Eid's back to normal....or is it??

Americans will recall the 1990's when Ma Bell broke off and AT&T, Sprint and MCI began to battle it out with the mini Bells in-state. That was when Aric and I made a lot of extra money by switching long distance phone companies every month. Gotta love competition and free enterprise! Hey, it paid for dinner every time AT&T called to offer me $50-$125 to switch from MCI, and vice versa 6 weeks later, when I got paid $75 to switch back again, while keeping the same phone number. I'm amazed at how they made a profit those years.

Free enterprise is highly at play here in Dubai too. You can select any Service Provider and Telephone operator you like. Free choice is nice. Our choices are Etisalat and Du.

Etisalat was a former monopoly, majority owned by the government. Fortunately, such anti-competitive behavior was stopped when the alternate telco operator Du was launched, by the government, and majority owned by the government. Hmmnn, well that ends that monopoly I guess!

Direct foreign investment in telecoms is prohibited until at least 2015, under an exclusion negotiated with the World Trade Organisation when the UAE joined in 1996. So it will be a while until the US and Europe muscle their way in with more choices. Until then, we endure being held over a barrell by Du - the operator in our area and building. Like everything else, the service is dependable and consistent! We can firmly depend on Du being consistent in Internet and TV going out periodically.

When I called customer dis-service this time, I was told by Branjal that because of the dis-service the last time (with the internet) I would absolutely have my complaint escalated as high priority and would receive a call back in 24 hours. I forgot to ask if that was 24 hours AFTER Eid or DURING. Three days later, Eid is over, people are back to work and as normal practice, I placed my 3rd call to Du. The customer dis-service person confirmed that nobody had called me back within 24 hours. Wow!! That is customer service! I'm so glad he was able to tell me that because I was wondering, even though I had no "missed calls" on my mobile...but you never know - someone could have tried to live up to the promise of a call back.

Perhaps it was my slightly strained, but still in control, voice, or perhaps my - "I am going to deduct every day my TV is out, from my next bill and we are up to 3 days now" - statement...because immediately, Adeel (does "Indian Call Center" finally spring to mind??) told me I would definitely get a call back within 2 hours. Man oh man, the over-the-crescent-moon treatment just about knocked me off my Ikea office chair. That's even better than 24 hour call backs. "Will it take only 2 days to get that 2 hour call back then?" I asked.

"No, the team leader has been informed of the priority and for sure madam you will get a call back within 2-3 hours" Adeel assured me. "OH, but you already added another hour there", I pointed out. Poor Adeel, he didn't know what butt cheek to sit on now. I know, I can be a bit testy! Informing him that I had already asked for a technician during my first call, Adeel studdered when he replied that they would surely send a person out - but - they needed to call me first to make sure I am home. I'm home, I'm home...just send the guy out!!! I'm missing my CSI episodes!! The clock is ticking....it's been 63 minutes already!

Last time the cable went out, it was due to a human stupid fault. Someone had been inside the cable closet and turned off our cable, rather than the people moving out on the 18th floor. I expect that when our neighbors next door moved out 5 days ago, someone flipped the wrong apartment switch. I did tell Du that, but they are apparently too limited in thinking outside the box. So, that will cost them 94 dirhams.

All is back to normal after Eid. Construction continues. They tear down homes where roads are going in but I was happy to see that one single tree was saved by the new overpass at The Lakes sub division where we go through on our way to school. The man with the yellow hat - the Pakistani worker who directs traffic there, has also been spared and he keeps waving to us just like he did before the summer break.

Dusty abandoned cars are piling up behind the police academy and a giant billboard put up to cover them. Scattered randonly around the Marina, dusty sportscars and SUVs are left to deteriorate in the elements. Yes, all is back to normal efter Eid.

Or is it?

Blame it on the Burka

Someone wants us out of our home! I'm not saying the apartment is haunted in any way, but there are gremlins at play for sure. Since we have been back, well in fact, since the boys and I left for Denmark in July, there have been numerous water leaks everywhere. Actually, come to think of it....we have had water leaks recurring since April, when we turned on the A/C.

