The Green Build conference started on November 7th. Bill Clinton gave the opening address at the Greenbuild conference today. it was quite interesting although he didn't really say anything new and exciting. For some reason the Americas are rather fixated on Carbon. Everything they talk about is to do with carbon emissions and global warming. For a country that didn't sign Kyoto that are rather interested in it now. Actually to the detriment of other matters, which is more than a little scary. In true American form they have fixated only on one part of the problem and are ignoring everything [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well, the long anticipated trip to Chicago has happened. Chelle was most excited as the first part of the trip involved a long trip in business class on a lovely Emirates plane. Business class was super on the plane. They have the full lie-down beds. And as much champange as you can handle. However I must say that the food was rather average. I took full advantage of the movie selection watching Pirates of the Carribbean 3 (really good), Shrek 3 (OK), High Society (old movie with Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby), and The Princess Diaries (old but ok). The [View Full Entry]

---

---

IT RAINED TODAY!!! That's right. IT RAINED. Chelle was going out to the doctors and so she put the roof down on the car and drove out of the carpark building, only to look up in great puzzlement when she felt something tapping her on the head. The taps turned out to be rain drops. Which greatly confused her for a little while. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Chelle has just returned from having the most distinct pleasure of a trip to the CRAZY capital of Egypt, Cairo. The place is just nuts. She had to go there for work to attend a kick off workshop for a project that Bovis Lend Lease are running on the coast of the red sea. Cairo is just a crazy place. Chelle certainly didn't remember it being quite that crazy the last time that she was there. The traffic was just soo insane. There was one car that had obviously tried to get through an intersection but hadn't made it in time [View Full Entry]

---

---

Chelle's usual partner in crime Jessie (Leanne was in NZ for work) and herself decided to pay a visit to the Willow Stream Spa at the Fairmont Hotel to check out one of their spa treatments. The boys were off on a desert driving course (which apparently went very well- there may even be some photos somewhere) so the girls decided to treat themselves. The spa was very lovely, although not quite as lovely as the Burj Al Arab - however I don't suppose that it really could be. The fairmont is only 5 stars compared to the Burj's 7 stars. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Chelle had the pleasure of attending citiscape this year. Citiscape is a massive exhibition/sales show were property developers, consultants you name it come from all over the world to exhibit and sell their products. The displays are just amazing. Some of the large developers have the most massive displays that you have ever seen. Some of them offer full buffets free of charge to anyone who is wandering past. Almost every stall has huge models of what they will be building. There are developers from all over the region who attend, showcasing their developments. Particular favourites of Chelle's were The Lagoons [View Full Entry]

---

---

Well we have just returned from a stay at the Danat Resort at Jebel Dhanna for Eid.Our arrival was not the most auspicious as we were overlooked by the check in staff initially and were not served a welcome beverage as other guests were that we observed. And then further on into our stay we had the misfortune of a couple of bad encounters with other staff members. Chelle had booked herself in for a spa treatment and when she presented myself at the spa at the appointed time she was informed that the room that they would be using for [View Full Entry]

---

---

No we didn't go up there :( But Jeremy got these photos emailed through and so here they are so all can see [View Full Entry]

---

---

For those of you who are not already aware it is Ramadan at the moment. This means that all the muslims in the country are fasting ( not eating or drinking from sunrise to sunset) and that it is illegal to eat and drink in public for everyone (and that does mean everyone). However at sunset the muslims break their fast with something called Ifthar and we had the pleasure on Saturday night of attending an ifthar buffet at Bab Al Shams. It was truely wonderful. We had noticed the fantastic pools the last time that we went out to Bab [View Full Entry]

---

---

On Thursday night Chelle and J joined up with their usual partners in crime to visit a Spanish Tapas bar at Wadi city. The weather has finally cooled down enough that it is pleasant to sit outside with the mercury only reaching a balmy 36 degrees. ( who would have ever thought in a million years that we would consider 36 degrees balmy and actually verging on cool). Anyway this tapas bar was situated at the Wafi City complex as part of the Pyramids area. So Jeremy can now say that he has seen the pyramids :) We enjoyed a beautiful [View Full Entry]

---

---