Oh now that has gotta hurt

Matt: It's now official, I am the IT Manager for one of our companies, great news. This could lead to quite a few opportunities in the future. Manager? all sounds a bit serious doesn't it? Well it's not - it's just a title, I'll still be the one plugging cables in and clearing paper jams!! but it's pretty exciting and it seems like I'll be working within a good team!

You know I said before that I was still in one piece after snowboarding, well I am kinda - but I did have a breif visit to the hospital to ensure that I hadn't broken my shoulder!! ouch!! had a pretty nasty fall just the other day which renedered my right arm pretty useless as it was so painful to move! Nothing was broken so that's all good! Slowly feels like it's getting less uncomfortable now, so I'm hoping to be back on the slopes next week!! Also chucking a frisbee has become tricky too!!

Good news: My camera has been repaired! Yey!! Now I just have to get it back from England? Anyone fancy flying it over for me??

New Opportunities

Matt: Some good news from the Middle East, I'm changing jobs!! I've been offered a position with another division/company within the Sovereign group of companies that I currently work for. My official title hasn't yet been finalised but I'm sure it will be a step up from "Tea Boy". I'm pretty excited and nervous about the opportunity, a change is as good as a rest right?? and this new path has no strictly define route, so it could go one of many ways with my influence!!
Wish me luck..

Snow fun

Matt: Well we are getting there!! Kelly is really looking confident on the snowboard now. She comes flying down the slopes and rarely wipes out. Me? Well I come flying down the slopes too, on my arse, my elbows, my head...I've done some pretty spectacular falls but i'm still in one piece.



Here we are Geared up and ready to go.
(Rochelle, Moi, Kelly,Jo)



Kelly looking Board!! See what I did there??

Having great fun learning, even if it does sound a bit painful, Afterwards we had a debreifing at Barasti Bar on the beach, Where else could you Snowboard and lap up the sun?? Fantastic!!

Eid Again

Matt: It's Eid again!!! This time kelly and I have both got the next 4 days off work, marvelous. So Jo and Rochelle have come to stay with us for a few days from Abu Dhabi. Please help me - I sware these 2 are trying to kill me - death by shopping!!!

Well as an escape today Kelly and I are taking them to Ski Dubai, well we're going to dump them in the kids play area while we go practice snowboarding!! Excellent - a camera may be involved so I'll be sure to post some pictures when we return.

After the snow, guess what? yep - Shopping!!

But I have booked Kelly and I into the Al Aqah hotel in Fujairah for a period of relaxation and recovery once the have left. I Can't wait!

Out of date, but never out of time

Matt: As I was rubbish and I didn't manage to put any pictures up when Julia and Tim were here, I thought I ought to. So here ya go.

In case you Didn't know, Tim asked Julia to Marry him whilst they were on holiday here...Ahhhh and she said yes. The whole thing was cunningly planned all week and finally executed at the Burj Al Arab.


Tim on his Knees...


Dinner at the Burj..

Kelly and I..

Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum dies

Matt: The UAE has entered into a period of mourning today with the sad death of Shaikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of Dubai. He was a much loved and respected ruler and tragically died at the young age of 62.













See Gulf News for more info.

This does mean that many offices and businesses will be closing out of a mark of respect for up to 7 days.

Happy New Year, I'm Rubbish

Matt: Does it seem like the millennium celebrations were 6 years ago?? No, nor to me, I can't believe it. Well I will take a moment to wish you all a Happy and prosperous New Year and hope that any resolutions stick!

I admit I've been a bit rubbish at updating the blog over the past few months and even worse at taking photo's for it. So I will be making more of an effort to keep you all informed as to "What's going on my world" - And as soon as I get my Camera back from the service centre I'll get snapping too.

So, I'm back in Dubai now after a holiday in the UK and things are in full swing already. Best get back to it and make some news for the blog, or I could make it up!! Hmmmm interesting thought!!

Get happy people!!

Ju poo and Timmy too

Matt: Julia and Tim have come to visit. They arrived safely on Saturday morning at Abu Dhabi airport. They were a little tired after the long journey but that didn't stop us from keeping them up all day and running around everywhere. We managed to show them the Mall of the Emirates, The Madinat Jumeirah, The Creek, An Abra ride, A Shawma meal, The Souks and then finally we let them sleep.. Pheeeww! And that was just day 1.

The Earth quake in Iran was felt here in the UAE, in fact we were evacuated from our building when the tremors were felt. It was a very odd sensation, being 9 floors up probably accentuated things considerably, the whole building swayed at first I thought I was having a funny turn and feeling motion sick.. then when we realised the building was the one in motion, everyone headed for the emergency exit.. 9 flights of stairs later we were out in the sun!!!