We are in fact suffering from A/C condensation overflow and busted pipes causing streams of water to run down into the ceiling tiles and further down into bedrooms, dining room and bathrooms.

By our window in the dining room, a steady stream ran down the wall, causing collateral damage to Aric's beloved antique print of St. Marco Square, Venice, and 6 of my art books. Apparently a pipe upstairs in the pool pump room was broken.

When we arrived home from the summer break, Aidan's bathroom had a major leak - luckily just above the bathtub - how is that for aim? Listening to the sound he composed a rap song to the drips and drops rhythm! OK so at least we remain creative while we drown in condensation!

A few days ago, I woke up to what I excitedly thought was a major thunderstorm, albeit without the thunder but still - heavy rain drops on the windows....oh but no, no, it was - to my agony - just another leak in the ceiling above our master bathroom - this time, a rainforest monsoon which turned makeup, toothpaste and baby powder into a new cosmetic concoction. Of course these things always happen in the hours where the maintenance crew is off. Two buckets did the trick. I got my lightning show when the water hit the halogen light socket....

Today, just when the owner of the apartment showed a prospective buyer, there was a mega leak in the maid / laundry room.....again! Unfortunately all of our sports gear, CDs, VHS tapes and DVDs were stored there (after the last leak when the maintenance guy assured us it was safe to put things back) and now all the paper covers are soggy, our stash of Corona beer is soaked (!!) and I can't seem to get a decent picture from our old Disney Fantasia VHS tape!

Our elevator is making strange noises and have actually stopped between floors. Mind you that would be on 1/2 living room level....you can sit down and watch people walk around, through the glass doors. Even so it is kind of eerie to get stuck in an elevator even if it is only between floor 1 and 2! The SOS phone inside the elevator connects you to the phone in the living room - so if nobody is home - you get to sit there for hours.

The lights in the dining room failed the other day too, so we dined at candle light. I was afraid to report it, thinking our door bell would then stop working again.

Somehow, I think it's time to move on. Our lease is up December 4 and we can probably move to a much less expensive apartment with Marina view, now that prices are down 40%. We were going to negotiate a lower lease with the current landlord but the water somehow deters me!

Too many problems! Not much different in Denmark! Apparently, all the asylum seekers who have arrived over the years of conflicts in the rest of the world, are causing big problems in Denmark. We just can't just deal with them and their status in 2-3 months. No, in normal government fashion, it takes the Danish Department of State 10 years to figure out if the people who fled Iraq really had good reasons to flee. In the meantime they have established a home and families, well maybe not a real home, living with relatives, but definitely babies. So when they were in jeopardy of being returned home this summer, they moved in to a church in Copenhagen. They stayed there for a few months. All of a sudden, the decision to return them to Iraq came swiftly and the police had to carry out the nasty burden of evicting these poor people from the church. The end was not a fairytale. They have to return to Iraq even if they have not been there for 10 years and have no safe home to return to.

Just as things were heating up over this highly hot political issue, the politicians, who ordered the 34 Iraqis out of the church, realized it may not have been a good way to win votes. They thought it would be a good idea to cast a smoke screen over this "not so positive" PR.

So, what the hell, let's blame it on the Burka - let's start a debate about banning the damn Islamic clothing - after all, there are between 100-200 women in Denmark wearing the Burka; that is a huge percentage of the 5.5 million population!! Off with the Burka we say! It's the cause of all our problems, from the banking crisis, to the tax hikes, to the long lines at the hospitals for cancer treatment...you name the trouble Denmark is in and we can positively say it all comes down to the women who choose to be suppressed and cover their face! It's about time we change the legislation so we can forbid the wearing of the Burka. Let's not go into details about why they wear it, whether it is by choice or whether it is right or wrong....no, we have an economic crisis in Denmark and by golly, we need to resolve it by blaming someone else but the banks and government.

