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Expat Mum

Expat Mum
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 May 2016 - 14:09
eastchop - so sorry if we (Doha Mums) missed your email. Please visit the contact page and select the "other" option; I'll make sure that we respond. Thanks!
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 July 2014 - 05:43
Hi HobbitGirl! Doha Mums JUST reintroduced a craft group! It's not specific to needlework, though, in case that matters. If you are in town then join DM so you can hop onto the craft forum :)
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 December 2013 - 04:22
OH - bring LOADS of cold meds - day and night. Bring TONS of it. Think of what you might need for the year and then double it. The cold meds in Qatar are pretty much worthless. I bring stockpiles for my friends all the time! If you have small kids then bring it for them as well. Also, go to Costco and get one of the big bottles of Vanilla. It will get through customs just fine (have done it several times). They'll ask what it is and tell them it's for cooking. No problem. We used to bring the big bottles of maple syrup from Costco as well - way cheaper than in Qatar, and easy to bring. (We use a lot of maple syrup in our house.) Make a mental inventory of the things that would be a "problem" for you if you couldn't get it in Qatar and ask about those items on the forum. Better to come over prepared than underprepared - being without stuff that I really like was never "part of the adventure" for me :)
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 December 2013 - 19:31
Hi Sra - Be careful when bringing heat-producing or high-powered devices to Doha. Things like flatirons, KitchenAid mixers, waffle irons, etc don't work well in Doha, even with a transformer. It is easy to burn them out (particularly KitchenAid type things with a motor). If there are any brands that you are attached to or are picky about - e.g. you *only* like Qtip brand swabs, the only eye makeup remover you like is ___, special pet (or human) vitamins, - then bring those with you. I agree with the idea of bringing your own BBQ. We did that and were SO glad we did. Toys in Doha are definitely lower quality than those in the U.S. I recommend stocking up if you think you'll have the space. I echo JillMV's comments regarding clothing, too. SO MUCH CHEAPER in the U.S. Qatar has been blessed with an IKEA, but aside from that the furniture is either dark and ugly or super-expensive. If the company is paying then definitely bring your own. Since you are moving into furnished accommodation, though, this might not work for you. If you are not weight/space restricted with your move then consider bringing outdoor play equipment (depending on the age of your kids - things like the plastic slides, playhouses, etc. They're expensive in Doha, and you'll be able to sell it when you leave. If you happen to have the company paying for your move (e.g. an energy company) and have room for some additional items please contact the Doha Mums Children's Library. We are always looking for people to bring books over for us in bulk - we'll ship to your house! Just visit the DM website and select any of the "contact" links. <em>edited by Expat Mum on 01/12/2013</em>
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 15:11
Cool - go to the Doha Mums website contact page and send a basic inquiry to the "other" option. l will respond with more info :)
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 May 2013 - 20:37
I think lalala is referring to me :) From what I understand it is possible to get some of the meds BUT you have to go to a specific doctor through a special Hamad Hospital clinic that is housed separately from the rest of the hospital. With the brand names you are mentioning I am guessing you might be American? If so, see if your company offers a mail-order prescription benefit. For employees who are moving overseas they will sometimes grant you a full one-year fill of you prescriptions. As lalala suggested, just send a message to the "other" option via the Doha Mums contact page and I'll respond that way :)
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 May 2012 - 19:39
Takes time to write the news. . . .
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 19:19
Oh - I have sent an email to the counselor who helped a friend through some bereavement issues. My friend lost her mom rather than a child, but said that the counselor was enormously helpful.
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 19:17
momoyum - You won't make anyone uncomfortable, it's OK. I will be hosting the New Arrivals Coffee on Tuesday so please know that I'll be there to welcome you if you'd like. Since my last post someone contacted me to let me know that she's been in a similar situation three times and she said she'd be glad to lend a shoulder as well. Happy to put you in touch with both of them if you'd like. If I don't respond pretty much immediately then post to this thread to have me check my spam filter as things sometimes get trapped there. Doha Mums also runs a Depression Support Group, which also might be useful to you. Please reach out if you would like to - we're all here for you. Roxanne
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 May 2012 - 15:47
momoyum - I am so, so sorry to hear about the loss of your sweet baby. My name is Roxanne and I'm the founder of Doha Mums. Please get in contact with me and I'll steer you to a counselor who has helped others with grief, and will steer you to another member who might be willing to lend a shoulder as well (she lost her son at ~18mos.). You can reach me via email at roxanne *at* dohamums *dot* com . As Rachel_400 suggested, I can post a message to the forum on your behalf as well. Hugs, Roxanne
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 May 2012 - 01:30
I have two accounts at IBQ and can't imagine banking elsewhere. I find the bank as a whole to be very user-friendly. HSBC was a cluster . . .
