Merry Chistmas from Dubai!

Photo details!!

Jenny and Jay having Christmas lunch
Jenny and Nicola on Christmas eve
Christmas eve greetings from nearly everyone (don't quite know where Johan went though!)

Christmas 2009

Christmas 2009, the first one away from home, the first one outside the UK and I spent it in the sunny climes of Dubai. It was about 25 degrees celcius and had lunch at a restaurant before having drinks at the Irish Village in the sunshine at a picnic table...didn't really feel like Christmas, but it was a lovely day!
Christmas also consisted of a Christmas eve drinkie session at Barasti with friends and now I'm heading to Ireland for New Years eve and a New Years day wedding.
Hope everyone elses Christmas was great and that New Years is fabulous! See you in 2010!!!!

As promised!

Photos of Barcelona (the main market on Le Ramblas and sock monkey enjoying the sunshine)
And photos of The Killers gig at Emirates Palace last Tuesday, another gig where we were supurbly close to the stage! Got to love this country for something!!! Free beer and practically empty VIP pits at gigs! Wahoo!!!

The Killers

Well, what an amazing evening!! Saw The Killers last night, live at Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. Ended up going with about 10 friends and met more there! It was so fabulous!! We had a great time. Someone asked me today how it compared to the Coldplay gig that I went to there back in March.

They were so different, I think that Coldplay gave more of a stage show, but The Killers was good cos all of us were singing along and dancing and enjoying each others company! So glad that so many of us could make it!

I will upload some photos soon I promise!

It's been a very busy month since the F1. I have just got back from Barcelona and loved it, as I did when I last visited. It was strange thinking about how my life has changed since I was there in 2006 with Ali and Chrissy, and although so much has changed with each of us, Barcelona was pretty much the same....strange feeling walking past restaurants that we ate at!

FIFA Club World Cup is starting in Abu Dhabi this week, therefore I am very busy at work, but it will all be done and dusted before Christmas so I can relax and enjoy myself! New Years will be in Cove in Ireland, flying on the 28th Dec to Ireland and we are going to a wedding on the 1st Jan. I can't wait!! Flying back to Abu Dhabi on the 4th Jan, nice winter break away!

Well, short but sweet, have to go, being at work at 00.30 I have a lot to do before going home (I did come into the office at 21.30 though, so haven't been sat here since this morning!).

Pictures to follow soon!xxxx

F1 Grand Prix - Abu Dhabi

Well, one simple word....AMAZING! It really was completely unreal. Everything was finished which, considering how everything looked at the beginning of the year, is astonishing in itself. Not only that, but both the qualifying day and the race day itself were fantastic fun and followed by gigs by Kings of Leon and Aerosmith!!!!
The atmosphere was great, everyone was in a great mood and I'm so pleased that I had the chance to go the the grand prix and gigs with some great friends (1 imparticular! hehe!).

So all that preparation and planning, and months of work, are over in one weekend and now it's back to work as usual. Onto the next project and looking forward to next years events.
I am off to Barcelona at the end of the month for the EIBTM exhibition, sorting out hotels and flights again today, as well us updating the webpage to advertise the hotel and get prior appointments.

Not masses of news, have been so busy with the F1 things here that I haven't had much time to do an awful lot! Oh, well, I did meet David Coulthard and Martin Brundle, so I guess that's pretty cool! And I am managing to get in my fair share of brunches as well, so life isn't all tough!

Ok, time to get back to work. Lunch time over!
I will write again soon, as soon as I have more news!!

26 on the 26th!!!

I have had a fabulous weekend! Thanks to all my lovely friends here in Abu Dhabi who helped me celebrate! And thanks to all my lovely friends and family back in the UK who sent me hundreds of birthday messages!

Thursday night I went to The Yacht Club at the InterContinental with Annika. DJ Ravin was wonderful as always! The mixologist was also on top form!!!

Me and Rabih (TYC's resident DJ)

Friday I went for a Brunch with friends, before heading to a German bar, meeting up with other friends (and loosing some of the hung-over friends on the way!). Then we headed to Trader Vic's. Cocktails galore, before being sung to at Middnight by the band (latino band, not sure from where, but the Happy Birthday song was hilarious!).

