Yas Links

Saturday saw MrL take a (very) rare afternoon off, so to make the most of him not being at his second home, we decided to go out for lunch. After last week's 'tantie' disaster, I decided Lily should take an earlier nap, which she did (*phew*) so there was no tantrum insight.

We found ourselves over at Yas Island, at the Links Golf Course, which sits directly opposite the Marina F1 Circuit and Ferrari World.  The F1 is on in two weeks time and the Club is getting ready for some action, with the labourers building some kind of platform...

Our lunch was actually quite nice, thought MrL wasn't too keen on his fish.  Kinda glad I didn't order it. (Sorry MrL.)

After a feed, we walked outside and thought perhaps we should have sat outside to eat.  It was really nice out there, with a view over to the Raha Beach development.

Can you spot the plane in the photo below?

Around the side of the club house lays a very inviting looking pool, with a view over towards Ferrari World.

The Yas Links golf house has a distinct Spanish feel to it.  Very nice indeed and not a thing out of place.

Pretty sure we'll be back again soon. Though next time, we'll stay clear of the fish. ;P

Marina Mall

There are lots of shopping malls here in Abu Dhabi. I guess the most popular one which attracts the crowds (for some reason, I'm not sure why - I don't see anything fancy about it), is the one opposite the city called Marina Mall.

I'm pretty sure they're making plans on renovating this mall - it is starting to look a bit dated and tired as compared to the newer ones in town.  However some of the art work in the Mall is pretty cool - lots of mosaics and the like.

The main entrance houses a water feature which is (theses days) pretty ordinary, with water falling from the tower on the hour.  If not on the hour, the feature is pretty much waterless, yet the colours are quite striking.

I took the photo below so you could see the portrait of one of the Sheikhs which are dotted around the city - he probably puts them there himself. *LOL*  I thought this portrait of the Sheikh was a little on the amusing side, as it is known that dogs are not popular in Arabic countries, especially here in the UAE where it seems only ex-pats have pet dogs.  I must be wrong.

Very Impressive

As I type this I have two VIPs sitting in the terminal lounge of Melbourne International Airport awaiting to board their flight to us in Abu Dhabi (and also onto the UK).

Considering it was one of the VIPs birthdays a few weeks back, I have used it as an excuse to make one of my favourite sweet tooth indulgences.

My Pavlova is currently baking in the oven.

Monet suggested having a cake of some sort too, so I figured I would make some cupcakes using the easy peasy Nigella Lawson recipe I just love.  I've cut off the tips of the cakes, waiting for me to ice later on this evening...

The girls and I are off to Monet's school's annual 'Fall Festival' this evening.  Basically it is a Halloween celebration and the kids always have a blast.  Each family is requested to bring in a dish and each grade is allocated to bring in something Savoury or Sweet for dinner, which does not contain alcohol (bummer) or pork product (double bummer).  This year I've opted to making mini pizzas - simple pizza base has been made and patted out and cut into circles, which I will later on slap on some pizza sauce and a sprinkle of mozzarella cheese.

I'm pretty sure my VIPs will be requesting my pizzas in the coming week.

Lunch Time Tanties

Last Friday it was decided that would really ought to go out for lunch. MrL has been putting in a load of hours at work and actually having one day off is a rarity these days.  We decided that we'd go to one of our favourite restaurants here in Abu Dhabi, Pregos.  Beautiful Italian.  Not just pasta and pizzas either.

Monet was rapt to be out for lunch.  Miss Lily - nahh, not so much.  Some weekends she doesn't cope well when she's not in her (and mine) weekday routine.  With a refusal to get in the provided highchair, I managed to get her in out 'tot seat' which I have handy in the car when I need it.  I must've known something on Friday as I popped it into my bag with me.

When Lily refused to eat anything, as my last resort, she opted for a lolly pop (me bad), which calmed her for a good two minutes whilst our meals arrived.  Lily was not keen on eating anything from our plates either.  I don't know why, the dish I seem to always choose is delicious.

It wasn't long before she became restless in her 'tot chair' and not wanting to cause too many dirty looks in our direction of the few patrons in the restaurant, I fetched her out.  It was only a minute before Lily starting having her over-tired little 'tantie'.  Of course I just let her be.  These tantrum moments are just that.  Moments.

It's never long before she comes good, asking for her 'numb numb' and a cuddle, which I am always happy to give.

I'm not sure when our next lunch date will be.  I'll just make sure that Miss Lily is not too over tired next time.

A Camel in a Flower Bed. *lol*

I can't say I could be any happier with my little skirt business. Every week I seem to get busier, but I have the sewing down pat and can whip up a skirt in next to no time.

I bought some new fabric last week, which seems to be a hit with the customers; aptly named (by me) 'Flower Bed' Skirt. You like?

