Well, we’ve spent the week hitting the various beach clubs around Dubai, looking for the best deals each day and enjoying the very warm, sunny weather and being able to wallow in the water.

On Monday we went to Zero Gravity down on JBR beach. We like this place, it has many pluses but one big drawback. On the plus side, the beach is pristine and uncrowded, the pool is very nice too, there are plenty of lounging couches, plush loungers and umbrellas. The food and drink is very reasonably priced and on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, women get in free. Men pay 150AED but get 100 of that back in food credit. So, by splitting the expenses between us we get a very reasonably priced day. The big drawback is that from about 2pm onwards, they put a dj on around the pool (its a nightclub by night) and the volume ramps up hourly from very loud to earsplitting by about 4pm. However, don’t let that put you off, it’s a good place and interesting to watch the skydivers next door – coming down all day.

In the evening we went out for dinner with Lu to a fab seafood place on Jumeirah Beach – Bu Qtair – which we’ve been to before. It’s a Pakistani seafood place, been in Dubai for decades. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bu-Qtair-Restaurant/124562554280485 Basically, you can have a massive platter of giant king prawn in a spicy rub grilled, or a big fish in a spicy rub grilled, or both. We obviously had BOTH!!!!!! The portions are ginormous. God knows what it would cost in the UK. Alongside the fish and prawns, you get rice, a bowl of amazing sauce, and flaky parathas… It’s simple food in a simple setting and absolutely delicious. I love going there.

On Tuesday we went to Jumeirah Islands Clubhouse and had a great day. It was Ladies day there which meant that Daisy and I paid 100 AED to enter but this gave us not only entry to to the pool but 2 alcoholic drinks and a full lunch. Bob paid 55 AED just for entry, netted off against food and drink. It’s a lovely place, quiet, great service, nice pool and 2 excellent restaurants on site. And Ladies Day there is a very good deal. One to remember.

Wednesday we had our usual day of luxury at Drift Beach at the One & Only Mirage….. just as gorgeous as ever. We had the breakfast deal. I had avocado toast with fried eggs and bacon. Daisy had eggs royale and Bob had the avo toast too. A great day in this most lovely of spots. We had a cabana on the beach and in the next cabana was a young woman who was a reality tv personality – Married at First Sight, Celebrities Go Dating and a few others. She kept getting people coming up to chat – we wouldn’t have recognised her otherwise, not watching those programmes at all. Seemed a nice girl but “not a scholar” as an old friend of ours would say….. Honestly, Drift is just fabulous and if you find yourself in Dubai, I would highly recommend it. The One & Only is a stunning hotel too but very expensive. Still, on a Wednesday, you can enjoy it for the price of a breakfast – about £20 all in.

Last night we went down to the Dubai Mall with Lucy who was on a hunt for an interview suit. Fruitless as it turned out. Difficult to buy business clothes for women here. The shops are full of leisure wear or evening wear or skimpy wear but no power dresses or suits. She’ll do better in London next week. Anyway, always nice to have a look around that mahoosive mall. Then we ate dinner in a Chinese restaurant called Din Tai Fung which overlooks the Dubai Fountains. Amazing dim sum and we feasted. Not too badly priced for Dubai either. We watched the fountain show before and after we ate and it was spectacular as usual – I especially liked the one played to Michael Jackson’s “Thriller”. The Burg Khalifa is right behind the fountains and it lights up in time to the music too. It’s a lovely area down there by night. Across the lagoon from the Dubai Mall, is the indoor bazaar area which I always enjoy – perfume shops by the score, all sorts of delights. Emirati men are huge perfume fans – they always smell fantastic and they even perfume their robes. It’s a long way from “the great smell of Brut”.

Lucy flew back to Manchester early this morning, so we said our sad farewells to her at that point. It will be odd to have these last few days in Dubai in her flat without her being here. She is going to a wedding in Scotland and then working in London for a week.

Today we went to the Hilton on JBR beach and it was a bit of a let down. Very, very crowded. 100 AED just for access (had been advertised with food credit, but that was not correct) and beach beds packed together like sardines. Reminded me of Italy! And horrifically expensive. 2 bottles of water cost £17. So we went to the little supermarket across the street and got sandwiches and more water for lunch. It wasn’t against the rules, but with prices like that, no wonder.

The next two days we’ll return to the Jumeirah Islands Clubhouse as it the best deal on Friday and Saturday for a really good day in the sun and in a lovely surrounding. It’s well worth researching these beach club days when in Dubai – Time Out is a good source. You can enjoy a lovely environment