HesterPB | ExpatWoman.com
 

HesterPB

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Latest post on 19 September 2012 - 11:10
Several friends have used Hummingbirds in DIFC and they love it - the children have been very happy and the nursery are exceptionally flexible for parents. Why not give them a call. HTH!
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Latest post on 18 September 2012 - 11:55
I would definitely send your LO - having been through this with two children, birthday parties are the best way to meet the other parents. Mostly mothers there, some fathers (more at weekend parties) and sometimes the maids are sent with. I think it makes sense to check that it is ok for your DH to come (easily done by just putting in your RSVP that your husband will bring LO as you are at work) and then just get on with it. In FS2 I think most parents do stay but, in my experience, by 5th/6th birthday parties, almost no one stays (unless they are good friends with the parents and want to stay for a chat or have offered to help out). Also, by FS2, children are more aware of their environment and if all the other children are talking about a party, they really won't like to miss out. I know my girls could smell a birthday party at 100 miles from about the age of 3! Don't worry, you will get used to it all!:)
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Latest post on 18 September 2012 - 11:42
The silk knots (as they call them) from Thomas Pink are much cheaper than the metal cufflinks and come in all sorts of colours so you can match them to your shirts. Another idea that I have used in the past is just to 'borrow' some simple silver cufflinks from your husband. Most men have lots of different ones and I think plain ones look just as good on women's shirts.
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Latest post on 18 September 2012 - 11:38
When we moved villa, we used Ridapest to fumigate and check for pests before we moved in. They gave me a flat fee, two men arrived promptly when agreed, explained what they would be doing, answered questions about potential effects on our pets and children and then, as part of the same fee, came and did a follow up check 10 days later. No problems here and I was very pleased with their service. They did the whole 6-bed villa inside and outside and the perimeters of our garden, so I thought they were very thorough. Didn't take very long either. That said, it was a couple of days before we moved in, so not sure about whilst you are living there. Would recommend calling them though.
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Latest post on 18 September 2012 - 11:34
It's my husband that has the sticky fingers in our house. Go to fill the car up, take out my purse to pay only to find that he has cleaned me out because he "didn't have time" to go to the ATM. Grrrr! Am so glad this happens to someone else and it isn't just my DH!! So many times. With respect to the 50 dhs, I think it really depends on how comfortable you are talking to your acquaintance. If you are sure the money went missing there, I would say something politely but it all depends on how you phrase it. Put it this way, if you were in her shoes, would you want someone to tell you or just not bother and perhaps be reluctant to come to your house or be uncomfortable when you are there? I know what I would prefer. You must do what you feel to be right.
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Latest post on 17 September 2012 - 12:34
Have you tried calling the company that actually moved you, as many of them will collect them empty boxes to reuse/recycle them? Alternatively, if you flatten them and leave them by your wheelie bin, the big recycling lorry comes round the Ranches about once a week and will collect them (of course there is always a risk that they just end up in landfill). Or, as Expatriate suggests, you can also offer them to any EW reader that wants to come and collect - just give them an idea of size of boxes and number available. HTH! <em>edited by HesterPB on 17/09/2012</em>
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Latest post on 17 September 2012 - 11:20
Doesn't the left ear being tipped mean she has been trapped and neutered by Feline Friends? Perhaps they have a record of her.
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Latest post on 16 September 2012 - 12:49
So unsettling, having to find new people for things like this. It might help to say where you live or where you would like to find someone, as you don't want to be trekking all over Dubai. I go to Suneeta at Shima Hair & Beauty at the Arabian Ranches retail centre and she is absolutely brilliant - very thorough and very quick. Also reasonably priced. I have a regular bikini line and half leg and it costs AED90 and takes 20 mins. Just one other thing - in the UK a Brazilian is considered to be everything off, but with a small landing strip on the front. Absolutely everything off is known as a Hollywood! Can't believe I know this stuff!:)
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Latest post on 11 September 2012 - 07:18
Depending on your budget Pottery Barn Kids linens are absolutely gorgeous. Also consider Marks & Spencer and Debenhams, which have a some things for children which are more reasonably priced and really nice. Ikea is good and will be cheap, but just be warned that the bed sizes in Ikea are different from standard UK and US ones, so you need to be sure about your measurements before you buy there. HTH!
