Passionate about

I was married once.  He gave me his name. It was an amazing gift and when we went our seperate ways, I walked away with nothing except this name to set out and start a new chapter. Eventually I returned to London, most people raised their brows  as Dennie Pasion sounded like a stripper or a porn star. I liked to shock at dinner parties when an irritating toff would ask me to spell it !, in a mocking tone,: exactly what did you do in Las Vegas Dennie Pasion?Well I liked to tell them exactly what they wanted to hear …….My friends would cringe and berry their heads in their napkins. …..Passion is a difficult word for the british it comes easy for south americans, spainish, french  Italian.  When I first started looking for accomodation in Hampstead ,north london a real estate agent kindly suggested that I change my name to ensure a good address. Here in Dubai , well there is no passion so  it cannot be pronounced.  ….. people ask is miss poison at home or thankyou miss payson. I know my name has only one S but two could be dangerous…. I say show me the Passion, feel it, act it, speak it and wear it. Come on I want to know if there is passion in this Viral world what are people passionate about. All of the magazines ask celebrities what they have in their handbags  what they eat for lunch what is the must have item of the season what is their favourite music??? have we become a nation of snoops ?? what am I passionate about….  I am passionate about Truth  …..just look at the word it is strong , short and sturdy. I see it in red, bold and balanced! The R and U letters are the question in the centre of the word.  Truth. Truth  is present  it abhors betrayal, lies, cheating, stealing,  If I was to write the word Truth on every wall …..imagine???

I am passionate about  moon, the feminine, the effect that  moon has on our lives ,she cannot be packaged or altered or branded. She is not a philosophy a religion or a doctrine. The moon is not a lifestyle like sun  !! The picture above I took on New years eve this year at nane. It is called a blue moon. look how amazingly bright it is. The night was surreal dancing on the beach without lights and walking through the bush alone without fear as this beautiful light illuminated my path.A blue moon is when the moon becomes full twice in a month it only happens once in I think every twenty five years (correct me if I am wrong here)  this is where the term once in a blue moon comes from . I am still thinking about Truth and cant think of anything else now that I have started …..those that believe in Truth say Truth

Nane

I have a house in Africa!

Out of Africa must be up there in the top five of my favourite movies. Karen Blixens journey played by Meryl Streep moves me to weep uncontrollably. I have been to her modest house on the coffee plantation  in Kenya, brushed up against  the walls, taken her steps sat on her porch and wept again . I once had a house in Africa that changed my life forever as it did hers in another time……..

I will eventually tell you about the house in Africa that was built by a witchdoctor. Way back in 1980 when my friends were clubbing in the cities in England, I was collecting wood for the fire listening to Zulu tales and planting garlic to keep the snakes away. It did change the way that I would live my life and now thirty years later I have almost finished Nane (which means eight in Swahilli) . My series of four huts are built from coral rock dug out from my land the floors are flagstone and the roofing local Makuti thatch It has taken three years since I first set eyes on kasa beach 25km south of dar es salaam. It is stunning, the white sands,  wild Indian ocean and unspoilt jungle gives me a rush there is no electricity, the light of kerosene lamps and candles makes it so romantic. There are amazing birds butterflies and monkeys Mango trees and always a cool breeze . When I think of Nane I sigh!

qamardine quarter, down town, dubai

my pool in the qamardine quarter downtown Dubai

The qamardine quarter

I have finally, sucessfully moved to the qamardine quarter (which has something to do with the moon) .I am always happy to see the moon and downtown Dubai she hangs slightly tilted below the tallest building in the world the Burj Khalifa. It is an incredible sight. I have not ventured to the observation deck yet incase of disapointment, as my imagination pictures me looking down on the surface of the moon…….yes it is that high.
I live on the 4th floor of a building called miska.The name resonates as I once wrote a poem about the birth of a princess on earth that came from a ficticious planet called Kisma. This development is called old town. The architecture simulates the old arabic style. It has pedestrian cobbled streets,fountains and courtyards. All buildings in the quarter are low rise, shadowed by the towers across the boulevard that flank the Armani hotel ,the Address hotel and the Burj Khalifa. There are walled swimming pools shaded by palms and green shrubs reminding me of my garden in jumeirah. The water is chilled and refreshes even in these searing temperatures. I have my own parking space underground which makes me feel very grown up even though I dont drive. Guests will never have to stress about parking. The other day I walked the boulevard to Dubai Mall (the largest shopping centre in the world haha ) years ago I lived in Las Vegas and they would always love to boast the largest, the tallest, the one and only. The Boulevard is quite magnificent with marble inlays on wide pavements At last pavements !!! I thought they had been banished from exististence . To walk and sachet on a real pavement without dodging traffic or avoiding bewildered stares from passengers and drivers that make me feel as if I should apologise or explain myself is a delight. Now I can stroll , meander , linger, and dither on the boulevard downtown Dubai ……I will have to wait a few months though as my parasol will singe through summer.

finding me in Dubai

This feels like I have reached a crossroads writing a blog. which route do I take there are no signposts that I recognise and no right or wrong way. So this is an experiment. I love writing but its always so staged, mostly to do with my work and I never have time to write all of my stories so hopefully friends, you will read it and keep abreast of this weird and wonderful life in Dubai and I will find myself in this experience. Perhaps I will discover who I am apart from what I do.

Today Is ten days before my six year anniversary in Dubai I remember because my mobile phone network reminds me to renew each year,
and that feeling of the suns intensity on my head means its time for my parasol. I am not driving, I walk to get groceries and banking etc which is very unusual everyone drives because of the heat and distance . I havent driven for eighteen years I was never very good at it but now I feel a block , to drive is a huge hurdle I wonder if I will ever be able to overcome.
I live in an area called Jumeirah 1 its on the other side of the beach road It is an old neighbourhood no highrises beautiful houses and streets with gardens some of the mansions remind me of beverly hills
In the distance I can see the tallest building in the world the Burj Khalifa towering above the moon and the neighbourhood mosque. my house is a majillis which is small narrow building in a walled courtyard next to a villa. my lanlord is my neighbour,he lives in the villa he is an architect and artist from Iran. We have precious date palms in the courtyard that produce dates each year and give us some shade.