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Big blue

548
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 September 2013 - 14:21
I would be horrified at any teacher or parent who yelled as ritual, regardless of whether a child has an issue or not. All children are different any parent with more than one child can tell one that, all children think in different ways, many children struggle to adapt to the more structured formal learning approach in some schools when they leave FS2, many children have short attention spans, this does not mean many children have issues. Many children are down right miserable and hate school when they have a teacher who is below their expectations. I've seen children plummet down their academic sets from having a teacher who did not gel with them and seen children rise from below average to way above from a nurturing passionate teacher. One only has to remember the subjects we did well in to know that the teacher made us love those subjects because we enjoyed learning from them. Its always easy to blame the weaker party, the child, but our role as a parent IMHO is not only to look into how we can help our children but also to question why. I would ask why a teacher after a very short time would be quite so quick to determine a child has issues, yet not suggest constructive techniques they are implementing to help resolve those issues, bring in LS and the parent on a more formal approach. That tells me an awful lot about about your child's teacher I'm afraid. Negativity builds negativity and now those vibes are being passed onto your child. Here is an idea, why not tell your DD that the teacher said fabulous things about her and how well she behaved and listened and you are so proud of the way she is trying, also explaining that you understand how hard it is for her with a new class teacher and friends etc. See what happens. edited by Lolacat on 23/09/2013 LIKE!
548
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 September 2013 - 14:16
Hi debz31, I put my DD at nursey when she was 7 months ( when I went back to work) although I had a nanny at home and I don't regret it. IMO no matter how good a nanny you have, she cannot replace the stimulating environment and interaction with other babies your son would get at a nursery. Having said that, I did and still do 3 days a week; the nanny takes care of the other 2 days; I felt that was a good balance as a full day at nursery 5 days a week can be a bit long for babies. So if you have the option of having a live in maid/nanny then you could perhaps do something similar. Where do you work? For the first few months I had DD at a nursery near work so I could pop in at lunchtime and see how she was doing etc. Maybe that could also be an option for you, especially as it is hard getting a place for a baby in one of the popular nurseries as their baby class size is small and they fill up very quickly. We are currently at Children's Oasis and it's a lovely nursery though I'm not impressed by the "teacher", she seems quite uninterested. I suppose that can happen anywhere though. Good luck!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 September 2013 - 14:05
There are a couple of other stores too, I think one is called Kash or something, it's in most malls and has very colourful bedding options, then there is also Cilek with childrens' stuff, I know for sure they're at MCC.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 23 September 2013 - 14:02
Have you also tried Falcon City, Villa and DSO? They are compound style with fairly standard styles/finishes and you could prob find something within your budget. And Nad al Hamar and Mizhar? Only recommending these last two based on location, I know you'd probably need to look at many vilas before finding a suitable one as there are a lot of independent ones that may be at various levels of quality etc.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 September 2013 - 11:01
How about really good Tex-Mex food like you get in Texas? Or real good BBQ like you get in Texas? You see a theme here?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 September 2013 - 09:49
Hi ahirleyann, I met a lady the other day who homeschools her kids but I don't have her contacts, if I can find them I will try to put you in touch. She did mention however that there is a very active homeschooling community in Dubai and that they organize a lot of events etc, I imagine they much have a FB group, have you checked? There may be several people there who could assist you. I also remember reading a thread recently about a K12 place in Knowledge Village; not sure how it works, but again, if you contact them they have have some suggestions or put you in touch with coaches etc?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 September 2013 - 09:28
Get a room !!! :D hahaha, yes, let's a get a room and have a romantic rear facing seat conversation....life is so different as a mum:-)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 September 2013 - 09:26
Update on rear facing seat #2: Britax Dual Fix, kinda the latest offering by Britax, rear and forward facing with Isofix base on which it swivels (for easy placement of baby or for turning from rear facing to forward facing). Looks very nice, sleek, much more compact than the BeSafe so probably a better fit for smaller cars (I installed it in a BMW sedan and the front passenger seat can be quite far back, would fit a tall person). The shell looks more curved, it's more similar to the stage 0 seats rather than the more upright and angled BeSafe. Having said that, if you have a tall baby they may "outgrow" it faster or you may have to turn them facing forward faster. Very good looking seat though and since it is Group 0/1 with a more curved shell and a great baby insert I think it could very well be used for a newborn (as opposed to BeSafe which is also Group 0/1 but it's so angled I wouldn't personally put a newborn in it). Hope this helps!
