GinaM | ExpatWoman.com
 

GinaM

GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 17 July 2011 - 14:32
Our villa is very light - big windows and 2 x french doors in the living area - it is a smaller compound though (Beverly Hills 2) and I don't think there are any villas available at the moment. Contact Al Ashmakh though (http://www.alasmakhrealestate.com/) and they should be able to tell you. They are pretty large (4 bedroom plus maids), own pool in the backyard, garden and quite western in style (hence the light) with lovely kitchens.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 July 2011 - 22:00
The Dental Hygienist at Family Dental Clinic is excellent - I think she actually used to be a dentist in the Phillipines (so my husband told me) and she always just does a really good check for me while she's cleaning my teeth.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 July 2011 - 07:04
You can drive on your UK licence for 6 months - any car - insurance isn't attached to the person over here like ht UK, its attached to the car. I didn't need my husbands permission to get my drivers licence....is that a new thing that has come in in the last 5 years?
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 11 July 2011 - 18:26
I went to Aspetar for a knee problem with a referral from my Dr (Dr Giorgia) at Doha clinic - they accepted that referral no problems at all.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 10 July 2011 - 16:52
Go to Shine...I had a diamond replaced there and have used them a number of times. They are in the gold souk area - just ask people and they should be able to direct you (sorry...just did a big instruction of how to get there and the site lost it on me! :) )
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 10 July 2011 - 16:36
Sounds to me like your husbands PRO has "summeritis" and couldn't be ar*ed doing any work in the heat! :) There is no reason whatsoever (unless internal company reasoning like other people have mentioned) that you can't get your RP as soon as your husband has his. Also, my son and I both got our RP's at the same time and I haven't heard of that changing (I would be really really suprised if it has to...it would be a beyond ridiculous change to make!). One of the issues in Doha is that who ever you deal with on the day often just makes up rules and regulations to suit themselves and whatever amount of work they feel like doing (or more often the case, not doing) on that day! I also was not working when we took over sponsorship of our maid - although like Novice said I think that is a case of "who you get on the day"....blimey, if it was a case of only one spouse working and they applied the same rules to the locals they'd be in major strife! Can't see the local ladies scrubbing their own floors! ;)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 09 July 2011 - 22:06
I wouldn't go any later than 10 or 10.30 as they can just close it down if there are too many people there...saying that I think anytime now is probably the best time to go - Doha is half deserted so I'm guessing it might be out there too! :)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 09 July 2011 - 10:30
Go see Dr Abdul Rahman at Doha Clinic. He'll organise a mammogram (if you need it) for you straight away. Last time I had one they did an ultrasound as well. Oddly enough even pap smears aren't covered here by insurance unless they are prescribed for a specific condition. So the Dr's just put down that you have some symptom or another so it goes through the insurance. Absolutely crazy if you ask me....its a preventative procedure....but I've learnt not to question the logic!! ;)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 July 2011 - 18:00
I hate to put a dampener on things but its probably more a case of efficient company rather than efficient bureaucracy! :)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 01 July 2011 - 17:08
HSBC in Qatar is beyond dreadful!! :(
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 21:07
Do you mean butchers paper? Or flipchart paper? If you do let me know cause I can find the answer for you - I'm helping out at and attending a course at the moment where they have got flipchart paper for us....I'm guessing from Jarir??!
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 21:05
I don't believe even Kahramaa would do a 7-hour straight shutdown during the peak of summer!! What's up with the compound? Yeah...why did they have to shut down for that long??
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 29 June 2011 - 21:04
I agree that blood on the swab isn't a concern - although it isn't the norm either in my experience. However I do think that a Dr "insisting that the pain" is your fault is extremely bad bedside manner - how to relax a patient in 10 easy steps heh!!! I wouldn't be going back either!
