Party

We went to a party last night. A co-worker was celebrating their Tenth Wedding Anniversary. We had a great time. There were a few co-workers there and children and some friends of the couple that invited us to there party. Ten years seems like a long time, but I guess it really is not that far off because we will celebrate our Tenth Wedding Anniversary in 3 more years. The food was good and they also had dancing. I danced with Sydney and we took some photos and we even have one with Sydney dancing on Paul's feet, to cute. I want to keep this one forever so when she gets married we can use it on a slide show, well that is if she gets married. I told Paul that it is so cute, because you will not be able to do that for very long because she will weight to much. It was a priceless photo of Daddy and his little girl.

foot update

I went to the doctor on Tuesday this week and my foot is healed and the small crack is gone. I am so happy that it was able to heal itself with rest. It is amazing how our body does things like this. I don't think I am ready to run a race yet, but my foot is feeling better and better everyday. Thank you Lord for healing me. :)

Cinderella

Cinderella and the Crystal Shoe

On 10 February and until 20 February 2010 Cinderella Exclusively in the United Arab Emirates, Middle East & Gulf Region and for the first time on the stage of the National Theatre in Abu Dhabi, Sky Conferences & Exhibitions Est. will present the biggest comic theatrical show for the famous legend of Cinderella..

Al Ain - 21st January 2010

Al Ain Aerobatic Show To Host Miss Demeanour Mid East Debut

Miss Demeanour, a vintage Hawker Hunter aircraft with eye-catching livery, looks set to be the ‘belle of the ball’ as she makes her Middle Eastern debut at this month’s Al Ain Aerobatic Show.

Al Ain - 20th January 2010

Royal Bahrain Air Force To Make International Debut At Al Ain Aerobatic Show

The Royal Bahrain Air Force (RBAF) is to make its international debut at this month’s Al Ain Aerobatic Show. Two RBAF F16 aircraft will perform daily at the four day spectacular, running at Al Ain International Airport in the United Arab Emirates from January 27-30, thrilling crowds with close formation fly pasts at both maximum and minimum speeds.

Al Ain - 19th January 2010

Al Ain to Host Mid East's First Musical Aerobatics Competition

The UAE's historic Oasis City of Al Ain will host another Middle East first this month, as the Aero GP - a highlight of the Al Ain Aerobatic Show, which takes place 27th - 30th January - introduces musically scored aerobatics to its three-part competition.

Al Ain - 16th January 2010

Saudi Hawks To Head To UAE's 'Oasis City' With New Manoeuvres Display

The Royal Saudi Air Force Aerobatic Team - better known as the Saudi Hawks - will perform a new, tight-formation flying routine when they take to the skies later this month over Abu Dhabi's 'Oasis City' of Al Ain.

Al Ain - 11th January 2010

World first parachute manoeuvre to be attempted at Al Ain Aerobatic Show

Spectators attending this month's Al Ain Aerobatic Show, in the UAE's 'Oasis City' from January 27th- 30th, will witness an attempt on a world-first manoeuvre.

Fossil Discovery in Abu Dhabi

While reading the newspaper online I found this interesting article on fossils found in Abu Dhabi. This shows you that you never know what you will find in the desert. It is hard to believe anything could live out here 6 to 8 million years ago a time when it was all desert and no high rises. This is truly incredible.

Important new fossils found in Abu Dhabi

(WAM)

23 January 2010

ABU DHABI - The Abu Dhabi Authority for Culture and Heritage (ADACH) announced the discovery of new fossils in the Al Gharbia (Western Region), following recent archaeological expeditions in the area.

The fossils included two complete large skulls belonging to crocodiles that had inhabited the river area some eight million years ago.

The findings came about due to technical cooperation between the Department of Historic Environment at ADACH and the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University in the United States of America.

Mohammed Khalaf Al Mazroui, Director General of ADACH, explained that these excavations took up about three weeks of field work (from December 28, 2009 to January 16, 2010) and included a working group composed of nine members from the Department of Historic Environment, led by Dr Mark Beech.

These excavations took place in addition to the work of a team of fossil specialists that consisted of Dr. Faysal Bibi from the University of Poitiers in France, Professor Andrew Hill of Yale University, and Dr. Matthew Schuster from University of Poitiers.

