ABF | ExpatWoman.com
 

ABF

ABF
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 18:21
we try to buy gold Swiss Pamp biscuits from the gold souq when ever we can. When I first bought some 5 years ago the spot price was roughly at US$300. Today it's at an all time high at US$1495! If you are interested in buying, check the spot price on that day and head down to the souq to bargain. You should aim to not pay anymore than a 3% mark up. They will charge a 'packaging' price which is usually around 40dhs per biscuit. Some guys will try to mark it up for as much as 9 or 10%... but if you look hard enough you will find it at 2 to 3%. The confusing thing is converting everything! Grams into Ounces and dollars into Dhs etc! Take your time doing it at home, search on the net then go to the souq with a price in mind!
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 17:03
Here is another great video showing just how young they can be taught this and what a life saver this technique can be! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aseQsDBJS6c&feature=youtube_gdata_player
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 16:47
Let's see if this one works :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LGFgMWlAaTU&sns=em It's the same video again. Please feel free to also drop me a line on desert(dot)dolphinsME(at)gmail(dot)com and I'll email you a couple of tips that you can try with him! He's at a great age now and as he's already comfortable with having his head under I'm sure he'll catch on real quick! There's a song I use that they really seem to love. Its a swimming version of Twinkle twinkle little star :) its a way to get them to learn how to float on their backs. Just also want to clarify that I have nothing against other teaching methods such as the one your DS has been to Srdoucet. For me, like I said before...what I HIGHLY dislike about arm bands is not the bands themselves but the position the child gets used to being in whilst using them. Just makes it tougher for them later on when they begin learning how to breath with front crawl :)
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 12:44
I'd be very interested to know how some children are being taught to swim with arm floats. Not trying to negativly criticize it at all as that would just be an ignorant opinion of mine as Iv never seen it but Iv never in my teaching carreer as a swimming coach heard of that! I agree that it gives a child a certain sense of security in the water and it is fantastic for them to feel relaxed on their own as long as that security never becomes a false one! Happymommy, your little one is very much capable of swimming on her own at that age! :) General rule is that as soon as they are able to walk they should be able to kick and swim short distances (long enough to swim to the edge of the pool if they fall in). Babies have a natural instinct to flip and turn in the water! This action allows them to swim underwater and then when they feel the need to breathe they turn on their backs and naturally float up to the surface to catch a breath...and then 'flip' back again, face down, to swim to the edge! From 12 months plus we teach them to swim-flip-swim! It's a basic survival method for babies that can be taught as young as 6 months! Check this clip out... http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=ZA#/watch?v=LGFgMWlAaTU
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 May 2011 - 12:16
In Brazil we make a BIG fuss over a child's first birthday! Usually have a very big party with pretty much everyone we know. For most it may seem like a big waste of money as the baby won't even remember it but the reason we actually do it is to celebrate the fact that the baby has survived his or her's fist year in this crazy world we live in! Infant mortality rate used to be very high decades ago so now we celebrate that first milestone with an amazing get together for all to enjoy! Always ends up being a very happy, emotional day for all. Have something at home but maybe just invite very close friends. The people who have been there for you both from the start and who will also appreciate the fact that your little angel is turning one! Congratulations on being parents for a year and happy birthday for the week after!
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 May 2011 - 21:21
HIGHLY agree with Basil and Meals! I'm a swimming instructor and arm bands are my worst nightmare! Kids get used to being in a 'vertical' position in the water and we then have to spend weeks, sometimes months trying to get them in a more horizontal position. The waist floaties are a great option, especially the ones that you can gradually remove as your child becomes more confident :)
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 May 2011 - 00:43
Manazel sells it too! One big roll. Just as when you go in the store as it's not on display! The roll looks like a lot but trust me, you'll prob use most/all of it!
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 May 2011 - 23:03
Hi moonkitty, feel free to drop me a line on desert (dot) dolphinsME (at) gmail (dot) com
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2011 - 23:29
Seems like Einstein had a few! "if you can't explain it to a 6 year old, you don't know it yourself!"
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2011 - 21:11
Don't worry Miss B! No offense taken at all! I'm from a family of pilots! No longer flying myself though. Only recreationally. By the way! For all of those of you who are flying and are scared of turbulence, the further up the aircraft you are ( especially if it's in a larger 'wide body' aircraft) the less intense the turbulence will feel! And im sure the unlimited champagne in first class will help even more!