Me and Andy (after getting the day of the brunch wrong, Andy showed up on top form, birthday card in hand....shame Sarah couldn't make it though!)
My pretty new dress which I bought with the vouchers from winning the badminton tournament!! My slightly anebriated friend Nicola and her friend Jay (don't think he knew he was in the picture!)

Then it was Saturday, apart from being woken up at 10am (after getting in at 2am!) because of a man delivering a wardrobe (they really know how to time themselves well huh?), I had a very relaxing day. Calm, chilled, rearranging my clothes now that I have 2 wardrobes I can actually hang all of my suits!! Then went to dinner with a lovely guy who told me that he wouldn't have me doing nothing on my birthday evening, so we went to an Italian at the Shangri-la souk. Perfect end to a perfect weekend....and so tired that I have got the worst start to the week, but I finish at 7pm and then I will be going to bed!!

Only 2 weeks till I fly to London....no rest for the wicked eh? Work, work, work and a little bit of play!x

Germany Work Trip

After a lovely trip back to the UK, seeing friends all over the place, being in my friends wedding and generally having a great time, I came back to Abu Dhabi for all of 5 days of Ramadan. Tough work I must say, no eating or drinking between 4am - 6.30pm in any public place, that includes chewing gum!! So I was glad to have the excuse to go to Germany on business and resume a bit of normality!

I first went to Munich, beautiful city, wonderful food market, and, of all things, a C&A!!! Thought that those shops had shut down years ago!! I was a bit dissapointed that I wasn't there for the beginning of Oktoberfest, but maybe next year!!! I stayed at the Sofitel, amazing hotel, I really liked it.
Then it was to Dusseldorf, once again, fabulous hotel, the InterContinental! I would highly recommend it! Had a couple of hours to walk around the city. Still a pretty place, but not quite the same as Munich.
Then we went to Frankfurt. It was, well, Frankfurt! I actually enjoyed it more than last time. I saw a little more of the old town, which was lovely, especially random were the firemen singing in the square playing an acordian! Bizarre!

It was actually nice to come back to Abu Dhabi, just in time for Eid and 2 extra days off (which was good considering I spent my weekend travelling!).

German firemen singing their hearts out!

Frankfurt Opera House.

InterContinental Badminton Mixed Doubles Champion 2009!!

Yes, that's right! I won a trophy and I am very excited about this!!! Almost as excited about the trophy as the AED300 shopping vouchers that I won! (That's about £60 to those of you in the UK). So, as I can't get on facebook to upload images, I am putting the photos on here!
Enjoy!!!

Photos

Just realised, I didn't explain the photos. Ok, here goes.
Photo 1 - Jenny drinking a (non-alcoholic...yes really!) strawberry dacquari (don't know how to spell that!) at The Yacht Club at the InterContinental last Thursday for Annika's birthday!
Photo 2 - Me, Mary, Nicola and Nicola at One to One hotel for brunch a couple of weeks ago...good times!!!! (no non-alcoholic drinks that day!!)

Photo 3 - Halfway to Christmas at the Captain's Arms (25th June) with Chris and half-Santa!

Photo 4 - On a big toy elephant. No more info needed I think!!!

Photo 5 - Mary and Me at Trader Vic's on Friday. Drinking, wait for it, a non-alcoholic, pina colada (once again, can't spell that!) from a ceramic coconut!!!

See Ali, I am cutting out on the booze to fit into my bridesmaids dress!!! Impressed I hope!

Ok one silly one.......

Annika, me, Lilly and Jesse with Dimitri at TYC last Thursday, lots of silly women!!! (and a silly man!)

How long has it been??? Sorry!

