Green-ish

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Latest post on 25 January 2012 - 02:34

I'm sorry you didn't love our beautiful city. I have lived in Melb, Syd and Perth too and I think they all have amazing things to offer, just as lovely Brisbane does. The weather in Melbourne is cr@p though so wild horses couldn't drag me back there. ;) lol ... Also note that the Queensland education system is not on par with other Australian states. Even the Queensland school adminstrators admitted this to me..... That is simply not true and any "school administrator" who said that to you is an unprofessional twit. As a teacher in Aus, I have never understood why we don't have a national curriculum, but it's in the works and will be here soon. The fact each state has it's own curric is my only criticism of education in this country because we have huge numbers of transient families and it's hard switching from one system to another. To suggest one state is in any way worse in general than the others is ridiculous. I'd be nervous of the schools you spoke to, but not the system as a whole in Qld. Anyway...the OP won't have school age kids here so it's not really relevant. :) You're right about Buderim...it's a pretty place and is quite central on the coast. I'm 15 mins north, just outside of Noosa and feel pretty blessed to live here. There's no way I'd commute from anywhere up here to the Brisbane CBD though! ;)

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Latest post on 24 January 2012 - 07:38

Please do keep in touch rs factor. Since I'm no longer in Dubai, I'm hoping the mods won't mind if I share my email address with you... mirdif dot mum at gmail dot com (clearly I still have a strong Dubai attachment. :D)

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Latest post on 24 January 2012 - 07:37

Great South Easter here, and I South is by far better. ... And so it begins. ;) I've lived both sides of the river and will argue until I'm blue in the face that the north-side leaves the south for dead. lol

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Latest post on 24 January 2012 - 07:35

Might be a dumb question but until what age one can use cloth nappies? Is it ok to use until bub has been potty trained? Lol...not a dumb question at all. :) In short, yes they can be used from birth to potty training. Longer answer...it depends on the type of nappy you choose and the size of your child at 2+ years. If you start out with one-size-fits-all (or birth to potty) nappies, then they will be adjustable and fit most babies up to 16(ish) kilograms. OSFA nappies can be a little bulky on newborns, but babies grow so fast that they soon look more in proportion. ;) There is nothing cuter than a big, padded cloth bottom! :D If you choose sized nappies, you'll need some for a newborn, more from about three-twelve months then new ones for twelve months to potty training...depending on the make and your baby's build. My son is a big boy and potty trained *late* so I needed to buy extra large nappies for his last 8 months or so. Both of my girls have worn the one set of OSFA from a few months old until potty trained around 2 yrs.

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 21:12

Hi ladies, I hope you can help. I am 30 weeks now and flying back to Dubai on Wednesday (delivering American Hospital). Is there anything you recommend that I buy in the UK while I am here, that's it's difficult to buy in Dubai? I've got all the big things for baby (pram, carseat, clothes, bottles, steriliser, etc etc etc), but I mean in terms of things like Raspberry Leaf Tea (assuming you can buy in Dubai?), particular medicines/baby medicines/vitamins for after birth, particular baby products it's hard to get in Dubai? If there's anything you struggled to find in the latter stages and felt you needed, I would love to add it to the suitcase now. xx Medicines for baby are cheap in Dubai and in the early months best administered only under Dr's supervision so don't worry about those. If you're considering cloth nappies, buy those before you return. :)

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 21:08

What length of time would you consider a fair commute? Will you buy or rent here? I LOVE the Redcliffe peninsula...it can take over 40+ mins to drive into the CBD though or you could drive ten mins to the train then relax on the train trip. Redcliffe is a bayside suburb so no surf beaches but it's gorgeous, relaxed and quiet. Just about any type of accommodation you'd like...posh new apartments, classic old Queenslander houses or modern brick homes. I'd highly recommend a place with AC! After five years in Dubai AC, I'm not coping with the heat and humidity here. lol You could always live much nearer to the city in a lovely suburb like Wilson, Newmarket, Paddington, Kelvin Grove (or many others), have a quick 10-20 min commute to and from work then be an easy drive to the bay or coast on weekends. My favourite website for all things about Brisbane has recently closed down. :( Here are a few I've just found. Hope some are helpful. http://www.cityhobo.com/ http://www.new2brisbane.com.au/ http://britishexpats.com/ - a few bits on Brisbane if you hunt around One thing you'll find about Brisbane is that we're very 'divided'. :D I'm a 'Northside girl' so just about everything I'll recommend will be north of the river and CBD. A southsider would send you over there...to the dark side. ;)

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 20:46

I'm a Brisbane girl. :) What sort of lifestyle are you looking forward to here? Inner city? Suburban? Cafe culture? Leafy green? Beaches? Boating? Walking? Cycling?

