Ginnee | ExpatWoman.com
 

Ginnee

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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 23 March 2013 - 11:27
Any suggestions as to what we can do till 4pm? As the shows dont start till then. Any kid friendly places where kids are happy but contained in that area? I don't suppose you could take them on their bikes down there could you (or is that too difficult for you??) then you could ride up and down the promenade. I took mine on bikes yesterday from JBR. Also there are a few parks down there under the bridges, with slides, swings and roundabouts. Sorry, i meant alismum!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 23 March 2013 - 11:24
Thanks ali
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 23 March 2013 - 11:18
Any suggestions as to what we can do till 4pm? As the shows dont start till then. Any kid friendly places where kids are happy but contained in that area?
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 23 March 2013 - 11:13
Thanks alismum, will check it out :-)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 23 March 2013 - 10:12
Im home alone, without a car. Where can I take them thats easily accessible by public transport, not expensive and fun for them. Any ideas ladies?
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 16 March 2013 - 20:59
Can u tell me too? [email protected] Thanks :-)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 12 March 2013 - 09:04
Hmmm, I wont hold mine either then :-\
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 05 March 2013 - 21:29
Take a couple of large eggplants, smooth skinned and firm, poke them several times with a fork. Put them in an oven tray and place in the oven on it's hottest temperature for 45 mins to an hour. They should burn slightly. You an alternatively pop them on the grill if you're barbequing. Take them out of them oven and allow them to cool. slice them open and scoop the flesh out into a bowl. add about half a cup of tahini, 1/3 cup lemon juice, a couple of gloves of crushed garlic and salt to taste. Mix and mash with a fork. Taste and see if it needs more of any of the above. If it needs 'something' but it's not salt, lemon or garlic, add half a teaspoon of sugar. usually does the trick :)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 05 March 2013 - 21:15
The best I've ever tasted are at Applebys. Not sure if they serve alcohol though
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 03 March 2013 - 11:20
Anyone seen them stocked anywhere here? I'm desperate for some hair repair. edited by Ginnee on 03/03/2013 pastels on Al Wasl Road Thank u MP! Is this a salon? Where exactly is it? I don't drive, so will have to get hubby to take me
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 24 February 2013 - 08:07
LT, sorry for your loss. I hope you have lots of support here for you and your children xx
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 21 February 2013 - 22:37
Will check it out, thanks :-)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 21 February 2013 - 20:03
there's an app you can load onto an ipad that lets you watch live uk tv. Which app is that, feefmick?
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 February 2013 - 10:28
Oh i have some beauties from my hubbys family. If u let he kids walk barefoot theyll get diarrhoea, if they get diarrhoea its because they must have not had their stomachs covered at night. yes, the ice cream thing. Theyre also convinced if u take panadol at the first sign of a cold, or exposure to an infected person, u will prevent getting one yourself.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 February 2013 - 10:13
This cheeky monkeys meet today, do u know if we have to be members of cheeky monkey? Or do we just pay the amount advertised in the newsletter for the afternoon?
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 February 2013 - 10:06
This cheeky monkeys meet today, do u know if we have to be members of cheeky monkey? Or do we just pay the amount advertised in the newsletter for the afternoon?
