Like many expats, I left my library behind when I moved to the UAE – much to the disgruntlement of my mum, whose garage is stuffed to the rafters with boxes of books. Impossible, therefore, to recall everything I’ve read. The five I have chosen here were first that sprung to mind.
The Golden Gate by Vikram Seth (1986)
Written in rhyming verse but you hardly notice it, The Golden Gate sweeps you through the lives of a group of technology professionals in 1980s San Francisco. I read it in my last year of boarding school imagining the freedoms the working world would bring (more fool me!). I love how the words flow. You would not believe the structure works as a novel, but it does.
Three Daughters of Eve by Elif Shafak (2017)
This recent read has lingered in my mind. It’s not a comfortable book – its protagonist is a psychologically unstable Turkish housewife with a dark, complicated past that isn’t explained until the final pages. It explores the theme of God in the modern world: the dangers of dogma, the divisive nature of doubt and certainty, and the difficulty of reconciling the two.
The Wild Places by Robert Macfarlane (2007)
A must-read for anyone tired of the smoke, glass and concrete of urban living. Macfarlane documents his journey to find the remaining wilderness in the British Isles. He climbs, hikes and swims across mountains, rivers, forests and swamps to prove the country is not dominated by roads and buildings, but by a chaotic infusion of nature and elements.
How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran (2011)
I love Caitlin Moran. I’ve been reading her columns in the Times Magazine for years and am still in awe of how she can write with such tenderness and empathy, yet be so utterly, brazenly, laugh-out-loud hilarious. Her memoir is an account of all those significant life moments injected with a witty dose of rational feminism. I implore men to read it too, it’s not just for women.
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr (1971)
As a child, I loved stories about the Second World War and this one’s fantastic and can be read by children or adults. It’s the first in a trilogy about Jewish girl Anna and her family, who flee from Germany to Switzerland to escape the Nazis. Anna’s carefree existence of homework, friends and family is interrupted by the turbulent events of 1930s Europe.
Sarah Townsend is a senior business writer for The National
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
if you go
The flights
Flydubai flies to Podgorica or nearby Tivat via Sarajevo from Dh2,155 return including taxes. Turkish Airlines flies from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Podgorica via Istanbul; alternatively, fly with Flydubai from Dubai to Belgrade and take a short flight with Montenegro Air to Podgorica. Etihad flies from Abu Dhabi to Podgorica via Belgrade. Flights cost from about Dh3,000 return including taxes. There are buses from Podgorica to Plav.
The tour
While you can apply for a permit for the route yourself, it’s best to travel with an agency that will arrange it for you. These include Zbulo in Albania (www.zbulo.org) or Zalaz in Montenegro (www.zalaz.me).
UAE v Gibraltar
What: International friendly
When: 7pm kick off
Where: Rugby Park, Dubai Sports City
Admission: Free
Online: The match will be broadcast live on Dubai Exiles’ Facebook page
UAE squad: Lucas Waddington (Dubai Exiles), Gio Fourie (Exiles), Craig Nutt (Abu Dhabi Harlequins), Phil Brady (Harlequins), Daniel Perry (Dubai Hurricanes), Esekaia Dranibota (Harlequins), Matt Mills (Exiles), Jaen Botes (Exiles), Kristian Stinson (Exiles), Murray Reason (Abu Dhabi Saracens), Dave Knight (Hurricanes), Ross Samson (Jebel Ali Dragons), DuRandt Gerber (Exiles), Saki Naisau (Dragons), Andrew Powell (Hurricanes), Emosi Vacanau (Harlequins), Niko Volavola (Dragons), Matt Richards (Dragons), Luke Stevenson (Harlequins), Josh Ives (Dubai Sports City Eagles), Sean Stevens (Saracens), Thinus Steyn (Exiles)
How does ToTok work?
The calling app is available to download on Google Play and Apple App Store
To successfully install ToTok, users are asked to enter their phone number and then create a nickname.
The app then gives users the option add their existing phone contacts, allowing them to immediately contact people also using the application by video or voice call or via message.
Users can also invite other contacts to download ToTok to allow them to make contact through the app.
