My humble and tiny corner of the blogosphere has kept me busy this year, providing a creative outlet and distraction for me and, I really hope, some entertaining insight into life in Dubai for people who’ve read it.
And a huge thank you for reading.
My goal when I started this blog was to attract one or two readers who aren’t related to me and, amazingly, I’ve achieved that!
Desert dwelling: Sandy pastures outside our compound
Talking of which, I should probably change the title of my post Things that get you in trouble in Dubai (yes, sex on the beach!), because when people Google ‘sex in Dubai’ they blaze a trail to yours truly.
The seedy side of the internet aside, the blog stats also tell me which are the most popular posts – and I have to admit, I’m fascinated to see which posts about desert living people are most interested in; which nugget of expat knowledge has been most valuable; which parenting challenge has struck a chord.
As it happens, none of the above.
My most popular post has nothing to do with expat life — or kids for that matter.
A half-mile-high skyscraper, known as the Burj Khalifa, is responsible for a whopping 6,340 hits, nearly half the hits on my blog.
Watch out: No job too big, or too small
Of course it would be silly to spend far too long online looking for a good picture of the world’s tallest building just to get another peak in my blog stats. So jettisoning the image I just found, I’ll leave you with a photo of something I saw parked near us recently that made me laugh (and wonder if I should hide).
That’s it for 2011. I have to get ready now for the black-tie-do taking place tonight on board the Queen Elizabeth 2 (QE2), moored here in Dubai, and I’m hoping they’ve filled the swimming pool with pink champagne.
Just kidding.
We don’t have a babysitter so we’ll be taking the kids up the road to a party in our compound – within stumbling distance home, so the perfect night out, if you ask me.
Thank you again for taking the time to read about us here in Dubai. Wishing you a very happy new year!
Keep the posts coming in 2012, I love to hear about your life their x
Thank you Luce! xoxox
Love reading what you write. I’m Sandy’s mom in Minnesota. I want to rent out my house and understand you and hubby do. Do you use a property management company that you would recommend?
How lovely to hear from you and thank you for reading! Yes, we do rent a property out in Bloomington and we use a property management company called 33rd Company – a bit pricey, but they’re good and so, yes, I would certainly recommend them! Here’s the website: http://www.33rdcompany.com -good luck! Wishing you a happy new year!
Happy New Year! Still in Thailand and have veeeery sketchy internet (when I can wrest the laptop away from the boys) so haven’t been keeping up on blog reading, but HAD to email you and let you know I met a Canadian woman yesterday who knew you…or thinks she does! She told me they lived in the UAE,now live in Abu Dabi, but lived in Dubai – I told her I read a blog by a woman in Dubai who was a journalist and had 2 little boys, and a pilot husband…she was convinced it was you. She’s an early years teacher and it sounds like she was BBs teacher…maybe? Her first name is Velma (don’t want to put her last on the internet!) and she has two darling little girls (9 and 7) and a biologist professor husband…ring any bells? I had the best time talking to her and sharing expat adventures (and we were on the boat for hours) and loved hearing Dubai stories – was very proud of myself for knowing some of the facts already from your blog! You’ll have to let me know if it is you or some other journalist/pilot/2 littleboys/expat combo….Have a lovely 2012! MsCaroline xoxo
oh how extraordinary! I’m thinking, thinking..we’ve moved around a fair bit here in Dubai, using several different nurseries – all of the teachers wonderful. There are lots of pilots here..I’m guessing there could be another combo just like us (and if so, would love to meet them!).. Can’t think immediately of a lady that fits your description but am still thinking! Glad you had a great time on the boat sharing stories and that my blog helped!! I was talking to my in-laws over Christmas about living in Seoul (I think I mentioned they were there for some years, my f-i-l working for Korean Air) and I felt like I knew what I was talking about thanks to the wonderful insight in your blog! Enjoy the rest of your time in Thailand and wishing you all a wonderful new year! XxXx
Well, I got her email address, so am going to send her some photos and links to your blog to doublecheck. The school I remember her mentioning was the American Academy but I don’t know if that was in Dubai or Abu Dabi. I’ll let you know if I find out any more…small world, though! Happy New Year!
Expat world is definitely small! Especially with people moving around a lot 🙂 There are a few American schools here, but because they charge so much more than the other schools, we didn’t look at them in case we liked them too much and were tempted!
Happy New Year, Circles! Keep it coming in 2012.
And we’ll be at Mahiki on Thursday night if you fancy it…. email me off blog if you want to come and meet up. 🙂
Hi Mothers on the Verge! Happy New Year to you too! Would have loved to join you at Mahiki – but I just arrived in England … next time definitely, and thanks for the invite! All my best wishes for 2012 xx