Christmas Day at last!

Within seconds the girls realise Santa paid a visit last night

Rosanna's new tutu and pink shoes

great skirt

With the credit-crunch biting, Lotte even had to colour in her own t-shirt

Rosanna, braced to deal with any unwanted guests

Ten minutes later, chaos was restored fully

Great for learning how to pleat

Getting ready for lunch





Daddy drove us into the middle of the desert to a wonderful place called Bab Al Shams (http://www.jumeirahbabalshams.com/)

Father Christmas even turned up, on a camel!

When do I get a present?

Lotte & Phoebe can't believe how tall the clown is

Rosanna was first to visit the face-painter

...with the big girls close behind

Finn and Michelle eye their new Gingerbread House

but it's much more fun to eat it!





The sun sets and we are almost ready to go home

Pretty lamps

A brave Lotte & Mummy (or should that be the camel?)

Getting off should be the simple bit...

The sun sets in the distance

Trying their hand at falconry

Thanks Bab - maybe see you next year x

School's out for 2008...

...not that it was especially 'in' during December, thanks to Eid, National Day holidays, Rosanna being off-colour. Lotte had 6 school days in the month, Rosanna had 2!

Eagerly waiting for the 25th to arrive, the girls check out Safa Park. A mini Battersea Park in the heart of the city

Straight to the inflatables

T Rex was our favourite - he won't suspect a thing if we hide on his toes

yep, there we are, in the shade

More shade, but Rosanna has to take an important call regarding sub-prime collateralisation

She also kindly tried to pick some of the flowers for Daddy who was 'busy' in the office

Where's the snow? It's nearly Christmas don't you know...

Mummy, stop pretending this is fun, you're crushing me

Now, where are the loos?

Ah, that explains it. Do I need to buy a veil to go?

Lotte had a pretty face paint

The sun goes down - around 6pm at the moment

Christmas is coming!

...and the decorations need to go up (despite the fact it's 25 c outside)

Rosanna and Fluffy ready for action

Where do these go?

Like this?

Enough decorating - raspberry attack!








Daddy delegates from the sofa while the girls do the hard work










The next day involves a quick day trip out to Oman (mainly to renew visas)

Camel poo being one of the highlights

then a trip to the (slightly dictatorship inspired) ice rink in Dubai Mall

where luckily Rosanna was on hand to guide Mummy around the edge...

Dubai Rugby Sevens 2008

Still not rugby weather as far as we're concerned (at least until the sun goes down), but some of the world's finest egg-carriers are shipped in to run rings around eachother at the new purpose-built stadium on the Al Ain Road

England start well though, winning enough to make it into the final

beating the 'tough men' from New Zealand in the semis

Bruce looks bothered as Scotland lose to Kenya 38-0

Meanwhile Lotte makes the most of the hospitality tent

as Rosanna makes the most of the chocolate mousse

Later, everyone looking a bit merry

"swing low, sweet chariots..."

Rosanna optimistically tries the VIP wristband as a half-time snack

Time to go home, Daddy's letting himself be photographed!

The wily Springboks sneak it in the dying seconds to deny England the trophy...

A fantastic day out but Woody & Peter are not at all amused with the final score

Meanwhile, back in London....this one's for you Buddy!