Finsh line is in Site

I have not had time to check but it would be interesting to compare how I have managed this year on my post per day for November with previous years. It feels like I have managed more posts although I have still not achieved a post per day but I will check when things are less hectic (busy writing business plans amongst other things) and am lacking in sleep.

More Cricket

Dad and I went to the 20/20 - England -v- Pakistan on Thursday last week and were entertained once again to an excellent match which England won by 14 runs - mainly due to an enterprising half century from Sam Billings which tipped the balance in England's favour after an early collapse. Apparently this was the second fastest 50 ever by and Englishman so sits compares favourable with Jos Butler's 100 in the ODI we saw last week. The atmosphere in Dubai Sports City Cricket Stadium can only be described as "raucous" as the c. 20,000 crowd (predominantly supporting Pakistan) raised the roof whenever a 4 or 6 was scored.

We have now worked out that by getting the driver to drop us by the Stadium and pick us from the same place we cut down the hassle factor of getting to and from the stadium by around 90%.

While we were enjoying our "staycation" at JBH we were also able to watch the subsequent match on Friday (again in Dubai) which was a lot closer with England winning by 3 runs. If anything the Stadium looked fuller than the previous evening so I would imagine the atmosphere was electric.

Variable reception

I did intend to post over the weekend but when I got a spare moment to myself I was unable to get sufficient wi-fi reception to do anything from my Ipad - my bedroom seems to be the only area in the house where the signal is so weak that anything other than the most basic internet activities is a time-consuming affair - even reading the paper is hard work with pages only partially downloading or not down-loading at all so trying to compose and then post something is an extremely thankless tasks.

I have on occasion tried to remedy the situation by extending the wifi coverage from our PC in the lounge but whilst every other room in the house seems to be fine (even when there are multiple users), the strength in the Master bedroom states resolutely on 1 or no bars. If anyone has suggestions (I have tried range extending dvices etc.) then please feel free to use the comment box.

Cricket, Lovely Cricket

We are off to see the England -v- Pakistan 20/20 tonight after the excitement of last weeks ODI. This marks the mid-point in Dad's sporting odyssey to Dubai this year. We saw the Golf last weekend (Rory getting out of jail on the 17th made for compelling viewing although we did not go on the Sunday) and we have the Rugby 7s to look forward to next week. Let's hope Mr Buttler has his run getting hat on again today!

Damp in Dubai

I know I have managed to miss a couple of days posting - absolutely horrendously busy at work so simply have not had time to come up with anything even short to post. Today is no exception so I will simply report on the downpour that we had here yesterday that turned what was already a fairly difficult transport situation into virtual gridlock around the Trade Centre Roundabout. Monday and Tuesday I seemed to have spent most of the day stuck in traffic jams as I went from meeting to meeting and yesterday I had a 4pm meeting scheduled for the airport. Fortunately it was cancelled as I am sure that I would still be waiting in the traffic to get home as the rain hit at around lunchtime.

It has been very grey again today. We are due to be going to JBH on Friday and Saturday so fingers crossed that the rain departs.

You've been framed

From my office window I have views over towards the Trade Centre Roundabout and Zabeel Park where one of the more interesting architectural developments has been taking shape. This is the "Frame" which as far as I can make out is a square shaped structure comprising two narrow towers joined at the top by what looks like a high-level bridge. Apparently the idea is that if you are looking from old Dubai towards the Sheikh Zayad Road and "new" Dubai you will have the gleaming skyscrapers and the Burg Khalifa presented in a picture postcard frame and likewise if you are looking from the "new" Dubai side you will see Bur Dubai and its environs similarly pictured. I also understand that the bridge will have a glass floor so when you are walking from one tower tot he other you will be able to see the ground beneath your feet- sounds terrifying!.

Dubai has always been a place for the new - but generally it goes for bigger (towers, malls, ferris wheels, roads etc.). The Frame is however something I have never rally come across before and so it will be interesting to see whether this bit of Dubai innovation will catch on in other cities.

Butler Service

I have missed a couple of days mainly due to being very busy - no excuse but still a little unfortunate given how well I was doing.

The sporting extravaganza that characterises my Fathers visits to UAE is in full swing golf today and the last England v Pakistan ODI was yesterday. Sports City is a great cricket venue as the atmosphere is electric even if less than a third full. There was plenty of singing and chanting yesterday as first Roy and then Jos Buttler scored excellent centuries as England beat Pakistan to clinch the one day series. Butler's innings was a joy - 120 in around 56 balls and the fastest test hundred by an Englishmen - he was cracking the ball to all parts and while Pakistan managed to keep up with the 7 an over run rate they kept losing wickets at key times and the victory was well deserved.