The Year of Farewells

For the past few years, at around June or July, I’d post photos of the people in our lives in the previous year. (It used to be March or April, and it got progressively later as the years went by. That’s how it is with yours truly here, the bloody procrastinator). I’ve not done a people post this year. It’s September, shucks! Another 2 months late. But never mind, better late than never, as the saying goes. So, here are the people who graced our lives in 2022. God bless them. Thanks for coming into our lives. You’ve made our lives more colourful and happening. I hope we continue to meet.

But sadly, 2022 was a year of farewells. So many have shifted away. That’s how it is with the UAE, a transitional home. You come, make a living and then go on your way, to greener pastures, or back home. To you all, may your futures be bright and joyous, may you have success in all your endeavours! Cheers!


Justin and his school mates, GEMS Metropole School, Dubai, Mar 2022 – From left: Justin, Jayden, Ritaj (girl with mask – from Pakistan), Sebastian (from the US - he left at the end of the academic year in Jun 2022), Yiro (I hope that’s how it’s spelt - from Korea), Nikita (from Russia) and Jamal (from Kyrgyztan)


Jayden made some friends when he was selected to join the school musical play when he was in Year 3. Jayden isn’t shy about singing. Here he is with 2 of the lead performers of the school play, "Cindy" (behind, real name Melissa) and "Bobby" (beside, errr... dunno her real name, sorry) – GEMS Metropole School, Mar 2022


The Director of Performing Arts of GEMS Metropole School, Mr Andrew Sullivan (left). This was Justin’s drama teacher when he was in Year 7 and the person who made GEMS Metropole School’s first successful big-time school play, ‘Sunny-Side Up’ which Jayden was part of. This photo was taken at another GEMS School i.e. GEMS Wellington International School where a music competition which Justin participated in, was being held. Unfortunately, Mr Sullivan left GEMS Metropole School at the end of the last academic year, in July this year. What a pity, he was a great drama and performing arts teacher!


Jamal, one of Justin’s best friends (if not the best), at our home in July 2022 on his last visit, before he and his family moved to the UK. His younger brother is the same age as Jayden. They’re Kyrgyztan nationals, but are of mixed Saudi-Kyrgyztan parentage. Their dad is from Saudi Arabia, and mom is Kyrgystani


Another farewell. A gathering with Aria and Mashel (right most), Justin’s ex-classmates from Year 1, before Mashel and her mom moved to Canada, Dubai, July 2022


Here are the adults. Mashel’s mom is Jasna (right most) at Dubai Silicon Oasis, July 2022. Our families have been meeting since Justin, Aria and Mashel were in Year 1. Aria’s parents Roby and Madhavi (middle) threw a birthday party for Aria at that time where all of us attended, and we’ve kept in touch since then


And then it’s Justin’s turn to leave. Diwali 2022, two weeks before Justin was to fly off to Singapore. Here, with the Pandhare family, our neighbour in Oia Residence


Pretty damsels in a row, at Bhavna (right most) and Umesh Aggarwal’s house, Oia Residence, Diwali 2022. Bhavna’s daughter is Dyuti (left most). The other ladies here are Bhavna’s friend and her daughter


With the kids of another neighbour. Advika (standing) and Shreya (sitting), daughters of Abha and KP Singh, at our hone, Diwali 2022


A return visit. Abha (middle) and KP’s (right most) home in Oia Residence, together with Rajeshri and Milind Pandhare


A farewell / advance birthday party for Justin with his school mates before he flies off to Singapore! Nov 2022. From left, Mosaab (from Egypt), Nikita (Russia), Som (Korea), Malik (Egypt), Moaaz (Egypt), Jayden, Angelina (Korea), Justin, Sean Linz (India), Abdul (India), Ashton (India), and Yiro (Korea)


With Roby and Madhavi Mathew, parents of Aria and Vivah. One last play date at the ice-skating rink in Sport Society, Dubai, before Justin leaves Dubai, Nov 2022


The Hassan Family from Egypt, our neighbours in Oia Residence and the kids’ school mates, in Circle Mall, JVC, Dubai, Nov 2022. Moaaz (second right) is Justin’s classmate and good friend. Malik is also in the same academic year as Moaaz and Justin, but in another class. Mosaab, the birthday boy, is the same year as Jayden, and became Jayden’s friend after Justin left for Singapore. Unfortunately, the Hassans have also left Dubai for Abu Dhabi earlier this year


And here’s a grainy picture of the one family visit we had in 2022. Cousin Jane visited us while on holiday in the UAE, with a German friend, Mark, who works in Abu Dhabi – Dec 2022


A people post wouldn’t be complete without at least one photo of my colleagues at work. Here is an Iftar gathering at last year’s Ramadan (Apr 2022), at a hotel restaurant at the Meydan Racecourse, Dubai. Those in the photo are, from left, Aimen (Traffic Engineer) (sorry Aimen, it was not I who took the photo), Ashik (NOC Coordinator), Ramy (Project Manager), Wang Wei (PM), Eyad (PM), Mohsen (PM – he’s also left our Company), yours truly, Cheng Qianli (DGM – then, now GM), Wei Chuanhai (GM – then, now VP), Talal (DGM), Naser Khalil (CM), Pramod (CM Electrical), Ren (DPM), …and others who’re cut out of the photo by our trusty photographer, sorry mates, not my fault!

That’s all for now folks.