It's 7.30pm and I've just arrived home from work. I open the front door, waking my cat. She stretches her legs before sauntering over to her scratching post. I walk into the kitchen, put my commuter mug in the sink, drop my bag on the floor and make my way to the couch, where I collapse and wait for my husband to arrive home from work so we can decide what to eat for dinner.
I'm hoping to squeeze in a quick episode of Game of Thrones before I choose and then iron my outfit for the next day.
This leaves about an hour for food, before it's time for bed. Frankly, between a nine-hour work day and a one-hour commute in each direction, I have zero desire to stand in the kitchen, cooking.
Aside from the occasional cupcake-making spree, I've never been terribly fond of the kitchen, unless it entails boiling a kettle for a fresh cup of tea. Sure, if I really have to, I do have the skills to put together a few dishes – spaghetti bolognese and Thai green curry, for example. But when I'm mentally drained from work and have had stressful drive, my grey sofa looks far more inviting than the kitchen does.
Family members however, aren't thrilled when they hear I'm not taking an active role in preparing meals. Some tip-toe around the issue, claiming that cooking for yourself is healthier then eating out or ordering food (we do resort to fast-food once or twice a week), while others are more blunt, telling me that part
of my duty as a wife is to cook for
my husband.
Still today, cooking is often used to define a woman's worth. When meeting other women, particularly if they're older, it's not uncommon for the conversation to start with: "So, what kind of food do you cook?"
To which, my usual response is a meek, "not much".
There should be no shame in not cooking – I hardly starve my family. My mother lives in Dubai and she often sends home-cooked meals to us. Those, combined with leftovers, an occasional Papa John's or Subway delivery and a bit of cooking here and there are what we survive on.
Dubai now has plenty of options available for working residents who struggle to find the time to prepare meals. Cook-a-Box, for example, sends boxes of pre-measured groceries with recipes to your doorstep, with everything you need to make a meal for two or even four.
I personally find that in preparing meals, a big hurdle is making sure you have all the necessary ingredients for a recipe – there's no bigger turn-off when it comes to making dinner than realising that you have to leave home to buy groceries first.
There are also meal plans available in the UAE from companies that promote healthy eating, like Kcal (which my husband and I tried for a month) and Right Bite. And, while they aren't cheap, they're convenient, healthy and a good choice for the time-poor among us.
Don't get me wrong, I'm not opposed to the occasional cooking experience, and will perhaps become fonder of it later in life when my days are no longer consumed by a full-time job and an extended commute.
Until then however, my kitchen is open to any aspiring chefs looking for ways to spend their weeknights – I'll happily do the dishes (and eat the results of their culinary creativity).
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Read more:
Forsaking prayer rooms for peace
How a trip to the beauty salon brings out the ugly side in some people
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Company name: baraka
Started: July 2020
Founders: Feras Jalbout and Kunal Taneja
Based: Dubai and Bahrain
Sector: FinTech
Initial investment: $150,000
Current staff: 12
Stage: Pre-seed capital raising of $1 million
Investors: Class 5 Global, FJ Labs, IMO Ventures, The Community Fund, VentureSouq, Fox Ventures, Dr Abdulla Elyas (private investment)
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
The%20specs
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SPEC%20SHEET%3A%20APPLE%20M3%20MACBOOK%20AIR%20(13%22)
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The biog
Favourite books: 'Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A Life' by Jane D. Mathews and ‘The Moment of Lift’ by Melinda Gates
Favourite travel destination: Greece, a blend of ancient history and captivating nature. It always has given me a sense of joy, endless possibilities, positive energy and wonderful people that make you feel at home.
Favourite pastime: travelling and experiencing different cultures across the globe.
Favourite quote: “In the future, there will be no female leaders. There will just be leaders” - Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook.
Favourite Movie: Mona Lisa Smile
Favourite Author: Kahlil Gibran
Favourite Artist: Meryl Streep
Business Insights
- As per the document, there are six filing options, including choosing to report on a realisation basis and transitional rules for pre-tax period gains or losses.
- SMEs with revenue below Dh3 million per annum can opt for transitional relief until 2026, treating them as having no taxable income.
- Larger entities have specific provisions for asset and liability movements, business restructuring, and handling foreign permanent establishments.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
The five pillars of Islam
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Specs%20
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The Sand Castle
Director: Matty Brown
Stars: Nadine Labaki, Ziad Bakri, Zain Al Rafeea, Riman Al Rafeea
Rating: 2.5/5
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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SPAIN SQUAD
Goalkeepers Simon (Athletic Bilbao), De Gea (Manchester United), Sanchez (Brighton)
Defenders Gaya (Valencia), Alba (Barcelona), P Torres (Villarreal), Laporte (Manchester City), Garcia (Manchester City), D Llorente (Leeds), Azpilicueta (Chelsea)
Midfielders Busquets (Barcelona), Rodri (Manchester City), Pedri (Barcelona), Thiago (Liverpool), Koke (Atletico Madrid), Ruiz (Napoli), M Llorente (Atletico Madrid)
Forwards: Olmo (RB Leipzig), Oyarzabal (Real Sociedad), Morata (Juventus), Moreno (Villarreal), F Torres (Manchester City), Traore (Wolves), Sarabia (PSG)
Porsche Macan T: The Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 265hp from 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,800-4,500rpm
Transmission: 7-speed dual-clutch auto
Speed: 0-100kph in 6.2sec
Top speed: 232kph
Fuel consumption: 10.7L/100km
On sale: May or June
Price: From Dh259,900
Electoral College Victory
Trump has so far secured 295 Electoral College votes, according to the Associated Press, exceeding the 270 needed to win. Only Nevada and Arizona remain to be called, and both swing states are leaning Republican. Trump swept all five remaining swing states, North Carolina, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin, sealing his path to victory and giving him a strong mandate.
Popular Vote Tally
The count is ongoing, but Trump currently leads with nearly 51 per cent of the popular vote to Harris’s 47.6 per cent. Trump has over 72.2 million votes, while Harris trails with approximately 67.4 million.
MATCH INFO
Champions League quarter-final, first leg
Ajax v Juventus, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)
Match on BeIN Sports
Company%20profile
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Company%20Profile
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Kanguva
Director: Siva
Stars: Suriya, Bobby Deol, Disha Patani, Yogi Babu, Redin Kingsley
The specs
Engine: Dual 180kW and 300kW front and rear motors
Power: 480kW
Torque: 850Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh359,900 ($98,000)
On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
