Cowboy | ExpatWoman.com
 

Cowboy

Cowboy
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EW GURU
Latest post on 18 April 2015 - 20:34
I'd try debenhams or Harvey Nichols, pretty much any department store so you don't have to shop around too much.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 18 April 2015 - 20:26
I had a similar problem with garden waste, in the end I asked the security guard, he gave me the number of a man with a truck. The driver came with one man to carry things with him, and they took 200 dhs. I seem to have misplaced the number but if I find it I'll post it. If you live in a gated community you could always try asking the security.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 April 2015 - 19:47
The main benefit of searching for someone in the classifieds is that they are already here and you can meet them in person to see if they are a good fit for your house and make sure your personalities don't clash. These candidates usually have a few years of uae experience and are searching for very high salaries (often with a western family only), they in essence are interviewing their prospective employers. So you may like a certain candidate, but they want to keep searching for a better opportunity. This route might take a bit longer till you employ someone, or at least the search will take longer, (while with the agency you can select a candidate quicker and just wAit for their papers to be processed and for them to arrive, possibly taking up to a month). Often people you arrange to interview, don't show up to the interview or after showing up express interest then never answer their phone after. Or they give excuses why they can't work for you (honesty would be the best policy, as some excuses I've heard are obvious lies). Often people who have the time and patience to employ someone thru this route have positive outcomes. When you bring someone from an agency, often the only contact before they come to dubai is a telephone call and it can be deceiving. I once interviewed a candidate that I found thru an agency. And on the phone her command of English was very good and she sounded very confident and was willing to do all kinds of work. When she arrived I had clearly spoken to someone else on the phone, she only spoke a few words of broken English and communication was a huge problem. Needless to say she didn't last long in dubai before she got homesick and wanted to return to her country. The agency had a word with her (I believe they frightened her into saying she wants to work and stay in dubai) but this didn't last long as a few days later she wanted to return home. And the agency did not accept responsibility as she had said she wants to stay here and work. Huge financial loss for me. The agency cv's tend to be very generic and basically you are just choosing based on a photo, name and nationality. Also agencies take extortionate fees (but monthly salaries are often much lower so it evens out somewhat) and agencies often try to get out of their contractual obligations to return the worker if there is a problem or if you are unhappy with them. Often they say the guarantee is only for 30 days, and you pay for the ticket and visa fees of the replacement. Or that they are not responsible for replacement, or they may only return her if she fails the medical for her residency. Agency guarantees are not worth the paper they are written on. I have had some bad experiences with agencies, maids often run away (to the agency, so it is easy to find them) and I have wasted a lot of money on agency fees and residency fees for maids that returned to their country after onlY a few months. That being said, there have been a lot of people who had successful experiences with getting a maid from an agency. I think you would need to find a good agency that selects candidates carefully, especially avoid the ones with bad reviews. Good luck with whatever route you decide to take.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 16 April 2015 - 11:56
Condenser tumble dryer is what I am looking for. It has a drawer for water collection not a vent. I'm looking for 8 kgs one (similar to the one I had but another brand) It is handy to dry curtains, rugs, comforters & bed covers & it saves ironing when you remove them hot or use the ironing setting. I have a huge kitchen so space is not an issue edited by wickedangel_78 on 15/04/2015 I have a model with a drawer for water collection, it's an LG (9 kg load) I got it a few years ago it's it's still working fine, LG have good service so if anything does go wrong they come quickly (my washing machine is also LG) I initially got a washing machine/ dryer combined but it just took too long for everything to dry so I purchased a stand alone dryer.
Cowboy
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 April 2015 - 11:25
The girl my friend employed is very young, and it seems like this is her first job. She is always very happy and cheerful, she sings while she is working. All the differences are small fixable things with a bit of instruction, you would probably need to supervise her closely at the start. For example many things we normally store in the fridge she leaves out hidden in cupboards or in the oven. And it seems this girl really enjoyed using the vacuum to the point where she was vacuuming the bed sheets!! My friend is very traditional and was horrified to find that on Anita's first day on the job she was wearing a halter top bikini and micro mini shorts, full make up and bangles (I wish I was there to see her reaction) my friend didn't approve of most of her clothing, so they ended up going on a shopping trip together. She's been here for almost 2 years and my friend is very happy with her. I've also noticed her command of English has improved a lot since she first arrived here.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 15 April 2015 - 09:16
I don't know about little boy toys, but the price of little girl toys has increased (almost doubled) since I was younger. Now the price of a barbie ranges between 80-300 dhs with the average cost of the nicer ones being around 120-180 dhs. If I were to spend less I would really be confused what to buy, other than a book or a board game (but I never know which ones are good to buy).