548
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 September 2013 - 09:20
Will do, in the old thread but there's something else I wanted to tell you:-)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 September 2013 - 09:02
I'm not French, but in many European countries Aptamil is sold under the brand name "Almiron" by Nutricia, may it's the same in France?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 September 2013 - 08:57
To solve rent disputes faster. Should be running in a month or so. Apparently is under Dubai Land Dept and not Municipality and will be staffed by judges, hopefully this will provide more consistency...let's see. The decree was signed yesterday but don't recall the number, for those who might want to look it up.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 September 2013 - 09:31
Poor darlings.....life is so unfair to some.... (being srcastic in case it's not clear) Having said that,, swiming pool water can be a life saviour. While in a post hurricane striken city in the US without electricity and water we did resort to using the compound swiming pool's water to flush the toilet and bless whoever came up with the idea or we would have been much worse off in the two days it took to get the power back:-)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 19 September 2013 - 09:28
To my knowledge and from personal experience, it is a requirement for anybody getting married under the Dubai system (i.e. muslim wedding validated at Dubai Courts) regardless of whether they are Emirati or not. It is possible it is required for marriages in churches etc too, not sure. There are several medical conditions that can result from intrafamily marriages (not sure this is a term:-) which are fairly common in this part of the world, so there is genetic screening and they also check if one or both are Thalassaemia carriers which is another common condition in the region. Accordingly they give you "permission" or they may highlight a risk factor (e.g. Thalassaemia). I guess only Maroosh has to do it here because her hubby to be in some other country? And that country requested some equivalent medical certificate to allow the wedding to happen?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 18 September 2013 - 08:33
Whitepeony, if your girls go to school in Mirdif then live in the area it'll be much better. As long as your husband's commute is under half an hour it's ok to be honest. I would have recommended DSO (Silicon Oasis) as before school started it did use to be 15 mins to DIFC but I'm afraid not anymore. From DSO to Mirdif is also about a 10 min drive (but a different direction than if you were going to DIFC). Arabian Ranches will be much more difficult for both of you, you'd be looking at 20-30 mins to Mirdif and the same to DIFC. If you do live in Mirdif pay attention to the location as some places are directly under the flight path and can be noisy. <em>edited by Big blue on 18/09/2013</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 18 September 2013 - 08:28
Sorry to hear you feel this way MrsDB, wish I could help. IMO silent treatments etc are immature and can lead to bigger confrontations or to complete alienation. You know best what would work for your relationship but generally speaking I think good communication is a better avenue to take. You could sit him down and have a serious conversation, no accusations etc just the facts and how each of you feels about the situation, then you can discuss what each of you can do to improve it. Good luck!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 18 September 2013 - 08:23
OP, my understanding is that if you have a renewable contract you cannot be given 12 months notice unless the property has been sold or the LL wants it for personal use, in which case the reason has to be provided and you can ask for proof. However, if you have been in the property for 3 years, even if your contract is renewable then the LL can basically send you a notarized eviction notice allowing you to stay another 12 months. You should probably look into this a bit more and don't accept it if you're not willing to move.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 September 2013 - 11:27
Hi egg, The Rashidiya EIDA (which is kinda across MCC) has a typing center inside, no need to go to Bin Sougat unless they're much faster (I had to wait 15-20 mins at EIDA when I did my first EID but again, it was done on the spot). Sorry, I am assuming you need to go to EIDA, if not then no point going there:-) Not sure how the renewal process workd after doing the renewal form at the typing center (which I did myself) since my employer is handling the rest....
