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HereWeGo

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 April 2011 - 21:26
It is ridiculous to charge this amount of money for a kids' show.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 April 2011 - 08:00
Very funny Zaabs, thanks for posting.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 April 2011 - 00:21
For a Schengen visa you need to show proof that she´s been employed for a year already. Actually our helper has come with us for two summers in a row and this summer will be the third. Funnily on our last trip (or scarily) while in transit in Brussels Airport, we were still in the Schengen area and hadn't entered to the international part of the airport, she watched the kids while I went to the bathroom and then told me when I returned after only a short time she had been approached by a Filipino couple who asked her about her situation and offered to come with them immediately if she'd like to explore her chances in Europe and they promised her she could get a good job! Looks like it would be quite easy to disappear is someone is looking for a chance to do so.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 15:55
Now that you mention it, where´s my 3 year old?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 March 2011 - 09:29
Hi Mulberry, it must be very difficult for you. We have a friend who behaved similarly. It wasn´t so obvious when just meeting socially except he uses to constantly wipe down tables in cafés and restaurants. Once when we all met up for a wedding and many of us had flown in from another country and stayed together in one place he woke up before everyone else and started cleaning the flat (which was already clean) and even moved heavy furniture to clean behind sofas, bookcases and so on and no matter what anyone told him he refused to stop until he had done the whole flat and it went on in a similar fashion every day. Sorry I can't help you with your problem but just wanted to say that I have a small understanding of what you must be going through.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 March 2011 - 00:01
Yes, imagined the CV could be a problem although it's mentioned some, albeit quite few, get university degrees nowadays but my comment was made in jest. Anyhow, hadn't heard much about this community before so was very surprised to see how large it is and how they stick to their old customs and traditions. I felt quite sorry for the women I have to say.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 23:46
I'm a non Brit and I watched it and am now trying to figure out whom among the Brits I'm meeting here belong to this particular group.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 23:42
Do you know anywhere that regulary has wild salmon available? LOL the other week I bought salmon and the chap told me it was 'local salmon', it was only after I got home I realised how ridiculous that is??! Probably read "Salmon fishing in Yemen" :D Good book. :) PS. Just want to add: I do check everything very carefully when I shop but as another poster pointed out, you get what you pay for out here. I spend over 2K a week on groceries and in three years, have only had two 'off' items in my shopping. I refuse to be drawn into the histrionics in some of the posts here, but I agree it's better to be safe than sorry, and to demand justice if your shop lets you down. :) You spend "over" 2,000 dirhams a week on groceries? Or do you mean a month? Just checked some receipts from the past month and it's around 200 a day, so 2000 a week was an exaggeration. But that includes everything [not just food'> eg cleaning products/washing powder/that sort of thing. ETA: Just asked DH; he reckons 7K a month. . edited by WaxMuch on 26/03/2011 Thanks for clarifying - it's your money but all I can say is "wow" ;) Pomegranate, don't think this is an unreasonable amount, spend around the same including detergents and such. Just the gallon of fresh milk that the kids go through on a daily basis is 14 Dhs so that alone is almost 450 per month! That is for 6 persons eating most meals at home and packed lunch boxes for school. I buy local vegetable and fruits and Arabic bread a lot of the time but spend more on meat and chicken but don't buy the organic. A pack of fresh chicken fillets of 500 grams is now at 23 Dhs but a frozen can be had for 10 and the saline injected super sized one is 13 Dhs for 500 grams. That means a dinner for us would be 46+ for a kilo of chicken fillets or 20+ if frozen so savings could be made but the frozen stuff never looks or tastes as good.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 March 2011 - 17:26
As Spongemonkey says. If it is cancer then it would be covered but if it is not, if it's something non dangerous, it would not be covered and hence the test is not covered either. Same thing happened to me with Alliance Nextcare. Luckily the test was negative but it hurt my wallet!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 March 2011 - 22:24
Yes, and also, "today today". Only one "today" means more probably tomorrow or after a couple of days.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 March 2011 - 22:18
same, same. Why does it need to be repeated? :) edited for my bad grammar :) edited by Saltire on 20/03/2011 Because there is another expression that goes "same, but different" ;-).
