MIA

Ok, I promised I'd fill you in on the shitty stuff that happened in my life recently, but I don't feel the need to depress anyone - let's just leave it at when I'm unhappy, I don't blog so well :-(

April to June wasn't the most fun time of my life. But it's over. So let's not dwell on it!

Happy Pam.

Fusion Life

I am loving being back at the B&B. I am in the funkiest room ever, and have managed to put my own personal touches here and there on the room, so it actually looks like I live there. Yes, I had to move out of my last villa. Yes, the people there were twits. No, I am not horrid to live with, I just have a social life which was frowned upon.

We are having a wine and food tasting (at home!) on Tuesday night - the bonus of the B&B owners (Pete and Stacey) opening a restaurant soon, is that we get to test the chef/dishes - as often as we like - and the wines that they will have in the restaurant. Yay!

I will be doing their social networking for them as well - doesn't that sound smart - actually just creating and updating their Facebook page and Twitter accounts as and when I can. Once I get my Blackberry, this will be a lot easier, as I can do it anywhere, anytime.

I am also in the process of starting to date again. I say this like I stopped dating for a while, which technically, I guess I did. After the last fiasco in Dubai/Doha/Dubai I needed a time out. I have also figured out I need to spend time with people that care more about me than the last 3 guys I dated (as in, actually spent longer than a few hours on a first date with) did.

So. I will fill you in on my dinner with Michael (tomorrow night) and my drinks with Andrew (Saturday night) next week :-)

Back in Dubai

I'm sitting in a studio in Al Quoz, preparing for a shoot for the Ramadan campaign for Sharjah City Centre. It is so much more fun than being in the office! This is now my third shoot for TBWA (including a 5 day trip to Beirut!), the agency I joined when I moved back to Dubai nearly 3 months ago.

It's been fab being back. I had no idea how much I missed the people and the lifestyle here. Of course paying off my debt is a little harder here than in Doha :-) but I am managing ok. I have a 'brand new pre-loved' Mini Cooper Sport and am about to move into one of my favourite places in Dubai - Fusion.

Nice!

I'll catch you up on the shitty things that have happened since being back another time.

Blogging again

I am blogging again. Mainly because I have been asked to blog for a friend's restaurant, opening soon, so have decided I will do both. Long may it last!

Stay tuned...

Happy St Paddy's Day!

I don't have anything to report, except an astonishing lack of progress on my residency, my shipping, and my friend coming over to visit. So I'm grumpy today. Thankfully it's St Paddy's Day so I am going to drink delicious beer, and then head home to bed.

Conservative party

Qatar is way more conservative than Dubai! Uncovered shoulders, while not illegal, is frowned upon, and the stares are unbelievable. The same goes for showing your knees! Even covered up relatively modestly, I get hooted at walking down the street. It's quite intimidating!

Bars are still pretty casual, and the expats still run around in next to nothing ;-)

I am getting a diplomatic visa, so I can travel throughout the GCC without a visa - what a bonus, although pretty sure they will end up regretting giving me diplomatic anything!

Hoping to be opening our Dubai office in 6 months, so I can go back! Missing everyone loads. Thank god for my mad housemates here ;-)

The work the work the work

Nothing here at DDB could be further from the mantra of Network BBDO where I used to work. The work the work the work. I have a tough job ahead of me. No-one here places any value in the work, except the management, which anywhere else would be enough, but not here!

Watch this space. I am banging my head against a wall gently already..