My time in Dubai is drawing to an end at an incredible speed. Weeks, months, even years of planning to get to this point; and here it is. I've mentioned before that I'm ready to go home, that it is time to start a new chapter in my life.
But today I'm struggling. I have many great friends here in Dubai. People who have walked my path with me. People who have held me when I've cried, celebrated with me, laughed with me and laughed at me. And through everything I've had one beautiful friend who has been by my side.
There have been two things that have hit me hard over the last few weeks. One was seeing the blank wall where my family photos had been and then the other day as my beautiful Lilly came to collect my treasured plants; but watching Lilly drive off with my plants caused me to take a deep breath. She's the person who I don't want to leave behind. She's the friend that gets me, that phones me up sometimes out of the blue saying that she felt I was out of synch; and she's always right. This is the incredible lady whom I can tell how she is by her first hello on the phone, like I can with Ben and Bex. This isn't negating the love and strength I receive from my other friends near and far, but Lilly is the one whom I see frequently throughout the week. She's the one who drags me out of my comfort zone and is 'there'.
So we don't actually discuss the fact that I'm leaving soon. We skip over the subject of goodbye. We ignore the fact that our days are drawing to a close. That makes it sound so final and our friendship certainly is not final! It's a friendship that shall continue even across the miles as many of my friendships do. But knowing that she won't be just there, that I won't be able to jump in my car and have a quick visit. Some days it's just a quick hug and others it's a few hours sitting in La Folia's studio drinking coffee and chatting about anything and everything that pops into our heads.
We've planned, discussed, changed and mulled over her business expansion plans. I've tried on nearly each piece as its been made. Struggling not to 'steal' it as I leave. "No, you don't need more LaFolia jewellery Sarah". We've discussed our beautiful children as they've gone through various stages of their lives. Lilly's girls are 12 and 6 whereas my peeps are 27 and 24; a big difference but that doesn't matter as I've been there, done that, so hopefully I can pass on some of my experience and not so worldly wisdom, not so wise stuff. As she has given me a different view point on Ben and Bex when I've struggled with how to help them, with how to be there for them. As mum's we don't actually know it all we just pretend we do!
And then a few weeks ago this incredible lady found herself in A&E being admitted with a potentially life threatening allergic reaction to one of her new medications. I can only just begin to imagine how she was feeling but I do know how I was feeling. Terrified. On the Thursday I popped round for sundowners and arranged for DickyB to pick me up on his way home, and as we chatted Lilly was rubbing her eyes and started to look a bit grey. We discussed it and put it down to a change in medication and the fact she hadn't been sleeping well. So the next day I thought I'd pop in to check on her. Not good. Having spent the night in A&E they sent her home after giving her copious amounts of iv fluids and antihistamine, only for her to continue to worsen and end up being admitted 48 hours later. In fairness to the hospital the allergy is so rare that they probably had never heard of it let alone seen it. But there was Lilly sitting in her hospital bed with no idea how extreme her reaction was going to be; would she be one of the 30% fatalities or one of the 50% with severe side effects once they survived the initial scare. For once in her life, lupus was a godsend. Because of the steroids and the regular antihistamines that she takes, Lilly actually managed to keep this rare allergy at bay.
God knows how her family felt but I spent 48 hours in tears after researching it all. Terrified that the lupus wouldn't be able to cope with the onslaught her body was going through. As I said, the Lupus turned out to be the godsend. So, beautiful Lilly discharged herself after 3 days in hospital once she knew the reaction was under control, claiming she would die of boredom or insanity if she stayed in any longer than she must. She threw herself back into her life with gusto, hiding the fact from all that she was a nervous wreck inside and had been completely side swiped by this latest illness.
And this leaves me to where I am now.
I'm leaving behind the person who makes me laugh so much at the silliest things, who makes an incredible cappuccino and the best banana bread (I don't even like bananas so it must be good!). The fact that she won't be round the corner or just a hug away saddens me beyond words. I have to leave her knowing that I am her support network here as she has been mine and I'm worried who will pick up the slack for me. Who will look past the bright beautiful smile and the immaculate make-up, who will hear the shortness of breath and see the tiredness in her eyes.
And who will she take into Deira with her, dragging the trolley behind. Followed by a flurry of salesmen who are desperate to sell her beads, fabric, abayas; offering chai lattes or water as we wander our weary way to the next shop, looking for that elusive something. Only to sit in the shade to munch our way through shawarma, falafel and samosas from the street restaurants watching the world go by. Replenishing our energy for the next round of shops, sustained by fresh juice and water. Taking such pleasure in our buys on the way home. Invariably taking the 'scenic' route as we miss our turn, chatting and giggling too much.
Sundowners won't be the same without her. A GnT leisurely sipped in her garden as we discuss our plans for the weekend. Obviously sundowners only happen on a Thursday, the start of our weekend. We aren't complete lushes... yet! And I shall get my own coffee machine but again, the cappuccino won't be the same without the chatter competing with the whoosh and gurgles of the steam machine. Her beautiful girls running home after school to give me a huge hug and shower me with the same love that their mother gives me. Life won't be the same without any of these things but it's ok. I've not even left Dubai yet and my return flight is booked for October. We have plenty of more coffees to fit in over the next 3 weeks. Another chaotic trip into Deira to experience. I've a bottle of champagne ready for our last sundowners. And a 50th party to celebrate with Lilly and my other dear friends in the summer.
