The Usher family come for the weekend - 7th November 2008

The Usher Family drop in for the weekend, from Abu Dhabi. Bruce & Anna and the four nippers Polly (6), Will & Sam (5) and 'baby' Charlotte (2).

Lotte loved the new waxwork of Polly

Rosanna teaches Charlotte the infamous 'Rolfe Cheesy Special'

Definitely Ushers...

Bruce was 40 (how old is that?!) the next day so we pushed the boat out and had lunch with an iconic view, down at Madinat Jumeirah

Group ice cream in the Madinat amphitheatre with Sam, Will, Charlotte, Polly, Lotte & Rosanna

Bedtime and baby Charlotte still preferred the feel of the stainless steel bath tub

Dreamland Waterpark - 15th November 2008

A quick hop up the coast at the weekend with one of Lotte's classmates, and skipping buddy, Grace, to Umm Al Qawain (one of the 7 emirates) and its star attraction Dreamland (did I mention there was a tax-free off licence next door?)

Sunsuits on, ready for the flumes

Rosanna leads the way

closely followed by a fearless Mummy and Lotte

Grace & Lotte just floating around

oh, that's better...

Roots at last! 11th October 2008

After much househunting, Mummy & Daddy decide to take a modest, detached villa in Alvorada , Arabian Ranches. Our new home!

Villa 49

The view from Rosanna's balcony - a pool and other stuff!

Looking back towards the house

We both love the kiddie's play area

And the basketball court should keep Mummy happy

The sun sets on our sandpit, er, back garden...

and who needs a 4x4 anyway?

Lotte is quick to check out the ensuite facilities

Daddy!

First day at Repton School - 21st September 2008

Daddy got lost driving on the way to school that first morning (or was it Mummy's navigating? - they never did agree on that point) but we eventually arrived there, a little nervous and scared...

The Repton School Arch (with obigatory Hummer pulling away, bottom left!)

Rosanna's classroom is very colourful

...as is her teacher, Mrs. Brown

Let's go and pick up Lotte, and get away from this big fish!

Lotte Rolfe, Class 3A, ready for hometime

Say hello to Mrs Atkins and the class hamster in its rollerball

Freddie Starr watch out, there's a new kid in town

Walking to the car, how do they get the grass so green?

Older children with one of the teachers explaining how to play chess - Daddy promises to teach us one day

Nearly there, relaxing by the main entrance

Enough photo opportunities already, it's time for an afterschool swim!

Perhaps I'll just close my eyes on the drive home....

Dubai here we come - September 17th 2008

We have landed in the desert!

It was very hot when we arrived, and there were trees growing in the airport

Daddy dragged us to see some ridiculous buildings

Ditto

Daddy's office - boring!

Emirates Towers - mainly offices and apartments but good noodle restaurants on the ground floor

The night before the first day at the new school, we were living in this hotel. Didn't sleep much that night with nerves and excitement!

Howard Christening August 2008

During a quick trip back to London to pack up all our toys, we say goodbye to Christchurch Chelsea, but welcome to the latest Howard offspring. Mummy was very proud to be a Godmother to baby Rafe

Rosanna shows baby Molly (the youngest Howard) how to scrub up and look good

Lotte & Rosanna on tour

Hello world - Lotte & Rosanna here, wishing to share our adventures and photos with you.

It all started in the summer of 2008 when Daddy suggested we pack up our things and go and live in Dubai for a year or two - something to do with getting 'free tacks' or something like that. Anyway, he told us we could swim outside every day so we went for it!

Before leaving we had a quick trip to Lavaure near Bergerac in a desperate attempt to acclimatise...

Lavaure Haure from the driveway

Monsieur Doches and Marine, with as close to a camel as they could find

Rosanna gets use to things chilled (by tucking into frozen vegetables)

Daddy gets used to the idea of a barren landscape by chopping all the nearby trees down!