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 September 2013 - 11:25
Hi egg, The Rashidiya EIDA (which is kinda across MCC) has a typing center inside, no need to go to Bin Sougat unless they're much faster (I had to wait 15-20 mins at EIDA when I did my first EID but again, it was done on the spot).
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 September 2013 - 09:24
Hi Egg, I imagine there may be one in the EIDA on Hessa but if you tend to head north on E311 (whatever it's called these days) you could also pop into Silicon Oasis, there is a typing center there that is not too busy and they are very polite and helpful. I had my renewal done while I waited. There is a thread with directions, think it was called "typing center DSO" but if you can't find it and would like to go there let me know and I can add more details.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 September 2013 - 09:21
Hi Claire08, not sure I undestood well what you're looking for, is it an Isofix booster seat type? In any case, your best bet IMO would be to buy online, check mumzworld, amazon.co.uk, carseat.se, securatot, etc and if nothing else you can identify models that would work for you and then see if you can find at a better price elsewhere. If an Isofix booster is what you need I believe Britax have a few models, check their website too.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 15 September 2013 - 13:45
As everybody knows, the last week has been hellish. I don't have kids, I don't want to access the school. I just want to get to my own place of work on time! Unfortunately, that means having to fight my way on to the Al Ain road by leaving home half an hour earlier than necessary!! GRRRRR. From a peed off DSO resident! Like Like Like Coffee mate! I'm another super peed off (?) or peeved or whatever resident and fast becoming a GEMS hater:-)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 15 September 2013 - 09:21
Good points Teftee and as other have mentioned the schools needs to ensure the childrens' safety and that the drop off and pick up is not a stressful situation that puts them off going to school. For residents I'm afraid it's game over and it'll only keep getting worse. I am however in disbelief over the poor planning this shows, GEMS clearly were not concerned and it seems they still aren't (as long as they're making money). But the DSO authority and whoever else gets involved with permits etc (I'm guessing Dubai municipality, KHDA, RTA?) is it all just about the money? I sometimes hope this greed we see in every aspect of life in Dubai will be the downfall of the place, but then I ask myself, will anybody learn a lesson?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 September 2013 - 16:16
I believe, but may be wrong, that you can only catch each strain of the virus once. I think there are two or three different strains. If it is the same strain he has already had he can't get it again but can get each of them once. From what I've read (pls also see NHS info: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hand-foot-and-mouth-disease/Pages/Introduction.aspx) it is two viruses that may cause it one of which is more dangerous than the other but I'm not sure you get immunity (sort of speak) once you've had it once, I suppose it's possible. It can apparently pose risk to pregnant women in the first trimester so for those pregnant with kids in nursery be careful (though not sure what you could do other than very good hygiene, by the time you find out there is a confirmed case you child and probably yourself would have been exposed already...)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 September 2013 - 16:09
I live in DSO and it's a disaster, it's doubled my commute time to work...I hate hate hate it.... Very dangerous situation on the roads, another case of poor planning by the school, the developper, the authority, RTA etc.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 September 2013 - 15:50
If you do venture to the DM area, there is Abdel Wahab (sp?) in Souk al Bahar and many other lebanese restaurants nearby I don't recall all the names, including at the Palace hotel and on Emaar boulevard. I know for sure Abdel Wahab has grape and malt, the Palace hotel one too but not sure about the others. Added bonus if not too hot to sit outside you get the Dubai fountains show so your friend can tick that off the list (friend would prob not care but still, once in a while fountains can make a great impression!). abdel wahab has closed, no? has it? Shows you how much I go out:-) Still, there are lots of other places in Old Town/DM area and some will fit the grape/malt bill.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 September 2013 - 15:45
Sorry to hear Mols, hope your LO is fine. Not sure how common it is but I wonder whether their nappy changing practices are not ideal as from what I understand this would be a very obvious source of infection.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 September 2013 - 11:32
If you do venture to the DM area, there is Abdel Wahab (sp?) in Souk al Bahar and many other lebanese restaurants nearby I don't recall all the names, including at the Palace hotel and on Emaar boulevard. I know for sure Abdel Wahab has grape and malt, the Palace hotel one too but not sure about the others. Added bonus if not too hot to sit outside you get the Dubai fountains show so your friend can tick that off the list (friend would prob not care but still, once in a while fountains can make a great impression!).
