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debliz

debliz
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Latest post on 05 January 2012 - 01:17
Wouldn't know. Clothes are still in their sealed bags four years later. Perhaps it's time I got rid of them as I obviously don't need them. Hmmm
debliz
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Latest post on 30 December 2011 - 01:43
http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/name-and-shame-at-shoreline
debliz
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Latest post on 30 December 2011 - 01:12
We've used Picasa for years, very successfully. When we come back from a holiday we download the pics into a specific file and then edit/delete them (if we haven't already done this whilst on holiday). I like taking photos of different birds so these get downloaded(uploaded?) onto a specific file called "Birds". We probably have more than 50 different Picasa files now and can dip into them whenever we wish if we want to send pics to people. Or if we want to show people where we used to live in the UK. Or if we want to show people where we went in Jordan, Lahore, Sri Lanka.
debliz
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Latest post on 30 December 2011 - 00:59
Marlboro's packaging is rubbish now. Marlboro Ultra Lights are now in silver packaging and labelled 'Gold' Marlboro Advance Ultra. Go figure. We ask for Gold Marlboro in the silver packaging and keep saying no until the poor salesperson (they probably can't understand the new packaging either) points to the correct pack. Apologies to those of you who really don't smoke and who disagree with the whole thing. However ... I have to say that whenever we go out it is really amazing how many packs of cigarettes we get through. No, not us, all the other people in the group who are 'non smokers' who happily smoke shisha, ours and other people's cigarettes.
debliz
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Latest post on 27 December 2011 - 00:59
If you're thinking about renting, just do what you'd do if you were thinking about buying. If the villa comes with all 'white goods' turn them on and use them. Turn on the cooker, the fridge, freezer, put the washing machine, dish washer, tumble dryer through a complete cycle. Flush all toilets several times, turn on showers, fill baths and empty them. Turn on A/C. If the agent won't allow you to do this simply walk away because the chances are that, if you're paying for working white goods as part of the tenancy agreement and they won't let you test them, they may well not be in working order anyway. "GREED" is back unfortunately. Check whether or not the LL has a maintenance agreement (certainly for A/C, pumps for water supply etc) and who has to pay for this - you or the LL. Re tiling in bathrooms/kitchens - check it out. Knock on the tiles - if they haven't been properly fixed to the wall they'll sound hollow. Those that have been properly fixed will have a dull sound. Trust me, you'll know if they haven't been properly fixed. We don't rent, we own. These are things we've been told by friends who've always rented. HTH
debliz
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Latest post on 24 December 2011 - 00:33
If you're not happy with Barracuda or Centaurus then perhaps try MMI Al Hamra Wine Cellar in RAK. Only about another 10 - 15 minutes up the road from Barracuda. No licence required - carry on past Spinneys on your left and do a Uturn opposite the purple coloured building and double back on yourself to get to MMI. Depnding on who is driving (and is happy to drive without having a drink) you can detour into the Al Hamra Golf Club on the way back for a light (or heavy) lunch - depending on the time of day you're travelling. You may even be lucky enough to see the Seawings flight come in and take off again - we were lucky enough last March.
debliz
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Latest post on 23 December 2011 - 01:53
Really don't like Dubai Mall. Far, far too big - just can't be bothered. Only ever go there to drop visitors off if they want to go there - in fact, order them a taxi to take them there and then meet them at Neos at The Address Downtown when they open for a (very expensive) drink and have supper at More Cafe or similar to watch the fountains. Don't you find that you use malls like a high street? I do. I go to MoE or MCC simply for The Butchers Shop & Grill to buy their meat and have a quick trip around C4. The rest I can buy locally at Le Marche or Spinneys at Motor City.
debliz
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Latest post on 23 December 2011 - 01:33
Bump! And have a look at this: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2077503/Catterick-Garrison-Tesco-refuses-sell-Military-Wives-flogs-Little-Mix-single.html Disgraceful!!!
