Dubai
We left from Gatwick airport on Thursday morning, first stop Dubai.
Over the last few days we had repacked a number of times in an attempt to get somewhere close to our luggage allowance, in the event it turned out that we could have got away with loads more … we’ll know for next time! We were flying with Emirates – highly recommended for anyone who plans to come and visit us – the flights are very competitive and apart from the exceptional service, there were two things that made it a notable success for us: the first was the legroom, even Ben had enough space (Paul, you may not need a business class seat after all) and the second was the in-seat TV screens and with over 500 channels to choose from, Louise and Daniel were in entertainment heaven! We are pleased that rest of our journey is also with Emirates.
We arrived in Dubai at 12:30 midnight but by the time we got through passport control and customs, it was 3am before we got to the hotel and crashed out. We are staying at the Dubai Marine Beach Hotel and Spa and with its own private beach, 3 pools and 8 restaurants to choose from we quickly relax and start enjoying our holiday.
Our first full day in Dubai is a Friday – Friday’s are equivalent to a Sunday back home so Ev and John (family friends who live in Dubai) make it over to see us. Whilst the kids stay in the pool and tried out their flippers and masks, we catch up with Ev and John over a Lebanese Mezze and get their thoughts on what has changed and where we should try to see over the next few days.
On the second day we ventured out into town, taxis are cheap so it is easy to get around. We started at the old gold souk (market) and when we were all done shopping (window shopping that is) we headed down towards the creek (river) where we took an abra (water taxi) up to the Maktoum Bridge and back, by this time we had got the hang of haggling so were less likely to be completely fleeced (or so we’d like to believe anyway!). The Dubai skyline from the creek is amazing, you come out from the souks, a meandering, twisting set of small streets and markets onto the main waterfront with traditional dhows set against an amazing view of modern skyscrapers. I think the photos probably do it more justice than my explanation.
Dubai PhotosDay three and the hotel beach beckons, the sea is beautiful and clear and Louise and Daniel enjoy spending the morning painting the rocks with mud and letting the waves crash over us in the sea. In the early evening we take a taxi back into town and visit the Dubai museum – Daniel is interested in the cannons that are just inside the entrance and we all enjoy learning a bit more about the history of the arabs and this part of the world. After an hour or so we take another taxi to the Dubai Golf and Yacht club – this was one of Sharon’s favourite places when she came back to visit 7 years ago and it still is now – there are a number of restaurants here now but you still can’t beat watching the sunset from the Boardwalk and looking down the creek to he night lights of the city.
Monday and John has taken the day off work so he can take us on a bit of a tour along the coast to Jebel Ali where Sharon lived when she was 8. On the way we pass the racetrack and stop a camels cross the road in front of us and we take in the view of the Burj al Arab – a hotel built just out to sea, designed in the shape of a sail and the only 7 star hotel in the world – it is a magnificent sight even by this city’s standards. Along the route, where there was once desert there is now a mass of construction sites and new roads, however when we get to Jebel Ali it hasn’t changed. We drive past our old house, up the hill to the primary school and back down to the sports club and even the old dirt football pitch is intact. Louise wants to hear all about our childhood here. Meanwhile Daniel is his own mischief self and quickly becomes a firm friend of John’s.
Our last evening is spent with Ev and John, their son John and girlfriend Jessica. We go for a Thai meal at the Jumeirah Beach hotel, we share tales of the old times whilst Louise and Daniel are kept occupied in kids corner. Louise has a couple of braids in her hair and Daniel is proud of the spiderman painted on his hand. Tomorrow it’s an early start for the long leg of the trip to Sydney.
Last week in the UK (for a while)
After finishing work and school we head up to granny and grandpa’s (Mollie and Paul) for the weekend, it’s lovely to be able to relax for the weekend. Louise soon has granny busy making things – fairies this time and Daniel loves to follow grandpa around. Ben and I return home on the Monday to sort out the last few bits and pieces, including selling the “bus” which is an emotional moment for Ben – what is it about men and their cars? Last week we had an offer on the house that we have accepted so it will be good to go away knowing that it is all underway although we suspect that the process will be frustrating to try and push ahead at speed whilst we are not there.
