Christmas Parcel has Arrived!

Thanks Mum and Dad, it's finally here, thanks for all the goodies!


How is this for a history Posted on 4th December
Left NZ on the 6th December

Arrived Dubai 29th January
Collected 30th January

Where was it in between, no idea, but it was probably interesting!

Grant decided to check with the central Post Office in person today as we were beginning to think that the parcel really was missing for ever. What a coincidence when he found that it had only just arrived the day before and the notification had just been sent out.
Everything was in fine shape and it was so nice to have a mini Xmas all over again.
Jake was just bursting with excitement as you can imagine, he was upstairs all evening immersed in Star Wars fun. Scott was his usual cool self but soon had his head buried in the Karting book. Grant finally had to remind him that there was homework waiting - that way Grant got to check it out too.
I was really spoilt, I've got that lovely paua bracelet on right now. A million thanks to you Mum and Dad, what a special boxful of treasures for us all.

Thanks also for the message Dad, you are very good!
Wish we had some of those spuds here, have to make do with some all the way from Australia.
I planted a tomato plant, what a sad wee thing it is. Everything I planted late last year has struggled because it's been so cold. We had 6deg the other night. Over the last few days its warmed up quite a bit and at last I can see things begin to take off.

Here is a quick run down of the karting last weekend. It was a big disappointment. Scott and Grant had done a heap of preparation and on the day everything was looking good. For some strange reason the race day only consisted of two heats and the final.
Race 1 - Scott got taken out (run over) by another kart on the first corner. He eventually managed to get unstuck and finished the race last.
Race 2 - great competition, Scott finished 3rd behind two very fast karts, a great race.
Final - Scott got hit by another kart that spun out near to him, first corner yet again! Kart damaged and parked up for the rest of the race.

It was very disappointing after all the anticipation, still, I guess that's racing. The kart was pretty bashed up, Grant says he can get it all straightened out without to much cost. They had a big rear bumper installed as per the new regulations but are reconsidering the style. The plastic one is a bit large and seems to be more of a target for pushing and barging so I think that a different one will be appearing for the next race. Scott also has a new number "54" the old one was taken in the senior class.
Other than that everything's fine!


OK I'm off to bed now, just gone midnight and I've got to be up at 6am. Not sure where the time goes and the place looks like a bombs gone off. Guess I'll be busy tomorrow!
Love and Hugs to you all!!

Credits:
Xmas Parcel - Paper is from Happy Christmas by Robyn England at ScrapArtist
Hearts from Dragonfly Dreams by Helen Parkinson
Font is Kwekel
Kart Race - Built Tough kit by Amber Clegg
Journal Stamp from RAD Refresh by Kim Christensen (both ScrapArtist)
Quote by Kate Teague
Font is Milk & Cereal

Mid-week Mutterings

This is my second attempt at writing a post, hopefully no more interruptions! The boys are at school, Grant is down at the kart track getting ready for the practice session this afternoon. He will pick Scott up at 12.30 and Jake's off to visit a friend straight after school. This means I have the day rest of the day free from my taxi duties. Actually, I should go into School for a short session with Jake, I've told him to stay in Arabic and read quietly (hopefully no one will notice....shhhh).

Jake enjoyed rugby over the weekend, he has been working on his fitness and its making a difference at last. Scott and Grant have the kart all sorted for the weekend (first race of the 2007 season).
The weather has been really cold and unpredictable lately, however, very little rain. Yesterday a sandstorm was blowing up around here making a mess of everything. Today it's nice and fine again.


I have made a bit of time to sit and do some scrapbooking pages, It's fun but the time really runs away, I love putting things together slowly and fiddling with all the elements till I'm happy. I will have to go back into the old albums and do some pages based on old photos but I seem to only just keep up with the recent stuff. In this set there is one of Jake taken on Boxing day. He had been soooo looking forward to getting a big box of leggo for Christmas. Grant picked it up on his trip to Seattle, I was very impressed that he remembered and got the right one. Well, for Jake to wait even one day before tackling it was hard, he was up first thing in the morning as the sun streamed through the window. I don't think he even noticed that I was taking this photo, his concentration was complete.

This next photo was taken up in the stands while we were watching some of the 24hr race. It was quite chilly so I was giving Jake a cuddle. It would have been nice if Scott had smiled but this is his normal face (very serious).

Lastly, Jake playing rugby last weekend. He did well and enjoyed the day. His club has three teams playing in the Under 11's. They are all improving and are lucky to have the most excellent coaches. Now I must get back to my chores, washing to hang out, bathrooms to clean etc. This weekend will be a busy one and it will be good if I'm on top of things. We have a party tonight for some good friends who are leaving Dubai, and then racing all day tomorrow. Grant has work over the weekend also so I'm not sure how it will all pan out. I think I'm officially a mechanic tomorrow, that should be fun. I do polishing and fetching and that's about it!

