Clairehdp | ExpatWoman.com
 

Clairehdp

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Latest post on 28 February 2013 - 10:57
Best thing to do s to look around either at work or at school so you knw they person lives here and come not on how lovely their hair is and find out where they go. It worked for me!
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Latest post on 28 February 2013 - 10:54
We lost our beautiful 16 year old cat the week before Christmas. She was being treated for kidney failure but eas still eating and purring. One morning she was very wobbly on her feet and we looked at each other and knew that time was running out. My dh was away so I packed the kids off to school and got myself ready to take her to the vets as I just felt the time had come to say goodbye. When I got back from the school run I couldn't find her. I spent 2 days looking for her but she had disappeared. I knew she could not be fr though and was out until dark looking for her and calling her. After the 2 nd day I got a call from a lovely lady who had found her dead in her garden user a beautiful flowering bush. She told me that Mille often went into her garden and used to love lying under this particular shrub. I went over, picked her up and brought her home. I was absolutely devastated that I couldn't give her the exit I had planned which was to hod her and stroke her and tell her his much I loved her but looking back now she chose how to go. She wanted quiet, on her own in her special quiet pace. Cats are clever and perhaps st with your cat and really look into its eyes and see what you see. If its fear and pain then ts time to wrap him/her up and take her/him to the vets to say goodbye. I took Mille to the pet crematorium we have close to our home (we are in the uk now) and the woman who looked after me was a girl I used to go to brownies with when I was 8! We are now in touch with each ther so I have lost my very best furry trend but in doing so have reconnected with an I'd friend. Mille is now buried in our garden and we have panted lots of beautiful primroses to mark where she is. I mss her but know she chose her exit. It's a very hard time and I send you a great big hug. <em>edited by Clairehdp on 28/02/2013</em>
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Latest post on 28 February 2013 - 10:40
How exciting! I love surprises! I am flying over tonight too - cant wait! I wonder if we are onthe same flight! I will look out for 2 ladies popping with excitement!
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Latest post on 27 February 2013 - 10:56
Copy it into PowerPoint and make the invite up as a slide then print 4 slides to a page that's what I do it works fine.
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Latest post on 26 February 2013 - 04:10
I asked my friend in RERA, he only has to give you 3 months notice like any other rental property in Dubai unfortunately. Errrrr - I don't think so...... luckily for the tenant they are protected. If the landlord says he wishes to sell (he usually means I want to get you out and put others in at a much higher rent) then he has to give you 12 months notice from renewal of your contract - fact. If he says he wants to move in himself (another great scam) then he has to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that that is what he wants to do. If he doesn't move in and puts the property back onto the rental market for more rent then he will be fined and have to pay compensation to the tenant who has moved out which could equate to the equivalent of the years rent (never heard that anyone got that though!). Our Landlord tried both options. we filed a case at the rent commitee and won in 2 minutes. Our LL was told in no uncertain terms that we have to be allowed to stay in the property. He was told he should never have put the property on the long term rental market. He was also told when he said he needed to move in himself (yeah right!) that if he had a problem with his LL then he should file his own case against his own LL! thanks emlsnre - I so remember your stress and am glad that my experience helped you to stand firm and quote the law. Good luck OP - you should be fine unless the laws have changed dramatically in the last few months but we would all have read about that...... Yes sorry about that i was incorrect, this applies to Emiratis only.... Phew - so not at all relevant on an expat site! thanks for coming back on and putting the reocrd straight - always important for those of us who have been in that really stressful moment with LL and lease problems. good luck OP - stand your ground- be very polite and sure of your rights- just refer your LL to the law.........
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Latest post on 26 February 2013 - 02:33
If your child is already in nursery in Dubai could you not keep him/her there if you are both working in Dubai. I would prefer for my child to be closer. If something happened and he was taken ill it would be easier for you to get to him/her if he/she was in Dubai.