So, Lilly, this is not goodbye it's only a Ciao Bella 💖
But today I'm struggling. I have many great friends here in Dubai. People who have walked my path with me. People who have held me when I've cried, celebrated with me, laughed with me and laughed at me. And through everything I've had one beautiful friend who has been by my side.
There have been two things that have hit me hard over the last few weeks. One was seeing the blank wall where my family photos had been and then the other day as my beautiful Lilly came to collect my treasured plants; but watching Lilly drive off with my plants caused me to take a deep breath. She's the person who I don't want to leave behind. She's the friend that gets me, that phones me up sometimes out of the blue saying that she felt I was out of synch; and she's always right. This is the incredible lady whom I can tell how she is by her first hello on the phone, like I can with Ben and Bex. This isn't negating the love and strength I receive from my other friends near and far, but Lilly is the one whom I see frequently throughout the week. She's the one who drags me out of my comfort zone and is 'there'.
So we don't actually discuss the fact that I'm leaving soon. We skip over the subject of goodbye. We ignore the fact that our days are drawing to a close. That makes it sound so final and our friendship certainly is not final! It's a friendship that shall continue even across the miles as many of my friendships do. But knowing that she won't be just there, that I won't be able to jump in my car and have a quick visit. Some days it's just a quick hug and others it's a few hours sitting in La Folia's studio drinking coffee and chatting about anything and everything that pops into our heads.
We've planned, discussed, changed and mulled over her business expansion plans. I've tried on nearly each piece as its been made. Struggling not to 'steal' it as I leave. "No, you don't need more LaFolia jewellery Sarah". We've discussed our beautiful children as they've gone through various stages of their lives. Lilly's girls are 12 and 6 whereas my peeps are 27 and 24; a big difference but that doesn't matter as I've been there, done that, so hopefully I can pass on some of my experience and not so worldly wisdom, not so wise stuff. As she has given me a different view point on Ben and Bex when I've struggled with how to help them, with how to be there for them. As mum's we don't actually know it all we just pretend we do!
And then a few weeks ago this incredible lady found herself in A&E being admitted with a potentially life threatening allergic reaction to one of her new medications. I can only just begin to imagine how she was feeling but I do know how I was feeling. Terrified. On the Thursday I popped round for sundowners and arranged for DickyB to pick me up on his way home, and as we chatted Lilly was rubbing her eyes and started to look a bit grey. We discussed it and put it down to a change in medication and the fact she hadn't been sleeping well. So the next day I thought I'd pop in to check on her. Not good. Having spent the night in A&E they sent her home after giving her copious amounts of iv fluids and antihistamine, only for her to continue to worsen and end up being admitted 48 hours later. In fairness to the hospital the allergy is so rare that they probably had never heard of it let alone seen it. But there was Lilly sitting in her hospital bed with no idea how extreme her reaction was going to be; would she be one of the 30% fatalities or one of the 50% with severe side effects once they survived the initial scare. For once in her life, lupus was a godsend. Because of the steroids and the regular antihistamines that she takes, Lilly actually managed to keep this rare allergy at bay.
God knows how her family felt but I spent 48 hours in tears after researching it all. Terrified that the lupus wouldn't be able to cope with the onslaught her body was going through. As I said, the Lupus turned out to be the godsend. So, beautiful Lilly discharged herself after 3 days in hospital once she knew the reaction was under control, claiming she would die of boredom or insanity if she stayed in any longer than she must. She threw herself back into her life with gusto, hiding the fact from all that she was a nervous wreck inside and had been completely side swiped by this latest illness.
And this leaves me to where I am now.
I'm leaving behind the person who makes me laugh so much at the silliest things, who makes an incredible cappuccino and the best banana bread (I don't even like bananas so it must be good!). The fact that she won't be round the corner or just a hug away saddens me beyond words. I have to leave her knowing that I am her support network here as she has been mine and I'm worried who will pick up the slack for me. Who will look past the bright beautiful smile and the immaculate make-up, who will hear the shortness of breath and see the tiredness in her eyes.
And who will she take into Deira with her, dragging the trolley behind. Followed by a flurry of salesmen who are desperate to sell her beads, fabric, abayas; offering chai lattes or water as we wander our weary way to the next shop, looking for that elusive something. Only to sit in the shade to munch our way through shawarma, falafel and samosas from the street restaurants watching the world go by. Replenishing our energy for the next round of shops, sustained by fresh juice and water. Taking such pleasure in our buys on the way home. Invariably taking the 'scenic' route as we miss our turn, chatting and giggling too much.
Sundowners won't be the same without her. A GnT leisurely sipped in her garden as we discuss our plans for the weekend. Obviously sundowners only happen on a Thursday, the start of our weekend. We aren't complete lushes... yet! And I shall get my own coffee machine but again, the cappuccino won't be the same without the chatter competing with the whoosh and gurgles of the steam machine. Her beautiful girls running home after school to give me a huge hug and shower me with the same love that their mother gives me. Life won't be the same without any of these things but it's ok. I've not even left Dubai yet and my return flight is booked for October. We have plenty of more coffees to fit in over the next 3 weeks. Another chaotic trip into Deira to experience. I've a bottle of champagne ready for our last sundowners. And a 50th party to celebrate with Lilly and my other dear friends in the summer.
So, Lilly, this is not goodbye it's only a Ciao Bella 💖