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 13:56
Yes, of course, if she doesn´t go on leave she can encash her salary pay and get paid in lieu of the holiday days, that is her right. That would effectively be an extra month´s salary.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 March 2011 - 08:57
Is giving an extra month salary for the holidays common? As I understand it that is a bonus on top of the normal salary? We have paid only the normal salary as usual, sometimes giving an advance of half or more of next month´s salary to get some extra cash for the holidays. Eg if maid travels end of March I'd pay the March salary and advance some of the salary due at the end of April (the rest upon her return so she has some cash left to last her until end of May). Have never myself received double salary when going on holiday.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 March 2011 - 07:32
I think if all is clear and agreed on before gong out it might be fine, especially among a group of friends, but in general I think whoever invites should be be prepared to pay the bill especially so if it is for a birthday party or celebration and that is stated beforehand - as most people would then buy gifts and bring. It is really quite different how different cultures look at paying or splitting a bill. I remember reading about someone from my country who was working in a country in Africa. Ten colleagues were out together and one man paid for everyone's first drink at the bar. My compatriot got nervous and imagined that now all ten would have to pay for a round of drinks so that to be fair everyone would end up having to drink 10 drinks each which she felt was more than her capacity. Her African colleague laughed and said this is not the idea. He explained that he paid because he wanted to invite everyone and because [i'>in the long run[/i'> it would even out. Maybe next time someone else would pay and next year someone else would and if it wasn't drinks it might be something else but all would probably be square and even by time...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 March 2011 - 08:27
We get to know a family who had kids similar age to ours and the kids met quite a few times for play dates and so on. Then one of their children had a birthday party and I got some nice gifts for said child and his sibling - as we have three children I splashed on the gifts as they were all invited. so me and the kids and our helper went to the party. The party consisted of going to the park to play for free, nothing special organised at the park, and then to the mall and sharing 2 large pizzas (we were around 20 guests mixed adults and children) and that was it. Their own helper and her nephew that used to help out in the garden were there (dressed up in their best finery) and weren't invited to sit down at the table but had to wait around outside the restaurant?! My helper was also there and not invited to sit down either so I got her her own table and ordered her dinner and paid myself. Ok, fine. Then we were invited to their house in the weekend for a "nice play time" for the kids and promises of a "very nice, very special meal". Arrived at around 1 p.m as agreed and took a handsome bottle of wine with us. No lunch was prepared. The day dragged on and on and we were starving and kids were getting cranky. Finally it was revealed that the "nice special dinner" consisted of ordering 2 pizzas from Pizza Hut. Ok, fine. We ate, left quickly and went home to eat dinner again (husband very annoyed at this point). Then we invited them for a b'day party for one of our children. It was also held at the park but I had organised quite an elaborate event with decorations, nice party bags, lots of entertainment, good food for adults and kids and so on. This family arrived and didn't bring a present and one of their kids got a burst of hyper activity and more or less ruined the party as he started fighting with all the other children and the parents didn't do anything about it. Now, what do you think? Is this behaviour normal? I didn't think so. I think it was shameful. We stopped seeing them after this, made easier by the fact that they soon left the UAE. They were both highly educated with excellent jobs but had in my opinion no manners and were ridiculously tight.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 17:42
What's "disgusting" about it? The maid is there to look after the kids so it makes perfect sense for her to eat at their buffet, doesn't it? Or am I missing something dark and mysterious? The dark and mysterious thing that you're missing is a sense of respect for another adult who you happen to employ to look after your children. If I were a maid and you did that to me, you can be sure I would not be respecting you, doesn't exactly bode well for a good working relationship does it. Well said lites. AmyAus82, that's not the same scenario at all. I would not expect the waiters or the maitre d' to sit down and eat at the next table but in this case the events organiser had a choice of how to set this up, hardly their problem if people attending is a maid or a driver or whatever, isn't everyone a guest to them? They could say anyone entering has to pay for the dinner at the same price and has equal rights of what to eat. No, instead the maids are singled out, it's simply ridiculous. Not sure I have ever heard about a similar thing before. Rule Britannia, indeed!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 14:31
A few years ago my son was in Grade 1 and had to do a school project. He worked very seriously and hard on this with some very small supervision on my behalf, worked to the best of his abilities. Proudly took it to school and received a "needs improvement" mark on the project. Outraged I spoke to the teacher who said, yes, he had done well, but most others had done much better. I went to the school and was indeed amazed at the elaborate and stunning projects the other 5-year old children had done. Now I'm the Project Manager, the Architect, the Leonardo da Vinci of all school projects. We get outstanding grades these days.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 12:31
The usual is that if you bring the maid you pay full price normal entrance, meaning she is a guest like everyone else. If you don't want to pay for that, you don't bring her at all. The below seems very colonial, doesn't it?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 12:20
