sandCat in Dubai

Category: firsts

  • cloudy and dry

    It may not be something you associate with Dubai but we have had some cold weather this past month. Ok well cold for us anyway, and as you will see in the graph below the lowest lows seen here for quite a while. Is this global cooling? Not sure but I have to say I have enjoyed being able to bundle up in jerseys and socks for a change. It won’t last and by April will no doubt be a distant memory, but being able to open the windows, and have soup and stews without running the aircon, is lovely!

    [cloudy]


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  • Gaucho – a sneak peak!

    Once upon a time, long long ago, I was a vegetarian. For eight years. But my dad always reckoned it was a “phase”, and maybe he was right, because it didn’t last. After reading “Eat Right for your Type” and suffering with never-ending allergies, which I blamed on my felines at the time, I realised I wasn’t feeling great and maybe it was my diet. After slowly adding fish, followed by other meat, back into my diet I was like a new person, and I never looked back. As much as I wish I could give it up again altogether, I just can’t quite do it. And being a South African married to a South African does mean that meat is pretty much always on the menu.

    Gaucho-decor
    [stunning decor]


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  • a rugby dream – come true

    I read this story in the paper earlier this month, and for some reason or other have forgotten to share it with you. So without further ado….

    As you would imagine, being a South African, I am an avid rugby fan, and still love to follow the Currie Cup and Super 15 on TV. Rugby as a game is certainly getting more visibility in Dubai year-on-year. The sports results pages in the news-papers were pretty much all football and golf every week but lately there are more and more rugby results listed, albeit mostly about the UK teams and competitions.

    rugby-uae
    [Ali Mohammed / source: The National]


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  • my homework

    So I am just over a week away from finishing my Arabic class at Eton Institute, it was a special offer for Ramadan and I have to say, apart from being confused a lot of the time, I have really enjoyed learning some of the language as well as a great deal about the culture.

    arabic-homework

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  • it’s Ayoba time

    Unless you have had your head in the sand you will be somewhat aware that tomorrow is the opening of the World Cup Soccer in South Africa! It’s the first time the event has been held in Africa, and as you can imagine this has generated immense excitement on the continent and especially in the country. I have been told by friends and family on email and facebook that the “gees” (or spirit) at home is amazing.

    Yesterday was Vuvuzela Day and hundreds of people took to the streets in Sandton at midday to celebrate as Bafana Bafana (the “boys”) drove around the area in a bus. I can only imagine how deafening it would have been, as the vuvuzela (vooo-vooo-zeh-lah), or stadium horn, makes A LOT of noise and is always in evidence at soccer matches in SA. If you are attending a game live you may want to take some ear plugs just in case :-).

    Here are some pics from yesterday, sent to me by a friend. It looks like a good turnout.

    world-cup

    world-cup

    world-cup
    [world cup fever in Sandton, JHB]


    Apparently the word “Ayoba” is an exuberant expression of general delight or approval, rather than a word with a specific meaning; but not having been home during this build-up I cannot be sure.

    We will be watching the opening tomorrow at Emirates Golf Club, won’t be quite the same but I am sure it will be fun nevertheless. 

    Ke Nako. It’s Time.