This has been an exciting week at the Masdar Institure with the arrival of the first students - nearly one hundred with over thirty different nationalities and countries represented including a really good mix of male and female and a good number of local students (nearly all women hoorah!)
I first spotted the marketing campaign in the Marina Mall and got very excited. The marketing campaign is on lightboxes in all of the major Malls as well as on 48 sheet billboards and half page ads in the national press. It’s aimed at letting the people of Abu Dhabi know about the exciting new initiative which is the Masdar Institute. I really like the campaign, it's so personal and engaging, featuring real people in front of a blackboard. So different for a scientific and technical Institution and different from the other Masdar images which are computer generated at this stage. I had the chance at the Iftar for new students to talk to the Marketing Manager about it which was fascinating, bearing in mind my own background in education marketing.
The Iftar to welcome the new students was wonderful. There were 180 people there, with the students, Faculty members, professional and support staff and the MIT folk (plus one or two hangers on like me!) Both John and the CEO of Masdar were really delighted to see the reality of what they are trying to achieve and spent a lot of time talking to the students and staff. There was a warm, buzzy atmosphere and I enjoyed meeting so many of John's colleagues who were very warm and friendly towards me, especially John's PA who shared some wise words about life in Abu Dhabi as she has been here for 15 years.
I hope to include some photos of the evening if I can get some from Masdar. Unfortunately our camera is broken at present and I haven't been able to find anyone to mend it yet.
Sunday 30 August 2009
The joys of Iftar
After the Iftar with the MIT people on Tuesday we enjoyed two more Iftar experiences on Wednesday and Thursday so we're really getting the hang of it now. Masdar Institute held one to welcome the new students which was amazing to see everyone together in one room - but more of that in the next post.
Wednesday's Iftar was at the Shangri La again so the menu is becoming familiar. You start with dates and dried fruit then move on to salad type things with lots of hummous, chickpeas and other exotic ingredients. The hot food tends to be curries and lots of lamb. I was nervous that I would have to overcome my aversion to lamb but there was plenty of chicken as well. Puddings involve semolina, pastry and sponge so we waddle away feeling pretty full. I'm not terribly good at buffets though, not liking everything on the plate at once, and it's important to let the Muslims, who've been fasting, get something to eat first. At the Shangi La I was offered an interesting beverage to go with the food - a drink of camel's milk with mint and yoghurt. An new experience though I think I'd plump for the sauvignon on the whole, given the option!
On Thursday we went to the Emirates Palace Iftar - the creme de la creme in the Iftar department, as guest so the organisation that Masdar and MIT are agreeing this research project with. I was keen to see this as it is held in the traditional tent (a huge, air conditioned marquee actually!) and the display was put together by the Abu Dhabi media company. It was certainly impressive with images projected onto a water feature and an AV display of pictures of Abu Dhabi. The food followed a very similar menu and was very nice. There weren't many people so it was easier to get at the buffet. The drink of choice here seemed to be a mixture of date and tamarind juice - again very agreeable but I still think I prefer a Merlot! I met some more lovely people, an additional group from MIT who will be involved in the research and the team from the actual organisation so it was very pleasant and made a great change from talking to the furniture!
On Friday night I cooked a meal at home, the first eaten at our new table and we allowed ourselves one of our three bottles of wine which was a real treat. On Saturday night we went to the Italian restaurant at the Royal Meridien which is rapidly becoming a favourite spot. We discovered that the Beach Rotana, which is the hotel of choice round here, is not serving alcohol at all during Ramadan, so I think we'll be waiting till October to try that one out. Surprising for a Five Star hotel, since no-one who is observing Ramadan would be likely to drink alcohol even outside of the holy month. Perhaps our reputation for heavy drinking (not me personally I hasten to add) precedes us and they like to keep things quiet. Perhaps in time I'll come to prefer the camel's milk/date juice alternative but I think it might take a while!