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Latest post on 26 February 2013 - 02:29
You will find that most councils have a similar allocation of school place procedure. If your children are applying for places 'out of rounds' ie not for the start of reception year then you can apply to any of the schools in the area (outside of catchment area) and if a place is available - you can have it. But.....to apply you need to be resident in the area. We got our kids into a fabulous school outsde of our catchment area and were super pleased but...... things changed and we didn't come back to the UK when we thought we might and when we did return we knew we would be moving plus we had taken the decision by then to put them into much smaller class sized schools which meant private. Good luck - if you are here this weekend - wrap up warm it's freezng but dry and lovely for bracing country walks! I will be on the water and lying on the beach in Dubai!!!!! If I can be of any help please don't hesitate to contact me on claire dot damamme at ntlworld dot com. I spent all my chlldhood summer holidays in Cornwall - my grandparents used to live near Lanner.
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Latest post on 26 February 2013 - 02:01
I asked my friend in RERA, he only has to give you 3 months notice like any other rental property in Dubai unfortunately. Errrrr - I don't think so...... luckily for the tenant they are protected. If the landlord says he wishes to sell (he usually means I want to get you out and put others in at a much higher rent) then he has to give you 12 months notice from renewal of your contract - fact. If he says he wants to move in himself (another great scam) then he has to prove beyond all reasonable doubt that that is what he wants to do. If he doesn't move in and puts the property back onto the rental market for more rent then he will be fined and have to pay compensation to the tenant who has moved out which could equate to the equivalent of the years rent (never heard that anyone got that though!). Our Landlord tried both options. we filed a case at the rent commitee and won in 2 minutes. Our LL was told in no uncertain terms that we have to be allowed to stay in the property. He was told he should never have put the property on the long term rental market. He was also told when he said he needed to move in himself (yeah right!) that if he had a problem with his LL then he should file his own case against his own LL! thanks emlsnre - I so remember your stress and am glad that my experience helped you to stand firm and quote the law. Good luck OP - you should be fine unless the laws have changed dramatically in the last few months but we would all have read about that......
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Latest post on 26 February 2013 - 01:29
use the search facility as there were some pretty bad posts about this place a while ago. They may have smartened up their act but there was an issue where they were using pictures of someone elses cakes! If you want delicious cakes in Dubai do a search again for Frosted and for Manuri both I have used and would highly recommend.
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Latest post on 26 February 2013 - 01:27
I've relocated back to Surrey and we are loving it. We were in Hampshire before leaving for Dubai and bought a new house in Surrey 2 weeks after we got back. There are some fabulous schools here. If you are lookng at state primary then you can't choose a school as others are saying and then choose where to live - you will need an address to apply to a local state school for a place. We have chosen to school our chlldren in a private school because they had done all their education in Dubai and we thought the move back might be difficult for them. We have excellent primary schools here (one just a few minutes walk up the road) but the class sizes really put me off. My 2 kids are in a beautiful school set in acres of grounds with an outside classroom in the woods that is used in all weathers - it has it's own stables, backs onto a golf course where they can have lessons and they play sports every single week against all the schools listed by Mich25. The move back for us has been so much easier than I ever thought possible. I used to commute to London to Green Park - good location and easy to reach from London Waterloo. We have great train lnks into Waterloo and often nip up to London for the day or a night out. We are minutes away from beautful walks in the woods - along the tow path or out into forestry commission land. We are 20 minutes from Legoland which the kids adore. My sister lives in Walton On Thames which is another lovely part of Surrey. To be perfectly honest with you - if you have no idea of the area where you want to be you really need to take a break here and travel around and do the trip into Green Park and see just where your husband thinks would be best for his work and then look at the best schools close by. Getting a place in a school in the UK is very very different to getting a place in a state school in the UK. If you come over and want an expat guide to Surrey I would be very happy to spend time with you and show you around. My kids are in year 3 and year 4 of UK school. You don't say where you are from origainally in your post. I am back in Dubai at the weekend and would be happy to chat to you or meet up over a glass of white stuff if you want some current been there and done that info.