In the meantime - I await the day we are ordered to wear a Burka in Dubai. Because surely the economic crisis here is all due to the expats wearing short dresses and free flowing hair!

09-09-09

The royal Dish-Dash was out in full force at the inaugoration and first official ride of the Dubai Metro, 4 years in the making.

Sheikh Mohammed boarded the train at the Mall of Emirates station exactly at 9.09 pm, Sept 9, 2009 and rode through 5-6 stations. Stations that apparently have flat screen TVs, chandeliers, art fixtures like giant gold coins, a lego model of the whole metro, other artifacts and a time capsule among all the displays. It will be like going to a Legoland / Museum of Modern Art, just to board the metro.

It is of course - just like anything else in Dubai - the world's largest automated driverless train system - about 75km of magnetic track.

Only 10 stations are finished and open right now. Mostly at the malls. So we can drive our car to the mall to board the metro, to go to another mall to shop! It will be a while still before the stop at our building and that end of the Marina is done. There is no line from our building to the school. Maybe that was expecting too much! We plan to ride it this Sunday, when it opens to the "lower subjects" of Dubai, just to get the experience of seeing Dubai from the elevated track - I'm sure it will be much like the "L" in Chicago!

We are still in the middle of the holy month of Ramadan and I have had my first Sohoor experience. Sohoor is the second meal - after the Iftar meal (the total pig-out buffet style meal that breaks the day of fasting) - and is a “blessed” light meal taken shortly before the break of dawn. I didn't wait until dawn though. 10-12 women got together around 8.30pm for a Sohoor at a giant tent behind Hotel Mina Al Salaam. It was meant to introduce the "newer" women to the veteran expat gals - who had all been here a year! Great cold mezze, hommous and bread, with wonderful Moroccan tea and fresh mint lemon juice (no alcohol during Ramadan) and enjoyable company among locals and westerners.

Feels good to be back in Dubai!

We can wear white after laborday :)

Congratulations to ourselves as we celebrate our FIRST anniversary in the Sandbox! Hard to believe it has already been a full year, since we arrived in Dubai, eager to begin a new adventure. Looking back and assessing all our experiences, I must admit it has been a trying year and taken more tolerance, understanding, patience and openess than we ever expected. Much of it was probably situational because we could not find a place to live for the first three months...plus arriving during Ramadan is not advised! The rest of the year, once we all got settled, was much more enjoyable and we all seemed to find our rhythm in January / February, making new friends, socializing and getting acclimated to not only the weather but the way the Emiratis do business and go about their life.

Coming back to Dubai last week was much less stressful this time around - in fact there was no mercy as these hardcore parents drove the kids to their first day of school 8am Tuesday, after landing at 5.30am from an all night flight! Nothing like getting back on the local timezone clock head on!

We all had a great summer, though Aric will say his was a bit short, with only 10 days out of the Sandbox, spending his holidays nursing and driving me around to family functions, 40th birthdays and shopping sprees. Hey, I seem to recall something about "for better or worse, in sickness and in health" and he proved a perfect partner! The boys saw most of their friends in both Denmark and England - a nice treat. Aidan even made a little money, doing dishes and packing white charcoal for Julius's family....

I managed to fit in several visits with my bestest girlfriends and the whole family. My self-pity of having to have a hysterectomy... at 46, was drowned out by the news that Josephine, my close girlfriend since we were 14, found out she was having a baby...at 46!! Twenty five years of wanting and trying and consequently giving up having kids, out of the blue - she is now 3 months along and while her and her hubby Peter are in a bit of a shock, I believe that life will find a way and that this is no short of a miracle! I can't wait to pick out baby clothes and in all other ways remind them that our kids are leaving the nest and they have a chick to raise the next 17 years :))