[b'>This is the rest of the advert:[/b'> [i'>We’ve got a full day and evening of entertainment planned to mark one of the most exciting events our nation has experienced in years – a very British Royal Wedding! Our traditional British street-party-themed spectacular celebrates the Best of British. Start the day off by celebrating in true British style. Watch Wills and Kate get hitched on the big screen whilst enjoying a lavish all-you-can-eat buffet packed with British culinary delights. We’ll also have a British market where you can shop for exclusive wedding memorabilia as well as a range of lovely British products, with lots of fun activities and entertainers from Double Decker on hand to keep the kids happy. Then kick back and relax for the rest of the afternoon while you watch the polo, undoubtedly one of the world’s most elite and exciting sports. Often referred to as the ‘Sport of Kings’ and certainly a favourite of our own Royal princes, it’s the perfect way to while away a few hours on this most royal of occasions. Finish off truly memorable day with a night of dancing to the best British music from the past 50 years. We’ve got something for everyone with a musical mash-up of everything from Britpop, Glam Rock, Disco, Indie and Madchester to the top dance, pop and rock hits from the 00’s. Rule Britannia![/i'> [b'>What about if I want to bring my butler? Any special price for him?[/b'>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 08:42
As well as doing the medical check-up you will need to apply for Daman Medical Insurance before applying for the visa, suggest calling them to ask about the required papers. Your husband can do that once her medical fitness is done (you can apply before but if she's new you may want to have the medical fitness report first just to be sure). The receipt from the insurance is enough for applying for the visa, the actual card is usually ready a week later. The contract is a standard one from the typing office that types all the forms for the visa. I think most typing offices will have it in Abu Dhabi and there are typing offices next to immigration.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 February 2011 - 07:27
I used to have the fridge/freezer combo and realised the freezer part was not as powerful as a normal freezer should be. So after the holidays and meat having been in there for quite some time I decided I didn't want to eat it and put everything in a plastic bad and threw it down the chute. Later in the day my husband got home and says the watchman spoke to him and had said there are crazy people throwing away perfectly good meat in the building so the watchman had saved the meat for himself! We had quite a good giggle about the whole thing.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 February 2011 - 11:05
My mum is left handed and is an excellent seamstress and good at all sorts of handicraft. I'm right handed but never get any kind of handicraft things right!!!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 February 2011 - 13:40
Don´t wash red meat as I think it would actually harm the meat by doing so - in relation to the meat juice going out of the meat and making it less tender. On the other hand we don´t usually get parasites and worms on our meat which is more common in some countries.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 February 2011 - 10:13
I think it's hard in the long run to manage working full time without a maid what with school holidays and child being sick and off school and so on. The best solution is to hire someone and combine summer camps and other activities with a maid at home. I know some people manage without a maid but then usually either the mother or the father finish work earlier than usual. When I worked here I usually got home at 18:00 and husband around the same time. I checked out some afternoon daycare at nurseries but very few children seemed to attend. In one case there was only one small child sat in front of the TV with the assistant (and it will not usually be trained teachers doing the after school duty) having a nap beside him.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 22:22
Ok, so she has a company employee visa and not a domestic servant one sponsored by an individual. I don´t think there´s need for any procedures to be done in order to be able to depart from Manila in that case, BUT as you say laws have been tightened up recently so I'm not sure. If no one can give you any definite answer on this forum you could maybe ask any cleaning agency whether any paperwork needs to be done in Manila for people returning from holiday, as their employees are working on the same kind of visa.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 February 2011 - 13:59
Hi again, not sure what they mean about that but most of us don´t belong to those categories and have had no issue - could happen it would be an issue if you sponsored someone new that you were bringing in from the Phlippines as rules have tightened lately and that is why most people now have to go through an agency to bring new maids from Philippines. It's not applicable for maids that are already working here.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 21:47
1) No need for the ID card to travel and come back. 2) Go to Polo office - yes. She will register that she´s an overseas worker and you have to supply some documents to prove it and and sign a paper that you authorise her holiday and that she will return for work at the end of her leave. Very importantly she will be given an exit pass which she needs to show in Manila to be able to fly back to the UAE.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 February 2011 - 20:43
Sometimes works better when travelling with a family if you send off an e-mail directly to the reservations department at the hotel, requesting a baby bassinet and then the other child can share your bed or you could request an extra bed which they may or may not agree to depending on the size of the room. Anyhow, spent a few nights with three small children in Singapore a few years ago and we stayed at Lanson Place which is hotel apartments so you get a kitchen and a living room and then they have 1 bedroom and 2 bedrooms and so on, so it's comfortable for a family, price was fine too and service was excellent. http://www.lansonplace.com/sg_residences.php
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 February 2011 - 14:16
Hi, Don't know about Cathay Pacific but when I did the same with Etihad I had to go to their office to pick up the receipt, they may also have put some comment in the computer system, and carrying the receipt she didn´t have a problem. Better to call Cathay Pacific and ask about the procedure.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 February 2011 - 14:04