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 May 2012 - 17:46
Received your emails (from two people) and will respond today or tomorrow :)
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 May 2012 - 08:07
Minegirl - I know several avenues that you might want to pursue, none of which involve sponsorship. Drop me a line at rox rox rox at earthlink dot net (remove spaces between the three rox words) and I'll hook you up :) Cheers, Roxanne <em>edited by Expat Mum on 02/05/2012</em>
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 May 2012 - 15:27
I prefer direct as well, but it's a start :) When I moved to Doha I had to change planes in Dubai with Qatar Airways. . .but now they're direct. . .so there's hope!
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 May 2012 - 01:57
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united-airlines-launches-daily-service-from-washington-to-doha-149520775.html Woohoooo! Can you say "competition"?
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 March 2012 - 23:19
Got it - will email you :) You can remove your email address from the forum :) Welcome to Doha!!
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 March 2012 - 21:21
Hi Anthea - Welcome to Doha! I don't know about the bunk bed question but wanted to touch base with you anyway - I'm the one who connected your husband with his job in Doha :) Give me a shout - your bigpond email address is no longer working. Cheers, Roxanne
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 March 2012 - 09:58
Here's the website and contact info: http://www.futuregate.info/site/ [email protected] +974 4467 7801 FutureGate has been great for me; they've accomplished things that would have been totally impossible otherwise :)
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 March 2012 - 21:24
Go to the Doha Mums website, click on Resources, then Mum2Mum - you'll see the Borrow! program there :)
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 March 2012 - 20:55
Actually I do agree with the idea that producing and selling food would not be without risk. I can see where that and other things that involve chemicals/health would be an issue, just like they would be in any other country. That said, there are PLENTY of bakers, cake decorators, and unofficial caterers out there. It's actually both expensive and complicated to set up a business - even a small one. QR20k here and QR10k there add up quickly - and you really need someone who knows what is going on because starting a business does not come with a manual. Without someone who knows what to do you'll be finding about things that you need to do (and pay for) after the fact, which would not be fun. For what it's worth, the majority of rumors regarding small businesses being shut down were indeed just rumors and definitely originated from that one person. I'm not saying it never happens but her nastiness really created a lot of unnecessary fear.
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 March 2012 - 17:09
lalala is correct regarding the registered office at a commercial address. It doesn't matter if your business is "only online" or that you "don't need an office to make cookies" - you have to rent office space, period. There are all sorts of other fees that have to be paid as well - municipality fees, permit fees, taxes, etc. From what I have seen the gov't typically looks the other way with respect to the "illegal" small businesses. The exception tend to be when you are doing something that competes with your own job sponsorship (e.g. you work for a salon and are cutting at home on the side). There are plenty of urban legends out there regarding the gov't shutting businesses down, but the Axis of Evil who started those false rumors is thankfully no longer in the country; long story short she would send emails to people (using a pseudonym) to scare them out of business, and sadly the rumors she started persist.