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Latest post on 26 February 2013 - 00:45
At 18 months they learn all they need to know through play. Buy lots of crayons and paper, chalks and a blackboard, lots of paint and brushes, playdough, glue and glitter etc take them to the pool with lots of buckets and watering cans and squirty toys, take them to the playground and push them on a swing until they laugh so much you get the giggles wth them and just have tons of fun wth them! Kids go to school so early now - what's wrong with having fun, running and jumping and climbing and just being a little happy go lucky free spirit..... they just need lots of interacton - this is when they are learning to talk and chatter - let them focus on that before bringing in structured learning. I've kept loads of the pictures my 2 little ones did when they were tiny - I look at them from time to time and smile and chuckle at the memories of those carefree happy unstructured times. Getting up at O it's so early O'clock for school will come round so quickly - let them chill. I would love to have those years back again - no pressure to get homework done, no set tmes to be at any place, no answerng back - Oh you ladies are so lucky - I loved trying to understand all the babbling and felt so triumphant when I could understand the toddler incessant chat! Enjoy them while they are young and they need you - it goes past soooooo quickly.
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Latest post on 23 February 2013 - 20:14
As your rent is within the rental band set by Rera then you don't have to pay a dirham more than you're paying now. The chances are he may well want to sell with the prices going up so I would go for a renewal for one more year with him giving you a 12 months notice of his intention to sell.
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Latest post on 23 February 2013 - 20:08
Here! http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/assessment/eyfs/a00217599/eyfs-handbook
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Latest post on 23 February 2013 - 20:04
Ooooh thanks for posting this! I still get my hair cut by Juan even though I'm back in the UK! I plan my trips back carefully!!!!! will try and get this for my next appointment! I love the way he cuts my hair and the blow dry there is one of the best blow dries I've ever had (I used to work for Vidal Sassoon in London for many years and had some pretty amazing haircuts!). Shaks - when you next go in there please say hi from me and tell him I will be in soon!
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Latest post on 21 February 2013 - 23:19
surely the curriculum is an important consideration if you are planning to return to your home country before your child finishes school in Dubai. good luck - it's a tricky decision but there are some great schools in Dubai.
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Latest post on 21 February 2013 - 23:11
Oooooh Irooni - I can't help you but sounds like you've been purchasing exciting stuff!
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Latest post on 21 February 2013 - 23:09
My little boy is an end of May baby and attended The Children's Garden. He joined Repton in Year 1 having left The Chrildren's Garden after their KG1 year. My little girl is a November baby and because her brother was at Repton I moved here to Nursery class at Repton in the January as the journey between Nad Al Sheba and The Green Community was too tricky. My little girl did great in Nursery at Repton and loved the reception year but......my little boy also did great joining Repton at Year 1 having completed The Children's Garden KG 1 year. I suppose it reallty depends on places. I think if there was any question about not getting a place at a school in year 1 I would not hesitate to leave The Children's Garden after their nursery but - if you join a school and have a place for a year 1 entrance I would highly recommend doing KG 1 stage at The Children's Garden.
