Doubting Thomas | ExpatWoman.com
 

Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 29 December 2014 - 01:39
think you will find a lot of people moving "back". Or moving elsewhere, because let's face it, the UK is a disaster right now. How so? Why is the UK a disaster right now? According to the press the economy is booming? edited by Simpsons on 29/12/2014 What press ? The economic situation is dire, confidence in the government is sinking like a stone, the only people getting pay rises are MP's, benefits are being slashed, over a million people a year rely on food banks and 10 million people are on the breadline...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 29 December 2014 - 00:40
We're probably going make the move in 2015 too. Dubai's been fun, but the novelty wore off a long time ago. We're not so shallow as to think that cheap petrol and endless sunshine (that makes being outside intolerable for the best part of half the year) are good reasons to stay ;) If we were among the lucky few who got all the big bills paid by our company, so that we could shovel money into a savings account every month, then it might be different, but in common with just about everybody we know, we're saving virtually nothing. Not because we live any kind of extravagant lifestyle (we don't - chance would be a fine thing :)), but simply because after all the big bills are paid, there isn't enough left to enjoy an averagely comfortable life *and* save large amounts. It's one or the other. That's the reality of Dubai for the majority of people we know, most of whom are Western expats with families. We do know a few people with families who are properly "living the dream", with the big villa with private pool and the maid and a couple of large 4x4s and multiple kids at expensive snobby schools and several holidays a year, but all of them get rent, utilities and school fees fully covered by their employers (and in every case, the DH gets worked into the ground). edited by VelmaDoo on 28/12/2014 So long Madge, wishing you the best for your return - comes to us all in the end I suppose..we've never "lived the dream" here either but have had a fantastic time nonetheless....
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 December 2014 - 19:44
closest they have to a shocked smiley !! lolol
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 December 2014 - 19:43
Admin PLEASE put your man on to getting us to the last-read post on the thread. It's SOOO annoying. Man ???? :quite:
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 December 2014 - 17:56
yes, but there's a difference between chit-chat and[i'> inane[/i'> chit-chat...personally, whilst I might have a passing interest in what you had for breakfast today, I might find the novelty wearing a tad thin by the 4th or 5th day of hearing about it !! lol
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 December 2014 - 17:01
Have never heard anything negative about him and that video of the American Idol winner (before he even entered it) and his mum in the audience went viral... I don't mind listening to him and he's pretty nice to look at but I don't know that i'd go out of my way to see him...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 December 2014 - 16:59
Just in one afternoon of browsing my facebook, 3 different people are selling their Christmas trees and decs because they won't be here next year...and yes, all British though no idea where they are going...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 December 2014 - 16:43
I'm curious as to why they've changed their mind - not long ago they said quite categorically that there were NO plans to introduce Private Messaging...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 December 2014 - 16:15
But introducing the PM feature will just mean people PM/email each other instead of talking on here and it will be EVEN QUIETER! <hitting face on palm> It's exactly the same problem as people chatting on FB and drawing the crowds away. What we really need is FB to shut down! :biggrin: sorry to say it CP but you are in the minority with your dislike of Facebook...and contrary to your belief, it isn't full of people talking behind others' backs in the same way that a pm system doesn't mean that members are also talking privately.. Other forums manage quite well with private messaging and it isn't to the detriment of the board as a whole. In any case, if people want to talk about you/people privately they can email or meet face to face !! Admin are doing all they can to revive the forum but as Facebook becomes more and more popular the only advantage forums have over it is anonymity, which isn't necessarily a good thing, depending on which side of the fence you sit...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 December 2014 - 12:37
think you will find a lot of people moving "back". Or moving elsewhere, because let's face it, the UK is a disaster right now. That it may be but for many of us it's still our home...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 December 2014 - 01:39
[i'>Note: The author wrote this article on behalf of Randstad Mena, recruitment specialists for the Middle East and North Africa. [/i'> LOL !!
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 27 December 2014 - 21:20
Ikea all seem to be 50 x 80 ... http://www.ikea.com/ae/en/catalog/categories/departments/Textiles/20533/
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 27 December 2014 - 21:15
I meant fines in the UK !! And if you have a UK address then you can apply for a new licence.
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 27 December 2014 - 21:02
Try searching facebook for community groups covering Meadows, Springs etc - I know of at least two... ETA you may have to message the admin as they can be strict about only allowing residents to join <em>edited by Doubting Thomas on 27/12/2014</em>
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 27 December 2014 - 20:05
I don't think it's unreasonable for the DVLA to insist on a UK address before issuing a licence - where would they send your fines ? lol (not suggesting you would have any but they must lose a lot of revenue through not being able to locate people)..Why would people who no longer live in the UK need a UK licence anyway, except for holidays and visits which is why you can get a 12 month International licence...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 27 December 2014 - 18:03
Aramex Shop and Ship charge by the kilo - 77 dhs I think.. http://www.shopandship.com/en/home
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 27 December 2014 - 15:50
You will need to vaccum sand almost daily !! We have tiled floors but a large rug in the centre of the lounge and rugs in the bedrooms..also the door runners collect sand as does everywhere else !!