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 20:13

When I was in Dubai I ordered mine direct from the various manufacturers. Shipping was affordable as they are so lightweight and I rarely paid customs on them. Most of mine came from... http://www.ittibitti.com.au/ http://www.babybeehinds.com.au/ http://www.totsbots.com/ http://www.mother-ease.com/ CABear...you can get fully set up for well under 1000dhs. That is a lot of money, but FAR less than you'll spend on disposables and even better value if you use them on more than one child. My nappies have lasted three babies and are still in very good condition.

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 19:38

I've seen many people who have du TV and it looks pretty good...what would you recommend? Any of them is ok for the first six months, then you realise all the channels do is repeat the same programming every six months or so with a rare new series... Lol. They are hopeless! TV on DVD is the way to go. ;) <em>edited by Green-ish on 23/01/2012</em>

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 19:35

... Green-ish whereabouts in Italy did you go - we have been to Italy pre kids and loved it but not sure about travelling around with the kids. Heavenly Tuscany...twice. :D *sigh* We rented a villa outside of Arezzo and hired a car. First trip was two weeks, second trip was three weeks. Our children were 4 & 2 the first time then 5, 3 & 7 months the second. We rented a villa with a pool so we could venture out some days and chill at the house on others. The second trip I went on my own with the children because my husband's leave was cancelled three days before we were due to go! The little village down the road had everything we needed. No-one spoke a word of English but I got by with my trusty phrase book and lots of love and patience from the lovely locals. Italy with little ones is EASY!! :D

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 19:25

If you don't need to use them immediately, they are dead easy (and cheap!) to make your own. I used Jamie Oliver's recipe and they were DELICIOUS! :) http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/jamie-oliver/salted-preserved-lemons-recipe/index.html

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 19:21

Hi ladies. Do any of you know of a 3 bed property available for rent...NOW ?? Max budget 80k. Preferably in Mirdif or surrounding. Many thanks. The easiest thing to do in Mirdif is to drive around and start phoning the numbers on the villa gates (assuming you have a car!). Often the villas are empty, open and ready to rent. The agents will tell you the price and tell you if you can go in and look. They'll also tell you where to find properties available now in your budget.

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 19:12

Am feeling very down, have suffered with these bouts of 'lowness' before but feel just awful this time. Can't see the point in anything, am sooo tired, can hardly bring myself to do the school run or have a conversation. Just want to go to bed and stay there. Any ideas on how to pull myself round?? I'm so sorry you're going through this. I have to echo the others and suggest you see a good GP as soon as you can. Depression is a very real, very treatable condition. Depression does not have a one-size-fits-all solution. Your GP can do an initial assessment and refer you to the right specialist if needed. Sometimes 'just' a good talk to someone is all that's needed to get yourself on the right track. Many of the ladies below have great suggestions and your course of action may involve some, all or none of those. Only someone with professional experience in the field who can talk to you at length will know what's best for you. Can I suggest that you start writing down how you're feeling (emotionally & physically), anything that triggers particularly low patches and anything that gives you a little 'lift' during the day. Also write down any questions you may have for a doctor 'cause I guarantee you'll forget them all in the appointment. ;) It also helped me to take a trusted friend to the first appointment...she was able to remember a whole lot more than I could of what was said! PLEASE...pick up the phone and call someone NOW. Once you're on the right track, you'll feel SO much better and start to wonder why you waited even one day. I always found the GP's at Dubai London Clinic to be wonderful and they have a good network of local psychologists and psychiatrists to whom they can refer you. Take care of yourself.

