anexpatabroad

“Sunday clears away the rust of the whole week.” Joseph Addison

As we set off full speed into 2014, I decided to review the last seven days in ‘that was the week that was’ ……

Two family leaving dinners at nice posh steak restaurants (always good for a veggie of the family….not!).

Leaving dinner at the Blue Grill, Yas Island Rotana (source:timeoutabudhabi.com)

Two emotional airport farewells with both my sons as they reluctantly flew the nest again (see what I did there ‘flew on a plane’ tee hee, first lame joke of 2014, sure there will be many more to come). They come, they go and I need to man up (maybe probably never going to happen!).

The dawn of another year here in the desert, celebrating New Years Eve with friends in a local bar.

Colourful display at the Burj Khalifa in Downtown Dubai (source: Timeout Dubai)

The week in which the UAE claimed its first world record of 2014 or more precisely Dubai did, with its New Years Eve pyrotechnic spectacular. The emirate known for its glitz and glamour (or display of wealth, grandeur and unabashed exhibitionism you decide) held the worlds biggest firework display in a mega celebratory visual display. The show, which used 400,000 fireworks in six minutes across 60 miles of the Dubai coastline, broke the previous world record held by Kuwait of 77,282 shots fired in a continuous display.

The Atlantis framed by fireworks (source: The National) and the Palm Jumeriah (source: gulf business.com)

The display incorporated some of Dubai’s top landmarks including Palm Jumeirah, World Islands, the Burj Khalifa and the Burj Al Arab, all synchronised to music. The Burj Khalifa had an impressive ten different firework sequences played out including a tribute to the nation using the colours of the UAE National Flag. Confirmation of the Guinness World Records was immediate as the adjudicators were in situ to validate the new record immediately and present the official certificate. A great start to the New Year for the UAE who love a world record (see previous post Record Breaking in archives).

The official World Record Certificate Presentation (source: Khaleej Times)

We purchased the 2014 Entertainer Abu Dhabi book or as I call it, ‘The Expat Bible’. An annual must have for all expatriates to enjoy half price dining and activities….let the socialising begin (not that exciting you may think but it’s a nifty little book for saving a dirham or two, as fellow expats and visitors will testify).

‘Buy-one-get-one-free’ in Abu Dhabi

Christmas was officially over in our household a few days ago. All decorations have been boxed away and the tree dismantled and literally stuffed back in the box ahead of Twelfth Night. Sad Times but tradition is tradition or is it just superstition that drives us all to remove our decorations so as not to bring bad luck on our homes. (As tradition says ‘If the decorations aren’t taken down by Twelfth Night, it is said that they should stay up all year to avoid misfortune.)

The new school term started (today, yes it’s Sunday) signifying that the Christmas holidays have whizzed past in a blur. Nice early start for the teenager this morning!

There was far too much football on the TV. Lots of male family members shouting at the TV and far too many naughty words, all male bonding and sport!

I toyed with the idea of ‘No Cake January’ but failed on 1st, 2nd and 3rd as there was Christmas Cake left which is my absolute favourite. I COULD NOT throw it away and none else likes it. Now you know why I don’t make resolutions. I started the ‘Zero to Hero’ WordPress blog challenge (lagging behind on that already….oops)

So we are a decreased family unit of three again until the boys return at Easter (one has already booked his flights) for more fun in the sun or I manage to sneak a little trip home to see them before April.

All views are my own based on my experience. Unless otherwise stated, all photos on this page © Jo Brett 2014. All rights reserved.