Green-ish | ExpatWoman.com
 

Green-ish

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Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 11:54
Sorry angela, not jumping to conclusions at all...all I meant was that there are already far too many unwanted dogs looking for homes and if your girl is pregnant, finding homes for those pups means already needy dogs have to keep waiting. I don't know you or your circumstances so would not assume you'd dump them on the streets, especially given the evidence that you are responsible enough to neuter at least one of them. ;) Big tick in my books! A 'post op pregnancy' is possible, just like in a human man who'd just had a vasectomy. How old is she? In a nutshell, if she's old enough to be pregnant, she's old enough to be neutered. Generally the advice, for the long term health of the dog, is to neuter them before their first oestrus. I believe they can do it early in the pregnancy too (definitely can for cats) so the unwanted litter is 'dealt with' too. Sorry to be so harsh, but it's an impossible situation in Dubai. :(
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Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 03:31
Sorry, no knowledge of counsellors here, just wanted to say {{{Hugs}}}. Would you look at someone like Dr Sabina? Or maybe call her and ask her advice, she is a lovely lady to speak to on the phone and even if it is not exactly what you want, could advise you on where to go? http://www.dubailondonclinic.com/clinical_psychologist.php I second that! Sabina is gorgeous...she saved my little one when she was suffering from severe anxiety. My daughter was three and Sabina was so very gentle with her. I'm sure she'd be wonderful with children and teens of all ages. Mary, I hope things look better for your daughter very soon. xx
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Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 03:29
Gool old E45 works a treat. All you need is something really moisturising and probably without any fragrances...if smells bother you while pregnant. ;) E45 is cheap as chips and good for baby for cradle cap etc too. :) Other alternatives are the gorgeous EGO range, or divine Mustela.
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Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 03:25
Hi scp Most likely hope island Container is leaving July Let me know your email andi will be in touch to swap tips!! Hi rs...exciting that it's all happening! Can I ask why Hope Island? What will the commute be? Living there and having to drive to Brisbane daily is a bit like living at Mirdif and driving to Jebel Ali every day...only on a much worse road than the main arterials in Dubai. I'd pay double rent to live in Bulimba before even considering Hope Island. ;) (and not just because of the commute...lol)
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Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 03:16
The responsible thing to do is take the female to the vet for an exam and have her speyed ASAP. She will live a longer and healthier life and you won't have more puppies to add to the over-population problem in the UAE.
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Latest post on 20 April 2012 - 13:38
Sydneygal...mine were in the soft-soled leather shoes (ours were bobux) until at least six months after they started walking. It's important for their balance and foot/arch development that they stay as close to barefoot as possible until the are really walking well. After that...definitely Clarks or Ecco or any other decent brand. Choose your store well! You want staff who actually know what they are talking about. ;) <em>edited by Green-ish on 20/04/2012</em>
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Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 12:24
Hi again Aryanwynn...how's the furry family member thinking going?
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Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 12:04
A long time ago now, but yes and YUM!! Delicious food...sometimes delivered by the owner to make sure the customers are happy. :o)
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Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 12:03
To be honest, if you're only in Dubai for a short time, I'd bring everything you need and save the hassle of trawling around for it. It would be wise to carry a letter from your health care practitioner, listing all of the medicines you usually take. Strictly speaking that letter has to be attested by the UAE embassy, but since they are not restricted meds, I can't imagine it being a problem.
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Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 11:58
It's unresponsible from the nursery's part but I'm not surprised. I have seen similar situations in Dubai. Your kids are just too young for nursery I feel, I would recommend you to read Steve Biddulph's assessment on this. http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/day-care-is-bad-for-babies-biddulph/2006/03/17/1142582520873.html Thanks for the info on what my children are too young for, that's exactly what I was aking for and completely relevant. If you read the article it says 'young babies' were tested for the stress hormones and were found to have elevated levels when left in daycare for long periods of time. My youngest is 19 months and there for 4hrs a day max so neither are relevant to me. The article actually is not very factual at all, itdoes not look at a diverse range of variables (ages, length of time in nursery, quality of nursery) and is just another way to try and make us feel like we're doing it wrong! Our paediatrition actually recommended for my 2 year old to start nursery to help with her speach delay and it has done wonders, I suppose I'll pay the price when she's 30 though :( I think it's a really badly written article that doesn't do justice to the depth of his research. Like you say, a few hours is probably absolutely fine...especially if she generally enjoys it. The question just remains now about whether that centre can provide safe, quality care for your little one.