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2011 - 21:03
Do you all have any weird requirements? I like to see pilot inspecting plane beforehand. Pilot should be male and not female. Airlines such as Qatar/Emirates/FlyDUbai/AirArabia are preferred (more money for maintenance). If all of that is in place then things are *slightly* better (please do not squash any of these). Would a doc prescribe valium for this? (Seriously?) Why should the pilot be male? You know FlyDubai and Air Arabia have ALOT of female flight deck crew and quite a few Captains. *****THUMBS UP!!!******
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2011 - 20:57
Ha ha oh dear! Predictive txt is not on my side tonight! " the air France flight is still a MYSTERY" lol
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2011 - 20:55
I was just trying to simplify things! :) The turbulence we get in places like the bay of Bengal is perfectly normal due to the Jet streams in it's vicinity. Most of the severe turbulence you will get (clear air turbulence) will generally be close to jet streams or mountainous areas as the air is more 'disrupted' in that area. Turbulence in the ME especially during the summer months is very common due to the hot air rising and cooler air falling. This generally tends to felt a lot more as you are climbing or descending so unfortunately on the shorter ME flights as the cruising altitude is not as high you tend to get stuck in it. The Air France flight is still a mostest to this date but just this week they found the data recorder so hopefully we might have a chance to find out more. There has never been any suggestions that it was brought down by turbulence. Yes, they flew STRAIGHT into a storm (when everyone else avoided it by going around) which would have caused severe turbulence but there are many other factors that probably added up to it! No 'ONE' thing will ever bring an aircraft down... it is always a chain of errors that lead to disasters. Maybe we should keep this thread a little more light instead of going into too much details about planes crashing as I'm sure it really doesn't help much! :\
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2011 - 14:38
Hi Tarcin! Please drop me a line on desert(dot)dolphinsME(at)gmail(dot)com :)
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2011 - 13:44
No worries. Hope you were able to makes some sense of it lol. And like Bornconfused said, you should worry far more about the drive to the airport than the flight you're about to get on! Safe flying in the future! And if you have a flight coming up and need help with the nerves just post again and I'm sure there are lots of prople with great tips to put you at ease :) Ps: have a GREAT day!
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2011 - 13:26
Our usual breakfast stop with guests is Paul's cafe at JBR but I'm sure there are lots of other much better places in town! We like it there as it's outside, by the beach and the menu seems to cater for everyone! Enjoy your mum's stay! Wish mine was here too :(
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2011 - 13:06
Loupops please don't ever worry about turbulence! It is something VERY common and something that can happen on every flight, every airline every day! The turbulence you went through is just unfortunate and should just be classed as a nuisance instead of something to be fearful of. I know it's easier said than done if you are a nervous flyer but maybe if you understand it a little better it may actually help! Turbulence had NEVER brought a plane down! The shaking is merely caused by a change in flow of the air that goes through the engines. When the wind pushes/changes/mixes cold and warm air it creates a change in "flow" and that's what you feel :) Imagine a cigaret burning. As the smoke rises it will eventually change it's direction and 'swirl' in the air. When the aircraft flies through that you feel it. Simple :) As for experiencing less on other airlines, you might find that you are just in a queue of planes generally heading in the same direction and the ones ahead of you would report turbulence so that others behind can turn/rise/drop slightly to avoid it. Other times you might just be unlucky enough to be behind a much bigger aircraft such as a 380 that will "disrupt" the air flow in front of you and cause "wake" turbulence. Kinda like being on a dingy behind a huge boat! The wake behind it is the same as what you see in the water! Hope that helps?
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2011 - 12:37
After being very sick for a long time and missing out on my late teens and early twenties now that I'm able to live a happy, normal life again to me the glass is usually completely full (1/2 wate + 1/2 oxygen)! On some days of course life is far from perfect so my glass then drops to being half full! I always used to hear from people how much we should appreciate life but never really took it in until it was too late. Luckily after being given another chance you REALLY do appreciate everything in life! To go from not being able to stand on your own too feet to now be running every day is just a complete joy! It's great to be a realist thought! I guess the real difference is i just don't seem to let things effect me as much as before...
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2011 - 10:56
Tornado in NZ!? Is it bad?