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 13 February 2013 - 22:24
Pastry school diaries
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 09 February 2013 - 20:52
What brand are you using it and where do u get it? How much is it? I've been looking for it, but can never find a cream that specifically says what percentage it contains.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 February 2013 - 10:24
I just made a red velvet cake yesterday that called for cake flour...it used to be pretty easy to find at Safestway but I haven't seen it there in ages. It's VERY easy to make your own cake flour, and also much cheaper than buying it too. For every cup of cake flour in your recipe, measure out and remove 2 tablespoons of flour. Replace those two tablespoons with cornstarch. Whisk to combine and then sift the mixture 5 times. Cake flour should be very airy and light, so the sifting step is very important. Hope that helps! Thanks for the tip!! Godd to know :)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 February 2013 - 10:16
By the way, if you're lazy like me then Lifco sell kousa and aubergine with the cores already removed :D yeah, that's handy - just make sure you wash them really well, you never know who's touched them with what!!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 February 2013 - 09:56
I have mine done in Lebanon, for 750dhs :)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 February 2013 - 09:49
I arrange my kousa flat, not standing up, not sure why, just the way i was taught
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 February 2013 - 09:45
I have two recipes, one for Kousa with Yoghurt and one Kousa with Tomato: Kousa with Tomato: Serves 6 Stock 5 pieces of lamb neck 4 tablespoons tomato paste 1 can chopped tomatoes 5 cloves of garlic 1 onion 2 bay leaves ½ teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon allspice or Lebanese 7 spice 2 heaped teaspoons chicken stock powder (or 1 stock cube) 1.5 litres water 1 tablespoon of dried mint Stuffing 1 cup of short grain rice, washed 2/3 – 1 cup of lamb mince Half an onion, finely diced 2 teaspoons 7 spice Salt Pepper Kousa (Lebanese zucchini) – about 15. Pre-cook the lamb neck until it is tender, about 2 hours. (or about 45 mins if using a pressure cooker) Arrange the lamb neck on the bottom of a large pot. Hollow out the Kousa, being careful not to break the skin. Stuff them with the stuffing and arrange on top of the meat, sprinkle meat over the top. Add half a cup of lemon juice and about 3 large garlic cloves, crushed, to the stock, taste and add salt if needed, or you can add an extra cube of chicken stock. (sometimes a teaspoon of sugar will help, if you taste it and there is 'something missing' but you know there's enough salt, lemon, garlic - a handy tip :))Pour the stock over the Kousa. and place a saucer or small plate upside down over them. Put the lid on and simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour until they are tender. Taste the sauce, it may need more garlic, lemon juice, salt and sometimes a half a teaspoon of sugar will help with the flavor. Serve on a plate, nicely arranged with the meat down one end. NB: You can also hollow out the small skinny long eggplants and put them in the same pot with the Kousa, very tasty. Kousa with Yoghurt: Serves 6 Stock 15 pieces of Kousa 5 pieces of lamb neck 5 cloves of garlic 1 onion 2 bay leaves ½ teaspoon sugar 1 teaspoon allspice or Lebanese 7 spice 1 tablespoon cornflour 2 heaped teaspoons chicken stock powder (or 1 stock cube) 1 heaped tablespoon of dried mint 1.5 litres water (less if cooking in a pressure cooker) 1 kg yoghurt Stuffing 1 cup of short grain rice, washed 2/3 – 1 cup of lamb mince Half an onion, finely diced 2 teaspoons 7 spice Salt Pepper Kousa (Lebanese zucchini) – about 15. Pre-cook the lamb neck until it is tender, about 2 hours. (or you can cook it in a pressure cooker which will bring the cooking time down to about 25 minutes). While the lamb is cooking you can prepare the Kousa. Use a scrubber to scrub them very well as sand tends to stick to them. Then cut off the prickly stem part. Hollow out the Kousa, being careful not to break the skin. Once the lamb is cooked, arrange the lamb neck on the bottom of a large pot. Stuff the Kousa with the rice stuffing and arrange on top of the meat. Sprinkle the mint on top. Add the stock from the cooking of the lamb and about 3 large garlic cloves, crushed, to the stock, taste and add salt if needed. Place a saucer or small plate upside down over them. Put the lid on and simmer for about 45 minutes to an hour until they are tender. In the meantime, take about a third of a cup of cold yoghurt and add 1 tablespoon of corn flour to it. Mix it well, then mix it into the yoghurt. Once the Kousa is cooked, siphon off most of the stock, putting it into a bowl and stir the yoghurt into it. Taste it for salt, garlic and mint. (sometimes a teaspoon of sugar will help, if you taste it and there is 'something missing' but you know there's enough salt, lemon, garlic - a handy tip :))Add Accordingly. Now, add back the yoghurt mixture and put it back on the heat, stir it gently between the Kousa. You don’t want this to come to a boil, just to be heated through. Arrange the Kousa on a nice platter, with the meat at one end and the Kousa on the other. Spoon over the juices. Serve with rice or this can be eaten on it’s own. NB: You can also hollow out the small skinny eggplants (they call them Japanese eggplants) and put them in the same pot with the Kousa, very tasty. I have a facebook page about lebanese cookery, if you'd like to have a look: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ginas-Culinary-Delights/156125341106003?ref=hl edited by Ginnee on 06/02/2013 <em>edited by Ginnee on 06/02/2013</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 06 February 2013 - 08:15