Well, I hadn't quite realised just how long it has been since I've written on here! Sums up my life at the moment, I've been so busy with work, and socialising and meeting new people and being very silly (obviously silliness would feature somewhere in there!!). So, what have I been up to? Well, brunches and parties and nights out and beach time. I've been working a lot, with a dinner tonight with a client starting at 8.30pm, so another late night for me. Although to be honest I can't complain. It's no secret and certainly no surprise that the city is looking like it will be at full capacity at the end of October for the Formula 1 weekend, which is great news considering I work in a hotel! I was hoping to go, but without a ticket yet, and those available selling out very quickly, it's looking less and less likely. maybe next year!
It was my friends birthday on Friday so we went to The Yacht Club at the InterContinental. I love it there, it's so much fun adn the music was great! Everyone had such a great time, witht he atomosphere buzzing. DJ Carlos Campos and Dimitri on Saxophone, it ended up being a very late evening, getting in at 3.45am!! Although the following night at Trader Vic's wasn't any less fun, had a good (and if I'm honest) completely stupid evening with some American and British friends (and managed to get away with drinking non alcoholic cocktails all evening without anyone noticing!) I think I felt the best of everyone the next day!!!
Only 4 weeks and 2 days until I return the the UK and I cannot wait! Although I'm slightly scared that I might not fit into my bridesmaids dress!! I'm working on it though, so hopefully I'll be just fine and won't pop any zips!! Really looking forward to seeing everyone again, I'm getting quite home sick now. Missing everyone terribly and missing London a whole lot too! I've got a feeling that I will be back there in the future, and my life here will feel like it never really happened! It's all very odd! Mostly, I really miss the Opera House. I loved that job when I was there, and have decided, I'm not sure when, but I will be back there one day (if they'll have me!)!!

Ok, it's time for me to go. Work to do......
See you all soon!!!!!!!!!!!!!xxx

Not enough hours in the day....

Ok, so I've been a bit rubbish in updating this recently! My only excuse is that I barely have time to sleep, let alone anything else at the moment!!
So much has happened since I went to London, I had a really lovely time, thank you for taking the time to see me while I was back, those of you who I managed to drop in on at the last minute!
So I'm back in Abu Dhabi and boy, it's getting hot! The heat is actually more bareable than I thought it would be, however, the humidity is not very nice! Although, I'm getting used to it, but still not enjoying it a whole lot!
I have been so busy, I went to Womad festival on the Corniche, saw Robert Plant, of Led Zepplin, and he was absolutely amazing! The atmosphere was fantastic, but the only problem with it all being over was that my friend Rupert went back to the UK and left me all alone here...several guilt trips later and he's agreed that he'll come back next year and do it all over again! (hehe!)
Spent last weekend in Dubai, enjoying the sunshine, laying by the pool and catching up with old friends. I'll be there again tomorrow, working at the Arabian Travel Market, and visiting clients. Then spending the weekend there with a friend, going to Wild Wadi on Friday (for those of you who don't know, it's a water park, with slides and rides and lots of sunshine!). So had to buy a new bikini so that I don't get awful tan lines, which I wouldn't be able to get rid of before wearing my bridesmaids dress this summer!
I am off to Frankfurt in 3 weeks time for another Trade fair exhibition. Looking forward to catching up with lots of my European clients while I'm there. I've already been promised a night of drinking and dancing from one of the clients I met in Malta, so looks like it will be a good show!
Not much other news, working too hard and playing too little (sitting at my desk in an empty office right now, waiting for my clients to arrive at 8pm, before dinner at 9pm....I think I might start wearing my suit to bed, so I can just get up in the morning and leave!)
Well, not much more to add, so I'll leave it there.
Hope that everyone is well back home, you all have my e-mail which I check daily, much more often than I am able to get onto facebook, so I look forward to a few "hellos" over the next couple of weeks please!!
Lots of Love
Jen.xxx