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 19:01

Different animal...but my husband has never liked cats, infact his entire family dislike cats immensely. I'm a cat lover and I just had to have one. He came around so quickly and many many years later we still have cats and he adores them. You're one of the lucky ones TB! My husband is also from a family that 'dislikes' cats. He happily agreed to having one because my son adores them and he'll do anything for his little man. It was a complete disaster. At first my husband really tried, but his dislike (hatred) for cats is so ingrained that the poor cat couldn't put a paw out of place without my husband getting annoyed with it. In the end I had to re-home her because the stress was too much and not fair on her. You're very lucky "he came around so quickly." If only it always worked that way. :(

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 18:56

Hi JS. How are you going with taking care of YOU? You have such a lot going on all the time with all that you do for these animals and given some of the stresses you have been under recently, the decision about keeping this pup needs long and careful consideration. I foster for a rescue group here in Aus because I adore animals but we are not currently in a position to guarantee a forever home. By fostering, we get to enjoy gorgeous dogs in our lives and the dogs get a safe place to rest and get used to pet life before a forever home comes along. My children are learning big lessons in responsibility and charity. Every time the dogs leave for their new homes I am a mess of mixed emotions. It's sad to say goodbye to them, but it's SO rewarding to see them go to permanent homes with people who will adore them. You're a true animal lover and of course you're attached to him already. :) If you decide not to keep this pup, remind yourself that (like all the cats you have re-homed) he will be fine and very happy in his new home. I have to be honest and say that I don't think it's the right time for you to adopt a dog. As you're already experiencing, dogs are a whole different kettle of fish compared to cats. I still think, from our previous 'conversations' that you need to take a deep breath and look after yourself. You need to be kind to yourself, get your health right and enjoy the pets you already have. Take care JS.

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 18:45

( Hi, there Green-ish :) What time is it with you there?! Did you hear what's happened to the weather here? A real winter, finally!) Good to hear there's fumigation for the mozzies here, albeit with lack of warning. Hi GM. :) It's almost 1am and I'm Sleepless on the Sunshine Coast. lol I'd love to be there sharing the winter with you all!! Funny thing, I was talking to some friends here today and they used to live in AD. We were reminiscing about some of the wee oddities about living in that part of the world. It was a loooonnnnng conversation. :D The mozzie sprays came up too. My friend said they were told the spray is mainly fine diesel & pyrethrum. Pyrethrum not so bad; cloud of diesel...no thanks!

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Latest post on 23 January 2012 - 18:36

Imagine the pools of stagnant water in UAE after this.... and the mosquitoes..... Do they do this in UAE too? well, I wouldnt know...never seen it before. SD did say they used to do it in the Lakes? We do have pools at this compound and the mozzies aere the size of small vicious vans.... Yes...they used to do it regularly in DSO, at about the time all of the mothers were in the carports buckling children in to head off to school! I had to go outside and check for the truck before deciding if it was safe to get the children in the car.

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Latest post on 22 January 2012 - 07:26

I have no idea about resorts in Italy, but we spent two summer holidays there with three very young children and LOVED it! All kids love Italian food and all Italians love children. :D It's an amazing place to visit with children.

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Latest post on 22 January 2012 - 07:18

For goodness sake Edna. If you don't have anything nice (useful) to say...

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Latest post on 21 January 2012 - 03:57

Oh my lovely friends...please accept my apologies for not having the energy to thank each of you individually. You are right, I am drawing strength from so many of your words. I am amazed that I only know a few of you in person, yet a community like this can give me such support. Who knew words on a screen were really that powerful (and believe me, I know it's a whole lot more than just 'words on a screen' :)) I'm a titch sentimental and soppy at the moment but I really miss my Dubai buddies and SO wish I was there with you. xxx I'm getting on with each day, loving the cuddles with my gorgeous Ben, Josephine and Charlotte, calling in help from my Mum and my wonderful neighbour and looking forward to my husband coming home tomorrow night. This has been very hard on him too, so far away from his family. :( I have to give a special mention to Gatta Matta. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for sharing your story. I am holding it close to my heart. My son often giggles in his sleep. He's a beautiful, gentle, sensitive soul and now I will wonder if he is indeed playing with his now two lost siblings. I love your posts here. You are a very special person. xxx Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and hugs. Every one of them has helped me and given me some comfort.

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Latest post on 19 January 2012 - 14:29

Thank you every one. You don't know how much your kind words mean to me tonight, all these thousands of kilometres away.. Yet another example of why I linger on EW all this time later. What an amazing and supportive group of people you all are. xxx

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Latest post on 19 January 2012 - 05:24

And there is today's lesson : speak/write succinctly and you may well be listened to ! ;) :D

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Latest post on 19 January 2012 - 05:19

Like I said JS, I am not trying to make less of your experience nor deny that these things have happened. I'm just saying that hundreds of animals are successfully boarded there every year with many repeat customers who'd never take their pets anywhere else. You and the others have every right to air your frustrations, but I loathe threads that become a business witch hunt where nobody comes forward to share their positive experiences.. Clearly you had an awful experience :( , but Laura does run a successful business or it would not have survived this long.

