DubaiCat

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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 15:41

I need to add a rule after I witnessed it with my own eyes about two hours ago. 7. If you miss your exit on a roundabout, reverse. No matter how big or busy the roundabout.

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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 15:37

I went to Carrefour at MOE today but they only had some rubbish brand I'd never heard of or a Tefal one for 279dhs. Will try Spinneys tomorrow. ETA: Another daft question. Do I plug it into the wall or leave it on the hob all day? edited by DubaiCat on 21/09/2011

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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 10:35

Just a thought - if there is anyone on the board who works for the embassy chances are they'll be at work and probably won't be able to access EW right now. Is the embassy in DXB or AUH? If AUH you might get more luck on that forum :).

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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 10:34

What's a Timbit? I'm considering driving all the way down there to try this place! I sent my friend in Vancouver a message when I first saw this thread and she said the donuts are divine :D.

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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 09:54

Perhaps the CA tribute act, fake look isn't for him and that's why he's with you? I know many men who look at women like this and see nothing but fakeness and it's just not attractive to them. My DH once said, about a lady like this, "Wow - imagine if you went to bed next to her, you'd wonder who the h3ll she was when you woke up!"

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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 09:32

DH's phone is paid for by work so he calls me, and I text, BBM or email him if I need/want him to call. He does get an earful if his bill is too high, though, so we try to keep calls to a minimum. He's planning on getting an iPhone so we can use Skype instead. If you have a BlackBerry or phone with internet WhatsApp is great for instant messages, although for some reason there seems to be a lot of delays with messages between my sister and I at the moment.

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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 09:07

I can't find her details anywhere :(. I'll keep racking my brains to see if I can remember her name.

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Latest post on 21 September 2011 - 08:33

When you say she only latches for five minutes, do your boobs feel like she's emptied them in that time? DS was an incredibly efficient feeder and would sometimes drain one in under five minutes. I read Gina Ford - who says babies need at least 30 minutes to get any hind milk at all - and convinced myself I was starving him!

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 19:32

We saw Dr Gupta today and were very impressed. Friendly, great with DS and a nice guy to boot. I was planning to just keep going to Dr Hamzeh but as Dr Gupta is so much closer, I think he wins :D.

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 19:31

I used www.fertilityfriend.com and got the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler. Which reminds me, I still need to chase up where o the EW network it is! One of the best things I found was knowing when AF really was due. As in, when ovulation definitely occurred and so ovulation plus luteal phase = true AF due date. I've mentioned on here before a month when I thought I was a week late, and of course I wasn't, I'd just ovulated late. Had I been charting I'd have known and not wasted all that hope :(.

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 19:26

What size are you and will just below the knee do? I have a pair stashed under the bed, UK12 from Dorothy Perkins. ETA: If you're considering hotpants then you're probably not my size :D. edited by DubaiCat on 20/09/2011

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 19:25

It will say Slow Cooker. The Morphy Richard ones usually have a stainless steel outer. Don't pick up a Rice Cooker by mistake. You have actually prompted me to think about using mine again. It's been in the cupboard for a long time. Ideally try and keep it on the counter top so that you don't forget about it !! I missed this post earlier - thanks for this! Just the info I was looking for. I've heard my Mum talk about pressure cookers and seen rice cookers and got myself hopelessly confused with them all.

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 19:23

Thanks :). 75dhs for plum2's would have been better, but that won't break the bank :D. And thanks, sarassister - I was planning to pop in there for some wine glasses so I'll have a look for the book too.

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 17:51

Embo, how much did you pay? I checked at Le Marche today and could only see rice cookers and then one box that looked like some kind of cooker, but a brand I didn't recognise.

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 17:42

I interviewed a lady once who did elocution lessons for children but I can't remember if she did adult classes as well. I'll see if I can dig out her contact details.

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 17:26

I took Thinz about 9 years ago and lost something like 8kg in a month or six weeks. Yay, great. Except my then DH told me they were pretty much like taking speed (and he would know). God only knows what kind of damage I did to my body, even though I looked great size-wise; they gave me heart palpitations, breathlessness and the shakes. I used to take them at night if I was on a night flight and was tired and they'd keep me going for hours. No way would I ever take them now. I lost 6kg in 7 weeks before I married DH and I did it with a low-GI diet and Hypoxitherapy. Then I lost weight after DS was born with a low-GI diet and Jillian Michaels' 30-Day Shred. I plan to go back to the Shred as soon as I can after this baby's born and eat properly, so I can lose weight slowly and keep it off. There's a reason these quick-fix pills are banned.

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 17:14

You mean you can't just pull a miracle out of your backside? Shame on you, woman. They just don't get it, do they?!

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 17:13

If anyone does have any suggestions, I'd love to send the MIL when she's here next month. It might make the ten days slightly more bearable.

