TV with Grandpa

I'm not sure what they were both watching, but it was obviously highly amusing to both of them. Certainly not the cricket on Sky Sports...

Although Rosie has now lost interest, preferring to study physics, so perhaps it was the cricket....

Whatever it was, she has lots of questions, which Grandpa seems keen to answer in detail.

Whatever it was, Rosie clearly appreciated not having to endure another TV session with her boring Mummy or Daddy!

Christmas number two.

Christmas number two was spent a short plane ride away in Cheshire. I think Rosie liked having Christmas twice. She got to coordinate and oversee the unwrapping of another set of other people's gifts, and received another huge pile for herself (including a set of angel wings.)

She had a lovely time with her cousin Lana, who she met for the first time (and who she thought was the coolest thing on the planet.)It was clear that Daddy is not the coolest thing anymore, and it is far more fun to copy Lana, throwing herself around and pretending to poop. Oh well.

Berlin Christmas

Uncle Lars and Uncle Robin were the hosts for a lovely Christmas in Berlin. Rosie loved all things Santa, and just about everything to do with Christmas (except the weather in Europe.)

Santa made the trip especially to visit little Rosie. At first she was very unsure about him, but when he opened his bag and pulled out a pile of presents, her view changed. She was quite disappointed when he had to leave for Lapland, and for the next few days every knock at the door was hoped to be Santa making a return visit.

Santa left a seriously cool pink bike behind, with matching helmet. Hurray!! Rosie hopes it is not too long before Santa comes knocking again!!

Christmas Markets

We arrived in Berlin for Christmas on the 23rd. Just time to make the most of the beautiful Christmas markets. The smells! The lights! Not sure who was more excited - me or Pipkin.

She seemed extremely impressed by the gigantic wheel. When it came down it it, she managed half a ride on a tiny carousel in a little boat before pleading to get out. We''ll save the big wheel for next year then.

Rosie managed to force down a sausage before it was time to go home. A whole sausage, and bread. An adult one, on top of her dinner. Why not...it's Christmas.

It was a lovely (if cold) evening, and I am pretty sure Rosie is sold on the concept of the Christmas market.

Christmas is coming!

Rosie is getting into the Christmas spirit, ready for her trip to Europe next weekend. We are a three suitcase family..and one of them is full of gifts from Santa.

She has also been working hard on her Christmas vocabulary. New additions to her expanding store of words are; Santa, reindeer (actually caribou, which she learnt some time ago and can be forgiven for mistaking one for the other) snowman and Christmas tree.

 Cake is also a word that she is practicing hard at the moment. She has no idea of how useful that word will be over the next few weeks.

Dubai actually feels quite Christmassy. The weather is blissful, with a seasonal nip in the air and malls full of decorations. Malls were filled with decorations in Malaysia, true, but it was a dripping, humid 35 degrees outside, and somehow never really felt like Christmas.

Here's wishing you all a very merry Christmas, from Santa's smallest elf xxx

Rock On!!

Rosie has spent the last few weeks working on her image. First we had the peace sign, using one hand to arrange the fingers on the other, and squeaking 'peace' triumphantly when she worked it out. From there she progressed to the above. Sometimes we have peace with one hand, and 'rock and roll' with the other, with her squeaking each of them alternately. Note the ACDC t-shirt (but not the green leisure suit she is wearing over the top of it.)  

Ice cream

Ice cream is now officially the greatest thing on earth. Rosie has been known to wake up in the morning and start talking about it.

Unless she has absolutely no option, KFC or McDonald's Ice cream will not do. She is likely to protest if offered it, and will gamble on an adult changing their mind and getting her an Italian specialist ice cream (the expensive stuff in other words.)

Even the prospect of an ice cream is likely to have her jumping up and down with excitement and singing (about ice cream)

Shortly after finishing this particular ice cream, she set off after a flock of birds at full speed, gave up after 3 minutes, and threw the whole thing up, all over her t-shirt. Athletics and ice cream don't really work together it seems.

Swing

Rosie has discovered swings. These 'nappy style' seats are perfect (sorry Rosie...) for extended swinging. 

To be honest, I feel dizzy and sick after five minutes of only pushing and watching. No such problems for Rosie.

I think she believes she is going to swing as high as the clouds (yes...we have clouds at the moment - small fluffy ones) as she is constantly babbling something about clouds.

 Each time we visit, she gets a little braver and wants to go a little higher.

 But like all good things, enough is enough, and when it's time to stop swinging, she lets us know.

Arabian weekend wandering

People do pretty much the same things at the weekend in the UAE as they do anywhere - out with the kids, chatting with friends or shopping. They just look a little different. Here are a couple of Katrin's pics of people last weekend

Public Holiday in Safa

We finally found a kite for Rosie, after scouring the malls. She chose the Toy Story one, although it was a close thing between it and a 'Cars 2' kite. (Cars of any kind are her latest obsession)

In the park last weekend, we attempted the maiden flight. The picture above gives an accurate picture of the maximum height attained. 

We drafted in some recruits to help us try and at least reach tree-top height, and Rosie did her best to direct the proceedings.

Despite help, it wasn't to be. Never mind - Rosie loved it, and I am sure we will hit the skies in the next week.

The park was very busy (public holiday) and we spend a while watching the Pakistani and Afghani workers make the best of it and have some holiday fun.

Singing and dancing to traditional folk songs. Rosie was extremely tempted to join in, but contented herself with grooving on the sidelines.

They danced for hours, and were clearly having a really nice public holiday. For me, it felt like the most refreshing touch of foreignness  since arriving in Dubai.

Mermaid

Saturday afternoon on the beach. It is now cool enough to spend the afternoon there, without dying of heat exhaustion. Good news for mini mermaids.

As long as you occasionally shovel food into her mouth, Rosie is happy to stay partially buried for long periods of time.

But of course she has to be released to make sure the beach is properly watered.