Ejaz Bangara had been planning to propose to long-term girlfriend Sahar Atmar, who was visiting from Australia, for over three months. He had the venue planned, the date set, the ring made and even had friends create an imaginary event to get her to the venue without casting any doubt. There was just one problem – the day of the proposal was March 23, the same day that restaurants in Dubai started to close down in a bid to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
"I thought I had time to come up with plan B for the proposal – but then we found out that flights back to Australia in May were cancelled. Her only option was to catch the one remaining repatriation flight on April 21. Once she [went], I wouldn't see her for another six months at least, there was no way I wanted her to leave without that ring on her finger. This meant I had roughly two days to plan the proposal," Bangara says.
That’s what led to what Bangara now describes as "the most impulsive thing he’s ever done in life".
“What originally took weeks to plan ended up being planned again in a few hours,” he says. At the time, Atmar was staying with his family, so he got them involved, with every member taking on a different duty, from decoration to taking photos.
On the day, he asked his Atmar to get dressed for a "going away party", then led her to the garden which was decorated with flower petals. With her friends watching over Zoom, he popped the question. Her answer was a resounding, "Yes".
It’s all about the small gestures
The coronavirus pandemic has affected most aspects of our lives, and proposal are no different. Caroline Ralston, founder of Dubai proposal planning company Proposal Boutique, says Dubai's summer months used to be their busiest, with most of their clients being tourists who came to the region through tourist packages. However, this summer has been particularly challenging, with many proposals being pushed back or cancelled.
However, she is focusing on the positives; while the very nature of proposing demands a certain showmanship – a scenic background, professionally-taken pictures, lavish-over-the-top gestures – the pandemic offers an opportunity to also make a proposal more personal, even if it is over Zoom.
"I think sometimes people can get complacent when they hire a proposal planner, they want little involvement. But now, we are working with our clients and helping them get really creative. We're encouraging men who have never cooked cook to bake a cake or set up flower petals. It's really different, really sweet," she says. In order to help more couples, Proposal Boutique has been sharing marriage proposal ideas every day for two weeks on its social media channels, starting Wednesday, May 13.
With the pandemic restricting movement, many couples in the UAE are treasuring their smaller, more intimate proposal stories, as is the case with Dubai residents Anna Grathien Aronce and Glenn Curtis Judd. The proposal on Thursday, May 7, came over a homemade pasta dinner, says Aronce.
“It was right before our one-year anniversary and he had cooked dinner for the two of us. I genuinely got teary-eyed when he said he wanted to spend the rest of his life with me,” she adds.
The best part about this proposal, to her, was how personal it felt, she adds. “You don’t have to break the bank to make a proposal memorable,” she says.
When should you propose?
However, the proposal should be customised according to one's likes and dislikes, cautions Ralston. "If you already had an elaborate [plan] in mind, one you know what she is going to love, or if she is absolutely hating this quarantine period, then it might be better to wait to propose."
Bangara agrees. "Every case is different. For some, not proposing until this is over could be seen as all the more special because you have the patience to wait until it's all over. But on the other hand, there are some who are just ready for the next phase of their lives. At that point, the quarantine doesn't matter. All that matters is it's the right time and person."
Another benefit of a proposal during the pandemic, according to Ralston, is that it's definitely one that will be remembered.
“It’s really about the core of the matter which is what no matter what life throws at you, you can handle it together. This pandemic is actually a great example of that. It’s a story to share with your grandchildren one day, that you were quarantined but something beautiful came from it anyway.”
Planning to pop the question? Here are five creative at-home ideas, courtesy Caroline Ralston, founder of Proposal Boutique
1) Have a travel theme: for those who love travelling but aren’t able to do it anymore, you can recreate the magic of a foreign country using props.
2) Order a surprise cupcake delivery that spells out, “Will you marry me?”
3) Hire a Dubai musician to serenade you with your favourite songs over Zoom.
4) Put together a home treasure hunt that leads to an engagement ring.
5) Suggest a couples' games night where you both piece together a custom jigsaw puzzle, one that spells out 'Marry Me?'
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MATCH INFO
Norwich City 1 (Cantwell 75') Manchester United 2 (Aghalo 51' 118') After extra time.
