Hello everyone  Nice to see you again and long time no see.

So, did you guess where I was?? Well, aren't you the smarty pants?

So, here we are: lock, stock and barrel. Well, actually so far we have two chairs, one tv, one fridge, one washing-machine, one bed as big as a house, one art table and one huge echo. I agree, phew at least I've got an art table  The fridge was touch and go for a while there. Lots of phone-calls and wandering delivery men looking for a house in the desert sand! The bed is a joy: since now everytime my husband turns over I don't get catapulted off the bed  Just kidding! 

We've been told that it's a particularly hot spring for Abu Dhabi, capital of UAE (see, I've just snuck that in there, just in case geography is your worst subject. By now, you'll know of course that mine is maths, numbers are just not pretty enough, though I guess they are to some) But, since it's already hit the 40's, that's 107 in old money, we don't know whether to be relieved, or panic-struck!! Coming from snow in Switzerland to desert, is a uniquely bizarre experience! And I've probably sweated your body-weight  by now, (pleasant image for you there )

But, the strangest thing, being a creature of habit I guess, is the realization that in one month, I haven't picked up a sweater, jacket, cardigan, anything heavier than a shirt. So, half my suitcase proved to be obsolete; that left the other half needing fragrance like mouth-to-mouth! I've never been someone who ever sweats much. And quite frankly I'm a little shocked to discover that girlies sweat at all  

There's been so much to sort out along the lines of visas etc, so there's been many occasion to look like a total tourist in the humid, bustling streets of Abu Dhabi: tottering around in sandals and a sunhat. Finding an internet cafe was an adventure in itself. Abu Dhabi shops have an extraordinary nack of disappearing. I mean, you find a shop once, follow your landmarks, only to find it's disappeared. I'm sure that must just be me............

When we arrived at Abu Dhabi airport we stepped out into the sparkly darkness outside, and it felt like someone had left the heating full on  a room! Once in the ubiquitous taxi, the newly finished 'Sheik Zayed Mosque', otherwise known as 'The Great Mosque' was a dazzling site. And yes, as sure as night follows day and this blog is slow because of all my photos, I've got some photos........

Isn't that something against that blue sky? One taxi driver told me that was made of marble. Another that there are over a thousand mosques in Abu Dhabi. And yes, I do get a lot of taxis! But having so many mosques saves you having to play musical chairs, since one must always be fairly close-by when it's time to pray.

What? You want to see inside? You think they let me inside? Of course they did silly!! Just as long as I removed my shoes and wore a veil. This is a little photo of my up against a wall inlaid with vines and flowers. It was a beautiful effect. I'm not sure my photo did justice to it really.

Yep, that's me! The flowers and vines were in quite high relief, so it was a very tactile experience as well as a visual one. That was nothing, you should've seen the washroom!!

Gotta go, my internet connection is having a nervous breakdown. Don't forget, if you get a little chilly: put a jacket on for me      www.moorethanart.com