Well we're blogging on the move-here at Changi airport Singapore. What a whirlwind tour.... we (well Jane) drank a Singapore Sling at Raffles, we did the bus tour, visited the botanical gardens, swam in the hotel pool ate out at Clark Quay, wow all in 24 hours-and we managed to sleep some too!!!
What a fab place it is, wish it were nearer to home, I could seriously flex the plastic here.
Well must dash now as we are about to board (via the duty free)for the next stop of the gap month.....Sydney...
Will blog soon as......
oops forgot to tell you that on the last day in Dubai the golf got cancelled after 6 holes coz of the rain!!!!! I blame Mrs Ball for mentioning that word...then it rained in Singapore....which was more expected than in Dubai....
Hope rovers win today, we will be mid flight when they play can someone let me know the score...Hope my mobile works in Aus.
Cheerio

Its our last day here in Dubai and yet it feels like we have just arrived, as this is one of our longest "stays" I can't imagine what it will feel like after 1 night in Singapore.
We have seen lots of different things, from the Souk to the shopping malls. We did the Big Bus Tour of the City, some of the commentators on the bus are highly amusing, and the view from upstairs gives a great perspective. The building work looks to be endless, the traffic is really busy, it makes you wonder where everyone is going and how many more people will be needed to fill those buildings!

Last night we went out for a meal to the Al Muna restaurant by the beach. Very relaxing, the food was excellent so was the wine (and so it should be at 50 quid a bottle-it didn't seem to stop us having another bottle tho') Poor Olivia's meal didn't last long, she thinks she might be allergic to Uncle Chris and Auntie Jane, as every time she is with us she gets sick.
You may wonder why there are pictures of 2 cups of coffee, well its the coffee challenge. D has a coffee machine (we don't think he realises he has to put coffee in-its a bit wishy washy) and swears he makes the best looking cappuccino I'm sure I found a better one, I think -your opinions required via your comment

The girly morning at the hairdressers wasn't quite what we planned-the hairdressers had no electricity. (pity the poor afternoon appointments-at least the water was still hot when we were there) We had to troll the streets trying to find a kind soul with electricity for me to get my hair dry. Good job The Grapes pub were kind.

The flights were all on time and we duly arrived in Dubai at 7.30 local time, picked up a taxi and got to D&H's around 10am ish a quick!!??? nap and we were ready to holiday. When Tom and Olivia arrived home from school we went for a walk on the beach, Chris & Tom hit a few golf balls into the sea (It must be a boy thing?). It was very pleasant weather wise-not too hot. When Candice arrived home from her after school horse riding, we had a family meal and C & J promptly retired to bed.

Monday we awoke fresh for more holidaying. Helen was the taxi driver and we went to the Creek and the Souk and played lets not get collered by the stall holders, we almost got away but H was dragged into a spice stall to "have smell at this, what is it?" (I don't think she ever found out what it was).

A quick look at the Municiple Museum (and I mean quick) before we headed back to the car via the Creek on an abra and of for a relaxing lunch.

Yep... todays the day, day one of our holiday, we leave the UK at 8pm tonight and no we haven't packed yet. I'm just going to the hairdressers for a girly morning with Amy, Chris is delivering a bath to "the project" and maybe meeting for coffee later. Then home, pack and away we go......................

PLEASYGREENS GAP MONTH......

Began when the Chubby Balls upped sticks and migrated to New Zealand, October 2005, Mrs G made a Sunday Club promise to visit in 2007 (The Wordies having taxed 2006!).

The planning began.....

Then in 2006 the Derby-Greens became the Dubai-Greens and a stopover was required. Well you can't miss the opportunity to visit family, especially when they live in desirable places!!

The holiday requests at work were made (and lets face it, its not worth going all that way for a fortnight) four weeks seemed a good number, so the holiday lists were marked.

Time was spent on the internet looking for that elusive bargain, but time being in short supply (you know how it is working all day-this and that to do, going to the pub etc) it seemed much easier to ring Trailfinders and let them do the donkey work and sort out our flights. (Which they did very efficiently and at a really good price!). Back to the internet to book the accomodation and hey presto ready to go....

So flights booked, with some other stop overs planned, Singapore, Sydney then New Zealand final destination San Francisco then home.

Then Lo! Simon Calder who must have a cushy job (he gets paid to do the thing we save up all year for) gets the BBC to film (and maybe fund) his round the world trip and calls it his "gap month" as though its something he thought up all on his own-when ours had been years in planning....

Watch this space as the Pleasygreens trip unfolds...........................