thanks in advance. :) Post your email address and I'll send you a recipe. One of my faves :-D
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 01 February 2013 - 20:49
flashon deals has got a promo fr 79dhs.google it, mines being delivered tomoro :-)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 31 January 2013 - 09:56
Hi ladies, you now have emails, you can remove your addresses, sorry it took so long
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 28 January 2013 - 19:21
Ive learnt to be quite firm and outspoken with taxi drivers. When i know he shortest route, this is easy. He other day he driver said left or right, i said right and he proceeded to take me left! This was going to result in me paying an extra 10 dhs in the fare. I immediately said why did u go this way? I told you go right. He tried to argue with me, i told him i get a taxi everyday and it costs me 10dhs. So when the meter reached 10dhs i told him to turn it off. He wasnt happy! He tried to refuse. I told him im not paying more so youd better turn it off, and if i get to the bus station late, youre going to take me to my childrens school free of charge as i cannot be late. He swiftly pulled over and turned the meter off :). I know they do this on purpose, hinking westerners wint argue. Well ive learnt different! The trick is to speak up as soon as u know something is not right. Dont sit there fuming and then try to argue for a discount at the end. I learnt this the hard way :-D I cant be bothered editing this, spelling mistakes due to ipad keyboard! <em>edited by Ginnee on 28/01/2013</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 28 January 2013 - 18:45
Hi ladies, Sorry for the late reply. Been busy today. Tomorrow I'll go through all my email records and send u everything i have! Are you twin mums members of the multiplied uae group? Its a twins support group. You'll hear from me tomorrow, inshallah. Its not easy, but if i can do it, anyone can! Im facing different issues now :-D it gets easier with time, trust me ;)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 28 January 2013 - 12:42
I reccommend dr amer.he is gentle, humble, reasonable and very educated about brain chemistry and meds. His new medication regime totally changed my life.he also prescribes vitamins and alternatives if he sees it will be beneficial.in my case it definately was.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 27 January 2013 - 07:33
I think staying in the room, but facing away, no interaction, is a great idea to begin with. Good luck, keep us updated! Hi ladies, thank you all so much for taking the time to write about your experiences with your babies. Really appreciate this and soooo helpful. So week 1 is down now and we agreed at the start that this would be our cut off point if we saw no real improvements, which we haven't . Sydneygal I can't believe u only had 1 night of 20 mins crying ! That's amazing. I also thought the video monitor was a fantastic idea as one night I was in the kitchen and could have swore I heard a big thud and was sure she had climbed out of the cot and fallen on the tiles and I felt sick going in to check. Somebody also suggested introducing a bed which might work as in some ways I think the cot has become a negative place for her. Let me explain what I / we were doing in the past re bedtime, dinner approx 5.30/ 6, wash and pj's after that, read some books on the sofa in the kitchen, make a bottle for bed, into bed @ 7 / 7.30 where I would sit / stand next to the cot pat and shush. The problem was this could take up to an hr before she slept and even then she could wake up to 5 times before we even went to bed, and one of us would go in to settle her each time. She also woke during the night and after a while (we both work full time & wake @ 5.30 ev' morn) we would take her into our bed. In the end I felt like she was waking constantly in the hopes that it was time to get into bed with us. This has been happening since she was 16 mths and we felt she really wasn't getting a proper nights sleep , our whole evening and many nights were taken up with settling her, which is ultimately what drove us to sleep training . I think I should add that she is quite a nervous child who generally needs lots of reassurance, takes a long time to warm to new people, is very shy in company etc etc.. She has become very fretful about bed since we started the training and the minutes we start the routine or mention it she starts to cry, tell me please mummy no and is completely on edge. So..........I think what we were doing this wk is..... sit in the room but away from the cot, read 2 books, then tell her its time to sleep and mummy / daddy will be here but no interaction. hopefully this will give her the reassurnce she needs for now and then over time we can phase this out. Putting her down awake in her cot, explaining it was bedtime and leaving, then coming to the door every 20 mins or so to reassure) was too extreme for her. I forgot to mention that after the 2 / 2.5 hours of crying and eventually passing out she was still waking loads during the night and is at this point she is a very tired little girl .Thank you all again so much for ur ideas, support, time and sharing your invaluable experiences. . <em>edited by Ginnee on 27/01/2013</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 27 January 2013 - 07:27
