Letter to an unsuspecting traveller...

A VERY old friend wrote to me saying that there is a possibility of her and her partner coming out to Dubai to work. She asked me for any tips/info I might be able to give her.

I really hope we're doing the right thing here. You know, the whole "Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans" thing....

I hope I don't regret sticking it out here one day when I'm all old an dying.

This is my reply:

It's sad isn't it, that this how I feel about the place we've lived in for so long, and will be living in for the forseeable future:

Kym Mitchell
Today at 12:02

Hi ***

-Of course I remember you!! Blast from the past.

Yes we live in Dubai, we have been here for 8 years. You don't HAVE to be married to come out together, alot of people live together. You are SUPPOSED to be, that is the "law" but like I said, it's not widely adhered to :) We weren't married when we first came out and because of my hubbie's company rules etc (long story), we got married in order to live together. It will only be picked up if there is some kind of legal issue where the police have to become involved for some reason- then you CAN get into trouble and be deported for having "relations" out of wedlock, but it's very rare for something like that to happen.

Yes I am working- the UAE (specifically Dubai) is one of the more progressive Arab states. Women work, drive etc here. As a Westener, you don't have to cover up although it's advised to dress modestly because of all the stares if you don't!To be completely honest, we are not very happy here, but I think we are the anomaly- most South Africans we meet love it! We are here with a very specific financial goal in mind and that's the only thing making us stay.It's quite a "plastic" lifestyle- you will find most people very money-oriented, there's lots of glitz and glamour; clubs and shopping and spending spending spending.

Customer service here is a nightmare- gettinga simple thing done like ordering a pizza over the phone is a painful experience; they hire cheap labour and pay them absolute crap; poor things can hardly speak English and have no clue how business is done -The locals treat them like shit it's quite hard to see. The "scenery" -well it's nothing like SA just be prepared. Miles and miles of nothing. The beaches are beautiful and the buildings/highrises that are going up are pretty spectacular if you are a city kind of person. but at the moment, most of Dubai is a construction site. So everywhere you go there are cranes and cement trucks and dust and noise and contractors and workers. Not pretty.

The weather is something else. We are not quite into the middle of summer yet- but average temps now are 40-45 degrees with 75% humidity- it will take your breath away- winters are amazing though- like CT summers. That's about all I can think of for now- sorry if it paints a bleak picture- like I said, we can't wait to get out of here, so my views may be a little tainted. If you think of anything else you want to know, just ask!Good Luck!x

34 Weeks

So I went for my 34 week check-up and had a scan to see position and size of the boy.

Everything is looking great! He is smack-bang in the middle of average, so this "Monster Baby" that I'm supposed to be growing, according to about 3 different doctors who said the second baby is always bigger than the first and Ethan was So Huge (he wasn't), anyway- boy weighs 2.3 kgs, is, and has been firmly head-down and ready for take off since 20 weeks.

He has HAIR! Lots! We could actually see it floating around in the amniotic fluid which was pretty cool. Ethan is only just starting get a proper head of hair now at 19 months so it will make a change to have a baby with a full rug.
He is moving non-stop. In one of the scans I will post he is actually bent in half, with his foot up against his face, which I guess explains some of the strange shapes my belly is being stretched into day and night.
I am having alot of Braxton Hicks contractions. I had alot with Ethan too, but these are pretty much non-stop all day and all night. Some of them are actually quite sore and frightenenly like real contractions, with tightening all the way around my back, making me pause to catch my breath.
I am crampy and contracting on and off pretty much all the time, but as miserable as that sounds, it's a good thing really, it means my body is gearing itself up and flexing it's muscles for the Big Event.

My Doc is still very positive about the VBAC, saying there is absolutely no reason so far that it won't be possible.
My next appointment is in 2 weeks, and I will have the GBS test, and after that appointment, I will be going weekly until I deliver!!

I can't believe I'm here already, where did this pregnancy go??? I feel very bittersweet. I am really enjoying being big and round and feeling him tumble and swirl (read: punch and karate-chop the crap out of me) around inside me. I am eating well and resting when I can and I just generally feel serene and calm. I know, sickening isn't it? I don't want it to end, but at the same time, I'm like COMEONALREADY!!!!

I have booked a hospital tour for this Friday evening, another very realistic wake- up call that very soon (takeadeepbreathnow) there will be a BABY exiting my body, via my-
Look! Pictures!

Oh yes, my birthday was fabulous, thanks for all the wishes, I got thoroughly spoiled! (But I'm so worth it)

I am really really looking forward to my photography course next month. (Thank you J!!!!) The only thing is, that it's 10 days before my due date so I just hope this boy doesn't have any grand ideas about an early entrance.

And I totally swear that I am going to get some belly pics done this afternoon. Really.