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Latest post on 18 January 2012 - 13:06

TBH I haven't heard anything good said about PoshPaws! ... It makes me a little sad to read all of these bad reports. I went to Posh Paws many times and was always impressed with the lovely, spacious, clean runs. The staff seemed passionate and caring. I never saw a miserable animal there...cats doing what cats do; dogs often bounding happily to the fences to say hi. And then of course there's the massive amount of money and time Laura and her team spend on all of their rescue animals. I am not trying to belittle your bad experiences and I'm so sorry for them, but I wanted to add some balance. Many, many people are very happy with Posh Paws and take their animals there every time they need boarding.

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Latest post on 18 January 2012 - 12:59

Hi Kesha...we had two red-eared sliders while we were in Dubai. Once you're set up properly, they are not hard work, but they are work. They are gorgeous, lively, friendly, fun little pets but they are smelly, dirty litle critters. ;) I was surprised just how often I needed to clean their tank (and I never fed them in there). roxdv is right...they are very sensitive so it's important to get their diet and climate right. Ours used to appear to 'play' together. I don't know if they like to have others of their kind but it would be worth checking if they are 'happy' as solitary pets. They are moody too! I know ours used to sulk if we fed them too late. :D They need a surprisingly large tank...at least 10gal per inch of shell per turtle. They can reach 9" across so that's at least a 90gal tank per turtle plus 10-15% more for basking space. In AC you'll need: - large, covered tank - UVB light - heat lamp - basking platform - water heater - GOOD filter - pellet food, fresh veg & water plants; live or dried shrimp Turtles can carry salmonella so good hygeine practices are vital when handling them. I used to let the children feed them (it's fun!) but watched closely that they never put their hands near their mouths until they had been thoroughly washed. Assume yours has salmonella then you'll be more careful. ;) Once you've done the research, if you think it just too much for you, you could always advertise it on dubizzle for adoption to a knowledgeable home that is already set up for them. (just be careful to thoroughly check out any applicants!)

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Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 16:21

We have some friends here but none that could really help us out. We've only been in Dubai 7 months so haven't developed the sort of friendships where I could ask for this sort of help... Hi CABear. If you're comfortable with it, there's amazing power on EW! If you ask for something you need, usually you'll get it. Have you been to any EW coffee mornings? Maybe you could check out when the next suitable one is on, tell the main forum you NEED help and go along to meet anyone who may be able to look after your other children?? Almost everyone on EW was new in Dubai at some point so we all understand what it's like to be without the usual support networks. Meet some of the wonderful EW girls, get to know them, let your kids get to know them, and you may just find yourself with a choice of wonderful new friends ready to drop everything and come over to help. Best wishes to you. xx

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Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 16:04

Hi DC. :) My first two are 20 months apart. For me, things felt a little less out of control by the time number two was three months old, far less out of control when she was six months old, and almost under control by the time she was 12 months. :) The first year is the hardest...I know a year sounds like an appallingly looooooooong stretch of time when you're at the start of it, but soon you will find yourself having a few great days, then a few great weeks, then suddenly DD will be walking around playing with her big brother and you'll realise it IS all getting easier. xx

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Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 15:57

Ok, everyone is out in full swing despite the dictionary proving my point :) I still agree with my point. If you were having this conversation in real life, it plays out like this... **Everyone knows you live in Dubai. A, who you don't know very well but knows you know the info, comes up to you, your name is B. 'A, I hear you live in Dubai, I need to find a tailor there who'll make my dress for this event, do you know one?' 'I do. There is one in Satwa. It's called Tailors Inc, you just need to buy the material then take them a picture of what you want and they'll recreate it for you.' 'How much?' 'Depends on the design, the detail, but you can barter and get the price lower, maybe even to half of what they have asked' A walks off and starts to talk to her other friends again. Conversation over. [b'>This is the exact same thing that's being done.[/b'> ... Except that it's not. If someone spoke to me like that in person, I'd find it pretty rude behaviour, but I certainly wouldn't lose sleep over it. Same 'conversation' on an anonymous information board (EW is NOT a standard "forum"), and the pleasantries really are not required. Nice, appreciated when we get them, but no big deal if they are left out. I figure that the people who seek information only from EW really miss out on some of the camaraderie many of us feel here. Their loss really. ;)

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Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 15:49

