Let’s start at the end – always a good place. AS a favourite restaurant of mine used to say “life is uncertain – eat desert first” !
I’ve decided to spend the day out with one of my staff and I’ve just opened a savings account with my existing UAE bank. It’s not very interesting really is it ?
The savings account thing was a revelation though – the last time I was in the UK I tried to open a UK account with my UAE bank (who are a global bank with a good reputation and a red logo from the Far East) and I ended up having to go into the branch and sit with someone for an hour whilst forms were filled and computers consulted, simply to be told “computer says no”. The nice lady was terribly upset, which was nice, but not terribly helpful. Today, I logged onto my on-line account and clicked the button to say “open a new account”, chose one from a list of about 10 and clicked continue. I was immediately asked if I wanted to transfer some money to the new account, so I said yes, AED100 (as a token effort, to see what happened). Then it said thank you and asked if I wanted to go back to the home screen……… I did, and would you believe it, in less than 30 seconds I had created an account, linked to everything I already had, and moved some money into it……… stunned – why can’t life be that simple all the time ?
Right, getting back to reality, and trying to fill you in on the last few weeks – yesterday I entered a 12 hour bike race at Yas Marina Circuit. Madness I think, brought on by an evening at Yas Marina Circuit in the company of some very fit people. I’m sure you’re all aware that Tuesday night is an open night for runners and cyclists (and walkers if you like), and I had taken P II up there for the first time last night with the intention of “doing a bit”. I ended up doing 50k on the bike and then running a lap (5.5k) at sub 50min pace.
The problem with that place is, you get caught up with the dick measuring contest going on (especially if you’re on a carbon Time Trial bike, covered in lycra !) and the pace gets faster and faster, and the distance gets longer and longer as you chase down someone and then think “I must do another lap, just to show that I’m better than them”. As for chasing some lycra clad skinny fitness fanatic, who was at least 15 years younger than me, just to show him I could keep up with him……. Will I never learn ! I over took him with about 1000m to go – I sounded like a steam train, and he quietly jogged on, beginning his next lap as I was trying to get my breath back……. Bastard – I’ll get him one day !
Anyway – 12hrs on a bicycle. Mmmmmmmm, an interesting challenge, not least what to eat for 12 hours and how fast to go etc. I think that I’m going to have to buy some proper padded cycling shorts as my Tri suit has padding, just not nearly enough I suspect ! I’ll keep you informed – it’s on 30th March so we have a little time to get sorted and sometime in the saddle. I’m aware that I’m back at Yas for their triathlon in the middle of April so I’ll be sick of the track by then !
Backwards from that, it was my birthday on Monday and also the end of a holiday with the family, as I’m sure you’ll remember.
The holiday was great and was undertaken to gain the final pieces of information to inform the decision whether the family would move over to be with me for a couple years. We visited schools and housing, as well as having a few well-earned days on the beach and by the pool, and some nice food in some nice places (they even put up with my cooking for a few days !
The end result was that it now seems to be when, and not if, they are coming. There are all sorts of factors which drive the “when” issue, not least school terms, Ramadan and the heat of the summer, as well as the logistics of clearing out the house at home and renting it, shipping stuff to the UAE, storing stuff, throwing stuff away……. Decisions decisions decisions !
It doesn’t seem like very much to tell you after two weeks of not being here but it’s been a good two weeks, and I was very sorry to see the end of it. I got some great presents from everyone (including a shark mug for my coffee in the mornings – I don’t like sharks and we went to the Dubai aquarium (which I would really recommend for interest and value) where there were loads of them all around the glass tunnel that you can walk through and the kids thought I was really brave (and least that’s what I hope……..) and bought me a shark mug in appreciation !
I got a new day sack for putting my various bits and pieces in when I’m going to the gym etc. and some really nice smelly things for shaving and the like. A friend gave me some Ralph Lauren smelly stuff as well so my shaving shelf looks very posh at the moment (pity my face doesn’t – I really must make the effort to shave more often, but I hate shaving and in a country where having stubble is regarded as a manly thing, it seems a shame to waste lovely smells of grubby engineers every day !
I think I’ll get a haircut tomorrow so that seems like a good time to have a shave as well.
We did loads of cool stuff as well (this is Ian of Arabia by the way……just in case there was any confusion……)
(just look at that sky !) I think we can all agree that clearly I look at home up there !
Followed by a BBQ in the desert in a real Bedouin tent, complete with authentic wood smoke and dung beetles (and let’s not forget the sand……in everything…..)
Right, for those of you shivering in the depths of winter, I’m definitely not off for an outdoor swim as part of my training for next weeks triathlon……….. then it’s back for an evening of domestic bliss – cleaning and cooking. My idea of a good time (sad isn’t it !)
I’ll leave you with this picture……. Just because I like it really !
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