Janet's parents have not quite brought the weather with them but is has been much, much cooler this week. Yesterday it actually rained. A whopping 0.2mm was recorded at the airport and resulted in absolute chaos on the roads. Janet was upset because it spoilt her plans to go to the pool.
I must be fairly well acclimatised now. I thought it was a bit chilly when I got in the car this morning but the radio presenter said it was 'currently 25.5 degrees in Dubai'. Brrrrrr - we're freezing!
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Wednesday, November 15, 2006
Happy Birthday Lulu!
My beautiful little girl is now 6. She was very excited opening her presents yesterday but unfortunately wasn't very well, spent a lot of the day being sick, and wasn't able to go to school. However, by the time I got back she was feeling much better and riding her new bike down the street.
Update on the driving licence saga
I know Dean is desperate to know more about the driving licence, but anybody else who is sick of hearing about this should stop reading now and go off and do something more useful with their life.
A couple of weeks ago I finally had enough of calling the hospital to see when my appointment for the eye test was going to be (usually transferred 3 times ending in a dead line). I drove over to Mafraq and wandered all over the hospital until I found the right person. It didn't look like I existed in the system, but they eventually gave me an appointment for yesterday (14th November).
The test itself was a bit of a farce. 'All you need for driving is red and green' he said. He held up a red, green and yellow plate and I correctly identified them (my colour blindness isn't that bad). Why the optician at the driving centre failed me is now completely beyond me. Then we went through the Ishihara plate test. Although I have memorised these numbers he helpfully opened it at the answer page and went off for a few minutes whilst I refreshed my memory. Surprise, surprise I got them all right except the ones where you have to follow a line. Then, more waiting whilst I saw the doctor who signs you off. She had real problems with the part of the form which said 'strength of limbs and upper body for driving'. I offered to do a few press-ups. No, she would call someone at the ministry of health. After another hour of waiting, I managed to get hold of a nurse who just said 'you can go now'. I wasn't having this and spoke to the doctor. She showed me the letter they're sending to the ministry and it says my eyesight and colour vision is normal. However, they wouldn't give it to me and wouldn't let me have a copy. I now have to wait 2 weeks whilst 3 doctors at the ministry ratify that I am fit to drive. So, two more weeks of illegal driving until I find out what the next hurdle is. Still, it could be worse. I could be a woman in Saudi Arabia
Update on the driving licence saga
I know Dean is desperate to know more about the driving licence, but anybody else who is sick of hearing about this should stop reading now and go off and do something more useful with their life.
A couple of weeks ago I finally had enough of calling the hospital to see when my appointment for the eye test was going to be (usually transferred 3 times ending in a dead line). I drove over to Mafraq and wandered all over the hospital until I found the right person. It didn't look like I existed in the system, but they eventually gave me an appointment for yesterday (14th November).
The test itself was a bit of a farce. 'All you need for driving is red and green' he said. He held up a red, green and yellow plate and I correctly identified them (my colour blindness isn't that bad). Why the optician at the driving centre failed me is now completely beyond me. Then we went through the Ishihara plate test. Although I have memorised these numbers he helpfully opened it at the answer page and went off for a few minutes whilst I refreshed my memory. Surprise, surprise I got them all right except the ones where you have to follow a line. Then, more waiting whilst I saw the doctor who signs you off. She had real problems with the part of the form which said 'strength of limbs and upper body for driving'. I offered to do a few press-ups. No, she would call someone at the ministry of health. After another hour of waiting, I managed to get hold of a nurse who just said 'you can go now'. I wasn't having this and spoke to the doctor. She showed me the letter they're sending to the ministry and it says my eyesight and colour vision is normal. However, they wouldn't give it to me and wouldn't let me have a copy. I now have to wait 2 weeks whilst 3 doctors at the ministry ratify that I am fit to drive. So, two more weeks of illegal driving until I find out what the next hurdle is. Still, it could be worse. I could be a woman in Saudi Arabia
Thursday, November 09, 2006
Things that go bump in the evening
Yesterday I had to be in Abu Dhabi early for a site visit. It meant leaving at 6.30 and it was incredibly foggy. The drive was a bit hairy - drivers either have their hazards on or no lights at all (no-one used a fog light) and don't worry about slowing down. When we arrived the client wasn't there - 'we didn't think you'd come in this fog'. He arrived in a convoy of 5 Land Cruisers an hour and a half later.