Oh LMAO...with the utmost respect, you sound as tired and hormonal as I am. ;) To me, none of the posts below read as judgemental and I think all of them answer your original question...[i'>"does anyone have any other bright ideas as to what i can do??"[/i'> The answer is...nothing. There is nothing else you can do. She is already toilet trained. She already knows she has to wait until she's outside and since she would consider the balcony as part of the apartment, trying to change her current (perfect :) ) behaviour would be a mistake. I have three small children and a fourth on the way so I know how hard it can be in the Dubai heat to do ANYTHING outdoors that's not related directly to the baby. The thing is, you will be able to do it. It will literally be at worst, a couple of months where you'll wonder how on earth you'll get the dog out...but you will. After a couple of months, you and baby will be in a rhythm together and the dog's toileting needs will fit right in, somehow. It will be ok. Remind yourself it will be ok and try to stop worrying so much about something that's really not going to be much of a problem. If it's absolutely impossible at any stage...there are always pet services that will come to your home as many times a day as you need them to help you out with your dog. Enjoy the rest of your pregnancy. :) <em>edited by Green-ish on 17/01/2012</em>

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Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 12:52

So.....my Bum Genius V4s arrived today.....and I am in love!!!! They are adorable and the colours are nicer than I imagined, as are the nappies! Great quality. Soooo pleased with my purchase. If they work as well as they look I am onto a winner! :) There's nothing quite like your first "fluffy mail"...yep, that's the technical term for your nappies arriving. :D Enjoy them!

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Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 03:25

We had a second cot for a while and when we sold it, I had a good long think about selling the mattress with it. In the end, I decided it had only been used by one child for about six months and has always had a sheepskin underlay on it. It was never exposed to poo/wee/vomit etc. It's illegal to sell second hand mattresses in Qld (not sure about the rest of Aus) and that's what got me thinking. In the end, I included it with the cot and reminded the new owners that it is used so they could think about getting it professionally cleaned. Our original cot and mattress are now almost seven years old and I've happily let all three children sleep on the same mattress, again always with an underlay which is cleaned regularly. I think when this next baby comes along I'll ditch the old mattress and buy a new one.

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Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 03:20

[b'>I wouldnt sleep on a 2nd hand mattress so wouldn't expect my child to. And also the SID's connection. These can be bought cheaply from mamas and papas at the outlet mall. [/b'> So you never stayed in a hotel then...;) lol

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Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 03:19

What a shame HAK if they don't fit any longer...we bought a massive bag (Carrefour reusable whopper!!) full of second-hand Thomas trains, tracks, tunnels, bridges etc at a garage sale in Dubai. They all fit perfectly with our IKEA tracks.

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Latest post on 17 January 2012 - 03:02

As has been pointed out earlier, what is 'correct' pronunciation? If people from different villages in the UK or from different states in Australia sound vastly different, why does it matter that children develop their own accent when they are being raised surrounded by kids from all over the world?? My son had an Irish teacher and best friends whose parents were Jordanian, New Zealander/English, Canadian/South African, Palestinian...how could he not start to develop a gorgeous, mixed up accent when he spent six hours a day with them? His mates all loved his "Aussie accent" because he still sounded very different to them. Sure the odd "Amercian" pronunciation stemming from far too much TV grated on my nerves a bit... ;) A year back in Aus and he sounds like every other Aussie kid. To be expected I suppose because he's so young, but I miss his unique little version of 'Australian'. <em>edited by Green-ish on 17/01/2012</em>

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Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 13:44

I keep looking at the Rachels Organic Bio-live yogurt in the fridge with live cultures. I've tried to investigate if its safe to eat whilst pregnant. Anyone know for sure? The pot is calling me.... I've never heard any recommendations to avoid 'live' yoghurts. I can only imagine they are very good for you as they boost your natural digestive processes. ETA...I just did a super quick look at a couple of my favourite sites, and they highly recommend live yoghurts during pregnancy. :D <em>edited by Green-ish on 16/01/2012</em>

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Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 12:31

Are those poor, miserable, unhealthy looking penguins still at the underwater zoo in Dubai Mall? What, they're in that big aquarium in Dubai Mall? Really? they're in the underwater zoo bit. Yep...after much nagging, I caved to my son before we left Dubai and paid to take him in there. Those wee penguins and otters and so many other animals just broke my heart. Appalling place. :( I have only in my life seen two zoo's that didn't horrify me...Al Ain was started by genuine animal lovers who provide safety, shelter, care and food to the nations unwanted and abused. The gorilla is the sadest things I have ever seen, but otherwise they do an amazing job with the resources they have. Western Plains Zoo in Australia is the other one. At least the animals are climate appropriate and housed in genuinely beautiful, natural, spacious surroundings.