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Latest post on 10 September 2012 - 12:30
Thanks Mom & Enigma - lunch box sighted and purchased in MOE Carrefour this morning. Mission accomplished! :)
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Latest post on 09 September 2012 - 22:16
I second the Veterinary Hospital - Dr Max Spicer is absolutely lovely and I have always seen him with my two old grumpy north London cats and he is kind and gentle with them and very practical with his advice - I have complete confidence that he knows what he is doing and really cares about the animals. He is a dog owner himself so I am sure he would be great for you. Actually all the staff at the Vet Hospital are just lovely. It isn't that near where we live now, but I wouldn't go anywhere else.
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Latest post on 09 September 2012 - 19:51
Hi Northern Star, where did you daughter study law, as most jurisdictions require a further professional qualification, as well as a law degree? Assuming she is admitted and ready to practice in Dubai, I would suggest contacting Mark Anderson at Taylor Root - he knows everyone and everything about the western legal community here. If she is not yet admitted to practice, there might be a few firms running a full training contract based in Dubai, but Taylor Root would be able to advise on that. The website is www.taylorroot.com. Good luck!
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Latest post on 09 September 2012 - 18:51
Thanks Sleepy, I am going to try MOE Carrefour tomorrow morning so fingers crossed! Any other sightings, just in case they have sold out too, much appreciated!
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Latest post on 01 July 2012 - 10:21
I agree that Al Ain Zoo would be really tough at this time of year, but it is lovely in the winter and well worth a visit. We have done it in a day, on a Friday and also been as part of a weekend stay at Jebel Hafeet (the Mecure hotel there is really nice and there is a lovely pool with water slides for the little ones). If you want to do something like that, have you considered the Sharjah Wildlife Centre? It is only a 30 min drive from Dubai (head towards Sharjah on the E611 and the turn onto the E88 to Al Dhaid and it is really clearly signposted). The whole Wildlife Centre is indoors and air-conditioned and we really love it. Children are free and adults pay AED15 only and it is really well curated. A fabulous trip at this time of year. Your ticket also pays into the Natural History Museum there (worth a visit - my 6 and 4 yr olds love it) and the Children's Farm, which is outdoors with a little shade, but it has cows, goats, donkeys, ducks etc. HTH!
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Latest post on 20 June 2012 - 13:53
Thanks Sharry - that is good to know! Did you enjoy the brunch? Do you think it is value for money? Thanks!
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Latest post on 15 June 2012 - 17:38
Same for me. DH had bought my iPhone 4s from Axiom, so we just popped in there and they cut my current sim to size and put it in.
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Latest post on 29 May 2012 - 08:48
Thanks Cymraes, I will give her a try! I have always liked Bobbi Brown stuff - my kind of underdone but done look! :)
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Latest post on 28 May 2012 - 22:35
Hi ladies, can anyone help please? I have got into a bit of a make up rut, ie none during the day and the same natural-ish look at night. I am mid-30s, English with olive skin and brown hair and eyes and would like to overhaul my make-up routine so I look more polished but not overdone. Can anyone recommend a good place to start to get some good advice on products and application, face-to-face? TIA xx.
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Latest post on 22 May 2012 - 12:45
Ocado... *sigh*. One of the things I most love about going back to England over the summer is not having to spend so much time in supermarkets. The Ocado man brings all the bulk items and I can buy bread, meat, fruit/veg quickly and locally. I miss the Ocado man so much... (For those not familiar with Ocado, it is online shopping from Waitrose - you can order everything at any time of night and day and book a one hour delivery slot. Just so convenient).