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 27 June 2011 - 23:14
We're on our third rental in 5 years - haven't paid agents fees to date and never will! We pay rent (and high rent at that in comparison to other parts of the world) so why should we pay anymore than that. Commission is for the landlord to pay around the rest of the world so why not here? I kind of hope that more and more people will refuse to pay and they won't be able to keep trying it on (not that many RE agents seem to).
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 21 June 2011 - 21:28
I'm not quite sure why but my Father in law who is an electrical engineer told me that the powerboards with the individual on/off switches are the most dangerous ones. Oh....and I think sticking scissors etc into a powerpoint is dangerous by anyones standards! :)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 21 June 2011 - 16:48
You don't need to take photos. They take your photo. You just need the official paper that you get from your/your husbands work, a credit card (I don't think you can pay cash now days) and your passport.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 18 June 2011 - 11:40
We got ours done at the electronics shop at Hyatt Plaza (the one nearest Jungle Zone). We got it done when we bought it so no idea how much they would charge but it sure wouldn't be more than 250 would it! :)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 18 June 2011 - 11:38
He's over at Landmark at the moment. He moves around.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 16 June 2011 - 11:14
You might find that you don't get much response to this because its a thread that comes up very regularly and has been answered a lot. You'll probably get the most information by doing a search and seeing what has been said before.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 16 June 2011 - 11:13
I think that legally you are meant to have a will in arabic for it to be recognised in this country however I think that practically it is not a problem should anything happen. To be on the safe side however we don't leave much money in this country. In terms of children I don't think that they would ever stop them from being taken back to their home country by relatives.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 16 June 2011 - 11:07
My six year old son thinks that 99% of the drivers on the road are w*nkers....wonder where he got that from! :) I do always say that when I leave this country I'm going to buy a cr*ppy old car for the last day and just ram into anyone who beeps me unnecessarily, cuts me off etc etc. Then I'm going to drive straight to the airport with my hand out the window giving them all a friendly one fingered parting gesture! :)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 June 2011 - 19:32
Its a very difficult thing Butterfingers because fertility is still a bit of a mystery area. They can do so much but then again so much is in "the hands of the gods" so to speak. I would recommend (for what its worth :) ) that you sit down and think about what YOU really want to do. Then go to a Dr (perhaps not the one you've been seeing because she clearly sounds awful! :) ) and tell them what you want to do. Do you know what might stop fertility being an easy thing for you? Is there a known reason for your periods being so irregular? Is there a clear case of what could be done to resolve that and what are the timelines involved in that? You really need the answers to those questions so you know what direction to head in. Don't let them dictate to you. Difficult I know but you need to take a stand here. Also, unfortunately, you really need to do your own research to make sure that you are fully aware of what options there are out there, what you might or might not want to be doing etc....I have found that while the fertility treatment here is good they don't go out of there way to look at different options/alternatives/additives (ie. immune testing) and you will need to research those yourself and push for them if you want them. Hope I haven't made that sound to scary or impossible...it really isn't...some of us just don't make babies as easily as others! :)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 June 2011 - 17:02
Unfortunately you can't just turn up to see Dr Shahata as he is part of the IVF clinic. Its quite a tedious process - you first need to get a health care card from your local health centre then you need to go in and book an appointment to see him. If you are hanging around for summer you might get in to see him faster but then again he might be leaving too! :( Once you are in the system though it is all fine and fairly user friendly (Dr Shahata is very good and gentle although as someone else said not the most chatty/friendly...but then again most IVF Dr's don't seem to be either...lets face it they are scientists really!) In the meantime why don't you go and see Dr Abdul Rahman at Doha Clinic - he seem pretty clued up on fertility and is London trained. It might even be one of his specialities from memory. Either way he is very down to earth, explains things etc. Absolutely appalling that the Dr you are seeing is not even explaining anything to you. Any hormones prescribed need to be carefully monitored as they have different effects on different people and it doesn't sound like shes the right person to do that (or even that she would do it!).