Thursday is an emotional day, Mollie and Paul return with the children and we say goodbye. I know you’ll understand that we don’t put too much description in here, there are some thing which are just too personal. Sharon’s mum and dad also arrive by train on the same day, dad will be driving the silver car back to Edinburgh in a few days. Craig also flies in, he’s been in the Caribbean where he is second in command of a cruise ship – scary when you think he used to get lost on his way home after a few beers and is now responsible for sailing 3000 people around and getting them in to the right ports (sorry Craig!). We spend a few days together doing simple stuff like walking in the woods and having an early Easter Egg hunt in the garden but all too soon it is time to say goodbye. I’ll leave it there, ditto on the above.
Street Family PhotosOur last day is spent frenetically taking last bits down to the tip, cleaning the house and returning the mattresses we have been using over the past 4 weeks. It is strange to lock the door on the house and know it is for the last time – the last four years at Cherry Orchard have been good to us. Sandie (a friend of ours from RM) comes along with Hannah and Ellia (friends of Louise and Daniel from their first nursery) to pick up a couple of boxes and takes us over to Josie and Jon’s house where we are to spend our last night. It’s a bit of a party atmosphere as the kids best friends from school come over – there’s Amy, Rhys, Cameron, Alicia, Oliver, Jessica, Freya, Holly, Lottie, Louise and Daniel – that’s a lot of noise! Louise and Daniel are given some lovely presents, we’ll remember you guys and now that Louise and Daniel have their own email addresses we’ll keep in touch. Looking back I’m still touched by the close friends that we have made in the short time that the kids are in school – Josie, Ann, Gill and Juliet, I will miss you all. After a great last evening with Josie and Jon, tomorrow’s an early start and ready for the next chapter.
Our last night at Rhys and Amy's house
What next?
Well who knows really but loads of you have asked what are plans are so this is it so far:
Ben has a job a the Hardware Manager for a computer company called Insite Technology based in Christchurch, Jan Paterson is the General Manager and has been fantastic in sorting us out at the NZ end, to quote Jan "we know we are going to a good home".
Ben starts with Insite on 18th April, before that we've got a few incidentals to sort out here (you know, minor things like cars and houses) and a week to see family. Louise and Daniel are with granny (Ben's mum) and grandpa for the next few days and then Sharon's mum and dad come down from Edinburgh - they decided not to rough it with us so instead are staying at a B&B near Wantage (can’t think why Manor Farm would be more appealing than a mattress on the floor). Craig, Sharon's brother flies back from the Caribbean so we'll get a quick visit from him just in time too.
Our last night in the UK is a sleepover with Josie and Jon and their kids Cameron, Amy and Rhys who just so happen to be Louise and Daniel's best mates from school .. a few beers for the adults and not much sleep for the kids should be fun (well we don’t have work or school the next day …sorry Josie).
We fly Emirates, leaving Gatwick on Thursday 23 March. First stop Dubai with main priority being beach and sun, this is one of the places Sharon lived as a child and we are meeting up with Ev and John McGregor, it’s a fairly dry country but I’m sure we’ll make it down to the Irish pub. A few days later we fly to Sydney to spend some time with Caz and Dave – RM people may remember Caz Ellis. It’s then a short hop up to Brisbane for a few days – Louise and Daniel are looking forward to seeing koalas and we are staying with friends, Joyce and Noel (Sharon hasn’t seen them for 19 years so we’ll have just a bit of catching up to do).
After all that we then fly to Christchurch, arriving on the 9th April. We are staying the first few days with Shonagh O'Hagan, a friend of Jan’s in a B&B overlooking Lyttelton Harbour – the views look great and it’s no coincidence that we’ve chosen to start near the sea! We’ve got 4 days and a couple of schools lined up to visit and then it’s the Easter weekend so plenty of opportunity to start exploring before Ben starts work.
So that’s as far as we have got, for the moment we are making the most of our “free time” and pushing back on reality, it’s a great place to be right now.
Leaving RM
I can't believe how quickly this day has come around. Since getting our visas confirmed exactly two months ago, it has been a bit of a whirlwind and now here we are, our last day at RM. After 22 years between Ben and I, it will be weird not to be going in to work on Monday.
