ABOUT ME

I arrived in Dubai nearly ten years ago, single and having only been here once before, on a stopover coming home from a holiday in Thailand. I met my now husband Michael in the office where we worked, a year after arriving in the desert. He proposed within 9 months of us being together, we married in Scotland 2 years later and 9 months ago we welcomed our first baby, Cece to the world.  Everything changed after Cece’s arrival and I decided to leave my corporate career behind and I now own my own ladies salon in City Walk, Soak, where I can be found most days.

WHERE IS HOME?

The seaside town of Whitley Bay in the North East of England. I am the youngest of 5 children and have 9 nieces and nephews, so home is wherever they all are.

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER? 

That depended on the day and my mood, it varied a LOT! Everything from a vet to a beauty therapist and everything in between! I even applied to the RAF after universi

WHAT DO YOU DO?

If you had asked me a couple of months ago I would have told you that I’m an ACCA chartered accountant with a 20 year finance career, most recently in luxury retail. However, my priorities totally changed after the birth of my daughter 9 months ago and I decided to leave the corporate world behind and follow my dream of opening my own salon, Soak in City Walk!  I have absolutely no experience in anything remotely related to beauty so I’m winging it every day – but loving it!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE ACTIVITY TO DO WITH YOUR CHILDREN?

Wrap us both in a blanket and curl up for a nap together! She’s only 9 months old but is really cheeky so she’s pretty good fun to do anything with!

HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR WEEKENDS?

Working at the salon at the moment with it being so new! But being able to set my own hours means I usually fit in a swim or something fun with Cece at least.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE?

The Shawshank Redemption – if I’m trying to sound cultured! Haha, in reality its Mannequin!

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

Thai curry – all day every day!

WHO’S YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH?

Channing Tatum – in the Magic Mike era! 

WHICH DESTINATION IS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST TO VISIT?

The Maldives is our favourite place on earth but I’m dying to go back with Cece, that would take it to a whole new level! Also dying to do the wine trails in South Africa – maybe not with Cece! Ha

WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

Trash TV and snacks… lots of snacks!

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

I dream all the time that I can fly!! It would definitely be that!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN DUBAI?

So many things, meeting Michael of course, how safe it is, how many opportunities are here if you want them enough. I miss my family more than I can describe, but it also means that the time we do get together we really make the most of… we appreciate it more than we may have if I had never moved away.  Seeing my Mum climbing in the back of a safari truck in the middle of Sri Lanka not too long after my Dad had died, really made me stop and think – that would NEVER have happened if we hadn’t been living here.