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 May 2011 - 14:26
Mother in law said they have booked some island on the Great Barrier Reef in OZ That makes sense! Small private island somewhere is surely the only way to be, well, private! Next big question will be when they'll have little ones! My goodness they're going to be cute!
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 May 2011 - 13:07
Hopefully they'll send some excellent look-a-likes there for the paps to touture instead! I'm sure this is just the first of many decoys!
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 May 2011 - 14:27
Thanks! We managed to get one sorted in the end. Called to make an appointment with Volvo yesterday and was told by the receptionist "no problem! Bring the car in and it will only take 30 min for the full check & valuation". Poor guy who's selling us his car agreed to come in before work to do it. Arrive there and get told by the manager that it actually takes 4 hours! Car owner ended up not going to work because of it! Left Volvo to do their thing but called them back to remind them to also sign the valuation papers but was then told that they usually have to book that in advance as an outside company has to come in! Aghhhh! Imagine our frustration! Nothing gets to me more than being badly effected by other peoples incompetence! Thanks anyways for your quick replies! We took it to a place on SZR
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 April 2011 - 12:50
I wish ALL salons would by law state how qualified the staff are. Received 2nd degree burns on armpits once after waxing. Despite it being one of the best well known salons in Bahrain they still used cheap labour who clearly didn't have a clue about what they were doing :( Ended up in hospital for the night and looked like a complete idiot for a whole week whislt walking around with my arms in the air! The fact that it was the middle of summer made it unbearable to be out in the hot humidity for even a split second! Despite making a big fuss at the salon all they did was say a very small sorry whilst trying not to laught! Great huh?
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 April 2011 - 12:31
Let's hope you'll be able to do the same as Amelia :) Seems like the most straight forward one! Sorry if our advices on here have been just as contradicting as the Government officials! :\:
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 April 2011 - 11:27
Did it a couple of months ago before my visa was transferred and it cost me Dhs 800! It was actually extended for 6 weeks though! And it also came with an insurance certificate that entitles you to free emergency care in any Gov hospital. The whole processes was very smooth and fast especially if you use the 'females only' rooms and queues! If you are transferring the visas already though, that's a different story. You have to be physically out of the country for that. In our case it took 2 weeks but if your DH's company can do it faster some how then that's great! u dont need to go out of the country, you pay at immigration, more obviously but you dont need to go outside. Yes, as I stated... If you are RENEWING/EXTENDING a TOURIST visa then all you have to do is go to the immigration department and pay. BUT if you are already TRANSFERRING your tourist visa to you full residents visa then from my experience (and everyone else I know in DXB) you have to be OUT of the country for it to be processed (but if anyone else hasnt then that's fantastic!). Again, maybe your DH's company might be more efficient with this but for us it took almost 2 weeks and they are one of the largest employers in Dubai. Best thing is to just get in touch with your DHs HR and get advise from the person who is responsible for visas etc. Good luck either way! What a headache this must be for you right now, especially with kids also
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 April 2011 - 22:54
Really loved the one I had in the UK years back but did find that it held in heat quite a lot. Also had terrible artheritis back then and it did help! Hopefully since then the 'technology' has changed and they're better now? Would love to get another one but the over heating in the middle of the night used to drive me mad!
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 April 2011 - 22:35
Did it a couple of months ago before my visa was transferred and it cost me Dhs 800! It was actually extended for 6 weeks though! And it also came with an insurance certificate that entitles you to free emergency care in any Gov hospital. The whole processes was very smooth and fast especially if you use the 'females only' rooms and queues! If you are transferring the visas already though, that's a different story. You have to be physically out of the country for that. In our case it took 2 weeks but if your DH's company can do it faster some how then that's great!
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 April 2011 - 21:39
ZUMBA! Try a couple of classes at a gym then once you get the hang of it you could always get a couple of DVDs to do at home :)
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 April 2011 - 17:00
Anyone else had surgery for a deviated septum? Trying to find out how much time off etc one would need
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 April 2011 - 13:44
There are 2 gyms in one of the buildings just before you get to Sheik Z road. Fitness beat who do a great mix of classes (yoga, pilates, zumba etc) and another gym that seems to gear more towards body building. Been to a few classes and really enjoyed it there. Good teachers etc. I cant remember the name of the building but it's the brownish cream one with the big TO LET sign on it. Where the beauty salon and laundry place is. Check out their website. Just google Tecom fitness beat and you should be able to find time tables. See you there hopefully!
