midweek mix #4 oh

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Visiting Season

My first visitors have been and gone and with them I think they took a piece of me. 

It was the most glorious week showing three of my bestest friends around this chaotic and shiny city that I call home. And although I was working for a lot of the time, we soaked up the hours we had together and made some amazing memories along the way. 

Drifting down the marina and out into the ocean with these ladies was a pretty lovely way to spend a Thursday evening and reliving our university days, tearing up the dancefloor, allbeit in a slightly different setting that back in England, was just what I needed. 

We explored the mall, wowed at the Dubai fountains, stood in awe of the views Dubai has to offer, visited the Ripe Market, soaked up the sun and wandered round the Al Qasr hotel. I think it is safe to say the ladies enjoyed pretty much every minute of their short trip.

As much as I loved having them here, the problem with visitors is just that, they visit. And when they leave they take a little piece of you with them and all those feelings of home and thats when the stark light of expat life falls over you. It's those few moments post departure that hurt the most but it is the sacrifice we make as expats I guess. 

At least we have the memories. And the photographs. 

sunday sound #4 bullets

midweek mix #3 my style

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First visitors

This morning, my first visitors land in Dubai and I am filled with excitement, anticipation and nerves. The nerves mainly brought on by the ridiculous weather that battered Dubai yesterday. I mean the last thing you want is for visitors to arrive from chilly London and be greeted by torrential rain, extreme wind and thunder. But hey, mother nature is unpredictable right. Fingers crossed she gets her act together. 

I am excited to have three familiar faces crash land on me from London because christmas was a good two weeks ago and obviously I didn't get to spend proper time with them because of all the festive obligations. To spend evenings with friends I used to see everyday through our university days is going to be blissful and I am pretty sure I wont want them to leave. 

Im nervous to host my first guests in a new city, one which I am still discovering. I am a worrier and I worry that people wont have a nice time. But half of the reason they are coming is to see me and the other is to see Dubai, so at least if they're are disappointed with Dubai, which I am sure they wont be, they get to see my silly smiling face. Now I just need to juggle work and three beautiful blondes landing shortly and we will be fine. 

I will say one thing though, I am organised for their arrival; a freshly cut spare key and a fully charged phone with credit and apps ready for them to explore the city with. I figured if I cant explore with them at least give them google maps so they have at least half a chance of not getting lost!

Good intentions mean nothing....

I had such good intentions for 2015 and the blog, and so far I have fallen at pretty much every hurdle. I have spoken many times before about wanting to get back on the blogging horse and for one reason or another I never seem to quite make it. Which leaves me wondering my motivation has gone?

This blog used to be updated daily. It was my release after a day of work but I now spend my days writing and this must have had an impact on some level. Now it seems that I get my release after a day at work, from the gym of all places. Which is doing wonders for my fitness and it was about time I took my fitness a bit more seriously but that means the blog has become an afterthought again.

And I am usually so organised. I used to have a notebook that had ideas and notes about blog posts. I used to schedule posts days in advance after a mammoth writing session but that doesn't happen anymore either. I promised myself I wouldn't too hard on myself but it's difficult when my blog used to so abundant with content and I used to look forward to writing it.

Well the only person to blame is myself so let's see how the rest of 2015 pans out. Maybe my motivation is lurking behind February's door.

Eggspectation, JBR

Eggspectation on the walk in JBR is quite possibly my new favourite place for breakfast. A sweeping statement I know since we all know how loyal and loving I am of the breakfast options at the Dubai Marina Yacht Club. However it's nice to have a change of scenery right and the gazillion of egg options doesn't hurt either.

Eggspectation has a great interior with chunky wooden tables and cosy little booths. Just the two of us, we had a relatively tiny table but I spied a huge table to seat about 8 which I would have like to called home with my eggs and coffee and a laptop in one of those romantic dreams in which I spend my days writing my book. Anyway back to reality.

The eggs were delicious. I had a smoked salmon benny and my eating partner in crime went for the lobster version. Perfectly cooked eggs with a delicious hollandaise and a whole heap of fresh fruit on the side which was a nice change from the usual grilled tomato or something equally generic.

Considering it was packed at 10am on a Saturday morning the service was pretty swift and no one asked us to give up our table even after over 2 hours and just 2 humble plates of eggs later.

Plus it has a nice little terrace that overlooks the beach if you want your breakfast alfresco. All in all I was very impressed with Eggspectation. And despite what the name may suggest they have a whole menu for lunch and dinner.

sunday sound #3 young

midweek mix #2 white out

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the reality of life post-christmas

We have been back in dubai little over a week and I think it's safe to say I have the obligatory post London blues. It's not about the place it's all about the people. Although London at Christmas does have an amazing magical quality.

When we booked our flights it sounded like such a long time but of course it flew by all too quickly.

We landed on Christmas Eve and since our arrival was somewhat of a surprise, we kept a low profile until Christmas Day. My family knew we were coming but the boyfriends mother didn't and lets just say that her reaction to have her her son and his girlfriend on her doorstep on Christmas afternoon, all the way from the Middle East, was pretty priceless. 

Christmas was the usual amazing combination of warm, satisfying English food perfect for the -2 temperatures we were dealt and a plethora of sweet treats. We spent days catching up with friends and family and lazy evenings in cosy Christmas themed pubs and watching our fair share of Londons best Christmas TV.

And of course a trip to London for me, must always include a few things; a trip to the Victoria and Albert Museum, a trip to H&M, dinner in China Town and a visit to Selfridges. All of which I managed to tick off this time.

Until next year London. 

sunday sound #2 summertime sadness

midweek mix #1 dark like winter

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christmas withdrawal

I feel a little confused with the situation I find myself in.

I have spent the last 10 days freezing in London, enjoying family time in abundance and catching up with friends I hadn't seen in almost 6 months. My heart is still telling me to put on a jumper and whip up hot chocolate and watch love actually. But being back in Dubai, my head is telling me it's too hot for a jumper and to go to the beach for a swim. Christmas decorations, crisp winter skies and central heating are a thing of the past.

The sun shines and I am back in my flip flops and those glorious christmas holiday days already feel like a distant memory. The trouble with going home for christmas is the post christmas withdrawal that London leaves me with.  Don't get me wrong I thoroughly love Dubai and not having to wear 15 layers plus a coat and scarf to leave the house is somewhat of a luxury. But a jam packed christmas holiday always leaves a little hole in my heart for a few days upon returning to whatever country we currently call home.

I am throwing myself feet first back into work, getting back on the treadmill and removing as much sugar from my diet as possible. Maybe the lack of quality streets, ferrero rocher and other miscellaneous christmas treats are the real reason for my downer.

sunday sound #1 Lost Stars