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Latest post on 17 May 2012 - 08:03
You could always donate them to charity. Feline Friends makes much of its money through secondhand book sales and is always glad to receive donations of books. Details on their website www.felinefriendsdubai.com :)
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Latest post on 14 May 2012 - 10:28
I bought some recently at DragonMart - in a children's costume shop next to the Big Ben cafe. They were AED5 each but he would do a discount if you bought lots. I don't know if launching them is allowed but we saw heaps in the sky on New Year's Eve. HTH!
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Latest post on 14 May 2012 - 08:36
What about the places in Souk al Bahar? Karma Kafe is really fun and vibrant - have been there in groups several times. Also Left Bank is good if you are more interested in the the drinks and crowd, rather than the food - or it is a good place to go for a drink or two after dinner. Margaux is great if you want a really smart (and expensive!) night out. Calabar in the Address Downtown is always a good place to meet for a drink first. Have fun!
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Latest post on 13 May 2012 - 20:09
I would be Queen Rania of Jordan. Forget Waity Kate-y, she is not going to have a real role of substance, the best she can do is lend 'support' to good causes (which I am not negating at all) but Queen Rania is beautiful, thin, stylish, a happily married mother of 4 AND she has the position and power to make a real difference to the lives of Arab women. That is something worth doing. Oh and everyone adores her - that would be nice too! <em>edited by HesterPB on 13/05/2012</em>
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Latest post on 12 May 2012 - 22:23
The best thing to do would be to book your LOs in for a Disovery Lesson. My eldest DD has weekly skiing lessons between October and February (when we ski in France over the half term holidays). I actually rate Ski Dubai for teaching children as it is a controlled environment. She skis at 10am on a Saturday morning and none of the idiots that charge about seem to be up by then! They usually run 5 week ski camps, which are good as the children ski with the same instructor and same children each week, which makes it more friendly. DD has had Nina, Mohammed and David, who were all great with little ones - she is 6 now but started skiing at 4. If the children have never skied before, they have to have a lesson - can't just go with your DH, no matter how good he is. I would imagine that is for safety and insurance reasons. HTH!
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Latest post on 09 May 2012 - 10:38
Well, we live in Dubai, we have kept our house in England and we keep a car there too. The car is insured with Admiral, just as all of our cars have been over the years. I am not sure what the issue is - why does it matter where you live if you still have a home address where the car is kept and a UK bank account to direct debit the insurance premium? I am not an expert on insurance law (I am a lawyer, but specialise in a different field), but from my experience much of the practice of insurance companies is not dictated by law, but by their own internal risk profiling. I would say, however, that nominally selling a car to someone else to insure it for your primary use is straying dangerously close to fraud and insurance companies will grasp at anything to avoid liability so should the worst happen and you need to claim on the insurance, you could find yourself not covered and potentially at risk of criminal liability. If I were you, my first instinct would be to shop around a little and try a few other companies. Good luck! <em>edited by HesterPB on 09/05/2012</em>
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Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 20:07
I love my MagiMix - dont know if you can get them here as mine was bought in the UK. There are three sizes of bowls - small one perfect for baby/toddler puree and others great for baking and all sorts of cooking. That said, I also inherited my great-aunt's Kenwood Chef from circa 1970 and it is still going strong and gets regular use, so the more expensive ones really can last more than a lifetime!
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Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 15:46
Which means you would have to do the return walk home. No, really. Who is this newbie? Does she have any idea of the kind of heat and humidity we get here in the warmer months?
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Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 15:43
I wouldn't do a two minute walk! [b'>I curse the universe every time I walk from the parking to school[/b'>. Even camels that were designed for this heat are roasting now, forget human beings!;) just yuck..... Tee hee - what a fabulous turn of phrase!
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Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 15:40
Seriously no way. I might walk it in the morning in the winter months perhaps (still unlikely to do afternoon even then as the temperature might be low but the sun is still strong enough to burn), but May/June/Sept/Oct are absolutely out due to the heat. I nearly pass out getting from my front door into the garage!