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Latest post on 21 February 2013 - 22:59
can you help and take the baby for the day - I did that for a friend of mine - the baby only wanted to be breast fed and could clearly smell the milk from Mummy. I took him and cuddled him and offered him the bottle - there was no way he could smell any milk from me! I reassured him, cuddled him. He ended up being very hungry - he put up a good fight but we eventually broke his resolve and he took a bottle happily and it helped her to wean him onto the bottle. It's so much harder for the mum and you end up offering the breast. As your daughter has a time issue it may well be the best way for Grandma to step in and have a snuggly day with the baby and help put some distance between breasts and bottles! good luck! <em>edited by Clairehdp on 21/02/2013</em>
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Latest post on 19 February 2013 - 12:27
Why don't you contact Ecoventures - my little boy did a camp with them a couple of years ago and loved it. They are very organised and are supposed to be eco friendly. I know if it was my boy he'd love to go back and do some work experience with them. http://www.ecoventureme.com/oac/acprogram.html
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Latest post on 19 February 2013 - 12:16
If you do a day at the beach go to Jebel Ali Resort and Spa and at 4 pm every day the camel comes out and does free rides up and down the beach. If you call some of the desert safari companies they can do just a camel ride in the desert. I had a friend who came over (she was terminally ill and had some bucket list stuff to do which included riding a camel in the desert) and Desert Rangers were fantastic, We did a camel safari but they backed it up with a 4 x 4 so when my friend could go no further they took her for her own little gentle jeep safari - she had her bald head decorated with henna tattoos - it ticked all her boxes - I will never forget the smile on her face as she ticked that off her bucket list - very special and very sad. The desert safari companies can be really flexible and helpful if you get a good person on the phone.
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Latest post on 15 February 2013 - 03:14
Shimmers at Mina A Salaam is fabulous right on the beach. Uptown Bar at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel - on 24 or 25th floor with great views
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Latest post on 15 February 2013 - 03:07
Yes - there are only 2 legal ways of employing a housemaid - by sponsoring yourself or by [b'>employing through a maid agency[/b'>. . Before you give out such advice, I recommend that you contact the DED and ask them if this company has the legal activities for such a service. They do as far as I am aware. There is another agency - is it called explorer - I can't remember. I would not have posted otherwise and I know people who use this facility and it's worked out very well for them.
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Latest post on 14 February 2013 - 14:10
Yes - there are only 2 legal ways of employing a housemaid - by sponsoring yourself or by employing through a maid agency. I used a couple and the only 1 I would recommend is Howdra. They supply both part time and full time, live in housemaids. If you use the search button on here and put in maid agencies you will get lots of recommendations. the girls at Howdra were well trained and you can ask to have the same girl come in each time if you go with a part timer.
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Latest post on 13 February 2013 - 15:36
According to her contract she is entitled to a months paid vacation and an annual ticket home or the equivalent fare in cash - so.....if it was me - as she has worked for you for a year I would pay her the months money as a bonus and as she has already said she doesn't require a ticket home I would give her the money too. These women are away from home to help their families have a better life. Our housemaid only went home every 2 years and would take the months salary and ticket money every other year. She was able to buy some land and is now saving hard to buy the building materials. It doesn't say anywhere in the contract that you don't have to pay this money over - or at least I never saw that part of the contract. I would pay her the money and know that you have helped her and her family enormously. If you decided not to renew and were not able to find her a new employer you would have to pay it anyway. If she has worked hard and worked to find a new employer it would be a nice end of serivce bonus for her. <em>edited by Clairehdp on 13/02/2013</em>
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Latest post on 12 February 2013 - 17:23
We used DASA and they were superb from the moment I called them to the moment they left our home in the UK. I chose them over the others because they were the company who unpacked us when we arrived in Dubai and I was super imporessed with them then! A friend of mine used Allied Pickfords and had an awful experience with alot of damage. Took ages for the claim to be sorted too so we chose to steer well clear of them. There were no surprises with DASA they did everything they said they would do - the team who arrived to do the packing were excellent and all worked extremely hard and packed everything brilliantly. No damage to anything and the unpacking in the UK was smooth. I'm so glad we used them and would highly recomment them. Good luck to your DH - job market seems to be very bouyant at the moment - many of our friends have or are moving jobs and my DH is headhunted on a weekly basis. good luck and I hope your move goes well. We are enjoying being back far more than we thought we would.
