ABOUT ME

I’m Julie, a property geek and stay at home mum to twins Connie & Agnes. My husband James and I arrived in Abu Dhabi in 2009 with James’s work and my goal was to grow our 2nd income from UK property.  If you’re wanting to buy UK property whilst your overseas have a look at this short booklet. It’s what I’ve learned and my Top Tips for anyone wanting to do something similar! bit.ly/12essentialsivelearned

WHERE IS HOME?

Home is wherever we are right now, which at the moment is Abu Dhabi. At some point in 2022 we plan to have a world adventure, take the kids out of school, worldschool and go where the wind takes us.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER? 

At one point I wanted to work in a bank.  I also remember thinking of businesses I could set up (when I was around 10 I remember putting a lot of thought into if I could make a load of cakes and sell them to the corner shop for example…. Until someone told me that Health and Safety regulations probably e we kind allow it).

WHAT DO YOU DO?

I’m a stay at home expat mum/ wife and invest in property in the UK in a simple way that fits in with life.  For me that means being a present parent, not having to fly back to the UK to oversee everything, not having my phone ring and being able to run the business from my phone. Having been asked a lot over the years how I do things I now spend some of my working hours helping other expats figure out their strategy and help them find a way to buy UK property in a way that works for them by sharing what I’m doing, working with people 1-to-1 or creating online workshops and programmes.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ACTIVITY TO DO WITH YOUR CHILDREN?

At the moment we’re into card games, Pontoon, Rummy —-  whenever we go out I’ve always got a pack of cards in my bag so we are we can have a card game (if anyone has any tips of great card games for 8 year olds please let me know because I’m regularly loosing with Rummy

HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR WEEKENDS?

Mostly at the beach or pool at The Club in Abu Dhabi.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE?

The kids have gone off it but I love The Greatest Showman. Who doesn’t love a good musical?

IF YOU COULD EAT ONE MEAL FOR THE REST OF YOUR LIFE, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

Yikes, this is tough as I love ALL food! But I think it would be indian food, but not spicy Indian food …. I really can’t handle chillies.

WHO’S YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH?

Aw well, I’m gonna have to say my husband James. He was on TV once so he tells us, so he’s the celebrity in our fam.

WHICH DESTINATION IS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST TO VISIT?

Soooo many places. Hawaii for surfing, Switzerland for Skiing and walking the mountains in the summer, Scotland for camper van adventures, sailing in the med.

WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

I’m torn between lounger at the beach and a book or going to sleep at 8pm.  What would my younger self say to that lols.

IF YOU COULD HAVE A SUPER POWER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?

As a property geek,  it would have to be ending homelessness.  In the UK homelessness is a huge issue, and the cause is not what you might think.  The homeless in the UK are mostly care leavers, veterans or people escaping domestic violence.  We provide homes to charities and local authorities who support these types of tenants and/or help them sustain their own long term tenancy.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN DUBAI/ ABU DHABI?

So many things it’s tough to choose one but getting out into the desert and camping in the dunes and exploring is pretty special… especially when you bump into a camel.  The kids love finding animal tracks and following them round the dunes.