Doubting Thomas | ExpatWoman.com
 

Doubting Thomas

Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 23:22
I treat my maid with great respect - after all, she looks after my precious daughter. I trust her. She is not my friend, however, she is my maid. I do, in fact, look after her far, far better than my employer looks after me. I expect her to complete her work just as my employer demands that I complete my work tasks successfully. She eats what we eat, uses the same soap, toothpaste etc I buy for the house. I supply everything for her. She often eats with us with when my husband is not at home. We have a good relationship but, she is the maid. I should add that not all Pakistanis are poor labourers. There is a large growing middle class in Pakistan who live in large homes with maids, drivers etc and a large number of extremely wealthy people. So they're more equal now then ....
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 23:19
Oh, I thought we were talking about food.. No, we don't pay for touristy stuff unless we're all out together and then it's shared..not sure what kind of people would expect their hosts to pay for that kind of thing... And it must get tough if you have lots of visitors..
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 23:19
No idea, sorry.
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Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 12:47
We don't expect our guests to pay for anything - they're our guests !! lol Most will split or pay the bill when we eat out but I wouldn't expect them to pay for groceries.. Apart from arriving with a few duty frees we don't expect anything...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 12:42
I don't think we can debate the subject honestly without going down the nationality route and that can never end well... Personally, I take exception to the assumption that Westerners are new to employing help...a crass thing to say, imo.
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 12:15
Book Munch, Al Wasl Square ?
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 12:14
well...this has sorted out a few true colours...so to speak lol
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 09:04
Dogs get colds ?? who knew.... lol hope he's better soon
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 09:04
Dogs get colds ?? who knew.... lol hope he's better soon
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 09:04
Twice
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 09:03
Motor City Kart drome have a laser shoot thingy - had my son's birthday there last year and it was fab...a session in the go karts followed by a session in the glow in the dark laser thing...they loved it !!
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 10 October 2014 - 20:37
The only legal way is to get one from an agency but they're mostly just maids... Paying anyone else is illegal.
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 10 October 2014 - 20:36
You could try the Facebook groups for your community...lots of people wanting to make friends...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 09 October 2014 - 16:43
Maybe you'd have more luck on a facebook group for your community...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 09 October 2014 - 16:32
Not sure which app it is but the Police launched one specifically for reporting driving offences. It is illegal to publish people's photos for any other purpose than as evidence on the Police app.
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 09 October 2014 - 10:58
My husband said to leave it but I was angry. The called to arrange a delivery for a certain day and yes a specified time frame. I knew I would be home then only day of the week kids have no after school activities. The day before when Im out my 7 year old daughter calls to tell me that Aramex had been and that as I was not home called my husband to see if it was ok to leave the new cc with my 7 year daughter who signed for it. Ridiculous. When I checked the packet it said delivery was meant to be for the next day as we had arranged. I called to complain and all they could do was apologise and say not sure why it came a day early. I was very peeved! Surely the maid's signature would have done... ridiculous to accept a 7 year old's signature... lol
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 09 October 2014 - 09:19
Thanks ladies. Gosh, I thought it had been done many times here. Always seeing things set up for families that have met with some misfortune or other. Perhaps it was through online sites. I just found gofundme on a google search. Will have a look for Just Giving. Thanks It's also on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/JustGivingMEA?fref=ts
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 09 October 2014 - 09:17
Unfortunately the general standards of finish by some companies here are substandard and with windows/doors these problems do not become apparent until you live in the villa for some months of the summer and a few sandstorms!! A/C bills are linked to DEWA as the A/C uses electricity and as its a villa there no central cooling system where we are. Again,if anyone has the same issues and is interested in getting a quote,let me know ! Thanks yes, I know we pay DEWA for our aircon... I think sand is kind of an occupational hazard really, what with living in the desert and all !! lol
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 09 October 2014 - 09:15
I think charity is quite difficult here - has to be Government approved etc.... Have you considered facebook ? I know people who have set up accounts for donations with Just Giving or http://www.gofundme.com
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 08 October 2014 - 22:44
Just a minor point, but why would you buy a new villa with substandard windows and then pay a small fortune to have them replaced ? Is this a mark of the general standard of new properties here ?
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 08 October 2014 - 15:48
Hello!! Please can you leave the details of the website builder(hoping shes still around) here or at nileconcepts at gmail dot com? Thanks!! Is that your email address ?
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 08 October 2014 - 15:42
LMAO !!! yep...gotta feel sorry for that 1 % being tarred with the same brush....
