I took a day off work for my birthday. First step was being showered with gifts – a bottle of Johnny Walker black 12 and a plethora of upgrade items to pimp my shisha.

After a bit of pottering about, dropping the kids off to school and the like, Eirene presented me with a voucher for a Jet Ski Experience. I’d commented (whilst sat on a beach one day) how I’d love to give that (pointing to a jetski in the distance) a go, someday. She remembered. Good wife.

We go to the beach, found our jet ski dude and he took me to my trusty steed. A two seater, 1200cc monster. My instructor was cool, although the other party that were also coming out with us stuffed their JetSki into the harbor wall on the way out. Oops. They were OK but the JetSki was not. After he’d escorted them back to the dock, we slowly headed out into open water.. then full throttle… WOOSH! Wozers, trousers… that thing can shift. Half an hour of bezzing around Burj Al Arab area it was time to go back. I was buzzing with adrenaline and actually shaking when I got off. What an experience.

Following that we headed to a restuarant I went to when I first arrived in Dubai – Al Fannah in Jumera Fishing Harbor. It’s apparently one of the oldest restaurants in Dubai and is still frequented by fishermen and boat workers. When we were in there a couple of what looked like luxury yacht chefs in their chefs whites came in to eat. Good sign. Near the door was a selection of the days catch – we chose a medium size Sheri fish – marinaded in masala. This was fried for us and served with rice. Amazing meal. Amazing deal as well – 71 AED all in. (about 15 GBP).

After that, we went to kulfilicious for an ice cream. Practically a bucket each. We saved some for the girls when we went to pick them up from school.

The night was a slow burn into tucking into my new whiskey and trying out my new shisha whilst chatting to Eirene under the stars. Textbook good day.