Today, I shut down my PC at work at 7:30 pm. I can’t believe I spent an hour and a half of overtime on my last day of work – before my vacation starts. If you’re new to this blog, you might want to know that we expat workers here in Dubai get 30 days annual leave with pay + return flights for “home”. It’s one of those wonderful things about living and working in the UAE.

We work long hours, at least most of us do. I only have whole day of Friday and afternoon of Saturday off. I work 47.5 hours a week. Some people work longer. (Others are lucky to have 2 whole days for their weekends…so when they come online on Twitter at the start of the week to whine their 2 days off weren’t enough, I really want to punch my computer screen)

I’ve waited for this for so long. We’ve not had a vacation since 2009. That’s FOUR long years. Some of my work colleagues are quick to point out, “but you had a 3 months break after you gave birth!” Dude, when you have a small baby, it’s not a vacation. At all. I wish you become a woman and give birth in your next life!

I need some air – a respite from the somewhat hamster-in-a-wheel day to day living.

Also – I’ve been struggling with my “other life” – the faithful blogger, the avid street/food/sky/whatever-strikes-my-fancy photographer, the Twitter addict, that friend who never fails to answer emails within 5 minutes from receiving it (unless I’m asleep!), the one who’s always online. The life I am happier with.

Work has been hectic lately and I feel I’m burned out to do anything else.

When I come home, I come home to a toddler running towards me, one hand already under my shirt once I scoop him up. Twenty months after delivery, I am still breastfeeding – I’m getting exhausted with that as well. But when you see this face? You will not have the nerve to not give him what he wants.

Don’t get me wrong, I love breastfeeding and won’t have it any other way but while it looks easy breezy, it’s not. You are not the owner of your body anymore. Be prepared to become a human pacifier!

Anyway, I am looking forward to our vacation although full of worries (in another blog post!). I’m trying to stay positive – after all, isn’t it a big deal to wake up in the morning not thinking about going to work for 30 days?