Blue413 | ExpatWoman.com
 

Blue413

Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 May 2016 - 20:53
Orlandos in JLT is getting good reviews........
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 May 2016 - 12:26
You don't get fined for being between 30-40 days and there is no point going before day30- they won't renew the visa.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 May 2016 - 08:05
This has been mentioned a lot on FB, British Dubai Mums........you may be able to get a refund of the fine, lots of people gave. I think they had to go to the main immigration office. The good news is that the 10 day grace period is still valid. You just need to make sure you leave the country and return between 30-40 days of the stamp. It's been chaos recently.
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 March 2016 - 12:08
Nord Anglia is still open!
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 March 2016 - 12:06
Rain! Do I get a prize?!
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 February 2016 - 16:49
2 points...... 1. A 6 year old is not a toddler. 2. If you really think she can handle it let her watch some birthing videos before hand. There's no way I would want to watch another lady giving birth, and I'm 41. But at the end of the day it's your decision really and you and your daughter must live with the consequences should things not go as smoothly as you imagine.
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 December 2015 - 13:09
There are still only 3 year 9 classes and just 1 year 10 class this year, so if they are expanding in September to include a new year 11 and looking to move to 5-6 classes in these years then they will need more teachers. I suspect a lot of the vacancies are for the secondary school section, but as mentioned, a couple may leave further down the school too.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 December 2015 - 20:01
Are you sure that you do not have a kidney infection/stones. These cause extreme pain in your lower back, generally on one side.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 December 2015 - 16:41
I've really enjoyed the weather the last couple of weeks, but my son's constant sneezing and wheezing is an indication that the particulate matter (whether that is grass pollen, car fumes, dust or sand) is high.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 December 2015 - 16:38
My son is not a big Lego fan either! He likes bey blades which are kind of battling spinning tops. You would need to buy an arena for them to 'fight' in too. Other than that he is Harry Potter obsessed- he has a wand collection amongst other things from a shop on near Sega on the 2nd floor of Dubai Mall.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 December 2015 - 22:39
Are you talking about streaming 4-5 year olds? At this age the most important thing they can learn is how to get on with eachother in a group, whether they are learning or playing. I honestly would not want my child in a school that streamed so young.
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 December 2015 - 22:23
In the UK I've had my jacket stolen from a club cloakroom (Police told me if I saw someone wearing it I was to apprehend them !! lol), several lots of washing stolen from the clothes line, mainly underwear and when Police recovered some I was asked to identify it and take it home (no thanks !!), our car was written off parked outside our flat in the early hours by a drunk truck driver, my husband had his car radio stolen, my son had his motor bike stolen and it was recovered having been joy ridden and trashed, my buggy was stolen from outside my gate as I nipped back indoors to fetch the baby, our wheely bin was stolen but returned 3 weeks later !! lol, our house was burgled, I had my handbag taken from between my baby's legs as he sat in the trolley waiting for me to finish unloading the shopping into the boot and one time the bloke organising the work's Christmas club stole the money so we all lost our year's worth of savings !!...I'm not superstitious but I think we must have broken two or three mirrors in our lifetime !! lol In Dubai my son had his bike stolen from a friend's but it turned out to be their next door's maid thinking he'd thrown it out.... And we've had a couple of questionable traffic fines. Actually, the UK list looks bad but most of our crimes have been petty theft, I haven't ever been subjected to any violet crimes at all. The Christmas Club money.......was it Arthur Fowler?!
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 December 2015 - 21:58
Wish I could help you out, but I don't have a maid..........also I have a very mundane life. The post about pilot's terms and conditions is worth a read though, that could kick off soon! Goodnight.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 December 2015 - 20:03
It is the same as All Khail road (the E44) running from Festival City all the way to just past Springs/Meadows area. I go from D71 to D63 on it everyday and have never seen any speed cameras so that rules out a large chunk of it!
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 December 2015 - 20:53
Brie03 Yep..there are drugs in Dubai..several of my daughters classmates take drugs. Kids get alcohol easily from someone called the milkman. Landlords often leave empty properties open..teenagers find them and arrange parties in these premises. Once kids become teenagers in Dubai they tend to fall into two categories ..either don't party etc and don't do much independently of parents or as someone else said they go down the party, alcohol route. Just because it isn't meant to happen here, doesn't mean it doesn't happen. Consequences when things go pear shaped are much worse.. I personally think Dubai is a fab place to being up primary aged kids and then in secondary it really depends on the kids..if kids are very sporty then Dubai can be great. If they aren't sporty then the options can be limited. It's not impossible but it is more difficult to find parttime work. Air quality is a big concern for me and it seems to be way worse in last year or two. Gosh, that's really interesting. I actually believed that Dubai was quite a sterile environment for a teenager! How naive am I?!