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 September 2013 - 11:07
Off track, but, TDB what are you looking for? I seeseveral villas available in DSO (Cedre) and it's a lovely community for families with kids. Maybe an area you wouldn't be interested in but just thought I'd mention:-)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 12 September 2013 - 09:20
I was in London at the offices of an oil company in Uxbridge; the CFO was American and once the news broke we were all trying to check the internet but there was so much traffic every site was crashing. He was frantically trying to reach family members back in the US. We had no TV, so after a couple of hours they told us all to leave. Some people were starting to worry something might happen in London too that day and I was in for a very long and nervous tube ride home. Spent the rest of the day glued in front of the TV in utter disbelief...still brings tears to my eyes when I think about the events of that day. May the innocent victims rest in peace....
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 September 2013 - 16:12
Pretty sure the Pavillion is not available in Dubai, to begin with check muzworld and amazon, maybe also carseat.se to see what selection they have of Group 0/1 seats which is what you should be looking for. Also check rear facing seat threads, I posted a review recently. You should make sure it is rear facing since your baby is still very young. Don't rely on "consultants" at stores here, most of them are clueless and if anything they give dangerous advice.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 September 2013 - 15:11
Dear av1998, While researching something else recently I came across this on a thread which I'm quoting below. It's a year old and I haven't checked the website as I do not have a personal reason to look into it but I thought I'd share in case you find more resources and parents in a similar situation to yours. I hope you can find the help you need, I can understand it is challenging. I believe the thread was called 'is the the argument thread?' but I think the rest of it is mostly about vaccinations. Quote: "Hi there, Out of the frustration faced by the mother of anautistic child in Dubai due to not finding much needed adequate information onAutism to meet her child’s needs, a blog/site (www.autismindubai.com) wasborn hoping to become a support network and a central source of informationabout Autism in Dubai (including appropriate centers, schools, activities,doctors etc) for all other parents who face the same challenges today. Please help us spread the word aboutthis blog/site as much as possible in order to reach those in need for it byforwarding this email to your entire contact list and liking its page onFacebook here: http://www.facebook.com/autismindubai Parents of Autistic children: please do subscribe on http://autismindubai.com/ to receive regular posts and updates and help us grow the site by adding anyvaluable information you wish to share with other parents. For more information please contact [email protected]. Thank you. Autism In Dubai "
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 September 2013 - 10:33
Spinneys and Waitrose are the same, except at Waitrose they figured because of the name they can hike up the prices even higher on most items. And Spinneys has IMO a terrible record with their handling of all fresh/chilled produce. Have bought and had to throw out organic salmon steaks, angus beef steaks, chicken kebabs, 45aed/kg peaches that had probably had been through so many temperature changes the flesh was dry and spongy, moldy cheese, etc. I sometimes spot yogurt packaging that has holes in the foil cover, I take these aside and tell them to dispose of, though I doubt that they do. Just be extra careful wherever you shop, unfortunately in most cases the people handling these items have no understanding of safe handling practices etc.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 September 2013 - 08:29
Used them for moves from DXB to US, US to DXB and within DXB. My experience has been good, very professional and here in Dubai for a small fee they can send the 'handyman team' to put up curtains, light fixtures, etc which is totally worth it IMO. The only thing is when we were moving in Dubai from an apartment to a villa they told us it would be a one day move and I think it should have been two days. Result is we ended up getting all our stuff at the new place late at night and there wasn't enough time to put everything in place. They did the job but I felt bad for the poor guys who ended up having to work a much longer day that they should have bc their sales person underquoted. We gave them a good tip in the end and they were quite happy.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 September 2013 - 09:31
