Blini2 | ExpatWoman.com
 

Blini2

Blini2
34
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2012 - 19:47
LOL!!!! thanks Amy, well I was blogging/speaking out about a tiny vest and shorts with huge knawks on display during Ramadan last year (I got quite a few thousand hits for that piece so I was happy to have pointed out a few things), plus there's a time and a place to see that and when I'm buying my fish in Dean n Delucas is not one of them :) The last few times I've been out, it's been like a coach has stopped off.......if I'd seen anyone wearing a knotted hankie on their heads and socks with sandals, I wouldn't have been surprised. I don't think it's offensive to show your legs or your arms but some people do like to push their luck, string tops and tiny shorts etc. Good luck to them, where I'm off to, I'll be keeping my thermals on :D
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 December 2011 - 15:56
They aren't the best sausages in the world (probably would be called 'bangers' in the UK, depending on the meat content) but they are a massive improvement on the other pork sausages we've had in Qatar over the years.....oh wait..... :D They are more than adequate in a Toad in the Hole or with some bacon on a Friday morning. They aren't going to win any awards but after Qatar being a 'flat nosed beef' free zone for many years.......well, I'm not fussy :D
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 December 2011 - 10:51
Having been here for the past 6 years and seeing the mayhem, we will be staying home :) A word of advice if you do go out....don't! Whilst the parades and fireworks are always amazing.......the driving takes on a whole new level of insanity and make sure you keep an eye for the odd random sword swinging from a car or people standing on their bonnets. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong - hopefully they will have more of a grip on the driving/sword waving this year.
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 December 2011 - 09:20
We've done 10 Christmas' in the Middle East.....4 in Saudi LOL. That first Christmas was awful, we had a borrowed tree that someone had smuggled in years before, homemade decorations, Baileys made with this stuff called 'Sid' or 'Flash' which really was no better than high octane fuell lol. I'm with Carolina, get a tree. You and your husband could make a night of it, a few mince pies, some champagne, put some carols & Christmas music on, turn the AC to as cold as it will go and decorate the tree together. Toast your first Christmas when you put the fairy on the top or turn on the lights. Find some Christmas movies, Home Alone, Elf, National Lampoon's Christmas, make sure they are funnies because otherwise tears will start falling and that will surely dampen the spirit. On the day, either try a brunch out with friends (Carolina's right on that as well, they are filling up fast) or make your own traditions. As a family we always had some smoked salmon, scrambled eggs and champagne for breakfast (the kids didn't have the fizz obviously) after we had opened the presents, all sitting around the tree and taking it in turns. After breakfast, prep the lunch/dinner veggies together while the kids played with their stuff ( or went back to bed once they became teenagers). One of our main traditions was Christmas Eve. We used to have a lovely meal, get to open one present each (it cut back on the hyped and over excitedness of the kids so they'd sleep that night) and also had a new board game every year, which we played until bedtime. Kids were usually so bored they had no trouble sleeping. Don't forget a carrot for Rudolph and Mince pie and brandy for Santa :) This year, it's our grand-daughter's first Christmas so we are going back to the UK - cannot wait!!!
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 August 2011 - 09:49
Try Tavola or Table Arts in City Center. I know that Table Arts do the Kitchen Aid range (I love their stuff but baulked at the price of the toaster lol) but they can be pretty expensive. I know that Lakeland is in City Center but I haven't been there yet, so might be worth checking that out.
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 August 2011 - 11:17
My sister in law was on it recently and shifted around 14lbs, she found it easy but she's very regimented/organised about everything (virgo lol). She recommends it to everyone and if I had more will power I would definitely try it. I'm on weightwatchers. Well I say that, I log in now and again, put my weight into the tracker, sob a little, get back on the plan, lose 5lbs and think 'excellent' that's me doing well, where's the cake? So now I'm eating healthily but not denying myself stuff when I want it.......and swimming a mile in the mornings. A few more days of that & I'm upping it to an extra mile in the evenings. I'll be that waterlogged woman, tanned on the back not on the front, attempting to drag myself around the mall. I can't do diets, it's that whole being told what to do syndrome kicking in. Doha4Now, check back after the summer, this place is like a ghost town at the moment. Just us crazies still here in Doha :)
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 August 2011 - 00:11
hope the queuing is sorted............or lack of it but if we could just get past the negatives for a moment :cool: I think it's awesome that we have a new initiative going on....
