Clairehdp | ExpatWoman.com
 

Clairehdp

Clairehdp
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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 12:45
Bice at the Hilton Frankies at Oasis beach tower Peacocks chinese at The Sheraton Grand Grill at Habtoor Grand Hunters at the westin If you want alcohol you'll have to go to the restaurants in the hotels there. hve a flick through and see what restaurants are in the book - I'm not sure all the above are...
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 12:37
manuri also makes the most amazing cakes - she gets pretty booked up - call her she's so lovely to deal with. http://decorativecakes.piczo.com/?g=44906453&cr=5&linkvar=000044
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 12:34
Jenn and Nicky at Frosted do amazing cakes. I'm sure Nicky would be happy to help you http://www.frosted.me.uk/page23.html#WeddingCakeP1
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 12:26
The golf clubs usually do pork - loads of sausages and bacon at brunch time. They are also usually really good value. worth checking out the Montgomerie and Arabian Ranches golf club.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 12:23
We have taken ours to the one in Florida and the one in Paris a couple of times and they both absolutely loved it! I think it's really magical when they are little. My little boy didn't like Father Christmas when he was little but LOVED all the characters - they were both sooooo excited to see Mickey Mouse. I think at 4 she will be fine. the Small small world ride is lovely. Mine are 6 and 7 now so I expect we will do it one more time but the best one for me was when my little girl was 4 - she smiled the whole day!
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 11:50
Spinneys usually have them in their baking supplies section
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 19:47
Oh no......... Millie was found right at the end of La Coleccion Avenue turning right at the roundabout. To be honest - she's been really pee'd off since she's been back as I think she was having a party every nigh!. There's a lovely lady at the end of that road who has adopted stray cats and feeds them - Millie was missing for 10 days and there's no way that she was starving so I think she joined the menagerie there and made full use of the buffet! When you say she's grey is she all grey or grey tabby? do you have a picture you can send me so I can help you to find her? claire dot damamme at ntlworld dot com That's interesting Claire. We live at that end of La Coleccion Avenue. I wondered why there were always a few cats roaming around up there (including a little black and white one with no tail that bit me when I stroked it...). I'm going to go out again now. She's all grey with a very long tail. She also likes her food so she must be getting fed somewhere if she's still around here... That's exactly where Millie was found so....... as I seem to have half the roads cats with their noses pressed up against my windows calling for their new girlfriend to come back out to play - I will keep my eyes peeled....... the black and white with no tail has been here for most of the day together with Millie's boyfriend a cute tabby who is extremely vocal! please e mail me a picture and I will keep my eyes peeled here for her.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 19:47
Claire she did take it down. But I asked her to call you to verify :\: no call!!!!
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Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 19:44
when people find their lost pets, can they possibly go back around to the vets etc and take their notices down. Good luck, hope your cat comes home quickly. I sent Millie's details to the vets by e mail and e mailed them all when she was found asking for them to take their posters down..... Also been to Le Marche and Spinneys to get my posters down. OK, cos this morning I saw some ladies reading your poster in the Vets and then I asked the receptionist to verify with you that Millie had in fact been found (she was going to take my word for it...!!) yeah I thought that comment was aimed at me!!!!! One can only do what one can do!!!!! thanks for letting her know - wonder if she takes it down!