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 June 2011 - 13:37
I would go and see a specialist. Maybe Dr Shahata at Hamad Hospital. 30 is very young to be pushing you that much. I wouldn't be taking anything to "excite my ovaries" unless it was prescribed by a specialist. The tablets she is talking about (Clomid or something like that?) have side effects. Did she even explain them to you?
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 June 2011 - 12:26
How old are you? Has she tested your hormone levels? Is she a fertility expert?
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 14 June 2011 - 11:19
Ha ha....love it nadadanada! :) We've got powerpoints that work here even when they are switched off....nothing would amaze me! Probably a power surge or something like that! :)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 17:09
You can try Mustaf for gas - 55246542 although be warned that his english is pretty bad. I know that he delivers around the Villagio area (if you can explaing to him where you are...we moved and I can't get him to understand to come to the new place despite the fact that we live in a very well known compound on Al Waab Street! :/).
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 June 2011 - 07:04
Hi Katcalls...yes...the famous Dr Giorgia :) . I've been seeing her for years (underactive thyroid) and have taken a lot of people to see her/recommended her...I couldn't fault her! I know she worked in France for quite a while and she is from Italy. She works 8am to 2pm and if you get there as close to 8am as possible (or just before) there is generally almost no wait. I think she's heading off at the end of the month though for 2 months back home.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 June 2011 - 10:01
Do you mean al Waab street Zookeeper? And then the intersection of Al Waab and Al Sadd? You don't go on c-ring to get from Villagio to Centrepoint. Sorry...just been nosey and your directions have me curious! :) ETA My husband went to a chiro on D-ring a few years back and thought she was excellent - Tel :44650012 Email : [email protected] <em>edited by GinaM on 12/06/2011</em>
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 11 June 2011 - 18:24
I have a friend who was visiting here and had a rather embarassing "accident". Without going into detail it was fairly obviously how the "accident" had happened - it wouldn't have been an issue back home but as a single woman here it could have been. The male Dr we saw was fantastic - very discrete and didn't ask too many questions. Re the Dr that I see - I would trust her completely - I'm sure that she would not disclose anything that I said to her. ETA The Dr that my friend saw is a arab, my Dr is european - not that that obviously matters. <em>edited by GinaM on 11/06/2011</em>
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 10 June 2011 - 08:57
I'd go back but don't tell them that she is travelling with you and get the exit permit. Even if it has changed recently you're more than likely to encounter an immigration officer at the airport that doesn't know about it (or they may just change the rules back). Better to be safe. It also sounds a bit strange since you aren't the actual sponsor.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 10 June 2011 - 00:41
I'm sure that if I was having another child I would be more than happy to have him/her in Qatar but lets not fool ourselves that state of the art equipment means state of the art health care. There are many illnesses where I would leave Qatar for treatment elsewhere - and I know a number of people who have been transferred elsewhere for treatment on the advise of doctors both here and overseas. Childbirth obviously isn't one of them though! :)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 08 June 2011 - 19:41
Have a look at http://www.cookingwithgill.blogspot.com/ - Gill does quite a few curry/thai/asian inspired classes. Her cooking with gill facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/pages/Cooking-with-Gill/146029868786443?sk=info.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 08 June 2011 - 11:45
Personally I would go compound with children. Better atmosphere - safe playing for them, other children around and you have the pool etc facilities on hand.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 June 2011 - 19:21
We're on Beverly Hills 2 on Al Waab. Smallish compound - around 30 villas. Lots of kids, lots of dogs (on leash). Good location, good maintenance (for Doha! :) ), great villas....fantastic kitchens which was one of the things that sold me! The pool in the backyard sold it to DH and DS!