Butterfingers, i can give u some advice on sleep training twins.(mine are 4 yrs now, but i'll never forget the exhaustion of the first 6 months) I had a sleep consultant come to the house and show me, in australia. I have emails i sent to another twin mum a couple of years ago, very detailed, that i can fwd u. So much info. All babies are different though, so it will take some tweaking. Leave your email address here if u want me to contact you.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 18 January 2013 - 21:43
I just had a conversation itth a friend today ho told. Me one of her kidds had a severe case of excema as a newborn.her dr told her iit may be the water. He told her not to let any water touch his body forr a weeek.. She used some sort of lotion or hypoallergenic lotion instead. It cleeared up. She didn't use water on him till he was 4 yrs old. Maaybe try washing with bottled water? Wouldnt hurt to eeliminate waater as a factor
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 December 2012 - 17:34
I had a terrible problem with this when I was younger :\: and it was linked to the fact I was on heavy duty pain killers which caused heavy duty constipation. The bowel is close to the lungs and if it's so, so full, you can be breathing out bad breath from your lungs. so see if you're constipated and do something about that.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 17 December 2012 - 08:29
There are very few registered licensed charities here (six I believe?) so any fund raising you do has to be under the umbrella of one of those charities. It's very complicated I think, you should go and speak to the ministry directly to get the correct information. I think the ministry of social affairs is beside safa park. I believe you can raise money for charities if you are doing it online and the charity is in a different country (i.e. no money changing hands in UAE) but again it's best to speak to the ministry directly for correct information. Thanks Tattie :)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 16 December 2012 - 18:21
thanks ladies for your kind replies. both of your points are valid. I shall have to look into the ins and outs of registering it as a charity and do things to the letter for the sake of these children. Im sorry to hear about your cousin, desert rose. lebanon has been through a rough time. this particular orphanage is run by a family in akkar valley in north lebanon. there are 180 children there, from 2yrs to 16 yrs. alot of them do have a parent, but that parent is unable to afford to keep them. as there is no social security system there, if you lose your husband to an accident, and have several kids to feed, there is no government help. youre on your own. people often beg on the streets, and lastly resort to putting their children into orphanages. the orphanage is struggling, it relies solely on charity. and unfortunately the attitude of the higher earners in lebanon is, not my problem. leave it to someone else. the children suffer because of this attitude. The organisation's name is: Kibbet Bechamra Orphanage. Abu Ali is the Orphanage general manager. His Full name is Mr Aslan Al-Asmar. They are located in Akkar village, located in North Lebanon (where it's collllllllllld). I have pictures of the orphans and of the orphanage itself.my intention soon is to set up a facebook page with their photos and stories and hopefully get sponsorship for them. There have been donations from Australia, america, Germany. Like the toilets were provided by some visiting Germans, the Kitchen by some australians etc.. They have plaques up in the donators honor saying what was donated. the ultimate goal would be for some wealthy philanthripist to fund them and pay for each childs education. to have a program where they are taught basic life skills and perhaps a trade. so when theyre sent out on their own at the age of 16, they have a chance at getting a job and having a reasonable future. this thing with the medication was a last minute thought as I was clearing out my own medicine cabinet.having so many unopened bottles of still in date meds like childrens panadol, cough medicine. what do these kids take when they have a fever? probably nothing. and here I am with all this unused medicine. I will get hubby to write on each package the taking instructions clearly. we go every year to visit the orphanage with a donation, and the owners have welcomed us with a table laden with food. they are very humble and responsible when it comes to the kids, and so grateful for any small deed done. today I had donations from 4 lovely ladies.mainly clothes, toiletries and some over the counter meds. the orphanage will be so grateful. last year, with the help of a generous expat who is a frequent user of this forum we were able to get each child a small package wrapped in christmas paper, with sweets, crisps, a small toy and a warm hat and scarf. they were so, so grateful. the smiles it brought to the childrens faces was priceless. I have photos. anyone who wants to know more, see pics, or follow up can email me.do a search and you'll find my email address. I hope to do my facebook page for them after I return in 3 wks.will let u all know about out when its done. we're off on tuesday, looking fwd to a white christmas with hubbies family. merry christmas to you all, God bless edited by Ginnee on 16/12/2012 edited by Ginnee on 16/12/2012 <em>edited by Ginnee on 16/12/2012</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 16 December 2012 - 07:46
