Goodbye Dubai!

Oh so sad to be leaving tonight, Leo and Eva are at a delightful age, and are changing so rapidly. Eva and i have been heading to the pool at 730am, she chatters non stop,doesn't worry if she tipples over and has a mouthful of water. Comes up to me for a kiss, her mouth wide open, so nice and moist. leo has had a super time helping vern, paint the play house.etc. today he and kath cycled the perimeter of the estate 10kms, not bad in this heat and no gears on his bike for a 4 yr old.Meeting dogs was the only prob!!

Vern and Gavin had a great experience yesterday, Had a drive of a racing car, 0 to a hundred in 4.6 secs .

Yesterday we went on the mono rail to the Palms, a man made island in the shape of a palm tree, all the houses have their own beach front.

Today we went to Burj Kahlifa the highest building in the world. it is amazing,an engineering feat to say the least. We went up to the 124th floor,very quickly!!

Its been lovely meeting kath and Gavins friends,last night they invited Rodney and Sheridan Buchanan,Verns cousins eldest son, who is a pilot for Emirates and another young family who may visit us in NZ for Christmas. The children, all under 6 , had a marvelous time, and so did we.

We are off for a swim now, to farewell all our new pool friends, fly out to Bangkok before midnight, to stay with Xuemai and Roland , they were our neighbours in Parker St,

Dubai

Feeling as if we are homeward bound now. Lovely to be here with these adorable Sanderson kids. Eva 14 mths, took her first steps after we arrived, she looks like a waddling duck,she crawled with one leg and slid the other, at great speed. She is full of smiles, has accepted us easily. Leo 4 yrs, is a school 5 days a week, 8am to 3pm . The school follows the american system, wonderful resources, even computers, Special PE and music teacher and Library.

Vern is building a play house for them. A bit frustrating, as any shops , even the post box 30 kms away. a little different to Blenheim ,with Mitre 10 5mins away. Also can only work on it early am or evenings,as it is between 37 -44 degrees!! we are grease spots. We swim in a beautiful pool in the next street each pm at 4. Its sheer bliss and the kids have a ball with all their friends,Eva floats arrived with her arm bands and leo can swim.

We went on a Desert safari the other night, Picked up 4pm, and headed towards Oman. 15 4 wheel drive vehicles, They let the tyres down and off we went though and up and down the dunes, quite exhilerating!!, then go to a desert camp for a meal, belly dancing, hena printing, and dress as an arab if you want to pay for a photo!

Kath and Gav are having a short 3 day break in Beirut, home tonight. Vern had to go to a party with Leo,24 4 yr olds!! and on school transport today. I havent ventured behind the wheel. Its all so flat hard to know directions. The main highway linking the place is 6 lanes each way. Its a very busy city and everyone has huge cars.

Sandra (house girl) lives with Kath and Gav. She works for them in the am and for others pm, and baby sits when ever they need her. She is from Sri Lanka. Keeps in contact with her family by skype. She is a lovely lady, the kids adore her. We all need a Sandra!!