CSH | ExpatWoman.com
 

CSH

CSH
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Latest post on 28 November 2012 - 22:11
I know some people get around the rules because they are on annual or two year contracts so can say they still qualify for uni fees. I know a friend has been in touch with some unis and they aren't really bothered. I think it is all a bit of a lottery. In some areas if you have a house and pay council tax you can use that address and apply and that's ok as well. In others it isn't! Regarding children returning, I believe that after the age of 18 for boys you need visitor's visas but it is later for girls - 21 maybe? It should be on the MOI website. But visitor's visas aren't a problem from the UK. I think you best bet is be prepared to pay the full fees - the upside being that often the application is seen as more favourable as the student is paying more and is more likely to get a place!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 28 November 2012 - 22:04
Western Union is the big money exchange/transfer company. It is in all the malls. I have never used them but I have heard they are fine. You can get a bank account before you get a RP, the company sort it out for you usually. As long as you have a contract etc. Your husband just needs to ask his manager or HR. Like most people we regularly send money back via the bank. I was just thinking when you said you had a daughter going to Uni in the future.....it is handy to be able to use a bank here which you can send money back via the internet direct to the UK immediately. We use HSBC (I know some people have had problems with them, but we haven't) and when my son texts and needs money (student!) it is comforting to know we can be sat at home and send it back to him in minutes. He also has an HSBC account in the UK. Just a thought for the future!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 November 2012 - 21:28
I was in and out in 7 minutes last week - mu husband timed it! After a friend had said it took her three hours I was prepared for the worst, but it seems they have eventually got their act together. Or maybe it was because I was the only one there......the year is nearly up!! The only thing I wasn't prepared for was when I updated my esimara they lady asked me which size plates I wanted! I had no idea! All turned out well in the end and they haven't fallen off yet...... I drove over the Duhail interchange and turned right when I saw the big mobile phone tower - the police training place is easy to find, follow the signs.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 November 2012 - 19:21
I would endorse the previous reply. We recently bought a Mac at the Apple shop in City Centre after much thought about importing one etc etc. We did go to the shop in Lagoona as well (not the same company interestingly so the prices were slightly different) and it was equally good - it was all down to what they had in stock! I think it is helpful to buy here in case you have problems etc.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 21:33
I'm so sorry - I didn;t think. You have to use Aramex Shop and Ship. Go to their website for info, Personally I love Aramex. It can be pricey and you do have to queue but it does mean you get what you want. Also if your child has set their heart on something for Xmas/gift etc you can actually get it. Often my children only want one particular thing and of course you can't get it here! I order via Amazon as they seem the best and work well with Aramex.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 November 2012 - 21:55
I haven't moved recently, but I would definitely do `door to door' and save yourself the hassle of customs. You don't need it when you first arrive!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 November 2012 - 21:53
If I want certain items for presents I order via Amazon and get them shipped by Amazon. I find this much the easier way to get what you want (not necessarily the cheapest). It can be hard to fnd inventive ideas. For bikes your best bet is Skateshack or Toys r Us in my view. The Trek bikes are a bit pricey but they are excellent. Other ideas could include BopIt! (active game good for concentration) or something like Zoo Tycoon which is a PC game. If he is into sports you can a wide variety of things like cricket sets, basketballs, small football tables, bits for swimming like snorkels and flippers etc. The Science Museum London website has some lovely things for boys if they like science and technology - get them shipped over. If he likes football etc you can get a range of shirts, kit etc from home websites. I guess what I am saying is that if you want something decent you will have to look a bit further afield than Doha!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 November 2012 - 14:57
I bought one here 6 months ago and it was slightly cheaper than in the UK. I am sure it would be fine to bring one over. You will have to buy a new sim card from Qtel when you arrive, but you have to buy that anyway. You can them easily here. Of course if you buy it here and there is anything wrong with it, it would be easier to return.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 27 October 2012 - 10:11
I'm not sure how long you can drive on an international driver's licence - it used to be for a week or two. You can get your temporary driver's licence extended each time until you get your RP (at a cost of course!)