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Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 12:26

... I find a lot of people here (here as in Dubai/UAE) are very vocal about animal rights (fair enough it's a cause close to my heart as well) but then some of them (I said SOME) can quite happily ignore the appalling human working conditions some people experience here.... I think you'll find time and again that humans who are the most passionate and vocal about the welfare of animals are also equally as passionate about human rights. Start a thread on the plight of construction workers housed over summer without AC and watch me get going. ;)

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Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 12:20

I don't believe the animals in this particular shop were mass produced or shipped in from overseas but who knows. They were well cared for and healthy. Just to pick up on your point below: [i'>"...it's a sick industry dealing with living animals who are breeded and mass produced and then shipped in just bareable ways to pet make money by selling them ... "[/i'> Where do you think your chicken, steak, lamb chops come from????? Abuse doesn't have to mean "mass produced". Even Ma and Pa Kettle breeding their two pet beagles because "they are cute and having pups is fun" or "we love them and we want them to experience being parents" or "they have good temperaments so we want to provide pups of good temperament", is unethical. The animals in that pet shop are shipped in from overseas. They are sold to the first person with the money. They are bred and sold unethically. I know exactly where my meat comes from and I pay a high price for eating free-range, humanely slaughtered meat. If I couldn't source such meat, I wouldn't eat it. I honestly don't mean any of these discussions to be taken personally (except by the pet shop owners!!!!!). I really believe that once we know better, we do better. All I try to do is educate. edited by Green-ish on 16/01/2012 <em>edited by Green-ish on 16/01/2012</em>

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Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 12:03

We recently bought a guinea p!g from a pet shop in Al Barsha. The shop was immaculate, the animals well cared for and the assistant was Western and incredibly knowledgeable and helped us choose a GP to fit in with our rabbit. All the animals are looked after by ABVC across the road from the shop and it was a very positive experience so don't tar ALL pet shops with the same brush I'm afraid I will continue to disagree. It's good that you had a pleasant experience there, but I must counter with the fact that guinea p1gs should not be on sale in Dubai anyway. Like huskies, they are entirely unsuited to the climate. Of course the smarter pet shops will be well presented. Of course the smart ones will have staff who know something about the animals and will provide good service to the paying customers. I wonder if you went to the same Al Barsha store that claims only to source ethically bred pups and kittens and claims to vet potential buyers. I know for a fact they will sell to the first person with the cash, no questions asked. And I'm afraid any breeder who will allow their animals to be sold in this way is almost as unethical as a definition puppy mill. Appalling. If a pet shop sells live animals to the first person with the cash, I will continue to tar them with the same brush. The ONLY pet shops that have any moral compass whatsoever are those that do not sell animals (ie, food & accessories etc only) or those that align themselves with a rescue groups and try to rehome rescue animals. I will add that the Al Barsha store I mention does occasionally help to rehome lost or abandoned pets...half a point for them there.

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Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 11:21

Has anybody used AAA for their vehicle maintenance? DH's colleague is recommending we take the car their as it will be much cheaper than Al Tayer but i'm nervous that with such a complicated car it should be dealt with by the pro's. [b'>Rather strangely AAA is booked out till Saturday and Al Tayer can take it tomorrow?[/b'> Any feedback would be great. They get booked a long time in advance because they are good. ;) We took our (out of warranty) cars there for four years and were always very happy.

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Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 11:14

They went to the checkout, insisted on a box for the pup, did the credit card transaction and walked out. Sounded like they went in and picked what they wanted for lunch... :D (like the seafood restaurants where you pick live ones out of the aquarium.) With apologies GM, I just can't see any humour in this business. It makes me sick to my stomach. It's become a bit on an obsession of mine to try to get people to really SEE this industry. Unless they are completely ignorant to the plight of the animals used to breed and supply these pet shops, I just don't understand how they can buy a living, breathing animal from a shop and then sleep at night. That purchase supports the ongoing abuse of animals. :(

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Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 11:10

I'm (almost) speechless. If the "Ski Dubai family" really cared about the animals in these breeding programs, then they would send a huge whack of their profits to the people already breeding the animals in an appropriate climate. Aside from wanting to rake in the punters dirhams, there is NO excuse for bringing penguins to the desert. Are those poor, miserable, unhealthy looking penguins still at the underwater zoo in Dubai Mall?

