samurai_tofu

Bird Spotting in Mushrif Country Park From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (6 days old)

We have started going for a walk in Mushrif country Park on Saturday mornings. The bicycle track forms a circuit of about 5 km and it takes us about 50 minutes to walk. It is a pleasant walk - rath… more

Lost in the Ether From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (10 days old)

My website has disappeared into the Ether, despite me having paid to continue it. It seems my hosts have been bought out by other hosts, and we have to change over. If I had upgraded to the premium… more

Lost in Translation From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (13 days old)

I taught my children "The Farmer's in his Dell" the other day. They love it, of course. But the first time, they weren't sure how it was played. I deliberately picked one of the older, more savvy ones… more

Good old M&S From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (28 days old)

Since coming to Dubai and not finding the Hash, we have joined the Caledonian Society and have taken up Scotish country dancing again for exercise. It's as much fun as always, and the group we go … more

I'm Driving Again From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (36 days old)

When I arrived in Dubai at the end of August, I expected to be able to drive, as I had on previous visits. But no. Because I entered with a work visa and an application for residence, my British drivi… more

Hatta 2 From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (41 days old)

Actually Hatta 2 squared, as I wrote it last week and it got lost in transmission... Ho hum! We went to Hatta again with Rodica - saw the camels of the last post on the way home - but I really wa… more

Beware Camels in the road From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (48 days old)

Wot camels? Oh, right!… more

Trip to Sharjah From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (56 days old)

A trip to Sharjah is a bit like going from Cleethorpes to Grimsby, or Kenley to Croydon; so it wasn't a major expedition, but it was over a nominal border into the next Emirate. The intention was cult… more

Hatta From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (61 days old)

We managed to get away for a day trip at least. We went to Hatta Pools, right on the Oman border but only a 90 minute journey from home. The drive to Hatta is pleasant, past the Big Red sand du… more

Eid Holidays From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (62 days old)

After only 2 weeks of term, we are having a week's holiday to celebrate Eid al Fitr - the end of the holy month of Ramadan. We had hoped to go diving in Oman, but unfortunately my visa hasn't been … more

Nearly Famous From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (69 days old)

On Thursday we had dinner with photographer Kevin Phillips who was in Dubai to do some work for Mott MacDonald. During the course of discussing his mostly industrial photographs, I asked if he'd ever … more

Don't you just love 3 Year Olds? From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (69 days old)

So two of my class were role playing cooking. One had filled her dish with Lego pieces and the other was using magnetic letters. One kindly gave the other a large spoonful of magnetic letters. "Here's… more

Nothing to do with Me! From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (76 days old)

When I arrived at the house in Mirdiff to take up longer term residence, I discovered another newcomer had beaten me to it! Apparently our housekeeper Nerosha had arrived home one day to find t… more

The Children Have Arrived From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (78 days old)

After a week of FRANTIC activity - it's no joke as a newbie to both country and school, trying to support a team of 13 teachers plus support staff, several of whom are also new to the school/country/y… more

LC and IV From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (110 days old)

My great nieces are identical. But there are ways of identifying them. Elsie sucks her fingers like her Mum Holly used to; whereas Ivy sucks her thumb and holds her lip in the traditional w… more

My Friend Gillian From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (110 days old)

Here are my friend Gillian and I done up to the nines at Carol's wedding a few years ago. "Jill" is one of my best friends - the only one invited who made it to Michigan from Britain for the weddi… more

More Dressing Up! From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (110 days old)

Nobody can ever accuse us of not joining in when invited! On our whistle stop tour of the family to prove the Scarlet Pimpernel does exist as his alter ego Ed, we took Jake and Georgia to the Lowry Ce… more

Hi From varshakale in LET US TURN HISTORY INTO HERSTORY! (112 days old)

Hi everybody...how are you… more

Graceless From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (119 days old)

As we won't be going up to the Festival this year unfortunately, I went to see the preview of the Edinburgh fringe show "Graceless" by Petticoats Rip Theatre Company last night at the Camden People's … more

First Day of Never Again From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (123 days old)

Today is the first day that I will never work at my old school again. Monday morning and I had a lie in till 7.30 and thought about all that I'll miss - colleagues who have become good friends; happy … more

Day Out From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (134 days old)

We went on a trip today, to Morden Hall Park and Deen City Farm. Unlike the other two classes who went on Tuesday and got rained on most of the day and drenched in a downpour just before they got back… more

End of Term Moods From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (136 days old)

We are in the penultimate week of school and bang in the middle of transition for our Year 2 children, who are about to go off to another "big school" at the end of their infant career, across the pla… more

Visitors, the Theatre Museum and the Mary Rose From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (137 days old)

The last time I visited the theatre museum was a number of years ago with Lissa, when she came for a visit which we decided to give a theatrical theme to. This last weekend I had the Williams fami… more

Tennis From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (145 days old)

On Friday we had a notice that the electricity would be cut off between 9 am and 4 pm so, not knowing how to spend a day indoors without computer access any more, I went out. Having completed my to-do… more

The Tree From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (172 days old)

This was the tree outside my house in the snow on 3rd February. Here it is again on 1st June photographed at 8.45pm!… more

Dive trip to Mussendam From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (173 days old)

We went diving again on Friday, to a new location - the Mussendam peninsular, in Fujeira. We went by Dhow from Dibba. This is the other one that went with us. Ed on deck, trying to figure o… more

Gasping From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (179 days old)

We went to see Gasping, by Ben Elton, last night. It was presented by the amateur Dubai Drama Group at the Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre in the Mall of the Emirates. I was unfamiliar … more

Sunday is the Day I talk to Strangers From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (187 days old)

Every weekday, I get in my car, possibly saying hello to a neighbour leaving at the same time, and drive to work. I spend the days talking with colleagues and the children, then I drive home. If I … more

Kitty and Bun From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (190 days old)

So many gorgeous babies around in my world at the moment - mostly girls. Couldn't resist sharing this very cute one of little Katherine (daughter of Lewis and Keighly for those who know them) and … more

Race for Edna and Arlene From lizdavies in Liz's Diary (194 days old)

Only three of us from Woodside staff Racing for Life this year - Chris, me and Irene. Perhaps not surprising as we are amongst the longest serving, who remember Arlene, our colleague who died of b… more