As I said in my last post, the kids have been doing really well in wanting to make friends, and just getting on with it. They start school tomorrow, so that should really help too.
As for us grown-ups, we're doing reasonably well too. We knew a couple of people from my company, but have started being introduced to other people through those friends, and are also starting to meet other people too. One of the nice things about being in the hotel is that the club is a social hub for the Palm Meadows community. With the pools, play areas and restaurants a lot of people hang out here. This morning while the kids were playing a lady we've seen in the hotel and at some school events came over to talk to us and we swapped phone numbers. Also with the Sunday Brunch at the hotel, loads of families hang out here for ages - two or more hours - while they eat and the kids play in the pool. It's really relaxed and a great way to get talking to other people. At the moment a lot of the conversation is along the same lines: how long have you been here, who do you work for, how old are the kids, where do they go to school; but as we're getting to know each other a bit more we're talking about more meaningful stuff too.
Also the brunch food is really decent - a great buffet of Indian, "continental" (= western) and Chinese foods, including the chefs hard at work at the outdoor tandoor. This is the guys making chicken tikka and garlic naan for me:
The brunch comes with beer or champagne. I wasn't going to have anything to drink seeing as a few of us went out (without the kids!) last night to a phenomenal local place called Chez Mariannick. It's a little French bakery/creperie owned by a really nice couple, and has tons of charm. It's probably about a 20 minute walk from here along the main road, then down a side street to the edge of a field:
It's pretty much a hut which the guy built, and contains the crepe making stove, plus giant brick ovens where they bake French breads and phenomenal pizzas. Inside are wooden tables; outside are granite tables (less likely to be stolen). The co-owner, Shashi, is a great host, really chatty and he looked after us very well. All meals come with giant bowls of salad (made nice and crunchy with the addition of baby corn slices), delicious simple vinaigrette, and yummy French bread. Loads of different savory and sweet pancakes to choose from, as well as pizzas. They only serve wine, and only one type of red, white or rose. I was a tad suspicious of the Indian red, but it was very drinkable - slightly too much so, as our friend Jay and I polished off two bottles between us. So this morning I wasn't feeling on top form, but the magic of coffee, dosa, fresh garlic naan and a beer set me right pretty quickly.
As for us grown-ups, we're doing reasonably well too. We knew a couple of people from my company, but have started being introduced to other people through those friends, and are also starting to meet other people too. One of the nice things about being in the hotel is that the club is a social hub for the Palm Meadows community. With the pools, play areas and restaurants a lot of people hang out here. This morning while the kids were playing a lady we've seen in the hotel and at some school events came over to talk to us and we swapped phone numbers. Also with the Sunday Brunch at the hotel, loads of families hang out here for ages - two or more hours - while they eat and the kids play in the pool. It's really relaxed and a great way to get talking to other people. At the moment a lot of the conversation is along the same lines: how long have you been here, who do you work for, how old are the kids, where do they go to school; but as we're getting to know each other a bit more we're talking about more meaningful stuff too.
Also the brunch food is really decent - a great buffet of Indian, "continental" (= western) and Chinese foods, including the chefs hard at work at the outdoor tandoor. This is the guys making chicken tikka and garlic naan for me:
The brunch comes with beer or champagne. I wasn't going to have anything to drink seeing as a few of us went out (without the kids!) last night to a phenomenal local place called Chez Mariannick. It's a little French bakery/creperie owned by a really nice couple, and has tons of charm. It's probably about a 20 minute walk from here along the main road, then down a side street to the edge of a field:
It's pretty much a hut which the guy built, and contains the crepe making stove, plus giant brick ovens where they bake French breads and phenomenal pizzas. Inside are wooden tables; outside are granite tables (less likely to be stolen). The co-owner, Shashi, is a great host, really chatty and he looked after us very well. All meals come with giant bowls of salad (made nice and crunchy with the addition of baby corn slices), delicious simple vinaigrette, and yummy French bread. Loads of different savory and sweet pancakes to choose from, as well as pizzas. They only serve wine, and only one type of red, white or rose. I was a tad suspicious of the Indian red, but it was very drinkable - slightly too much so, as our friend Jay and I polished off two bottles between us. So this morning I wasn't feeling on top form, but the magic of coffee, dosa, fresh garlic naan and a beer set me right pretty quickly.
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