Walkies!

Taking Poppy for a walk three times a day is sweet, but it has been VERY informative as to how different nationalities react to dogs.  The amount of fully grown men who are petrified of such a small dog is shocking! 

There are lots of cleaners in our building who literally run in the opposite direction to avoid us.  Now, I know you are saying "Well what do you expect?  I would too if I saw you approaching." but I have to say, we are told regularly that we are well liked within our elite residence.  We are told on a weekly basis that we are the best tenants (yes, I am patting myself on the back as I say this), and we get very well looked after by the staff here as in their words we "are so nice" to them - So there!  To have the cleaners run away rather than greet us with a friendly "Hello" is rather disconcerting.

Ian told me that took Poppy out just before lunch.  He said that he passed an Indian man who backed himself on tip toes against a wall and look petrified as she passed him by.  Baring in mind, Poppy is only about 6 inches off the floor and Ian said the man was over 6 feet tall; it was rather reminiscent of a woman standing on a chair to avoid a mouse.  The only difference being that Poppy would not run over someones feet - She's far too stocky to get close enough to do that.

When we got Poppy, we were offered a choice of other dogs.  One, which admittedly, I fell for badly (yes, I was crying at the thought of leaving her) was called Bear.  A beautiful cross dog who's back came up to my knee and looks like 90% of the other dogs in a home.  She was just one year old and was rather timid at first, but soon became a lap dog.  The problem with Bear was that once she forms an attachment, she wouldn't leave you.  She would pine and get distressed so they wanted her to go to someone who can be at home during the day.  Having seen her with children, she is excellent and would be perfectly suited for a family with a stay-at-home mum.  Sadly though, not for us.  Ideally, we are suited to look after animals which are more dependent.   

The beauty about not taking Bear (we have come to appreciate), is that she can react badly to men with dark skin; barking, jumping, defensive positions... that sort of thing.  As a puppy, she was abused on a building site.  She is responding very well to training, but in her home environment, she still reacts defensively with people she doesn't know.

 

Whilst I loved the dog, how can this be good for someone who lives in the Marina?!  For us, where would her 'home' boundaries be?  In the apartment, hall, reception...?!  On the street in front of our building?  If we had a villa, then it would be a different conversation as it is generally who passes the house in view of the dog, but here...? 

We wouldn't be able to walk her; You have every nationality living in our building, let alone all the nationalities you meet in the street.  She would be stuck inside, a bundle of energy, not being able to do anything.  Granted, in other parts of Dubai this definately would not be an issue, but sadly for us, it would be. 

We loved Bear and it breaks my heart that we weren't able to help her.  Luckily for Bear, she is such a lovely dog, they are training her to stop this behaviour.  To the right family, she would be perfect.  I feel terrible not being able to help her as she is so lovely, but then I look at Poppy and am glad though that we went with our gut instinct.

If you are able to help Bear, or any other dogs, please contact RAK Animal Welfare on 050-4321873 or K9 on 04 885 8031

It's a Dog's Life...

Throughout the UAE, abandoned animals are a problem.  Dogs are being offered for free re homing, and foster homes sought to take in dogs which otherwise would be left on the street as the sanctuaries are bursting at the seams.

Only a couple of animal sanctuaries will actively euthanise.  Some of the sancturaries are spending thousands of dirhams on keeping dogs that have no hope of ever being re homed, for example, very aggressive or very deformed dogs.

Measures are being taken to curb this and new laws are being passed.  Now, it is illegal to sell dogs unless you have the correct license.  Pet shops sell pedigree dogs only and charge between 9,000 and 12,000aeds (£1,500 - £2000)  Also, the import laws have been increased.  The list of banned dogs is extensive, and only certain countries are allowed to import dogs under the pet passport programme.  Other countries have to follow the old ways of quarantine.

Oddly, the only real twinges Ian and I have for home is when we think about our animals that we have left behind.  Luckily, we know that they are all in great hands, but we would love to bring them out here.

As we both think that our house does not feel like a home without animals, we have reviewed our options.  Over here, you can either adopt an animal or foster an animal until a suitable home has been found.  Ian wouldn't let me go down the adoption route, but I am excited to announce that we have fostered a little dog.

