Gulf Photo Plus

Today I've been on a course taking portraits using natural light at Gulf Photo Plus 2008, with the American photographer Bobbi Lane. I had a great time and learnt a lot - not least of which was lot of the funny buttons on my camera do.

It was supposed to be for 'confident beginners', but it was clear that many of the attendees were professional photographers. This made me a little nervous to start, but it was OK as we got going. In the morning I was in a group with a couple of Russian girls. Olga, model turned photographer, was great and really knew how to get the best out of the model. The afternoon wasn't as good, I was in a different group, and we didn't really hit it off with the models.

Anyway, a few of the best pics I took are below. There is another part to the course on Thursday evening when I learn how to improve them in Photoshop.












I don't like any of them as much as this one taken of Ben in the bath last week though.

48 hours of H E L L

This is how the wonderfully named Dr Millicent Grim, consultant opthalmologist, described corneal erosion.

I'd been watering the plants in the garden with the youngest one. As I carried him back into the house he reached to push the patio door shut. His hand slipped off and he caught me smack in the middle of my eyeball with a stunning right cross which ripped away a piece of the protective epithelium. The pain is excruciating.

If you ever have the misfortune to suffer this type of injury, I have two pieces of advice. One, go to the doctor straight away and get a pain killer and a 'bandage contact lens' put in. Do not suffer a painful, sleepless night as I did. Two, keep out of the light. Do not try, as I did, to make a short walk to the clinic in Dubai sunshine without sunglasses on. The scattered light will crucify you.

Swimming with sharks

A couple of hours from Dubai, and squeezed between the Hajar mountains, the Fujairah coastal road and the sea is the JAL resort hotel. We've just returned from a short four day holiday there.

First impressions are not favourable. The outside of the hotel is ugly (the Lonely Planet calls it 'a post-modern mish-mash') and the entrance nondescript. However, things improve once you get in. Our room was excellent and close to the pool and beach. It was also very quiet with no need to get up and reserve sunbeds (although that didn't stop some people).

Highlight of the trip was the snorkelling we all went on to Dibba Rock, just a few minutes ride offshore in a dinghy. Max wouldn't go in, but the other two both donned full snorkel equipment and were guided around the reef by our guide. He pointed out a reef shark, which I missed unfortunately. Lucy got worried by the appearance of the shark and went hastily back into the boat!

It was noticeable, especially at the weekends, that a lot of people take their maids with them to look after the kids. Some locals have one maid per child ...

Food was pretty good, although not cheap because you are a bit of a captive audience. The arabic restaurant was good (kids liked the belly dancer) and the teppanyaki Japanese restaurant excellent (even though the chef was called Pong).

Celebrity One-upmanship

Last Thursday we ate at an Indian Restaurant at the Madinat called Ushna which was, as usual, very good. My jaw dropped slightly when Greg Norman came and sat directly next to us on the next table. I mentioned it casually to my colleague at work this morning. He replied by saying that his parents were over visiting, also staying at the Madinat, and that they had bumped into George Clooney over the weekend!

My personal 'celebrity' tally in Dubai now runs to Peter Schmeichel at The Montgomerie golf club, Chris Eubanks in Starbucks, Johnny Herbert and Jean Alesi at the Autodrome. Our friend Jan has also notched up Frankie Dettori and Colin Montgomerie. I'm still keeping an eye out for Jim Davidson ...