Notes by Nectar

I got back from Bombay on Thursday night. It was nice to have the place to myself. I hadn’t made any plans for the weekend and spent most of it catching up with work and reading.

I ventured out on Saturday afternoon to meet a friend for coffee at Eataly in the Dubai Mall. We bumped into a mutual friend of ours who joined us – it was nice to be out and about again.

On Sunday evening a friend and I decided to go for a mani/pedi together. We’d booked at The Nail Spa at Mercato – she had a gift voucher and I had a voucher for a free manicure when I booked my pedicure. It’s a nice place but I still prefer going to the Shangri-La for my nails.

I had a piano lesson on Monday afternoon and on my way home I joined the gym at the Shangri-La. And once I got back home I didn’t leave the house again until Wednesday morning, when I went to the gym.

That evening I met up with a friend for dinner. We went to Teatro at the Towers Rotana. We started with a couple of drinks and then ordered the pandan chicken to start with followed by sushi (we were trying to be healthy). We ordered the Screaming Salmon (sliced salmon with jalapeno and traditional ponzu – this was my favourite dish of the evening), Yuzu Tuna (sliced tuna with cilantro and yuzu vinaigrette) and spicy salmon and tuna rolls. After dinner we went to Novikov for a drink. It is so much nicer than the one in London! We stayed for one drink and then left.

On Thursday I went for a much-needed haircut and colour. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d cut my hair and it was just an inch shy of my waistline. I’ve never had hair that long – but it really needed a cut so I had a few inches taken off. I spent most of my afternoon at the salon!

On Thursday night I met up with a friend at the Novotel’s Blue Bar (at the World Trade Centre) – we were catching a drink and quick bite before going to see Spandau Ballet! Neither of us was particularly hungry so we ordered the calamari and the nachos. I had Entertainer vouchers so we only paid for one dish (and the wine).

We made our way to the arena a little before 9pm and got some drinks. I’d been hesitant about going as I didn’t know that many Spandau Ballet songs – but I’m glad I went because they were so good!

I thought they would finish with ‘True’ as they’d already done a short a cappella version of ‘Gold’ earlier. But they played the whole song again.

And they ended with ‘Through the Barricades’. It was a great concert. Tony Hadley’s voice is incredible, even after 30 years.

We walked back to the Blue Bar after that and had a few more drinks.

I was home all day on Friday. I did a bit of work, watched a few episodes of ‘Transparent’, did some yoga. It was very chilled.

On Saturday night I met a friend for dinner at Prime 68 on the 68th floor of the JW Marriott Marquis. We shared a Caesar’s salad to start and then both had the 7 oz French Charolais filet with peppercorn sauce. We also shared three sides: lobster creamed corn, baby French potatoes (crisped in duck fat) and Mom’s mac and cheese (disappointingly bland). We also had a bottle of Pinot Noir. We were far too full to even contemplate dessert!

I love my life.

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