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 07 June 2011 - 13:14
Dr Giorgia at Doha Clinic. She works 8am to 2pm.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 June 2011 - 17:52
My son had BCG here (Doha Clinic) when he was about 2 1/2. It was no biggie - he didn't have any issues with it. We had him vaccination because it is recommended in Qatar as there is a risk here.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 June 2011 - 17:50
You also need a no objection letter from the old sponsor saying that you can take over the sponsorship - also in arabic. As well you will need her passport, photos, copy of RP, copy or your and your husbands RP's, copy of your marriage certificate etc (basically everything you can possibly think of).
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 June 2011 - 10:50
Thanks Gray Girl! :)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 June 2011 - 08:19
I think the term FIFO would probably apply to me! edited by kimmac on 03/06/2011 Ha ha...no kimmac...I think it only really applies to people who just don't even get what its all about! :)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 June 2011 - 21:27
Oh sorry - don't know the opening times but if you google them they probably have some sort of website. I dont' think they are open Friday mornings and possibly not even Friday afternoons but Saturday you should be fine.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 June 2011 - 21:26
From memory I think that if you are coming from the Ramada end you need to do a u-turn at the burger king (or 2 past decoration roundabout) roundabout. If its not that block then its the next one up. Right next door to Skate Shack I think! I would really recommend going to a proper bed shop though Dan Lou. I used to have a dreadful back but since going for a quality bed there is a world of difference (in sleep quality too!). I can see that we are going to have this bed for many decades (wasn't cheap - about 6 or 7K but then again the cr*ppy one that we bought from one of the standard shops was around 2K and lasted us 2 years...painfully!)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 June 2011 - 21:14
Serta (Certa) on Salwa Road...best money we've ever spent in this country! Fantastic beds! ETA - don't go Homes R Us or any like that. First bed we bought here was from one of those...awful on your back and just collapsed! You spend a third of your life on it - go quality! :) <em>edited by GinaM on 02/06/2011</em>
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 June 2011 - 21:05
Go visit Australia...way longer lines to get in - but then again we have the best country in the world so everyone is trying to get in there! ;)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 June 2011 - 18:47
I'm not coeliac myself but have a couple of close friends who are - one of whom used to life here. I've noticed that there seems to be more and more gluten free stuff available as time goes by. Megamart has the most stuff but is expensive but the other "cheaper" supermarkets seem to be getting better.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 June 2011 - 18:39
Not meaning to get on a soapbox here or defend Doha or anything like that but kids aren't allowed electronic passport entry in Australia either. Its a basic thing with kids around the world I think - no doubt to try and ensure that kidnapping/child smuggling etc is not made easy.
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 31 May 2011 - 22:27
Where has anyone flown out of recently that has been less hassle than Doha...old or new or inbetween airport? I have to say that Doha is the one airport in the world where we still say "oh we only need to be there 90 minutes before the flight" and its not a problem - try doing that in London, Sydney or even Dubai! Lets give them a little bit of break here - its not that bad! :) Personally I'd be more concerned if they weren't xraying things in front of people - what a hold up that would be if they found something after it had been checked in and then they had to go looking for the person who had checked it in! Edited for spelling mistakes!! :) <em>edited by GinaM on 31/05/2011</em>
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 31 May 2011 - 17:19
Nope, expiry date was fine. I figured they'd made some sort of mistake so bought the lot (although I wasn't selfish...I did share it with friends who I knew would want some!) :)
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 31 May 2011 - 06:46
Unbelievably I got large bottles of diet dry ginger ale at megamart at the centre for QR2 a bottle recently!
GinaM
514
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 30 May 2011 - 14:47
I've been going lighter (sometimes from naturally darker, sometimes dyed darker) with light highlights on top of that for years (to hide the ever increasing greys). I go to the salon at the Sheraton now and am very happy (although be aware that going lighter is always going to damage your hair a bit) with them. In the past I gone to lots of other salons in Doha. Marie Claire (not bad), Glow (very disappointed with the colour - twice), 4 Seasons (too long ago to really remember), Dados (pretty good but haven't been since new people there). I'm going to stick with the Sheraton now unless the hairdresser there leaves!
 
 
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