Man of the match Harry Maguire (Manchester United)
Our Time Has Come
Alyssa Ayres, Oxford University Press
box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
Abu Dhabi World Pro 2019 remaining schedule:
Wednesday April 24: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-6pm
Thursday April 25: Abu Dhabi World Professional Jiu-Jitsu Championship, 11am-5pm
Friday April 26: Finals, 3-6pm
Saturday April 27: Awards ceremony, 4pm and 8pm
ALRAWABI%20SCHOOL%20FOR%20GIRLS
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SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2.4-litre%204-cylinder%20turbo%20hybrid%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20366hp%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E550Nm%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ETransmission%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESix-speed%20auto%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20From%20Dh360%2C000%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENow%0D%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
RESULT
Chelsea 2
Willian 13'
Ross Barkley 64'
Liverpool 0
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
57%20Seconds
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480hp at 6,500rpm
Torque: 570Nm from 2,300-5,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch auto
Fuel consumption: 10.4L/100km
Price: from Dh547,600
On sale: now
Mia Man’s tips for fermentation
- Start with a simple recipe such as yogurt or sauerkraut
- Keep your hands and kitchen tools clean. Sanitize knives, cutting boards, tongs and storage jars with boiling water before you start.
- Mold is bad: the colour pink is a sign of mold. If yogurt turns pink as it ferments, you need to discard it and start again. For kraut, if you remove the top leaves and see any sign of mold, you should discard the batch.
- Always use clean, closed, airtight lids and containers such as mason jars when fermenting yogurt and kraut. Keep the lid closed to prevent insects and contaminants from getting in.
Dunki
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The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
Price: From Dh299,000 ($81,415)
On sale: Now
TERMINAL HIGH ALTITUDE AREA DEFENCE (THAAD)
What is THAAD?
It is considered to be the US's most superior missile defence system.
Production:
It was created in 2008.
Speed:
THAAD missiles can travel at over Mach 8, so fast that it is hypersonic.
Abilities:
THAAD is designed to take out ballistic missiles as they are on their downward trajectory towards their target, otherwise known as the "terminal phase".
Purpose:
To protect high-value strategic sites, such as airfields or population centres.
Range:
THAAD can target projectiles inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere, at an altitude of 150 kilometres above the Earth's surface.
Creators:
Lockheed Martin was originally granted the contract to develop the system in 1992. Defence company Raytheon sub-contracts to develop other major parts of the system, such as ground-based radar.
UAE and THAAD:
In 2011, the UAE became the first country outside of the US to buy two THAAD missile defence systems. It then stationed them in 2016, becoming the first Gulf country to do so.
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
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
I Care A Lot
Directed by: J Blakeson
Starring: Rosamund Pike, Peter Dinklage
3/5 stars
Indoor cricket in a nutshell
Indoor Cricket World Cup - Sep 16-20, Insportz, Dubai
16 Indoor cricket matches are 16 overs per side
8 There are eight players per team
9 There have been nine Indoor Cricket World Cups for men. Australia have won every one.
5 Five runs are deducted from the score when a wickets falls
4 Batsmen bat in pairs, facing four overs per partnership
Scoring In indoor cricket, runs are scored by way of both physical and bonus runs. Physical runs are scored by both batsmen completing a run from one crease to the other. Bonus runs are scored when the ball hits a net in different zones, but only when at least one physical run is score.
Zones
A Front net, behind the striker and wicketkeeper: 0 runs
B Side nets, between the striker and halfway down the pitch: 1 run
C Side nets between halfway and the bowlers end: 2 runs
D Back net: 4 runs on the bounce, 6 runs on the full
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What it means to be a conservationist
Who is Enric Sala?
Enric Sala is an expert on marine conservation and is currently the National Geographic Society's Explorer-in-Residence. His love of the sea started with his childhood in Spain, inspired by the example of the legendary diver Jacques Cousteau. He has been a university professor of Oceanography in the US, as well as working at the Spanish National Council for Scientific Research and is a member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Biodiversity and the Bio-Economy. He has dedicated his life to protecting life in the oceans. Enric describes himself as a flexitarian who only eats meat occasionally.
What is biodiversity?
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, all life on earth – including in its forests and oceans – forms a “rich tapestry of interconnecting and interdependent forces”. Biodiversity on earth today is the product of four billion years of evolution and consists of many millions of distinct biological species. The term ‘biodiversity’ is relatively new, popularised since the 1980s and coinciding with an understanding of the growing threats to the natural world including habitat loss, pollution and climate change. The loss of biodiversity itself is dangerous because it contributes to clean, consistent water flows, food security, protection from floods and storms and a stable climate. The natural world can be an ally in combating global climate change but to do so it must be protected. Nations are working to achieve this, including setting targets to be reached by 2020 for the protection of the natural state of 17 per cent of the land and 10 per cent of the oceans. However, these are well short of what is needed, according to experts, with half the land needed to be in a natural state to help avert disaster.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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