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 27 October 2012 - 10:06
Or get Showtime! I watch it and other serials every week on Showtime and use the VPN for other things.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 October 2012 - 08:29
Thanks for the ideas! May try these today!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 October 2012 - 21:12
I think Abu Dhabi is nicer for kids as it is greener, less busy and more relaxed. You can walk the buggy along the Corniche etc. Muscat is also nice at this time of year.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 October 2012 - 21:08
You buy something very similar in the pharmacies. I got some a while ago in the pharmacy opposite C4 in Villagio. They were quite expensive though. They are the type used for travel really. C4 used to sell Milton fluid a long time ago but I haven't seen it in years. I bring some back with me when I travel back to the UK. It lasts a long time.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 October 2012 - 21:06
Sometimes you get the best recommendations from the maids themselves. I used an agency called Jassim, but it was a few years ago now. The maids recommended it as they did basic training before they left their home country and they gave good support to the women once they arrived. I don't know if Jassim are still around, but if you know someone who has a maid you could ask their maid? My maid hs been excellent. I just saw that the Jassim agency has a phone number in the `How to hire a maid' section on this website, so it is still around! <em>edited by CSH on 14/10/2012</em>
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 October 2012 - 21:03
Bring! If your apartment is unfurnished that is! The furniture here is expensive, mostly awful and badly made. Not to mention you have to traipse all over town to find things, which can be very time consuming and get you wound up as you juggle traffic and heat.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 October 2012 - 22:10
C4 had quite a selection last year and relatively inexpensive compared to Party Kingdom.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 October 2012 - 22:09
Thanks for that. I don't send money back but I will warn my housemaid who does it regularly. I can't say I am surprised. I have been asked for the wrong amount in Starbucks twice. The only reason I know what the exact price should be is because I always order the same thing!
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 October 2012 - 22:06
There is always the Aquapark outside Doha?
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 October 2012 - 17:43
Bhs has some shoes as well. I always laugh (not) when the assistant comes back with the shoes you want saying `sorry we don't have a 29 but we do have a 26' - as if you or your child's feet have miraculously shrunk! It gets me everytime - so now I always buy when back in the UK if at all possible. If you want to `wing it' you could buy some from M and S on line if you know her size.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 01 October 2012 - 16:39
There is a difference between what you can `get away with' and what is acceptable to wear, so you don't offend anyone. There are plenty of people who dress inappropriately in my opinion, but I expect they think they look fine! If you cover your knees and shoulders you won't offend anyone, so that is a safe guideline.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 18 September 2012 - 19:20
I had a similar problem recently. I wanted to make a scrapbook of lots of old photos for a family celebration. Many of the photos were old and they were difficult to remove and it took a long time to scan them. In the end I got my camera and took a photo of them whilst they were in the album. I did peel back the film to reduce glare. They were not all perfect but most were pretty good. I then had them on digital/computer and got them printed properly. You could try it!!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 18 September 2012 - 19:17
When I did mine a few years ago I just used my mother-in-law's address. I flled in the form I got from the nearest police station, put in £10.00 and waited. It may be more expensive now of course! I hadn't lived in the UK for a few years either but it didn't seem to matter. They just want to know that there are not court actions etc against you!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 17 September 2012 - 19:35
Take the Dukhan road out of Doha and head straight out. Shahaniya is about 20 minutes from the last roundabout (Bani Hajer). Take the slip road off the highway and at the roundabout take the first right as if you are going back on yourself. Drive past the petrol station and you will see a gate a couple of hundred metres past that. Go thru that and down the drive to the poly covered tunnels. Just park up and ask. If you think Qatar Foundation is a long way to go, you may not want to think about going to Shahaniya!