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 18:50
Whats shellac? It's another gelish brand.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 17:50
when people find their lost pets, can they possibly go back around to the vets etc and take their notices down. Good luck, hope your cat comes home quickly. I sent Millie's details to the vets by e mail and e mailed them all when she was found asking for them to take their posters down..... Also been to Le Marche and Spinneys to get my posters down.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 17:49
Oh no......... Millie was found right at the end of La Coleccion Avenue turning right at the roundabout. To be honest - she's been really pee'd off since she's been back as I think she was having a party every nigh!. There's a lovely lady at the end of that road who has adopted stray cats and feeds them - Millie was missing for 10 days and there's no way that she was starving so I think she joined the menagerie there and made full use of the buffet! When you say she's grey is she all grey or grey tabby? do you have a picture you can send me so I can help you to find her? claire dot damamme at ntlworld dot com
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 06:03
They do seem to go through phases my little girl went through a stage of just wanting to eat apples, eggs and rice i would always put other food in front of her but that was sll she ate for quite a while. Shes moved on now and is fine with most foods but there are times when she doesnt eat enough to keep a flea alive. I think they know how worried us mums can get about what they are/are not eating and they play on this - they're very clever. Ss long as hes eating something i would go with the flow if i were you. Perhaps nursery could help with some suggestions and they csn try to get him to eat more with the other children there. There might be something in another childs lunchbox that he might like the look of and you could do that for him. Worth a try.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 05:44
We have always had lovely food at bab al shams. Not had the breakfast there before but the setting is gorgeous and different to have your breakfast in the desert on your birthday. I have however had breakfast at the burj al arab and was very disappointed. Hopefully jensui do it better. I agree though that it would be pretty amszing to go there for a pecial birthday treat. <em>edited by Clairehdp on 09/02/2011</em>
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 09 February 2011 - 05:41
If you are wanting non fancy curtains ikea are one of the cheapest. If you want fancier you sn deal with jeseel their tailor direct. I have had ikea do some stuff and then got jeseel to mske my roman blinds and curtains with the eyelet fixings he was very reasonable and did a superb job.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 20:43
I wouldnt say the brekkie at the Montgomerie is special - it's nice but not amazing and I wouldn't call it 'posh'. I would think breakfast at Bab Al Shams would be pretty amazing and a great start to a special birthday (not had brekkie there though!). How about breakfast at the new One and Only Hotel on the Palm - it looks amazing or the new Jumeirah hotel on the Palm.....
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 16:24
How exciting! welcome to the board. With 2 kids you really need to get onto schools to sort their places out. Definitely press the search button on here and look at everything Buy Me a Pony has put on here over the last couple of weeks. She even put a list together of just how much you need to make the move feasible ie rent, household bills, school fees etc - it's very expensive here. when you were here for your relocation visit - did you look at schools for the kids? Lots of stuff to sort out - hopefully Buy Me a Pony will see your thread and you can hook up as she's a few weeks ahead of you on trying to get stuff sorted.... good luck!
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 13:52
e mail has been sent to all parents with letter from headmaster confirming half term date change due to the official holiday being called for Thursday next week. So - finish this thursday and return to school on Sunday 20th Feb - yay very happy in our house as we have guests over from the UK so will be a nice holiday for us all!holidays, guests and MILLIE !!! Good for you. Happy days Yep - very happy days!
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 13:44
Agasana Spa at the Polo Club.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 11:41
I saw some in H&M in MCC yesterday.....
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 11:35
Thanks Claire. Does it have room for 15 - 20 in one area? Yes - I saw it set up for a baby shower a while ago and it looked superb. Got a bit of a Gary Rhodes Mezzanine feel about it - very nice. Call them and ask to speak to the manager he was a really nice guy.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 11:33
I think it's 99 dhs and I think it's on a tuesday.... yes - it's FAB!
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 11:12
the guys in sharaf in ibn battuta by the soy restaurant were really good. We told them we only wanted the machine if they could deliver it that day and they did!!!!! When you go in if you are getting a new one ask them if they will take the old one away for you. If not,,, call takemyjunk
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 11:09
It's the guardianship document that I think is soooooo important if you are here with children. If something should happen to you and your husband and you don't have a document detailling local guardians here your children are taken into care. If you think about it logically, most of us have wills and they detail who the children will go to in the event of our deaths but........I bet most of you will have detailed people who are living in your home countries. Who looks after the children from the time of your demise to when the guardians can get themselves over to this country. We had our temporary guardianship documents done here (the lady is no longer here so I can't give you her details). It means that if we are killed in an accident coming back from a night out our housemaid can contact our guardians here immediately and they can come to look after the children until such time as their UK guardians are able to get over here........we have the documents to support this and the guardians passport numbers etc are on the documents so it's clear that they are with the right people - it's something we hope will never happen but......at least I know if something happens to me my kids will be with people they know and love and will be safe until such time as their guardians come to take over their care.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 10:04
e mail has been sent to all parents with letter from headmaster confirming half term date change due to the official holiday being called for Thursday next week. So - finish this thursday and return to school on Sunday 20th Feb - yay very happy in our house as we have guests over from the UK so will be a nice holiday for us all!