Back to Blighty

I am working like a horse trying to get my reports written and my activites in order before my sales trip to London next week (I am more than slightly excited about this!!). I am calling the UK every 5 minutes trying to scehdule sales calls with my clients over 4 days (got to love bank holidays!). So I am still sitting at my computer at 6pm, and needed a break from my speadsheets.
The sun is just starting to go down, the weather has been beautiful again these past few days, after the horrific rain and hail storms we had a week ago! Very odd for the desert!
I can't believe how quickly my work load has picked up, paper work everywhere, e-mails coming in at a rate of 10 a minute (well, not quite, but you'd be surprised!) and it's becoming difficult to concentrate knowing I'll be with my little brother this time next week!! YAY!
Unfortunately, because I am actually on a work trip, I have very limited time for socialising, so please don't be offended if I haven't been in touch, trust me it isn't personal. I will be back in August for 2 weeks so hopefully will get a chance to see everyone at least once when I'm there!
I'm not sure what clothes to bring with me. I really don't have any winter clothes here! Not even a proper coat! (And I can't buy one either, none to be bought!). I can't believe just how little I have bought here since I arrived, considering I brought just over 38 kilos of luggage with me back in January, I think I've done incredibly well (although Mum and Dad will be bringing me a fix of shoes when I come back, so all will be just fine!).
Well, I had better get back to it, barely breathing under a pile of multi-coloured business cards....trust me, there are thousands!
Take care and see you all soon!xxx

Party nights and party days.....hmmm...or work

Another crazy week here in the UAE. I have been working all the hours God sends, coming in on my only day off to entertain a group of Brits by feeding them cocktails! (I didn't say it was always a difficult job!). And I think I am in the right department, what with Vogue Launch parties, Opera tickets and access to the Coldplay gig....it could be worse really couldn't it?!!! I am working pretty much everyday now until the 6th April, at a large meeting and events exhibition during the day and then networking at Gala Dinners in the evening, it all sounds pretty glamerous I know, but it'd be nice to have an evening to see friends once in a while! And I only have one dress here that is suitable for these functions, it's electric blue....I have have to work on that! (Expand my wardrobe a little!)
St. Patricks day was a good one, I think I was the only girl not in green!! Sitting outside till 11pm and it was as warm as day! I've been here nearly 3 months and I'm still not used to that! I've met some great friends here, I seem to have met so many American's and Australians, they're all great fun, I even have somewhere to go for Thanks Giving this year! (It'll be the first time I celebrate that one!)
I have also been busy planning business trips, Dubai, London, Frankfurt and others....I'm a busy bee right now!
I miss my friends and family back home like crazy, I'd be so lost without the internet! A couple of people are coming out this way in April and May, so looking forward to having a few days with some familiar faces!
I started writing this post at 1pm, now it is 6pm and I have only just had a chance to post it! I wasn't lying when I said I was busy!!
Take care and speak soon!

Its warm in the sunshine!

Here is the promised picture! I had some spare time this morning, so went for a walk along the coast line, so beautiful! I also managed to catch the sun, only my chest went red, everywhere else is brown, how on earth did I manage that one? God works in mysterious ways, that's for certain!

I took some others but for some reason when I put them on here they are upside down and I can't work out how to rotate them, so watch this space.

Well, more news as soon as anything interesting happens!

Sunshine and sea views...no, not in Abu Dhabi!

Ok, so I've arrived in Malta . I have a forum to attend for work, beginning today. I got to the Island yesterday, and its such a beautiful place! It reminds me a lot of small towns in the South of France. Old, stone buildings and tree lined roads, a million miles away from my life in Abu Dhabi. I feel much closer to home here (not distance wise, cos I know that I AM closer), but reminds me of family holidays in Europe. Abu Dhabi is a great place to live and work, but has no history to speak of and I really miss that sense of seeing old and new, when all the buildings are less than 10 years old and all the roads are on a grid system and 3 lanes wide! So it's refreshing to be somewhere more familiar.
I'm going to have the chance to explore a little bit this evening after work, so that'll be really nice. I have a great room with a beautiful view. (I will be posting pictures this evening!).
The flight over was good, although I had to get up at 4am, and then didn't get to bed for around 22 hours after that! 3 hours time difference really makes a big change to my sleeping patterns! So had a room service dinner last night and fell asleep in front of the TV!! It's been a long time since I've done that!
The sun is shining though, its around 17 degrees and the air is clear, back in the UAE its getting really humid now, I'm dreading to think what the summer will be like!
It's good being here, with the internet access I have, it's going to be easier to keep in touch with everyone over the next few days.
Ok, back to the grindstone for me!
Keep your eyes open for the pics later!
Jen.xxx

Sand storms and sore throats!