It's been about 15 days since my surgery and the doctor strongly advised that I get plenty of rest, only do short walks, don't lift heavy objects and above all: no running for another 2-3 weeks. I have loyally obeyed these orders but Slim put an end to that advice, as I walked him along the Marina tonight. Aric has been a very strict master while I was gone and Slim now sits, lays down and in every way obeys most commands. What got into him tonight I have no idea, but he took off like a rocket, all the way to the end of the Marina by our building - probably 300 yards. He then stormed back to me and I scolded him and told him to sit - which he obviously ignored, because he then shot like a rocket the other way, back to the stairs and entrance to the Marina which leads back up to the road we live on and at this point, it flashed before my eyes that he would get run over. Without thinking I flew after him in my worn flip flops....200 yards down the Marina walk, up the stairs.... only to find him mounting a terrier at the top, while the owner watched frozen and speechless. Apologizing profusely, it felt as if my ovaries were going to pop out! I guess I'm not quite ready to start training for that half marathon in Abu Dhabi in November!! Bloody dog!! While everyone in the US is celebrating Labor day Weekend, I felt I was IN labor!! At least I can look forward to getting back in shape and fitting into my new "pre-surgery" skinny white jeans and while the Americans pack away their white clothes and shoes - we will be wearing our whites and enjoying the eternal sunshine, loooong after Labor day!

Burger King on the Moon, soon?

In 1964, Pete Seeger wrote and sang "what did you learn in school today, dear little boy of mine?"

Most of my generation grew up with a different version by Danish singer-comedian, Eddie Skoller, poking fun of every nationality and accent, including Denmark and the US:

"I learned that Denmark is a little land, and in Denmark they do not understand, what the outside world is for, and then we didn't learn no more"..... US: "I learned that we were the first to put a man on the moon and I'm sure there will be a hamburger stand there soon; the next thing will be a military base but only to protect the human race....that's what I learned in school today, that's what I learned in school."


When I began my worldly travel 15 years ago, I could always count on being able to find a piece of that local culture...something unique from the country I visited. Sushi chopsticks from Tokyo; special coffee from the Blue Mountains in Jamaica; wooly sweaters from Ireland and flamingo music and cheap shoes from Spain. The only constant was McDonalds or Burger King. Today every city offers the same stores and the same merchandise....Mulberry, The Gap, Gucci, Starbucks. It has become so boring and unadventurous to travel in major cities that have the same flagstores everywhere.


TV is no different. Having been tied to the couch & 3 Danish TV stations, the past 11 days following my hysterectomy (I wasn't going to mentioned it but here we are) - I've noticed it doesn't matter where in the world you choose to lounge. " Who Wants to Be a Danish Millionaire in Britain's Got Talent So You Think You Can Dance in Holland with your Swedish Big Brother while you try to become America's Next Top Model, overcome your German Fear Factor and battle it out in Australia's Outback Survivor though you really are The Weakest Link and not the X-Factor you thought you were!!"
It's a global economy and global entertainment industry - whatever works in one language obviously works in another!


I'm glad that morphine too, works no matter what country you are in. Pain knows no boundaries and I for one feel I have crossed all borders of agony, so will swallow any little jagged pill to get pain free. Ah yes, modern medicine! Between that and Space exploration I'm sure we will have Starbuck and Burger King on the moon, soon.

God Save the Queen....and Henry!

Poor Henry! His cockadoodle doo sounded more like a teenage girl getting molested, than a full on proud rooster wake up call! But then he is only a youngster and a mini chicken. He did manage to wake me with his pathetic doodle two mornings in a row, while I stayed at Sally's in the UK. It's amazing how many families are going "green" and ecological - raising their own free roaming chickens and laying their own eggs (hens, not people) - but one has to wonder if the village zoning allows for roosters calling at the sun in small back yards.

The boys and I took a detour for a few days to good ole Brittania (work trip) and I spent the weekend horsing around on Harley and Lou, while Aidan and Hunter saw their buddies. Sushi in London with my boss and meetings in the UK office kept me busy a few days....