One of my most popular skirts that I have sold is my 'signature' skirt, named the 'Abu Dhabi Skirt'. I offer it in a red fabric or a beige fabric, both with black camels. Remember? However yesterday I gained an order from a girlfriend of a white skirt with a beige camel.

It turned out really well and I think I may just add it to my regular range. I already have some interest in it.  You like?

How Many?

How many hairbands can you wear on your head at the same time?

Lily can easily wear four, but I have seen her wear double that before.  True.

How many cars have you seen that have full-on Arabic number plates?

This one is a rarity - we don't see many number plates like this.  Number plates here are usually written in English or both English AND Arabic.  There are not a lot in full Arabic.

A BBQ worth cooking on...

We bit the bullet a couple of weeks back and parted cash for a new BBQ, which we had been eyeing off for about two years! A Weber Q.  And she is awesome.  I only wish we bought one sooner.  We already have the normal kind of Weber (coal-lighting-type) and we had another gas BBQ, which we sold to a neighbour friend.  But this BBQ, well, she's a bewdy.

Even though BBQs are pretty much known across the world as the 'mans domain', well, not here.  Eight times out of ten, it is I who cooks on the 'gas-type' barbie, but I don't mind - it makes a change for me.  Our New Zealand Rb-Eye steaks had never tasted so good.

With the weather cooling down around these parts, especially now in the early evenings, it is now pleasant enough to sit outside and if we feel the need, eat outside.  The girls thought it was fabulous the other night.  Monet was swimming and playing in the pool, Lily was being the obedient little sister by throwing swim rings and the like to her big sister and I cooked homemade simple burgers on the BBQ.  (MrL was yet not home.)

They thought it was especially exciting when I suggested I pull out the 'picnic table' and they eat their dinner outside. Gee, didn't they think that was the best thing?

BBQ season - I love it.  (Funny as in Australia we think of Summer being BBQ season, but here in the Middle East we see Winter as being BBQ season.)

Friday Morning Snippet...

Our working week here (in case you didn't know) is Sunday to Thursday, but MrL is under the pump at his work (hand-over to the client is coming up) so today, being Friday, he had to go to work.  Ho hum.  As I have a head cold (which I am blaming on the change in the weather), I sat on the couch with iPad in hand watching the 2nd episode of the Aussie series 'The Slap'.

The girls were off playing happily.  Imagine my surprise when I saw the scene behind me going on.

It was very sweet, Monet and Lily playing 'Mummies' with their 'babies' and all sitting around the table having a mid-morning snack.

It was one of those moments I had to capture.  And I had to blog about.

Monet had prepared them all snack food and arranged them on four (!) individual plates.  Her plate presentation seems rather familiar... (See here and here)

Out of the Car Window

It's funny these days with phone cameras - you can usually take photos of anything and everything you can see these days. Take me at the petrol station last week. I was waiting in line behind this car...

I know it gets hot out here in the desert but I think that having zero windows on the left hand side in your car is taking the 'wind in your hair' experience just a step further.  And check out the blue fan they had hooked up in the back seat.

You can probably tell by the next photo why the car above had hooked up such a gizmo when one does not have air conditioning...

School pick up time.  We leave here at 2:30pm each week day to collect Monet.  My car though, does sit in the midday sun so usually when I get in and get going, the temperature does drop to about 40 or so.  Winter is definitely on it's way.

Driving into town the other day I noticed my favourite car, a couple of cars from me.  My dream car.  And yes, I can have expensive tastes, especially when it is a 4-door Porsche Panamera.  They're very common in this little section of the world, but they don't stop me drooling (and dreaming).  That's it there, the white car in the middle.  There is an Emirati in this compound I live in who has one.  I'm tempted to one day, knock on his door and ask if I can have a seat inside.  Lol.

Oh the things you see out your car window.

Little Curls

Little Lily isn't so little any more. Not sure when that happened but she's starting to shoot through the clothing sizes, along with shoes and her hair is growing longer and thicker by the day...  She's even gained a few little blonde curls.

Her words are becoming more and more clearer and she likes to count the stairs as we walk up them.  She seems to be Mickey/Minnie Mouse obsessed, along with Hello Kitty and Dora The Explorer for that matter.

She has lots of fans out there, especially out in the shops.  The Emirati locals seem to love her, always wanting to rub her hair (rubbing a baby blonde is 'good luck', so I have been told) and squeeze her cheeks.  Most of the shop assistants, most of whom are Filipinos, just love our Lily.  Only last week we had some guys who were working away stop and asked if it was okay to get their photo taken with her.  Lily didn't actually like that idea, so that didn't happen.  LOL.

I'm loving Two.