Tag Archives: Christmas

Ho, ho, ho! The modern Twelve Days of Christmas

Posted on December 21, 2016 by Circles in the Sand

Who knew before having kids that the month of December would leave you feeling like you’re crawling to Christmas? Even though I swore this year would be different, I found myself yet again facing 12 days of Christmasgeddon in the … Continue reading →

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On finally getting a chic tree (after 11 years)

Posted on December 5, 2016 by Circles in the Sand

Christmas pasts in our household have always looked something like this: Haul the dusty box containing our fake tree from the storeroom. Assemble tree, by slotting twenty branches of bashed-up greenery into the right holes. Arrange fronds in a symmetrical … Continue reading →

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A technically challenged Christmas

Posted on December 27, 2013 by Circles in the Sand

Twas Christmas morning, when all though the house, there was the most almighty din. As the morning mayhem ensued, I braced myself for what I knew was coming next: “Dad, can we set up the Xbox? Now, now, NOW – … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Dubai, Expat, Family, Parenting | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

The Santa special

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Circles in the Sand

With Christmas Day brunches in the UAE costing as much as 610AED (£100) an adult – and the top-end ones including acrobats and petting zoos on top of a visit from Santa – I’m always on the look out for … Continue reading →

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The run on sellotape

Posted on December 26, 2011 by Circles in the Sand

Christmas when you’re living overseas can be a funny thing. On the upside, here in Dubai you’ve got champagne brunches, take-out turkeys from five-star hotels, child-friendly beach clubs with the sunshine to enjoy them and the fact everywhere’s open on … Continue reading →

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Naughty or nice?

Posted on December 24, 2011 by Circles in the Sand

You know what it’s like, when the kids are off school and they’re operating on a schedule that looks like this… So it’s a small miracle that we’re just about ready for Christmas, despite DH being somewhat preoccupied. DH is … Continue reading →

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Christmas short-cuts for housewives

Posted on December 21, 2011 by Circles in the Sand

At work, being a weekly news publication, we’re ‘on a deadline’ the whole time. It’s relentless but everyone pulls together and the magazine always gets done – even when the post-recession production team is two people, doing six different jobs, … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Dubai, Holiday, Parenting | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Work-to-rule Santa

Posted on December 17, 2011 by Circles in the Sand

At the Wafi mall this morning there was a long line of harassed-looking parents, their kids orbiting round a Christmas tree two houses high with baubles the size of small planets. Barely concealing the fact they wished they could have … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Dubai, Family, Holiday, Parenting | Tagged , , , , | 7 Comments