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 07 October 2014 - 17:13
I've always refused to lift share, mainly for this reason, but you can't stop your kids having sleepovers... I usually take the reluctant view that if someone is kind enough to have my child for the night or take him out somewhere, then I have to trust that the other parents will look after him as I would - after all, they are managing to take care of their own kids !! The OP must be new to Dubai if she is still shocked by this...sadly it's all too common and short of challenging the offenders when we are able, there's nothing we can do about it... Why can't you stop your child having a sleep over. I would never let my children, male or female sleep over - do you really know who else is in the home? What your child is doing? So many tragedies occur everyday all over the world in seemingly "normal" homes - experienced our children will never recover from. My children have never had sleep overs for this very reason and are none the worse off socially because of it. So, how do you explain to your excited child why they can't accept the sleepover invitation ? Most of her non Muslim friends know that her father would never permit her to sleep outside the home. She knows and understands the reasons for this. I think sleep overs are a cultural thing in many situations. So why did you not say it's cultural in the first place ? Instead of saying it's because you don't trust other parents....
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 06 October 2014 - 22:13
Make yourself read every single thread on here...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 06 October 2014 - 21:32
I've always refused to lift share, mainly for this reason, but you can't stop your kids having sleepovers... I usually take the reluctant view that if someone is kind enough to have my child for the night or take him out somewhere, then I have to trust that the other parents will look after him as I would - after all, they are managing to take care of their own kids !! The OP must be new to Dubai if she is still shocked by this...sadly it's all too common and short of challenging the offenders when we are able, there's nothing we can do about it... Why can't you stop your child having a sleep over. I would never let my children, male or female sleep over - do you really know who else is in the home? What your child is doing? So many tragedies occur everyday all over the world in seemingly "normal" homes - experienced our children will never recover from. My children have never had sleep overs for this very reason and are none the worse off socially because of it. So, how do you explain to your excited child why they can't accept the sleepover invitation ?
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 06 October 2014 - 15:40
My son and I watched 2 young children in a parked car next to us in Park n Rob car park - the whole time they were playing with the mirrors, wipers, the thing hanging down from the mirror..the girl was sat in the driving seat and turning the steering wheel... I was intrigued that when the mother returned she just tapped on the window, the girl opened the door and they both climbed over into the back while the woman drove off (with them still standing up in the back) without even checking her mirrors or anything !!
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 06 October 2014 - 14:13
Never understood the purpose of a rant about other threads. if you don't agree with what others say, just tell them and move on. And I've never understood posts that criticise others' choice of thread topics - is the OP's choice any less valid than yours ?
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 06 October 2014 - 13:57
I've always refused to lift share, mainly for this reason, but you can't stop your kids having sleepovers... I usually take the reluctant view that if someone is kind enough to have my child for the night or take him out somewhere, then I have to trust that the other parents will look after him as I would - after all, they are managing to take care of their own kids !! The OP must be new to Dubai if she is still shocked by this...sadly it's all too common and short of challenging the offenders when we are able, there's nothing we can do about it...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 06 October 2014 - 00:05
Yes it has become very expensive in cost, poor in quality generally, but safe It depends on your definition of "safe". For example, you are much less safe while driving here than in most Western countries. Your chances of being seriously injured or killed are significantly higher on UAE roads. I feel this blessing when i pick the newspaper in the morning. Which newspaper do you read? Most of the murders, violent crimes and burglaries (yes, they regularly happen here) are never reported in the English-language papers. They do get mentioned in the Arabic papers aimed at Emiratis, though. edited by Madge_Gustard on 05/10/2014 you joking ?? 7 days is nothing but a catalogue of crime.. what with that and the rubbish letters' page it's hardly worth picking up off the drive !!
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 05 October 2014 - 23:58
I've only ever seen male cleaners at our school and I believe most of the PE or swimming teachers are also male. I don't have a problem with it - your Head Teacher is male, does that bother you also ? DT, I cannot believe you have written this and think for one minute it is acceptable policy to place children at risk. Does your Head teacher go sit in the girls’ bathrooms with his phone during the busiest period of the day or do you think should he need to send someone in he would send a female member of staff? Seriously please tell me what risks you do not see? Do you think because we live in Dubai children are not at risk from predators? A litte more research and you will find the risks are very real in a school environment. edited by Lolacat on 05/10/2014 Just answering the question.... Our cleaners don't start until school is finished, all parents and visitors need security passes to enter school and our head is female. I trust the school to carry out all the necessary checks before employing any of the staff.
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 05 October 2014 - 01:50
I've only ever seen male cleaners at our school and I believe most of the PE or swimming teachers are also male. I don't have a problem with it - your Head Teacher is male, does that bother you also ?