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Latest post on 16 January 2012 - 11:00

I only witnessed the whole process twice in Dubai...from the people walking in, choosing their animal and walking out. Once was at the pet shop at Uptown Mirdif, the other in Petland Al Quoz. I'm afraid what I saw was SO appalling that I have no qualms in identifying them. At Uptown, a very well dressed lady with three or four children (about 6-13 yrs old) walked in, strutted around calling to staff to attend to her and eventually chose a tiny, fluffy puppy...none of the family interacted with any of the pups, they just talked outside the glass and eventually pointed at the one they wanted. The woman would not touch the pup. She literally screwed her nose up at the staff member and dismissively waved the puppy away to one of the children who then held it with no sign of love or affection...not even a smile on the kids face. They went to the checkout, insisted on a box for the pup, did the credit card transaction and walked out. At Petland, similar scenario. A loud man walked in shouting at the staff, "My wife says you have husky. Show me now." Staff ushered rude man to husky enclosure where he stood fairly disinterested and eventually pointed, "Give me that one." "Give me" translated as "carry it to the cash register, hold it while I pay for it then put it in the back of my car..." which the staff did. These pet shops clearly do not care where the animals end up. They rarely know anything about the animals they sell. I can't tell you how many times I had to tell staff that their reptiles were indeed turtles, not tortoises, then argue with them that they need water to survive. Bl00dy hopeless!!! Happily tarring all pet shops with the same brush, I'll add it's no different in Australia. Pet shops see animals as commodities. They source them as quickly and cheaply as possible, put a ridiculous price tag on them and sell them to the first person with the cash. They do not check if the new owners know anything about the care of the animals. They don't educate about vaccinations, feeding, housing, neutering etc etc etc Vile businesses, ALL of them.

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Latest post on 14 January 2012 - 13:06

Have you tried porridge? In all honesty, I'm struggling with breakfast for all three of mine...but they have all had a porridge scoffing phase. My son loved it with mashed banana; older daughter liked it with pureed apple; younger daughter preferred a drizzle of honey. Oats are cheap to buy, really good for them and there are lots of yummy oatey things to bake if she's not a porridge fan. ETA: Pancakes! There are lots of relatively quick and healthy pancake recipes out there too...they're not an every day breakfast but great once in a while. Serve with yoghurt and fresh fruit. Mmmmmmmm <em>edited by Green-ish on 14/01/2012</em>

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Latest post on 14 January 2012 - 01:32

Tea tree oil was good for keeping ammonia smell less pungent in bucket, so would recommend that. I did use fleece liners especially in early days but less so as he got older, when would tend to use disposable ones which were eco-friendly. They were also useful and still are for general use. Didn't use liners in bucket either just washed out like other girls. [b'>Friend of mine used to soak her reusable wipes in chamomile tea before reusing to make them smell nice and be softer I think.[/b'> Bet you won't regret your decision - best one I ever made in terms of nappies. Chamomile tea is wonderful for inflamed skin. For every day changes, plain water is fine...luke-warm avoids the cold-shock wriggly bottom. ;) If baby gets any rash or skin irritation, you can make up some really strong chamomile tea and keep it cold in a sealed container on the change table. Add some to the water at each nappy change and it will soothe the skin to help it heal. Make a fresh batch of tea each day until the rash is gone. Of course, another upside of cloth-nappying is that most cloth bottoms very rarely get a rash because the skin can breathe better and it's not under such chemical pressure as it is in regular disposables. :D

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Latest post on 14 January 2012 - 01:26

Hi ladies. I have ordered Bum Genius V4 AIOs for when my first baby arrives in March. Do you recommend that I also order fleece liners too or is there a need? I read somewhere that a fleece liner in an already fleece lined nappy can acually cause more leaks. I read elsewhere that a fleece liner will prevent staining from very runny newborn poos and also keep baby drier for a little longer so as you can see I am a little confused! I would be most grateful if you could reply and let me know what you think! :) Also...which would be better, shaped liners or regular rectangular ones? edited by gingercat on 13/01/2012 You're right gingercat...the BG's have a built in non-absorbent liner so the wee passes straight through to the absorbent layers. There is no need for fleece liners in any nappies that have a built in liner. It's just something else to wash. ;) They don't make any difference to skin dryness or staining and, while they make it easier to get Number 2's off the nappy, you then have to get the Number 2's off the liner anyway. I don't like disposable liners either...they bunch up and they're disposable. Lol...I started using cloth so I could stop having so much disposable rubbish in the house. ;) Fleece liners are great in nappies that don't have a built in liner. In that case, I have basic rectangular liners and they are fine. Shaped liners that cover the whole bottom are great through. If you want liners, the cheapest thing to do is to buy a cheap, thin microfleece blanket from C4 and cut it up yourself. "Runny newborn poo's" do not stain. :) Always try to dry your nappies in the sun...the sun is a wonderful sanitising agent and it will remove any residual marks on the nappies after washing.

