Dubai - kitchy kitchy

After landing in Dubai we had the awful news of a 5 hour flight delay - we decided to leave the airport and take the opportunity of looking around Dubai. It is surprisingly gross and nothing like the pictures. A lot of the buildings look quite isolated, there are no people around, building is going on everywhere, it is too hot. I have made a list of the most kitch things I could find,bearing in mind we only had 2 hours.

At 4th place, the soon to be tallest building in the world which looks like something long demolished in the UK. Maybe it will look better when it is finished.

This forty foot hand holding a mobile phone - some people love it - perhaps its a work of art

This snow storm is fairly kitch but I quite like it really.

These painting were in a fake medina built to look like an old souk. They are paintings of sheik Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum - the ruler of Dubai and the man behind all the construction work going on. Perhaps he is doing a good job, who knows. These paintings are quite funny though, cant imaging who would buy them or who would have painted them. I think they are a winner.

Here is the proof we have been in Dubai

We were surprised to see these 2 gents in Dubai airport, however it is a man looking after his very elderly father - ahhh!!

Gordon Seward the artist

Gordon Seward is an amazing artist and what is more went to school in the New Forest at the former Edinburgh House school.

The Kite Runner (Trailer)

Here is the trailer for the Kite runner

A thousand splendid suns

I have just finished this wonderful book about Afghanistan which I would recommend anyone reads. The author Khaled Housseni is now goodwill ambassador for Afghanistan in the UN

Khaled Hosseini should not just be a special envoy for the UNHCR but a world spokesperson on the plight of women who are abused and ill treated in their homes. Khaled writes with humility and empathy, fiction that is totally believable, tragic and yet proving there can be hope and redemption. The 2 women Mariam and Laila are the heroines of this story, always dignified despite the horrors of both of their situations - married at 14 or 15 to a middle aged bully in a country going through war, starvation and then controlled by the evil minded Taliban. Khaled even manages to give Rasheed - the dreaded husband a personality that has one or 2 redeeming qualities in that he does so love his son. I wouldn't wish to spoil the story for anyone but urge everyone to read this book for a view on Afghanistan and the reasons why these wicked oppressors should not be allowed to gain a foothold there again. Be prepared to ball your eyes out before the end.

I found the poem by Saib-e-tabrizi from which the title of the book comes:

Kabul Ah! How beautiful is Kabul encircled by her arid mountains

And Rose, of the trails of thorns she envies

Her gusts of powdered soil, slightly sting my eyes

But I love her, for knowing and loving are born of this same dust

My song exhalts her dazzling tulips

And at the beauty of her trees,

I blush

How sparkling the water flows from Pul-I Bastaan!

May Allah protect such beauty from the evil eye of man!

Khizr chose the path to Kabul in order to reach Paradise

For her mountains brought him close to the delights of heaven

From the fort with sprawling walls, A Dragon of protection

Each stone is there more precious than the treasure of Shayagan

Every street of Kabul is enthralling to the eye

Through the bazaars, caravans of Egypt pass

One could not count the moons that shimmer on her roofs

And the thousand splendid suns that hide behind her walls

Her laughter of mornings has the gaiety of flowers

Her nights of darkness, the reflections of lustrous hair

Her melodious nightingales, with passion sing their songs

Ardent tunes, as leaves enflamed, cascading from their throats

And I, I sing in the gardens of Jahanara, of Sharbara

And even the trumpets of heaven envy their green pastures

Valencia furniture exhibition

Some conceptual furniture designs

This carpet looks quite interesting

The Marilyn Monroe house was a big feature at the trade fair in Valencia. This one was taken just inside the house.

We had fun taking some photos around Valencia. This one was opposite the hotel and the one on the right was a shop window in the town.

Mean and moody

Same roundabout same day.

Valencia roundabout

We were staying at the Eurostars Gran Valencia and this monument is on the Roundabout opposite. Not quie sure what it represents but it seems to be made of lots of ceramic rings. I love the colour. I really wanted to climb up it but it is full of water with a sort of pool at the top.

David Miliband and blogging

I met David Miliband at the Marsham Court

I understand he is also into blogging and is even meeting Angelina Jolie next week

See his blog at David Miliband Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural ...

