Three Cheers For The Month End...
...HIP HIP!
My dear sweet and lovely Substackers, quelle month. Where to even start.
It has been one part reflection in Dubai (a turn of the year will do that to you), one part planning, still Dubai (a fresh crisp clean Papier diary will do that to you), and one part manically busy with work (taking yourself off site for a bit result in that for you). Sum total? The month end has found me in a state of whatthefuckhasbeengoingonintheoutsideworld.
The manic busyness doesn’t look likely to let up for at least a month or two, and work has been challenging, but even so we toast a milestone of another January survived. Well done to all (*shakes clasped hands to the left, the right, and left again).
In the midst of all that, I have slacked with Substacking, but no more I of that I say. Writing is one of my life’s joys, equal parts stimulating and therapeutic - and so while I may have taken my foot off the pedal for a moment, my focus is once again sharpened. So here we are with the monthly round up, starting with where I have been….
Nobu Dubai - Sitting on the 24th floor of the Atlantis, this was the perfect sundowner spot. I ordered a selection of small plates and wiled away a few hours eating, reading, people watching, and enjoying the atmosphere. I had a reclusive one woman blast to myself.
Aura Skypool - A 360 degree infinity pool suspended 200m high, this is a must visit. I chose the night brunch with pool access, essentially a very laid back chilled pool party - not the kind of American TV shows, that invariably gets busted by the cops, but the relaxed, everyone unwinding kind, with epic views. Terrific.
FIVE - There are two ‘FIVES’ in Dubai. I have it on good authority that Five on the Palm is great, and can confirm the Five Jumeirah Village is also a good time. It had the right balance of chill with a good time - I played a lot of beer pong with strangers, and met a handful of fellow passers by here. Worth a visit.
The Ebrington, Derry - I came back to Irish soil with a bump - straight back into the eye of storm Eowyn which coincided with a stay in this hotel for a conference. Long story short, everything went wrong with the programme for the second day being cancelled, and a heated discussion that landed on the wrong side of friendly and respectful, around the language used in John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice & Men”. Any conference organiser’s worst nightmare, really. Anyways, this is a terrific hotel in the city should you find yourself taking a trip here - central, welcoming and cosy.
Wine and Brine, Moira
I treated myself to dinner here this week and what a treat it was. As far as restaurants in the North of Ireland go, this one is surely up there. One to keep up your sleeve for a special occasion.
The Monthly 3*3
I realised at the end of the year that it been a while since my nervous system had settled sufficiently to allow me to sit and read, so over the holidays it was a lovely return to that. I reached for one of my all-time favourites, Unravelling Oliver by Liz Nugent, and I remembered why I love it so. Liz writes darkness with humour and irony, just the way I like it. Read it! Tell your friends!
The January cliché in me decided on some new workout gear and I got this full set from Adanola. I am usually a Lululemon diehard, so I will keep you posted on how this foray into the relatively unknown goes. What I can say so far is that the sizing is a bit up the left: I got an XL jacket, XS top, and S leggings, after some returning and rejigging.
The middle row is a section of remaining items from a high street collab launch that entirely passed me by, and I am devastated as there are some excellent pieces now out of stock. It’s the A.W.A.K.E MODE X John Lewis collab, and honestly the pieces are FANTASTIC. These trousers are out of stock (sorry!) but would you look at the gloriousness of them?
These pink jeans will feature again in Wednesday’s post, but for now they are my life line out of winter shades (I’m very ready for that). The t-shirt is an unexpected delight in the Zara sale, for £3.99 or something ridiculous. Even though I usually prefer oversized these days, I bought a small and will wear it tucked into a black full length skirt and a white heel to work. It is love.
Finally, “Brian & Maggie”, the two part series on Channel 4 starring Steve Coogan and Harriet Walter is a must watch, as is the original interview that the series is based on (also available channel 4 player).
Monthly Musings: Dubai, and ‘justifying that to myself’.
Ohhh Dubai. You do conflict me so. It is not a city that I should like, on paper. It is a city designed to facilitate and court capitalism, which I say in observation rather than scorn. Consequently it holds an unenviable reputation of belonging to noveau riche trash (again observation, not judgement). But it is neither observation that really irks me. The city’s human rights track record that really causes me moral injury. But yet, it is not without charm, and even as I type that I am flooded with the shame of hypocrisy.
I had a conversation with a trusted friend about it a while back. When I told him my Duabi plan, he, knowing well my ethics and shamespongey ways said “how are you justifying that to yourself?”. I started with the logistical answer: I wanted somewhere to take time to flop on a sunbed, where I felt safe, that wasn’t too long a flight, that I wouldn’t feel the need to become a tourist, could remain anonymous and not invite question or curiosity, have the option good food on hand, and not be too far off UK/Ireland timezones. All if which is true, and on balance Dubai does come out front runner. But I went on to ponder and describe its charm, and it comes down to this: It is a city of self assurance. It knows exactly what it is about, and is unashamed about it. Dubai isn’t understated, and it doesn't want to be. Maybe it’s a case of the more one doesn't know themself, the more they like the certainty of a city that does. Or, perhaps the authenticity of the city gives license to those who know exactly who they are to be their authentic selves, emboldens ones inner bougie bitch to show up. I’m not sure. His counter was that was surely full of influencer types on vanity projects? Again, he raised a fair point and his assertion isn’t untrue, but that doesn’t necessarily discomfit me - let them at it, and anyway, most major cities are, as far as I can see.
The other ‘perhaps’ is that it may be as simple as being drawn to a large city, and the possibility contained in it. The wonder where all people moving around the city are going, the glimpses into their homes, the endless combinations of what may be going on. Imagining people having the worst day of their life, and the best day of their life, sitting beside each other on a train.
On that note it may be time to declare that I miss London. It is a foreign, unknown sensation for me - I’ve become accustomed to adapting to change. I’ll write about it soon, and I’ll be back there soon, but that’s where it is currently at.
I hope all you lovely lot got through the month, and the storm, unscathed too. DEFINITELY back in your inboxes on Wednesday, with a love letter to my new pink jeans. Yes sir-eeee, you read correctly. Pink. Jeans.
Until then
Big love
Una
x
A wonderful hop, skip and a jump through your lovely month - thanks lovely! ✨🧘♀️
Cheers to the month end indeed, and to those pink jeans, and to you my dear! 🩷