While I was growing up in Oman, my brother moved to London. I later moved to India for a few years, before settling in the UAE, the country I now call home. For more than a decade, I have grown accustomed to the fact my parents live in Oman, my brother in UK and myself in the UAE.
It may sound strange, especially to tight-knit families, but it has been my normal. That's not to say that my family isn’t close, though. My brother would pop over to Dubai, and has visited Oman and India since he moved. My parents have flown to London numerous times, with my mother staying there for extended periods. I visit my brother, on an average, every two years, and when I'm not able to go to the UK, we travel to another country together.
Catching little glimpses of your family and how much they’ve changed during short vacations is not ideal, but it’s also not a bad life.
In fact, there hasn’t been a single year when I haven’t been able to see every member of my family – until now.
When the pandemic struck, everything that was familiar was suddenly thrown into chaos, in more ways than one. Faced with the inevitable – that we would not be meeting each other throughout 2020 – we started doing what everyone else in the world seemed to discover at the same time: Zoom calls.
The idea seems alien; I was unaccustomed to speaking to them at a fixed day and time. In the past, weekly conversations were sporadic, if at all, and based mostly on necessity.
But with everyone being homebound together – and yet not together – we decided to give it a go.
Led by my brother, we tentatively started having weekly Saturday sessions – a day when all of us were off work – to catch up and keep in touch.
Right off the bat, it wasn't easy. My parents are not the most technologically advanced and there was a lot of "Can you hear me?" and "I can't see you". A lot of metaphorical blood and sweat, and real tears, went into setting up the technical side of things. Thankfully, no one has managed to turn themselves into a fluffy cat. Yet.
But over the past year, my parents have become Zoom experts. Occasions – from Christmas to birthdays – are spent over video calls, with everyone well-dressed, showing off their home decorations, culinary creations, pets or gardens.
We started having weekly virtual quiz nights, too, with extended family joining in, and the loser being asked to host the next game. This in turn led to other virtual games: Scrabble Go became a staple in the household, with the family leisurely playing throughout the day, and the parents competing for points.
My parents’ wedding anniversary is on Valentine’s Day, and this year, the entire family got on Zoom to play a game of “Who knows who better?” to hilarious effect. I will probably always remember my parents' bewildered faces when they were asked what they wore on their first date, and my dad’s desperate yells to “disqualify mum” as he was losing.
Here's to remembering that there's always a way to make the most of a difficult situation
Did I ever imagine I would be spending Valentine's Day with my family? No. Did I ever dream that the same event would be held online? Definitely not. And yet, ironically, it's probably something that would never have happened had we still been vacationing together in the first place.
I know that 2020 wasn’t the best year, and while 2021 still has to prove it will be better, here’s to remembering that there’s always a way to make the most of a difficult situation. And that’s easier if you have your loved ones on the other side of the screen.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League final:
Who: Real Madrid v Liverpool
Where: NSC Olimpiyskiy Stadium, Kiev, Ukraine
When: Saturday, May 26, 10.45pm (UAE)
TV: Match on BeIN Sports
RACE CARD
6.30pm Mazrat Al Ruwayah – Group 2 (PA) $36,000 (Dirt) 1,600m
7.05pm Handicap (TB) $68,000 (Turf) 2,410m
7.40pm Meydan Trophy – Conditions (TB) $50,000 (T) 1,900m
8.15pm Al Maktoum Challenge Round 2 - Group 2 (TB) $293,000 (D) 1,900m
8.50pm Al Rashidiya – Group 2 (TB) $163,000 (T) 1,800m
9.25pm Handicap (TB) $65,000 (T) 1,000m
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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PAST 10 BRITISH GRAND PRIX WINNERS
2016 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2015 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2014 - Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP)
2013 - Nico Rosberg (Mercedes-GP)
2012 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2011 - Fernando Alonso (Ferrari)
2010 - Mark Webber (Red Bull Racing)
2009 - Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull Racing)
2008 - Lewis Hamilton (McLaren)
2007 - Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari)
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BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
'The Sky is Everywhere'
Director:Josephine Decker
Stars:Grace Kaufman, Pico Alexander, Jacques Colimon
Rating:2/5
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Key findings of Jenkins report
- Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
- Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
- Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
- Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
What can you do?
Document everything immediately; including dates, times, locations and witnesses
Seek professional advice from a legal expert
You can report an incident to HR or an immediate supervisor
You can use the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation’s dedicated hotline
In criminal cases, you can contact the police for additional support
Rooney's club record
At Everton Appearances: 77; Goals: 17
At Manchester United Appearances: 559; Goals: 253
'Project Power'
Stars: Jamie Foxx, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Dominique Fishback
Director: Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman
Rating: 3.5/5
Sam Smith
Where: du Arena, Abu Dhabi
When: Saturday November 24
Rating: 4/5
Dark Souls: Remastered
Developer: From Software (remaster by QLOC)
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: Dh199
Banthology: Stories from Unwanted Nations
Edited by Sarah Cleave, Comma Press
Sri Lanka-India Test series schedule
- 1st Test India won by 304 runs at Galle
- 2nd Test India won by innings and 53 runs at Colombo
- 3rd Test August 12-16 at Pallekele
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
PROFILE OF HALAN
Started: November 2017
Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga
Based: Cairo, Egypt
Sector: transport and logistics
Size: 150 employees
Investment: approximately $8 million
Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Going grey? A stylist's advice
If you’re going to go grey, a great style, well-cared for hair (in a sleek, classy style, like a bob), and a young spirit and attitude go a long way, says Maria Dowling, founder of the Maria Dowling Salon in Dubai.
It’s easier to go grey from a lighter colour, so you may want to do that first. And this is the time to try a shorter style, she advises. Then a stylist can introduce highlights, start lightening up the roots, and let it fade out. Once it’s entirely grey, a purple shampoo will prevent yellowing.
“Get professional help – there’s no other way to go around it,” she says. “And don’t just let it grow out because that looks really bad. Put effort into it: properly condition, straighten, get regular trims, make sure it’s glossy.”
