Monday munch club

Fun summer treats for Abu Dhabi ladies

It's not as if the people who stayed back in the Emirates for the summer did nothing. And sweltered under the intense heat.

A few places, such as the exclusive Abu Dhabi Ladies Club situated in the pristine Ras Al Amwaj area beyond the Khalidiya Palace Hotel, decided to brighten up the dull summer months and initiated a "Monday Lunch Club".

Aisha Hamilton, marketing manager, the Abu Dhabi Ladies Club, conceptualised the Monday women's luncheon meet.

"One is always in a quandary about how to handle the summer months," she said.

"The business groups in the city close down and there's really not a lot of entertainment going around. So we decided to come up with something to keep the women busy, to also give them an opportunity to network and at the same time promote the Abu Dhabi Ladies Club."

A theme focussing on "The Look" was thrown in as an added attraction and the club took off from July 15.

The Monday meet seemed to have attracted women from all walks of life – a mix of local women and expatriates, including wives of diplomats and teenagers, who turned up each week.

For some, the Abu Dhabi Ladies Club premises – with its large and multi-purpose facilities, such as gyms, dining area, spas, children's creches, tennis courts, etc. – have been a revelation.

Essentially, the Monday Club involves inviting women to visit the Abu Dhabi Ladies Club (not otherwise open for non-members) for a lunch, a swim in their beautiful pool set perfectly in the middle of manicured lawns and take in a few tips on how to improve their appearance and their home interiors. The participants at this leisure rendezvous seem to be doing fun things.

At a recent get-together, they were given a taste of French beauty treatments, with beauty salon Jacques Dessange doing hair-cuts and make-up for them.

They also design "sample interiors" on boards with fabrics, paints, carpets and photographs.They also source some fabulous ideas about painting on fabric.

They learn how to carve fruits in different ways and pick up the right way to cleanse and moisturise one's face at the Cleopatra spa.

Some of the future events include another Jacques Dessange make-over session, noting down the secrets of using beaded and embroidered fabric on sofas, tables and creating interesting corners at home.

There's a fee, of course: Dh60 for members and Dh65 for non-members.

Though this club was started to beat the ennui of the summer months, Hamilton hopes to keep this "Monday Munch" club going if the women keep asking for more. It's about women just wanting to have fun, after all.