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 22:49
The 50-70 dhs range would also get you a stuffed toy. I've even seen some stuffed toys for more!! I've noticed that most people who buy books as gifts put a lot of thought into what specific book to buy which is very nice. I'd personally aim to spend around 150-200 dhs, as long as it's a decent safe toy. It doesn't have to be the most expensive toy in the shop. But I'd think of the parents, I wouldn't want to get a toy that makes a big mess or a toy with annoying sounds. Last few gifts for that age group were frozen toys from borders and barbie dolls.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 15:38
I just realised how old this post is... Oops
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 15:37
They sell the cloud 9 straighteners in the pharmacy in arabian ranches... In case you decide not to order online...
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 15:34
Thier embassy recommends a minimum salary of $ 400 which is about 1469 dhs per month.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 15:28
This might work for the landing banister area (similar to balcony) http://www.shismoo.com/make-your-balcony-safe/ This company looks good. Has anyone tried them?
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 15:21
My friend has employed one. She is very nice. They are french speakers. A very different culture, but polite.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 14:49
You might be better off trying to find a store with a no questions returns policy. The ip ones can also be iffy if there is no wifi signal in the area you want to use it.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 14:35
I agree, the energy saving ones that fit on my vintage chandeliers look very wrong (they look almost like plastic as only the tip is a light) and I am also unhappy with the colour of the light that the energy saving ones produce. There are some shops in satwa that still have the old traditional bulbs (not all sizes thou)
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 14:30
It must be available here (somewhere) as I got a perry Ellis perfume gift a few months back.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 14:28
Ok ku food is so good. I've never been for the brunch thou. I'm dreaming of their hushihu duck salad
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 14:26
Qds if the weather is still nice at night.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 14:22
As far as I know the farthest range for a baby monitor is 300m (if anyone knows of a brand that makes them with a further range plz do share) and this is significantly reduced with concrete walls. The motorola is good, but I don't have signal all over the house (living room has no signal, whereas maids room has full signal). It really depends on how far away your maids room is and how thick the walls are. I wasn't impressed with the tomy model, it made really annoying static noises and the signal was very poor. You might want to invest in an ip model (like the dlink) that connects to the internet, the only downside is that you have to connect it to a phone or an ipad, and it drains the battery, but you will have signal everywhere that you have an internet connection. Also there is a slightly longer delay compared to the walkie talkie style monitors.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 14:06
If she is from the Philippines she will need some papers from her embassy in order to come back, they will need her contract and your passport copy along with her passport, she will pay some fees and get a paper (overseas work certificate) which she will need to come back. I'd either let her go before her visa expires (but be sure she comes back before it's expired as renewing is easier than issuing a whole new visa once the expiry date has passed if she is outside the country) or I would let her go just after a new visa has been issued. Before she goes you would really need to have a serious conversation with her, as you don't want to waste money on renewing her contract if she isn't going to return. Hopefully she is responsible enough to understand the seriousness of the situation.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 13:55
Mum2girls - where do you go for fresh fruit/veg, meat etc... Lately I've been ordering my fruit/veg/eggs from organic oasis ae. I usually just send an email with everything I want, and the woman confirms and it's delivered weekly.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 13:52
Call creative minds (on umm suquiem street) and see if they have that kind of thing.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 13:47
Ouch I feel with you. These bugs are very difficult to completely get rid of without an exterminator. I'd also be worried that if you bought a new mattress they might be hiding in other places in your apartment and just repopulate on your new mattress. The fact that you can see a few of them means that there is a serious infestation. You really are in a difficult situation with such a young baby. I hope someone on here can help you think of a good solution. You also don't want your little one getting bit.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 13:41
I'm also not trying to diagnose. But I know how it feels to have a problem, and get brushed off about doing any tests to find out what the actual problem is because you are too young. And then having the thought of.. if it is something serious how can I just be ignoring it.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 13:34
Possibly the neuro spinal hospital? I wouldn't let any dr here break and reset a bone thou, if that's the only option I'd wait till I see a dr back home
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 13:30