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 16 September 2012 - 19:24
Drive out to Shahaniya and go to the nursery. They have a huge range of indoor plants and pots.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 September 2012 - 16:07
The curtain souk road has a number of shops that also do coverings of various types to match curtains. You could try there. Coming downt he Corniche turn right up towards the clock tower. Go over the lights down to the dhow roundabout. Go straight on and that is the road. Al Azziri is quite a good shop - has decent fabrics etc. It is on the right hand side.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 September 2012 - 18:10
I would definitely agree with the costs. I spend at least 1,500 QR a week. If you want decent meat you have to pay a bit more. Vegetables don't last and aren't great quality. Don't get me started on the tomatoes! The main difference with the UK is that you don't get so much choice of produces or prices. In the UK you can choose, go to Waitrose for the top end or Lidl etc for the budget end. You can go to Megamart here for imported goods which are really expensive. You can go to Carrefour for everyday and the prices are on a par with the UK or more expensive. You can't always get what you want, when you want it. After school clubs vary according to age and the sport etc. I have paid between 60 - 150 QR per session for various clubs. As the kids get older the costs go up! As with everything of course! Good luck with your budgeting! (PS the weekly shop does not include any drinks. which can be expensive!)
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 September 2012 - 17:59
It may be that the hold-up is something to do with your husband's status. You have to prove you are a family to get a maid, which may be why they want your RP.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 September 2012 - 17:57
Try Lakeland, Carrefour, Toys r us, sports shops and even Gap. It is worth paying a little more as the bags last better. I don't like the bags with wheels as they are a bit heavy for little children and they can be a hazard if they run with them. I never bother putting bottles into the lunch bag but try and find a school bag with a pocket on the side. I would also be careful as to which water bottle you buy - many leak the first day you use them and many are just too hard to open with little fingers!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 September 2012 - 19:52
I think it depends on how much washing you do each day personally. I have always had front loaders until I came here, then I got a top loader and I would never go back! I have 3 kids and lots of washing so I find the size of the top loaders much easier. I am on my second LG top loader and think its great. It does at least 3 washes a day and all our clothes are really clean. I think top loaders can be a bit rougher on clothes if you only put a few things in - that would be my only complaint.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 September 2012 - 20:53
Google `The International School for Music, Doha' and you will find the details. It is right behind Lulu on the D Ring.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 September 2012 - 19:15
Ask at the DHL kiosks if it is something you won't do often or use Aramex. We have a PO Box but actually the post is awful and very unreliable. We had a Xmas present arrive in June this year!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 September 2012 - 19:13
I did see some ballet stuff (leotards etc) in the new Go Sports shop in CC. It was at the end of the shop by the cashier. I didn't really look in detail but I definitely saw leotards.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 September 2012 - 19:11
Very occasionally you see them advertised in the paper or in places like Megamarkt. It is usually by word of mouth. An easier option may to be to buy a cheap digital piano and try that (see 51 East). The X-Po centre in C-Center used to sell the Casio digial keyboards which were quite reasonable.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 September 2012 - 15:48
Aramex doesn't do that. You can ask Amazon to group things but because they send orders from different depots/countries you always find the parcels arrive separately. I have emailed Amazon about this a number of times. If the order from Amazon, for example, comes from Jersey they will make it one parcel. I find it so annoying and expensive but what can you do?!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 28 August 2012 - 21:26
My daughter really likes the Ceramic Cafe in The Mall (just up from LuLu Hypermarket on the C ring) They can paint ceramic models and you can have a meal there as well. It is upstairs (haven't been for 6 months or more but I'm sure it is still there!) When you leave you can leave the painted model behind and pick it up later when it is dry and they have fired it. It makes a nice keepsake of a birthday.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 August 2012 - 23:03
Go and have a look in Al Mana on the Rayaan Road. They have a good selection of ovens.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 August 2012 - 23:01
i know that it has been compulsory at birth at the Hamad hospital. Usually typhoid is part of the combi vaccination. If you travel it is worth doing the BCG anyway. My kids were always tested in Germany with a heaf test as the disease is apparently on the increase in Europe now! Unless you are particularly anti-vaccine I think it is worth doing. It takes longer to heal apparently when you live in hotter climates.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 August 2012 - 00:22
I know that it is increasingly hard to get your children vaccinated in the UK (changes in rules, NHS money saving etc) but I would really have it done before you come if possible. It is the last thing you need to be worrying about when you arrive. Also there are schools that require children to vaccinated before they accept them. I have no idea about nurseries. Having the BCG in Doha is not easy, although they have recently updated the clinic I believe (it was awful!). You used to have to get it done at the public clinic. Babies born in Doha are vaccinated at 3 days. Whilst you may think the risk of your children catching the disease is small, there is such a influx of workers all the time there is always some risk (especially with all the spitting!),
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 July 2012 - 23:11
It defintely works if you spray with vinegar and water - use a water pistol for accuracy.......it doesn't hurt them just scares them away!!! I like cats but I don't like it when they use my garden as a toilet. I have kids and it is no fun when they want to play outside and the cats have been....