debliz
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Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 01:01
I've been thinking about the post here charging for mail to be delivered to your door. When we buy stamps here it's for delivery to the door in any other country. So when someone in another country buys stamps for delivery to Dubai they should be getting the same service. The post office should not be charging us extra for delivery to our homes. Guess there's nothing we can do about it though. So when someone in another country buys stamps for delivery to Dubai they should be getting the same service. Why? The postal service is not set up for this. In fact, people buying stamps to send mail to Dubai do get the same service. The mail is delivered to the PO Box to which it is addressed (in most cases). Agreed, it's a pain in the ar$e to have to go the PO to collect mail but, honestly, how many people write letters, send cards through the post these days? Most things we do are via computer (not Christmas cards) but almost all our mail has already been seen on the computer. We picked up our mail earlier this week - paper copies of bills, bank statements which have already been seen and dealt with on-line and two Christmas cards. Eight Christmas cards received via email. Dubai (the UAE) is not alone in this. Postal service in Oman is the same.
debliz
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Latest post on 19 December 2011 - 13:08
Just to add the following: On the way to Hatta, just after Madam, you pass through an Omani enclave with checkpoints at either side. You will have to show your passports at both checkpoints. Between the Hatta border post in Dubai and the Omani Passport control building you pass through an Omani Customs Post. They will ask to see in your boot/trunk and will give you a slip of paper on which they write the number of people travelling. Keep this as you have to hand it in at a small checkpoint after you leave the Oman passport building. On return to Dubai, when you get your exit stamp at the Oman passport building you will get another slip of paper showing the number of people travelling. (You don't need to go into the building for this - just drive to the side of the building on your left and stop at any of the windows with a green light.) You will have to hand this over when you exit the Oman customs post. When you have your passport stamped on entering Dubai at Hatta, you'll get yet another slip of paper which you hand in on leaving the border post. Just a tip. Petrol in Oman is about 25% cheaper than it is in Dubai so we always make a point of filling up at either the Shell station or the (I think) OmanOil station in the Omani enclave on our return to Dubai.
debliz
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Latest post on 16 December 2011 - 13:26
Have a look here: http://www.dubaidutyfree.com/ Scroll down to New Arrivals & Shopping Guide and click on Product Listings. It's a big file and takes a while to load but has pretty much DDF's entire price list. HTH
debliz
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Latest post on 14 December 2011 - 00:58
Bump!
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Latest post on 07 December 2011 - 01:23
Thank you, appreciate the link.
debliz
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Latest post on 07 December 2011 - 01:12
Woops, too busy looking for info to see that you've already posted, Clairehdp
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Latest post on 07 December 2011 - 01:10
Yes, there is a MediCentre at Motor City. It's up the hill from Spinneys on the same side of the road. Used to be based at Arabian Ranches but moved there a couple of years' ago. We stayed with them rather than go with the new Emaar Health Centre at Arabian Ranches and haven't ever been disappointed. See this thread for information: http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=160050
debliz
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Latest post on 07 December 2011 - 01:02
Until fairly recently we never realised quite how big RAK Ceramics is. Have a look at this: http://www.rakceramics.co.uk/ Amazing.
debliz
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Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 01:53
As a very last resort, if you can't get your phone back this week, or even at the beginning of next week, we're travelling to MCT on Saturday, returning to DXB on Tuesday and would be happy to be of help. Hopefully you won't need this but the offer is there.
debliz
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Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 01:46
Have bought the frozen Butterball turkeys for the last three years and find them to be good. Take the bag with the neck, giblets etc out and simmer (having taken the contents out of the bag obviously) in water for about 30 minutes to make stock for the gravy. Always used to buy fresh turkey in the UK but no way am I going to pay the stupid prices for a fresh turkey here in Dubai. Knew a guy who reared turkeys in the UK when we lived there and, in fact, helped him pluck them before Christmas. Nothing better than standing in at least six inches of feather and down when the temperature is freezing outside! Feet were lovely and warm even if the hands were ****** cold! Also bought our turkey from him. He said that the optimum weight was 15lbs - best bone to meat ratio just in case anybody is interested.
debliz
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Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 01:18
A/C has been off for at least a month now, everywhere in the villa. Loving have all the doors and windows open - even if it means that we have to put on slippers and wrap up in warm clothes later on in the evenings. Last months bill was just over 1,361dhs including housing fee of just over 530dhs. Three bed villa, just two of us, pool (not heated at the moment), no green stuff at all so no irrigation.
debliz
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Latest post on 03 December 2011 - 00:32
We bought hotel quality towels when we moved here six years or so ago and they're still going strong. The label says Canningvale which is Australian. We always dry them outside but always in the shade, not in full sun.