Off to Dubai again today. Thursday half day, so we'll travel up at around 3pm and have dinner before going out. I'm hoping the weather will be nice enough for me to lay on the beach tomorrow. In Abu Dhabi we are in the middle of a sand storm. Not as dramatic as it sounds, it's like dusty fog...really makes your throat sore though and my eyes itchy, I don't want to be out in it too long.
Went to my second golf lesson last night, I'm actually seeing an improvement which I'm very surprised about!!
Work is going well and is very busy at the moment. The cleaners keep coming in and cleaning my desk at night and stacking all of my paperwork together, not really very helpful cos every morning I have to seperate all the different piles...like I have nothing better to do!
Anyway, better go, short but sweet!xxxxxx

It's been a while!

Hi!
Sorry for the lack of posts, I've been pretty slack I know!! Sorry about that! Anyway, here now! So, what have I been up to, well, working mostly, with a 5 and half day week it doesn't leave much time for anything else, but I'm certainly trying my hardest!!!
I have started a 6 week Golf Lesson Course with some people from work. I was sceptical at first, but I'm actually really enjoying it, another string to the bow and all of that! So that's on Wednesday nights. I have been spending time with some new friends, an Aussie and an American mainly, very sweet girls and we do laugh, a lot!!! So my kind of people!
I am going to Dubai again on Thursday evening, one of my friends has moved up there for a month so we are going to go to a few bars, do a bit of partying and then shop till we drop in the sales on Friday!! Might hit the beach too if it's not windy...need to really work on the tan!
So onto my biggest time spender...work, I can finally let you know what it is I do! Ok, so here goes.
I am promoting the hotel to companies that either have never used us before, or have used us, but could come here more often, or finally, people that use us all the time and need looking after. I show them round our facilities, take them for dinner (entertainments) at the hotel outlets and go and visit them to ensure that they are happy with the service we're providing.
Aside from this, I am working with the conference team to help with the workload, continuously improving our product with new ideas and so on and so forth. That's what I'm doing at work right now actually. 6:15pm on a Sunday (My Tuesday you understand), waiting for an entertainment at 7. I have my priorities right though, it means I get a good dinner and don't have to cook!!! So much for the diet though!
Oh, and I've had my driving license translated from English to Arabic, and now all I need to do is get it transferred, then at least I can drive!!!! (I did think it very amusing when I asked my colleague to read the Arabic for me so I could check it was correct adn she said "Name: Jennifer Lopez Williams".....I think she was thinking of somebody else!!!!)
The final thing I've been doing is coming up with a plot for what looks like it's going to be an extremely interesting screenplay!!! George Clooney, Jason Stretham .... and I'm doing this with someone back home, it's an interesting way to keep in touch and share our news!!!!!! And might have a very amusing outcome if our lives continue in the way they've been headed!!!
So about time for me to head off, check the BBC News website for an update on the snow you've all been having and then off to dinner.
Take care everyone, thanks for all the lovely emails and messages on facebook! It makes it much easier being here, knowing you all still think of me back home!
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Beach day for me today....

I've been at the beach today...not as warm as I'd hoped, but sunny all the same, just a little windy. Had a lovely time with my Australian friend Sarah, gossipping and being all girly.
I've been working at a bridal show this week, I must say, Arabic wedding fairs are very different from the UK, with all the black Abaya stands and only 2 with white dresses! And I don't think I have ever seen so many sparkly, huge pieces of jewellery!
Facebook has been great to keep in touch with everyone, I am finding more places to use the net now, so hopefully will be able to keep in touch a bit more frequently!
And...I have a friend whose computer can accept my photo card, so I'm gonna give it a shot at uploading a couple of pics on here!

I have a busy week planned this week, I have my work/residency visa now which means I can open a bank account (finally), trasfer my driving license, apply for an alcohol license...all the important things!

Work is getting busy too, I have started building up my client base and I have to do meetings and things now!!! Not going to bore you all for too much longer....going to go home in a minute and try to decide what to have for dinner...

Hope you are all well and I'll be back on again soon!

Lots of Love and plenty of sunny smiles!

It never rains but it pours!!!