wafi gourmet, either at festival or wafi mall. they have the best, imported from lebanon. but its expensive. worth it though if youre after the genuine stuff
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 11 December 2012 - 11:25
sounds like a sinus infection - try clarinese. I have had a cold for the last two weeks, chest infection, phlemy nose, maybe I'll give the clarinate a go. thanks all for your responses, it's so hard to get anything done with this headache!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 08 December 2012 - 09:07
Theres a nursery called kids world in jlt. Its right on the jlt metro station in cluster D. I can't remember the name of the building, but as you walk up the driveway, its the one directly in front of you. I sent my girls there in summer and was quite happy with them there.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 28 November 2012 - 21:14
Theres a nursery in cluster d of jlt called kids world. They cater for working mums. Call and check if they can help you out.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 28 November 2012 - 09:56
I've seen similar shoes at LuLu hypermarkets Thanks. Will have a look!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 28 November 2012 - 09:55
thanks sey83, only saw this now! Will check it out.Before I send you on a wild goose chase - you are looking for something like this right? http://uk.monsoon.co.uk/view/product/uk_catalog/mon_13,mon_13.3/2980313272 I'm sure I've seen various colours in different styles. The other place to check is BHS kids as I have seen them there before as well. There is one in MOE as well. On the first floor, as you walk from the central galleria to Ski Dubai there is a Gulf Greetings that leads to an exit - take that exit and BHS kids is one of the shops on the right (next to Osh Kosh) I think. They also had a sale on last week, so maybe that is still going. http://www.bhs.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?beginIndex=1&viewAllFlag=&catalogId=34096&storeId=13077&productId=5954157&langId=-1&sort_field=Relevance&categoryId=471108&parent_categoryId=&pageSize=20&refinements=category~[471620|471108'>&noOfRefinements=1
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 26 November 2012 - 18:54
I am by no means an expert, but in my youth I shared accommodation with japanese girls who taught me the basics of sushi making. I haven't made it for years but am thinking of giving it a whirl again. not sure where you live but if you'd like to join me that'd be fun. we can just split the costs send make it a social thing.contact me on [email protected] if you'd like to discuss getting together.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 26 November 2012 - 08:19
hey, I noticed you put a question on the foodie forum about sushi making lessons. I am by no means an expert, but in my youth I shared accommodation with japanese girls who taught me the basics of sushi making. I haven't made it for years but am thinking of giving it a whirl again. not sure where you live but if you'd like to join me that'd be fun. contact me on [email protected] if you'd like to discuss getting together.
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 22 November 2012 - 08:06
I had super granny come to my home and she taught me to do time out. It is effective to an extent. I have twin 4yr old girls, one is complaint, obliging, quiet. A good girl. The other is, to put it bluntly, a nightmare. stubborn, oppositional, aggressive, back to back tantrums. I ended up at HRI Dubai and saw Naeema Jiwani. She was fantastic, she trained me to deal with them more effectively. The bad news is shes gone on maternity leave, but if you ph them they may have someone replacing her. Google carolyn webster-stratton, this is what my training was based on. It was fantastic. She is having far less tantrums and I'm coping alot, better. On the carolyn webster website you can look at examples of some of the videos I saw during my training. Maybe you can find a practioner here. If u want to learn some useful hints I'm happy to share them with u. My girls have gone from the worst behaved in their class to the best behaved in just a few weeks. I still have a way to go, but I feel im working on it and things will continue to improve. <em>edited by Ginnee on 22/11/2012</em>
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 20 November 2012 - 07:30
I have never tried to get it here, but if you are not finding it in the retail pharmacies I would try a hospital pharmacy. Good idea, thanks di
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 19 November 2012 - 21:10
Thanks Zeynab, are you surrrrrrrrrrrre???? I've had a quick look at MOE a couple of weeks ago and didn't see any. Which C4 did you see them at? They are available in Carrefour too only for 25 dhs ;)
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 19 November 2012 - 21:01
Thanks ladies, will have a look, wish me luck!! (sketchers might be out of my price range tho :(
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 16 November 2012 - 13:08
Bump
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 09:23
I've seen Chia seeds at a health food kiosk outside Geant at Ibn Battuta very recently. And as for making almond milk, you do NOT have to soak the nuts that long! However long or short you manage is fine. thanks!
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EW OLDHAND
Latest post on 10 November 2012 - 08:58
thanks simpleas!!! will have a look And mirdiffingrid :)