Category Archives: UAE

The dos and don’ts of a Dubai summer

Posted on June 26, 2017 by Circles in the Sand

Don’t– – Bother straightening your hair. Within an hour you’ll look like a lion with a proudly fizzy mane (“That scene from the Lion King, where Simba shakes his head as he gets out of the pool, singing hakuna matata,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Dubai, high humidity in UAE, Parenting, UAE | Tagged dos and don'ts of UAE summer, Dubai heat, Dubai summer, Dubai summer temperatures, Middle East summer, signs it's summer in Dubai, surviving Dubai summer, UAE summer | Leave a comment

A note on school remember lists

Posted on March 23, 2015 by Circles in the Sand

It could be because it’s the last week of term, but I feel like I have a mild form of dementia this week. I’m forgetting all sorts of school-related things. And, boy, do the kids let me know about this! … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Dubai, Expat, Family, Parenting, School, UAE | Tagged demanding schools, demands for things needed at school, Dubai schools, Jeans for Genes Day in Dubai, last week of school term, mothering primary school-aged children, parent forgetting things for school, parents find there's too much to remember for school, the challenges of motherhood | 4 Comments

Is there anything else I can help you with?

Posted on March 18, 2015 by Circles in the Sand

If you live here, you’ll know there are only two phone companies – Etisalat and Du. Which means if you’re not satisfied with one, there’s only one other provider. And after that … well, you’re back where you started. You … Continue reading →

Posted in Dubai, UAE | Tagged customer service in Dubai, Du, Du customer service, Dubai smart city, expired documents mean Du might cut you off, mobile phones in Dubai, re-registering with Du, telecommunications in Dubai, text from Du threatening to disconnect service | Leave a comment

The school lockdown drill

Posted on March 4, 2015 by Circles in the Sand

“Mummy! There’s going to be actors playing terrorists in school tomorrow!” said my older son, the excitement chipping away at the edges of his voice. Goodness, I said, my brows knitting together. I knew there was a travelling theatre coming … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Dubai, Expat, Family, Parenting, School, UAE | Tagged lockdown drill, lockdown drills in Dubai schools, lockdown practice in UAE schools, schools in Dubai, security measures in Dubai schools | 1 Comment

ACBON Day (and a hot-under-the collar mum)

Posted on February 11, 2015 by Circles in the Sand

Yesterday was ACBON Day. Not my favourite day in Dubai: Air conditioning back on day. And it seems to have arrived earlier this year. It also coincided with what must surely be the best day in the school year: International … Continue reading →