Wednesday's Iftar was at the Shangri La again so the menu is becoming familiar. You start with dates and dried fruit then move on to salad type things with lots of hummous, chickpeas and other exotic ingredients. The hot food tends to be curries and lots of lamb. I was nervous that I would have to overcome my aversion to lamb but there was plenty of chicken as well. Puddings involve semolina, pastry and sponge so we waddle away feeling pretty full. I'm not terribly good at buffets though, not liking everything on the plate at once, and it's important to let the Muslims, who've been fasting, get something to eat first. At the Shangi La I was offered an interesting beverage to go with the food - a drink of camel's milk with mint and yoghurt. An new experience though I think I'd plump for the sauvignon on the whole, given the option!
On Thursday we went to the Emirates Palace Iftar - the creme de la creme in the Iftar department, as guest so the organisation that Masdar and MIT are agreeing this research project with. I was keen to see this as it is held in the traditional tent (a huge, air conditioned marquee actually!) and the display was put together by the Abu Dhabi media company. It was certainly impressive with images projected onto a water feature and an AV display of pictures of Abu Dhabi. The food followed a very similar menu and was very nice. There weren't many people so it was easier to get at the buffet. The drink of choice here seemed to be a mixture of date and tamarind juice - again very agreeable but I still think I prefer a Merlot! I met some more lovely people, an additional group from MIT who will be involved in the research and the team from the actual organisation so it was very pleasant and made a great change from talking to the furniture!
On Friday night I cooked a meal at home, the first eaten at our new table and we allowed ourselves one of our three bottles of wine which was a real treat. On Saturday night we went to the Italian restaurant at the Royal Meridien which is rapidly becoming a favourite spot. We discovered that the Beach Rotana, which is the hotel of choice round here, is not serving alcohol at all during Ramadan, so I think we'll be waiting till October to try that one out. Surprising for a Five Star hotel, since no-one who is observing Ramadan would be likely to drink alcohol even outside of the holy month. Perhaps our reputation for heavy drinking (not me personally I hasten to add) precedes us and they like to keep things quiet. Perhaps in time I'll come to prefer the camel's milk/date juice alternative but I think it might take a while!
Wednesday 26 August 2009
Getting there slowly
The last couple of days have been pretty hectic with things and people arriving to get the apartment ship shape. The new (much smaller) chairs and sofas turned up so we can sit comfortably. They look lovely though we now need some tables to put drinks on as they look a bit marooned in the middle of the room. I would say it looks like a furniture show room but round here it's hard to see the furniture in the shops as it is all weighted down with bowls, fake flowers and all manner of coverings!
The dining table and chairs also came yesterday so we could probably host a dinner party.
Our air freight arrived from Manchester which was fabulous, having some things from home. The only casualty were three wine goblets which looked as though they'd had a good kicking and were reduced to glass splinters. However, I am really impressed with Crown Relocations as it only took about 18 days to get the stuff to us and everything else is in good shape. We have our wedding presents, some books and other bits and pieces and our wedding album and digital frame. Most impressive is the Bose iPod dock that we bought with our John Lewis vouchers, the sound is amazing and it saved having to bring loads of CDs with us.
All of the DVDs arrived safely with nothing impounded - though it looked as though 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' had received a good check over and had lost its cover. Milan Kundera was seen as subversive in Soviet times but I'm surprised it would be viewed that way now. Perhaps it was just the one they chose to check out!
The only thing that was due to turn up yesterday which didn't was the washing machine. Apparently when they said Tuesday they meant between 7 and 9pm rather than during the day - an easy mistake to make coming from a country where Tuesday would have meant 9am to 5pm! Anyway by the time it was due to arrive I was going out with John to have dinner with the MIT people so it's been rearranged for delivery on Thursday instead. So it's back to the laundry for now!
We had a very convivial dinner with the three visitors from MIT who were charming and are clearly impressed with what John is doing so far. The Senior Admin Head was also very empathetic about the situation of Faculty wives, at home on their own in a foreign country. Once Ramadan is over I might see if I can't take on some pastoral duties as the Provost's wife and arrange a lunch or coffee for the wives to see how we can support each other more.