In a Prado you should be fine with you as the passenger then:-) With rear facing they recommend the passenger seat should be almost touching the back of the car seat so you can have the passenger seat as far back as the car seat will allow basically. I am also expecting a Britax Dual Fix so wait a week or two so I can give you a comparison between the two. I'm sure you know this already but don't buy a second hand seat unless it's from a friend or family and you trust it's not been in accident etc. IMO considering how much we drive in Dubai and how dangerous the roads can be sometimes, a car seat is something I would not compromise on.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 September 2013 - 08:51
Monitors are amazing, especially for first time parents! We have a Motorola BP something but as someone else mentioned in DSO they work in certain areas of teh house and not in others; it's hard to know unless you know your house very well (construction wise). But I think they all work great in apartments. If I was starting over I would first check the ipad apps as then you could have a wireless solution you could take with you easily, if that's not an option def get one with a camera, gives you so much more comfort.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 September 2013 - 08:46
Sounds good to hear MrsMopp, thanks so much for your input.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 September 2013 - 10:30
That is indeed possible Meagle, generally no more than one of two fingers should fit between the strap and the child but most people find this too tight and leave the straps more loose. However, since they are selling such products I'm assuming there are escape artists who can get out no matter how tight the straps are:-)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 September 2013 - 09:58
Not speaking from personal experience, but I know many nurseries have opened in JLT over the past couple of years, perhaps you could go visit and see what you like. Meadows/Lakes etc could also be options I know there is a Raffles nursery and a Jebel Ali nursery there and probably a couple more i'm not aware of. And then of course there's is the Marina with quite a few options.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 September 2013 - 09:51
Hm, sounds like City need to get their act together... Anyway, sorry to highjack, TDB, rear facing seat update #1 is posted.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 September 2013 - 09:29
Hi Popsy, check har.com, very useful and will give you an idea of residential areas, prices, school districts etc.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 September 2013 - 09:27
Did you try mumzworld or amazon? I think I also saw it on either besafe.com or securatot.com (not sure if it's .com, maybe run a goodle search for it).
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 September 2013 - 09:25
Thanks Mrs Mopp, this is very helpful, I had read your previous comment in another thread but thought I would check for more info as I only found a couple of mentions to Kensigton DSO on the forum. I went to visit British Orchard a few weeks after it had opened so it is possible that things have improved since then but I didn't like it at all, very cold, poorly organized, an abnormally high number of kids crying plus no outdoor space which for me is very important. I will also look into the new Blossom in Academic city, Kensignton would be ideal location-wise because there would be no need for car transportation but I've read negative comments about the other branch in Jumeirah and I am looking for more opinions from parents to help me decide. Thanks again!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 08 September 2013 - 15:10
Thanks Koo, would you mind elaborating a bit? Which factors led you to leave that nursery? Many thanks in advance.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 08 September 2013 - 13:28
TDB, as promised reporting back on seat #1: I got a Besafe Combi X3 Isofix from mumzworld, delivered in 2 days, great service. The seat was simple to install but in general with rear facing seats I wouldn't recommend moving it between cars as it's a hassle what with the support leg and seat anti-roll over bar etc. DD seemed to like it, it's quite high so she could look out the window and enjoy the ride and she fell asleep in it quite easily. Looks very robust and safe. If you have a small-ish car you'll have trouble fitting anyone but the most petite passenger in the front seat but I think that's the case with all rear facing as they take up a lot more space than forward facing. Forgot to mention this can also be used as forward facing with a seat belt installation. DD is 12 months and 91 percentile in terms of height and looks like there's loads of space before she'll need to bend her legs to sit in it so I think we should be able to stay rear facing for another year or two. I'm expecting another seat next week, will report on that too.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 05 September 2013 - 13:42
