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.