We drove for a short while and then suddenly stopped to let the air out of the tyres ('one minute per tyre'). Next thing I know, we're bumping over the sand dunes trying to find a gas pipeline. It was quite exciting at first. As the client said, 'you pay 200 Dhs for this in Dubai and today we are paying you'. After 5 hours driving in the desert on a baking hot day, however, I'd seen enough gas pipeline to last me a lifetime.
On the way back, I dropped off my colleague at his villa at Arabian Ranches. The roundabout there is notorious and there seems to be a continuous police presence. I was queuing to get on the roundabout for ages. The guy behind me finally lost patience, thought I was moving when I wasn't, and thumped into the back of me.
His car was a complete mess, number plate off, bumper and bonnet all smashed up. Expecting the worst, I looked at the Jeep. Not a mark. The tyre mounted on the back had taken the entire impact and I've picked up a good Dubai car buying tip.
It was fortunate that the police were there and had seen it since you can wait ages for them to arrive. It was clearly the other guys fault so I wasn't worried about that but then he inevitably asked for my driving licence which, of course, I don't have. 'Is big trouble for you' he said. I pleaded ignorance and then, thankfully, there was another crash on the other side. He handed me the green form of no blame, gave the other guy the dreaded pink copy and drove off shouting 'go Barsha morning - get temporary licence'. Phew.
We drove for a short while and then suddenly stopped to let the air out of the tyres ('one minute per tyre'). Next thing I know, we're bumping over the sand dunes trying to find a gas pipeline. It was quite exciting at first. As the client said, 'you pay 200 Dhs for this in Dubai and today we are paying you'. After 5 hours driving in the desert on a baking hot day, however, I'd seen enough gas pipeline to last me a lifetime.
On the way back, I dropped off my colleague at his villa at Arabian Ranches. The roundabout there is notorious and there seems to be a continuous police presence. I was queuing to get on the roundabout for ages. The guy behind me finally lost patience, thought I was moving when I wasn't, and thumped into the back of me.
His car was a complete mess, number plate off, bumper and bonnet all smashed up. Expecting the worst, I looked at the Jeep. Not a mark. The tyre mounted on the back had taken the entire impact and I've picked up a good Dubai car buying tip.
It was fortunate that the police were there and had seen it since you can wait ages for them to arrive. It was clearly the other guys fault so I wasn't worried about that but then he inevitably asked for my driving licence which, of course, I don't have. 'Is big trouble for you' he said. I pleaded ignorance and then, thankfully, there was another crash on the other side. He handed me the green form of no blame, gave the other guy the dreaded pink copy and drove off shouting 'go Barsha morning - get temporary licence'. Phew.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Things that go bump in the morning
Max is 20 months old and thinks that he is too big for his high chair. Unfortunately, he isn’t big enough to sit on the kitchen chairs and promptly fell off head first onto the tiled floor. The thud was sickening. Shortly afterwards he vomited so we rushed off to the local medical centre. Thankfully, the x-ray revealed that his skull, like his father’s, appears to be made from reinforced concrete.
Later that day we went to a place called Childrens City. Although it was practically empty, it was very good for small children and, unusually for Dubai, very cheap.
Halloween isn’t a big deal here but the kids dressed up and enjoyed themselves.
We went round to some friends for a BBQ on bonfire night. You can’t buy fireworks but I had managed to get some sparklers and we could see the display at the Ritz-Carlton in Dubai Marina from the balcony. It was very strange going to a bonfire party in shorts and t-shirt!
Fun in the fountains at the Marina.
Later that day we went to a place called Childrens City. Although it was practically empty, it was very good for small children and, unusually for Dubai, very cheap.
Halloween isn’t a big deal here but the kids dressed up and enjoyed themselves.
We went round to some friends for a BBQ on bonfire night. You can’t buy fireworks but I had managed to get some sparklers and we could see the display at the Ritz-Carlton in Dubai Marina from the balcony. It was very strange going to a bonfire party in shorts and t-shirt!
Fun in the fountains at the Marina.
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