derien

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 13:03

They instill fear into kids because that was the way they were taught. It's a vicious cycle

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 12:50

My son's Arabic Teacher last year would have said something like that. Terrible lot, aren't they?

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 12:09

Have you done some research on companies that may produce industrial magnets here in the UAE . You caould call them?

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 11:57

It is unlikely that the dollar will crash but there is a real chance the euro will. If that happened, the dollar would benefit. we currently have our salaries converted to CHF even though it is not a great rate.

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 11:53

@Dally, as you can see by the amount of posts Ive made, Im new to Forums, so didnt think to check the date. Actually Im new to motherhood, Nannys & Expatwoman. I just started searching after a friend recommended that it was a good way to get clued up on hiring a nanny as I had no idea what to ask in an interview or what to tell them when I finally picked one, which I have, after getting a better idea from the forums on this site. My friend just let her nanny go as she had found out that the infection that she had been fighting for six months around her sons mouth was due to her nanny giving him her big toe to suck on whilst she watched TV. I never would've thought to mention, please dont lick his spoon or put other things in his mouth before talking to her or reading this forum, so I think its great that people post information like this. Im hoping ours will be lovely, as Im sure there are so many lovely nannys out there that you are all happy with. Its just great to gather info from other peoples experiences so you can set good expectations for both you and your nanny from the start. Sorry if it annoyed you. I suppose you didnt have to read it if you didnt want to. What? The nanny let your freind's son suck her toe? Disgusting edited by derien on 20/09/2011

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 10:34

I haven't seen it but they scooped up all the awards at the Emmy's last night

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 13:17

Why are the houses in areas such as Barsha and Jumeirah that have pools etc less than what we are paying in the Meadows? I just don't understand it. There is definitely something fishy going on

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 11:09

Yes, It is hard. I try to go over reading with my son very early in the morning ( during breakfast) and keep the homework for the weekends. If homework is set on a Sunday and needs to be in on a Tuesday, I would give up my lunch break at work and go home early to help. my son.

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 11:08

It sounds to me as if someone has placed a ban on him and wants it enforced. Could be a previous employer, maybe a local. I think you need to look into the past to understand this one!

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 09:47

I would also be interested as we are Swiss but I am not sure Immigration give visas for Mauritan maids/nannies

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 09:33

When we lived in the Lakes, we had to get permission from Emaar. You can call them on the hotline

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 09:30

Use the Pink taxi service. It's all women drivers. I think you need to book though

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 09:12

I have little sympathy for parents that don't follow the car parking rules. A little boy was seriously hurt last year at DIA due to a parent that couldn't be ***** to go find a park like everyone else and decided to stop their fat 4x4 in front of the gate. One of the kids flung the door wide open and hit a boy and his Mum as they were crossing ( whre they were supposed to be crossing). I saw someone do it again today and I honked my horn for 5 seconds as I passed to shame her. Obviously, if you are new and there are no signs, what you did can't be avoided and you couldnt have know - But there are still loads of parents who just dont give a sh*t edited by derien on 19/09/2011

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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 13:29

Does your building have separate bins for glass, plastic and other garbage? They should be using the bins, no? Sorry to hear you cut yourself. I would personally be dumping my garbage in front of their front door for a week!

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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 13:26

Hi Cleo4e Bienvenue a Doubai! My LO's went to the Children's Garden which in a bilingual French/English system. There are French nurseries though such as Mon Ecole, London Paris Nursery etc. You can do a search on here and some names will come up. Good luck

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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 13:22

Shakespeare and Co are revolting. They try to be a French Bakery but their bread and pattiseries are the worst. Even Spinneys and other supermarket chains ( Carrefour) do better bread and charge much less.

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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 23:01

He is right not to give it to them. It's illegal and highly unethical. They should be reported

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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 22:57

Does the company need his passport to process the visa or do they just want to hold onto it in general?

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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 15:18

Love the song to, so romantic

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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 15:17

At least she got her bag back! Poor lady. Let that be a lesson for anyone who thinks that petty crime does not exist in the UAE. It is everywhere

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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 11:33

Report them to the Consumer Rights Association and tell them you will be calling the Police to open a file ( even if you don't) Have you paid?

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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 10:38

I don't think they need the English to communicate with the dogs but rather with the owners. Also the trainings and first aid courses are all provided in English. For Dogs? OMG

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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 10:36

Are you seriously suggesting that there are ads out there for dog walkers with English specifically as a first language? That's insane

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Latest post on 14 September 2011 - 09:59

Hi simpleasabc! Ah ok so it looks like buying a place in Switzerland is out. I think we were more keen to buy in France anyway. Well i say we i mean OH really... He hasn't been given a start date yet but it's looking likely to be October... but we won't physically move until the new year as I want to wait for my bonus at work. I think the reccy trip will most likely be in the new year, beginning of Jan. My OH is so unorganised though... there is me planning everything, dog, house, learning language and he's just relaxed about the whole lot. On the plus side I have just discovered my best friend is moving from the UK to Zurich in September so thats going to be fun. I'd love to know about the French mortgage system... does anybody have any clue how it works? Thanks again for your help! :) The rules have changed since SimpsABC bought her house and you can live in France and work in Switzerland without much hassle. The issue that you will face unfortunately is that your OH's employment will be based in Lausanne ( Canton de Vaud) and there are no bilateral agreements between Vaud and France. This will mean huge adminstrative burdens and much higher taxes. I would very much encourage you to rent an appartment or house in the Lausanne area or even as far as Blonay, Vevey etc where it's a bit cheaper

