Back from trip to Europe

Got back a couple of days ago... to this ...

...urgh

We had a great time back in the UK seeing all our family. We were able to celebrate Rochelle's birthday, if a couple of days early! 

We saw a couple of signs that made us smile - ones you wouldn't see in Abu Dhabi....

In the window of the butchers next to our house...

On the A20 slip road, Swanley

It was my mum and dad's diamond wedding anniversary, so all my family were there, which was nice. We were able to spend some time with my kids and my grandson, Alfie.

Mum and Dad

Their congratulatory card from The Queen

Caz with Alfie

From the UK, we went with two of my brothers and their wives to Barcelona. We spent a nice relaxing week there, visiting some of the tourist sites. Me and my bros went to the Camp Nou stadium which was awesome and also we went to the Barcelona F1 GP.

The view from our hotel roof top, the Barcelo Raval , 

which was a nice funky hotel in the centre of Barcelona

We seemed to be in the Muslim quarter  - home form home :-)

The Sagrada Familia

Gaudi's Casa Batllo

Camp Nou

Bumped into these folks filming on La Rambla

 The Circuit de Catalunya 

Montserrat

I have lots more pictures, which I may post to a Picasa album and share another time....

St. George's Ball

Last thursday we attended the Abu Dhabi St. George's Ball, organised by the Royal Society of St. George (of which we are now members!)

The night involves a slap up meal (was very nice!) , downed with copious amounts of alcohol. This followed by the Loyal Toasts and then renditions of some very patriotic numbers such as "They'll always be an England", "Land of hope and glory" etc .... then more copious amounts of alcohol and dancing (of the bad variety generally). 

Basically, a good time was had by all and we will be back for the next one!

Pics and embarrassing video follow (apologies now for the singing)!

My dotted line boss, meets my Line Manager

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22349992

White Trucks 'R' Us

I've been meaning to take pictures of this vehicle storage area in Jebel Ali, where my work is based, for ages and finally got round to it this week. It basically a holding area where vehicles are kept as they are delivered straight from the port, waiting to be shipped to dealers. The photos I took don't cover may half of the area, but give you an idea...

My edit I have called "White Trucks 'R' Us "

Time for change...

Well as we approach 5 years here (OMG how did that happen!?), things are changing. I am about to start a new job (it's big and it's blue) and for the first time since living here, I will have an Abu Dhabi visa and not a Dubai one. It doesn't make too much difference, except it means we don't have to traipse across to Dubai for medicals and immigration visits for me and the maid (Caz already has an Abu Dhabi visa). It also means that I can get an alcohol licence! Yay! Nearly five years and no alcohol has been a bind (ahem) but I will soon be able to purchase and drink alcohol legally (Caz got one recently, so all the booze in our house is naturally hers - bloody alchie!) Anyway, no doubt more on these changes in the coming weeks.

As well us approaching 5 years, The National newspaper here is also celebrating it's five year anniversary. It is by far the best English speaking newspaper in the UAE and I have subscribed to it, I think, for 4 years now. The have doing some pieces focussing on "then and now" from 5 years ago to now. Below are some photos they published in the paper showing two of the major developments that have risen up in the last 5 years:-

There are many others, including everything on Yas Island, everything on Saadiyat Island and everything on Aldar's Al Raha Beach development. I could name probably a dozen other major developments and other infrastructure projects that have been completed while we have been here. Although it does seem that projects are slow at the time, as you look back you can see how things have indeed moved on significantly.

I'm sure I will be reminiscing more as the 5 year mark approaches in June, so I think that is enough for now!