australiajudy | ExpatWoman.com
 

australiajudy

australiajudy
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Latest post on 16 January 2013 - 10:56
I am! It will be my first go at 10k. I am up to 8 k weekly now. I started 10 weeks or so again unable to jog past 500m! Have been doing between 6 and 10 k 2 or 3 times a week. So pretty proud - I am going to do 10 k at our training session on friday on pavement (not treadmill or sprung track) and then a short run on Monday evening - maybe 3 k. Then just hope that adrenaline gets me there on Friday.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 16 January 2013 - 10:50
AusAmy - I had a great giggle at your comments about school uniforms being cheaper in Australia. I can assure you that the cost of equipping a child for school here is MUCH cheaper than an equivalent private school in Australia. My kindy kid in Aus paid over $100 AUD for 5 basic cotton Tshirts which these days equates to almost 400 Dirhams. Have a look at this price list for comparison! close to 160 dirhams for a Tshirt! http://www.wesley.wa.edu.au/upload/pages/uniform-shop/price-list-junior-school-jan-2013.pdf Actually - almost everything costs more in Australia these days. Most Australians don't realise how absolutely expensive it has become. The only thing here in Dubai that costs more in rent and a good cup of coffee. And the service that you get in most places is appalling. My child went to a very good public school in Australia. Very different to the GEMS behemoth that he is at now. But the quality of education is different but across the board probably higher. Australia pushes later under the curriculum than the British/Dubai hybrid that occurs here with FS1 as the first year. We are intending to send our kids to private schools in Australia when they reach year 7 and hence will move back there. Otherwise we would consider a move to the UK as my DH and kids hold British passports (but not me). Depends on work I suppose.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 15 January 2013 - 19:06
got your email - you can delete now
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 15 January 2013 - 17:55
FS1 = Pre-Reception FS2 = Reception. In Dubai you can choose to do FS1 in Nursery or School. If you get your older child into an FS2 spot at a school it would then make getting your younger child in easier come September. AS they get sibling priority. YOu might be quite lucky as only internationally transferring children can enter a school at Easter time. Local transfer are generally not allowed after Christmas.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 15 January 2013 - 17:42
at 19 mths. not concerned at all. However, can he follow simple instructions like 'get your shoes', 'where is the cat?'. at 19 mths this is more important. Also - is he going to be bi-lingual? children who hear multiple languages (ie. from mum and dad) often speak later but they catch up by the time they are 4 years old or so.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 15 January 2013 - 17:40
to add - Hipod is a Britax produced brand exclusive to Australia.
australiajudy
391
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 15 January 2013 - 17:40
to add - Hipod is a Britax produced brand exclusive to Australia.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 15 January 2013 - 17:39
I have a perfect seat for a 3 year old. It is an Australian standard seat - the Hipod Senator. It attaches to the car via the seatbelt and a top tether. It goes up to 20 kg with the inbuilt harness. Your car must have a top tether anchor point to be able to use (most in teh UAE do). If you would like it I am giving it away. let me know
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 18:54
I wouldn't bother looking up the old thread. it is not relevant to you. Australia is a whole other ball game when it comes to importing stuff!
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 18:36
Don't laugh - there was a poster on here just last week wanting to ship her Dubai car to Australia. AFter much discussion about costs, taxes and design rules the one major flaw became apparent!
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 18:33
Before you go any further..... You do know that a UK vehicle will have the steering wheel on the wrong side of the car for Dubai????
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 12 January 2013 - 18:50
The physio at Cooper Health in Umm Suqeim. Fantastic. Name escapes me at the moment but he is the only one there. South African chap.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 12 January 2013 - 18:49
sounds like my DH and yours would make a good pair! let me know once you see this as I will remove my email. <em>edited by australiajudy on 12/01/2013</em>
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 08 January 2013 - 16:03
You can get the Pearl for 164 euros from babycare.nl plus about 60 euros shipping. which is about 1100 dirhams. bit of a saving to be had. Are you getting the base as well???
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 08 January 2013 - 15:59
Just one of the reasons we are leaving Tiara shortly (after our 12 month lease ends).....
