The Sunday Hive: What the Week Yielded

It appears that Sunday evening will be my day for writing. Just before I open my work laptop and start planning for the week ahead and just after a good Saturday rest with a clear mind and enough memories from last week to share.

My week in the nutshell

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Last Monday kicked off on a smooth note. Clothes - ironed, time from previous week - closed, hair - done, house - cleaned; One of the best things about Dubai, which I would have never been able to afford in Europe or elsewhere at this stage of my life is being able to have someone handle the household admin like cleaning and getting my clothes ironed before the week even begins...Honestly, it's a game-changer. Also I have a hairdresser in my building who sorts out my hair each week (which lasts exactly 5 days, which is a wow). Those are the kinds of tasks that, while necessary, I just don't feel like the best use of my time. For me, it really boils down to maximising my most valuable asset: my time itself. This may be because of my profession and seeing everything in billable vs non-billable hours.

When I think about tasks like laundry, cooking, and cleaning – things I'm honestly not very good at – it feels like spending my time on them is actually costing me more in the long run. It's like a little math problem I run in my head. By handing off those "less important" tasks, I'm freeing myself up to focus on things where I can really create and produce more. In that sense, outsourcing doesn't feel like an extra expense; it actually becomes the more economical choice because of the value I place on my time.

That smooth Monday start definitely took a sharp turn - demands came in from all sides – client needs, urgent tasks piling up, and then the personal admin hitting me too. Trying to juggle booking a bunch of summer flights, dealing with my tenants situation back in London, and still wanting to be present and supportive wife. On top of everything, I pulled a Mariela special and mixed up the dates for a wedding I need to attend this summer...chaos all around.

Speaking of the London tenant, I've come to the humbling realisation that I'm probably not cut out to be a landlord. My last experience was with a tenant who skipped out on months of rent. A terrible choice on my part (You know that Bulgarian type – all show on social media with fake brands from tip to toe, quoting inspirational stuff, but not so inspirational when it comes to paying the bills. Familia, right?). Hubby thankfully handles most of that now, but I still get pulled in here and there. The new tenant is a delight though!

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The outfit I felt most inspired in My favorite spot orner office. Mindul walk around the office his week. warm up from the strong aircon.

Despite the chaos, there were some genuine highlights. Catching up with a favorite colleague who's been going through a rough patch was a real boost. And on a personal note, I finally made a purchase I've been eyeing for ages – it felt like a big investment, but it's my (not so) little reward for passing probation. Definitely marking the end of my shopping spree for a while!

One blink and the week was over...

the weekend

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Friday night was everything I've been hoping for all week. Got my holiday nails done (peach all the way). Netflix and marga. The new documentary on Netflix, American Manhunt: Osama bin Laden. Documentaries about American intelligence and Middle Eastern conflicts are my favorites, and paired with a homemade margarita...I am not leaving the house.

On Saturday, my other half surprised me with a yoga session and a facial massage at the Sage Wellness Club. I woke up pretty grumpy, not knowing what to expect but this quickly changed once we arrived at the spot. I have not been to a yoga class for probably over a year. My yoga era ended when I started my training contract and frankly I was a bit anxious as how I would perform, but at the end I did not have time to think about it too much since we were late rushing into the class.

It went as expected. Mainly me falling around, having shaky legs and arms, and my back felt funny from all the sitting I do all the time, but it was fun! Some moves I still got in me, but the rest 99%, its a no...

The class was followed by a lovely back and face massage. Alyn, the massage lady, pretty quickly realised my back is quite damaged and we spent most of the time trying to release any pressure I had in it. The last 20 minutes were facial massage and honestly, the effect was wow!

My face felt so refreshed as if I had botox and fillers all at once, but way better and healthier. It's fascinating to observe the beauty trends here in Dubai, and really, across the globe. There's such a focus on altering facial features and overall appearance through things like Botox, fillers, and rhinoplasty. But sometimes I think we overlook the power of something much simpler: a regular facial massage. It's amazing what a difference a little focused attention and manipulation can make. On that note, I have also been using NuFACE Mini almost every night and my face has never been firmer.

Overall, this place was 10/10 and the starter package was really worth it!

We then quickly went on to drop Maui to his favorite weekend getaway, Barkville, and made our way to the Moon Retreat, which is around 50-minute drive from Dubai. Our friends called us on Friday with an amazing last minute offer to go for a night at this quiet camping spot with their adorable two-months-old newborn.

To be clear, this wasn't the average European camping experience. Imagine a desert getaway, but with a definite step up – a private pool, surprisingly affordable. We grilled burgers, enjoyed some barbecue, hopped in the pool a few times, and I was on babysitting duty for a good part of it.

Those moments spent playing with the little one sparked (yet again) this undeniable feeling – the deep desire to have a baby of my own. It's a familiar pull at my heartstrings. Living in my thirties, it feels like babies are everywhere. And without fail, the question after the standard "How's Dubai?" is always, "So, when are you planning to have a baby?"

There's this distinct societal pressure, especially for women in their 30s, urging them towards motherhood sooner rather than later. But it's a path I've consciously decided not to rush. I know I am more ready than many out there, but I'm not about to be pushed into such a life-altering decision. There are still so many personal goals I want to achieve, so much I want to experience, to ensure I can be the most fulfilled and present mother possible.

I have a clear vision of the kind of mother I want to be. I don't want to be someone who feels they've had to put their own dreams on hold out of exhaustion after having a child, perhaps relying heavily on a partner's resources, and completely reshaping their life before they truly feel ready. Instead, I aspire to be a mother who has a strong sense of her own identity, someone who has lived life to its absolute fullest. I want to be brimming with stories and experiences to share with my children, a testament to a life well-lived before they even arrived.

Perhaps it's about building a solid foundation first. Just like constructing a strong building, I want to ensure my own life is stable and fulfilling before adding the incredible responsibility and joy of raising a child. This isn't about delaying joy; it's about ensuring I can bring my best self to motherhood when the time is right. It's about creating a space where both my child and I can thrive, supported by a mother who feels complete in her own right.

We spent the rest of the night playing exploding kittens and laughing at silly memories from England. It was just.perfect.

On our way back to Dubai, we stopped at our favorite veggie store, which happened to be right next to the camping site. Got some tasty mangos from Yemen and drove off to pick up Maui.

So, that was the week in a nutshell! I'm genuinely curious to see what the next one holds. And honestly, I'm really glad I didn't put this off and actually got all my thoughts down on paper (or screen!). This feels a bit like a therapy I didn't realise I needed each Sunday. Fingers crossed I can keep this going and I'll see you here again next week.

Love,

M