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 00:01
I worked with a guy whose neighbor used to let his dog out the front door each morning to poo wherever. One day my neighbor waited to catch him, picked up the poo in a bag and tied it to the dog's neck to take home. He included a note that said "the next time your dog will be wearing the poop, not just carrying it." It never happened again. Sure wish I could have seen the look on his neighbor's face when the dog came back. :D I heard a segment on the radio about DNA testing for doggy poo. Some apartment complexes in New York are requiring all dog owners to have their dogs DNA tested, so when poop is found they can trace it back to the owner (who then has to pay the fees for the testing and cleanup). Obviously this isn't an option for all of Qatar, but how awesome would it be? :D
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 January 2012 - 23:57
Oh, and I agree with Amy that the bit about not being able to feed kibble and raw at the same time is a bunch of bull. If you think about all the stuff a dog will eat it just makes no sense at all :)
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 January 2012 - 23:56
We have fed our dog raw food for seven years and love it. In Qatar we used chicken wings and minced lamb or beef - a bit of each at each meal. It's important to NEVER cook the bones, btw. Our dog is ~13/14kg so the cut up chicken wings are fine; we cut each wing into three or four pieces else he ends up puking a piece every now and again. Cut up breasts are also fine for his size. The thigh bones tend to be a bit large but would be fine for a slightly larger dog. You can also ask the butcher to cut up some ribs for a larger dog; buy in bulk and freeze them :) Larger dogs can handle larger bones without cutting them up, but you need to watch them eat to see if they are "gulpers" - if so, cut their bones a bit so they don't puke them up. Our "quick/emergency" meal is canned mackerel, which is also quite healthy for them. Pumpkin is a good one to provide as well, especially if they have the runs for whatever reason. Feeding just the minced meat does not provide enough of a balance for a raw fed dog. In the wild they would be eating the bones, organs, partially digested stomach contents etc, so it's important to replicate that to some extent when feeding raw. You want to give them some organ meat, but not too much - maybe a bite per day or so. Otherwise the poo will become runny as the organ meats can be very rich in fat and god-knows-what. Note that the heart is considered muscle-meat, not an organ, so chicken hearts are a good thing to switch off with the minced beef/lamb; I want to say that the chicken gizzards are also considered a muscle but don't quote me on that one. The bones will make the poop fairly firm, which self-expresses the **** glands and keeps your yard tidy. The poop of a properly raw-fed dog is much less voluminous than a kibble-fed dog, barely stinks and will turn white and disintegrate within a few days - it's an awesome alternative to the bulky, mushy poo of a kibble-fed dog that never seems to go away! The amount of filler that is in kibble is truly astounding (and disgusting). When I took our dog to the vet a couple of months ago she was shocked that he had never been had his teeth cleaned - they still pretty much look like they did as a puppy :) I love feeding raw and wouldn't go back to kibble unless we absolutely positively had no choice. Good luck!
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 December 2011 - 00:52
I tried one of the Shahry packs and found it to be much more expensive for my needs. As I recall I vastly exceeded the internet/email usage, vastly underused the number of minutes, and exceeded the number of texts. It was a total mismatch for me. I ultimately went with the QR300 annual fee for the "pay as you go" plan and added the QR100 internet usage (I receive/send a LOT of email) and have been happy ever since.
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 November 2011 - 19:30
That's great to hear Gray Girl :) Glad hubby is doing better - knew he wouldn't be disappointed with Dr. Fady!
Expat Mum
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Latest post on 16 November 2011 - 18:45
I haven't. . .mainly because I have been burned by other clinics ([u'>not[/u'> Dr. Sarah's) where I've been pawned off on the new doctor or whatever. My theory is that if a doctor is always full then there's a reason for it so I stick to (and wait for) the good one :)
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 November 2011 - 16:25
If the reception desk tries to steer you to another doctor I would insist on Dr. Fady. He's known to be the best endodontist, so I wouldn't mess around with anyone else. As someone who has endured massive dental trauma (rock-climbing accident) I don't compromise one iota on my dental care. With respect to the holiday incident, it's possible that the reception desk just didn't have their head screwed on tightly that day. . .who knows. . . :)
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 November 2011 - 18:33
I have used FutureGate for non-maid related stuff and they Get. Things. Done. Our maid sponsorship was a bit of a nightmare - we were rejected 4x before we finally hired a random mandoob to help us, and even then he had to fight like **** to get it through. Definitely would use FG if I had to go through that again. Google "futuregate doha" and they should pop right up.
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 October 2011 - 03:32
toriabelle - there are a number of Doha Mums members in both the Pearl and ZigZag towers, so you might want to check there. A friend of mine used to live in the Beverly Hills Towers and it was quite nice, though I'd probably go for the ZZ or Pearl over BH.
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 October 2011 - 20:12
It is beyond annoying - has happened to me SEVERAL times. I use a software called Intego for my Mac. It's not my favorite program (the whole idea of it, really) but it does the job and keeps Qtel off my back. Once you install it you will magically be able to send emails again.
Expat Mum
112
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 October 2011 - 04:15
A friend of mine works for FutureGate real estate and is a fabulous agent. She'll kill me for saying this, but she's also stunningly gorgeous and an equally wonderful person. The owners of the villas must want to drop dead when they see her coming. You can view some properties here http://www.futuregate.info/future/ and can contact them via their website. Be sure to ask for Nadia. :)
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 August 2011 - 18:18
staying alive is right - he's The Guy. I do find him to be incredibly overpriced, though. . .would be great for someone else to enter into the market of custom furniture.