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Latest post on 14 January 2012 - 01:11

The girls are right hiccup...lots of kids say things like this. Yes it hurts, yes it's upsetting but you must try not to take it personally. Try to remember he actually has no understanding of the significance of what he's saying. From sk's reply, I think it's a little bit of all three reasons. My son is six and has always been a very sensitive, emotional boy. Try as I might to help him, he just doesn't deal well with disappointment and he almost always goes on 'attack' if he can't have or do what he wants. I can't tell you how many times he has stamped his foot at me and stormed off to his bedroom while muttering some awful comment - "I don't love you." "You're mean to me." "Why don't you ever do XYZ for me." "I hate you." He wants attention because he's p1ssed off. He's manipulating me because he thinks I'll back down and give in. He's really mad about my decision...he dislikes the decision but he loves me. ;) Every time, I cringe on the inside but I know he doesn't mean it. I give him time to cool off then when he eventually comes back to me we talk very briefly about what he said and how he really feels then we cuddle and get on with the day. I never, ever give in to what he wanted that 'caused' the tantrum. It's tough parenting on your own, no matter how long your husband is away. Mine works away three weeks every month and I officially take my hat off to single parents! We've got just about the hardest, but most important job in the world in raising these children. Doing it on your own is exhausting!!! Take care of yourself hiccup. Shout for help if you need it. I've no doubt there would be someone who can look after the children for a while for you...it's amazing what an hour on your own can do for your energy levels. <em>edited by Green-ish on 14/01/2012</em>

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Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 15:56

Oh Orchard, it's SO exhausting isn't it? Do you know how much sleep he's getting in 24 hours? During the day? Maybe he's 'just' exhausted...young babies find it very hard to fall into a deep sleep and stay there between cycles if they are overtired. It could be that tweaking a few things during the day will help him (and you!) get more sleep at night.

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Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 15:41

Hi there. I am 27 weeks pregnant with first child, so can't talk from experience - but I was chatting to a friend with a baby yesterday and she said that she breastfed during day and formula-fed for last feed and dream feed at night (he slept completely through after 3 months). I've heard some people saying it isn't best idea, as once baby has formula, he wants formula only - but she is proof that it can and does work. I'm going to try this from the beginning when baby is born (assuming I am able to breastfeed at all, which I am putting myself under no pressure over). I hope it helps x Congratulations on your pregnancy lec299! :) You might find it helpful to talk to a lactation consultant even before your baby arrives. Having current information and her support before you start your breastfeeding journey can be invaluable. An LC will most likely explain to you that, assuming breastfeeding is basically going well, it's advisable to exclusively breastfeed for a bare minimum of six weeks. Even mums with more than one child can find that it takes up to six weeks to establish a good breastfeeding relationship with each baby. Unless there's a problem, introducing formula too soon can affect your supply & can cause the some confusion with latching (very different on a breast or a bottle). Once breastfeeding is well established, if you still feel you want to introduce formula...look at it then. You sound like you have a great approach to it all. :)

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Latest post on 12 January 2012 - 15:32

I think any time that you feel ready for it during your second trimester is the perfect time to get things together. Three babies later (and another one on the way :D), the only 'essentials' on my list are: - somewhere safe for the baby to sleep - the safest car seat you can afford - something to carry or push baby around in when you're out and about (a stroller, buggy, wrap or carrier) - somewhere to change nappies that's the right height for you (we use two chests of drawers pushed back to back so everything is stored within reach) - nappies and wipes (we use cloth) - simple clothes - large muslins or other wraps, season appropriate for swaddling - bathtub (I used the IKEA bargain basement one with a towel laid in the bottom of it...reduces slipping!) Everything else is handy but not essential. Have fun...I love baby shopping!!

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