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Latest post on 07 February 2013 - 13:04
You can definitely enter into Ireland on your Irish passport with less than 6 months validity but for all other travel you would need to use your British passport. As it's complicated with you needing your exit stamp on your irish passport can you not renew this passport now before you need to use it? I think that's the only way you can get the exit stamp and into Thailand from Dubai. If you are getting your residency cancelled though and it's in your Irish passport i think the only place you can go on that passport as it is now is your home country ie Ireland.
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Latest post on 07 February 2013 - 12:44
If they are travelling from the UK it will probably work out cheaper to book a package deal with someone like Virgin Holidays. JBH is fantastic but it's expensive. I think if it was me travelling with a 15 year old I would look at the new hotels on The Walk. There are loads of restaurants, coffee shops etc. and, of course, the beach! The new JA Ocean View Hotel is doing fantastic opening rates. I think the Amwaj Rotana was also offering really good rates around 800 dhs per night. With the new hotels opening the Sheraton and the Hilton there may well be up for a deal too.
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Latest post on 06 February 2013 - 22:18
TDB - have a look at this website - these are the wrist supports that my specialist gave me - they made a huge difference. http://www.healthandcare.co.uk/carpal-tunnel-syndrome-wrist-supports.html
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Latest post on 06 February 2013 - 20:50
I had really awful CTS and had to wear hand braces at night which made a huge difference as I was in agony at night and couldn't sleep. I had some physio and heat treatment and was also given exercises from the physio. It did eventually go away. All the people I saw (in the UK) were very positive about exercise and braces and surgery was only mentioned once. They do seem really keen on ops in Dubai!
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Latest post on 05 February 2013 - 13:18
Yes - we always had reading books every night and spelling sheets. As they moved ahead they also had maths and verbal reasoning bond papers. Mushypeas - We are now back in the UK and my kids had a very very smooth transition thanks to the work they did at their school in Dubai. If anything - they were ahead of where they needed to be so found it pretty easy for the first term. they are loving their UK school and all the sports and matches that they get to do.
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Latest post on 04 February 2013 - 13:09
Lulus have a good selection of thermas items. In their camping section. You could also try Ace in their camping section.
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Latest post on 04 February 2013 - 13:06
Bubble trubble - what wonderful news. I remember when you adopted your little girl and I can't believe she's not 10 - wow! I can't tell you how happy I am for you and your husband to be expecting! I can't imagine your excitement/shock! OP - I experienced quite a number of miscarriages over quite a number of years and just felt that I would never have a baby of my own. My DH and I decided to just enjoy ourselves, go on amazing holidays and have fun. We had sort of decided that we would be fine without kids when I found out at 41 that I was pregnant! I went on to have a gorgeous little boy and at 43 had a beautiful little girl. I'm pretty sure that my DH and I would have been fine without kids and we would, for sure, have had an amazing life but........I would not be without my kids! It's something you can't really explain to someone - now - as they are growing up - nearly 10 and 8 - I can see little bits of me in them both and little bits of my husband in them too and we are still having a fabulous life - we are just doing slightly different things. We still have gorgeous holidays (if you ask my 2 where their favourite holiday destination is they will tell you The Maldives!). There is something so, so amazing about having children. I have some friends who do not have children and have taken that decision not to and they have a wonderful life (they are amazing Auntie and Uncles!) It's such a personal decision and really only one that you and your DH can make. Bubble trubble - please post on here when your special little one arrives! So, so pleased for you.