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 August 2011 - 18:38
Wow - welcome back! :) Would love to talk to you about carseat installation - I've been looking for someone since you left and haven't been able to find anyone. Please give me a shout at roxanne at dohamums dot com. Thanks!
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 July 2011 - 18:25
@bilqat - I promise I'll respond to your email soon. Things are extraordinarily hectic right now :( If you want to get started then by all means don't wait for me - we (Doha Mums) can join in once things settle down ;)
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 July 2011 - 10:20
I live next door in Qipco. If you want to drop by with a map I can show you exactly where the clinic near Landmark is located - it's definitely the closest to you and will cost less than Al Ahli. Just come to the gate and tell the guards that you are here to see Roxanne in #7, fourth ave. I'm here and not going anywhere for a while!
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 July 2011 - 08:49
There is a clinic on the service road just before Landmark Mall - I think it's a Future Medical Clinic but it's labeled as El ____ or something. I went there for a sinus infection once and was in and out with prescriptions in hand within 25 minutes. Since you are on a tight schedule I'd definitely try that first. Al Ahli's wait can be painful!
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 July 2011 - 16:39
I know someone ([u'>know[/u'> her, not "know of" her) who went out in her pajamas to pick up her husband late at night after he had finished working - neither had been drinking. She was pulled over and hassled for a LONG time because he could smell the toothpaste on her breath, which he insisted was alcohol. The policeman wanted to arrest her for driving while drunk and wouldn't entertain her (logical) request for a breathalyzer test. Ironically, not having her license with her was what saved her because he didn't want to be bothered with whatever was entailed with that bit. . .so he let her go. Be careful out there. . .things aren't like they are back "home". . .
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 July 2011 - 11:08
Basil is a fragile herb and does best out of the fridge and in a glass or water - just enough to keep the tips wet, and clip them every day.
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 July 2011 - 18:22
@bilqat - how about if you send me an email so we're on each other's radar? roxanne AT dohamums dot com
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 July 2011 - 22:18
Just click on the link in the original post and then look for the box where you would normally post something to the wall. You'll see four choices: [b'>Share: Post Photo Link Video[/b'> Click on Photo and then upload your bubble-blowing photo from your computer. In the text box type in "Bubbles from Isabelle from Henry of Australia" (for example) and then click on "share". Don't forget to "share" the FB page on your own wall, and feel free to copy and paste my message and send it via email, share it on other forums, etc. :) I am amazed by the fortitude of Isabelle's parents and their determination to do something positive as a result of this horrible tragedy. Five minutes of your time would mean so much to her and her family. xo
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 July 2011 - 09:01
@bilqat - yes, we would totally post it! We just need some way to connect EW and DM since the DM folks typically RSVP on our private website. Maybe for each event the hostess could receive the RSVPs via email?
Expat Mum
112
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 July 2011 - 17:07
I just signed up for a couple of accounts with IBQ and LOVE them. Their internet banking interface is awesome [u'>and[/u'> it works with Macs. Customer service has been great as well. They're totally switched on and even offer special accounts for women. Can't say the same about HSBC. . .
Expat Mum
112
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Latest post on 30 June 2011 - 06:41
It was fairly thin - the kind you would make pants from. I was definitely at a men's tailor. . .maybe they "had it in back" or something. :)
Expat Mum
112
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Latest post on 30 June 2011 - 06:41
It was fairly thin - the kind you would make pants from. I was definitely at a men's tailor. . .maybe they "had it in back" or something. :)
Expat Mum
112
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Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 21:21
On a similar note, I selected Qatar as my default "section" of the website. No matter what I do it defaults to the Dubai "section". . .I give up.
Expat Mum
112
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Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 20:00
@bilqat - back to one of your first comments. . .YES. . .mum or not would be welcome, and obviously all nationalities/religions/etc.
Expat Mum
112
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Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 19:59
I've only managed to find poly/cotton twill :(
Expat Mum
112
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Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 13:06
I didn't realize you could find Janomes in Qatar - I stand corrected :)
Expat Mum
112
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Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 09:28
I think I downloaded the form from the US Embassy (Doha) website, but don't quote me on that. . .
 
 
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