If they no longer have medical insurance in the US what kind of medical treatment is available to them over there?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 10:34
To bump is to bring a thread up to the top of the list so people can see it. Swarovski doesn't know the answer but she is trying to help you.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 08:55
I believe it is the date of departure that counts but when I flew with my almost 2 year old I got a child ticket as I knew the flight would be full I wanted to be absolutely sure she would have her own seat, as you don't get that with an infant ticket.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2011 - 08:14
This all sounds very common in my opinion. GGP, to tell you the truth, if your neighbour is stressed out about this I wonder if she would be able to work here. Contracts can be amended any time, benefits downgraded, you can get fired for no reason at any time and even if you are given a great package you may get asked to do work that is completely out of your field and has no relation to what is in your job description.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 January 2011 - 18:41
ROTFLMAO!!!! great, she sounds fab - we want someone older. may i ask why she's leaving you (so to speak!) Because i will end up killing her if she stays? LOL Had her three years, kids older and off at boarding just don't need her and do find her annoying as we have down sized and i want to be maid free now. But she's ok, she's older, trustworthy and does work hard. She's not the brightest bunny in the pack but harmless (unless you are a hover or an Iron) LOL She's been in Dubai for years and worked for an Arab family previously, likes to natter on and is slightly deaf and her false teeth drop out quite often, her eye sight is not what it should be although i have bought her new glasses and she struggles to sew now. If she were a horse i'd have put her down but she just needs a nice gentle job for a few years to finish her retirement fund!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 January 2011 - 15:57
The one month grace was still fine in December - for renewing the visa. We renewed late as had to wait for husband´s visa to get done and there was no problem. For transferring I don't know.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2011 - 11:51
What are her issues exactly? Is she physically ill? Is she depressed? Is she homesick?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 January 2011 - 17:10
It does makes you wonder how people are thinking or if they are thinking at all. We once had a cleaning boy who diligently watered all and every plant in the office. Then when we we moved offices to another building the big plants were really heavy, incredibly heavy even, seeing as they were plastic. Of course the pots were full of water up to the brim. No harm done of course, the plastic plants survived, but pretty funny.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 January 2011 - 08:47
Do you have a filter attached to where the water is entering the machine? If you do the bad smell is a sign of that you need to change the filter.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 January 2011 - 23:20
Hi, Don't think there's going to be any problem for you as the visa is automatically invalid and cancelled once you've been out of the country for 6 months. Would have been a bigger issue if your son had been employed and sponsored by his employer but if you or your husband is/was the sponsor you can just forget about the whole thing as far as I know.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 January 2011 - 13:02
Good idea Clairehdp.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 January 2011 - 13:01
This is worrisome in that case. Does she have an office you could go to, to look for her? Otherwise the police will have to take some action and file a report. Why did the police claim she didn't steal them? Did they manage to call her? Since you handed them over willingly maybe they would consider fraud instead of stealing?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 January 2011 - 12:50
Ask her boss about it.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 21:23
Paid 100 a week ago. Would have been 150 if opting for SMS/e-mail notice for registered mail. Maybe 200 is for a bigger P.O. Box? Also, they have lots of new options now for delivering mail from the P.O. Box to your house on every day/weekly basis but I figured the cost which was starting at something like 3500 was a bit steep for getting my Etisalat bills hand delivered.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 January 2011 - 20:50
If you have highlights once every few years - does that count for fake?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 January 2011 - 12:50
Until what age are you thinking about? My son who was 8 last year became completely obsessed with WWE Smackdown which is not exactly a cartoon but seem to be targetting kids with toys and collecting cards and T-shirts. Ben 10 is soooo 2008 and Bakugan was 2009 :-). The girls, who are smaller: All the Barbie princess films (Mermaid, Three Musketeers, Diamond Castle) and Barbie Fairytopia. And the smallest girl also loves Handy Manny.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 January 2011 - 20:45
Well, at least I can't use that as an excuse not to start doing any sports but my shoes however are not really up to the mark, LOL.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 January 2011 - 20:04
I got a nice sporty armband to stick my Ipod Touch in, in case I take up sports but I haven't reached to that stage yet but if I ever do I'm equipped for it! Mainly use the Ipod Touch to entertain my the 2 year old and now 3 year old when on the go. It has all sorts of applications that are free to download for small kids, lots of photos from my hard disk and lots of music as well as a few kids films. As soon as I take it out little Miss Princess demands to get it so I hardly ever get to use it myself! Easy to use, even my 2 year old could use it.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 January 2011 - 19:38
Because "Here we go - again" is how I usually feel.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 January 2011 - 07:25
I also felt it, was reading in bed before sleeping and the bed was trembling.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2011 - 16:18
I can see the reason if it's pay related but no salaries are age related here as far as I know.