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 August 2011 - 13:36
Yes, I know it's a long way off (or not) but stand by for The Doha Park - running from the 6th of October to the 17th of November. See press release below...... Doha, August 15, 2011: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) announced today that it will hold the Doha Park, the biggest entertainment event in Qatar lasting six weeks and encompassing a broad range of activities, in collaboration with the Economic Group. The announcement was made today at a press conference held at the Doha Exhibition Center, by Mr. Ahmed Abdullah Al Nuaimi, QTA Chairman, Mr. Lahdan Al Mohannadi, QTA Head of Local Exhibitions, and Mr. Abdulrahman Al Saleety, Chairman of Economic Group. As stated by the organizers, the festival will occupy 30,000 square meters at the new event area, near the Doha Exhibition Center, and will run for six weeks from October 6 to November 17, ending with Al-Adha celebrations. Al Nuaimi explained that the purpose of this festival is to provide a host of entertaining activities to both nationals and expatriates, and to tourists visiting Qatar, in order to encourage tourism from inside and outside Qatar. This will be achieved by offering well-organized and high quality activities that will help attract visitors and increase the number of tourists from neighbouring countries. A wide media marketing campaign will be launched through print, TV and radio in Qatar and neighboring Gulf countries in order to attract more visitors and tourists from the region, especially that the number of GCC tourists has increased nearly 40% and the number of international visitors surged in general more than 12% during the first half of 2011. The QTA Chairman stated that the Doha Park festival will offer world-class activities in the new 30,000 square meter open area, especially designed to host the QTA various events and festivals throughout the year. The festival will feature more than 100 entertaining events and attractions, including an amusement park, an international circus, theatrical plays, concerts, a 3D cinema, performances by folkloric bands depicting the heritage of Qatar and other Arabic countries, appearances by famous cartoon personalities, a play area for children under the age of 10, entertainment programs, a live theatre for children, and various fun athletic activities to suit tastes of all family members, Al Nuaimi added. There will be a separate area for shopping with many different stores, a children play area, bumper cars and rocket games areas, in addition to a special circus area for the European, Russian, Egyptian and Chinese circuses that will attract families from inside and outside Qatar and other Gulf countries. There will also be a video game area, a theatre, in addition to many competitions and draws on valuable prizes. Mr. Lahdan Al Mohannadi, Head of Local Exhibitions at the QTA said the Doha Park activities will take place in a 30,000 square meter new open area, near the Doha Exhibition Center. This is the area in which QTA recently invested and upgraded its infrastructure to be able to host all sorts of events, ensuring the highest safety standards and a joyful experience to all festival visitors. In order to give everybody the opportunity to enjoy more than 100 cultural and entertaining activities, QTA made the entry to the activity areas free of charge. Nominal fees will be paid when using electric and electronic games at the amusement park. This park will offer more than 35 big electric games to suit all ages, electronic, video and skill games, many surprises and various programs during the Eid days, Al Mohannadi added. To make the event fun for all attending families, the festival management dedicated a whole area to shopping and various services. More than 106 different stalls will be set up, in addition to restaurants, rest areas and cafes providing access for special needs visitors, and many competitions with great prizes for winners. The event will hold the first impressionist exhibition with more than 20 impressionist works of art, inspired by Eid Al Adha and reflecting an aspect of the Qatari identity, Al Mohannadi further explained.
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 August 2011 - 14:13
We haven't got round to doing an Egyptian restaurant on DoD yet, but I have asked around and apparently the one at Katara is called Khan Farouk, and the feedback we are getting is that the food is great :) Hope that helps, Dine Out Doha is still in the Beta stage, as well as waiting for people to get back after the summer so we can encourage them to send in their own reviews :) There's only so much eating out that we at ILQ can do lol Amanda
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 16:04
I have a number and name for you :) email me at amanda@ i love qatar dot net and I will pass that on to you
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 15:56
I've sent her a message asking if it's still available and will ask her for an email address if it is :)
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 August 2011 - 08:00
http://tinyurl.com/3obmhxx there's barely any cooking on it at the moment tho. I lose my blogging mojo on a regular basis, although this past couple of weeks I seem to have found it again. I would love someone who blogs regularly without any trouble, to tell me how they do it. But there are some links on the right to some great blogs. I really like Qatari Adventures, unfortunately the lady that writes that one is leaving Doha this year :( which is a massive shame. Definitely check out Mr Q. A Qatari's View as well.
