Tupperware

Heather got into my cabinet today full of tupperware. I can't get over how fast she is growing. Look out world we are exploring at 13 months old.

School newsletter

Sydney is in the newsletter at BISAD. They had a concert on Valentine's day. Sydney is the third child on the left side of the photo right up front. I have to say we are proud of our little girl.

Penguins

Meet the Ski Dubai penguins!

Someone told me a few weeks ago that you’re statistically 10 per cent happier after coming into contact with a real life penguin. Whilst I can’t verify this fact, I can verify that after meeting the new additions to the Snow Park in Ski Dubai, I am a lot happier. More than 10 per cent in fact.

February sees the beginning of a new era for the six year old ski park. It’s now home to a colony of Gentoo and King Snow penguins. More commonly found at the South Pole, these 20 flip floppers were raised by humans at SeaWorld in the USA as part of a multi-generational breeding programme. Ski Dubai is the first place in the Middle East to partner in such an endeavour and provide a home to the iconic birds.

In a cave type setting at -3 degrees, visitors can experience the Peng-Friend encounter. Part of me was terrified these little cuties would be overawed by the snow facility and stuck in a pen at the side of a ski lift, so I was heartily relieved to see that, actually, the penguins are as happy to see us as we are to see them.

With 13 trainers who all have over 50 years’ worth of experience in looking after the birds (that’s nearly one for every penguin), visitors get to interact with the two types of penguins, playing with them, stroking them and yes taking the obligatory photos with them.

The King Snow penguins are the larger type of bird, coming up to around knee high, with broad white bellies and a mischievous look in their eye. Happy Feet might have tried to persuade us that penguins like to dance and sing, but they definitely like to play! The trainers use balls and bubbles to stimulate the birds who love nothing more than to chase things around and they love being stroked. Much like dolphins, they pick up on humans’ emotions and having been raised by humans they’re completely open to being petted. In fact they’re quite keen on a hug!

The smaller Gentoo penguins sit at about half the size of the King Snow birds but have just as much character – they’re also very keen to make new friends and seem completely in their element in amongst new people.

Visitors also have the chance to learn all about these wonderful animals as the trainers explain their environment and the challenges they face in the real world. Teaching guests about environmental awareness is a key objective for Ski Dubai.

“This programme is all about love, love for the environment, love for the penguins and we’re fortunate enough to be able to create this environment for the birds, show them to the public and show them how wonderful they are,” says Tom Shephard, Operations Director at Ski Dubai.

Six penguins at a time will be made available for encounters and seven times a day there will be a ‘March of the Penguins’ through the Snow Park so that Ski Dubai guests and Mall of the Emirates’ visitors can catch a glimpse of the waddling wonders for free. But rest assured, says Tom, the birds aren’t forced to do anything they don’t want to do.

“The birds’ home exceeds all international standards, so that we can offer the birds the most relaxing home. We want them to be happy, so they fall in love and start to lay eggs.”

Ski Dubai is hoping that in time these birds will give birth to the first generation of penguins born in Dubai. But for now, Mona Lisa, Jumeirah, Pebbles and the other penguins are quite happy to make some new friends, starting with you.

To book a Peng-Friend encounter, call (+971) 4 409 4090 or for more info go to www.skidubaipenguins.com