kittycat1

So has it been a good year or a bad year? High points and low points please and any hopes for 2011?

For me its been a funny old year- settling in here- getting stuck in Doha because of a Volcano(low point)- two of my best friends getting married(high point), making some fabulous friends here (high point), tooth breaking (low point). And for 2011 need to start some planning and make some decisions- feeling very positive about the furure in general (other than my dental issues- I know Im a drama queen!)see what I want to do from here- so open to big changes- quite excited think it could be a good year for me (touch wood)!

Kittycat
xxx

PS does anyone here believe the world will end in 2012?

Spugsy

End of the year was shit, for various reasons - looking forward to getting stuff sorted in the next month and getting on with 2011 to be honest.

Don't think I'll be here in another 12 - 18 months anyway so going to enjoy Dubai and surrounding areas as much as I can this year.

kittycat1

Spugsy- don't say it like that - sounds like you're going to drop dead- which obviously we don't want!

Spugsy

well if teh world is going to end in 2012 who cares?

kittycat1

Someone a bit grumpy today? HUG xxx

Blue Cat

2010 was in general a good year for us as a family, 2009 was the bad one, I am doing more work and earning a bit of cash here and there which is a good thing. Mitten is doing well at school, I have some fabulous friends around me. On the downside a good friend is leaving at the end of January and just thinking about it upsets me. People say you get used to it but you don't. Many friends left in 2009 and even though we keep in touch it isn't the same as them being here.

lionheart

Not much to write home about. At least it looks like we will retain The Ashes, which is nice. Not sure of our future plans but I would like Jasmine to get a better education than she is getting here.

Blue Cat

change schools, get her into DESS !

lionheart

No thanks. We are happy with the quality of the school. Its simply that most expat kids seem so spoiled here. I want her to toughen up and get more streetwise.

Blue Cat

I must have misread this I would rather have an expatkid than one raised in the UK, HOWEVER it is all down to parenting, some of the kids I saw in England were pushing kids in prams, seriously they were 14 and 15

HELEN44

Been another really funny year! Started with me having to be flown home from a fab job in Jordan which I'd had literally a matter of weeks to have an operation. Had op in March, waited nearly three months, so no salary, couldn't fly for another twelve minimum in case of complications. No salary until September gone, for new job here in Dubai - adult kids home in England. Being a born optimist, I hope to just face the new challenges and a second op which I'll have to go back home for in the next year but after that I'll be fighting fit again and back out here no doubt - still sooo much to see and do!! Wanna write more and see lotsa live gigs!! All the best!

Blue Cat

are you a teacher?

lionheart

So tell us how you exactly worked that one out BC...you are correct incidentally.

lionheart

I was referring to her all round education rather than just schooling. Yes, expat kids may be easier for parents to control but, when she eventually settles down in the UK or wherever, Jasmine will need to be able to adapt to the harsh realities of life back home. Good parenting obviously helps but cannot really prepare a child for the gang mentality and bullying, which I guess is more common in city schools back home than here. Just my thoughts.

HELEN44

Yup and replied privately.