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 26 December 2014 - 22:16
Also bear in mind that your boxes may spend several weeks in ridiculous temperatures so be prepared for toiletries or perishables to arrive in less than perfect condition !! And candles may well arrive as a molten mess !! lol
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 26 December 2014 - 22:09
Try searching Facebook for Mamavents, Mother & Baby club and Fairy Godmother club. Also check for your community facebook group - many of them also have a group for the mums in that area...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 26 December 2014 - 19:26
I agree DT, but compared to a few years ago I think the forum is relatively tame these days, there used to be a lot more uncharitable remarks made then by a few posters who fortunately[b'> appear to be no longer with us or else now holding their tongues. [/b'> I recall one particular incident a few years ago where a newbie was really verbally ripped to shreds for her opinion on a totally insignificant issue by a certain poster, This sort of thing is no longer tolerated fortunately. While that's a good thing of course the intolerance for anything more than humdrum topics is the price. or have new user names !! lol yes, I had one of those experiences - one of my first posts saw me get torn to shreds for daring to challenge the "establishment" (not knowing any better) 5 years ago... Not many members left from those days and probably for the better but as you say, the alternative that we now see is a mundane succession of where can I get posts.. There are fewer personality clashes nowadays simply because there are fewer personalities...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 26 December 2014 - 17:49
LOL !! Exactly... Though given the tone of many of the posts here it's no surprise no-one wants to own up to them !! That's the nice thing about facebook - no hiding behind user names..
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 26 December 2014 - 11:58
Agree with all that Stix, but I disagree that the decline of the forum will affect the coffee mornings.. In my experience the women who go to the coffee mornings don't post on the forum - in fact, when I went to a coffee morning, expecting to meet lots of women I knew through the forum, not a single one admitted to posting here and the host even claimed to never have even heard of it !! lol "what forum ? ohhh yes, I used to go on there but haven't looked for ages" seemed the prevalent reply... The events are run as events, and EW is a business..the forum is still tolerated because it brings in new people...but is the only part of EW that doesn't make money directly...It's moved on from the old days when it was just a load of women chatting and giving advice to people moving to Dubai...The general look of the site is trying to be more professional - nicking the Mail Online's presentation with the stories down the side of the screen..And a lot of women will prefer that...but the thing it did best is now lost, as you say, to Facebook groups..not even other forums any more cos they're suffering pretty much the same fate..We want to know who we're chatting to, we want to be able to exchange details, chat privately or meet for coffee on our own terms...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 24 December 2014 - 23:27
Wishing everyone a happy Christmas x The new thread direction is a pain on any thread that's more than 2 pages long, the negative way the thumbs are mostly used renders the concept pretty much useless, Admin jump on threads to promote EW options only, too many posts or threads are still being removed (as I probably will be now !! lol) and the whole thing seems a shadow of its former self being soooo slow and dull.. sorry, really wish I could find something positive to say - this place was such a help to me when I first moved here...But we are still here so I suppose that must say something !! lol
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 24 December 2014 - 03:01
Top Man
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 23 December 2014 - 13:31
It would appear the OP is missing half the letters on her keyboard....
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 23 December 2014 - 01:49
I bumped your original post as there's lots of replies, good luck :)
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 23 December 2014 - 01:48
bump
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 23 December 2014 - 00:45
Waitrose crackers are the same price in Spinneys as they are in the UK - 58 dhs for 6 and 116 dhs for 12 (UK price £10 and £20).
Doubting Thomas
2298
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Latest post on 22 December 2014 - 01:19
Maybe it's the rudeness they're down-thumbing rather than the content..
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 21 December 2014 - 14:50
The light and sound show at Wafi in the evenings, Souk Madinat has the Christmas market til the 27th - http://bit.ly/1qWpFdr and as Alismum says - there's stuff going on at JBR every night - http://www.facebook.com/TheBeachDubai The favourite Santa (apart from Wafi, if you can stand the 2 hour wait !! lol) seems to be at Ski Dubai..
