December 1, 2009

• My Villa

  Here's finally a blog entry about where I'm living now! I've just been so incredibly busy this first semester in Fujairah that I've hardly done any blogging at all. Anyway, we've got a 10-day holiday for the Eid Al Adha holidays and the UAE National Day at the moment, so I've finally been able to click on Xanga and look at blogging again.

  Before I start talking about my villa, I also want to mention the deal you get when you start working as a teacher for the Higher Colleges of Technology in the UAE. Basically, the college gives you an empty flat/house and $8,000 in cash to buy furniture and appliances. It's a great system. The college does not have to worry about all the admin involved in setting up flats for new teachers, and the teachers very much enjoy being able to get exactly what they want for their new homes.

  Anyway, here goes. For the very first time in my life, I'm living in my own villa. Well, it's actually a semi (duplex for Americans), but nonetheless I've got my own house.

  

  With my own patio and outdoor area.

  

  About six weeks ago, neighbours moved into the other half of the house and with that, I discovered that the soundproofing was not very good between the two halves of the house. In fact, before they moved in it actually never occurred to me that I was living in a semi. I'm looking into ways of soundproofing the house a the moment.

  Anyway, this is my living room.

  

  I'm into red at the moment.  I've bought a Klippan sofa from IKEA and the good thing with Klippan is that you can change the cover at any time - like a pair of pyjamas for your sofa. I've got a blue and green flower-power style cover ready in one of my cupboards for after Christmas.

  I also got some glass doors for my white Billy shelves and suddenly they look very cool indeed.

  

  And talking about glass. I got this small glass display unit that I'm using for my icons. The icons look beautiful with all the candles lit.

  

  Next is my dining area.

  

  I've still got the table my dad bought in 1961 for $1. In one way, things are not important. In another way, they are. Keeping this table means I've got a bit of family history with me wherever I move.

  The kitchen is not big, but certainly bigger than my kitchen in Nizwa.

  

  And the guest room is ready for guests.

  

  My villa has got four rooms and a dining area in the middle, so I've been able to have a separate study/library, which is fantastic.

  

  In my library, I've also got my desk and work area. And my wonderful, cozy day bed. And in case you were wondering where the stolen Boy in a Red Vest by Cézanne was - I've got it!  Just joking. I think mum and dad bought this copy of the Cézanne painting in the early 70s.

  

  My bedroom might seem a bit minimalist. Maybe it's because I've got so much space at the moment.

  

  I spent hours and hours looking at wardrobes before I finally decided to go for a seven door wide unit of Pax with smokey glass doors (at IKEA, of course. Where else?).

  

  I love my bedroom! And once I get some time to put up a few pictures, it might not look so minimalist any more.

  Anyway, looking at where I'm living now - accommodation is free; it's part of the contract - I just can't believe how much my living situation has changed since I was working as a translator in London. Then, I only had one medium-sized room and that was it (the five-bedroom house share came with some very nice flat mates, admittedly).

  Click here for some more pictures of my villa.

  Time to go back to 24 (Season 2). I haven't watched it in a couple of years now and I've actually forgotten how good it is.  One definition of holiday is "being able to watch as many episodes of 24 as you want".

  • 1:46 pm
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