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Latest post on 18 April 2012 - 11:51
Wonderful news! I hope it works out on a permanent basis for you Bracey.
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Latest post on 17 April 2012 - 15:06
What is Poundstretcher? Is it like a British Daiso?
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Latest post on 17 April 2012 - 14:57
Yes I've spoken to the manager and explained my concerns, she agrees that she does not think 9 children to 2 staff is appropriate but says she can't do anything about it, although she did say she would spend quite a bit of time in that room tomorrow Then if she can't do anything about it, you can't be sure your child is safe and cared for there. If it was my child, he would absolutely not go back there until the management could guarantee appropriate supervision at all times.
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Latest post on 17 April 2012 - 14:37
...I went to pick up my younger child from his room (it is kind of like the villa next door to the main nursery... Weren't all of those child care villas made illegal?? Even if it is legal, I'd be demanding some pretty specific answers from the person in charge. The children should never be left without trained, experienced carers. If so many children were distressed, the staff present were clearly not coping.
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Latest post on 17 April 2012 - 13:58
I'm with the other ladies with regards to your DH's selfishness. He has the stimulation of a job, meeting with other adults and having the chance to socialise. I gave up my nursing career to have our family some 30 years ago and I was bored to tears at home as much as I adored our children. I NEVER asked my DH to babysit, that's what you pay a teenager to do. He is your DD's dad and it is as much his role as it is yours to care for the young life you created together.... I absolutely THOROUGHLY agree with Joyce here. I know the Dad's work 'hard'. What so many of them don't realise is that the Mums work hard too. He is a 5 day working man AND a 7 day parent. It's his turn to do some one-on-one parenting on the weekend. One day your little one will be a teenager who might not want anything to do with him on weekends. He needs to learn to relish a few alone hours with her now, while he has the chance to build a relationship with her. In a few years, it will be too late. <em>edited by Green-ish on 17/04/2012</em>
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Latest post on 17 April 2012 - 11:19
Lol...I came back to ask if she'd found Caroline and the original post is gone! I hope all is well.
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Latest post on 16 April 2012 - 12:55
There is someone...Caroline I think??? She works (or used to work) at one of the vet clinics. I'm afraid I can be no more helpful than that! Hopefully someone will come along and know how to contact her.
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Latest post on 16 April 2012 - 11:24
oh my gosh! What has the paed used as the basis for that diagnosis? How stressful for you. ETA...poorly worded!! Has the dr checked thoroughly that there's not an underlying illness, pain or blockage etc? <em>edited by Green-ish on 16/04/2012</em>
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 16:01
thanks. I assume that if one child at dess and one at desc then that means the little one will have about 50 mins in the car every afternoon? ie 30mins driving and waiting for her sister then 20mins home. Do you know if that tends to work out ok or whether it becomes a real pain. The split campus site is causing me a bit of concern. It is a pain, but that's the way it is. I'm glad we left Dubai before my second child started school. Even in the same school I would have had to face two years of having them finish two hours apart. With the lesser travel times from DSO, I think it's much wiser to live there. 20 mins doesn't sound like a long drive, but twice a day every day when that drive could be only 5 mins... No doubt I'd choose DSO. At first we lived walking distance from school then moved to a cheaper villa 15 minutes away...I regretted that move on every single school run! Why not contact DSOA direct and ask about accommodation options, facilities access etc? http://www.dsoa.ae/en/index.jsp
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 15:54
50-100K fine for you if caught and jail and deportation for the maid. If you're not her sponsor, you are fined AND her sponsor is fined. Don't risk it. You'll need to either hire a part-time agency maid, or sponsor a full-time maid, live-in or live-out. Many of the agencies will send the same lady each time. Agency maids are relatively more expensive, although seemingly not well-paid themselves, but there are no sponsorship hassles and you can easily change maids if the one they send doesn't work out.
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 14:58
Unfortunately you won't avoid a big loss. That's just the way the secondhand market is in Dubai - well, just about anywhere really. Best resale is on Toyotas & Jeep Wrangler (dealers almost fight each other to get good ones) in our experience.
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 14:56
Arabic name necklaces. Where can you find those, AB? I don't think I've ever seen them. Just about any jewellery store will do them. If you shop around, the prices vary considerably for gold. Be sure to check how thick (sturdy) the finished product will be and how well they smooth and polish it. They can also be made in silver at a fraction of the price of gold ones.
