We enjoyed seeing the Middle East. Dubai is known for it's " The world's MOSTS, FIRSTS and BIGGEST." When we stepped out of the airport we could not believe the heat! We were convinced we were standing under some hot engine of some sort but then soon realised this is just the cool evening temperature! We found that there were mainly Philipinos walking around and make up most of the workforce. Shopping Malls are a whole different story, men in polarized sunglasses clutching the latest mobile phone and in full length white jubbas (white long coat) and slender black figures in full lenth jilbabs (long black dress) seem to float effortlesly up and down the high gloss marble isles. These ladies spare no expense when it comes to shoes which peak out from underneath their jilbabs, ... read more

After three and a half weeks in sunny South Africa we returned back to cold rainy England to complete our final big push. It was exciting once again, we were moving home and starting new jobs! This time we headed for the lush green country side, where we stayed in a 2 bedroomed cottage on my new boss' estate. It was gorgeous, up on Box Hill with awesome views of rolling hills on their land and no neighbours! Well, maybe a few kms down the road, but I don't think we would be bumping into them soon.. Jason was still working at Harrods in London and travelling almost 3 hours a day on train and underground. My journey was slightly quicker, about a minute's walk to the main house that I would be looking after and ... read more

We weren't even married for a year when we headed off for this huge challenge so far away from home and loved ones. We really learnt to rely on each other and to work together,it wasn't always easy but we got through it stronger and with a whole bunch of fond memories and experiences. We headed off to our first live-in pub job at the Red Lion Pub, established way back in the late 18th century in a tiny litlle village called Betchworth which is in Surrey, South East of London. This was a whole new experience for us, living and working in one place.. There was a bus stop right outside the pub that we could take into the next town,Dorking, it had a bit more to offer than Betchworth's Post Office, Church and ... read more