Holiday season

Well it’s just about that time of year again when it feels like we barely have a full week of work in the Office.

December has arrived and with it comes the darker evenings as we leave the bright lights of the office, anticipation at the prospect of cool weather, respite from the scorching heat, the possibility of a spot of rain and then the there is the usual influx of holidays like Eid, National day, Christmas and then not forgetting New Year proving that this time Sheikh Mo does not have the whole thing cancelled again.

First on the festive calendar was Eid – and a very enjoyable trip to the Oman – UAE border with Ant’s Visa run (seemed like such a good idea to go during Eid at the time). Despite the numerous times we have been to the border and sampled the delights that is usually the deserted Oman visa hall and two immigration officers looking fed up behind the counter, nothing quite prepared us for the 8 hr queue we had to endure this time around. We should have known something was amiss when we had to pass through two military check points on the way to the border post, traffic as far as the eye could see and that impending feeling that we had gone to far to turn back now.

After a fairly uneventful departure from the UAE (courtesy of some eye lash fluttering from Miranda) we headed down through baron no mans land, penned in either side by featureless mountains to be confronted by what can only be described as a scene of Armageddon and utter devastation that would not look out of place in the closing moments of latest Hollywood action flick 2012.

Hummers abandoned carelessly across three parking bays, hoards of families wilting wearily in the desert heat and Pizza hut hastily scrambling together whatever ingredients they had left to cater for the trapped masses.

We had to queue for 8 hours to get the entry stamp, gutted in the knowledge that we would not even be crossing into Oman but merely spinning a you turn in the car park to head on our merry way back to DXB.

Completely devastated at wasting a whole day at the hands of Omani immigration, the rest of the holiday weekend was spent in bed catching up on lost sleep and another day trip (I hear you ask “did you not learn your lesson last time”) but this time to the surprisingly good, Al Ain zoo – a zoo which boasts one of the best breeding programmes in the Middle East. A fact we witnessed first hand on numerous occasions much to the immature giggles of the passing public (myself included) as we watch ancient tortoises try dry humping each other with as much intensity as an intergalactic cosmic collision.

After Eid we then had national day celebrations and my three days following this where spent down on the JBR walk, witnessing a carnival of dressed up Hummers and 4 x 4’s proudly celebrating the 38th national day of the UAE. Along with the constant stream of over the top cars where a throng of people to watch and enjoy the many local entertainers doing their thing.

That same weekend also marked the return of the Dubai Rugby 7’s, an expat institution that brings with it a weekend of drinking, eating pies, hot sunshine and the occasional Rugby match of course.

The weekend started with a night at the Christina Noble Children’s Foundation gala dinner, Bareface supplied a number of hostesses and myself and a few of my colleagues where dressed to impress as we hot footed it to the Dance floor. The Christina Noble Children’s foundation is an amazing organization that helps improve the lives of children around the world – particularly those in South East Asia, and this year we where especially privileged as the founding lady herself made an appearance and gave an impassioned speech which had everyone on their feet and made grown rugby boys cry. The following days where spent at the stadium stocking up on supplies of Bulmer’s and cheering on the home nations. Ireland where conspicuous in their absent, England made it to the semi’s yet Wales won their championship – with a very mixed Celtic heritage its great to be able to choose which nationality to support!

As the Sun set on the Rugby 7’s and the hangover kicked in, the impending arrival of the mother in law suddenly dawned on me….. more on this next time……

How the hell do you work this thing?

So this is the third time I have attempted to begin writing this blog and every time I do, I get the dreaded writers block, not in the sense that many of literatures greatest writers get… more a case of getting easily distracted by the tempting prospect of a night out with frozen margaritas on the beach, a trip to the Cinema, Dinner out somewhere or in the case of the last few nights, cocktails on the sofa whilst watching episodes of trashy UK soap operas and catching up with the latest bed hopping antics of the residents of some rain soaked northern English street. It kind of makes me want to turn the air con on full, put on my best parker jacket and stand under the freezing cold shower to remind me of the delights of home.

Talking of cocktails, our very elusive housemate “Tara” (not real name due to the threat of slander proceedings – or the fact that she is refusing to cook for me from now on!!) introduced me to the delights of Amaretto sours whilst flitting between free dinner dates at up market restaurants, dancing the light fantastic, being papped for some glossy, or not so glossy magazine, attending the opening of an envelope and then getting up at some ungodly – and VERY un-natural hour – to pound the treadmill and check out the lycra and white sock clad dudes during a sweaty session of body pump.

This month has been, in the most politically correct terms, a killer!!

First we had the family, and I literally mean most of them, descend upon us for their annual holiday which to be honest over the last year has turned more into a six monthly jolly with the threats of them coming back again soon – with their friends! As much as I love having family over as they help stock up the ever evaporating alcohol supplies with a stop at the airport duty free and do the chores that only a loving mother will do such as clean your dirty underwear, take out the trash or clean the stains from the back of the toilet, its always nice to see them leave so that you can have your own bed back and a say on what you watch on the TV.

Work has been crazy as well. Things are moving fast and hopefully by the end of next year we will have created an empire so big that even Simon Cowell will be calling me asking what WE ARE doing.

We had the amazing Emirates woman awards where we introduced Bareface’s latest exclusive signing, the singing and musical sensation, as well as totally hot Clarita de Quiroz to the world. With an amazing performance already in the bag – big things are happening and 2010 is going to be huge and we will blow Dubai and then the rest of the world away! Keep checking back for more details.

A massive thanks also has to be given to the creative, original talented (and very patient) hair and make up artist Lorna Butler for her incredible transformations….. And of course for keeping me in check on more than one occasion. All the guys at Bareface where really supportive, with stress levels way above that of an erupting volcano, all your help was very much appreciated

This month also saw the arrival of LA goddess and red carpet diva Miranda Davidson. Here to promote and present a series of workshops running throughout the Dubai International Film Festival with the amazingly talented, acting coach to the stars Michelle Danner. Miranda is another artist working exclusively with Bareface on numerous projects.

As well as being an accomplished actress in her own right, Miranda is also a red carpet pro, hosting and presenting at many of LA’s most glittering events as well as TV shows and corporate events around the world. Again big things will be happening with Miranda in 2010 and we will definitely be seeing more of her at the playground…... the question is will you all be joining us??