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 14:50
thanks kiwis, yes that's what I was aiming for - mini fat pikelet type pancakes :) thought I'd try some grated apple and cinnamon inside. He's also very fond of raspberries at the moment so might try some with those too and banana sounds yum. I tend to make piklets too...or Annabel Karmel's yoghurt pancakes (YUM! http://www.babycentre.co.uk/toddler/nutrition/annabel-karmel/yogurt-pancakes/ ) Putting fresh fruit IN the pikelets tends to make them a bit heavy, flat and soggy. Serving the pancakes with warm mashed fruit and natural yoghurt on top is usually a big hit. :D
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 13:41
Thanks greenish , I am very much interested in taking baby carriers but I am concern regarding the support to baby's spine specially when they cannot sit unaided If your budget stretches far enough...go for the Ergo. You will not be disappointed. I love that the one carrier fits all babies, goes from front to hip to back and supports their head if they fall asleep. If you buy the canvas front pouch (as an extra) you can fit everything you need in the carrier and have both hands free at all times. :D You can buy the Ergo online at http://www.babysouk.com (and I think I read they will deliver within a day or so)
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 07:41
I would also suggest the owners contact breed-specific rescue groups in more husky appropriate climates. K9 was able to raise funds to send a St Bernard to a cool climate...perhaps an overseas husky group would consider doing the same for this dog?
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 02:06
Why is the cabin in Emirates so hot? After asking 5 times on a 17 hr flight, I gave up. completely off topic but having been complaining recently (and not so recently, it is a bit of a bugbear) about the temperature in various Fitness First gyms, I found out the other day that having turned the thermostats down in one they had loads of complaints, mostly from people who were convinced that if they were sweating and it was anything other than very warm, they would get ill. I don't understand this at all - but clearly there are different views as to what is an acceptable temperature (and I still think 24 is way too hot for a gym) I agree...just did a quick search and it seems around 21 degrees is the recommended temp. Any cooler and muscles either can't warm up efficiently or cool to quickly causing potential injury. Any warmer and muscles can fatigue too quickly. Different for hot yoga of course. lol Sorry SK!
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 01:59
Of those you've listed, the Pajero would possibly have the 'best' resale. Keep in mind though that if you're buying a three yr old car and selling it as a six yr old car, there will be massive loss in value. Toyotas are great cars, also with reasonable resale value, so the RAV would be a good choice too. Both of those cars have ok off-road capabilities too.
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Latest post on 15 April 2012 - 01:44
How are the mother care 2 /3 position carriers for comfort of babies ? I don't know anything about them and have never actually seen one. From a quick look on the website, they do have the wide-leg support so that's a plus. Are the babywearing workshops still happening in Dubai? Perfect opportunity to have a look at many of the options and talk to experienced Mums about the advantages & disadvantages of each.
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Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 15:05
OMG, you are right.I checked the links as you said and you its all directed to the same page.I received it from my uncle and I thought it was a real thing..I feel so stupid for believing it:( Not stupid khatoon...hopeful and trying to be helpful. ;)
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Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 15:03
Ergo carriers are one of the best on the market...they carry baby in an anatomically correct, supportive position to avoid pressure on the hips and spine. You can use an Ergo to carry a newborn, baby or toddler on your front, hip or back. They are available in Dubai, although I'm not sure where (at least one online retailer with quick delivery I believe). I have used our Ergo for all three children, my son when he was 20kg (!!), and it's still perfect so another family is getting some use out of it. Good value for money. ;) http://store.ergobaby.com/ With apologies Jalapeno, most of the Baby Bjorn carriers are not very good for the baby's spine. I *think* the Baby Bjorn "Comfort Carrier" is the only one that offers the option of having the baby's full hips and upper legs supported. Any that have the narrow strap between the legs, allowing the legs to dangle straight down are the poorly designed ones.