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Latest post on 28 January 2013 - 13:59
We used uts bournes to ship our items over and we did not have our residency when it left the uk. Is this a new rule? Do you need residency nw to clear into dubai? I really dont knw? I would recommend uts bournes they were superb. Maybe te comany you ave used have msquoted and are trying to get out of sending your stuff over. If i were you iwould call r e mail a few shipping comanes and ask for info and comare the info with the company you have used. Good luck <em>edited by Clairehdp on 28/01/2013</em>
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Latest post on 28 January 2013 - 13:54
The white company has beautiful bedding goto their outlet in the outlet mall for better prices <em>edited by Clairehdp on 28/01/2013</em>
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Latest post on 28 January 2013 - 13:47
Just a thought tallyscot - would his uk dr be able to recommend or at least liaise with a dr that you find in dubai. Sorry to hear your son is unwell i hope you can find god support there for him. I too never had a GP - in all the time we were in dubai i saw a dr once with a severe chest infection and my kids saw a dr at the local clinic twice with ear infections so we had no requirement for a gp. We are now back in the uk have registered at the lcal drs and have yet had any need to see one! It doesnt leave me speechless either its just how it goes isnt it - everyone is different. I hope you have success for your son xx
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Latest post on 28 January 2013 - 13:36
We got ors from the dustributr in dubai. We bought the trampoline from geant and i went in there to ask where i coukd buy parts and they gave me the name and number of the supplier and i contacted them direct. I seem to remember that the toy store will also order but just depends which trampoline you have <em>edited by Clairehdp on 28/01/2013</em>
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Latest post on 28 January 2013 - 13:34
We bought our filing cabinets from ikea and they are still going strong 6 years later!
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Latest post on 25 January 2013 - 13:53
My reference to the money making scheme was directed at the blood tests.... However, I understand that it is a UAE requirement to have the rabies shot yearly, but the vet I saw was trying to tell me that it had to be done yearly if I wanted to go back to UK, even though there passports state 3 years he said that the UK wouldn't accept them unless yearly. This isn't the case. It's not that the UK won't accept them - it's that they can't leave the UAE as it's the UAE requirement (as Tiguana lady states) that the rabies vaccination is delivered to the animal annually and it has to be within the year - if you go a few days over you have to start again which includes the blood test. When we bought our cat over to Dubai we used Alison from the Dubai Doghouse and it was her who pionted out to us that the UAE requirement is annual rabies vaccinations. Thank goodness she did tell us as I had been informed from the UK that she was good now for 3 years. So.....best advice is to keep up an annual rabies jab and you will be able to leave with no problems. OP if your cat is from Dubai and has never had the rabies blood test and your vaccinations have not been done annually I'm sure you have to start the process from scratch so it will include the blood test but others have given you the links. We used the pet hospital vets in the Green Community when bringing our cat back to the uK - they seemed very well informed and we also used Alison again as she was supberb. Millie the cat arrived back in the UK with no problems and no delays. Most definitley do not sedate a cat. We put in her favourite blanket so she had the smell of home in her crate - that should help if she's a nervous cat. Good luck - I'm sure everything will work out fine.
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Latest post on 22 January 2013 - 17:53
Le Meridien Al Aqah is one of my favourite places. Both our kids adore the kids club there. Another big favourite is the Hilton Resort and Spa in RAK but they charge for the kids club (or they did when we were last there). If you want to drive further then I would highly recommend the Shangr La Hotel in Oman superb kids facilities there.
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Latest post on 22 January 2013 - 14:54
If it was my child I would contact Great Ormond Street Hospital in London and speak to their Urology department. They purely deal with children and have probably seen the condition before and will be able to help you. Here's a link to the department for you. Hope you get the help you need. http://www.gosh.nhs.uk/health-professionals/clinical-specialties/urology-information-for-health-professionals/meet-the-team/?__utma=1.2103371615.1358849452.1358849452.1358851701.2&__utmb=1.2.9.1358851713706&__utmc=1&__utmx=-&__utmz=1.1358849452.1.1.utmcsr=gosh.org|utmccn=(not%20set)|utmcmd=toptab&__utmv=-&__utmk=57928362 I believe there is also a paediatric urology centre in St Thomas's hospital but I would say that Great Ormond Street would be your best place to start. Maybe your consultant here can refer you.
