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BOOK REVIEW: The Dinner

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A Dutch (not Swedish this time) bestseller by Herman Koch is set mainly in one of those impossible to get a table at restaurants (not in DIFC). The “Dinner” group comprises of two brothers – one is an aspiring politician – and their wives having a fancy meal as part of a sophisticated evening.

The book seems to focus in the first half or so on the absurdities of haute cuisine and the haute price tags for your food and all that accompany it but then the real reason behind the dinner is revealed.

The sons of the two brothers seem to have been caught on camera indulging in what you’d never believe your teenager could be capable of, after all they’ve been brought up properly with your sense of values and you’ve taught them right from wrong.   And this is so wrong.

But something despicable has happened and political incorrectness is the least of the problems discussed.  The story then turns to explore how far parents will go to protect their children and their sanity. This is not a parenting book at all but an interesting thriller with a novel format.

 If you want some advice on how to handle your teenagers then listen to parents speaking out at the talk called  ‘NEGOTIATING THE TEENAGE TUNNEL’ next week in the Arabian Ranches.

Sometimes books are hard to get in Dubai, so I have linked you here, click on the highlighted name or the book pictured above:  The Dinner  to get yours.

How would you rate this book ? Leave me a comment and rating ( 1 – 10) 1 in the box below.

Please also like and share the post on Facebook.

For more of my book reviews click here

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TEENAGERS IN DUBAI

Bringing up teenagers in any city in the world has it’s trials and tribulations but for a huge expat community being a parent of a teenager suddenly means a whole new set of responsibilities. And while our children were little, no one will deny that having a maid to help out with the domestic drudgery meant we had more time to explore stimulating classes and play sessions but no amount of staff (well maybe a driver would help!) can provide respite from the often fraught path of teenage life.

Many of us have spent part of our summers back in our home countries where often teenagers can dress differently, behave differently, speak differently and importantly the repercussions of their behavior are dealt with differently by the authorities than they are here. That’s not to say one system is better than the other, there are problems everywhere but this is where we live so we need to work within the confines of the norms here.

We as parents have to carefully balance a teenager’s natural desire to carve out an identity for themselves and all that brings with it  with social pressures, peer pressures and study pressures in the context of the country we live in without it feeling like a constant battle ground for all concerned.

Well that’s easier said than done, does your teenager go to all the parties/gatherings they’ve been invited to? Do you pick them up at the door or allow them to come home in a taxi with a friend ? What is a reasonable time for a 17 year old to be expected home ? What is a reasonable amount of revision to do before a test or exam ? Are sleepovers ok during term time or should they be saved for holidays ? Do you ban blackberries at mealtimes at least ? Do you really think they MUST have an ipad/iphone as schools are using more and more technology? Is the only option to have a laptop in their bedrooms? Should you  pull the plug out of the internet at night ?  I really don’t know !

These types of issues will be addressed in a talk that’s happening on the 15th of October in Dubai. Carole Spiers, a renowned motivational speaker who has 3 children of her own and works in the UK and the UAE is leading a talk/workshop called NEGOTIATING THE TEENAGE TUNNEL and this talk is aimed at parents of any teenagers based here in the UAE. For Dhs 100 a ticket it’ll be money well spent and maybe mark the beginning of a series of talks that will provide some much needed guidance and practical support for parents.

Click here for how you can come to this talk.

Let me know if you think this type of workshop is a good idea and also send me in your key concerns surrounding your teenager and DoinDubai will send them in to Carole Spiers who will try and incorporate some answers in her talk.

Thanks Monica. And as usual please like and share this post on facebook.

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TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR – TPOTY

The Travel Photographer of the Year exhibition is on at the Royal Geographical Society in London’s South Kensington and it’s not too late to submit your photos that may win super prizes. Kids on holiday with you ? Then they could enter too, the youngest entrants this year are 9 years old and prizes have been won by juniors as young as 12 ! So get clicking !

We visited this lovely exhibition and enjoyed looking at the stunning photos in a number of categories from exotic, adventure, places and faces and nature to name a few. Some of the images perfectly captured a tender moment, a child’s naivety or a wizened old man’s worldliness. I thought it was only paintings that could move people but it is clear that photography is a medium that has the power to move.

Check the exhibition out, nearest station is South Kensington and then walk up Exhibition Road, soak up the atmosphere of the gorgeous garden with some images displayed outdoors and take away some inspiration to take better images that will stay with you for a long time. Entrance is free.

Many of the images are available to buy as postcards or cards, but we bought the ‘Journey’ books that catalogue all the images, 3 volumes for 30 pounds.

The exhibition is on till the 2nd of September but entries may be sent in upto the 17th of September. Click on  www.tpoty.com for how to submit your photos.

And as usual, please like and share on Facebook and subscribe to posts by putting your email address in the subscribe box,  thanks Monica.

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BEST KIDS CAMPS: ART AT DIFC DUBAI

UPDATE FEB 2015

Although this is an old post, it gives you an idea of what the Art Camp is all about. I will update it with summer schedules as soon as they come out. Thanks Monica. It’s also worth calling to see if there are places for summer interns for the older kids as well! 

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The Farjam Collection art gallery’s summer camp (in Dubai’s DIFC) for kids aged roughly 7-10 still has places for the rest of the summer. This is the 3rd summer the camp has been running and it manages to incorporate a range of art activities inspired by art works in the well established and professional collection.  The kids are typical of Dubai, a mix of nationalities but all of whom are comfortable with English instruction. A typical day may comprise of creating art that incorporates painting, clay, drawing, collage and more. Class sizes are small with a high ratio of qualified internationally trained staff who interact with the children and encourage them at all stages of their creations.  Prices are very reasonable at Dhs 100 per day that INCLUDE all materials, unlike some classes I have come across where you need to shell out a fair amount of money before any tuition starts.

Art_Camp_Dubai_Summer

And the icing on the cake ? It’s based in DIFC, so for those of us who are not fasting, you can have a coffee with friends, or meet up for lunch at any of the range of fab restaurants in DIFC while the kids are educated and entertained at the same time. (Click here  for a link to a review of Royal China, a great Chinese chain with branches in London and Hong Kong as well as DIFC)

Call Marjan on    Tel: + 971 (0) 4 323 0303

to find out more or to book a place for your child any day this week starting from Sunday 29th of July or email   marjan@farjamcollection.org to find out more. Do mention you heard about the camp from Monica at www.doindubai.com and as usual do like and share the post on Facebook.

Send me in some pictures of your youngster’s creations and I’ll update the post with the images in August. Who knows maybe they’ll exhibit at Art Dubai next !

www.farjamcollection.org  at Dubai’s DIFC is at Gate Village 4.

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