Peter, we were thinking of you when we joined the Abu Dhabi Golf Club – Country Club members only, we are not actually contemplating taking to the greens at AED390 a round. The picture above is the club house as seen from the course. All we are really after is access to the gym, squash courts and swimming pool as well as great restaurants, bars and social areas.

The main entrance complete with the compulsory fountain. All water is desalinated but there does not seem to be a shortage.

Not the car park but the golf buggies. The actual car park looks more like a showroom for very expensive suv’s interspersed with the odd sports car.

Outdoor and indoor dining. Have not actually seen anybody sitting outside yet. Even with those fans it would be far too hot. We keep getting told that by October it will be perfect.

We had an Iftar Buffet here last week. Iftar is the meal after the days fasting and is only served after the sun goes down.

The gym has every conceivable instrument of torture that you could possible want. We have booked a session with the trainer on Monday but until then we’re just trying out all the gadgets. Since there is no chance of walking outside at the moment this is our only way to stay (read ‘get’) fit.

After a gym session (or maybe instead of) there is a sauna and steam room. The steam room didn’t seem a whole lot different to walking outside! Then a plunge pool and jacuzzi.

We refer to these as the changing sheds. This is the mens. Body wash, shampoo and conditioner in the showers and next to the wash basin shaving foam, razors, comb, hair gel, after shave balm, moisturiser, deodorant and mouth wash. The ladies, of course, is much better equipped.

Meanwhile back in the real world …

We have hired a car for a month while we find one to buy. There are lots advertised second hand but we needed a car to be able to get around and see them. Went to look at a 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee that was very nice but the guy wouldn’t budge on the price, AED43,000, so we left it. We definitely want a 4 wheel drive. We feel very vulnerable in a little car. Sue drove for the first time yesterday. She was in the outside lane with nowhere to move when some huge Hummer like object screamed past on the hard shoulder. Standard driving practice here.

On the domestic front, this is our water supply. It is delivered to the door for AED7. At the moment it sits here on the kitchen bench. We will probably find something to stand it on  in the hallway but need to wait until we know how much space we have once our furniture arrives. The ship is supposed to arrive in port today (one week late) but we have not had an update from the shipping company, so who knows.