The team sought to gain a greater understanding of this ancient environment, where evidence of fossil white ants has been discovered for the first time.

Mazroui noted that the team is also working on a project which aims to prepare a comprehensive map of fossils in Abu Dhabi. The majority of these sites are found along Al Gharbia.

It is a matter of great importance that the necessary protection is provided in order to preserve these geological layers deposited from the late Miocene era. They represent the only examples of these layers which have kept their original form in the whole of the Arabian Peninsula territory.

Meanwhile, Mohammed Amer Al Neyadi, Director of the Department of Historic Environment at ADACH, said that vigorous efforts are underway to protect and preserve these sites and to safeguard the fossils from various threats thanks to the combined efforts of the Al Gharbia Municipality and the Urban Planning Council.

Neyadi explained that the discovery of these fossils is very important at local, regional and global levels because they are the only examples of their kind in the region. He added that the erection of protective fencing around the sites has been completed, all as part of ADACH’s strategy to preserve important archaeological areas in Abu Dhabi.

Also participating in these works was Dr. Olga Otero from the University of Poitiers, who inspected fish fossils, and found, within a very short period of time, types of fossil that were not previously known to science.

Also on the team is Professor Brian Gratz, from the Western University School of Health Sciences in the United States of America. He continued his research examining the fossils of small rodents and discovered more interesting examples of the species of mice that carried the name of the same area: Abudhabia baynunensis.

It should be noted that more sites were discovered, all belonging to a period between six to eight million years ago, containing high-quality fossils from the many types of animal that lived at that time, including elephants, hippopotamuses, antelopes, giraffes, monkeys, rodents, large and small carnivores, ostriches, turtles, crocodiles and fish.

Although there is evidence that the desert conditions that existed then are similar to now, these creatures were sustained with life by a great river, as well as the thriving vegetation found in large trees.

These animals are similar to those known in East Africa during the same period of time, corresponding to some European and Asian species of that same era.

Expatriate Workers

Here is an interesting article on how the expatriates make up a large percentage of works in the UAE.

UAE the popular destination for expatriate workers

Staff Report

23 January 2010

DUBAI — The UAE is expected to maintain its position as a popular destination among expatriate workers from all over the world this year, an online recruitment portal finds. The employment prospects in the country have increased by up to 8.3 per cent annually, according to Careertunity.com, which maintains a huge database of various job candidates, that is increasing every day. The trend is reflected in the surge in the number of job applications from expatriates at the portal. “Expatriates account for over 90 per cent of the entire working population of the UAE. This key statistic provides a clear picture of what really drives the country’s job market. Several junior, mid-level and senior-level professionals from different countries continue to actively search for gainful employment opportunities in the UAE and this has in turn helped several business organisations in the country to maintain a highly competent pool of manpower resources,” Sudeshna Mukherjee, General Manager, Careertunity.com, said. The portal further revealed that the unique situation of the UAE job market, which has been dominated by expatriate workers, has prevented it from being adversely affected by the global economic downturn, ensuring a steady supply of experienced professionals and international executives from the US, Europe, South Africa, Africa, Asia and the rest of the Middle East. Furthermore, proactive services and support facilities have helped maintain strong international interest in the UAE job market, as Careertunity.com pointed out that it has received an overwhelming response to its innovative products and solutions that provide both employers and job seekers an extremely convenient, efficient and cost-efficient platform for recruitment. Careertunity.com pointed out that 91.5 per cent of the working population of the UAE is made up of expatriates, a trend that is echoed in several countries across the GCC. The high concentration of foreign workers has been a key factor that has made the Gulf region one of the most dynamic and active job markets in the world. · abdulbasit@khaleejtimes.com

SAD

-Volunteering-

Changing the lives of dogs one day at a time. I am volunteering with the SAD organization that is here in Abu Dhabi. SAD is a non profit organization that helps rehome stray and abandoned dogs. I have been volunteering the SAD phone, walking the dogs and fundrising. I am really enjoying making SAD dogs happy. (Strays of Abu Dhabi)

I started volunteering for this organization this past summer and knowing you can make a difference in an animals life has given me more appreciation for our animals.

You can check out our dogs at www.straysofabudhabi.com