Thursday 18th..start of the weekend..and how quick has the week gone! Well, I suppose it was only a 4 day week because of Eid. Didn’t plan anything for Thursday night, just hit the pool and chilled. Friday I didn’t get up particularly early…but had to be up and ready for 12 as I had been invited to a brunch at Al Qasr hotel for a birthday celebration with some of the guys I work with. We were sat outside and had a really good view of the gulf, the burj and the construction site that is the palm and what’s more it was hot! Now, brunches……don’t be fooled by the name…..a cross between breakfast and lunch, these things are full on all you can eat any cuisine and all you can drink alcohol! Sitting out side…in the sun…..i need not explain what happens next….i samples Indian with sparkling wine and then Paella and one of my FAV drinks….SANGRIA! I think I ate other stuff before pudding but I cannot remember what!.....i was then introduced to the delights of the Mohito! (not sure if that how you spell it!?)…the brunch started at 12 and ended at 4pm. From there we moved to a bar upstairs as we got complimentary tickets…WHICH IS GREAT if you want to follow sparkling wine, mohitos and sangria with Heineken, Heineken or erm……Heineken! I think not!
So we headed to Barasti…half the crowd had already ventured to the outside bar, and we followed some ½ hr later. Finished the afternoon over a few gin and tonics and discussed schooling in Dubai….mainly for my cousin who is thinking of a relocation out here too!
It alarms me to have to admit that I cried off at about 7pm…if I didn’t stop then I was definately not going to make my inaugral session at Dragon Boating the next morning. Got back to the flat and got on the computer…trying so hard to act sober in my video conversations with both Steve and Anna consuming much water so I was top of the world for Saturday morn!
0700…..the alarm was sounding…..oh I feel a little ill….but I cant cry off I have been looking forward to this activity for a few weeks now! Grabbed my kit and headed to the marina…..walked behind barasti and had deja vous attack…..walked along the beach and met up with the group. All a friendly bunch and took the time to sit me and this other new lady down and explain the technique. Wow…I had no idea it was so technical! Helped get the boat in the water and then we jumped on…..for the first session we were known as virgins……hahahha VIRGINS, very amusing….and the usual banter ensued…we paddled out and I can tell you, that session was hard work! I had made a concerted effort in swimming to get fit but I used muscles that I didn’t realise I had. For those who haven’t done it (and I am by no means an expert) you use your thighs and core….and god did I feel it later!....following our session we now moved from virgin status to newbies! I headed back to the flat exhausted and I later found out that I looked like sh1t when I walked through the door…..hahaha I kinda felt like it too! I was aching! I was stiff by the evening, but that didn’t stop me nipping out with Chris to watch the RWC final round a mates house. I wish I hadn’t for not only was the result a bit pants but I felt so tired the next day! Oh well….
Sunday was back to work….I ached soooooo much! That’s all I can say!