Bubbles, ungratefulness and rain (again)

Throughout the last 9 months I have consistently likened living in Abu Dhabi as living in a 'bubble'. This is true of course. The leering threat of a monetary meltdown, terrorism and full scale global rebellion barely even touched our Emirati bubble. Occasionally we would read the odd report of a maid falling out of the window, or murder, or massive car accident... but really, we lived in blissful unawareness.

I've now been back in the UK for almost two weeks. And I've found myself suddenly beginning to feel a little paranoid. I'm starting to leave my house feeling a tiny bit fearful... as if a 'yob' is about to jump out from around the corner, or that every major event I attend will be framed by a circumference of crazy terrorists trying to stop me having fun. It is wacky, and although I frequently digested the British news out in Abu Dhabi, the stories never quite touched me... they seemed so far away. It seems I have forgotten what it feels like to live in a constant subconscious state of fear. Just flicking through The Guardian today painted a very very grim picture of the future of Britain.... even with the impending joy of hosting the Olympics we are still being bombarded with the housing crisis, banks folding, conspiracies, child molesters, the threat of terrorism, 50 Shades of Grey (uh yes... bombarding indeed!), the Euro going under and of course the rising cost of petrol.

Ignorance is most certainly bliss.

It has rained the past fortnight. Quite literally. Occasionally we see a little sun - which is then followed by rain. I'm trying so desperately not to moan and gripe and be ungrateful, especially as I've lived in sunshine for 9 months (and will hopefully be returning to it in a few months time) but ... I mean.... really? 2 weeks of rain! Oh... and here is the punchline. They're predicting another 30 days of rain! Some families up north have really lost everything quite simply because flash floods are surprising regions. A day of rain passed last week, and it was estimated that we had the equivalent of one months rain in that single day.

I think we need to call the 51 weeks of rain we have year round 'monsoon season' - it'd then not surprise the tourists that come over to view our very great Britain!

The UK, Olympics, Rain and Rain....

We have now returned to the UK.

I most certainly love our life in Abu Dhabi - but one thing I missed most about the UK (other than missing family) was the idea of FRESH AIR! It's not that Abu Dhabi is lacking in oxygen; it's just that the air is not cool and therefore does not give your lungs that feeling of having inhaled 'fresh air'. In fact, the only time you may have that feeling in Abu Dhabi is when you go in to a room that has had the air-conditioning on for too long and at a ridiculously low temperature.

The flight back was okay. We took the crazy British Airways flight at 2.20am.... with a little baby, this proved quite exhausting. Whilst she knocked out in a blissful 50,000 feet sleep, I tossed and turned, dehydrated, exhausted, and far too sleepy to concentrate on 'How I met your Mother', 'The Big Bang Theory', or '21 Jump Street'. We flew on Qatar Airways before, and I have to give credit to Qatar Airways in that you have a choice in what you want to watch... with British Airways you have channels and you have to watch whatever is on at the time.... very annoying.

We're going through a very pathetic attempt at 'Olympic Fever' over here in the UK. It's very sad. Everyday we have an update as to where the Olympic torch has ended up... which little village, or town it is being run through and sadly... it keeps going out. Yes. The rain and wind here is that bad that it keeps going out... it doesn't bode well.

I had honestly thought.... honestly, honestly, honestly thought that having been in 45+C heat out in the desert that I would have missed the rain. Yesterday, I took the little one out with me to do some shopping and have some lunch... and it rained. Yes, it was grey skies, and rainy and horrible, and honestly, as I walked back in to the house at the end of the day, soaked through, lil baby soaked through, push chair and bag soaked through I could honestly, and truthfully say that I have not missed the rain one little bit. Not one bit! Roll on sunshine!