In two fairly prosaic and insignificant ways, Dubai has changed me. Firstly for two years I lived in apartments with incredible views. This was especially the case in my first year – all bedrooms and the main lounge-kitchen living area had wrap around glass walls looking out from what was the top floor flat (39th) over the towers of Dubai and the tiny villas below. It was something that was constantly part of our life, although we never used the balcony for anything except drying clothes and impressing guests. The second factor is that I stayed in some incredible hotels in the UAE and around the region – hotels I would never pay to stay in myself, but luxurious and well put together.

Conclusion? When I got offered a free upgrade to the ‘executive suite’ last night in an up country Sierra Leonean hotel, it doesn’t mean much. And when landlords want you paying thousands of dollars more for a place that has ‘a view’ it doesn’t get me very excited. While all views are different, I kind of feel I’ve had my taste of that cake, and while it was special, I don’t need to pay again for the same ride.