Letter from Nardine!

Hi all,

Sorry for the group email but I am basically just a slackass communicator. In saying that, I am feeling quite homesick and missing you all dearly.

Life is good here..a little boring during the week, not a lot happening in Al Ain where I live. The attached photos are quite typical of how comical the people here really are. I am finding it quite interesting learning about the Muslim religion and then there's the elitist Emirate culture itself. Boy the Nationals have it good - they have all been given free property,a shitload of money, free electricity / water, great jobs and salaries...etc.
The ladies (maths teachers) I advise, are a good bunch whom I get along well with...but none of them have to work but choose to so they can have some sort of social life. Otherwise they are pretty much only allowed to socialise with their extended families...there are baby shops everywhere!!!

On weekends - I have been getting out of town most of the time - Dubai or Abu Dhabi where there is more happening and much more cosmopolitan. The night life is pretty good, Dubai especially has got the restaurant, club and bar scene down pat. I have made a few friends in and out of town..none of which however match up to friends from home.

Am dying to hear about Sal and Tyler's wedding and have been checking the weeklyfix daily but alas all I see is Bluey and his blow up friend - neither of which are particularly surprising. Tried contacting Sal and Tyler but no luck. Can someone please pass on their email addresses to me. I have lost a lot since I am no longer scabbing off work email from Clayfield.

I have agreed to stay on and teach at a Summer school program for the first couple of weeks in July, then will have 4 weeks off so am planning on heading to London to see the gang, then off to Africa for a trip through Botswana for 10 days followed by a week in Greece (does anyone have any tips on what not to miss in Greece) before starting back for the new school year. Then I will get another 2 weeks off during Ramadan in September - thank God! Can you imagine not being able to drink or eat anything in public during daylight hours for a whole bloody month?? I think I will have to start wearing an abaya and hiding drinks (intravenous tubes maybe) and snacks for the 2 weeks I am here for it.

Sorry to talk just about me... Would love to hear how the beautiful Mums to be are travelling (Shazzy and Burgs), news from the wedding, and any other news I should know about. Shagga - how are you liking Brissy? Kymbo and Pauly - have a great time in Sydney (Happy Birthday Callum), congrats on the promotion! Kym for some reason couldn't reply to your work email. Kyls - how goes the half - marathon training. Plenty of job opportunities over here for you and Katherine. Drew - are you still being a workaholic or have you returned to anti-establishment, scientific entrepeneurial behaviours?

Big hug and love to you all and all those whose email addresses I don't have. Please forward on to anyone who might be interested..Sorry it's not a little more entertaining and witty...am a bit out of practice and humour is pretty much lost and wasted here. (although plenty to giggle at)

Could someone please send me addresses for Sal, Tyler, Jo, Drew, Lyndal, Jonathan & Jarrod etc

Well I know you are all busy so won't take up any more of your time. Again - I miss you all very very much.
Nardine the Sardine xxx