She is called Poppy (as we picked her up today at 11am - Remembrance Sunday).  She is a cross between a Dachshund and Yorkshire Terrier and has the temperament of our dog at home.  She is such a sweet dog, but sadly her story is not so sweet.

Poppy was kept on a puppy farm as the mother.  Basically, this means that she was either constantly pregnant or breastfeeding.  As soon as she was no longer able to have puppies, she was thrown out to fend for herself.

Poppy still has a very strong maternal instinct.  She has a furry toy that she just likes to sleep by.  We also think that she would have slept outside in the sand previously, as when she goes to bed, she scratches at the bedding as though she is digging herself a shallow ditch to make herself comfortable in.

The laws here are strict about dogs and animals, but until neutering becomes the standard as opposed to the exception, the problem will continue and gorgeous dogs like Poppy will always need homes.

Sun Sets on a manic week

This week has been very busy.  There have been fun and frolics throughout the UAE; from the afterparty of the Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi and Sandance at the Atlantis, to sanctuaries in Ras Al Khaimah.

Burj Al Arab from the 360

Ian and I have travelled further this week and visited more of the emirates than ever before.  We had three 'firsts'; 

1.  A first visit to Abu Dhabi.  

2.  A first visit to Sharja and finally 

3.  A first visit to Ras Al Khaimah (pronounced with a silent K).  

All of them so far are vastly different to each other.  Granted I have not seen enough of Abu Dhabi to really comment on it as we were chauffeured there to party, but if the others are anything to go by, the personality of Abu Dhabi will definitely stand out.  It has certainly made us want to book up some weekends away to explore more.

The one thing that has remained the same throughout the UAE though are the sunsets.  They are stunning.  Where ever you are, as the sun goes down, there is always a photo opportunity...

Barasti Bar

 

Obama wins...

Believe it or not, the american elections have been big news in Dubai.  Everyone has had something to say about them and the unnaimous verdict in the UAE was that everyone wanted/is happy that Obama won.  I have not heard one single indorsement for Romney since I have been here.

The american elections have not just been big news in the UAE.  This morning, my pakistani taxi driver said he was too tired to drive as he had stayed up to watch the elections.  My indian taxi driver this evening said that he too had stayed up.  "Back home it is big news.  Huge!  Lots of celebrations.  We are all happy.  I didn't like the fire things that go zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz bang though." he said whilst hurtling down the SZR, taking both hands off the wheel to illustrate 'the bang' in the air in front of him, before grabbing the wheel suddenly, veering to the right, to carve up a Mercedes as he pulled onto the slip lane last minute.  "They had them on TV." He continued, "In northern India too they celebrated using them.  Not southern India though which is where I am from.  Too loud!" he exclaimed shaking his head.

My taxi driver this afternoon also told me how all the indians in Dubai were happy.  "We are all happy.  We all wanted Obama.  He has a nice presence.  He will do what is best."

Obama, in you we trust.

Sapphire's sparkling brightly... It's your birthday!!

Living here has not made me home sick as such.  With skype, Whatsapp and BBM's, I am in as much contact with my family and friends as I was when I was at home.  Birthday's are difficult though.  You really miss not being there to celebrate them; especially when it is the children's birthdays.

Sapphire is our 8 year old niece and we would have loved to have been able to actually give our birthday presents to her, to watch her blow out her candles and give her lots of kisses... Sadly, it is this realisation that brings it all home about the time that we are missing, as pretty soon she will be too old for us to do that. 

Last year, we threw a big fireworks party, invited all of our friends and their kids.  It was the birthday weekend for both Sapphire and George (Ian's godson who is the same age as Sapphire, born yesterday), so I also made a birthday cake, topped with rich buttercream icing and laden with sweets.

This sat proudly in the middle of the island in the kitchen, with all the children asking if they could eat a bit, or take one from the mountain of sweets from off the top or "even just one of the candy canes..." as one of the kids kept begging.

About 40 adults and half again of children crowded around the island in our kitchen to sing happy birthday to Sapphire and George, before they jumped down to yank the wrapping off their presents whilst they sat on the floor showing everyone, and then back up on the kitchen stools to wait whilst the cake was given out.