The isolation is certainly the hardest thing, especially when you're used to rushing to work every day and spending time with colleagues and clients. Suddenly being alone all day with just a computer and delivery men for company can be a little trying. Hopefully I'll soon have more of a network and people to talk to about work, or just the triumphs and trials of setting up home and building a new life a long way from home. John has a demanding schedule with endless meetings, long hours and quite a lot of dinners and when he does get home he is naturally keen to relax. I hope to be more supportive and less demanding as I get used to things. Tomorrow I plan to visit a couple of gyms and to make contact with a dance studio and running club so that should provide some human interaction.
Anyway enough moaning! On the whole it's an exciting new adventure and no doubt I'll have more than just the furniture to talk to soon.
The dining table and chairs also came yesterday so we could probably host a dinner party.
Our air freight arrived from Manchester which was fabulous, having some things from home. The only casualty were three wine goblets which looked as though they'd had a good kicking and were reduced to glass splinters. However, I am really impressed with Crown Relocations as it only took about 18 days to get the stuff to us and everything else is in good shape. We have our wedding presents, some books and other bits and pieces and our wedding album and digital frame. Most impressive is the Bose iPod dock that we bought with our John Lewis vouchers, the sound is amazing and it saved having to bring loads of CDs with us.
All of the DVDs arrived safely with nothing impounded - though it looked as though 'The Unbearable Lightness of Being' had received a good check over and had lost its cover. Milan Kundera was seen as subversive in Soviet times but I'm surprised it would be viewed that way now. Perhaps it was just the one they chose to check out!
The only thing that was due to turn up yesterday which didn't was the washing machine. Apparently when they said Tuesday they meant between 7 and 9pm rather than during the day - an easy mistake to make coming from a country where Tuesday would have meant 9am to 5pm! Anyway by the time it was due to arrive I was going out with John to have dinner with the MIT people so it's been rearranged for delivery on Thursday instead. So it's back to the laundry for now!
We had a very convivial dinner with the three visitors from MIT who were charming and are clearly impressed with what John is doing so far. The Senior Admin Head was also very empathetic about the situation of Faculty wives, at home on their own in a foreign country. Once Ramadan is over I might see if I can't take on some pastoral duties as the Provost's wife and arrange a lunch or coffee for the wives to see how we can support each other more.
The isolation is certainly the hardest thing, especially when you're used to rushing to work every day and spending time with colleagues and clients. Suddenly being alone all day with just a computer and delivery men for company can be a little trying. Hopefully I'll soon have more of a network and people to talk to about work, or just the triumphs and trials of setting up home and building a new life a long way from home. John has a demanding schedule with endless meetings, long hours and quite a lot of dinners and when he does get home he is naturally keen to relax. I hope to be more supportive and less demanding as I get used to things. Tomorrow I plan to visit a couple of gyms and to make contact with a dance studio and running club so that should provide some human interaction.
Anyway enough moaning! On the whole it's an exciting new adventure and no doubt I'll have more than just the furniture to talk to soon.
Tuesday 25 August 2009
Views from the apartment
Here you can see one of the many features that made us fall in love with this apartment. The first is the view from the kitchen window, imagine doing the washing up whilst overlooking the Al Hosn Palace (the white fort like building). This was the only building in Abu Dhabi 30 years ago and where you see skyscrapers was just desert and tents. The Mosque in the foreground is very picturesque and I guess we'll soon get used to the 4am call to prayer from the loudspeakers on the top of the minaret which is just outside our bedroom window! All the other prayer times are at more reasonable hours!
The other view is from our main room and looks over the British embassy compound towards the corniche. To the left you can see the Baynunah Hilton where I'm planning to investigate the gym since outdoor running at present is not really much of an option in the heat. You can see cranes everywhere, a ubiquitous feature of the Abu Dhabi skyline. About ten times a day I have to swallow the words 'I bet this will be lovely when it's finished'!
The good thing is that with the Palace and the British Embassy outside our windows it's unlikely that anyone will decide to build a 40 storey tower next door.
It certainly all takes your breath away everytime you look out of the window and you feel a real part of the city.
Monday 24 August 2009
Adjusting to life during Ramadan
In the middle of all the work to get the apartment ready we're also having to get used to life in Abu Dhabi not made any easier by the fact that Ramadan started on Saturday. Although, as non Muslims, we are really expected to fast from sunrise to sunset, it's quite hard not to have to join in. All cafes, restaurants and bars are closed during the day so you can only get something to eat or drink when you're at home. Even in the Sheraton we had to have room service on Saturday lunchtime as nothing was open.
