims are expected to put more effort into following the teachings of Islam and to avoid obscene and irreligious sights and sounds. Sexual activities during fasting hours are also forbidden. Purity of both thoughts and actions is important. The fast is intended to be an exacting act of deep personal worship in which Muslims seek a raised awareness of closeness to God.
The act of fasting is said to redirect the heart away from worldly activities, its purpose being to cleanse the inner soul and free it from harm. It also teaches Muslims to practice self-discipline, self-control, sacrifice, and empathy for those who are less fortunate; thus encouraging actions of generosity and charity (Zakat).
Muslims should start observing the fasting ritual upon reaching the age of puberty, so long as they are healthy, sane and have no disabilities or illnesses. The elderly, the chronically ill, and the mentally ill are exempt from fasting, although the first two groups must endeavor to feed the poor in place of their missed fasting. People who are travelling long distances do not have to fast. Also exempt are pregnant women, women during the period of their menstruation, and women nursing their newborns. A difference of opinion exists among Islamic scholars as to whether this last group must make up the days they miss at a later date, or feed poor people as a recompense for days missed. While fasting is not considered compulsory in childhood, many children endeavour to complete as many fasts as possible as practice for later life. Lastly, those traveling are exempt, but must make up the days they miss.
The elderly or those who suffer from a disability or disease and have no prospect of getting better in the future can pay the cost of Iftar for a person who cannot afford it, or else they can host such a person in their house and have him eat with them after sunset as a way of repaying for the days they could not fast.
Ramadan is also a time when Muslims are supposed to take a step back from worldly affairs and focus on self-reformation, spiritual cleansing and enlightenment; this is to establish a link between themselves and God through prayer, supplication, charity, good deeds, kindness and helping others. Since it is a festival of giving and sharing, Muslims prepare special foods and buy gifts for their family and friends and for giving to the poor and needy who cannot afford it; this can involve buying new clothes, shoes and other items of need. There is also a social aspect involving the preparing of special foods and inviting people for Iftar.
The holiday of Eid ul-Fitr marks the end of the fasting period of Ramadan and the first day of the following month, after another new moon has been sighted. The Eid falls after 29 or 30 days of fasting, per the lunar sighting. Eid ul-Fitr means the Festival of Breaking the Fast; a special celebration is made. Food is donated to the poor everyone puts on their best, usually new, clothes; and communal prayers are held in the early morning, followed by feasting and visiting relatives and friends.
To non-Muslim exparts, it may all sound a bit dull. Fortunately, non-Muslims are not required to fast which obviously makes things easier. Business life is affected quite a lot. The UAE Labour Law requires companies to reduce working hours by two on working days for all employees. Many companies, however, do not adhere to this rule and will only reduce working time for those fasting. However, all public and government offices will be observing the reduced hours making it more difficult to have documents processed. Also, business in general slows down significantly with fewer client visits and meetings and no major decisions seem to be made during the month of Ramadan. In addition, many expats actually leave the country for holidays during Ramadan.
The shopping malls are strangely silent with all the coffee shops, fast-food outlets and restaurants shut and no music being played anywhere – or at least kept at very low volume.
Most companies will provide a separate dining room for the non-muslims where they can eat their lunch, and possibly even a smoking room, so life here for expats is not really affected that much.
With the UAE authorities usual pragmatic approach to life’s issues, the non-Muslim part of the population can still pretty much carry on with their lives and it will still be possible to eat, drink and smoke during the day, as long as you don’t do it in the face of a fastening Muslim. Doing so is considered a criminal offence and during the past three years, 24 people were arrested for breaking the fast in public in the Emirate of Dubai. The punishment imposed on the sinners is usually a month in jail and/or a 2.000 Dirham fine. Better to avoid offending those fastening and stay safe, unless your car has got a really good layer of tint. Don’t do it – wait till you are safe home behind your shut blinds or drawn curtains. Then you can do pretty much whatever you want.
Just before 7.30pm you will find many expats queuing up outside bars and pubs waiting to get a drink. Alcohol is still available in Dubai during Ramadan and the bars do open (and are usually pretty crowded), howver there will be no live music and if music is played, it will be very quiet. This also goes for Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. However, in Abu Dhabi bars will be closed during Ramadan. In Sharjah, there are no bars at all.
Ramadan Kareem means “Ramadan the generous” and refers to all the good fasting and the spiritual insights supposedly brings the faithful. It is a phrase which is used widely in public ads and as a greeting during Ramadan. Well, Ramadan Kareem and happy fasting. Another 25 days to go before Eid and a few public holidays.
- with input from wikipedia.org
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Footprints in The Desert
Time resolutely continues its rhythmic and precisely measured circular motion and is only scarcely depicted in its presence on the clocks of the world; the treadmill of time. It is already late in the summer. August relieves July in a few days and I can tear-off another page of the calendar, add another month to my expatriation. It´s been ages since I left Denmark, but I do not quite get it. It really feels as if it was just a few months ago. My sense of time has deteriorated proportionately with my time spend abroad. Where did time go when it went? Was it brutally sucked out through the ventilation ducts of eternity? Was it carelessly flushed out through dubious drains of infinity? Did it voluntarily jump down the rubbish chutes of transience?
Whatever happened to it, one thing is certain: time passed is gone for good and it has no intention of coming back to me. Time is fragile. Time is precious. Time is fleeing. Time rapidly erodes like footprints in the desert.
Ideas are like stars; you cannot reach out and touch them with your hands. But as for the seafarer stuck in a wilderness of water, they can show you the way and if you follow them, you will meet your destiny.
The idea was to move far, far away from Denmark, go for a new adventure, challenge myself and start all over again in a foreign place. Sometimes I feel that I am still at the beginning, that I have only just arrived here and that I am far from being established properly yet. Other times, I catch myself out having actually established some kind of normal life here – I have even gotten used to most of the things about life in Dubai, which are far from normal for a Dane. I find myself having established new trade patterns, paved new roads and established a new, steadily growing network of friends and people that surround me and help keeping me alive.
It is my everyday life, it is my everything and I love it, my life here in Dubai.
So, who am I? What am I? Which are the terms I would use to define myself in light of my age, my background, my years spend here in the UAE with all it has brought me?
Change is my passion, progressive and creative thinking my style, insight my ability, openness my way of communication, travelling my desire, experience my drug, kindness my philosophy, understanding my process, performance my talent, experience my result.
I appreciate people with real and decent behaviour and I respect talent and wholesome attitudes.
I love our world, thrive in most places, I love to write, read books, cook, make photographs and listen to music.
I embrace good, healthy and close relationships and friendships and I yearn earnestly for proper cheese when I am in foreign countries.
Paradox is my answer.
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Hello again!
I'm back!
As a blogger, as an observer to life as it evolves in Dubai, as a misplaced Dane still hanging in here in the slightly scruffier but still glamorous oasis that surrounds us. For various reasons, I have decided that from now on, I will tell my story in English - not least to the benefit of those less fortunate amongst us who never got around to learn to speak or understand Danish. There is hope for those few as well.
I will start my return to the blogging universe by describing life as it looks from here these days and from behind my eyes. So much has changed. So many people and good friends left Dubai. Sometimes, it seems like a completely new life here. New friends, new people, new circumstances. Loads of new challenges. Everything seems very different from when I first came to this Country of Contrasts.
I have missed blogging so, so much and I cannot wait to once again let you know about this peculiar sandpit of ours and the people who have chosen to live their lives here where the sun always shines.
I shall be back shortly!
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