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 08 January 2013 - 15:58
I got DS new crocs from Go sport for under 100 dirhams.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 08 January 2013 - 15:57
I can also recommend babycare.nl - i've ordered the same seat from them twice now (Maxi Cosi Rodifix) as the first was installed when my DH crashed his car. Shipping takes 2 days with tracking and it still works out cheaper than here in Dubai. If you want an extended (Swedish style) rearfacing seat you can go to carseats.se. A lot of Australians I know use this site if they want extended rearfacing up to age 4 or 5 years of age.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 06 January 2013 - 12:30
I would bet the shipping is the easy bit! Registering a car in Australia will not be easy. Is the car RH or LH Drive? It will also have to meet the Australian Design Rules... This covers a million things like - car seat anchor points (must have 3), colour of the indicator lights, tinting, security, etc A car produced for the Australia market will be different to one produced for the European or US markets. Even the same model will have differences depending on country. And yes, you may also have to pay import duties.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 05 January 2013 - 10:59
I prefer EU standards over American standards and have bought twice via babycare.nl they work out a bit cheaper than buying here in Dubai and shipping only takes about 2 days via DHL with tracking. I have a Maxi cosi Rodifix/Ferofix (which comes in pink) and attaches to the car via isofix http://www.babycare.nl/maxi-cosi-rodifix-spicy-pink-car-seat-p-3691.html i also have a Maxi Cosi Rodi Airprotect http://www.babycare.nl/maxi-cosi-rodi-airprotect-spicy-pink-p-3696.html both my 4 year old and 7 year old comfortably use both of these seats interchangeably.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 24 December 2012 - 10:23
I have a lovely one for this year.... I gave my agency maid a bonus christmas gift last week. Today she showed me what she had bought with it. A lovely gold wedding band to replace the very tiny, worn one she already had from her husband. Her husband had agreed that she could spend the money on herself. it is amazing that such a small amount of money from my view can make someone so happy.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 24 December 2012 - 10:09
email address removed... thankyou <em>edited by australiajudy on 24/12/2012</em>
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 20 December 2012 - 10:31
The Santa at Ski Dubai is also fantastic and you get to frolic in the snow. There were heaps of adults getting photos with him when we were there earlier in the week.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 20 December 2012 - 10:28
We live at Tiara on the Palm. We have a pool and a private beach for the apartment complex. I know people swim at our beach but TBH at the moment it's not that warm so most people will choose the pool as it's heated. Heaps of people swim at Shoreline beach all the time - just looked out the window and there are people swimming at shoreline right now. Not sure about the fronds though as they don't have a delineated swimming area so maybe boats come in closer to the beach.....
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 18 December 2012 - 21:08
I would prefer a group class. He's a bit socially awkward but interacts happily most of the time. I suppose part of the reason I want him to do something is to hang out with other kids and also to stick at something....
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 18 December 2012 - 20:34
We went to Serfaus in early Feb 2012 and are going to Lech in Feb 2013 - both in Austria. Both carefully selected as being family friendly as we have a 4 and 7 year old. It will my 4 year old's 4th ski trip (he's also been to Japan twice) and my 7 year old's 6th ski trip. We've also skied in NZ and Canada. Japan is the best skiing but while we're in Dubai we'll stick with Europe!
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 14 December 2012 - 21:25
Just looked at the queenbee site and they ship worldwide for $15 AUD. Pity that AUD is so valuable these days.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 14 December 2012 - 21:21
We always stay at the Al Ain Hilton. A bit of an older hotel but has a wing that is all renovated. The pool is great fun for kids and the place has a nice atmosphere. Be sure to specify if you want a non-smoking room though.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 14 December 2012 - 21:20
If you have access to Australia (which is where I buy from) I recommend a site called queenbee.com.au there is a range called Quack Nursingwear that is absolutely wonderful....the most discrete and easy to wear range of figure forgiving tops and dresses. If you can find this range anywhere else I definitely recommend.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 14 December 2012 - 21:16
Hey you are all welcome to join my Friday night pity party! Vent away... It is lovely living (kinda) on the Palm. I just hate driving. I hated it in Australia and I hate to even more here. I am a nervous driver even after driving for some 17 years now. and I've hated the damn machinery working under our window for the last 3 weeks until 11pm every single night.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 14 December 2012 - 20:54
And to add to previous vent....why do all my posts keep appearing twice making me look like a madwoman? And me having to go and delete them every time????
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 14 December 2012 - 20:52
okay so this is more a whinge than anything else. Feel free to ignore and let me have my Friday night vent.... We currently live on the Palm in an apartment and as lovely as this is I don't want to live here anymore. I want to live in Jumeirah near to school. I don't want an army of indian men tending the pool, the gardens, the front door. I don't want my friends to have to shell our to swim in our pool or to have to argue with already mention indian men. I don't want to have to drive SZR 4 times a day to drop off and pick up the kids. I hate SZR. And I also hate Beach Road because it takes twice as long as SZR. And yes I know that the quality that we can afford in Jumeirah (or even better Umm Suqeim) won't be the same as on the Palm. And I know the pool won't be temperature controlled and I know we won't have a beach or a shop or a restaurant that serves grape.....but I don't care! DH please can we move.....???
