It will all fall into place

Weeks 5 & 6

I seem to be getting later and later with these updates so I thought I would combine the last two weeks. We finally have WiFi and blinds up, I can’t even go into the saga around the blinds, but they are up and they are great and we can finally sleep in a bit longer. Our shipping container has finally left the port after a few strongly worded emails from James, after such good service at the start I have to say I wouldn’t recommend Pickfords if you’re moving over here. We’re lucky James works in the industry and has the knowledge or else I fear our personal belongings could still be sat in Manchester, as they have done since 5th August. can’t wait to see everything again, it really will feel like home then. I also need my Peloton back as I’ve been living and eating like I’ve been on holiday for the past 6 weeks and definitely need to knock the Spanish Lattes on the head, they taste so good though!

So where to start… My Mum got to experience what it’s like to get the kids up a 6 am and have them dressed, fed, and out of the door by 6:45 am. Mondays are normally the most difficult and this Monday was no exception. I feel for them, they’re going through so much change but they’re adapting quite well and by Thursday they’re up and ready to go. They love school so that’s a big help. We had arranged to go on a pool day with Louise and Rach so we got ready after the kids had left and headed over to Louise’s. We went to the Fairmont on the Palm which is a beautiful hotel and the pool area is great for everyone. It was so relaxing and just what I needed after the past few weeks, a moment of calm.

We had to leave a bit earlier as Zach had his first training session with Empire Football Academy. They train at his school and we are so proud that he has been given the opportunity to join them, this will open up so many doors for him and he will also get to travel the world with them. It suddenly dawned on me that my little boy was not so little anymore and I had to start letting go a bit. He also has a two day residential coming up with school in Umm Al Quwain which is one of the Emirates and only an hour and a half away.

On Tuesday James was leaving for a conference in Abu Dhabi. This meant I had to sort out getting the kids to school still with no licence or car. It meant getting a taxi to school which wasn’t an issue but they’re always early so on both days we were at school before the gates even opened. A stark contrast to back in the UK when we used to be running through Highfield before the gates were closed on us. I had to find a solution as soon as possible. I even contemplated taking my driving test here but after a few attempts at the theory practise tests, I quickly realised this was not the answer. After the school drop off I went over to the DHL shop at Motor City to send my renewal paperwork that Mum brought with her, they have a big Waitrose there too so I had a little shop and I definetly felt like I was back at home, until I got to the till and had to pay. I’m getting used to the inflated prices here but it’s still a shock when they total everything up. Never the less, I managed to get a few bits like we had back in the UK, never in my life did I think I would be in Dubai, living my best life, buzzing about the fact I managed to get Soreen and a tin of spaghetti and sausage.

By Thursday James was back and we had our first BBQ, it was still really humid in the evenings but it was nice to eat outside especially now we had the garden sorted.

My Mum has kept saying she wants to go to the Burj, the only problem was that she kept changing her mind about which Burj she actually wanted to go to. In the end we decifered it was the Burj Al Arab so I booked Sal for us on the Friday afternoon. We had been to Dubai Hills Mall the day before and she treated herself to a new dress and shoes, she looked beautiful and so happy. Once we arrived we had a little look inside the hotel, Sal is at the back and part of the beach club, its a magnificent hotel, inside and out. We were slightly overdressed for the venue as it is more relaxed but with us not seeing each other for my birthday this year it was nice to get dressed up and be in such beautiful surroundings. The food was simply amazing. Based on Portuguese recipes, everything was so fresh and tasty. There is a minimum spend of 250 dhs per person and I won’t lie, it was quite expensive but for a one-off occasion it was worth it and another core memory made.

Saturday was Mums last full day here, she was getting quite emotional by this point. So we planned to make her last night really special. First though, we had to take Zach for his hair cut. This did not go well. He really wants his hair in a pony tail at the top, ill be honest, I was more on board with the perm he asked his Nanna Lynn for before we left. However, it’s so hot here and it was getting in his eyes so we went to the Barbers. The barber had taken too much off his hair and Zach was distraught. He said he looked stupid, he didn’t, and that he was never leaving the house again. I thought it was lovely and you could see his gorgeous face again properly. After about an hour he was speaking to me again and we left to go to Louise and Lee’s for Darcy’s birthday party. Another lovely afternoon with some great people.

After the party we headed over to JBR (Jumeriah Beach Residence) to watch the sunset. We ate at Eat Greek and that overlooks the beach and the big wheel. It was a lovely evening, but I could tell my Mum was getting upset at the thought of leaving us and Zach was getting upset too.

On Sunday we dropped Mum off at the Airport, it was hard to watch her go, but she’s back in December for a few days so I won’t have to wait to long to see her again. In the afternoon we had our friends, Sam and Dylan over for a BBQ which was lovely, the kids had a great time together and Sienna just loves Willow.

This week has been quiet, the kids are doing really well at school, Sienna got Arabic Star of the week and is enjoying her Extra Curricular Activities, Book Club and Watercolouring. We have her in a taster session for Cheerleading next Thursday. Her swimming has come on emensly since we got her. She is so confident now and is even diving in. The change we have seen in her alone has been amazing, she’s always had it in her, she just needed to be in the right environment. Zach is doing really well too, he’s had moments where he is missing his mates back home, he’s made loads of friends here but nothing will ever come close to the bond he had with the lads back in the UK. A bond that I hope will keep them in touch throughout there lives. Zach ECAs were F1 club and Comic Club, but then we got an email from the Director of Sport for school asking could we rethink his option for Wednesday as he had been noticed in PE as someone who could strengthen the school football squad. We are so very proud of him. Of course, we have swapped his F1 ECA for football and can’t wait to see him represent his school.

As for me, if I’m honest, I’m struggling to find a routine once the kids and James have left for school and work. I’ve started walking again which is the best thing for me, and have done a bit of swimming too. I’m used to being on the go all the time. I miss working, but I’m going to take this opportunity to take a step back and focus on myself and what I want to do going forward, but what to do? I thought about setting Mrs M Makes back up but with the heat and the fact I can’t even cook fishfingers in the oven we have without burning them its a non starter at the minute. Lots of thinking to be done but for now, I’m going to enjoy, take a moment, and breathe. James said to me when I was having a moment the other day ‘just look at where we are’ and he’s right, it will all fall into place.

Last night the boys went to football and I spent a few hours with Sienna, we had Fro-Yo and spent an hour at Townsquare Park just chatting and having fun. We met up with the boys later on at Hardys and then went back to Townsquare to play in the splashzone and fountains.