Tuesday 31 December 2013

Sing along now, 'do they know it's Christmas time at all'.....

Whenever you talk to anyone about living abroad and in particular somewhere with a warmer climate, they tend to ask what it's like at Christmas, well now we know.

As you would expect, it is close to a non event up here.  Dubai gets a little bit more festive probably due to their higher percentage of expats but in the malls here you have to look hard to find reminders that it is the 'season to be jolly'.

Fortunately we live in a region where thousands of people come on holiday so there are several large hotels happy to cater for their guests' inclinations to put on a Santa hat and rock around the Christmas tree (but I've never understood what the 'new old fashioned way' is..?).  Hence we have been to three parties laid on by the biggest hotels and have been treated to trees, decorations, Santa, (who we've actually seen five times now, shouldn't he have been concentrating on getting ready for the big day?!) carols, mulled wine, mince pies, pretty much everything that we would have had at home really.

But it doesn't feel Christmassy.  For that I think you have to have the winter weather, dark evenings arriving early, chestnuts roasting on an open fire, being crushed in the shops, endless seasonal TV shows and films, Christmas songs being played on a loop on the radio, and we haven't had any of that.  It does make you realise how much pressure the media and business put on you to have a good time, and in their time frame.  As everything is open here right through the season, there is no obligation to cram in your Christmas shopping.  Domi sorted out the footwear for her Christmas day outfit on Christmas day itself!

New Year is a different matter, that is celebrated and we've noticed an increase in activity in the Malls as everyone gets ready to see it in.  Inevitably when you get to these bench mark dates you reflect on the past twelve months and consider what might happen in the next twelve, maybe even make a resolution or two.

I've never been one for resolutions but I do like to look back and remember what was going on this time last year.  At that time we had two meetings planned early in 2013, one in January and one in February, which we hoped were going to provide us with opportunities to have an adventure abroad.  Both fell as flat as pancakes and in ways that left us in no doubt that we were not going anywhere else this year.  So we moved on to plan B and began putting things in place to resurrect our plans for 2014.  Then out of the blue Domi received an email, had a Skype interview which was sketchy, as Skype often is, and then received a job offer.  So by August we were here, something we could not have predicted in February!

Maybe that's why I like to look back as much as forward, the future is so unpredictable that you may as well relax and enjoy it.  I do believe in giving yourself every chance to achieve your goals, affecting things that you can to put you in the right place at the right time as much as possible.  But that doesn't mean your wishes are going to come true, just don't give up.  I like to think it through, make a plan then do my best to make it happen.  If it does, it does and if it doesn't tant pis, keep moving forward!

Happy new year to you all from the Ras al Khaimah crew! xxx






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