Credits:Leggo: Unamused Boys Kit by Jessica Bolton at Scrapbookgraphics . Ribbon and Treasure Word, Its a Guy Thing kit by Doris Castle. Inked Edge by Kim Hill. Paper Arrow, staple and photo corner by Linda GB, Star Bazar Kit from ScrapArtist.

Family: Swirly Q kit by Tracy Rivera at ScrapArtist (Apprentice). Date Stamp by Amber Clegg SA

Rugby: Background from Ophelia kit by Linda BG and Elements from the RAD collections by Kim Christensen both at ScrapArtist

Dubai 24hr Race

Last weekend we finally got to watch a race event at the Autodrome. Big race weekends are few and far between and unfortunately we have had to miss those that have been on due to our own schedule. It was quite a sight to see 72 (Jake's count) cars lined up together. The racing was exciting and we thoroughly enjoyed it. We got to see the pit and paddock area, watched the start and then came back at night to see some more.

It was amazing watching the racing at night. We picked up pizza's on the way and then parked by the terraces really close to the action. That area was pitch black (except for the headlights whizzing past) and almost deserted. It was quite surreal and heaps of fun. The boys loved it. The night was freezing cold (Dubai standards) so we were rugged up and wrapped in blankets. The chill began to creep in eventually and we returned home just before midnight. We missed the fireworks, didn't know about them, so that was a bummer. We could, however, see the fireworks for home and could hear the cars in the distance all night, that was kinda nice.


This panorama is very rough, just taken from the stands, but I thought it would give you an idea of what it was like.

Jake has a mini Rugby tournament this weekend against the usual rivals Abu Dhabi. Scott was supposed to be racing but that has been cancelled. The organisation of events for Karting is just about non-existent. The Exiles Rugby club is great, it's so well organised.
Scott also has an upcoming trial desert camp for the Duke of Edinborough Award. We have had no word about that either. What's the bet that they will both happen on the same weekend!

Regarding the Karting, Scott has come to a big decision about that. Scott will move up into the seniors class starting from his next race (whenever that is). As he is almost 16 he had the choice and because the Junior class was usually very small last year he has decided to move up. So he now has a new engine and the old one has been modified back into a senior for a spare. Of course, I would really have preferred him to stick with the juniors, it would be less dangerous and he would have easily picked up his share of trophies and prize money.
Scott, however, sees it differently. He is keen to better himself and is happy to be scrapping it out with the seniors, his reward is his own improvement and he would rather give up those easy podiums for the better competition.
That's great in theory, I'm still going to be a worried mess hovering in the background.

The changing face of Dubai in the background. Ski Dubai is located at a new mall. Mall of the Emirates is where I do my shopping every week.

The pre-start time is a real media circus, we had a good vantage point from the grandstand.I think these two are considering an upgrade on the Kart!


There was a drift racing demo, the boys were impressed! We were pit side and didn't have a great view.

I hpoe you like the new look of my blog, I spent ages trying to figure out how to go about putting a new heading up. I think it looks pretty good for a first attempt.

I have also started to list some blogs and web sites that I visit. You might find some of them interesting, just click on them, there is a little bit of everything and I will add to it over time.

Yikes - Happy New Year

I can't believe it's so far into the New Year already! We had a very quiet New Years Eve, managed to stay up and watch the fireworks show over at the fairground (Global Village to the Dubai folks) it was spectacular as always, it's on every night and somehow just seems to keep getting better! It's a short distance away so we get to see most of it from our house.
After New Year we all had another weeks holiday. Now the boys have been back at school for a week and all the activities and extra lessons have started up as well.
Jake is playing rugby for his school as well as the rugby club. Scott is doing quite a bit for his "Duke of Edinborough" bronze award. He will be helping out with the local Scout group and he also has sports and of course Kart racing.
So it's all go around here for 2007.

This photo was taken by Jake on New Years day. I like to think that the tourists here were as happy as we were that Scott finally got up on his board. Scott was struggling a bit but he is also very determined. Jake and I were chatting to some professional surfers out here from California to make a film of surfing in the U.A.E. and Oman, unfortunately this day the surf was very small. Jake was using my camera and took loads of photos of them and only this one of Scott!

In the background you can see sand being laid down for a new island (part of "The World" I think)

I have a few more photos from this weekend, we have been down to the Dubai Autodrome to see the 24hr Race, it's a big event with around 72 starters. Porshes and the like, mainly European cars. I will post those later this evening if all goes well. Time to get some more chores done, our week starts on Sunday so I had better get organised!