The feminine feminist

A recent survey has shown that in the UK girls under 25 are now earning more than boys of the same age. In medical schools the proportion of girls are now higher than men. Girls are generally more successful in education aside from maths and it seems that even in countries where women are considered to be repressed the girls will still take advantage of every opportunity and outshine the men. In Iran for example the majority of engineers are now ladies.We are seeing a possible lady president in the running for the US. Germany has a female president who appears to be doing a competent job. Liberia has at long last got a stable government and hey guess what? It is run by a woman.I do not think that it is that likely that these young people are going to shift position and the probability is a future where women are in more positions of authority. At long last effective contraception has ensured that women do not have to look forward to a life of drudgery and now have the courage to strike out on their own without the yoke of traditional values to carry.But oh dear what is going to happen to those middle aged menfolk we see frequenting the bars and restaurants for their boozy 'business' lunches and the same people who indulge in the old golf course challenge in the middle of the working week. I believe a lot of golf courses will go out of business alongside the traditional lunchtime boozer. Why is it only men that 'have to 'conduct their business dealings in this manner? Can anyone imagine the women of the future carrying on like that ?- oh no of course not they are too busy working and overtaking these tired old soaks. A woman knows that her client is too busy for such nonsense and although she may well visit her customer she ties all the business up in no time leaving everyone free to get home and have a proper meal with their family, suits everyone all round.What I find amusing about the old business bender is that:1. Business is never discussed - that would be rude wouldn't it

2. It's the same old friendly clients that are taken out to eat - so no new business development there

3. The game of golf is just as bad after all what would you do if your client cannot play - drop him?

4. How on earth can women join in on all of this without seeming like a complete tart and upsetting her boyfriend/husband by coming home smelling of drink after having lunch with some old guy she knows and has to butter up?No no no it just won't work.

The business lunch and round of golf will soon go the way of Top hats and tails for the office. Business will become hyper efficient and all concerned will have time for the important things in life - making money, our loved ones and enjoying ourselves with the people we really want to be with.

Suzanne Moore Sunday Mail reporter

Lauren Booth and Suzanne Moore and a man in the middle who we understand spins for Gordon Brown. All were a good laugh.

Champagne socialists at the Labour conference 2007

This is my friend Rob who is a bit of a hard line labour supporter and we are at the New Statesman reception at the Royal Bath

Alliance Leicester at the Labour Party Conference

Peter Brownbill and his colleague of Alliance and Leicester were very upbeat about the bank's performance.

Labour Party conference Bournemouth 2007

We attended a reception held by the New Statesman at the Royal Bath. Here is John Snow having a good time.

Michael Palin New Europe

I was passing the bookshop in Picadilly and managed to get Michaels Palins new book signed by him. He was as ever very genial and the book looks very interesting. Having been to several of the places he writes about I was very pleased to read about them in the book.

Wicked at the Apollo theatre Victoria

I saw Wicked at the Apollo Victoria yesterday. I am sure there were loads of regulars in the theatre as the whistling and cheering was quite unusual. The scenes are spectaclular and particularly like the arrival at the Emerald City with costumes worthy of a Cecil Beaton Tableaux. Some of the special effects are amazing and the show moves on with a fast pace. I was pleased with the tickets as they were only £15.00 for the matinee and we were moved to the front of the circle. Also went by megatrain for just £24.00 return which makes it a very economical day out on a weekday.

Proms in the Park

I thought I captured a pretty good picture of Leslie Garret especially as I was so far away

Leslie Garret, Will Young and Terry Wogan. A really great event.

Juan Garcia and Carl Davis conducting

We also saw this rather mysterious figure in the crowd. Looks a bit like this guy pictured on the right.

Royal Festival Hall world press photo competition

We visited The Royal Festival Hall and saw the winners of the world press photo competition. There were some really amazing photos including the winning entry taken in Beirut and I would recommend anyone to visit this free exhibition.

This is part of a new installation outsid the building. It seems to be all about fluids entering and leaving the human body.

Hays Galleria and Fish

We had a great time this weekend and met some really nice fish filleters from Grimsby. They asked us to go along to the South Bank to see them in the filleting competition. It was amazing, the whole gallery was filled with fantastic fish foods for sale.

I dont know if our friends from M & J seafoods won, we werent able to stay to see the final of the Trafalgar cup or the National Fish Federation Trophy but it was all good stuff and we had some delicious paella and pims too.

Vintage

I really love the vintage shop in Winton and these blouses from the 60's and 70's cost next to nothing but look like they should be in Vogue magazine

Stretchy tube

I love this stretchy tube from Wolford. It can be worn as a dress or a skirt of a long top.

Wolford have some lovely designs but they are usually quite expensive.

Ie this Valentino ensemble.