A Zeina Halloween

All the years we lived in Haya compound we never had anyone come trick or treat for Halloween. The first few years I was always prepared and had bought bags and bags of candy, but in the end I didn't even do that; as our kids lost the interest too to dress up.

Here in Al Zeina Halloween is a much bigger thing. Some neighbours are really taking their decorations seriously around the place, gotta love the dedication!

There was a Halloween celebration organised down at the beach one afternoon on the weekend (as Halloween is on a school night), and after that all the kids in the compound went trick or treating building by building.
We still didn't get anyone on our door this year, but this time it was completely intentional. The rule is only knock if there are Halloween decorations outside, and I had purposely taken down my fall wreath (just in case it was misinterpreted) as we didn't feel like getting inundated... there are just too many kids around here! Instead, we sat on the balcony watching all the scary outfits on the sugar high swarms of kids roam the neighbourhood. Also fun!

Winter weather

We are well and truly in winter season now, finally. This means that the weather is so beautiful, and only getting better day by day. We have nice cool evenings, comfortable days, and even rain showers every now and then.
Every year you start breathing easier this year, and even though we've been here almost 10 years, I know we are now in the period where I will be stating every day: "I just love this weather!".

Even days like today, when school got closed - due to the rain..!

Ha ha, well, that's what happens when a country is not built for any other type of weather than eternal sunshine!

Pink Afternoon Tea

This week it was time for something I participated in last year as well, together with the Swedish Ladies UAE group, a Pink Afternoon Tea. Twice in a row, it's almost a tradition, right?

10 lovely ladies trooped up all in pink, to support Pinktober with a pink feast of tea, coffee, scones, small snacks and desserts. Om nom nom!

The BEST weekend

We have had a really great weekend. It was so nice to get to celebrate Linnea all together, as a family. I think it meant a lot to her to have her big brother here for her special day.

I am so grateful for these direct flights to Copenhagen, what a game changer they are!
We found out that unfortunately they will only be seasonal, but better than nothing I guess. We keep hoping the loads will keep being good to convince Etihad to keep the flights going all year around.

This school year we are catching up with Lucas quite a lot. Nathan was up for beginning September, I was there in beginning October; now Lucas came home and next month Nathan is going up again before Lucas comes home for a few weeks over Christmas. Love it!

Birthday Brunch

The birthday celebrations continued the whole weekend. On Sunday morning Linnea had invited 11 friends for a Birthday Brunch.

It was a little bit of a pot luck, as they all brought something to add to the brunch table.

They enjoyed freshly made pancakes, yoghurt and granola, bagels, home made chocolate chip cookies and cinnamon buns, croissants, fruits and berries.

Even though the brunch table was full of sugar, we still had cake of course. A lovely red velvet cake was requested by the birthday girl.

Happy 18th Birthday Linnea!

Michelin dinner

On Linnea's birthday evening, we wanted to go out for a celebratory dinner. The kids scrubbed up well!

Linnea had some trouble deciding where to go, or even what kind of food she felt like; so in the end we went with a trusty old favourite of all of us - sushi. Buuut we didn't just go to any old sushi place, we went to a Michelin-star restaurant - the 99 Sushi Bar in the city.

Our pretty pretty birthday girl!

While Linnea and the others just wanted to order up their favourites (but in Michelin-style!); Lucas and I were a bit adventurous and decided to go for the Aki Tasting Menu. We got to enjoy all sorts of amazing food, first up Hosomaki (Chu-Toro with leek) and Kobe Edamame, with truffle and Shichimi Togarashi.

Tuna Tataki with a passion fruit and soy reduction:

Oysters tempura, with Kaluga caviar - these were ah-mazing!

Birthday girl was enjoying the mocktails!

Will was there too! Another piece of "family" here in the sandpit, great to have him with us.

Next up Lucas and I got Wagyu Tartar over Bone Marrow. I think this was Lucas' favourite.

