Moving

All three kids are moving to the school where Janet teaches, JESS, in September. The school is in Jumeirah and a bit of a trek from our current villa in the Meadows. So, we've taken the decision to move and last month I duly informed the Landlord that we would not be renewing our lease this year. He must be delighted. Rental prices just continue to go up and up. A quick look on the Better Homes website showed that the cheapest villa for rent in the Meadows is 400,000 Dhs per year (£56,000 per year). Not many people even earn that much. To put it in perspective, our current rent is 165,000 Dhs per year (£23,000) - a bargain by comparison. To make it even worse, paying monthly is totally unheard of and one cheque for the whole lot is the norm, two if you're lucky. Plenty of banks will lend you this money but, unless your company is paying it, renting in Dubai is a very expensive business.

So, naturally, I was nervous about trying to find somewhere amidst the Jumeriah Janes and rich Emiratis in the most fashionable and expensive part of town. There is no point looking too soon either. Properties are snapped up so fast you have to take it there and then if you want it.

Anyway, for once, after a bit of persistence we have well and truly landed on our feet. One of Janet's colleagues husband was moved by his company to Singapore in May. We went to their leaving party (where expats dispose of their alcohol supplies) at their government owned villa in a particularly posh bit of Al Safa 2. I have been phoning the number on the outside of the villa most days for a couple of months with absolutely no joy other than I had to 'speak to Mohammed'. Eventually we had a bit of luck and the Caretaker provided Janet with Mohammed's number. 'Yes, you can have', he said. I couldn't believe it was still available and rushed over to their office in Karama the next day with a wedge of 500Dh notes as deposit. We've (or more accurately, my company) paid 280,000 Dhs. A lot of money but unbelievably cheap by comparison. The location is perfect. The supermarket, booze shop and restaurants are at the top of the next street. School is two minutes away and the main motorway, Sheikh Zayed Road, just around the corner. Our neighbours are the Chinese and Tanzanian Consultates and a bunch of mansions.

The villa is not quite as big as the place we're in now, but has 4 ensuite bedrooms and a gate leads to a lovely communal area (shared by 8 villas) with a swimming pool and gym. Not exactly slumming it, in fact.

Schools Out

And not before time. Schools here finished at the end of June - a full month before UK schools - but it felt like the end would never come. The kids have all been crabby and suffering from a rash called slapped cheek, which looks worse than it is. Lucy has also had a lingering ear infection which three useless doctors failed to sort out.

It’s very, very hot at the moment. The temperature in Abu Dhabi reached 51.4 degrees earlier in the week and 49 degrees near us in Jebel Ali. It is hard to describe just how hot 50 degrees is. The air you breathe is hot and unpleasant. You break out in a profuse sweat and staying outside for more than a few minutes is pretty much unbearable. The human body, no matter how well acclimatised, is just not designed to cope. People here know this full well and the Government bans outside working between 12.30 and 3pm for July and August. Except, that is, in the Free Zone. When I visit one of my clients with 3,000 employees in Jebel Ali they are all outside, welding and the like, all day long. I honestly have no idea how they do it. And all for a little over a £100 a month.

Back to more trivial matters. I've finally got rid of the nasty Pajero and replaced it with a beautiful red Saab convertible. The mid-life crisis, it seems, continues unabated. As the Sales Manager, a Jamie Oliver look and sound-alike, said 'lots of western expats feel the need to get the convertible thing out of their system'. Well, why not? At least we have the climate for it.

Yesterday was the 4th July and Lucy went to a party at Emirates Golf Club with her Californian friend Isabel and her parents. There was a 70s theme and Janet spent most of the morning making her outfit for her. She looked wonderful - and, yes, she really is only seven.