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.