The Emirates in mourning

The UAE Mininstry of Presidential affairs has announced the death of Sheikh Mubarak bin Mohammad al Nahyan who passed away on Wednesday. The Ministry announced a three day mourning period which will begin today.

The leaders of this country are highly respected by their people and although three days of mourning doesn't really affect us, apart from the radio stations are playing classical music instead of the usual stuff. For Bert it means extra work as his company cleans mosques so his staff needed to be out there making sure everything was spic and span. Local schools were closed too and as Berts company also cleans them, they use the opportunity to do deep cleaning.

And the sandstorms continues

The last two days have been very unpleasant due to sandstorms. Our home is very well sealed but outside the sand is drifting across highways and making the air thick. We often wonder what life was like here for Emiratis as recently as fifty years ago. Days like this must have been unbearable. I occasionally see elderly Emiratis and wonder what amazing changes they have seen in this country in their lifetime and what they make of it all.

Camels and dust storms

Today we woke up to a really horrible day, it was hotter than it has been in months and blowing a gale. We were meeting a friend at a cafe for brunch and afterwards decided to go for a drive into the desert a bit to get some photos of the sand blowing across the roads. The way the sand moves is really quite extraordinary. Bert is always keen for a trip to take photos with his new digital SLR camera. We came across this herd of camels with several babies by chance. Why do all baby animals, no matter how ugly their parents, look cute?

Is it any wonder I'm often confused?

Oops, we have been busy!

Sorry the blog has been so neglected. We have been busy getting life sorted out and life unpacked and making a very empty apartment look and feel like home. Here are some photos of where we live in Green Community

Well the one thing I would have done is made the bed before the photos were taken! That is a king size doona and it just barely covers the mattress the bed its so big.
Dining room looking into the kitchen, we just took these photos today without tidying up so what you are seeing is how it is.

The living room looking back towards the front door. The two carpets are silk, and beautiful, well they will be once they stop shedding fluff.

Our balcony, and bathmat! I did say these photos were unplanned.

The pool and view of the other apartments from our balcony. When we first moved here on December 1st there were hardly any other apartments occupied, now there are a lot more people around. It is still nice and quiet apart from kids playing in the playground after school.

The guest bedroom.