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 December 2015 - 20:46
I feel safer in Dubai than I did in a small town in the UK. The school my children attend has good security- a pass must be worn at all times. The children have also been involved in a 'lock-down' drill. In the UK I am wary of walking in the dark, wary of pick-pockets/ muggers, wary of groups of drunk people. In Dubai there is a less-threatening, family centred vibe. The recent terrorist activities are beyond my personal control and I have every faith in the UAE to help keep me safe.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 November 2015 - 17:40
It's certainly been an emotional roller coaster. I've been confused, amused, affronted, symphatetic and then kind of insulted. It is difficult to read someone's character by a few posts, but she has come across as pompous, snooty, rude, insensitive and spiteful. She wonders why people have responded the way they have- she needs to re-read her own posts. Honestly, I've now had enough of her entertaining as it was. It's now lost some momentum. If only Tessa21 had some more questions................
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 November 2015 - 08:15
It may surprise you to know that you can enter the UAE on a visit visa without a job and without a return ticket if you have particular passports. You can then do infinite visa runs to extend the time you can stay. You are correct though maybe we did plan a bit more than I remember. My husband accepted a job in Saudi Arabia and we decluttered our house and moved to Dubai. I believe the 'planning stage' took all of 8 weeks. I am not irresponsible, I just think sometimes it's a case of sink or swim. Anyway enough about me..... I honestly wish you well in your move.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 November 2015 - 20:02
At first I admit, I wasn't so sure I suppose that I thought her rather a bore But the more I read, the more I knew That she was a gift, out of the blue She has made me cringe, she has given us smiles She's the best OP for miles and miles She may not be real, I've heard it be said She 'has an answer for everything', I have read I welcome Tessa with arms open wide Whether she exists, I've yet to decide!
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 November 2015 - 17:59
He would be very unhappy in the heat of Dubai.......I would re-home him, maybe a neighbour would look out for him. We were very lucky, my nephew stays in my house with my 2 cats and my black lab. is at my sisters alongside her black lab. in the countryside! When you return to the UK after years your adventure I would definitely recommend you get a dog to go with the wellies. X
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 November 2015 - 17:42
But is there a black lab.? Just wanted to say a big thank you to Tessa for making me interested in EW again. I'll have a look in Waitrose tomorrow and report back on any vegetables of strange colour x
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 November 2015 - 17:30
I'm surprised there's no black labrador involved too! And some home made pickles.
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 November 2015 - 17:24
I've never seen them before, but now I want some. Maybe someone could help me with cooking instructions? I only have an aga unfortunately!
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 November 2015 - 18:43
I liked Lolacat too, but Tessa is my new favourite.
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 November 2015 - 18:01
Pasta with pesto........adventurous.
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 November 2015 - 17:13
Ha, ha. Maybe she is Tessa! I hope so.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 November 2015 - 17:12
OP seems a complete control freak to me. We just rocked up here with 3 suitcases and learnt on the job. The only thing we had sorted was the kids school places. I'm really curious to know where in England she lives that you can't get pizza delivered to! But something tells me she may never have tried and probably makes her own from scratch. If she ever does make it to Dubai she'll be instantly recognisable- a 50 something English lady in an abaya driving her WV Golf to the Catholic Church and afterwards having a swimming in the sea before doing a bit of lecturing. This thread has been the best in ages, I'm really inspired to become more of a 'character' myself. Good luck to Tessa I say x
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 November 2015 - 17:00
Has she been reincarnated? I can't see any posts about Hartland school.......
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 November 2015 - 13:32
The original post has gone........but the issue here is that once your child goes to school they are no longer under your influence alone anymore. They will pick up bad (and good) habits and games from their class-mates, teachers, TAs, even the school security guys. It is then up to you counteract this by teaching your child the way that you expect them to behave and play. The gun incident may have happened during 'free play'- I hope so. The teacher can not be responsible for every interaction that happens during school hours. At some point children need to be able to assess whether a game is appropriate behaviour or not. They should be definitely be doing this by the age of 5. The other issue was the lack of attention you feel that the teacher is giving you and your child- I would say that the couple of situations you mentioned involved the teacher already engaged with someone else. It would have been far ruder for her to have stopped these conversations abruptly don't you think? It must be a difficult balancing act to please all of the children in a class and give equal attention to all their parents on top. They are only human afterall. I think you are being way too sensitive to be honest and as long as your child is learning well and is happy at school you should be pleased.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 November 2015 - 17:22
BBC weather also says rain starting tomorrow evening and all day on Wednesday! It's like a British Summer these last couple of weeks!
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 November 2015 - 08:21
Sorry I wasn't very clear......yes, you need to take the E102 to bypass the army checkpoints. We went to Friday and got turned back from the usual route and I have read on Facebook that the checkpoint will be closed for some time yet. The border crossing was operating as usual.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 November 2015 - 18:26
I love this thread so much that I don't care whether Tessa is real or not. It's hilarious. Keep it up.
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 November 2015 - 18:23
Hi I just put Al Reem 2 and King Al Barsha into Google Maps for you......it says it takes 15 minutes by car. Of course you may have to factor in traffic, but they are pretty close by Dubai standards! If you don't get any more responses on here, there are a few FB groups you could join and ask. If you are British or have British kids then 'Dubai British Mums' is great. Good luck with your move.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2015 - 08:44
It would appear that you have a lot to lose by making this move, and not necessarily a lot to gain. It will not be the same as 'back home' but I suppose it just depends on your personality to whether you can enjoy the new normal or not.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 November 2015 - 13:40
Last week there was a whole load of spam posts......I posted to admin and asked why they hadn't been removed. Guess what? My post was removed! I understand the fact that the nice thing about this forum is that the posters do not have to give their real names, but facebook groups are honestly more helpful and patient than this forum.
