ADC - WINTER ISSUE

Our best intentions were to write monthly(ish) updates on life out here but as with all best intentions, general life got in the way so apologies if you thought we’d forgotten about you. Scarily we have now been here for 10 months and as the saying goes “Time flies when you’re having fun”

Our first Summer here was blighted by the fact that Di managed to break both tibia and fibula back in May in a bizarre “fall off your Scholl sandals” accident at a friend’s house. The fibula break was particularly nasty as there were a lot of bone fragments and even now, six months later it still hasn’t fully healed. She hasn’t been able to get out and about as much as we had hoped to, but each day sees a little bit more improvement. She now has the benefit of a part time job as a receptionist in a medical practice so she gets sound advice and support (maybe even cheap drugs). The prime practitioner is an eccentric Egyptian-born Scot named Ron McCulloch which is Pharoah enough by me Jimmy !!

We approached the summer with some trepidation as “old hands” assured us that it would become unbearable. Temperatures of 50c with 95% humidity are not unknown. The weather has now broken and we are in the “Fall” and Winter approaches (actually the only things that fall here are the date palms – more of which later). Looking back, we coped quite well although it must be said that we live in an air-conditioned cocoon that is only violated by moving from building to car and vice-versa. The external temperature on my car registered 49c on one occasion although I suspect that this was due to heat reflected from the asphalt (which curiously doesn’t melt).

We know that it’s winter because the local Carrefoure has started to sell Fleece’s, Puffer Jackets and Bed Comforter sets and all the Clothing and Fashion stores sell Overcoats and Knee-length boots. After all it does get down to 24c overnight. Oh yes ! One more thing – they have opened and indoor Ski Slope in Dubai – real snow generated artificially – only in the UAE !

We also had to cope with the holy month of Ramadan in October (no – not Harry Ramsden’s) when all Muslims must fast between Sunrise and Sunset. It is most disrespectful for non-Muslims to eat and drink in public during Ramadan so we had to become secret drinkers, surreptitiously swigging Evian (Oh that it were Buxton !) from a bottle concealed in a brown paper bag. Where will it lead us to next I wonder ?

According to the Holy Quran (Koran), feasting at Ramadan is meant to heighten the senses and make the “Faster” more aware of the suffering of those less fortunate. What it actually becomes is an excuse for gluttony on a grand scale, as they cram (literally) 3 or 4 meals into the hours of darkness and stay up all night eating, drinking and socialising thus rendering themselves useless for anything the following day, especially as they have to be up in time to pray at dawn. The traffic accident figures soar during Ramadan as they literally fall asleep at the wheel.

One of the great delicacies feasted upon is the date. The Date Palm is the UAE equivalent of the Greek Olive Tree and is planted everywhere. The dates grow in great clusters (you could say there are piles of them) and the locals pick them just before they are ready to fall. It is not uncommon to be driving in the fast lane of a three lane highway only for the car in front to stop abruptly and the whole family within to disgorge and pick the ripening dates of a tree planted in the central reservation.

That's all for now although there's more to read in the Sporting, Wildlife, Social and Entertainment sections.

Ed (Bri actually)