Another weekend in Dubai...

Hello - hope you are all doing ok. I had a great weekend in Dubai. The picture here is of myself and Gay in the Mall of the Emirates in front of the ski slope. You forget where you are in Dubai - there are that many places that make you feel like you could be anywhere in the world!! Bit like Vegas, but without the casinos!!

Anyway, another week has gone by - work was pretty unremarkable for a change! I went to boot camp last Monday and then Tuesday evening went to look at a car - Ford Focus -for sale. Nice, but a bit out my price range, so still in negotiations! Going to look at a VW Polo shortly - will update you later about that...

So, flew to Dubai on Weds night - journey was pretty straight forward from Dammam to Sharjah and then taxi to Dubai. We were staying at the Merdien next to Dubai airport. I travelled with Gay, Jason and Rebecca and their 18 month old William - who was such a good boy all trip!

Hotel was fine - apart from noisy air con (which we had fixed) and no decent hairdryer - but they bought us a better one! Rooms were a bit dated but the pool area and restaurants were great and it was such a bargin price for 3 nights (150 quid between 2 of us!) so was fine for the money.

Spent the first morning by the pool, then went to meet everyone at the mall - did a bit of shopping, went to see The Proposal - you must see that film if you havent done so - it was so funny. We laughed all the way through it. Then we went to Apres - a bar and restaurant overlooking the ski slope - William loved watching the people ski-ing! We had a nice meal and a few drinks and then went back to the hotel.


Friday, I went for a massage at the Dubai Mall.

As you can see by the photos - there is a huge waterfall with these metal men diving down it and then this huge aquarium with sharks, rays and a diver feeding the fish! Madness in the middle of a mall. Went to my massage which was 90 mins long - really nice - although the massage rooms were just off a chemist shop, which was a bit odd!

Then I had to taxi it up to the Meadows - where I met Jade and paid some of the money towards my personal trainer course in October and had a catch up with her. Taxi back to the hotel and chilled out for a few hours. Then, went to Raffles where my friend Neil was staying with his girlfriend - had a few drinks in there and met up with Hettie and Scott - I know Hettie from Saudi as he worked here and now works in Dubai - so good to catch up too with him. Some other friends tried to get up to Neil's room but security wouldnt let them for some bizarre reason so we then left and went to Vintage wine bar. Noticed that Keane has stayed in the hotel too the night before - we saw their signature in the guest book! They had done a gig there!

This is Hettie and Scott...

Had a quick look around the Wafi Mall too - very traditional middle eastern look to it and also very expensive shops in there too!!

Went to Vintage wine bar then and met up with a load of friends from Aramco and to celebrate Lindsey's birthday too. Had a few drinks in there and then went on to my hotel and to the Dubliner's Irish bar for a few more and then to this place called the Ware House and had a few more! It did end up being a bit of a messy night, but I had a good laugh - although my head regretted it the following day!

Saturday I just lazed around and we had lunch then went to the airport...

So, I looked at the car - it was nice, although has a bit of body work that would need knocking out - not a bad dent and it needs the windscreen wiper arm replacing cos it fell off! So I have made an offer and will see what he says and Paula has accepted my offer of 14k on her Focus, if this person looking at it later, isn't interested. So, now I have to wait til tomorrow!

We also went to see Mr Jama - Director of housing last week too - myself and Lorraine went along - it did get a bit heated at times and we got slightly irate, however, he has promised more houses for the females, so all we can do is wait and see. I seem to be becoming well known as a ring leader on Aramco at the moment! As long as I am diplomatic, all we be fine!!

Anyway, mad weekend - Jasmine's tomorrow night for a party, town Thursday saree shopping for a friend's wedding, comedy night Thursday night and possibly squash on Friday!

And only 3 WEEKS TIL I AM HOME! Not that I am excited at all!

Be seeing you soon,

Love

Jill
xxx