I sent John off to work with a bag of fruit and a bottle of water, but, because he had a busy day with lots of meetings, he was never on his own to eat the fruit and he wasn't able to have a tea or a coffee. Most of the restaurants only offer Iftar, once the sun sets, which is an arabic buffet, very communal and often in large marquees. I shall get the chance to try this later this week as there is an Iftar for all the staff and students of the Masdar Institute at the Shangri La, which will also be a chance to get to know John's colleagues and to meet the students.
John has some of the key people over from MIT this week as we'll so we'll be taking Iftar with them too. I am fretting about how the Americans will feel about the absence of coffee and lunch. I know how I'd feel, especially after an overnight, transatlantic flight! Still, they've been involved with Abu Dhabi longer than we have so I expect they are prepared.
John will have to take Iftar again on Thursday night with the MIT visitors and his colleagues so on Friday I'm hoping he'll be ready for some more of my cooking.
We met our next door neighbours, a delighful couple from New Zealand and they very kindly invited us in for a drink. That is a real treat as, without a licence, alcohol is a scarce commodity. I'm already eyeing our duty free stash and feeling a bit protective of it! You can buy alcohol, but not without a licence, which would involved a lot of work for John and having to ask colleagues to sign papers etc. so, I think, what with John's time pressures, we'll have to make sure we eke out the duty free! No doubt a little abstinence won't do us any harm!
I sent John off to work with a bag of fruit and a bottle of water, but, because he had a busy day with lots of meetings, he was never on his own to eat the fruit and he wasn't able to have a tea or a coffee. Most of the restaurants only offer Iftar, once the sun sets, which is an arabic buffet, very communal and often in large marquees. I shall get the chance to try this later this week as there is an Iftar for all the staff and students of the Masdar Institute at the Shangri La, which will also be a chance to get to know John's colleagues and to meet the students.
John has some of the key people over from MIT this week as we'll so we'll be taking Iftar with them too. I am fretting about how the Americans will feel about the absence of coffee and lunch. I know how I'd feel, especially after an overnight, transatlantic flight! Still, they've been involved with Abu Dhabi longer than we have so I expect they are prepared.
John will have to take Iftar again on Thursday night with the MIT visitors and his colleagues so on Friday I'm hoping he'll be ready for some more of my cooking.
We met our next door neighbours, a delighful couple from New Zealand and they very kindly invited us in for a drink. That is a real treat as, without a licence, alcohol is a scarce commodity. I'm already eyeing our duty free stash and feeling a bit protective of it! You can buy alcohol, but not without a licence, which would involved a lot of work for John and having to ask colleagues to sign papers etc. so, I think, what with John's time pressures, we'll have to make sure we eke out the duty free! No doubt a little abstinence won't do us any harm!
Does anyone know the Arabic for bath plug?!
Well we managed to move in to the apartment and have spent a night here and I managed to cook dinner.
The almighty was on our side (as well as the lovely Mr Hameed) and we got curtains in the bedroom just in time so we didn't have to spend the night under the green glow from the minarets of the mosque across the road. We have curtain tracks in all the other rooms but I think I may have used up my desperate English brownie points and now have to wait my turn for the rest of the curtains.
Yesterday proved to be a bit of a disaster as the new sofas arrived only for me to find that, with all the packaging on they wouldn't fit in the lift. Amir, who looks after the building, was convinced that they would go, but none of us was very keen to risk unpacking them so they had to go back to the shop. I then had to go to the shop and choose new (much smaller sofas) which will definitely fit in the lift. I ended up with 2 sofas and 2 chairs, not in the beautiful white leather which I had dreamed of, but I'm sure they'll be very nice. Most importantly the wicker basket chairs are not really designed for a lot of sitting on, though the fact that Chelsea beat Fulham and England regained the Ashes helped John to forget the discomfort! Due to my pleading the new furniture is due to arrive this afternoon so hopefully tonight will be more relaxing.