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 16:03
one of the ladies I follow on Twitter was advertising a 2 bdrm on the Pearl a couple of days ago (not sure if it's hers or someone that she knows), if you have twitter, try searching user name edited to remove name :)now mrvm has seen message <em>edited by Blini2 on 11/08/2011</em>
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 14:12
LOVE Kirsty's blog!! there's also an expat site http://www.expat-blog.com/en/directory/middle-east/ which has several expat blogs in the directory :)
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 August 2011 - 07:53
I'm pretty sure the 'half a bottle of shampoo' was sarcasm..........wasn't it?? Lol
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 August 2011 - 10:11
I blogged about my experience of seeing some boobs in Dean & Deluca's the other day. From the response I got from some of my followers on Twitter (in Doha and elsewhere), including Muslims, Qataris, other expats, they agree that some of the clothes worn (or not worn in some cases) this Ramadan, are not respectful. You can argue that some Muslims, like the teacher that Amy mentioned, are not as bothered by some people's lack of sense when it comes to clothing. But there are many others who are offended. It's all about varying degrees of sensitivity. It's better to err on the side of caution surely, when it is Ramadan in a muslim country. It shows either great ignorance or great arrogance on the part of those who don't cover their shoulders (or boobs) to have such little regard at this time. <em>edited by Blini2 on 09/08/2011</em>
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 August 2011 - 17:29
Intan, it's worth you contacting a couple of the ladies groups here in Doha, like Doha Mums, the Tuesday Ladies group (?) or American Women's Association to name a few. They often have 'fairs' with vendors who sell their own crafts etc including jewellery, so someone at one of those groups may be able to give you some advice. Good luck with your move :)
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 August 2011 - 11:19
To be honest, there's a time and a place to get your t*ts out in a vest top or show off long tanned legs in short shorts, Qatar in Ramadan is not one of them. That's not being judgemental it's about knowing what's respectful and what isn't.
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 22:49
Speedos are a crime against fashion and good taste, marycatherine......lol NOT appropriate unless you are Tom Daley or an olympic swimmer....the rest of you blokes......NOOOO :)
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 16:18
jeans and a big white shirt for me today at C4 (yes I lifted my ongoing trade feud/embargo but I couldn't be @rsed to drive to LuLu Gharaffa) and I was gobsmacked by a few of the outfits. Little tight t-shirts and mid thigh length shorts..not good at any time of the year in Qatar, but during Ramadan?? Come on, show some respect. *settles down behind the ramparts in readiness
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 10:04
I'm on my 3rd 'incarnation' now! It seems after a few months of using the forum, my user name gets blocked somehow. Has this happened to anyone else? (I noticed Blini2 btw!!) Yes....that's me! I assumed it was because I declined to be spammed with anymore EW emails a few weeks back (could have been months, this summer break is rapidly turning into one long hot day). I emailed them and they couldn't find a solution (?) and recommended I rejoin. Oh well, I guess it pushes the membership numbers up ;) lol
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 August 2011 - 08:39
I partly agree MaryCatherine, there was a case a few years ago, HUGE reward (lot more than 10k), dog dropped off in dead of night. It actually made me quite mad, as a dog owner, simply because I didn't want that to a. set a precedent and b. cause a rash of dognappings LOL. However, when a member of your family, even a small hairy one (no, I don't mean my husband...although...) goes missing, you will probably do almost anything to get them back. I know I would. I actually think that reward is pretty sensible, plus, it's a lot more than some people make in a month (or even 2 or 3 months) and might be just the incentive needed to bring it back if found or even to encourage others to go out looking for it. There is also a small black and tan chihuahua missing in the Wakra area, so if any of you have time, could you check out the Dogs in Doha facebook page, there's a photo, description and info. That little bloke has been missing for several weeks now. I hope Sam turns up soon, safe and well!