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 13 December 2012 - 20:02
You will need to factor in that the Australian school year runs Late January to December. Not from September like in Dubai. I'm assuming she's actually born October 2005....so just turned 7 and in year 2 now. A good month as July and August babies moving between Dubai and Perth are in a pickle (I know as I have an August baby who falls between the cutoffs in each jurisdiction). So if you moved in Dubai summer next (Perth winter) year after finishing year 2 in Dubai she wouldn't be eligible to start year 3 until the following January. She could finish year 2 again in a Perth school if you wanted. This is what friends of ours just did when they moved to Perth over summer. Otherwise she would have been off school for 6 months! Their daughter did an extra term of her just finished year and will progress in January with the rest of her cohort. Education wise...you will find that she will likely be ahead of her Australian aged peers for a while. Especially WA which for a long time has not pushed reading/writing/maths until a bit older. I know my son who moved to Dubai from Perth 12 months ago was a long way behind his peers despite having been at the top of his class in Perth.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 13 December 2012 - 10:38
I just saw again - a 7 year old.... When is his birthday? Just that the Australian schooling year and cutoffs are different to Dubai.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 13 December 2012 - 10:37
we moved from Perth nearly a year ago now. Yes - it's expensive. Especially after the tax man has taken his share. You will get a nice house for between $600 and $1000 a week depending on what sort of suburb you want to live in. Inner city or Western Suburbs (the highest socioeconomic area) at the top end. Have a look at www.realestate.com.au Another helpful site for Australian families is www.essentialbaby.com.au - these is a WA specific page with heaps of helpful locals ready to answer questions. There is many a thread on which suburb is the best on there already!! Schooling - most people for primary school send their kids to the local public school. You will mostly only be able to go to the one in which you are zoned. Ie. the house you choose to rent will determine which school you go to. It will be free and if you choose the right area of a very high quality. If you choose a less desirable area you would probably not want to send your kids to the local public school. In Australia you will not have much choice of curriculum. 99% of all schools will follow the Australian curriculum which is a bit like the UK Curriculum mixed with IB - sort of....Some private secondary schools do follow IB curriculum but these would be quite expensive. There are some schools that do IB or other countries curriculum - ie. Japanese School and German School. But there would be very few of these. How old are your children and how long do you intend stayng in Aus for? Other things to factor in price wise - private health insurance, after school care/daycare if you are needing this, the cost of petrol, electricity etc.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 25 November 2012 - 11:48
For books to Australia I use bookdepository.co.uk - free shipping and they have no issues taking a dubai credit card and then delivering to Aus. I have done heaps of christmas shopping this way. DVDs - jbhifionline.com.au is a good place - they deliver really quickly and for a good price. House/kitchen stuff - petersofkensington.com.au
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 25 November 2012 - 09:55
What in particular do you want to buy. Australia has their own ebay site and many many companies deliver. <em>edited by australiajudy on 25/11/2012</em>
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 21 November 2012 - 22:15
If you're a non resident you're not eligible. Much better for the vast majority to be non-resident and avoid paying tax then be eligible for the bonus!
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 21 November 2012 - 22:06
I am flying to Melbourne next weekend. can post from there if you would like....
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 20 November 2012 - 20:03
I have bought pure cranberry concentrate from the pharmacy at Spinneys Centre in Umm Suqeim. I have to mix it with lemonade to make it drinkable (but that's what i use it for anyway!). No way could you drink it mixed with just water....it'd just about kill you it's so bitter.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 17 November 2012 - 20:09
Our school has not said they HAVE to wear Emirati dress. It is optional but there will be celebrations. But I think it is a great thing to do for a day. We participated in Halloween for the first time ever this year and that's not an Australian tradition at all.... And I completely understand that the Kandora is not an Islamic dress but cultural relating to Middle Eastern traditions. We wear Aussie flag shirts on Australia Day and will be proud to wear Emirati dress on National Day. Well the kids will be....