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Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 14:50
have you confrtonted her? Why don't you ask her where she took the cat or else you will go to the police! I have my suspicions about my neighbours when my cat went missing and was found 9 months later in Silicon Oasis (we live in the springs) but I don't have any proof but if someone saw them I would definately confront them!!! There was a long thread on this over on the main board, catmad. Yes, the OP did speak to the woman who has denied everything. I've not checked back with the other thread yet to see if there have been any developments. ETA: http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=177412 <em>edited by Green-ish on 14/04/2012</em>
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Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 13:09
I hope you did a good background interview with this nice Italian lady. Italy has his share of strays, so I really do not see why she has to adopt a dog from Dubai, whereas there are plenty of dogs that need care and attention in her own country. This is not adding to any solution at all (IMHO) This was my first thought too Oopsie. I guess though that unwanted dogs are a bit of a global problem, so as long as one has found a genuine home, happy ending?? I hope this is a genuine, forever home. I also can't help but think of the sheer number of dogs that could be helped with the money spent on this one. These are the *problems* with rescue...who really will give the animal the best home, and what really is the best way to spend the very limited funds??
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Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 13:04
... i.e. "It took so long to get my meal, I hate waiting, why does it take so long?" as opposed to "XXX airline is ****, they left me for days and I hate the food" ;) ... LOL...you're brave! ;) And she's a star :) Very good idea - there are a lot of misconceptions out there. .../quote'> Oh I agree completely! I think it's a great idea. I literally laughed out loud when I saw what she wrote above and could see the EW possibilities! :D SK...love the answer about the special meals. I can't tell you how many times we didn't get child meals as ordered but in your answer there are any number of possible explanations.
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Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 13:00
Like fcy says below, he can get all the calcium he needs from another source so perhaps start by checking (increasing?) these foods. Do you use the bottle as part of a soothing or getting ready for sleep routine? If you do, you might want to consider stopping that first and using other soothing methods to calm him before bed. Once he's into a new soothing routine, it won't be so stressful to just put the bottles away. I always find things associated with sleep settling are the hardest to stop! :)
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Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 12:50
Fortunately, none of those are the USELESS mob that moved us back to Aus. :D My hot tip is to find out from them who actually does the packing and loading of your goods. The crew we had to use (if we wanted employer to pay) brought dodgy-brothers-incorporated in as contract labour to pack our goods. The insurance claim form listing broken and damaged belongings was pages, and pages long. :( Other times we've moved and the company used their own staff for uplift, no problems...not one thing bent or broken.
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Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 12:24
... i.e. "It took so long to get my meal, I hate waiting, why does it take so long?" as opposed to "XXX airline is ****, they left me for days and I hate the food" ;) ... LOL...you're brave! ;)
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Latest post on 14 April 2012 - 12:23
hi ladies ...and what about the life there is it expensive ? ... The other ladies have given good advice on your other questions so I'll only chip in here with my own current experience. We've been back in Aus a little over 18 months and YES, it's very expensive here. Comparing our experience of living in Dubai to coming back here, and looking at income and expenditure relative to each country and currency...just about everything is more expensive here. I still an amazed how much it all changed in the five years we were away. The cost of living has sky-rocketed. Like all things, it depends on the lifestyle you want and things are be done on the cheap. That said, I simply do not know how people on minimum wage here house, clothe and feed a family or run a car!
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Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 17:28
You could check the electronics stores...I'm in Aus now, but the other day I saw a VHS to DVD recorder on the shelf in a supermarket for the equivalent of less than 450dhs. Given these things are usually cheaper in Dubai, it might be worth the investment??