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 09:52
Go for a new one for sure.
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 09:50
Are they allowed to do that????? Unbelievable - and I bet it doesn't go to the person who breaks their back every day lugging heavy gear into our cars......
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 09:48
My Dad was diabetic and I used to find great recipes on-line. Here are a few: http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/sugar-free-brownies/Detail.aspx http://www.naturesnaturalhealing.com/recipes/diabetic/desserts.shtml#Brownies http://www.cooksrecipes.com/diabetic/double_chocolate_brownies_recipe.html
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 09:43
do you mean a part time agency maid or a full time maid. if full time maid have a look as someone is looking for new family for their maid and they are on AR.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 09:42
Howdra go to the marina - they're excellent.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 09:41
I love Circle opposite the Jumeirah Beach Park - stunning interior - better carrot cake than the Lime Tree (IMO) and superb other cakes - plus very very good coffee and a good selection of teas. Its on the first floor of teh beach park plaza centre.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 09:39
butterscotch scones - oh my god - they sounds heavenly! Can you please make some soon and when you are making them write it all down so you can share the recipe with us!!!!!! I'm a hopeless baker - I love cooking but just can't seem to get baking right....
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 09:13
They do fantastic swimming lessons at the Emirates Golf Club so just across the SZR from you. I'd contact them and see if they have space for her. Best time to get her in the water and having fun. My little girl learnt very quickly as she was having so much fun playing in the water. Not up to date on who is teaching now as both my kids are almost amphibian now so we haven't been there for ages but it's a great programme.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 21:57
I would say they have attracted a higher percentage of both emirati families, as well as other educated/westernized? Arab families. They want a good education and JBS marketed JBS themselves as having a strong focus on Arabic. In the carpark, they had I would say a much higher proportion of single and double digit number plates thAn any other western school.... With that comes an attitude of expecting things to go their way......how the school manages that would in interesting..... Have you been in the Repton car park???? honestly I think more and more emiratis are enrolling at many more schools than they ever used to.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 21:29
it's fantastic in there isn't it. We've got desert camp this week so have been in for the camping supplies and they were great.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 20:25
Your maid should know all about it. If she doesn't get her to speak to her friends and they will explain it all to her. It's a way of protecting them and making sure they are being paid at least the minimum wage set by the Philippino govt. They check the contract and salary and issue her with an exit pass which will allow her to leave Manila and return to Dubai with no problems.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 20:05
ANYONE at all out there have any experience of JBS? Noone has an opinion or an experience with this school? edited by breige on 24/11/2010 This is my issue with the school, it is so new that I cannot get any feedback and it will probly have many growing pains. Interesting was to hear about several Emirati's enrolling thier children there Why is that interesting - surely several Emiratis enrol their children at most of the schools here.....
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 19:56
I agree SW great plan but........her DH wants to be approx 5 mins from work I think which has thrown her into a complete spin!!!!!!......men.....
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 19:33
Still no communications from the school. You need to speak to your teacher or class rep - I'm a class rep and had a letter/e mail from the year head to pass to all my class mums. I'm sure letters will be sent out in the communication books tomorrow.....
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 19:31
Yep - confirmed by letter from head of year for class reps to send to all their class parents. finish for half term this Thursday and will return to school on sunday 20th February.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 19:25
Anyone know of a reliable delivery to JI? Iv'e been waiting since 1.30 from al fahidi gas, called them twice and it's 5.15 and still no show. sorry to rant, I have lasagna waiting to go in the oven for hungry children. Gas doesn't come in bottles in jumeirah islands it's piped in - maybe that's why they've not come...... if you take a look there is no facility for gas bottles.......
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 19:25
Get your dh to give them a call...they seem to respond quicker and listen to a man ranting down the phone. Not if it's not bottled gas supply!
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 16:53
If you can't find any I have some in my cupboard that I'm happy to share with you.
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 09:35
How about some lovely scented candles. La Vela candles are absolutely gorgeous and are made here in Dubai! http://www.facebook.com/pages/La-Vela-Candles/118908474822422?v=info#!/pages/La-Vela-Candles/118908474822422?v=info
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 08:34
Yes, there is a small "optician" located in a portacabin next to the Driving Licence Office. It's a bit of a scam (from memory 100dhs for about 30 seconds work) but I think you need to use them as they sign off the paper you get from the Office when you first submit your documents. They do all the typing there too so one stop shop. Really handy get it all done there and just walk into the offices for the final process.