In the middle of the sofa trauma I discovered that the cleaners had turned off the gas and I couldn't get it back on again. However, with help from Amir (how did I ever manage in Manchester without such a helpful chap on site?) we got it going again and I was able to cook my first dinner here, though, without much furniture it was a bit of a picnic. I'd been to Spinneys earlier and bought groceries. Spinneys is the supermarket of choice for British expats, so plenty of familiar brands and helpfully labelled so that I could try not to increase the food miles, since the provenance of all the fruit and veg was very clear. I still don't know why avocados have to come from Australia - clearly the Carmel brand wouldn't be welcome, but there are other parts of the Middle East with more friendly connections!
So why the comment about bath plugs? Well none of our baths (we have three), have plugs so I went to every likely, as well as some unlikely shops to ask, but no-one had the faintest idea what I was talking about. In the end I have resorted to carrying the one from the kitchen sink in my handbag and waving it in every shop I pass, still to no avail so if anyone has a spare supply be sure to send us one (or three)!
The almighty was on our side (as well as the lovely Mr Hameed) and we got curtains in the bedroom just in time so we didn't have to spend the night under the green glow from the minarets of the mosque across the road. We have curtain tracks in all the other rooms but I think I may have used up my desperate English brownie points and now have to wait my turn for the rest of the curtains.
Yesterday proved to be a bit of a disaster as the new sofas arrived only for me to find that, with all the packaging on they wouldn't fit in the lift. Amir, who looks after the building, was convinced that they would go, but none of us was very keen to risk unpacking them so they had to go back to the shop. I then had to go to the shop and choose new (much smaller sofas) which will definitely fit in the lift. I ended up with 2 sofas and 2 chairs, not in the beautiful white leather which I had dreamed of, but I'm sure they'll be very nice. Most importantly the wicker basket chairs are not really designed for a lot of sitting on, though the fact that Chelsea beat Fulham and England regained the Ashes helped John to forget the discomfort! Due to my pleading the new furniture is due to arrive this afternoon so hopefully tonight will be more relaxing.
In the middle of the sofa trauma I discovered that the cleaners had turned off the gas and I couldn't get it back on again. However, with help from Amir (how did I ever manage in Manchester without such a helpful chap on site?) we got it going again and I was able to cook my first dinner here, though, without much furniture it was a bit of a picnic. I'd been to Spinneys earlier and bought groceries. Spinneys is the supermarket of choice for British expats, so plenty of familiar brands and helpfully labelled so that I could try not to increase the food miles, since the provenance of all the fruit and veg was very clear. I still don't know why avocados have to come from Australia - clearly the Carmel brand wouldn't be welcome, but there are other parts of the Middle East with more friendly connections!
So why the comment about bath plugs? Well none of our baths (we have three), have plugs so I went to every likely, as well as some unlikely shops to ask, but no-one had the faintest idea what I was talking about. In the end I have resorted to carrying the one from the kitchen sink in my handbag and waving it in every shop I pass, still to no avail so if anyone has a spare supply be sure to send us one (or three)!
Wednesday 19 August 2009
3 days to go till we move in
Well I've been here for nearly 6 days and we are due to leave the Sheraton on Sunday and take up residence in our new apartment and it's been a hectic few days. The apartment is amazing though way larger than what we need. We chose it for the fantastic views which take my breath away from every window. The Al Hosn Palace to the South, which is the oldest building in Abu Dhabi, now surrounded by a modern city scape and the view to the Corniche across the British Embassy compound to the North.
All completely empty and in need of the basic ingredients of life to make it liveable and in such a short space of time in a foreign city. The first thing I did was engage some cleaners, who then made no contact, so I bought all the cleaning stuff and set about cleaning the kitchens, all four bathrooms and the balconies, only to have the cleaners call tonight to say they are coming tomorrow! I guess I'll learn that round here is people say they are coming they will, but in their own time and without much warning!
I've got the cooker, fridge/freezer and the dishwasher connected. I still haven't bought a washing machine as I'm not convinced the hole is big enough though it might just be my inability with a measuring tape that's the problem. The TV is now connected to satellite and offers 350 channels including BBC Prime, Lifestyle and World so you can watch Bargain Hunt any time of the day or night should you wish to! The main thing is that we have movies (for me) and sport (for John) so it should be OK.