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 17:11

See, if your luteal phase was 14 days that would make ovulation around day 20 or 21 in your cycle. So if you had spotting on day 17, I'd say it would be unlikely to be implantation bleeding unless your cycle was super-short this month and you're already a few weeks pregnant! Why not test and see? You can get tests for 10dhs at the pharmacy in Springs Town Centre :). Do have a go at charting if you don't get a positive this month. I know I bang on about it all the time on here but I found it unbelievably helpful and it made me feel so much more in control of my body and the whole TTC situation. And PS: With charting, you don't have to faff around 'trying' every couple of days. Pinpoint your fertile days and get a decent sleep the rest of the time! ;)

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 17:07

Weird! I was convinced I'd done the test wrong or it was faulty, that was how sure I was that there was no way I could be pregnant! Did you do a test yet? edited by DubaiCat on 20/09/2011

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 17:05

DS never liked his pram for outings either - no reflux, he just didn't take to it! So I'd take the Baby Bjorn with us and he'd end up in that. Maybe he liked being upright and seeing things, or close to me, I don't know. But I couldn't walk round a mall or park with him screaming his head off so that was it. When he was a bit bigger and able to sit up more in his stroller, he was quite happy to be in there. Car seat I'm afraid I can't help with. I often ended up driving home bawling just as much as he was - for some reason I could never stand to hear him scream in the car!

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 13:10

The pharmacy at the Springs Town Centre has them for 10dhs. When mine came up positive I thought it was because I'd bought the cr4ppy one and it hadn't worked properly! I think it was one of the messy, wee-in-a-cup ones that you then use a dropper to drop the wee onto the test. A pain, but just as effective (as I found out).

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 13:06

I've had rings resized at the Gold and Diamond Park and often they'll let you go into the workshop so you can see it being done. Don't go to Satwa - one guy there started burning my ring at the counter to see if the diamonds were real.

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 12:37

Dammit - should have come on EW instead of going back to bed when DS did! Anyway thanks for all the info and suggestions. I shall hotfoot it to Carrefour at some stage this week (my planning skills have disappeared along with my will to live at the moment) and pick one up. Then we might actually get to eat something other than beans on toast in the evening. Thanks for the tip re baby food, frannie. That sounds absolutely perfect - I never was that dedicated with the steamer... ;). PS plum2, if flymum doesn't want yours I'm up the road in Al Waha and can collect :).

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 12:32

Hmmm. I know you're not charting but do you know what day you normally ovulate?

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 12:31

Oh, and before I forget, Pablosky only had F width. At least the guy was honest enough to tell me they'd be too narrow and didn't try to flog me a pair regardless :D. Does anywhere here do baby Timberlands? I found some online that look wide and adjustable but only in the US.

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 08:36

Thanks! Now for a really dumb question... will it say Slow Cooker on the box or do they have some other name I should look out for?!

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Latest post on 20 September 2011 - 08:30

No attacks at all :) but just be careful if you do go down the UK route - I had maternity care there over the summer and they were quite clear that I had to pay for all my appointments and would have had to pay for delivery if I'd ended up staying. I was probably too honest, though. Worth bearing in mind ;).

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 22:12

A friend tried to book one with a car seat recently and was told they couldn't do it - only the taxis leaving the airport have car seats :(. Another option is to book Safer Driver (or whatever it's called) and have them meet you at the airport and take your car home. You might need to get someone to meet them there to pick up the keys, though.

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 22:09

I was racking my brains for UK sites earlier and forgot about Jones! Ta :).

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 21:13

I guess so much depends on your doctor and the policy of your local area. I always thought it so unfair that some areas get three free goes at IVF and others only one :(. I hope it's successful for you!

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 21:08

Clarks in Dubai Mall did actually have G width, but it turned out DS is now 5 and a half and not 5 :( so we had no luck. He may even have needed a 6 as his toes were hanging off the end of the 5! It's definitely worth a look.

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 20:40

I need advice too. First time ever travelling to Birmingham (because I hate heathrow) with a 7 month old. She will be wrapped in my moby when I land, but errr how do you manage getting your luggage off the belt with baby? Any tips? Trying hard to pack one suitcase - doesn't look like it's going to be one though :s Stand to the far right of the baggage belt, where the guys with the bright yellow jackets get wheelchair passengers' luggage off, and make small talk with them :D. Then sigh - loudly - and watch as they rush to your assistance!

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 20:28

I tried all of those today :(. Seriously, he'll be in his pram till he grows two sizes and fits into the Birkenstocks at this rate! I finally found a half-decent pair in Clarks and, of course, they didn't have his size. Typical. Thanks for all the suggestions though :).

