You Can Take the Girl Out of Manchester

I had a whole evening to myself last night, for the first time since I arrived in Dubai two weeks ago. For those with live in lovers/flatmates , this may not seem like anything to write home about. But as someone who has lived on their own for the best part of 11 years (and yes I did have a cat, but no spinster jokes, please) and loved every minute of it, a night in, alone, is the ultimate treat for me.

After a godawful hour getting home from work (despite the actual distance from home to office being half a mile at most) I wasn’t really ready for anything too crazy - had a very pleasant dinner on the balcony, caught up on world news on the internet, and then began my most favourite SSB (Secret Single Behavior), Fake Tanning.

Yes, I may be in one of the most cospopolitan cities on earth – where they actually sell skin bleaching kits next to the fake tan in the shops – but nothing was going to stop me from applying my Manchester Sunshine.

Jordan once described herself and Peter when in bed as:”looking like a couple of hotdogs” due to their excessive application of fake tan. Well I went to bed one very happy hotdog! You can’t buy class. But you can buy fake tan. (4.99 a can from M and S.)

Home from Home

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I am officially a Brit Abroad. No, i haven't been scoffing a full English or stomping down the aisles looking for Heinz Baked Beans and HP Sauce. But I have just spent a morning in Marks and Spencer. Kill me now!

In my defence I have a new apartment to kit out, and as my dear colleagues and friends bought me a stack of M and S vouchers as leaving presents, it seemed the ideal place to start. My trolley was piled so high with pots, pans, wine glasses (such excitement) I could barely see my way out of the shop. Thankfully a very sweet man took all my bags from me and took them out to a taxi.

I'm not sure why it felt so odd being in such an English store. Part of me feels that I really should have found a souk and bartered for every household item as part of a more 'authentic' Dubai experience. But there's plenty of time for that. It's 40 degrees, for a start, and if the Open Top Bus Tour taught me anything, it's that I am not willing to be more than 5 minutes away from air con! Picky, me?