It’s DH’s birthday – a big one! The actual day was on Tuesday, but as it’s a nice round number it’s turned into something of a birthday extravaganza.
Last year, the day passed in a bit of a blur, because of a medical drama in our family. DH’s lovely brother, who also lives in Dubai, returned from Africa with flu-like symptoms that turned out to be malaria. He came to stay with us while he recovered, so while all this was going on – and I was busy swatting gnats just in case (despite being assured by the hospital there was no risk to the boys) – my attention wasn’t really on birthday celebrations.
This year, I promised myself I’d make up for it, so in dutiful wifely fashion, I’ve been busy organising a birthday DH won’t forget. I think I’ve just about managed to pull off a three-part celebration that’s taking up most of the week:
PART 1: (the day) Presents at silly o clock, before school and work. Then Bab Al Shams, a desert resort located in the middle of absolutely nowhere, for a late-afternoon swim and dinner. We’ve done our fair share of camel riding in the Middle East, so we lounged in the pool and watched tourists clambering on the camels, shrieking as they were pitched forwards at the start (camels use their knees to get up and down). It was quite comedic.
Bab Al Shams Desert Resort & Spa – not too far from where we live and very, very nice
PART 2: (the weekend) We’re taking the kids away, to Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates of the UAE, for more swimming and more desert. The resort, the Banyan Tree, looks amazing and we’re staying in a ‘Bedouin-style tented villa’. It’s not a tent, I did study the website photos carefully to check, and I suspect it won’t be the ‘oasis of serenity’ it’s advertised as once we arrive. I also just found out my boss is going there this weekend.
PART 3: (the piece de resistance) Using a ‘buy one, get one free’ voucher in the Entertainer, I’ve booked a ride on a seaplane. I may yet bottle out.
Of course, no birthday is complete without cake. Baking is not my forte so I ordered one from Bakemart. I wasn’t sure how it would turn out and fully expected something like exhibit A. So was very pleased with exhibit B, despite the squashedupwriting!
Exhibit A: On facebook (from Walmart in the US)
Exhibit B: Happy birthday DH!
Wow – the resorts look amazing, as does the cake! Have to admit, when I first looked at Exhibit A, I thought, “What? Her DH’s name is Suzanne?”….but then I re-read more carefully and got a good laugh. Sounds like you are more than making up for last year’s quieter birthday!
I should have explained the cake more! I saw the pic on Facebook a while ago and it really made me laugh. I was honestly expecting there would be a spelling mistake on the cake I ordered! Wish I could have made a cake tho…there’s just never enough time (or talent in the cake-making dept!), sigh!
Happy Birthday to M!
I have The Doctor’s 40th coming up, and still haven’t decided what to do. I wish we had a desert resort near us!
Happy birthday to The Doctor too! I can’t believe it took us four years to get to this resort! Driving to work the next day through miles of desert was quite an experience too! Btw, it’s looking more and more likely that we might be spending part of the summer in the States, I’m beyond excited!