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 12:16

In my experience, they don't fast track passengers arriving in the USA with babies. I was fast-tracked through passport control at JFK years ago. No babies, but 25kgs lighter and slightly better looking than I am now! :D And the passport control guy proceeded to offer his services as a tour guide... :). edited by DubaiCat on 19/09/2011

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 12:14

I wish that happened in our Morrisons! I was pulling out of a space and a taxi stopped to let me out. I'm useless in Dad's car so it took me a while and he decided he was going to go round me. Then changed his mind and stopped again. Then roared off round me f'ing and blinding at me (7 months pregnant, can barely get my arms over my belly to move the wheel!). Nice guy!

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 12:10

We moved into Al Waha in June and pay 130,000 per year for a 4-bed plus maids' room. We do feel more isolated out here than we did in the Springs, but once we're inside the villa we don't mind at all because we love the space. I haven't seen a single workman on the Mudon site since we got here :(.

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 11:52

I'll get DH to give him a call over the weekend. Just the headache we were trying to avoid by renting direct with DP :(. Thanks :).

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 11:50

It says in our contract the landlord is obliged to maintain the property in good order. As we're all well aware, this is usually entirely dependent on how decent your landlord is! I just spoke to a super-helpful lady at the rent committee who says I have to go and ask a lawyer to look at the contract. I'd be better off saving the 1,600dhs I'd pay for the lawyer and keeping it for when the a/c breaks down.

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 11:48

There definitely is dye to do fabrics by hand but from past experience, I definitely wouldn't advise it for something as big as a sofa cover! I tried dyeing a bedspread and did it several times over, but it still came out patchy and uneven. For something as huge as a sofa cover I think it needs to be machine :(. I'm going to try dyeing ours as soon as I get my backside in gear to get the dye. If it works you're welcome to come and use my front-loader! :)

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 09:32

Oh, you terrible Mum, you ;).

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 09:31

I've heard numerous times that if you struggle to conceive first time around it'll happen super-quickly second time around, but that if you fall pregnant quickly with your first it might take longer with your second. I have no clue how true this is, but we stopped using contraception four years before DS was conceived and had a total accident when he was 8 months old. Seriously, it was the next best thing to an immaculate conception.

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 09:24

No, but DH used to live in Germany so I think we might jump on that bandwagon and have a little 'do' on Christmas Eve too! Thanks for reminding me :).

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 09:22

Just parents who don't follow the parking rules? Don't you know Dubai's motto is 'The rules don't apply to me'? :D Take heart from the fact that she's probably having a really cr4ppy day, JShepherd. I expect she was woken up in the night, the cat threw up on her clean clothes for this morning and her toast was burnt. Oh, and her DH's a minger.

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Latest post on 19 September 2011 - 09:20

I spoke to Arabian Ranches golf club yesterday and they apparently don't have their booking forms ready yet, whatever they are. I guess some kind of form you have to fill in with credit card details or something? Anyway the lady said they should be ready some time in October. Anyone been there before on Christmas Day? I'm normally freezing my backside of at Mum and Dad's in the UK but we'll have a newborn this year so they're coming here instead and the Ranches is the closest place to us so we thought that would be the best bet.

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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 22:09

I don't know of any companies offering the same kind of service at Heathrow, sorry. In fact the last time I was there getting my buggy at the door of the aircraft was more difficult than shifting Mount Everest into Africa, so don't expect too much.

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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 22:07

My niece is now 11 months and refused a bottle for months. My sister's been trying probably since she was about six months old. All of a sudden, two weeks ago, she changed her mind and my sister's been able to stop BF. I know that probably won't be all that reassuring since you need to go back to work soon and not wait till 11 months, but I just wanted to share to show it can happen! Good luck :). And while I'm here, when we decided to stop BF the first feed we changed to bottle was the dreamfeed. DH went and popped the teat in DS's mouth while he was sleeping and it worked first time. Then we gradually switched more feeds over the course of a week or so.

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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 20:18

Yup, unfortunately :(. I guess it's a different version of the attitude that seems to pervade jobs like construction and the like - put up and shut up or we'll find someone else to do the job and pack you off home. It's a pretty ruthless place for working in.

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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 20:14

DH knows full well he's lucky to be employed in the current climate but there is also a difference between an employer appreciating the work someone does and taking the Michael. Here, people seem to specialise in taking the Michael and using the recession as an excuse to abuse their position and employees is lame.

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Latest post on 18 September 2011 - 20:09

I agree, Mrs Orchid. I hate the culture of 'work to the bone' here. I hate the fact that DH's boss often decides he wants a meeting at 6.15pm when he's supposed to work 8 till 5. Granted, he's rarely in the office at 8 but he's never, ever, ever out of there at 5pm. He worked from 8am one day till 1.30pm the next day once without so much as a blink of recognition, because someone else stuffed up. Some weeks he gets home at 7 every night and is straight in the study working again. I sometimes want to call his boss and ask if he's a) not married or b) got an ugly wife because he never seems to care that he's disrupting our home life. He gets enough of DH's time and it winds me up that he still expects more.

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