Book excerpt: In May, 1970 Jan's life as she knew it was turned upside down. Aged 27 and newly married, Jan was completely taken by surprise when her husband Mike announced he'd been posted to a then unheard of desert kingdom called Dubai for work. This was light years away from the green and pleasant land she thought of as home! Was she equipped for such an about turn in her life? No, not really! Thus it was with fear and trepidation that she embarked on the journey to Dubai, knees quivering. Quintessentially English, Jan wondered if she would survive in this hot and humid country straddled by the Persian Gulf? Would she have to adhere to the Arab custom of being clad from top to toe in a black Abaya and Burka? Or overnight become the prisoner of Zenda? How would she cope with the hideous heat? Read: The Adventures of a Girl Wearing Pearls and be entertained and amazed at how Jan managed to rise to a challenge that was most definitely not for the faint-hearted girl she thought she was!