January always brings a sense of a new start. After the end of the year, it feels as if a cold shock is required to kickstart the new year. In northern climes, the cold shock is inevitable, in middle climes, it’s a beautiful time of year. Intense, exhausting summer heat several months ahead, but the temperate weather over the winter brings, for me, the advent of weekends travelling and exploring this beautiful region.
Christmas family celebration time fell during New Years week for me, work commitments required me to remain in Dubai, where this time of year isn’t flush with Bank holidays and mince pies. A 5 am New Years day start for the airport, through the city which never sleeps, the new year had commenced. My joy to go home. Cyprus, chilly nights, beautiful blue sky days, precious family time with the children. Perfect winter weather, central heating and thick boots, this was my coldish start to 2016.
Back in the sand, the annual Gulf News fun drive, a weekend of dune bashing with 1000 others out in the Western Region, then a trip over to the Oman coast, walking along empty beaches, not many souls in sight, with only flocks of flamingos and herons for my company.
Last weekend was a Dubai weekend, time to tidy up but do some in-town exploring but this past weekend was our cold shock. Weather warnings filled the papers, rough seas, rain and the temperatures forecast to descend below 20 degrees.
Clouds were in our normally sand filled blue skies, black over the desert threatening rain. In a country where rain is an infrequent pleasure, it was time to dig out something warm and head outside from the 35th floor flat and breathe in some fresh air.
Oh, yes and I started the diet this month too. 2016 is the fat-busting year.
Joining into https://thoughtsofasociallyanxiousextrovert.wordpress.com/my-monthly-memories-monthly-blogging-event/
Travels in the Middle East and beyond 
Stunning photos! I’m sure the Dubai travel and tourism will love them!!
Thank you for sharing them!
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Thanks for taking the time to comment. I carry the camera all over the city, so much to see, do and photograph!
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Lovely photos! Oman is on my must-see list!
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Thanks for reading my post, you must go there, it is a huge but fascinating country. Watch out for more Oman posts, I have travelled widely in Oman and continue to return, there is so much explore in this vast place.
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Thank you for participating. I simply adore all the pictures on this post, they are stellar and beautifully captured. I wish you a lovely month ahead, can’t wait to read all about it!
Basant She
https://thoughtsofasociallyanxiousextrovert.wordpress.com/
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This Monthly Memories event of yours is such fun, I’m so glad you asked me to participate, February is booked up, I can’t wait to archive it, however, I have chosen January’s task as heartfelt, my reminiscences of my month according to my experiences this year as of today, it may not always be such, Summers here are too hot to move, I may revert to misery during the hot months … !!!
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Hey! I wanted to thank you again for participating in My Monthly Memories last month! It was lovely having you partake! I was wondering if you were to join in once again this month? I already posted my writing about my month and I have updated the rules slightly again here: https://thoughtsofasociallyanxiousextrovert.wordpress.com/my-monthly-memories-monthly-blogging-event/ It’d be lovely reading another one of your My Monthly Memories posts. Thanks again and I hope you have a lovely day!
Basant She
https://thoughtsofasociallyanxiousextrovert.wordpress.com/
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