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 15 November 2012 - 18:22
Thanks for that.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 09 November 2012 - 17:19
Isofix is a rigid fixation system - an alternative to the seatbelt installation. The seat has metal 'teeth' that clip into points embedded within the seat. Your Australian car probably has the anchors in it - you just never noticed them. Almost all new Australian cars are ready for Isofix seats. They are not yet available in Australia (it is coming). Testing shows that isofix outperforms the seatbelt system, especially in side impact and it is easier to get a perfect installation. Have a look at this fantastic seat http://www.britax.co.uk/car-seats/trifix/overview Isofix plus top tether. Your Australian seats will be fine here. You just use the seat belt plus the top tether. As I said all the cars I have seen have the clips for top tether. But if you want something else then you can get it. I would look at the Swedish seat system at www.carseat.se You will be amazed at how the rest of the world does car seats. The Australian regulations are highly prescriptive which has meant less innovation. The rest of the world allows all types of fixation - isofix, latch, seatbelt, foot props, forward tethers to name a few!!! The Safe and Sound brand in Australia is made by the parent company Britax which also makes seats in the US and UK/EU. Britax also makes Hipod and Cargo in Australia.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 07 November 2012 - 11:03
Had been looking at flights last night!!! Was 2000 dirhams cheaper this morning (for me and DS). BOOKED!
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 07 November 2012 - 09:58
There are no laws covering restraints here in Dubai. Wait till you see kids hanging out the sunroof!!! And maids holding small babies in the front seat. We're Australian and have a 4 year old and 7 year old. We use a combination of Australian and EU standard seats. If we have any more kids we will be using an EU Isofix seat - probably a maxi cosi. Our cars have Isofix and top tether points (VW and Mercedes). Our hire car which was a Dodge Nitro also had them. I would stay they are fairly standard. After being frustrated by the lack of choice (especially ISOFIX) in Australia I was desperate for an isofix seat. I have in my car - 2 Australian standard seats. A Hipod Senator and an Infa Vario booster. In my DH's car we use an isofix booster which I use for both kids. I imported it from Europe as it was cheaper than I could get it in Dubai. I used a website - http://www.babycare.nl/carseats-c-24.html I know Aussies who has 'illegally' used this company to get seats previously. If I could have any seat in the world (and in Dubai you can!) I would get a swedish rear facing seat to 4 years. Other than that I would be happiest with an isofix seat to allow rearfacing to 12 months and then harness to about 4 years. In Dubai itself you commonly see both American (Chicco, Graco) and EU (Maxi Cosi, Britax, Mamas and Papas) standard seats. I prefer the EU seats personally as their standards are more stringent. And EU seats use Isofix whereas American seats use the less effective LATCH. There are also very cheap seats from who knows where - wouldn't touch them!!!
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 06 November 2012 - 16:15
The amount of sunlight you require for sufficient Vitamin D production is highly dependent on your skin colour. If you have the colour skin that i do - very very white then you need all of about 5 minutes of arms exposure a day. So for me, walking from the car to school and to shops is enough. I don't do any deliberate exposure at all and that's suitable for me. This would not obviously be suitable for someone with darker skin. And lucky me but at the age of 33 I was diagnosed with a melanoma. I have been sunburnt about 3 times in MY ENTIRE life. But now I have this hanging over me forever and a 12 cm scar as a permanent reminder of why I do not sun bake or let me my kids out in the sun. I wear spf30 face cream everyday. and a long sleeved rashie if swimming in the sun (rare). My father who is also very white has had approximately 80 sunspots/BCCs removed from his body and has his entire face peeled twice. Not something I would wish on anyone. And you don't have to do 20 minutes in a row - 4 x 5 minutes is equivalent.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 04 November 2012 - 16:45
spag bog - an oldie but a goodie
australiajudy
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Latest post on 30 October 2012 - 08:13
I had 3 carseats in my VW Golf In Australia! There are narrow seats that mean you can fit 3 in almost any car.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 30 October 2012 - 08:10
I have. I use ebay.co.uk I have my address registered as home (apartment in dubai) but use the default shipping address which is set to my DH's work PO AND Street Address (this way it seems to get here no matter which way they send it). I use paypal which has a HSBC UAE CC attached to it. I also have an Aus ebay account with my australian paypal account attached to it and have things sent to my parents in Aus if I need. Just need to remember which accounts belong together.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 27 October 2012 - 08:24
Our Mac, 2 iphones, 2 ipods and 2 ipads all have facetime and all work without any issue here in Dubai. All were purchased outside of the UAE. Except one ipod which is a grey market one from a stand in MOE. Just remembered,,,,our Mac is also from UAE.
australiajudy
391
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Latest post on 23 October 2012 - 15:34
With my number 2 baby. We turned up to hospital at midnight, he was born at 2am. DH watched him while I had a shower. Then we all went home at 10am. Would this be okay here in Dubai? I definitely do not ever want my baby taken to a well baby nursery. I would worry that they would feed formula or give some immunisations or take tests. none of which I would permit. I would also not let anyone else bathe my newborn.
 
 
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