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 July 2012 - 23:06
Definitely get one for your maid. You have to pay the cost of the medicine but it is worth it. The card is a bit cheaper as well for some reason. Same process as for you, get a number and go to the Hamad or another health care place.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 July 2012 - 22:26
If you are still looking they have noodles in Toyrs r Us. Just paid my parking fine at Gharrafa traffic police! Couldn't have been easier - just 500 qr lighter. Thanks to my hubby! Check on Moi website and then take your `estimara' car card to the traffic police with a debit card to pay the fine! PS the description of your fine sounds nothing like what you may or may not have done......e.g: travelling 45 metres above sea level in a loaded vehicle .....aka speeding!!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 July 2012 - 22:22
There is ,a good shop called Al-Azziri which I use. Go down the road from the dhow roundabout, difficult to describe. Drive from the corniche towards the dhow roundabout and go straight ahead. The shop is about 200 metres on the right. There are several shops in that road that make curtains. Just make sure you get the measurements right - or they will come to your house!
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 July 2012 - 20:42
I believe it is part of the `40-day shamal'! Forecasted to go onto Sunday!! Visibility is shocking on the roads outside Doha. Accident on Al Knor road this afternoon. Helicopter not taking ff from Hamad.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 July 2012 - 20:40
There are some pirate bits and pieces in the toy shop in lagoona - Speilgarten? Pricey though.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 July 2012 - 20:39
I think anyone can go and play on the 9-hole grass course in Doha anytime - if you pay. You can play the 18 hole grass course in the week but I don't think you can play at the weekends unless you are a member - would have to check with my husband. There are two sand 18-hole courses - one in Dukhan and one in Mesaaid. I believe although they are QP courses other people can join.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 June 2012 - 19:07
Thanks for all your replies. Yes, I know the airport have a small selection but I am usually too frazzled by the time I have got through the immigration and check-in with three kids in tow to get any where near the shops, let alone have time to browse!! This year I might just have to leave a bit earlier than usual to get some and keep the relatives happy! Thanks MaryCatherine - I thought I was losing the plot when Laila said she had just bought some at City Center.....it is definitely the end of the year and time for a holiday!
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 29 June 2012 - 09:52
I think that is a good salary to have a nice life on, but u may not save a lot. In the first year you don't save much anyway as you have other expenses related to moving etc. However, if your husband is joining you and then works, you will be in a much better position to save.
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 26 June 2012 - 19:41
I had a couple of pairs made up by Yateem opticians. They were great. They have a number of shops around town.
CSH
331
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 17 June 2012 - 09:54
Has she got a health card? If so take her to Rumailha hospital or your nearest HMC clinic. Sounds like she needs a dentist. I had take my maid a few times after she arrived, extractions we're necessary!,
CSH
331
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 17 June 2012 - 09:50
I would love to know. My 17 yr old has travelled in and out 3 times this year without an exit permit. And my 13 year old once - so when did this change and why? It seems silly. Do they need one I wonder if they travel with me? I will get investigating ASAP with my company! I would love to hear any other feedback
 
 
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