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Latest post on 13 September 2011 - 16:04

@QF: what broad and unsubstantiated generalizations...it's easy to play expert and pull the "I told you so" card when things go bad, isn't it? In any case, why don't you check some OECD reports issued this year to see which nations work the least (and it isn't Greece by the way). Agree - I'm pretty sure France has for many years been up there in terms of lack of productivity with their 38 hours a week nonsense

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Latest post on 13 September 2011 - 15:54

I am also thankful that Switzerland never joined, although they are suffering the effects now with the strength of their Franc against the Euro which makes exports to the rest of the EU very difficult.

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Latest post on 13 September 2011 - 13:16

It's coming fast and furious, that's for sure

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Latest post on 12 September 2011 - 15:03

Do you want to host the birthday on a dhow or bring one to your garden?

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Latest post on 12 September 2011 - 14:19

Last week. No ID card required

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Latest post on 12 September 2011 - 14:17

A few months ago, there was confusion. I think EIDA is confused themselves. They said that there is no longer a deadline for ID cards, they will be linked to VISA renewal. Now suddenly they are coming up with a new 'plan' to fine residents. Sounds a bit odd... could be pressure from the police department as with the ID card it is VERY easy to track people down. I just wish they would make one final rule and stick with it... (at least I would get off my !#$ and get it done too) and secondly... just make it an online service!!! im sure they will get alot more registered users! Charge 10-20 dhs extra for online they would make more money and it would be much more convenient! I for one will not be doing anything about it until they link the Cards to the Residency visa process. Why would you go through the typing, medical etc separately to the ID card process. It never made sense and I do think they made a lot of money from it. edited by derien on 12/09/2011

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Latest post on 12 September 2011 - 10:09

Is the housing fee included in this? That will be 5% of your rent, also, sprinklers throughout the garden take up a lot of money. We have 5bed villa in barsha and our largest bills in summer months are just under 4000dhs. The best thing to do is switch everything off, and go outside and check that the two meters are not running. Cant help you as to where your meter boxes will be, but when we have had high bills thats what I have done. Running the AC continually also runs up the bills. Is your AC centrally controlled as this is supposed to be more expensive than the individual units in each room. We have the indivisual units in each room but all the units were shut off during summer in the kids rooms as they werent here, in the spare room, play room! It was really just the living areas where we ran them constantly. We have an irrigation system outside. MAybe there is a leak?

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Latest post on 12 September 2011 - 09:43

Not lived at the Meadows but I know there's been this fuel surcharge since January. Has the bill gone up a lot on water (thinking pipe leaking somewhere) or is it on both electricity and water? I know when we lived in a villa our bills were weirdly inconsistent - some months a lot of electricity used but not much water and other months vice versa - it didn't make sense...even taking into account more use of electricity for the A/C. Both Water and electricity have gone up. I just can't fathom why the bills are so high. Hidden taxes maybe?

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Latest post on 11 September 2011 - 22:05

DD had them for about 2 years. Grew out of them and there are no scars

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Latest post on 11 September 2011 - 21:53

You are crazy to buy anything here. Think twice

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Latest post on 11 September 2011 - 21:42

Was sitting in my office in Geneva and surfing the Internet when saw a AFP pop up with the news that a plane had crashed into the etc in new York. Turned on the television in my boss office and saw the whole thing happen live. Was utterly devestated and still am today. Changed the world forever

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Latest post on 07 September 2011 - 16:00

I wish Europe would look after its own too....

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Latest post on 07 September 2011 - 15:57

What the???? Pathetic... How is a 120% pay increase going to encourage them to work in the private sector and actually learn some skills.... Argh there's no point even commenting

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Latest post on 07 September 2011 - 15:54

Lady Luck, are you my MIL by any chance?

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Latest post on 07 September 2011 - 15:27

I've thought of that but don't know anyone here who speaks Urdu. Maybe I should try and get someone to write if for me and stick a note above my doorbell. That might be a mistake. I used to leave notes for my Gardener until I realised he couldn't read. Best to get somebody to say ot for you

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Latest post on 07 September 2011 - 15:18

100 AED is half a week's salary for many labourers in Dubai. I think the purse is long gone. Sad really.

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Latest post on 07 September 2011 - 13:19

What about the boyfriend? Sollecite? Is he deranged too?

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Latest post on 07 September 2011 - 13:11

My username comes from an ancient language called Kenuzie - Dongola the language of a Fadekka tribe which means ( the light skin one) my cousins used to tell me this one :) This doesn't surprise me coming from you

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Latest post on 07 September 2011 - 13:09

Why would she do that? She would still maintain that she is innocent in the book, even if she is not. Personally, I think she knows more than she has let on but I don't think she was the one who stabbed the girl edited by derien on 07/09/2011

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