Desert Hash

Matt: And I'm not talking about Bedouin Drug camps.. It's a running club. Basically each week they meet at a selected location, where one of the members has planned a run. You have to run though a series of check point to the end. Sounds pretty straight forward?? Wrong.. you don't know which direction the next check point is, they leave trails marked with orange paint splats or straws or something.. but, some of these trails are false trails and you end up having to run back to the previous check point and hoping someone has found the right trail.. confused yet? Yeah me too. add this to the fact that you are running on sand in the Dubai evening heat and it's pretty tough. But that's not where it ends - that's where it starts. Then there is a ceremony to punish people who cheated and who haven't turned up for a while - etc etc. This generally involves insults, stories, sitting on an ice block and drinking whilst everyone else sings a random song at you. This is all done round a blazing camp fire and then there is food and socializing. A nice bunch of people.

Birthday Bomb

Matt: Back from a great weekend in Abu Dhabi, we decided to celebrate my birthday over several days. I had a lovely meal cooked for me by Kelly on my actually birthday and we spent the evening relaxing. The following day we took a trip to Abu Dhabi where we went with Ann, Mick and Jo to a Scottish Society Ball. It was a fun time, we got dressed up and did the Gay Gordon's all night. The rest of the weekend was spent relaxing and shopping, a day at the pool in the sun. I had Happy Birthday sung to be in Arabic when we went to Chilli's Restaurant, the waiting staff bought out a hugh Chocolate Bomb (grossly oversized chocolate, ice-cream and cake thing) and then proceeded their Arabic rendition of happy birthday. It was funny. Luckily 5 spoons were provided and the bomb was devoured by us all in seconds.

oh by the way - I got me a PSP... result!!

It's curtains for you

Matt: Well I went to see Episode III on Thursday and although it was good see things tied together, I couldn't help but feel it was a little rushed and could have been better. The special effects and action was good though.
We also went to Abu Dhabi this weekend, to do a spot of curtain shopping. Well we hunted around for hours trying to find material we liked that could be made into curtain by number 1 seamstress, Ann Pearce. On her all new singing and dancing Singer Sewing machine. Good luck with that, don't envy you!! But really appreciate it.

Congrats

Matt: Congratulations to my cousin Heather and her husband Mark on the birth of their new baby boy, Harrison. He was born on Friday 13th May.

Our best wishes to you all.


Welcome to Harrison

Deepest Sympathy

Matt: Well some sad news I'm afraid, Kelly and Jo's step mother Judy, who has been bravely battling cancer for the past 4 years has sadly passed away. All my love and sympathies go out to Tony, Kelly, Jo and the family.

xx

A quick dip

Matt: After a hard day at work, it's nice to know that it's only a 2 minute walk to relax in the pool at Springs 14. This is literally just round the corner from our villa and is well maintained, cleaned everyday and as you can see is a nice place to chill out.


The pool at Springs 14

Stylish Interiors

Matt: Here's a arty promotional style photo I took of the living room, It only shows half the room but it gives you an idea of what style we have chosen to go for.


The living room

I hope these picture look ok, only I can't actually see them once published as the UAE ISP blocks them, for some reason.

Our place in the sun

Matt: Here are a couple of pictures for you. This is the outside of the Villa. As you can see the garden needs a little work but we'll get to that soon.

It's the weekend.

Matt: The weekend is upon us out here and we are planning to relax and take it easy in the most part. Sunning ourselves by the pool and the like. Also we need to sort out the Beast.

I plan on taking some photos so look out for them here soon..

By Kurumba, Al Karama

Matt: We went late night shopping last night. We need a few bits of furniture for the villa. So a visit to Home Centre provided us with a nice desk that we are going to by. Then a trip to Ikea and we've decided on another bookshelf and a TV unit a long with some sundries. Then to Al Karama, a area of town in which you haggle, we had fun haggling on the streets at 11 o'clock at night trying to get an nice office chair. We managed to get what we wanted at a good price too. Most entertaining.

Other news, Destiny's Child is sold out, so I guess we won't be going to that (unless we win tickets), I'm hoping to see Starwars Episode III before all of you.. the race is on.

Keep coming back and keep emailing us and posting comment here, we love to hear from you.

We're on the move..

Matt: No, No, The Villa is fine and we are staying there. I mean we are on the move as in we are a little more mobile now, as we have hired a car for a few days. Ok, so it's the smallest car in the world, but it gets us around. I have my own personal driver too which is nice, provided by Crane Transport Inc. Well she fits in the drivers seat a lot easier than I do.

The Villa is a getting a little crowded, we now have two additions to the house hold. Oscar and Elmo. But they are neatly confined to the ENOURMOUS fish bowl that Kelly bought. They seem to like it - yet to see if they like each other though. Still I now have someone to talk to when Kelly is having another lie in.

The Beast

Matt: Oh I didn't realise you wanted to know what car we found!! Sorry.. Well it's a Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0L V8.. pics will follow when we have it

Let it Roar...

"The Beast"

none stop weekend

Matt: Kelly arrived on Friday morning along with Mick, It was great to see some familiar faces even after just a few days. From that moment on we had a very eventful weekend and a massive thank you to Mick for driving us around and helping us with everything.

Kelly managed to get her UAE driving license sorted, I opened my bank account, we hunted for cars and saw a few we liked. All that, along with food shopping, trying to find places and people and changing money. So it was a pretty successful weekend.

Oh and a Bar-be-cue prepared by Chef Mikaél

Car??...... Roarrr..

We have lift off

Matt: I'm here!! Landed safely in Abu Dhabi and was met as soon as I got off the plane and whisked through customs etc. Then a Bus ride and a little while in a Taxi I stroled up to the villa in the Springs. Home sweet home.

Just started work, it's all very professional and exciting. I'll update you all soon.

So long and thanks for all the fish

Matt: Hi All, well tomorrow is the day. I'm flying out tomorrow night. Would just like to pre thank my good friends Ben, Maria and Beckie for going with me to the airport, it does mean a lot that you guys will be there, so thank you.

Also I'm gonna need to hear from the rest of you when I get there, it's gonna be a little odd and lonely so make sure you ALL email me. matt@mattwilson.biz
Wish me luck and thanks for all your support, oh and come out and visit soon

x