Hard work

Matt: Well it's not quite a pay raise...but!!!! Work have just given me a new 4GB iPod Nano as a thank you gift for my hard work!!!



It's pretty cool and very small, nice sleek design like the other iPods too. That's the Important news out of the way. Now onto less interesting things - I've been offered the Position of Network and Security Specialist. Could be a great move, but there is lots to learn. I'll keep ya posted, but I happy to have been offered it!!!

anyway - back to listening to my iPod Nano..

Turning Japanese

Matt: The Crane has returned from her Japanese adventure, she was sent to Tokyo on business and had a fascinating time. I'm sure I'll have some pictures to post very soon!! So keep checking back - you never know Kelly might even post them herself and say hello!!

I do have a couple of pics for you all though - Mum and Dad took a trip to the capital, London. It sounds like they have a great day out.

Yep - They went on the Eye!



















They loved it! and eachother!! Awwww!!

Fasting

Matt: We are now about half way through Ramadan, Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar. It is during this month that Muslims observe the Fast of Ramadan. Lasting for the entire month, Muslims fast during the daylight hours and in the evening eat small meals and visit with friends and family. It is a time of worship and contemplation. A time to strengthen family and community ties.

Being in a Muslim country we have to respect their beliefs and holidays, so there is very little going on in the way of entertainment, most commercial restaurants and cafe's stop serving during the day and it is very poor taste to be out in public eating and drinking. In fact a short term behind bars may give you time to reflect your actions if caught or reported.

That being said there are things to do and the whole place doesn't shutdown, I went to an Iftar at the Royal Meridian last night, which was very nice, relaxing on cushions eating Arabic dishes and smoking Shisha. All very chilled. An Iftar is when Muslims gather to break their fast in the evenings.

Catch...

Matt: On my never ending quest to up my fitness I have finally discovered a more interesting way of keeping in shape without laboriously trudging on a treadmill, which by the way I can do for a maximum of 10 minutes before the boredom almost kills me, Ultimate!!

That sentence does make sense when I explain what Ultimate is a sport!! I know it's not exactly descriptive and gives you absolutely no idea what the sport involves, but I am here to explain. Ultimate is a team game played with a Frisbee. I know sounds weird, but it's fun and it's exhausting. It's played a little like a cross between American Football and Netball and believe me, there is a LOT of running involved. The disc has to be passed between your team without it being dropped and then has to be caught in the endzone to score. If it's dropped or falls out of play possession is passed to the other team. The disc can be intercepted of knocked to the ground by the opposing team which gives them possession. It's a really fast paced game and you often have to switch directions and run the full length of the field at a moments notice.

don't believe me?? Check out this site for the rule and more info. Click Here

We play twice a week for 1 1/2 hours, on a full sized football pitch. It's great. I've been twice so far and I'm really enjoying it. Beat the hell out of treadmills.

Look out for it in your area if you fancy something different.

Dinner at the Burj

Matt: Well no prizes for guessing what this post is going to be about!! Yes Kelly and I went to the Burj Al Arab, as depicted on the right there!! It's an amazing 7 Star hotel on a man-made island in Dubai. It's a really over the top place, where you can tell you pay for what you get. The decoration is so over the top it's almost tasteful (almost), Water fountains dance a merry dance throughout the foyer and the atrium stretches out of site above you!

We ate in the Ballroom on the top floor which provided us a great view of Dubai by night, It was a really clear evening, so you could see the lights of Dubai dwindling into the distance.

So I guess you want proof huh? A few pictures might help.

Honest!! We're in the Burj


Kelly by one of the fountains


Matt in the foyer, in front of one of the huge aquariums

Just the Biz.

Matt: A little news for you all, Ju and Tim have booked to come out and visit us, which is great news! We are both really looking forward to their visit. So now the rest of you have to follow suit!!! It's a great holiday and the added bonus of getting to see us!

Secondly, I've been putting together another website - just a little portal where I can show a few bits of work etc. Go take a look at www.mattwilson.biz and come back here to tell me what you think. It's very much a work in progress at the moment.

till next time.

Well that's a write-off

Matt: Hello All, Today is a good day! Why? beause I'm here typing to you all!! Kelly and I were involved in an accident yesterday - our car was written off as were 3 others. We are both fine, thankfully!!! It happen just around the corner from home, some guy ploughed into the back of us at one hell of a speed, buckling the rear of our car to the back passenger side door, I pulled the car left to narrowly avoid smashing into the car in front, but The guy that hit us did so at such a speed, he continued on down the side of our car to rearend the 2 cars in front of us. It was a mess!! We were both a bit shaken but other than that were ok!! We were on the side of the road for hours, waiting for police and recovery vehicles. I'm greatful to be hiring a car, because they were great, the came and took the wreck away and gace us a new car, we just had to hand over our copy of the police report and that should be the last we hear of it.
We both have a few aches this morning. But nothing to worry about!!