debliz
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Latest post on 02 December 2011 - 01:39
We thought long and hard about this question. We have a labradoodle - but she is still back in the UK. When we moved here to Dubai she was seven years' old and could barely cope with the UK's hot summers, despite having a number 1 haircut. Summer walks, when it was 'hot' were when I got back from taking DH to the station for his trip to work at 6am. She always had an open door so access to the garden for the rest of the day which she used but really enjoyed the walk with DH when he got home in the cooler evening. We knew she wouldn't have been happy here in Dubai. Weather permitting we used to go out for walks for perhaps three or four hours together in the cooler months, but at least an hour or so in the early mornings when it was hot. We were also very, very lucky in that we have great, great friends who, in a sense, shared our lovely Jess with us. When we were on holiday they'd have Jess to stay and they also had a key to our home so that, if we were, say, out for a long lunch, they'd take Jess out for a walk. In fact, we'd sometimes wake up late on a Sunday and find a note on the kitchen table saying that they'd taken Jess and that they'd return her maybe on Tuesday, depending upon what they had planned. These great friends are now looking after Jess back in the UK. We've been back twice since we left and have been to see her and our friends ... and she still remembers us which is wonderful. And we're just so glad that she's spending her remaining time in a place that she knows and with people who've known and loved her since she was a pup. Leaving Jess behind was one of the hardest decisions we've ever made - we love her dearly. But ... bringing her here to Dubai would have been one of the most selfish decisions we ever made. She hated the heat - couldn't cope with the UK's hot summers - so we knew that she could never have coped with Dubai's summers. Our friends send us photos via email on a regular basis and we keep in touch via email etc. Jess is now 14 years' old and has lived longer (and with a happier and fitter life) than many dogs which were the same age as her. I don't believe that this would have been the case had we brought her to Dubai with us. In this particular case, it was all about what was best for our pooch and leaving her behind was the best thing we could have done for her. Still print off the photos, though, and have them in frames around the house!
debliz
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Latest post on 01 December 2011 - 00:55
Google is your friend!
debliz
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Latest post on 01 December 2011 - 00:49
In AR your DEWA bill is for Electricity, Water and Sewerage. There is no Community Cooling charge as each villa pays for its usage. There should also be an additional charge for Housing Tax which is a proportion of the initial purchase price. The latter depends upon whether or not you are renting or own the property. There is also a Community Charge payable to Emaar on an annual basis. Again, whether or not you are liable to pay this will depend upon whether or not you own or rent the property and, if you rent, the details of your lease.
debliz
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Latest post on 01 December 2011 - 00:38
At least you get bags there - god in the UK I'm asked every single day would I like a bag and I get to pay extra for it! I have to get into the routine of carrying spare bags around with me and it's taking me ages to get into the swing of it. I then decided to buy into the 'bag for life' thing - but........ I've got that many 'bags for life' and still keep forgetting them...... just one of many changes that happened in the UK while I was living in Dubai and something I just have to get used to and remember to [b'>take my old bags with me!!!! [/b'>Don't get me on having to fill my car up with petrol myself - I swear I will never ever get used to that! my husband always takes an old bag shopping with him....... So does mine lol
debliz
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Latest post on 01 December 2011 - 00:37
At least you get bags there - god in the UK I'm asked every single day would I like a bag and I get to pay extra for it! I have to get into the routine of carrying spare bags around with me and it's taking me ages to get into the swing of it. I then decided to buy into the 'bag for life' thing - but........ I've got that many 'bags for life' and still keep forgetting them...... just one of many changes that happened in the UK while I was living in Dubai and something I just have to get used to and remember to [b'>take my old bags with me!!!! [/b'>Don't get me on having to fill my car up with petrol myself - I swear I will never ever get used to that! my husband always takes an old bag shopping with him.......
