Dear Desert Diary

Dearest Desert Diary,



I just wanted to quickly write to you to say that I haven't forgotten about you, in fact, I think of you often. There's something about standing in my kitchen over the stove, spatula in one hand, glass of wine in the other and a bit of Roxette that always inspires me to write to you. Many times since 14 March, I have been "getting dressed for success", cooking in my kitchen that has a range hood for decoration with a glass of rottwein (red wine for the non-german speakers amongst us) and I think of the times when we were joint at the hip and how its about time I show you the love again. Well, don't get too excited, the giant is due home just now and I am waiting for his text to start frying the bacon. Yes, its bacon and eggs tonight. How my nonnas would be cursing above - one saying "ooooooooh!" and the other "ber, jo, kat, te!" (that ones for the family), but however they would still be happy that I sit here waiting for the go ahead from my husband like a good wife to prepare the meal. Look, what I say is at the end of the day Sir Atkins says its ok, then so do I- what sir Atkins may not know is that I might have also found the secret stash of pringles I hid- what he don't know don't hurt him. The beat goes on... "Eye of the Tiger"- the urge to turn it up, but then I know that I have Emirati neighbours who have just broken their fast for Ramadan and music is actually forbidden. After preparing my eggs (gourmet of course- with onion, tomato, mushroom and chives) I took the rubbish out- I could hear out the front of my villa Roxette, on her joyride down my Abu Dhesian street. Gated compound or not, time to turn that baby down.

Although I had intended to just write something quickly, what I think I'll do is take my jewellery that jingles off and start to give you an update on things this side of the equator. If I'm honest, as I look at the pile of jingly jewellery, there's not a lot- something I should discuss with the giant tonight over some bacon and eggs. So, following on from my previous entry- you'd think things would be in order by now in our villa wouldn't you? Well, we now have water which I always find a bonus, however I'm surprised we do, because I swear the whole of Abu Dhabi's water supply was in our backyard about a month ago. Since the pipe burst in our backyard, there have been articles in the paper regarding the scarcity of water in this fine emirate. Moreover, after having the air conditioning in our bedroom break down 5 times over the past week (ideal in these temperate times of 35 degrees at night), we now have arctic temperatures on level 2. I told the maintenance man my mum would be here soon and I think he feared the worst knowing the mother ship is soon on its way (via the Holy land of course!). He also fixed the subtle sewage smell that wafts through the house, wakes you up at night and renders the guest bedroom toilet unusable. A good man all in all.

Enough complaining though- come on. Just got a text from the giant, no longer hungry, redwine- too much.

Lots of love, miss you and promise I'll write soon.

Me