OK, so its not 47 degrees yet - still 42. I'm told it will rise to 47 within a couple of weeks and the humidity level will be 95%. Too hot and clammy to do much.

We've started a family tradition - every Tuesday evening (that's like your Wednesday), we get takeaways and go down to the beach for a picnic. This has been great fun and we'll continue until the heat and humidity stop us. Maybe we'll just sit in the car on the beach then. Yes - you can drive your car right to the water's edge and dive off the bonnet into the ocean if you feel so inclined. We drive to the water but have thus far felt disinclined as far as the diving is concerned.

To make some extra cash, we've rented out our maids room - believe it or not to a young Afrikaans girl. She moved in last night and seems very quiet. In some ways, I feel kind of guilty because we're getting more for the maids room that we were paying on our bond in SA. However, it all comes into perspective when you consider that we are paying AED 180,000 per year (that's around R360,000) for rental.

I'm still looking at buying a National resonator guitar (like the one on the Dire Straights Brothers in Arms Album) - just trying to decide which model because there is a range.

Trivia department: Did you know that Brothers in Arms has been named the 2nd greatest rock album of all time? Do you know what the greatest is? Post your answers here (or email them to me) and the winner will receive a prize - namely an honourable but brief mention in dispatches. I.e. I'll mention you in my next post and you too will be famous.

A friend brought me a copy of last Friday's Star newspaper from JHB. By page 2 I had read 3 nasty crime reports - one about a lady who'd had her car hijacked in her driveway and who had jumped out and fled down the road. The hijackers drove after her and shot her. Even though we're not enjoying the Arab world, at least we're away from that sort of incident.

God has taught me something of late. My job is up in the air, accommodation is uncertain and much of life is currently insecure and temporary. I hate this type of situation and love stability, comfort and permanence. God has pointed out that He is the only permanence, the only stability, the only thing that can be depended upon. He is the rock to whom we can bind ourselves and who provides a firm foundation. For years, I've used the phrases 'fortress", "high tower" and "ever present help" while I'm worshipping Him and all of a sardine, it is real. Here in Dubai, God truly is the only person on which we can trust and rely.

Blessings to all and check back soon.

Hi world (or at least those 3 of you who actually read this.) Been somewhat busy (read lazy) so haven't posted for a while.

Its getting hotter in Dubai - averaging around a 42 C daytime high. And I'm told it will get hotter. Earlier this week a guy from Iceland melted and slid down a drain...just kidding - no one from Iceland would be foolish enough to live here!

Janene & the kids are well. Slowly but surely settling in, although this will never be our home. My knee is still stiff and sometimes uncomfortable with the odd twinge of actual pain but it is far better than it was. Thank you Lord.

I have an interesting job dilemma. The place I work sucks on many different levels but the deal is that they will employ me in the UK once I've been here 2 years. This was the reason I came because we feel called. Conditions at work are so bad that I've made a few casual enquiries, one of which has resulted in an offer. The money is about the same (slightly more) but the company is one of the biggest and well respected property developers and managers in the middle east. Conditions would be much better there but I would lose the possibility of moving to the UK with my present crowd. (My present company's UK head office is a well run organised entity and is nothing at all like the UAE bunch). So my dilemma is do I take the offer and be happier or "do my time" here and move on. Tough decision - please pray. If anyone has advice or a word, please post it here.

I'm looking at buying a National resonator guitar (like Knopfler plays). I wrote to him for advice on choice and his people wrote back within 2 hours. This blew me away. Looking at suppliers and prices at present. I may never play like MK but I may be able to look like I do!

Cheers for now and check back soon - it'll probably be 47 degrees by then!

Blessings to all

First of May

Hey! Today is our wedding annversary - 17 years and counting...happy anniversary to my wonderful wife Janene. I don't know what or where I'd be without you.

And talking about where, here's an update on life in Dubai. We still don't really like it very much - hot, dusty, expensive, greedy and bad driving! In addition, there's all sorts of stuff going on at work and we need some serious prayer. One of the issues is that rental is payable annually in advance here in Dubai. The company pays it and then recovers it from my salary over 12 months. There is talk that this will cease and that we'll have to find the annual rental ourselves, a completely impossible feat. I know that God is in control and need you ask you to pray that he makes a way for us.

Church is also not doing so well. The one we've been going to is far away, uncomfortable, temporary and long. The music is OK but neither Janene nor I have enjoyed the teaching - the impression we get is that there is not much preparation and plenty of repetition and there is so much time given to ceremony and announcements and worship and words and, and, and, so that an hour or more has elapsed before the message. I think the pastor is going through a difficult time at present due to issues concerning the venue and it is certainly having an effect. He is a really nice guy and he comes across as an ethical person but we're battling with the teaching and the service length. We tried the Baptist church over the last 2 weekends. Music was dismal but the message was good the first Friday. The second one wasn't so hot. I guess the old adage about there being no perfect church holds true - especially in Dubai. Some confusion over what to do but confident that God will sort it out. Things will probably be better once we finalise and move into a permanent venue which, it seems, is a tricky thing over here. We have a nice home cell with a good leader and this makes a difference. Boy do we miss HCF and the Hendrikse's home cell!

My knee is progressing well. The surgery was about 14 weeks ago and the pain is far less - more like discomfort now. I am out of the brace and able to walk up stairs right foot first again - a bit difficult but getting there. Coming down is another story...! God has undertaken and the healing process has begun. I am even able to ride my motorbike again (for short distances).

I no longer have to juggle the crutches at the urinal and they have been relegated to the storage area.

Its getting hotter here and we've had to start using the air con. Getting up to around 38 - 40 degrees during the day. Our kitchen, the hottest place in the house, seems to stick around 30 degrees - I cooked supper the other night and nearly cooked myself. I don't know how J manages.

J has been feeling exhausted and has also had blocked ears and some sort of infection - also needs prayer.

I gave her some gift vouchers for our anniversary, so she's either going clothes shopping, skiing, or a combination of both. She really enjoys the skiing.

And talking of which, it was Casey's birthday last week and she went snowboarding. She seemed to have a great time and J went too. I'm told that snowboarding is more difficult than skiing. Anything beyond tiddlywinks looks difficult to me at the moment.

We're sending the kids back to SA during the holidays. They'll be there from 6th July to 15th August - staying with the grannies in JHB and my sister in Durbs. It would be great if they could spend some time with their school friends in Hillcrest and we'll try to arrange.

And that's about all I can think of for now, so I guess its time to log off. I wonder if logging off one's blog could be called blogging off?

Cheers

Stu