I missed to photograph the Capumiso soup and the Sea Urchin Tempura, but next up was Toro Gunkan, Foie & Maguro Zuke and Smoked Spanish Eel:

After that it was time for Robata Chicken:

In total we had 12 small courses, which all were absolutely fantastic, what an experience!

Time for dessert, a bit of chocolate fondant - and our birthday girl got a special version!

Happy happy happy 18th dear Linnea! ❤️

Our baby is 18!

We have had such an amazing weekend - a very special birthday weekend! Our baby is now 18! How is this possible??
It wasn't that long ago she turned 1, look how cute she was then!

Now, she is an adult, but - she is still so cute! Love her to bits!

She was so lucky as to have her birthday on a Saturday, and even more lucky that her big brother was able to come down to Abu Dhabi and celebrate with her.

So all was as it should be, she got woken up with singing, balloons and birthday presents from the whole family! She got a set of novels about dogs (in Swedish), an overnight curls-set, a 2024 planner, some Groot Lego, a Lush bath bomb and an embossing tool for her book collection.

She got very, very spoiled - so many gifts! Mormor had sent their presents along in the summer. Just like Lucas, Linnea received a pair traditional Skara candlestick holders. But also some cash and a pair of classic gold hoops. Auntie Nikki had also sent some cash (and all that quickly got spent later in the day).

Lucas had bought the signature tea from Tehuset Java in Lund, a skin product and some eyelash serum. He did well. Her big gift from us was a record player, and a few records to start her collection.

Birthday on a weekend is great, you can really enjoy a long breakfast - with pancakes of course, from Nathan's new machine! Mmm!

We went to Yas Mall very quickly as Lucas had some shopping to do, and Linnea's birthday money was burning in her pocket already, ha ha! Then we spent most of the rest of the day by the pool back home in the compound, best family time!

In the evening we went out for a very special birthday dinner, but that deserves its own post!

She's back

Busy times at work! We have barely opened the last international exhibition, and it's already time to start research on the next one! So many new things to learn!
This time, it's all about glitter and glam, 'Cartier, Islamic Inspiration and Modern Design'. Exciting!

But it's been happy days since the beginning of the month, as my "work wife" finally came back from her prolonged summer holiday in Belgium. This year she spent 10 weeks away, settling her daughter in at university in Amsterdam.
But now, all is well - she's back, and the Dream Team is complete!

A weekend in Skåne

A week after the first Etihad flight to Copenhagen took off, I tried it out! What a great feeling to finally have a direct flight to Scandinavia!

It left at 02.30 am, so I went straight to sleep and got a fair few hours, before it was time for breakfast.
Arriving into Copenhagen was super smooth in the early morning. My luggage was actually already on the belt when I came into the arrival hall, the train to get across the bridge came on time, and I just made the bus to Bunkeflostrand. Less than an hour after block, I sat in my friend Pia's kitchen and had coffee!

The first day was spent at Emporia, and a bit in Pia's sofa relaxing and recharging for the evening.

Lucas and Tove came down from Lund and we all went to Pinchos for dinner in the evening.

I stayed with Pia, as there wasn't really any room for me at Lucas' place, but on the Saturday I took the train up to Lund to meet up with him.
It's been 25 years since I lived here, and I didn't recognise many places anymore. The university and the cathedral was still there of course, lucky!

I also passed by Tehuset Java to pick up some nice tea, it has been here since 1932!

We had lunch at a creperie:

And then it was time to go see the apartment, which is situated right next to the Botanical Gardens.

On the Sunday Lucas and I met up in Malmö. It was beautiful sunny autumn weather and we strolled around, and had fish & chips by the canal.

After having dinner at Pia's together, and Lucas going back to Lund; I finished the weekend by taste-testing a bit of Christmas 2023. The annual Blossa Glögg, this time with flavours of rasperries and hops.

And on the way home, of course some bubbly to celebrate these new direct flights! How easy it will be now to pop up for a few days every now and then!