debliz
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Latest post on 01 December 2011 - 00:34
I only have issues with the Motor city lot! No worries with any others in all the time I've been here. There are too many of them in a small area! Have one to each block not 4/6 carts!!! Then they won't be standing around bored and generally getting in peoples way. Sorry but they are! sorry, i don't agree..takes 2 seconds to say no thanks and that's the end of it. One time i was going to go right but he motioned to go left cos he knew there were no spaces (which i couldn't see) and another time as i was backing out he stood watching for cars which i found most helpful.. I, too, have no problems with the EasyWash guys at Motor City. As has been said it just takes a couple of seconds to say, "no, thank you, I don't want my car washed today". I also find them helpful when they indicate spare car parking spaces closer to Spinneys - whether or not that's where I want to go - and I'll wave and say thank you. I also appreciate their help when I've got a full trolley from Spinneys including boxes of water and they help load it all into the car. I'm quite capable of doing this myself but their offer of help is appreciated. Yes, I know they only offer because they're hoping for a tip but, for heaven's sake, if I've got a pretty full trolley I've probably spent a fair amount. Is a couple of dirhams for a tip going to make a difference to me? No. If the guy gets a couple of dirhams a few times each day going to make a difference to him? Probably a big YES.
debliz
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Latest post on 29 November 2011 - 13:57
http://skydivedubai.ae/
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Latest post on 29 November 2011 - 01:49
Alismum - I am 'pre Smash' so think I must be a bit older than you !! In fact, I think I am probably the oldest poster on EW, lol SueB - When I was at primary school, our milk bottles had cardboard tops ! @ SueB - what a relief to read somebody talking about "primary" school. Am i the only person here who has no idea about the way the schools grade things nowadays? Granted, we have no children so would have no reason to know but what was wrong with the old way? First year, second year etc?
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Latest post on 29 November 2011 - 01:10
If you're talking about dinner then salmon mousse, beef wellington followed by no-bake cheese cake. If you're talking about a less formal supper then lots of canapes to go with the drinks before supper, perhaps coq au vin or boeuf bourguinnone with mashed potatoes made with lots of butter and cream and vegs, followed by a good cheese board with mango to go with blue cheese, strawberries to go with goat cheese.
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Latest post on 29 November 2011 - 00:58
Admittedly I live in a villa so it's easy to dry everything outside, whatever time of year. In the summer it's simply a case of checking how dry things are on a regular basis - just don't let things become fully dry and crisp. It's always easier to iron things when they're marginally damp anyway. The same goes for towels in the summer. Bring them in when they're not quite dry and hang them on the towel rails and they'll soon dry out. After all, this is what they do when you've used them, isn't it? And why on earth would I want to increase my electricity bill by using a tumble dryer, especially with the 'special' rates for expats, when the warmth we're lucky enough to have during the winter will dry my laundry anyway?
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Latest post on 29 November 2011 - 00:40
Used their "contact us" last Thursday to ask for a schedule of events and still no reply. Why am I not surprised? If we don't hear from them then we may just book lunch somewhere like Barasti or The Beach Bar & Grill or somewhere similar and see what happens.
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Latest post on 27 November 2011 - 02:28
Also have an eczema problem but maybe different. Had it as a youngster but it stopped during and after puberty. It restarted during menopause. Also have a gluten intolerance (which also becme evident during menopause) but don't find that my occasional lapses into eating gluten food brings about any extra problems but cutting out citrus fruits seems to have helped big time which is such a shame because I love grapefruit, oranges etc. What does seem to make the problem worse is water, whether it be bath, shower, pool. It's like the osmosis procedure is removing water/liquid from my skin. But not sea water. If I go in the sea I notice a marked improvement. Have stopped using all soap based products at home, now use QV soap free bars and shower gels, shampoos, etc and moisturise with Eucerin Skin Repair Lotion. Haven't needed to use Betnovate or similar for months now. Have also binned my favourite perfumes, too - sob :( Maybe I don't smell as sweet as I used to but I don't spend all my time scratching and/or itching and, as the worst affected areas were on my legs around my ankles, I can now wear skirts again. Whether that's a good thing or not is debatable lol. However, thought DH had eczema too. Went to the doctor/dermatologist and it turned out it wasn't. It was Pityriasis Rosea. (http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pityriasis-rosea/Pages/Introduction.aspx). The link suggests that the problem can last up to six months. Our doctor said it can last as long as a couple of years or so but Dh has also found that using non soap based products and the above mentioned Eucerin lotion has helped, too.
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Latest post on 27 November 2011 - 01:37
Just had rain at Arabian Ranches, too. First for months and months and months. After nights of moving soft furnishing out of the rain (because it was predicted) for it not to happen just managed to catch the sound of rain and move everything. Wouldn't you know it. The minute I moved everything the rain stopped.
