The Shifting Sands

The spires of the towers of the Kremlin Walls It was the Eid in the Middle East, which is the most important holy day in the Islamic calander.  This gave us an extra long weekend to get out and do something.  Unfortunately, accommodation was expensive locally and the temperature here still a little high for camping so we looked further afield. St Basils at sunset. Fortunately we able to secure some cheap flights to Moscow,  a city that Kate and I had long wanted to visit.  Moscow had been one of the world's most expensive cities but since the collapse in the value of the Rouble everything was suddenly more affordable. Affordability aside, there was still some bueauracy to get through.  The visa application was detailed and expensive and at times we reached a point of questioning our decision to go.  It was certainly not made easy.  Still, we persevered and, after much effort from Kate, we obtaine...

The Cap Nicola, a good friend and ski buddy of ours from Mumbai, was having her 50th birthday party at her house in Cap d' Antibes and we were invited.   Fortunately, fate intervened and I needed to be in Paris for work the following week which, combined with direct and cheap flights from Dubai to Nice, made the quick trip possible. Memories of our Christmas. The provincial market hall We spent a family Christmas in Antibes a few years ago and it is a wonderful location. This visit we were able to share the experience with Nicola's friends and family who had travelled from all over the world to attend.  They were an eclectic group and great fun. Still looking fresh on night one of the festivities. It was all downhill from here! It was similar to an Indian wedding with a series of events spread over the weekend. Drinks and tapas on Friday, party and sit down meal on Saturday and lunch at a restaurant o...

My morning paddle was not as exotic as the title sounds.  The "World" is a series of artificial islands created off the coast of Dubai, roughly in the shape of the World. Within the world there are groups of sand islands each shaped in such a way that they look like one of the continents. It seemed like a good destination for a morning training paddle. Dubai skyscrapers obscrured by the mist What had been interesting was the recent high levels of humidity which combined with no breeze which created a mist on the coast.  As a result, I headed out to the World on a compas bearing.  It is always pleasant paddling on a still morning without seeing land. I must admit, the World was a bit of a dissapointment.  There has been almost no construction on any of the islands so there is not much to see.  The islands are surrounded by a break water and as soon as I paddled into the entry of the breakwater I was intercepted by World Se...

Summer was great for catching up with friends and in addition to reuniting with several friends from Mumbai we also organised to spend time with Brett and Barbara.  Brett an old friend from Kate' s University days in Australia has been a long time Londoner.  Despite living in London, Brett remains a keen surfer and when Kate called him for advice on surf spots for the summer he suggested Hossegor. Ada and I "out the back" not that there were many waves to be out the back of! Great little house between the beach and the "high street". Between a BBQ and some cheap Bordeaux, what more can you ask for? Hossegor is just north of Biarritz on the Bay of Biscay.  It is famous for its beach breaks and the relatively warm water supplied by the Gulf Stream. Kate found a great little house between the main beach and town where we met Brett and Barbara after our drive from Paris. Feeding ...