Mobile Torture Devices

As promised, my post about Carrefour's infamous electrocuting trolleys.

The subject of Carrefour comes up quite regularly amongst Al Ainites. Why? Well, lets face it, if there is a place in this city where everyone goes, it's there. It's our biggest supermarket and still, on the whole, is the cheapest..although not as cheap as it used to be. (moan, whinge)

It's a common topic of conversation at Al Ain dinner parties:

"Oh this fois gras is delicious, where did you get it?
"Carrefour" ( a no brainer )
"Really? I'll have to look out for it next time I'm in there. Talking of
Carrefour, is it just me or does anyone else get electrocuted by the
trolleys?"

Now, I'm talking about the old trolleys, the ones with the grey wheels that are a little bit wonky. Those are the ones you need to avoid. Unfortunately the rest of Al Ain knows this tip and if you visit on a Thursday night you have no choice. Well you do have a choice: starvation or electrocution. Carefully, you manoeuvre round the store, clinging on to the plastic handle as you can hear the static building up with every aisle. Touch that metal and wham!

The good news is that the UAE is bound for static-free shopping.

Nothings changed here

January is the month that many Al Ainites who work at the two big educational establishments get their first big holiday since the summer. This means Al Ain is dead(er) for about a fortnight.

With the new semester brings the return of these over-worked-underpaid senseis. So where did they go? Well, the poorest ones stayed in Al Ain with the highlight of the holiday being a trip up to the bright lights of Dubai, maybe a day on Jumeirah Beach Park. The slightly richer ones went to Oman, spending most of the holiday in their 4 wheel drive on a long straight road or in a tent on the Hajars. The ones with a bit more cash either went to India or Thailand. Finally, the moneyed ones or those so homesick they don't care went home to the UK and froze their little ***** off.

This weekend they all convened in the H&J with different stories to tell:

-Etihad Airways are flying Iberworld charter jets on their Abu Dhabi-Gatwick route at the moment and the experience is terrible...

-It was freezing in England and expensive but worth it

-I got Delhi Belly and was on a drip for three days

-Carrefour was really quiet and I managed to get one of the trolleys with red wheels that don't electricute you.

All your maid wants for Christmas is at Carrefour

Now do you get her a yellow one, a red one or a green one?

Welcome to Al Ain

Welcome to the UAE's Garden City, a 90 minute drive down the 66 from Dubai and you think you're in another world. Because you are. This is Al Ain where life revolves around Carrefour and a big night out is Thursdays at Luce's. You have been warned....