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Latest post on 26 November 2011 - 00:33
http://www.google.co.uk/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=gluhwein+recipe&pbx=1&oq=gluhwein&aq=1&aqi=g4&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=0l0l1l1160l0l0l0l0l0l0l0l0ll0l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=8cb1f83c132294e0&biw=1152&bih=522
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Latest post on 25 November 2011 - 01:01
Going back nearly 35 years' ago now and we didn't have a wedding breakfast, just an afternoon finger buffet catered by the British Armed Forces (Dad was in the RAF at the time). It was wonderful. I remember Mum telling me that she'd gone up to the Mess (where the reception was to be held) earlier that morning to put the 'favours' on the cake and one of the catering staff said to her, 'would you like me to do this for you?' and, when she asked why he told her that she was putting them on the wrong way and that the reason he knew was that he'd worked on the Royal Yacht. It was a wondrous afternoon - my new husband and I had one waiter who was detailed to look after us (because they knew that we'd always be putting down our glasses to talk to someone and somebody else would pick them up and empty them). It was the first week of December, Dad was still in the RAF and had been given permission to wear full regalia, including sword, it had snowed the night before. Mum and my sisters (my bridesmaids) had left for the church and it was just Dad and me. He poured us both a small brandy and said, and I quote, "If you're having any second thoughts now is the time to tell me. If you are then you should not be doing this and I will go to the Church and explain". Obviously, I had no doubts at all but I love my Dad all the more for his willingness to 'do the dirty' for me had I decided I didn't want to go through with the wedding. Thanks, Dad. And looking forward to celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary soon.
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Latest post on 17 November 2011 - 01:45
Gee, thanks, Naveen. Closer to 60 than 50 yrs old now and definitely don't feel "old". I'm with SalsB on this - you only get one life so enjoy it as much as you can. Happy Birthday for Saturday anyway. Enjoy it. It will be the start of another chapter in your life.
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Latest post on 16 November 2011 - 01:16
Went back to the UK for DH's aunt's 100th birthday in July. We were told, in no uncertain terms, NO presents! And DH's aunt told us that the simple fact of us being there on the actual day of her birthday (along with her birthday card from the Queen) was the best present we could have given her. A few days later we were with my parents for my Dad's 80th birthday. All he wanted was for us to be there. We did, however, buy him a small present to mark the occasion. Maybe you could get somebody to organise a photographer to come to your Gran's home and take a photo (or several) of you all together and then she'd have a wonderful reminder of her birthday. Just a thought.
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Latest post on 12 November 2011 - 19:11
Yes - it's fine. Remember to take your passport though as they now have checks before you get to Al Hamra. Where do they check passports? Went last Saturday and didn't see any sign of checkpoints.
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Latest post on 12 November 2011 - 10:17
Hi there. I have a British passport but went through this process a couple of months' ago. When our residence visas were cancelled we got our passports back with a couple of bits of paper from the Immigration Department stapled to them. These papers said that we could remain for 30 days, by the end of which time we had to either leave the country or change our status. DH's new residency came through before the end of the 30 days but mine didn't. What I did was go to Hatta. Hand in my passport with the bits of paper. When I got my exit stamp the officers at the Dubai exit post kept the bits of white paper. Then I went through to the Omani border post. Got my entry visa and exit visa stamped in my passport and returned to the Hatta border post where my passport was stamped with the normal 30 days tourist visa. In other words, I did a 'visa run'. Thankfully my new residence visa came through a couple of weeks' later so I didn't have to do another 'visa run'. HTH
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Latest post on 11 November 2011 - 00:38
"Yes Mam" or "yes Sir" when they actually mean it. And, at the moment, when we're having some bathroom tiling problems fixed and we ask if it's all going OK, they're the words we most love to hear. Especially as we can see that things are going well, too.
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Latest post on 07 November 2011 - 02:40
And here's another really good one: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXh7JR9oKVE
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Latest post on 07 November 2011 - 01:45
And this is my absolute favourite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UE3CNu_rtY
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Latest post on 07 November 2011 - 01:38
http://www.google.co.uk/#hl=en&sugexp=kjrmc&cp=32&gs_id=97&xhr=t&q=flash+mob+in+Mirdif+City+Centrey&pf=p&sclient=psy-ab&source=hp&pbx=1&oq=flash+mob+in+Mirdif+City+Centrey&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&gs_sm=&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.,cf.osb&fp=dcede429cb1f8e04&biw=1152&bih=522 And at MCC!