Whilst it was amazing to think that I had made this cake which all the kids cannot wait to eat, I soon found out why it is not so good to give kids too much sugar.  0-60 in 5 five minutes I would say is a good analogy.  Total and utter loony juice;  the kids started running around, tomato sauce was spilt on the sofa AND the ceiling (don't ask!) and the volume level went up substantially as they all screamed and shouted at each other to make themselves heard.

Over here, kids have not got to the age that Sapphire and George have, so we don't get the excitement build up that you have at 7 or 8 years old - the count down of 'sleeps' knowing that you are going to have your own special day that is all about you.

So to Sapphire and George, whilst I am sure you did not really notice our absence, we noticed yours over the last couple of days.

We are so sorry to have missed your birthday and really wish we were there to have had with you.  We love you sooooooo much!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

 

All About Ava... Happy Birthday

I just want to say happy 1st birthday to my beautiful goddaughter Ava.

I am so upset that I am missing your birthday party today.  I know that all of your family will be there and I should be there too.

I love you very much and can't wait to see you again.  I hope Mummy and Daddy give you lots of hugs and kisses from me.

Love you always.

Aunty Tan and Uncle Ian xxxxxxxx

Liquor License has arrived!!

Finally today, precisely 2 months after we arrived in Dubai, we have final received our liquor license which means we can (and are right now) able to drink an alcoholic beverage in our own home.

It is a bit of a palaver obtaining the license.  In fact, I would go so far as to say that my visa was easier to acquire.

An expat has to find an off license/liquor shop (or offy as we call it in the UK).  Our local offy, is called African and Eastern in Marina Mall and we were only alerted to its whereabouts by other expats who explained that it is in the basement of the car park underneath Waitrose.

As with all things here that are illegal for Muslims, it is hidden.  The signs leading to it may state that there is an African and Eastern this way, but with pictures of an African landscape and no other details, you would be forgiven for not knowing what it is leading you towards, and heading down to the depths, you would question why you would want to go there...

The thing is that when you do find the heavy wooden door to the windowless room, next to the empty musty car park, you feel so naughty as you step through it, just like as you did as a child, when you were doing something that your parents would tell you off about.  It feels so naughty in fact, that both Ian and I slowly crept inside peering this way and that giggling like a couple of teenagers, until we properly acknowledged the shop hidden from view was the right place (and promptly felt really foolish when the two guys behind the counter nodded to each other and asked, "Are you new to Dubai?").

Once you have found the off license, the first thing that is asked, apart from being new, is "Are you a Muslim?"  and on answering no, they give you an application form that must be completed.  This must be returned to the shop, together with a copy of your employment contract, passport photograph (for the I.D. card), a copy of your tenancy agreement, as well as a 'No Objection Letter', which is a letter from your employer saying that you are allowed to drink. No.Joke.  Without this, the application form will not be processed.  With this, from start to finish, it took three weeks to process.

You are allowed one license per household, renewable on an annual basis.  The one thing I find most bazaar of the whole process however, is the fact that your salary determines your monthly allowance;  its as if the government say 'You earn more, therefore you MUST be a more responsible person who can drink more!'

So anyway, we have now received ours.  We had been led to believe that buying alcohol here is very expensive and when comparing like for like bottles with home, it really is.  Whilst my math is not the greatest, on a £6 bottle of a very average Sauvignon Blanc from Tescos (I will not name the wine but it is Australian), the cost here equated to just over £16.  There are many more expensive wines, just as you would expect, but there were cheaper wines too and it was not difficult to find either a Sauvignon Blanc or a Soave for 33aeds or £5.60.  On tasting them this evening, they have been far better than ones that we have purchased in restaurants for 200aeds.

 

So, right now, the Selley household is a happy household;  Not only have we finally been able to christen the wine glasses that we brought before we moved into our apartment, but I am now able to arrange my girlie night in skype date with my bestfriend.  

Believe it or not however, Ian did whinge that this meant that he had to watch the Arsenal v Man U game from home as opposed going to the Barasti Bar as he had wanted but hey-ho, he has to learn he can not have everything!