Doug (also leaving RM) and Ben organise our leaving do at the Jericho Tavern in Oxford. Doug and Target the Band provide the music, they are fantastic and create a great atmosphere. We get a turn out of about 60-70 with some of our best mates from RM. I know at this point we should be feeling a bit sad, and we do when saying goodbye to people towards the end of the evening but actually most of all we feel incredibly lucky to have so many friends here who are excited for us and have wished us well.
The pictures capture the evening really well so take a look.
Jericho Tavern PhotosSo that was last night and today we are saying goodbye to RM. Tomorrow Ben will be in between jobs and I will be a jobless (how long do you reckon I can get away with a life of leisure?!).
Ben and Doug had their leaving presentations from Gareth last night - Gareth comments on Ben's expertise in breaking things and the irony of being the Product Quality Manager and it's not often that you can say you have a word named after you, Doug - how long will it take for "douggered" to appear in the English dictionary? Thanks for giving Ben an IPod - now he doesn't need to borrow mine!
Gillian did my presentation at work today, fortunately I have moved around RM enough for not too many of the embarrassing stories to follow me in to Services and so apart from the Little Services video where I play the part of Kenny the Hypnotist I get away quite lightly (fortunately blog's haven't yet got the facility to upload video). I am very proud to have been a part of Services over the past four years. Thanks for the card, I will enjoy reading through your comments, the books are great and I am looking forward to using my voucher when we get to NZ (I won't be tempted to bungee jump but a helicopter ride or parachute jump sound good).
Goodbye RM, we will miss you.
A note from Josh
Last few days at school
Our last week at Longcot and Fernham School has come about quickly.
Daniel is in Class One, his teacher Miss Harris is lovely. His best mates are Rhys, Oliver, Matt and Shane. This is Daniel with the Green Group.
It’s difficult to know how Daniel really feels about the whole thing – he’s bouncy and upbeat, enjoying all of the attention and I think he hasn’t taken it all in but then every once in a while he’ll tell one of friends about going to live on the other side of the world and you suspect he understands a lot more than he is letting on.
Louise’s teacher Miss Lister is has been off school with a back injury for the past few weeks, it looks like Louise will not see her again before we go. “We miss you lots like jelly tots!”. Miss Lister has bags of energy and from what I can gather (although this is a secret), her classes are F.U.N.
Last week, Louise was definitely sad about leaving her friends. As we get into the last week that turns to excitement as they exchange presents and cards and Louise enjoys spending time with them all. This is Louise with two of her best friends, Holly and Amy.
Like the best (or the worst) reality TV shows, we’ve captured their best bits and here they are:
School FriendsLouise and Daniel’s last day at school coincides with Ben and Sharon’s last day at RM. They come out of school piled high with the usual book bags and gym kit but also laden with presents and all of their books to take on for their new school teachers. Sharon’s mate Josie (Rhys and Amy’s mum) brings along some balloons – as we leave, we feel well loved.
Jenkins / McCurrach get together
18 people to entertain and an empty house mmm this could be interesting! It is not very often that we manage to get Mollie and Paul, all of Ben's brothers and sisters and Louise and Daniel's cousins together and when we do it is always great fun. Today was no exception.
More family photosI know that you are all sad that we are going - it makes it all the more special that you all came over on Sunday and everyone made a huge effort to have a great day. Simon was the first to arrive ... for those of you that don't know Ben's brother, this is quite an achievement. I didn't know that you did mornings Si! Everyone else arrives shortly afterwards, armed with camping chairs, plates, cakes and fizz ... it's looking good.
Spring is just thinking about putting in an appearance and we are lucky with the weather, it means that we can get across the road to the park. After admitting last week to feeling a bit like country bumpkins in London, it's funny to see how the kids are fascinated by the horses over the back of our fence! Daniel and Sam dig out the few remaining toys from the shed whilst Kayla, Yasmin and Katie have a quick game of rounders, Laura is keen to get in on the action too. Louise helps out with the tea and coffee orders and chats to Sarah. We do manage to get them all together (briefly!) for some photos before they all shoot off in different directions to continue their games.
Paul (grandpa) is not feeling on top form but we really appreciate that you made it over. We are looking forward to spending next weekend with you.
Lucy, Jay, Sarah, Katie, Matthew, Ruth, Sam, Laura, Charlotte, Kayla, Yasmin, Simon – we will miss you all heaps, we promise to make huge efforts to keep in touch.
