ABOUT ME

I’m Gemma, mummy to three crazy kiddies and a Navy wife. We moved to Dubai in August 2021 so we’re still settling in, but love it so far. It just feels like a big holiday at the moment, just waiting to be told it’s time to go home!

Life is always hectic in our house, but I wouldn’t change it for the world! My eldest has ASD (autism spectrum disorder) and as a family it’s taken a bit of getting used to but it’s definitely made us all aware of everyone’s differences and we always try and tackle and embrace his issues together as a family.

WHERE IS HOME?

Home is Whiteley in Hampshire (in between Portsmouth and Southampton) in the south of England. Definitely closer to Portsmouth than Southampton if you ask my husband though, we’re Pompey fans in our house! 

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE YOUNGER? 

I always wanted to either be an air hostess or a fashion designer, but then I think most girls did at some point!

WHAT DO YOU DO?

My background is marketing, having done a Marketing Degree, I’ve worked in marketing ever since.  I’ve obviously been busy with babies in between so now I try to work around them, it’s tricky trying to find the balance but we’re getting there!

I also sell Tropic Skincare as I love it! I sold it for a while to friends and family before moving here and that still keeps me busy. It’s nice to have something for ‘me’ and it means I can keep in touch with everyone and still get skin products for myself!

 

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE ACTIVITY TO DO WITH YOUR CHILDREN?

Swimming, although the kids can’t ‘properly’ swim yet, it’s just so lovely seeing them splash about and enjoy the water and anything that means I haven’t got to watch Paw Patrol is a winner for me!

HOW DO YOU SPEND YOUR WEEKENDS?

So as we’ve just got here, I feel like we’re still adjusting to the heat and the kids are getting used to school. So we usually spend one day at home doing nothing just to recharge and then we try to venture out and explore all that Dubai has to offer.

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE MOVIE?

This is a random answer as I have two favourite films and they’re so different. My first is Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels, I love any Guy Richie film to be honest: Snatch, The Gentlemen, Rock n’ Rolla – I love them all! And of course the new Aladdin movie!

My other ‘all time favourite’ film is Hairspray, (the one with Zac Efron of course!) I love it and the kids love the songs from it too! No matter what mood I’m in, it always makes me smile.

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

Roast dinner although not that I’ve had one since leaving the UK. A roast dinner is the meal that Glen (my husband) always cooks and I think that’s why I love them so much!

WHO’S YOUR CELEBRITY CRUSH?

Zac Efron he’s been my celebrity crush ever since watching High School Musical when it first came out!

WHICH DESTINATION IS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST TO VISIT?

Either New Zealand or Australia for sure! Hopefully when the world opens up again we can venture over that way as we have friends over there that we’d love to see!

WHAT’S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE?

Watching Hollyoaks, it’s awful but I love it!

 

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

A tidying up super power that when I looked at something it would just be tidy! Having 3 kids means I spend most my time putting stuff away!

WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT LIVING IN DUBAI?

That everyone is so super friendly here, it has a real family feel which I did not expect! Especially walking around with a baby we always seem to get stopped, but she loves the attention and loves to wave and say hi so going out and about can take a while.