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 April 2011 - 22:40
That's very true Sheila11 but sometimes sadly it doesnt work like that. I worked in a very prestigious nursery in London 4 years back where we would have babies as young as 6 months staying there for 10h a day, 5 days a week as both parents worked in the city. I completely agree that sometimes it is very much a necessity for both parents to have to work and with some children we saw that but unfortunately, with MOST, it seemed like the main reason they worked so hard was to be able to have the big house, big car, flashy holidays (sometimes WITHOUT the kids!) etc etc I used to find myself wondering why these people ever had kids to begin with! Just another ticknin the box? I must say the ones who get to me the most are the immaculate, perctly made up mothers you see at the malls with a 1 month old baby being pushed around by the poor, haged looking tired nanny! Are there any mothers out there with new borns who even have time to shower?! Let alone have full hair and make up looking like you're fresh out of a magazine!? Anyone? :\:
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 April 2011 - 12:55
Theres an excellent one from ACE called 'Red Devel 1 time'! Just used it today! We have off white/cream walls and you hardly see it! No need to mix or sand it down after. Comes in a small white pot and it's a funny, almost powdery consistency.
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 April 2011 - 01:31
Never ever been asked for one! And I go there a lot as DH is from there. Enjoy your stay! It's a beautiful country!
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 11:16
London's Moorfields eye hospital has a branch in Dubai. Check out Moorfields dot ae
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 11:05
Thanks for the recommendations ;) Will try Le Royal Meridien. Have been to the Polo Club once and was put off with some of the food on their brunch + there were quite a few very very drunk people (and associated drunk behaviour...) which didn't make it so child friendly (shame as setting was really nice & bouncy castle was fun). Shame :( seems like we just can't escape that here these days! Had the same experience at a couple of places recently. Hope it was just our bad luck and not something that's becoming a problem.
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 10:58
Look at enrolling your DD in drama/dance classes to see if that helps. I completely agree! Im a swimming coach and have seen this quite often. Always at the start of the terms a couple of the new kids would be so shy they wouldn't even want to touch the water! After quietly talking to them, little at a time, they would gain confidence...not only at the pool but out side too as they would love to show off their new skills and tell other how they swim when mommy begins to proudly talk about it. One of the ways we also encouraged them was by saying how proud daddy would be when he saw them. Sometimes mommy would record small clips on phone so the LO could send to daddy. The place I worked at also had gymnastics classes and every shy kid in there would come out of their shell after only a couple of classes! As for missing daddy, I must admit that even I have my moments with missing my dad too! Lol Just like us, if something else is bothering us we tend to want to be close to those we love so much and crave them even more!
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 10:34
The Dubai Polo Club has a great pool. Haven't been there myself for lunch but heard from a friend that the food is good! Something a little different from the hotels!
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 April 2011 - 13:29
I'm pretty sure Crate & Barrel sells them...or any of those other nice home stores in the mall. Might come at a cost though :)
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 March 2011 - 12:53
Goodness ladies, it's time to take a step back and count your blessings. Really? Things you are jealous of? Look around you because it's sounds like a reality check is desperately needed. The grass will ALWAYS seem greener ladies! But it really all comes down to same thing at the end of the day. The real YOU! No matter what you have, what you wear, who you're dating/married too or what you do for a living (whether it's a highly paid executive job or you do the most stressfully yet amazing job on this planet - bringing up kids) you are who YOU are. If you just beleive that you do your very best everyday and are proud of it then that is what shows on you. On your smile, on your attitude, on the way you hold your self! I agree that a little envy can be productive sometimes but NEVER wish you had someone elses life! You NEVER know how they truly are behind closed doors! :) and who knows, they may just be secretly thinking they could be you!
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 March 2011 - 12:34
Woops! Sorry for the typo! Typing on the phone and the predictive txt always gets me!
ABF
142
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 March 2011 - 12:32
Thanks lax2dxb. That looks very much like the church we would lime to go to. Thank you all againfor the suggestions! Have a great day!
ABF
142
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 March 2011 - 16:56
Thank you so much! I'll look into some of those! I guess J Ali won't be too far for us as we're on this side of town. So far our new life here has been great! Seems like we left Bahrain at the right time! Still setting our home up and trying to keep busy whilst he's away for a month with work! Thanks again for the help! :)
 
 
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