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 21 December 2014 - 14:28
We still have a package but if we didn't I think my husbands salary would be more so I don't think it's always straightforward - yes, you may have to pay for everything yourself but your salary will be higher... Personally I don't agree that Dubai is more expensive - rent and school fees possibly although you can't compare those with home as it's apples and oranges, but grocery prices are no more than the UK and petrol prices of course are ridiculously cheap here...And on top of that we don't have to pay income tax !! We pay just over twice the amount in rent here as we pay for our mortgage at home yet our villa is easily more than double the size of our house...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 21 December 2014 - 14:11
Yes, we got a Waitrose one last year - in the p!g room...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 21 December 2014 - 14:08
Hi Ladies, Just to let you know we are taking a Christmas break and our coffee mornings will resume on the 4th of January 2015. Please check the [url=http://www.expatwoman.com/dubai/monthly_events_whats_on.aspx#SpecialEvent'>events section [/url'> for all info. That's a shame - the one time when women who are normally working or busy might like to attend !!
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 20 December 2014 - 10:21
http://www.facebook.com/TheBeachDubai?fref=ts
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 19 December 2014 - 00:47
Thanks Polly, Merry Christmas to you too and everyone else x
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 19 December 2014 - 00:46
Can think of better things to spend 420 dhs on than a pretentious gimmick !! They look cool but not worth paying that much for, in my opinion...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 18 December 2014 - 09:05
What GE said - if you don't need the money why would you bother when you can be spending time with your children...And i'm sure all the people here who are desperately looking for work would appreciate the opportunity...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 18 December 2014 - 09:02
I subscribe to The Plain Truth which is a monthly Christian magazine and it gets redirected with the rest of my post from home - I never gave it any thought !!
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 16 December 2014 - 12:17
[i'>I didn't bother to read on about what happened to him as I did not really care. I only read about the cafe manager, the mother of 3, and that the police had gone in and were shooting and throwing grenades. I then read about the hostages running out. I did not read on to see if he came out under arrest or had been killed[/i'>. If you can't be bothered to inform yourself of the details then maybe you shouldn't be commenting on them, especially in the manner that you did.
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 15 December 2014 - 18:45
I don't think it matters what other people give - i'm too busy thinking about my own family !! And falling behind with my Christmas preparations... lol
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 15 December 2014 - 18:40
Oasis have one but I haven't been (the Grotty looks lovely though :))
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 04 December 2014 - 17:03
Yes customs checked it but it wasn't there long and we checked with the port authority that there were no unusual delays..The company here sent us a copy of a text that said our stuff was on one vessel and the paperwork from the UK said it was on a different vessel...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 04 December 2014 - 12:55
and NKD pizza deliver !!
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 04 December 2014 - 12:52
I though they got paid more because they lived-out (usually with their husbands, hence preferring a live-out option and in need of more money to pay the rent)?? This maid wants more money AND free accommodation for herself and her husband? If she is sponsored by her husband, he can write a no objection letter allowing her to work, that's how many of wives work in Dubai, nothing illegal here. If her husband is able to sponsor her, why would she want you to pay for that? Domestic servants, as they are called, do not come under the same labour laws and it illegal for them to work for anyone other than their sponsor. My sponsor is my husband but my visa does not say "not allowed to work"...unfortunately !! lol
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 03 December 2014 - 20:09
Bump
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 03 December 2014 - 19:31
I a not sure on that.[b'> But contact the municipality and ask for a list of the licensed Eid butchers, as they slaughter. You may have to buy the entire animal though so will get a lot of off cuts (liver, stomach, tongue, etc.). [/b'> If yo would eat those pieces, it would be a cost effective alternative. Otherwise, it could cost around 1500dhs for an animal, and then you would get a lot of meat and could give the off cuts to the slaughterers (either as kindness or say if they give yo a discount, they can have them to sell). Or just ask the butcher if you can freeze it !! lol (They're used to being asked so won't mind)
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 03 December 2014 - 11:56
There's always been rabbits on the grass there, same as the peacocks !!
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 02 December 2014 - 19:18
How could you possibly choose between them and won't he miss the other one ??
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 02 December 2014 - 18:00
Over the summer we shipped a small amount of our teen's belongings back to the UK with a local company. We were charged an extra amount by the UK agent to cover costs incurred while the shipment was allegedly delayed in the UK port.. We have tried to challenge this charge since no-one can actually provide any evidence of it but have met with dead ends all round.. Has anyone else experienced this and if so, what did you do about it ? Thanks.
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 30 November 2014 - 09:49
I think prices are going up everywhere - I was shocked at the increase in a lot of things at home in the summer.. To be honest I still feel a lot of things here are no dearer, if not cheaper than at home and our utility bills and other expenses are certainly less. We don't pay income tax here, petrol's stupidly cheap, the housing tax is a lot less than council tax, electric and water are less. This is just my opinion, we certainly don't feel it's too expensive to live here - if we did then we'd be on the next plane home !! Out of topic buttttttttttt Your cattt is sooooooooooooooooooo cute. :biggrin::kiss::lol: Thank you :)
 
 
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