More Building Work News

It had to happen one day...

After empty lots and impromptu car parks on either side of our building ever since we moved in, now there are building sites going up on both sides at the same time. We have no news on the details of the building to our right (which, if high enough, will cut the stunning view from our bedrooms), but the one on our left is reputedly going to be 51 storeys high and in the shape of Big Ben (rumour has it that permission to decorate it with a clock like the original has been denied).

Digging has commenced on the site to our right, whereas there are still boards being put up on the left side. We are waiting to see what happens to Cosmo, which is using some of the wasteland for its outdoor seating. Car parking has already become a lot more cut-throat in the last weeks, as there is not enough parking for all the offices along here. The empty lots masked that problem, but of course they were always going to be built on eventually.

Sheikh Makhtoum Dies

He was the ruler of Dubai, so this is a big deal.

Sheikh Makhtoum Bin Rashid Al Makhtoum was the older brother of Sheikh Mohammed, who is the driving force behind Dubai's economic development. We are expecting Sheikh Mohammed, who was crown prince, to be named ruler of Dubai soon.

First there was an immediate three days of mourning. This meant all malls and cinemas wer closed, banks shut for most of the week and everyone took time off. Then the Shopping Festival was cancelled, including the ambitious fireworks displays that were going to light up the night in seven different places during the opening evening. Pragmatic as ever, shops are still allowed to hold their sales, just not under the DSF banner.

Christmas Holidays

A week in France, a week in Germany. Sounds simple, but isn't.

We visited the boat to check on it, but I was so ill with a flu that I am convinced I picked up from some visitor to the film festival (where else? All that air-conditioned proximity to people from all over the World) that I didn't notice much of the clear sunny skies and beautiful winter light.

Germany was freezing, partly due to the fact that my brother doesn't think much of central heating. And partly probably because we are getting used to such mild temperatures that we forget to pack truly warm winter clothes. But it was still a great way to spend Christmas, it snowed and we had a proper full-sized tree with decorations and candles, lovely dinners were cooked by Ellen, Matthias and Vera and we even played card games. How very old-fashioned.

Proper Christmas