We have spent the last few days unashamedly enjoying the beach clubs and just relaxing in the sun. On Sunday, Lucy joined us at Riva Beach which is on the Palm and one of our favourite haunts. It is pretty reasonably priced in comparison to some of the more expensive hotel clubs and it’s a very relaxing atmosphere, nice beach beds and umbrellas, good food and service and it’s QUIET. Some of the beach clubs – particularly at the weekend – could double as night clubs, they are very “party party” with deafening music and a clientele who either star in Geordie Shore and TOWIE or aspire to it…… we avoid those places.

On Monday, Bob and I went to Zero Gravity beach club. I laugh as I write this, because at night and at weekends this is one of the biggest party scenes here, but, truly, it’s ok on a weekday…. well…. till about 5pm anyway. It is free entry on a Monday thru Thursday for women and men pay 125 AED (about £23) but they get 100AED back as a credit against food and drink, so really, its just a fiver for a big lounger and umbrella and access to the fab pool and the lovely beach. We got right on the front row on the beach, as far from any music as possible and vegged out. Bob slept for about 3 hours and I definitely nodded off at one point. Had lots of swims in the sea which was lovely and clear, full of small fish.

It’s interesting at Zero Gravity because next door is the sky diving school/facility for which it is named. A little plane is constantly taking off and then clouds of jumpers come hailing down onto the landing field. We love watching them. Some are tourists having an “experience” and they are tandem jumping, some are clearly very experienced or even instructors under training who are solo jumping. The solo jumpers tend to come into land very fast, absolutely plummeting down from the sky at the end, somersaulting and spiralling as they come. Looks terrifying……

Once Lucy finished work, we went out to eat at a Pakistani restaurant near the Mall of the Emirates in one of the Asian areas. We had been recommended to it by a taxi driver who picked us up from Riva Beach. The restaurant was called Mohammed Iqbal’s and boy was it good. Very simple, very local restaurant but amazing food. We had a big fresh salad, raita, bowls of unctuous beef, mutton and chicken, a mutton biriani and naans. The mutton and beef dishes in particular were absolutely delicious, such tasty thick sauces. It was an absolutely bargain. Our entire dinner for 3 was just over £20, almost unbelievable in Dubai. I’d definitely go back there again.

We had a bit of an early night last night because Daisy was flying into Dubai in the early hours of this morning. Her flight was a bit late taking off from LHR – baggage handling issues – and 45 minutes late into Bahrain which was a worry because she only had 60 minutes between flights. However, they hussled them through the airport and both she and her luggage made the connection. She got to Lucy’s flat at about 545 this morning and we sat up having coffee and chatting.

Later on, Lucy headed off to work (someone’s got to…..) and Daisy, Bob and I went down to Zero Gravity for the day. It was a Ladies Day which meant that as well as being free for Daisy and I, we both got a free gin cocktail after midday. Bob had to pay with the usual 100 AED for for food and drink. It was even hotter today – temperatures are back at 30C+ again now and for the foreseeable. It was busier down there today, and we did see some of the aforementioned “influencers” or wannabes…. who knows. Anyway, it really is a bit pathetic, the way these girls prance and pout around while a friend takes pictures of them. There’s a lot of hair tossing and poses where they kneel on the sand and put their heads right back with a look of semi ecstacy….. or they get a bit of chifffon and hold it aloft while they prance about….. I’m not being a sour old bag about it, honestly….. it just makes me cringe a bit to see such shallowness.

We had a lovely day, walked the beach, watched the skydivers, went in the water a lot, read our books. Daisy had a sleep for a couple of hours.

Tonight we 3 girls went off to Casa Havana, our favourite beauty salon. Lucy had a 90 minute massage. Daisy had a pedicure and I had a pedicure and a manicure. All expertly done at a very reasonable price. Bob stayed home and cooked us chilli. A very good first day.