I've noticed the same thing, they don't bring all the varieties and also not all the sizes.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 13:18
From experience, the silicon sheets and creams for reducing scars don't work that well. And laser scar removal is very painful and also doesn't totally remove the scar, it just reduces the parts that bump out. Honestly your best option if you want to really fix the appearance is getting the opinion of a plastic surgeon, usually they won't operate on a child that is under 4 years old. Depending on how it looks it might fade with time, you just need to keep her out of the sun. A friend of mine has a scar that goes over her eyebrows and I was surprised to hear that after many years hair grew back over the scar.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 13:01
I brought my maids parents over. I used a tourist agency to issue the visa, I only needed their passport copies. Then I wrote a letter stating that they are coming to visit their daughter who works for me, they will be staying at my house for one month, and all expenses will be covered. Letter was stamped at her embassy, they used this letter at the airport when they left their country.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 12:50
It's normal they ask, often they need it for visa purposes. The worry would really be if it is not a legitimate recruiter.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 10:55
I had something similar, but it doesn't sound exactly like what you have (mine didn't bleed, it was definitely under the skin) I had two small hard balls one was like the size of a cherry and the other the size of a cherry pip. And they were very painful, to the point where I couldn't wear a bra or a tight fitted shirt. The doctors also dismissed it and refused to do a mammogram or any testing on it as I was only 20 at the time (I saw several different doctors). I tried pain killers, muscles creams but nothing worked. I also noticed that I could move these balls around, and they would also get bigger and smaller on their own. In the end after a couple years of self medicating the problem, I went to my GP, I couldn't bear the pain anymore. I got a referral to do a mammogram, but also I was refused the test and offered an ultrasound instead. I did that and they found these balls were "fibroadenoma's" non cancerous tumours. I remember showing the technician where the problem was, and she was rolling the ultrasound machine over every area except the problem area. In the end I had to tell her to scan this area. After that I did a blood test, and they took a needle sample from the problem area. I surgically removed them later on, I ended up with 10 stitches and no more pain. I never did the mammogram, so there are other ways to identify any problems.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 April 2015 - 13:33
You would probably want to live somewhere around barsha (closer to ASD) or umm suquiem/jumeirah (closer to manara road). Al quoz (the residential area) is not very nice, it's also really close to the industrial/warehouse al quoz areas. Budget is a bit low for housing if you are a family. You could get a nice one bedroom apartment with that budget. It helps that the salary is quite high. It seems like you might want to live in a gated community with parks nearby like the springs/ meadows / arabian ranches
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 April 2015 - 13:16
I'd really like to know if there's a sale going on somewhere
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 April 2015 - 13:12
Careful it might be the type of ant that bites
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 April 2015 - 13:08
Thanks ladies for all your positive support. I really needed somewhere to vent. Preethi the soft play area in favorite things looks good. I'll probably wait till my little one is a bit older and can move around a bit more. It seems like a nice option. It really is annoying when people state the obvious especially when it is something sensitive that doesn't need pointing out. Daza you really are courageous to have gone back and tried different coffee mornings. I've been put off for life. I'm going to stick with baby based group activities like baby swimming and pram jogging. No more coffee morings for me. Omg ralwa there are no words to describe the comment that nurse made, that's so wrong on every level. Similar thing happened to me right after the delivery.. I was expecting to hear baby cries like in the movies but the room was completely silent. So I asked the doctor how the baby is, she just said "she has dark skin". I was hoping she would say the baby is breathing or healthy or something different. I know the feeling of just not being able to say anything. I fainted shortly after so that was really the last thing on my mind. Scaralex /Anon it really is annoying to hear people comparing two sisters, they both are different people each with feelings. Anon said it perfectly. These are they types of comments that can be damaging for life. I also get these comments that I am not feeding my child enough and she is too thin. But at the end of the day you can't really force feed a baby when she had enough that's it. I always have to keep reminding everyone that every baby grows at its own pace, some start small and grow suddenly, some babies are tall and some are short and feeding her more than she can eat isn't going to change that.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 08 April 2015 - 15:24
Poor kitty. Hope he gets well soon and finds his owners
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 08 April 2015 - 15:22
I wish I remembered the name of the shop I got them from. They were also selling phones and ipad type devices. Dragon mall is too big.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 08 April 2015 - 15:09
Why don't u try to donate them somewhere. Does feline friends accept cd's??