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Latest post on 21 January 2013 - 16:48
Yes - Jenn is around. Here's a recent link with Jenn's details on and other recommendations too http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/topic197090-birthday-cake-suggestions.aspx
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Latest post on 21 January 2013 - 15:37
there are so, so many options. all of the hotels will happily host a private party. Do you want to be outside? You could hire a dhow and do a party on a dhow cruise. The golf clubs do beautiful outdoor parties. Best thing for you is to think about which location suits you best and call the food and beverage departments for thier party packages. Most of the hotels also offer drinks packages which work out pretty well. I love organising parties! enjoy!
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Latest post on 21 January 2013 - 15:31
One of my favourite spas in London is the one in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel - it's stunning. Most of the big, famous hotels have wonderful spas and some do ladies only timings. If you want a day out from London the spa at Pennyhill Park in Surrey is beautiful (not ladies only but during the week there are hardly ever any men there). Have you tried the Dorchester? They have separate treatment areas. And does that Mandarin have ladies days? Thanks! No not been to the Dorchester spa - I think the Mandarin Oriental has ladies only times - worth sending then an e mail - it's gorgeous there. I'll have a think about others for you.....
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Latest post on 21 January 2013 - 15:16
One of my favourite spas in London is the one in the Mandarin Oriental Hotel - it's stunning. Most of the big, famous hotels have wonderful spas and some do ladies only timings. If you want a day out from London the spa at Pennyhill Park in Surrey is beautiful (not ladies only but during the week there are hardly ever any men there).
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Latest post on 19 January 2013 - 14:37
my friend's baby was covered in really really bad excema. he was referred to a top paediatric dermatologist in London and he recommended a whole regime using the Aveeno range of products. Bath and creams. It took a while to clear him but within a couple of weeks the difference was amazing. Within 4 months he was completely clear of the excema. My little boy suffered from mild excema and I started using Aveeno as soon as my friend told me about it - his cleared up in weeks. If he has a flare up now I reach straight for the Aveeno and within a few days it's gone.
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Latest post on 19 January 2013 - 14:26
sorry to hear that your brother has had unsuccessful surgery. I know quite a few friends (and my sister) who have had spinal surgery here in the UK all have been successful but all went to top rated UK specialists. The best place for help is the London Orthopaedic Hospital I'm sure if your brother contacted them they would be able to advise him. I have a couple of friends who have had the most amazing care and support from this hospital. It's not a brand new shiny hospital like the ones in Dubai but it's a true centre of excellence. Definitely worth a phone call..... http://www.rnoh.nhs.uk/
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Latest post on 19 January 2013 - 14:21
It might be cheaper to take another case with your bedding in rather than ship it over. I only took the kids bedding (duvet covers - not duvets we bought all our duvets and pillows in Ikea when we got there) so they had bedding that they recognised - just part of my plan to make moving to a new country as simple for them as I could - they were only little. I took some towels with me just to see us through the first few days but again bought towels from Debenhams and Ikea out there. If you fly Emirates you get a good individual allowance and we made use of every single kg!
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 January 2013 - 13:21
The One and Only Royal Mirage do really reasonably priced and really good afternoon teas. I am sure you can order some bottles of wine/champagne to be served too - just ask them they're usually very flexible there and it's lovely.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 January 2013 - 13:19
The private dining I can think of off the top of my head are Gaucho, Grand Grill, Arabian Ranches Golf Club, Toshi at Grand Millenium Hotel. Most of the hotels have areas/rooms for private dinners/parties.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 16 January 2013 - 13:10
The birthday parties they run at the Autodrome at Motor City are great! We booked the combo so the boys got some time in the laser drome and then went on to the kartdrome. they all absolutely loved it. You have to get each child's parents to complete a form before hand but I gave them out with the invites and followed up so I had all the forms completed by the party. They did the food which was good and we just supplied a birthday cake. Really good party. another one that we did was take 12 boys to the ifly Dubai in Mirdiff City Centre (if you have the entertainer vouchers it helps with the price!) They all had 2 flights and we finished off with ice cream cupcakes. Again, a great time was had by all - probably because most of the boys had not done it before with both parties.