To top all the Kelly is feeling a bit run down and is suffering a cold... poor poppet!! Don't worry I've got my nurse outfit on as we speak!!

Hope everyone is well!!

The Crane

Matt: That what it was that I left behind!! Kelly!! Damn I can be so stooopid sometimes!! Actually she got the chance to enter a big karaoke competition and we all know how much she loves to sing! She won a local competition and they invited her down to Portsmouth to enter the big Final!! And guess what?? She came joint first, Well Done that girl!
I'm so proud...

I went to see the Black Eyed Pes in concert earlier in the week, which was good fun! They were entertaining and played a pretty good show, The venue wasn't brilliant and it took 1 hour 20 minutes to get out of the damn car park at the end!! Ho hum!!! No Fun!!

I very pleased to have Kelly home again now, back to Dubai safe and sound. Even if she is a little tired! She stayed in bed till nearly midday! Jo, watch out, she's after your sleeping queen title!! x

Home from Home

Matt: I've returned home to Dubai after our little trip home.. ? Can you have 2 homes?? anyway!! We had a good break, if not a little busy, I don't think I stopped long the whole time I was home!

It was really good to see everyone, and it was especially nice to meet my new nephew, Kalani Jack. He was a real cutey. Clearly he takes after his Uncle! Ok ok - he looks nothing like me!!
Claire and Brian are really stoked, you can see it in them. Ok so it could be sleep deprivation that give them that look, but they seem really chuffed!!

What's the collective term for nieces and nephews?? cause here are mine :)














Well it's good to be home, but I'm sure I left something in England!! hmmmm what was it!! *looks around and scratches his head*.... I'm sure it will come to me!!

One working day left

Matt: Yep, only a day at work and then we are flying home for 10 days. Yey!! Can't wait to see you all.
Sadly some people are going to extreme lengths to avoid me (GARRY).. Holiday?? Huh? I believe you!!

We've been pretty busy over the last 2 weeks but not really doing a great deal if you know what I mean?? We have had visitors and been to Wild Wadi again. Took Ryan (Kelly and Jo's Cousin) and Jo with us this time, had a great day once more. Ryan had a fab time out here, he even had his own Chocolate factory experience at the Patchi factory in Dubai and somehow a big feature appear in the Gulf news Tabloid supplement!!! String being pulled somewhere me thinks!!
Was good to see Wendy and Steve too, they seemed to have yet another fabulous holiday with Ann and Mick, the ever patient hosts!!

Anyhow, some interesting news; Kelly and I are working on a design project, A friend of ours is starting up a tourism company and we are designing and producing the corporate identity and the promotional brochure etc. Will be good experience and could lead to a few other jobs if we play things right. Will kick start a deign portfolio quite nicely!! Fingers Crossed.

Right - I'm outta here - see you all soon in Sunny England!!

Welcome Kalani

Matt: Finally, 6 days late, but at least he's healthy, Kalani Jack Ramsay came into the world at 11:12pm last night, 14th August.
Weighing in at 7lbs 5 1/2 ounces. Congratulations to Claire and Brian on making me an Uncle again. They are both over the moon as are we.

Everyone is well and good and we look forward to seeing the little family unit soon.

In case you are wondering, Kalani is a Hawaiian name meaning 'The Heavens'
and here's a pic of the little tyke.

Not long to go

Matt: We are not that far off our journey home now, Tickets are booked and we're gearing ourselves up for the break. So you better get ready cause we is coming home Ayyyee!!!

What have we been up to? We went to Abu Dhabi last weekend to celebrate Ann & Micks wedding anniversary. We went to Al Fanar for Friday brunch, A nice buffet in one of Abu Dhabi's taller sky scrapers and as it's a rotating restaurant, a good view can be had..



















Of course all Ann wanted was big glass of Champagne...




















After that we chilled, shopped and generally had a lovely weekend.

Then this weekend just gone, we reversed everything, Mick and Ann came to see us for the weekend. Michael and I finally got to see War of the Worlds. Hmmm it was ok, enjoyed it, no oooohhlaaaa's but no bad all the same, you know we do sometime forget Cruise can actually act!! The main concentration of the film was really about family and relationships not martians and invasions. I liked the conteporary play on peoples real life fears of terroism, interesting touch. but where was Thunder Child???
Saturday: A game of Squash limbered us all up for a session in the gym, one and all, then we relaxed by the pool for the rest of the afternoon. Lovely!! You should really come out and join us sometime soon.