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 November 2015 - 13:17
This post will self destruct soon! I think most people have moved over to FB.
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 October 2015 - 20:15
So are the kids still at NAS? Weird.....why would a Principal have his own children in another school? Mysterious! I think maybe we should flush Lolacat out of hiding with a page full of school related posts!
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 October 2015 - 19:18
Sorry! I didn't notice that you were talking about Qatar! But at least you have a couple of responses now.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 October 2015 - 20:12
I'm from a smallish town in the UK and until I came here I didn't drive an awful lot, just lots of journeys of 15 minutes or so to the next town to work and back......so driving here came as a shock! It just is so different. If you are used to driving on huge roads with people with little or no consideration for anyone but themselves then you will be fine. But I have become accustomed to my new normal and I quite enjoy driving in Dubai. It is rarely boring and has actually made me feel like I am a better driver. I am a lot more aware of everyone else on the road and have become quite a mind reader! Walking anywhere much is not an option, the buses and metro are reasonably limited and so I say just get on the road. Expect to get hideously lost time and time again and learn to embrace it. Good luck.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 October 2015 - 12:06
The guy has some good points to make regarding working conditions and human rights, but he comes across as arrogant and smug. The good points he made were lost in an unjustified attack on people who choose to visit and work here. I read his article and felt insulted. I thought how dare he question my decision to relocate here, and to bring my two children here. We may only be here short term, but for that time we are truly experiencing a multicultural community and my children are receiving a level of education they would not have in the UK. I don't think he has a right to comment having spent just 3 hours in the airport! Surely that is poor journalism. Maybe one day he may get the opportunity to visit Dubai properly and to form a more balanced opinion, in the meantime he should have kept his mouth shut! And another small point....Dubai should be pronounced Doo-Boy.
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 October 2015 - 20:37
So this does not include those with a British passport then?!......
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 October 2015 - 08:33
Al Barsha DHA clinic, opposite Al Barsha mall, does travel vaccinations, including yellow fever, thyphoid and hepatitis. There's a registration fee of around 100 dhs and then each vaccine is individually priced. Yellow fever is about 150dhs and thyphoid about 50dhs, I think from memory. They will also give you prescriptions for anti- malarial tablets if needed which you can get from the pharmacy on site. They are open in the mornings from about 7.30 am to around 1pm. They have a website which includes a telephone number if you have any queries, but otherwise just turn up (with your ID or passport) and they are very helpful in guiding you through the processes.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 October 2015 - 17:34
They had some in the pharmacy in Al Barsha a couple of weeks ago. Good luck.
Blue413
93
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 October 2015 - 19:25
Well Girders is only going to appeal to a certain kind of person. Not sure you'll find that person here.:P What does that mean?
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 October 2015 - 13:03
I spoke to the school nurse today......apparently you can opt out of the re-vaccination by not giving consent and by proving that the kids have had 2 doses (copies of the red book for UK mums). I don't think pumping kids full of unnecessary vaccines (from unknown origins) is a good idea!
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 September 2015 - 13:30
I'm not sure how Nord Anglia entered this thread, but I have nothing but positive things to say about the school. I am shocked that the Admission staff came across as rude. When I was looking at schools for my 2 children in January we visited quite a few and they were all very different in 'feel'. Considerations were curriculum, distance to travel, gut feeling and whether the school building was finished! From what I have heard (and not from personal experience) I would have thought DBS is the better school.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 September 2015 - 08:26
I sometimes find these maid threads quite distressing. So why do you read them? Simply ignore........ Because it's not always right to simply look the other way is it... I agree with you. I find it difficult to ignore the fact that people are talking of employing someone into their house in terms of nationality only. I accept it may be a 'cultural thing' but I find it offensive. Humans are not to be classified the same as dog breeds sometimes are....it is wrong to say some nationalities are 'good with children', 'humble' or 'respectful'. We all belong to the same species and as such are all capable of a whole range of personality traits.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 September 2015 - 17:20
Have a look at the local Education Authority website for details of how to apply for an 'in term' transfer. I know for Hertfordshire they have a list of schools and whether they have places or not. When it comes to private schools it would be best to contact them direct to ask if they offer the same exam board as you son is under at the moment. Good luck.
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2015 - 21:30
My daughter needs a yellow fever vaccination for a school trip (a very educational and reasonably priced one!)....I know you can have this done at the Mankhool DHA clinic, my question is can she still have it if she doesn't have a residency visa/Emirates ID? And if so, how does the appointments system work? Do you just turn up and wait?! Thanks in advance x
Blue413
93
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 September 2015 - 12:33
And it was filmed in my hometown of Hitchin, Hertfordshire!
 
 
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