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Latest post on 06 February 2011 - 21:28
SHE'S BACK!!!!!!!!! Thank you so much to everyone for helping to find her with all your suggestions and ideas. We had 2 calls today saying they thought she had been seen in the street we live. So, we have been up and down shaking the cat biscuits but nothing. My husband said he would go out one more time and walked quite a way only to find her sitting at the end of our road! She's absolutely fine - is tucking into a nice big bowl of fish and is purring her head off!!!!! I am officially the happiest person in Dubai!
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 06 February 2011 - 19:45
Sounds very dodgy to me.....someone somewhere is making money out of that.....
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 06 February 2011 - 18:53
By this time next week I will have just turned 40 (SOB SOB!!!) and am childless (another huge sob). Reason? Partially due to being a career/party girl throughout my 20's and a career girl/failed marriage throughout my early 30’s. I have since been with my dear other half for 5 years and fell pregnant at the end of 2008 (age 37) ....we were still in the UK and overjoyed!! (for any that recognise me on here I normally post DH as I have been ULTRA cautious from day one of arriving here – if you get what I’m saying?). Sadly I miscarried at 14 weeks back in Feb 2009. Utterly devastated, but finally accepted it's VERY common, especially at my age. Then just 2 months later I was made redundant, then 2 months after that my other half was made redundant (!!) and as a result our wedding plans were shelved due to lack of funds! Within 3 months of both our redundancies we had found good jobs here (wasn’t our first choice but hey, the jobs & financials made sense!!). Now having been here for 18 months (we love it here despite the usual frustrations) we are finally planning our wedding (in between our busy work schedules) for May 2011, and will be at it like rabbits thereafter in the hope of producing a child  So sorry to hijack this thread but the ‘when is too old’ bit really tugged my heartstrings having not yet produced one & rapidly approaching my 40’s . I hope and pray that once we’re married I can fall with no complications and not go through the heartache of another miscarriage  To answer the original OP’s question? My opinion is if you have a brood, no matter what age then enjoy life without nappies, potty training etc etc. If you’re 46 now chances are you’ll be 47 if not 48 by the time you deliver, the child would still be begging you for cash to see him/her through university when you are just about to start enjoying your pension!! Just my thoughts. Sorry this was so long and apologies again for hijacking the thread ……. Just feeling a little bit hard done by on the baby front and hope it’s my turn soon ……….. x Edits due to - making spaces between the para's! edited by Loopy Lotti on 06/02/2011 edited by Loopy Lotti on 06/02/2011 edited by Loopy Lotti on 06/02/2011 you're not yet 40 - you have time and you know that you can get pregnant so that's a great sign. I was career and party girl and then broken marriage so I was late to have my babies - had quite a few miscarriages too - thoght it just would not happen for me but got married and very very quickly fell pregnant with my little boy at 41 - had a miscarriage very soon after having him and went on to have a gorgeous little girl at 43. Best thing ever to happen to me cos I truly thought I would not have children. I love every minute with them and know I am blessed to have one of each - would have loved to have more but felt I was pushing my luck - 2 naturally conceived babies in early 40s and both healthy babies - have hung my baby making shoes up. don't lose heart - I'm sure you'll come back from your honeymoon and before you know where you are you'll be buying baby equipment! As far as what age is too old.....I think only you really know..... I know now that my life is fantastic - the kids are entertaining and are pretty independent - we can go to lovely restaurants and they order their own meals and engage in animated conversation - we are loving them being a bit older (6 and 7) and for me.....I would not want to go back to nappies and baby gear. Good luck! <em>edited by Clairehdp on 06/02/2011</em>
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 06 February 2011 - 11:11
They do camel burgers here - I was reading about them the other day - here's the article.... http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/uae/heritage-culture/camel-burger-dubai-s-new-delicacy-1.577963
Clairehdp
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Latest post on 06 February 2011 - 10:39
Oh that's disappointing - which one did you go to - we've been to the one on the beach road and the burgers were superb!
 
 
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