I will never again say "I'm bored and want something to do" when I am at work. I think the expression is 'it never rains but it pours'! (Metaphorically speaking only, you understand...there is no rain here!). Had an early meeting this morning, with a follow up in a fortnight, I have to come in tomorrow on my day off for a meeting, and then on Saturday afternoon I have a VIP pass to the Abu Dhabi Golf Championships to meet with my clients....oh such a tough life!!! Bridal Fair season too, so I will be exhibiting there 2 nights next week till 11pm! (But I get Saturday off instead!). So busy busy busy......

I am managing to fit in a bit of socialising though ;-)
I discovered Ladies night at the Hilton where I drank for free all evening.....I am going to a birthday dinner tonight and, reminisant of London, I never seem to be at home! I have pasta in my cupboard and pesto in the fridge....sound familiar??

I'm really loving it here, especially now that I am meeting my clients and getting to know more people!

Finally, I am counting down the days till payday! There are sales here so I need to increase my work wardrobe, considering I spend all my time here!

Hope that everything is well back in the UK, thank you for all your messages and e-mails. Sorry if I haven't replied to them all yet, but I have read them and I will reply as soon as I get a chance!
Take care everyone!xxxxx

One trip to Dubai and one pair of shoes!!!!!!!!!

Hey!
So I went to Dubai! Trust Jenny to find the shops!!! It was such good fun, had a good meal, good night out and then wandered the Mall of the Emirates for a few hours!!! I only bought one pair of shoes (Ooops!) and then sat out in the sunshine catching the rays!!!! (Admittedly, that comment was for all you lovely people back in the freezing UK! but was very true all the same!). Had a chance to wear a nice dress and party, although, I'm still not used to all the smokers in the bars and clubs here.
I will be sure to post some pictures on here soon, taking me longer than I hoped cos I have somehow lost my camera cable in the move, but we'll get there soon I'm sure!!
It's a bit mad here, my accomodation block is full of people from the hotel, so if any of us are ever at a loose end, we just jump in the lift and go up or down a floor, and so far, I've spent many nights at my colleagues flat, drinking wine and eating pizza!!! No night bus home either, just crawl up a floor when I'm tired!!!!
Work is good, I am almost finished with my induction to the hotel and then I can get really stuck into my job!
Looks like it's going to be a hectic year, which is great, but the position was created for me, so I have no-one to take over from and so, have to start everything from scratch...wish me luck!!!!
So, going to go now, but I hope that everyone is well and I'll be back here again soon (Hopefully with some pictures!!!!)
Take care!
Jen.xxx

A week in....

I've been in Abu Dhabi a week now, and I must say, I'm enjoying every second! I had a great New Years eve, a house party in possibly the most amazing flat I've ever seen, with plenty of people and a mile walk home at 5am!!! I was with a guy that i work with, so I was fine, but it was slightly surreal walking home at that time and not even needing a jumper!! A bit like it was in Thailand really, but without the mozzies!!

I've been for brunch at one of the hotels here, more food than I thinkI have ever seen...anywhere and then for drinks on the Corniche (although by drinks, I mean Mango juice and water....no alcohol outside of hotels, it's taking some getting used to I must say! I could buy a license so that I can buy alcohol to have at home, but I haven't been here long enough to get one yet).

I'm making the most of building up a bit of colour before it gets too hot! Took a long walk from my apartment to the Marina Mall (Probably about 3 adn a half miles, but seems longer in the heat) and found my feet in Ikea...I know where my first pay packet will be going! I think I need some new work shoes too....well...old habits die hard!!!

I have my 2009 London Calendar up in my office and my ROH calendar at home (I would probably get teh sack if I put a naked male bum on my wall...especially one belonging to Eric Underwood!!!) so I have my little tasters of home around me all the time. I found it amusing that I was walking around Ikea, looking at things that I already own back home...the world really is a very small place!!

Good news is, I will be coming to the UK on business at least twice a year, if not more, so I will have a chance to catch up with everyone at some point!!!

Hope that you are all well...sorry I haven't been able to contact you all more individually, facebook is blocked at work and I don't have the internet at home yet....ho hum!

Take care everyone!xxxx