Moving...

I'm moving to Dubai if you haven't already guessed from the previous posts. If I'm honest, and I know Mr Shortcake won't mind me saying, I was not best pleased when he told me he'd been offered the job. We were all set to go to France for a ski season, until my shoulder healed slower than expected (I had it stabilised after a snowboarding injury), so the prospect of living in a city in the middle of the desert for a few years did not take my fancy; I made that clear as well, probably a little too much (Sorry Mr Shortcake, love you!).

Mr Shortcake has made a lot of sacrifice and compromise to support me through my studies and various career paths over the years, so I sucked it up and agreed to sup

port him in this little adventure. He assured me it didn't have to be forever, but if we didn't try we will always wonder about what could have been.

So here I am, on Flight EK002, 13.45 from London Heathrow to Dubai airport. My spouse visa is in my bag with my passport, the cat has already been exported and is sat on the bedroom window-ledge waiting for me to arrive. Most of our house has been packed up and put into storage and the rest was sold or gifted. We've shipped the essentials which will hopefully arrive sometime in April; I imagine that will

feel like christmas, lots of boxes of our treasured possessions turning up.

Waiting at the gate to board

Mr Shortcake has been gone for over two months now. We've kept in contact using Blackberry messenger and Skype. I've lived with my parents for the last month, something I haven't done for 10 years! It was great to be able to spend so much time with them before I left. They've been an amazing support base, helping with removals and packing, cooking and letting me u

se their space. I know it couldn't have been easy having me invade again!

The giant A380 Airbus

Mr Shortcake will be at the airport to meet me, I'm so nervous. I don't know whether I will laugh or cry when I see him. I can't wait for a hug! He's got the day off tomorrow and wants to show me around, as I've never been to Dubai, although neither had he until he got the job! We really have embraced the unknown with this venture. I hope it bears the fruit it promises.

I've got lots of exciting plans to implement, business ideas and hobbies to take up. I want to take advantage of the facilities on offer. First stop is the marina yacht club to sign up for kayaking lessons. I was lucky enought that I gained my level 1 kayaking certificate at my last job, I would love to improve. Then there's the textile souks, I have a little sideline that's a bit of a secret at the moment, but the fabrics available in the middle east may bring that added edge I was looking for. I've got a few

plans for our new apartment which involve some statement rugs and textiles so the souks are a definite hot spot for me.

First things first, lets get this flight over with, I'm not a keen flyer!

Toodles,

*Update: I made it to Dubai in one piece. One of the nicest flights I've been on, Emirates are a great airline, everything is included and the entertainment was excellent; I watched a couple of films, read the information provided on screen about Dubai and watched the aircraft land via the onboard cameras mounted on the tail, belly and cockpit with a lovely lady I met on the flight. We had a good giggle actually! :)