The curtain rails are being fitted tomorrow so there is a fighting chance of having curtains in the bedroom before we have to spend a night with floor to ceiling windows and only aeroplane eye covers to keep out the light.
John and I bought a bed and sofas on Saturday which are due to arrive Sat/Sun so if they do turn up we will at least have somewhere to sleep and sit though John has borrowed at state of the art air bed from a colleague so we do have back up.
In the meantime I have made numerous forays to Carrefours, IKEA and The One to buy crockery, cutlery, kitchen utensils, towels and the paraphenalia of every day life and am probably on the taxi drivers black list, especially today when I got a taxi complete with two wicker chairs!
Today we went to Etisalat to order the landline and internet connection. Very efficient but scarily bureaucratic. John had to come, furnished with the necessary 'letter of no objection' from
his employer and numerous forms. Hopefully we'll have a phone and internet within a week or so.
I like to walk in a new city to get to know it but the temperature at present makes this difficult. I have walked miles but at 40 degrees plus I tend to need a shower afterwards. Still it saves going to the gym!
John has had a very tough week. He is close to finalising a big research deal at the same time that the first 100 students arrive with all the necessary teething problems. He looks worn out and I try not to bore him too much with stories of taxis and IKEA! However, we does tend to have to hear everything that has gone on in my day! Tonight he has gone to an important dinner but hopefully he will get to relax at the weekend (which for us starts on Thursday night).
We think Ramadan starts tomorrow so that will be another new experience.
All completely empty and in need of the basic ingredients of life to make it liveable and in such a short space of time in a foreign city. The first thing I did was engage some cleaners, who then made no contact, so I bought all the cleaning stuff and set about cleaning the kitchens, all four bathrooms and the balconies, only to have the cleaners call tonight to say they are coming tomorrow! I guess I'll learn that round here is people say they are coming they will, but in their own time and without much warning!
I've got the cooker, fridge/freezer and the dishwasher connected. I still haven't bought a washing machine as I'm not convinced the hole is big enough though it might just be my inability with a measuring tape that's the problem. The TV is now connected to satellite and offers 350 channels including BBC Prime, Lifestyle and World so you can watch Bargain Hunt any time of the day or night should you wish to! The main thing is that we have movies (for me) and sport (for John) so it should be OK.
The curtain rails are being fitted tomorrow so there is a fighting chance of having curtains in the bedroom before we have to spend a night with floor to ceiling windows and only aeroplane eye covers to keep out the light.
John and I bought a bed and sofas on Saturday which are due to arrive Sat/Sun so if they do turn up we will at least have somewhere to sleep and sit though John has borrowed at state of the art air bed from a colleague so we do have back up.
In the meantime I have made numerous forays to Carrefours, IKEA and The One to buy crockery, cutlery, kitchen utensils, towels and the paraphenalia of every day life and am probably on the taxi drivers black list, especially today when I got a taxi complete with two wicker chairs!
Today we went to Etisalat to order the landline and internet connection. Very efficient but scarily bureaucratic. John had to come, furnished with the necessary 'letter of no objection' from
his employer and numerous forms. Hopefully we'll have a phone and internet within a week or so.
I like to walk in a new city to get to know it but the temperature at present makes this difficult. I have walked miles but at 40 degrees plus I tend to need a shower afterwards. Still it saves going to the gym!
John has had a very tough week. He is close to finalising a big research deal at the same time that the first 100 students arrive with all the necessary teething problems. He looks worn out and I try not to bore him too much with stories of taxis and IKEA! However, we does tend to have to hear everything that has gone on in my day! Tonight he has gone to an important dinner but hopefully he will get to relax at the weekend (which for us starts on Thursday night).
We think Ramadan starts tomorrow so that will be another new experience.
Tuesday 18 August 2009
Saying farewell
Thursday was time to say goodbye for a bit to my colleagues at Work Communications. In the end I couldn't say much about how great it's been working with them and how much I'm going to miss them as I got a bit overcome with emotion! They gave me a wonderful card (do I detect the hand of Danny Lovell in the amazing design?!) I couldn't read it till I got to the airport and sure enough the tears welled up at all the lovely comments so everyone else in the lounge was giving me some funny looks! They also gave me a beautiful bracelet which I shall treasure.