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 02 October 2014 - 19:54
Most supermarkets - in the stationery section
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 01 October 2014 - 16:12
Are you children in school? Recently found out that KHDA doesn't legislate hours in school and that Horizon is open an hour a day longer than my school. but we close a whole hour earlier than other schools on a thursday we finish an hour earlier on Thursdays too
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 01 October 2014 - 12:46
Never ceases to amaze me how many people actually take the list seriously....and like Tattie, there is way more on there then I would ever do in that time frame...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 01 October 2014 - 12:43
Guinness 2, Please, please encourage whoever found this to go to the police. Also if someone could take photographs of this terrible scene, distressing though that maybe. Please also encourage whoever found those poor cats to contact BinKitty collective, apparently they have a strong presence with members living in Ranches. Another thought is that if one of the cats was microchipped, it would be a really good idea to go to the vets, they might be able to trace him. Whoever did this wicked thing must not be allowed to get away with it. It is absolutely unbelievable to have subjected living creatures to such a [b'>deliberate, slow, agonising [/b'> death. Some of the people who have cats in this country are capable of acts of just astonishing cruelty. Our cat was tossed out of our last villa when his family moved, they took his collar off and he was left to starve in the garden. I hope whoever did this is traced and punished. One had a collar and one was micro-chipped - the lady now dealing with it works with BKC.
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 01 October 2014 - 12:41
30 plus after school activities
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Latest post on 30 September 2014 - 21:19
Yes, the lady who found them is fuming and was going to report it to the police
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 30 September 2014 - 19:44
As it says - 2 dead cats have been found in an empty villa, shut in a bedroom - presumably the outgoing occupiers did it deliberately...who knows ?
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 30 September 2014 - 19:27
Oh, I see. Pack affiliates. No worries. OP, I stand by what I said. I would not share or air any problem on this board as there are a length of entitled people whose words are gospel and cannot be challenged. As can be seen, it was believed I was/am a non-native English speaker posing as a native English speaker - blasphemy! There are a lot of ladies here who are kind, intelligent, informed, and would listen. I would not risk having to stand and be dressed down by the others on the chance they wish to do it. It is not a constructive argument they are condescending, sarcastic, and ignorant. Well, that's been a huge help to the OP....
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 30 September 2014 - 19:18
I once had a petrol pump attendant ask me if I was married - when I said yes he asked if my husband could get him a job !! Desperation coupled with little or no filter, that's all....
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 29 September 2014 - 20:46
My husband is local so we can't leave but even he is finding it too expensive here... Why not ?
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Latest post on 29 September 2014 - 13:21
Did my son's at home in the summer and it took less than 2 weeks but that was from the UK...
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 29 September 2014 - 12:22
Well after spilling your Ranches driving shortcut secrets on EW expect it to be super busy tomorrow! Lol! Not saying anything that isn't all over facebook anyway - there's a petition page called Al Qadra Roundabout with almost 300 likes and the Ranches groups have plenty of discussion !!
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Latest post on 29 September 2014 - 10:17
Count yourself lucky - when we were house hunting they never once returned any of our calls !! lol
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Latest post on 29 September 2014 - 10:15
Agreed it's impossible - allow 30 minutes to get onto Studio City roundabout from 7 am..I save time by doing as Daza says and going through Global Village but every day there are more cars doing the same !! lol
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 September 2014 - 13:11
Yes, it's the purple paper company but she's still working on it I think
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 September 2014 - 11:00
My hairdresser has to put on my notes - leave colour on for extra 20 mins to cover the grey...maybe you just need to leave it on longer..
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 September 2014 - 10:05
They do not. Nor did I say they did, if the only entertainment people get in a day is to pick at English.. Yet as this board is occupied by writers, I will direct attention to the précise wording [i'>is no longer current[/i'> This means it is not up-to-date with the latest trends,teachings, and so forth. I supported this point with reference to people who graduated in the early 2000s, when social media had yet to hit the world. Knowing how to pick English is a skill. It is not a qualification. Short of having a degree in English lit., this is nothing beyond two words at the end of the CV… Languages English edited by Londiamond on 28/09/2014 Nonsense. Go yell at your DH. He has to listen to you and say you are right. As for me, please back off. Either you are really this daft and do live in a world that you hope is real, or you are putting on a show. I cannot be bothered trying to work it out. Just because others do not agree with your posts does not mean you have to be continually rude and personal. Personal? You and your gang have, since yesterday, put a target on me, to knock anything and everything I say. Not one poster disagreeing with another, one gang trying to take down a LONE poster. I could care less however there are people reading this who will not type a letter as they worry they'll be neXt. And there really are non-native English speakers here who will be afraid that they will cop it, too. They do not have the language skills to stand up for themselves. Actually, I already said (on the deleted thread) how much I admire posters who aren't writing in their native language - I certainly couldn't do it and am impressed that you make the effort....
Doubting Thomas
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Latest post on 28 September 2014 - 09:55
welcome to Dubai !!
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Latest post on 28 September 2014 - 09:53
Ranches golf club...fab full English with real bacon and sausage !!
 
 
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