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Latest post on 06 November 2011 - 01:50
Lucky you to see Andrea Bocelli at the Opera House. Dh was relieved that we were actually driving back to Dubai that day. Personally I'd love to have been able to see Giselle this coming week. Really hope that our residency visa is sorted soon ... and that nobody on this forum suffered from the 'cyclone' earlier this week. Seems like the rain was chasing us up Route 1 back to Dubai on Tuesday morning.
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Latest post on 04 November 2011 - 03:43
Habibti - and Eid Mubarak to you all.
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Latest post on 04 November 2011 - 03:41
Hedgehogs
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Latest post on 03 November 2011 - 02:23
This may sound stupid but we filled a few ziplock bags with water and hung them from the butchers hooks we have on the various posts around our garden. We got this tip from another post on this forum - thanks to whoever posted it!
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Latest post on 03 November 2011 - 02:08
The adult only part of Shangri La is Al Husn. Stayed there about four years' ago and it was wonderful - but only for two nights - and the prices were much like, if not more than, Dubai's beach hotels. And the Shangri La is a good 30 minute (slow) drive (so you can appreciate the wonderful scenery) from, say, Muttrah so, unless you're driving yourselves taxi or hotel cars could add quite a bit to your visit. We have friends and relatives who love the Chedi but we don't. Stayed there once and will never go back, not least because it is directly underneath the flight path to Seeb Airport (Muscat's main airport). Met relatives there for lunch earlier this year. Just had a main course and it was so memorable (not) apart from the fact that it cost something like AED180 for three mouthfuls of tuna sashimi and some artfully arranged micro cress and a few dots of some kind of salad dressing. A much cheaper option is the Crowne Plaza. We always stay there simply because we don't want a hotel break, just a reasonably priced hotel from which to explore. This hotel is probably one of the oldest in Muscat but has one of the best situations in Muscat - on top of a cliff which looks straight out along As Shatti Beach. The rooms are small and dated as are the bathrooms but the beds are some of the best I've ever slept in. Definitely not 5* but then you're not paying 5* prices either. However hotel prices in Muscat aren't cheap, even at low season. Another thing to bear in mind is that the Royal Operal House is now open, too. So, hotels near the Opera House, such as the InterContinental, the Crowne Plaza may get booked up prior to concerts, ballets etc. Apparently, Andrea Bocelli's concert at the Opera House last night was so popular that tickets sold out on the web site and never made it on to general distribution.
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Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 01:33
Probably too late for you now (sorry) but: You must have insurance to drive your car in Oman. If you drive a hire car this could be a problem. If you own your car this shouldn't be a problem as long as your insurance covers you to drive in Oman. Our insurance does as we've been visiting Oman on a regular basis for years and we own our car with no loan or anything. Cost of visa for a GCC resident is AED50/per person. If you don't have OMR already, pay with a dirham note which will give you change in OMR. In other words, you can pay for your visa at the Al Wajaja (Oman) visa entry point which is just after the Hatta (UAE) exit point with UAE dirhams and your change will be given in Omani Rials.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 27 October 2011 - 02:29
Not quite the same situation but ... ... a couple of years' ago a friend said could she come and stay. Of course, we said 'yes'. All okay and then she said could a friend come, too. Of course, we said 'yes'. Flights were booked. Then our friend said that the friend she would be bringing with her is an ex-smoker (we both smoke - I know, a disgusting habit to some but our choice within and without our own home) and also a vegetarian (we most definitely aren't). Well, gee, thanks. Thankfully they visited in February so most of the time together was spent outside. However friend's friend was determined to get a 'good tan' before her return to the UK in the week she had with us and, in spite of our advice, she fried herself in the sun at every available opportunity when they weren't off sight-seeing. Even factor 50 sun screen didn't stop her from turning into a cooked lobster at the end of a day's sun bathing. And the really stupid thing is that we have good UV canopies which cover the majority of our garden - but the friend of our friend always made sure that her lounger was in the full sun. Guess what I'm trying to say is that you give advice - but - if people don't want to listen they wont. Simple as, unfortunately.
 
 
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