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 August 2011 - 23:19
CC, there's an image with a translation underneath, as well as the PDF file below that image, which opens on another page for easy printing.... on my site http://tinyurl.com/3meq44c This was thanks to the owner of the lost dog who kindly emailed it to me after I saw her post on Dogs in Doha.... hope that helps :)
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 August 2011 - 12:29
Second Nole's comments re: clothes. To be honest if I'm in the supermarket, most of the time it's a big white shirt and jeans or capri style trousers. Going out is different, I'll wear a dress, even strappy ones but always take a pashimina, shrug or small jacket just because I feel more comfortable like that. Don't come till you need to. It's Ramadan at the moment and while it's lovely and quiet, very little seems to get processed and you will find it incredibly frustrating. Definitely try Doha Mums, huge group, my kids are over 18 so no personal experience but have heard great things about it. Driving......I took my test here (after 20 lessons with a bloke who fell asleep on a regular basis mid lesson) and I can only give you this advice.....take it for granted that the person in front of you, to the left of you, to the right of you and behind you, is an idiot and will do something dangerous. Just keep your wits about you and always be prepared for someone to do something stupid. They seem to have no concept of roundabouts here and there are times when it's like Wacky Races but it's doable and you soon get used to it. During Ramadan avoid driving anywhere just before sundown because the roads are usually mayhem as everyone rushes to get home to break fast. Oh one other driving tip......take an ipod or cds because QBS is the worst excuse for a radio station on the planet. :)
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 July 2011 - 10:32
One other site to check out is Pinterest - food and drink category. It is page after page of 'pins' by people of stuff they like that they have found online, like an online scrap book, click on an image ie Rolo Cupcakes, (hold on while I drool on the keyboard) that'll take you to a pin which will in turn take you usually to a blog for that particular thing like http://www.mybakingaddiction.com/rolo-cupcakes-recipe/ also http://www.tastespotting.com/ is a very visual site that links to the original recipes/images on their blogs.
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 July 2011 - 23:49
still no good? I'll ask the tech guru aka the son and see if he knows what the issue could be. If he's got any clues I'll let you know x
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 July 2011 - 19:17
yw :) I am looking forward to the lovely quiet roads I must admit :)
Blini2
34
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 July 2011 - 13:56
if any of you have a vpn (virtual private network) BBCIPlayer has a series on at the moment called the Good Cook - http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/programmes/b012gg69 a really great and personable guy Simon Hopkinson presenting it and it has the ingredients shown on the screen when he cooks, unlike some of the numpties who say 'a slurp of that' 'a dollop of this' and you are none the wiser
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 July 2011 - 13:37
two of my personal faves http://www.cannelle-vanille.blogspot.com/ http://www.orangette.blogspot.com/
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 July 2011 - 13:29
PMSL! that's mine and far be it for me to diss my own efforts, you will find that I have a lazy @rse attitude to blogging as well as my fair share of disasters in the kitchen...... (thanks anyway V x lol)...plus I do tend to go off on a tangent and rant about stuff that is totally unrelated to Expat Life or Cooking...in fact there is a rant about the fosters that I'm looking after this month :) However I can tell you that Carol Anne's Kitchen & Cooking with Gill (which are links on the side of my posts) have a fair few recipes and really nice to read. As for recipe books, if you have an IPad or Iphone, the apps store has BBCGoodFood & Jamie (Mr Oliver) available as mag apps (oh and the Weightwatchers mag as well) And it's starred out cos I think I overdid the publicity a year or two back. edited to add http://www.deliciousmagazine.co.uk/ http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/ http://www.jamieoliver.com/ http://gordonramsaysrecipes.com/ http://steamykitchen.com/ <em>edited by Blini2 on 28/07/2011</em>
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 July 2011 - 08:09
Do they do it in the @rse as well ? because in this weather, I'm sick of getting out of the car and telling whoever I'm with, check my bum please........ :D
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 July 2011 - 18:20
Oh you little star Sam :) thanks tamie, will check that as well :)
Blini2
34
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 July 2011 - 17:01
Thanks Hoobs, this is exactly the kind of thing I need :D anymore anyone?
Blini2
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 July 2011 - 15:06
We are in Tebah Gardens - much older compound, lots of greenery in the gardens. We have lived in two brand new builds before this and we swore after the last one, NEVER again. Bl00dy nightmares, both of them, so we were happy to move to a more established/aged compound. The maintenance is brilliant so even if anything does go wrong, they are round quite quickly. The villas are actually quite light and the small gardens/yards are all enclosed. There is a central shared pool & children's pool that was actually refurbished over the winter and is lovely. I don't have small children but there are quite few on here. http://tinyurl.com/6bvakfc gives you a rough idea of the houses and layout http://tinyurl.com/5wsekbr Better Homes We are in one of the 8 houses with their own pool and the guys come round to clean it on a daily basis as part of the rental but the shared pool is lovely. There is a gym, compound shop that has lots of products as well as bread from Bateel every day, a small playground, tennis court. It's the last compound on Sports City St leading to Salwa Road, so we are in the middle of roadworks at the moment, but have to say that the sound proofing is brilliant, you cant hear most of the traffic.
 
 
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