First Visit to Dubai

Well I have just spent five days having a look around Dubai. We will be based in the Marina area, Him in doors new office is in the JLT (Jumeirah Lake Towers) which is a brand spanking new business district inland from the Marina. Mind you the Marina is also relatively brand spanking new too - a man made waterway surrounded by gleaming tower blocks. To my English eyes it looks very alien. I think my vertigo is going to be tested to destruction - I have managed to avoid going higher than twenty floors so far,I only hope I am not invited to the restaurant at the top of the tallest building in the world (122th floor).  You don't really walk anywhere either, everything seems to be designed for cars. Shopping is generally in air conditioned malls where I found everything from House of Fraser & Monsoon to Starbucks and Johnny Rockets not to mention a complete alpine village boasting a black run (Mall of the Emirates).  At least when the heat gets too much I can find -4 degrees and throw some snowballs.  There is even a St Moritz Cafe with an LCD log fire.

Ski Dubai

Food Shopping
I also had a look around some supermarkets to see what I can expect choice wise. Well no worries there. In the Emirates Mall is a branch of Carrefour every bit as big as the one in Calais and with the same range of fresh fruit and veg and international brands. They even sell marmite so I won't have to fill my suitcase with it when I come out. I also found a branch of Waitrose in the Marina Mall. There are loads of Starbucks and Costa Coffee and more cafes and restaurants you can shake a stick at along the Marina Walk and the Jumierah Beach Walk (near the public beach). You can even buy pork products in the supermarkets in a special non-muslim section.

So food shopping won't be a problem. You can even phone up some supermarkets and they will deliver to your home.

Hello All

I am relocating to Dubai in March 2012 and thought I would share my experiences on the blogosphere in part as therapy. So far the major reaction from Friends and Family has been "lucky you". I am however an English Country girl and the thought of living in somewhere where opaque tights and cardigans will be a distant memory is quite daunting. My original blog was about my country life, keeping chickens & bees, kitchen gardening, cooking and country recipes - this one I feel is going to be quite different.

I am quite daunted about leaving my job, my home, my friends and family and going to support my husband in his new job. I'm not used to being a housewife and hope I find enough to keep myself occupied. Sitting on a beach all day or trawling the shoppings malls is not my idea of a good time.

I have just visited Dubai for the first time to have a look around and to look at areas to live.I don't like flying but Emirates was a great experience, Dubai Terminal Three is an almost surreal experience at 7.00 am. Acres of gleaming marble & gold and virtually deserted making Heathrow look like a third world country!