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 08 April 2015 - 13:12
I got a motorcycle licence years ago, best tip, buy your own helmet, the ones in the driving institutes smell disgusting.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 08 April 2015 - 13:03
How annoying
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 April 2015 - 19:28
The only place I know that does pre natal yoga is the gym across from safa park.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 April 2015 - 18:53
The best selection of swimwear I've seen is in mothercare, the jbr branch only. I also remember seeing the swim hats that protect the ears and long sleeve swimming shirts.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 April 2015 - 18:51
I think I saw the summer one in toys r us, festival city. They have them all open on display there. Call and check if they have the exact model you are looking for.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 April 2015 - 18:44
Emirates post, registered
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 April 2015 - 18:43
I keep most fruits in the fridge, except bananas, avocados, unripe fruits. And bread is usually out of the fridge in a closed bread basket. It could be that they are multiplying in your house somewhere, hopefully when you get rid of them they won't come back.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 April 2015 - 18:40
I'd keep all the fruits and sweet smelling stuff in the fridge. At least for a few days till the fruit flies are reduced. If insect spray isn't an option (pregnant, children or animals) a mosquito racket might help.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 April 2015 - 18:36
Try looking on the board in spinneys. There are quite a few agencies that can arrange for someone to come regularly. <em>edited by Cowboy on 07/04/2015</em>
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 April 2015 - 18:34
Margaret dabbs in dubai mall
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 April 2015 - 18:31
I've noticed the same thing. And often when you call for an interview, if they don't like your accent they say they have already found a job. And sometimes they say it outright that they are looking for a job with a western family. I'm Colombian-American, and I have a very strong accent that confuses people where I'm from. The face and the accent don't seem to match. It seems that the housemaids are looking for a job with the most benefits, and least amount of work. They generalise people as most westerners serve themselves and keep their area fairly tidy and don't require deep cleaning every week. I grew up seeing my mother and grandmothers cleaning under every piece of furniture, and scrubbing down the kitchen walls every day. Nowadays it's rare that you see a housemaid scrubbing down the kitchen walls even once a month unless u specifically ask them to do it. Usually they also sweep around sofas and carpets, you have to be very clear with the level of cleaning that you require from a housemaid. My first housemaid was sweeping around the dining table (without moving the chairs) this was how she did things with her previous employer and they never had a problem with it. Just goes to show that people from different places have different types of cleaning requirements.
Cowboy
685
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EW GURU
Latest post on 05 April 2015 - 14:48
Aqua plus are nice, they come in a pretty purple bottle. And the bottle is also BPA free. Masafi are also good, the bottle is smaller and lighter to flip over, they also deliver boxes of water and other products. I find the masafi bottles fit fine on my hitachi cooler (and my previous one nikai) never had to buy a special cooler to accommodate them. Some water companies also deliver the water cooler. Oasis has a few models on their website. Do you have any preference for mineral water or bottled water? The only two mineral waters that deliver (that I know of) are al ain and masafi. The rest all seem to be bottled water.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 April 2015 - 14:12
I also had a nightmare experience with my wedding photographer in dubai. And it wasn't cheap. The video was also unusable, poor sound, shaky images. The photographs were also very disappointing, the lighting was poor, images were out of focus (that is not artistic to me), album was very cheesy and there were several pages of photos of the hotel service staff (I don't understand why they should be in my wedding album). In all honesty the photos my friends and family took on their phones and digital cameras were much more impressive. It took me 15 months till I saw any photos. Chasing them was really a challenge. I got every excuse from, you were away in your honeymoon, busy with other weddings, no answers to my phone calls, I emailed you (inbox is empty), and to make it all worse I found my photos distributed for promo purposes without my permission. This was from a professional company and each employee shifts the blame to someone else who no longer works there. I was very disappointed. I made an official complaint however not much came out of that as the damage was already done. It is really important to choose a photographer that has come recommended and that you have seen and are happy with the style of photos in their portfolio.
Cowboy
685
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 03 April 2015 - 16:48
The best place is in emirates towers, Harry ghattos
 
 
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