Wednesday, January 2, 2013

2012 Al Dhafra Camel Festival

I won't bore you with a million camel photos from the camel festival.  We went to this festival two years ago with Laura and had a fabulous time so we saw it was on again while Renee and Gerhard were with us.  Bert had hired a van to get around in while they were here so we headed off into the desert to the camel festival.

We had fun, it was smaller than last time we were there, probably because it was mid week but it was still great.  This picture is my favorite from the day. 

I will try and include a map just to show how remote an area this camel festival is.  You drive to the middle of nowhere (Madinat Zayed) then go about 20 kms past it, turn left and drive about 5kms into the sand and you are there.  The middle of nowhere.            camel festival in the middle of nowhere.

Tuesday, January 1, 2013

And so that was Christmas!

We had a fabulous Christmas 2012.  Our friends Renee and Gerhard Plenert came from Saudi where they are temporarily staying to celebrate with us.  Saudi is not exactly a hot spot for Christmas cheer.

In addition to the great company, it was the girls first Christmas.  Last year they think they got a postcard, and they have told me Christmas was so great because they got a bottle of coke and an orange. 

We tried to keep it as low key as possible so as not to overwhelm them but in the days leading up to the big day there were a steady stream of friends and neighbours arriving with gifts for girls until we had an enormous pile of gifts under the tree. 

Tamirie singing away in a manger at the church Christmas eve programme  She did great, we were worried she was going to turn it into the first ever song and dance rendition

Christmas eve, good friends and German food.  What's not to love?
 

Helen and Rose, opening their presents, their first ever mobile phone


I love this photo. Tamirie is just such a joy of a child.  Always full of smiles and fun.  This is her gift to her Dad, a water pistol.  We thought it would be a great new discipline method and Tamirie seems to agree.