“We suffer more often in imagination than in reality” Lucius Annaeus Seneca The gym is shut today for the long weekend. It is an unwelcome change to my routine. I always feel flat if I don’t train in the morning. Lethargic for the entire day. We sleep in until 06:30. After breakfast I put the…
Animal Farm
“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” George Orwell I remember the first time I read Animal Farm. It was a school text for Year 8. That would have been 1988 and I was 14 years old. I can still recall my shock when I read that the pigs walked…
Patriots
It is UAE national day and it is a big deal. There is national pride here, but not the American version. There is none of the ‘we are the best’ comparitism. There are no trucks, there are no fireworks, shirts remain on. There are flags. There is a respectful pride here. It is different from…
Kandora
I have woken up optimistic about my weight. This might be hard to believe, but eating enough food for one person is indicative of a healthy weight. The usual Thursday night routine is Arabic at our local for dinner. A mixed grill for two, just for me. Last night, as usual, slow cooked buffalo and…
Trust the Belt
I have woken up fat. Technically, I woke up fat Tuesday. The realisation came when I needed to let my belt out a notch. To be honest, the belt felt a little tight Monday evening on the way home from work. I ignored the warning signs and ate enough for two Monday evening. This is…
Visitors
Davy and Di are here for the weekend. Passing through after a month or so travelling through Europe. We planned to take them around Sharjah and Dubai yesterday, but it rained. It rains here two or three times a year. When it rains it floods. Yesterday was no exception. Roads were closed with flooding. We…
Sabotage
The commitment to reduce weekend drinking is being hampered by my decision to start drinking through the week. This attempt at moderation is also being sabotaged by the philosophical problem of what time is ‘too early’ to start drinking. Obviously, 5.00 am is inappropriate, but what about 7.00 am? On a positive note, my effort…
Sharjah Sunrises
We are early risers so we have seen plenty of sunrises. Morning is my favourite time of day. That chilled moment before the sun breaks the horizon. The light without the sun breaks the darkness, pushing at the blackness, and moving it across the sky. The weather has changed in Sharjah, it is cool, but…
Social Scene
Shell keeps a tight friend circle. I can count the number of people she keeps in contact with on one hand that is missing a few fingers. Wenche is one of these friends. Shell met Wenche in Malaysia. Wenche was working in the Humanities department for the high school where Shell taught primary. I also…