I enjoyed reading Hello and OK magazine on the plane - a new experience for me and a very thoughtful addition to the leaving present.
The business class flight which I had been looking forward to was deeply disappointing as apparently, Etihad only stock up in Abu Dhabi and the flight to Manchester had drunk all the business class champagne and fine wine so all they could offer was a yucky chardonnay - still better for the next morning. The beds were comfy though and the food was nice.
John was waiting to meet me and it was lovely to be reunited and know that there aren't too many heart wrenching airport hellos and goodbyes to come for a bit. It was our four month wedding anniversary so we had a double celebration and went to dinner at the Italian restaurant at the Emirates Palace which was lovely. John has a theory about the Emirates Palace that when the architect had drawn up the plans they then doubled the size of everything to make it even better. It's certainly huge and on a grand scale! The Sheraton, which I have booked for us until next Sunday to give me a bit of time to get the apartment ready is very nice though I've been too busy to enjoy the pool or the beach but we have had some nice meals. Hopefully I'll be able to get everything ready in time but it's going to be quite a rush.
I enjoyed reading Hello and OK magazine on the plane - a new experience for me and a very thoughtful addition to the leaving present.
The business class flight which I had been looking forward to was deeply disappointing as apparently, Etihad only stock up in Abu Dhabi and the flight to Manchester had drunk all the business class champagne and fine wine so all they could offer was a yucky chardonnay - still better for the next morning. The beds were comfy though and the food was nice.
John was waiting to meet me and it was lovely to be reunited and know that there aren't too many heart wrenching airport hellos and goodbyes to come for a bit. It was our four month wedding anniversary so we had a double celebration and went to dinner at the Italian restaurant at the Emirates Palace which was lovely. John has a theory about the Emirates Palace that when the architect had drawn up the plans they then doubled the size of everything to make it even better. It's certainly huge and on a grand scale! The Sheraton, which I have booked for us until next Sunday to give me a bit of time to get the apartment ready is very nice though I've been too busy to enjoy the pool or the beach but we have had some nice meals. Hopefully I'll be able to get everything ready in time but it's going to be quite a rush.
Wednesday 12 August 2009
Our new apartment in Abu Dhabi
This is the exterior - ours is the second one on the right hand side with the two balconies and the main living room - a lot of space to fill!
Nearly time to head to Abu Dhabi
Well tomorrow night I fly to Abu Dhabi to join John who has been there since the end of May. I had two weeks out there at the end of June and, after looking at lots of apartments, we found one in the centre of the city, just a block from the corniche. It's going to be quite a daily trip for John to get out to Masdar City but it means we'll be in the centre of things and have the chance to really get to know the city.
Once I arrive I'll be flat out trying to get the apartment ready for us to live in as it's completely empty. I managed to secure a fridge, an oven, a dishwasher, TV and DVD from a guy who was moving back to Canada so it's a start though nothing is fitted in at the moment. I have until the 23rd August, when our hotel booking runs out to get beds, curtains, chairs and all the necessary household stuff.
It's very exciting and not a little bit scary to be making such a large move away from the UK. I shall be really sad about leaving my family and my friends at Work Communications behind. I'm still going to be working for Work remotely and hoping to make some useful business contacts for us in the UAE but it won't be the same as seeing everyone in Hale every day. Hopefully we'll get in regular contact via the email and the phone. Tonight we're all going for some drinks.
John is really enjoying his new job as Provost of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology. The Institute is the vital first phase of the Masdar City project,which aims to create the world's first completely sustainable, carbon neutral city in the desert outside Abu Dhabi. It's a really ambitious and visionary idea, so, with the vital research done by the Institute, John's work could help to change the way we all live our lives. Masdar also recently won the competition to host IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency) so they're fast becoming recognised on the world stage in this area.
I've missed John very much over the last two and half months so it will be lovely to be together again and to start a new life out in Abu Dhabi. I'm sure it's going to be an amazing experience and one I look forward to sharing via this blog.
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