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Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 14:15
My husband and I met through mutual friends when we were at school. We were a couple for a while, then broke up, as you do at 15! Then. 15 years later we crossed paths again, married a year later and now have three children together. :D
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Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 12:29
We moved to Dubai for a few reasons... - Husband changing career at 35 and wanting to embrace the opportunities in his field in Dubai. After 5 yrs there, he now has a job here that would have taken 20 yrs to attain if we had stayed here in Aus. - His salary was enough for me to stay home with the children and not work. Had we stayed in Aus I would have had to work as each child reached 6 months, and we probably would have only had two kids. Cannot imagine life without my little Charlotte! - Travel and cultural experiences. Until I travelled, I believed the gov't guff saying that Australia is a multicultural society. Now I know it ain't. Sadly, we're not even close to being a multi-cultural 'soup'...we're more like a lasagne with each culture sticking together doing their own thing. Like lovely DL said below, compared to the epic journeys available from Aus, there's just so much to see only a few hours from, Dubai. There is nothing like the Aussie lifestyle...outdoors in fresh air all year round without ever [u'>really[/u'> sweltering or freezing. :D I agree with the other Aussie girls...Aussies carry a lot of home with us wherever we go and we almost always get lucky enough to come back here. :D
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Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 12:20
coffee has antioxidants and drinking it with skimmed milk with sweeteners will not pile up calories... All things in moderation...it's an excess of caffeine (or some artificial sweeteners for that matter) that has links to weight gain or lack of weight loss as the case may be. Lol...one of those discussions that could go on forever. ;) Sorry for dragging it up again. :D
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Latest post on 13 April 2012 - 12:14
did you take the terrier back to Oz with you greenish? Sadly no...long story, long time ago that I went into great detail here at the time. We had to re-home him (again :( ), long before we left Dubai. Our family situation ended up being the case-in-point of why some, no matter how good their intentions are, should not take on long-term pets while living as expats. Our story is also why I never jump down the throats of people making the decision to re-home pets if their circumstances change unexpectedly. I would never in a million years have thought we'd give up an animal once taking it into our family. I think you already knew the answer to your question though didn't you 'Goldeelocks'? <em>edited by Green-ish on 13/04/2012</em>
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Latest post on 12 April 2012 - 17:12
Green-ish Laura was my first choice but unfortunately she is full :-( Thanks for the heads up on the dog harmers I will be very careful. We really would like her to go to a good home. Posh Paws is full even for paid boarding? That's awesome for her business (!) but a bugg*r for you. Maybe get on a wait list with her for a spot when she has one? At least she has animal lovers through the door every day and they often get talking about the dogs & cats she has for re-homing. We went there to show the petting zoo to the kids...and a week later went back to pick up the little terrier mix we met who desperately needed a new home. You just never know who will walk through her gates... ;) <em>edited by Green-ish on 12/04/2012</em>
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Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 18:42
just human nature - nowt to do with geography lol Sue62, and they say the Internet is borderless. Nomad, I don't find it acceptable making fun at a person asking a genuine question he/she is innocently unaware of. Nor do I...which is why I loathe the whole wind-up culture. There are those of us who first jump in to help then find we've possibly wasted our time when it is indeed a wind-up. Then there are those (like the OP in this case) who cop a flogging from members who jump straight to the worst conclusion.
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Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 18:40
I often ask questions on here before looking up google. Even non UAE related ones. Some of them probably sound very daft to those that know the answers, and it's probably partly laziness, but the thing about asking on here is that you also get opinions related to your question and real life experiences which can be helpful. I guess we all need to remember how daft our own questions sound sometimes before thinking the same about others' ;) Well said BM.
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Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 18:38
Patsi Collins in Garhoud is not too far from Mirdif. I was always very happy with their service and reasonable prices. Parking can be a nightmare though if you go during school hours! http://www.dubaibeautysalon.com/
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Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 18:35
I'm pretty sure those who poked fun are feeling at least a little sheepish now. It seems to be almost common practice to jump to the Thursday-thread-wind-up conclusion when a question seems a little left of centre. Such a shame, but that's the way it is in here at times.
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Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 18:32
If you are on a diet you may find it harder to stick to it if you cut out everything you like. You need to have some things you still enjoy. If having a cup of coffee or 2 a day helps you stick with a healty eating plan, have your coffee and enjoy it. I know green tea is good for me but I just don't like the taste of it. I've recently switched to having americanos with some hot milk on the side rather than lattes because I started finding the lattes were too rich. I agree completely AR...everything in moderation. By all means, have your coffee, but drink extra water to make up for it. Order black coffee and milk on the side so you can control exactly how much you have. :)
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Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 18:30
Is there something I can put on the walls to prevent her from climbing ? Thanks If you think there is going to be a problem with the neighbours, I'd suggest keeping the cat indoors until you can secure an outdoor area for her. The easiest option might be to build a large enclosure she can roam in but not escape. Some people build these from a window so the cat can safely come and go as it pleases. Depending on your budget, there are commercial cat enclosures available, or any one of the small engineering works could build one for you.
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Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 18:28
Andrea...have you emailed an 'ad' to all of the vets, dubizzle, local noticeboards etc? It's also worth talking to K9 or DARC about how to 'interview' potential adopters. There are, sadly, a lot of crazies out there who'd take your pup and (as an extreme but genuine example) use him as bait training for fighting dogs. :( Be very, very careful in your selection process. Laura at Posh Paws also helps to re-home dogs so you could get in touch with her. You could possibly board him there now to give your daughter some relief?