For a light lunch or as a side dish, slice courgettes and potatoes (more of less equal thickness), toss in a big pan with olive oil, salt, pepper, thinly cut fresh onions (the green ones, not sure if they're called something else), parsley and dill and loads of squeezed lemon and bake in the oven till cooked through-you can leave them in as long as you wish after that depending on how "roasted" you like them, should take about 45 min to an hour. Serve with feta cheese if you like it:-)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 05 September 2013 - 11:41
If didn't want to be pregnant, you should have taken some precautions. Honestly, it's not the 19th century. Mwashington, what's with all the nastiness? Ever since you started posting nothing nice of helpful has come out of your "pen". How about you chill a bit and reconsider? OP no need to panic, planned or not, try to enjoy it and don't put your life on hold or go overboard, being pregnant is not some kind of illness :-) Unless your Dr has identified some risk factors, I'm surprised you were advised not to travel, perhaps you could ask them to explain why? Also call the insurance company and clarify your coverage, doesn't make sense that they would not cover a normal pregnancy. Best of luck!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 September 2013 - 10:27
Correct, first you find the car then you get the loan but bear in mind it is very difficult if not impossible to get a car loan for a used car, unless perhaps it is from an authorized dealer etc. When I bought mine from Dubizzle I did a personal loan for part of the price since over time it was coming out slightly cheaper than what I would have paid had I been able to get a car loan bc the interest rate for a used car would have been much higher than for a new car. Better check with a couple of banks first so you know what options you may have once you identify something.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 September 2013 - 10:23
Thanks Big Blue - I have the Maxicosi Family Fix base but thought Stage 1 car seats didn't need Isofix altho I agree it would be safer. I will probs keep the Maxicosi base for our Stage 0 car seat for new baby and then buy the whole shabang for the Stage 1 one we need. No real rush as she's 9 months now so still a few months to go but was allowing time for international shipping! So yes if you do get one, please post about your experiences. I don't mind cost so much as it will last til she's 4 - safety first. Also, she's a little one for her age so doubt she will outgrow it too quickly! Same here TDB, family fix with pebble and to be honest a bit annoyed at Maxi Cosi because when I was doing my original research before DD was born I was under the impression family fix was a better option when in fact it seems it is not as the options of Stage 1 seats to go on it are extremely limited (and only forward facing but TBH I wasn't factoring this in my research at the time so that's my fault:-). So now I will also set it aside for baby #2 and focus on getting something good for DD. The Britax and Cybex seats I'm looking at have the isofix built in, you don't need to buy a separate isofix base. Carseat.se told me they ship many seats to Dubai and that it takes approximately 4 days for delivery.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 September 2013 - 09:25
Hi TDB, their prices are actually good (comparing one seat I'm looking at is GBP20 cheaper than at Mothercare in the UK), but you pay between 75 and 95 euros for shipping so to me it only makes sense to use if you want a seat you can't otherwise get here or on Amazon.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 03 September 2013 - 09:21
Thanks all - darnit was looking at the Britax one but if it;s no good I may have to choose something else. Not easy when there is literally nowhere here to check them out and you're ordering online and choosing based on online reviews. We have a few months to go so will keep an eye out but am surprised that rear facing seats aren't more popular considering the obvious benefits. Hey TDB, no need to discmiss the Britax just yet and remember that in the US (that Meagle was talking about) they may have different models/specs etc. I don 't have a Britax so I'm not saying they're great, they do however have many more rear facing options than most other brands available in Europe and here. After more research, I am now prioritizing a seat that is rear facing but that also has isofix as this allows a much more foolproof installation and is a safer option. Britax have a few, also Cybex from what I've seen. Also check the specs where they mention the hight of the chair or some other sources that do independent measurements, then you can get a better idea of how fast your child is likely to outgrow it. I may be getting a seat soon so if you're not in a rush just watch this space and I'll report back.