As always, it was a fantastic trip and great to ride in green surroundings, rather than sand dunes. I was quite surprised to see a castle and village in the middle of Bourne Woods! Last summer this old medieval scenery was not there - at least not to my knowledge - so I thought archeologists had been busy un-earthing old English artifacts. The castle was burnt and very real looking but soon I discovered that it was nothing but scaffolding and hardened foam. It was in fact no longer Bourne Woods but Sherwood - Russell Crowe's new film "Nottingham" about Robin Hood. Russell in tights, hmmnn - interesting, if not a farce! Unfortunately I was too late to see any action. Work crews were taking down the set and leaving the greenery to grow back. Sounds like there was a lot of controversy on the set and that Sienna Miller was sacked because she made Russell look old. Well, Russell - you are old! Duh!

This time we got to see Alison, Graham, Mark and Donna again - and probably gained 5 lbs due to the most awesome homemade Tiramisu (Alison is a great cook!) - but I have been warned by Donna not to post any pictures! As she is our most loyal blog follower, I have no choice but to honor her wishes. Besides, mark didn't do anything embarrasing enough - like letting ladies ride his back - so there is no point... Alison didn't say I couldn't post her so I snug one in :))

Now back in Copenhagen and still being kept awake - not by Rooster wannabees, but by desert rats running about in their cage and biting their metal door. I have the pleasure of sleeping in my nephew Oliver's bed with Spiderman sheets and his little critters are obviously night creatures (sigh) so my sleep is heavily interrupted. Mutti has been busy making a blanket for Slim for his bed (no I don't think we spoil him!) and Josefine and her proudly presented it to me when I arrived back.

We are anxiously awaiting Aric's arrival the 20th, not sure who is more excited, him or the boys...it has been a long time apart and we ended up changing his ticket because the longing is too unbearable! Oh yeah, I miss him too :)

Family Time

Poor Slim has blisters on 3 of his paws! Apparently he chased another dog around, playing hard for an hour on the concrete (which is hot)...he is licking his wounds today accroding to Aric. That will teach him to run around like an idiot dog.

Less hot in Denmark today, where the quiet summer rain is falling, making everything smell fresh and clean.

My friend Ella, her son Joni (Hunter's best friend), Hunter and I, just ran 5k. We jogged down to the small pier close to our old house - where we have memories of jumping in on Christmas and New Years day in 2002 like true vikings. I don't think it was much warmer today than those days in the winter of 2002, but it felt very refreshing to launch a cannon ball into the clear water and then float around for a few minutes. Jogging home was a wet affair, though I am inspired to do it again tomorrow morning :)

The past few days have been a series of social gatherings - dinner with Charlotte (Aidan's first Nanny and our very good friend) - she made luxury burgers with her boyfriend Brian. It seemed a good idea to bicycle all the way to Copenhagen center (7 miles) in the evening sun. After a few glasses of wine, I must admit that handling the bike and attempting to stay on the path at 12.30 am, required my tongue absolutely dead center to focus. Apparently I made it home, because I woke up the next morning in bed and the bike was parked neatly in its spot behind the house. Either I'm a well functioning drunk or I had a guardian angel!

Sunday, we visited my aunt and uncle, Lone and Erling and my cousins were there - Gitte, Martin and his girlfriend and daughter, Michelle and Deva. Gitte, like me, had a body full of big aches since we rode in Dyrehaven for 2 hours on Saturday. Funny how 6 months of hiatus since my last horsey outing can cause un-used muscles to rebel and get that stiff! Our whining didn't get us far - we ended up laughing all our self pity away. Great home made lasagna and pizza did the trick.

This week is the last week in the borrowed house. Saturday the boys and I go to England - they want to see their old friends and I have one more weekend of horsing around. Monday and Tuesday I have meetings and Wednesday we return to Denmark. Aric is getting lonely and envies all our activities, so he may end up coming to Denmark sooner than the 24th. We will see.

That depends on whether the kennel can take Slim a bit sooner.