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Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 11:09
Fayebelline, as far as I am aware a therapist (who will listen and help guide you through issues you are having) and a medical doctor who can prescribe controlled medication are two separate people. In the past, I have been to see Helen Williams at LifeWorks on Al Wasl and she is really wonderful. She also put me in contact with Dr Susan Norton at Dubai Physiotherapy Centre in the Town Centre mall on the Beach Road, who is very experienced and empathetic. I found both to be hugely helpful and yet not the sort of people who talked down to me, which I hate. I happily would recommend both. I hope you find the help you need. XX.
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Latest post on 08 May 2012 - 08:58
Thanks StarSouthern - actually the Monday at 3pm would work for me (so many afternoon activities to juggle with two DDs!) so I will give them a call. Fingers crossed they have space for her to join in. Just in case they are full, please keep the recommendations coming! <em>edited by HesterPB on 08/05/2012</em>
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Latest post on 06 May 2012 - 18:12
I have used Arabian Keys to changed a door lock (we moved into a new villa and the back door was locked and the key nowhere to be found). He was a lovely English guy who returned my call and came along very promptly, did a great job and warned me to vacuum up the metal shards straight away (as he had to drill the lock) so no one got hurt. Probably not the cheapest, but would definitely recommend as he really knew what he was doing and was clearly very reputable. Website is www.arabiankeys.com and number is 055-758 2123 HTH.
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Latest post on 06 May 2012 - 18:07
I am another Kindle fan. They are just so portable and also allow you to buy books which are not available here or would be too heavy to carry around in a handbag. Also, bear in mind you can download the Kindle app for free on an iPad or iPhone and just use your Amazon account. I have my books spread across all three machines - really handy and if I ever get caught killing 5 mins here or there, I can read my book on my iPhone. The new Kindle Touch looks fantastic, though I am not sure I can justify the upgrade...
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Latest post on 05 May 2012 - 13:45
I get most of my dresses online at www.boden.co.uk and get Ship & Shop to bring them over, unless we have a visitor due shortly. Have noticed recently though that they will post to UAE though so next time might try that. Great kids' stuff too, if you have little ones.
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Latest post on 01 May 2012 - 21:27
I will just say that after DD no 1, I did get my body back, with a bit of hard work (i.e. diet and exercise) and was happily seen in a bikini on holiday. It was the second that got me! Not only did I have no time to concentrate on my diet and exercise with two little ones, but the skin at the bottom of my stomach that had happily pinged back after no 1, looked wrinkly and loose. A few years on and it has improved, but definitely not that same. Has anyone else found that it is the second or third that did for your body?
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Latest post on 26 April 2012 - 11:31
Hello fellow Englishwomen! I am trying to book tickets for the Picnic on the Lawn at the embassy this Saturday, but the email I sent to the address given has been returned undelivered and I can't find a number to call. Anyone managed it or got any ideas about who I should contact? Many TIA xx.
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Latest post on 25 April 2012 - 18:04
My two cats have only ever had Hills Science plan dry cat food which, since we moved to Dubai, I have bought from the Vet Hospital in Al Quoz. Unfortunately they have now stopped stocking it. Does anyone know where I can buy bags of Hills Science Plan cat biscuits - just the regular chicken or tuna flavour? Am completely desperate now as my fluff balls are turning their noses up at anything else. Any leads much appreciated. TIA xx.
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Latest post on 25 April 2012 - 17:36
it's been prevalent on here for years! Tee hee! Love it!
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Latest post on 25 April 2012 - 10:24
There is LK Bennett in Mirdif City Centre - I used to love their dresses/separates/shoes when I was working in London. Top end of high street prices, but I found they wear and last well. Might be worth a look.
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Latest post on 24 April 2012 - 13:28
I like to listen to talk back radio instead of music. Are there any decent talk back radio channels in Dubai? Have you tried Dubai Eye - 103.8? Some of their current affairs programmes are quite good, but nothing beats BBC Radio 4 (over the internet)!
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Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 10:46
Have you tried Tavola or Lakeland? Both have a wonderful selection of equipment (and some ingredients) for baking. My DH has threatened to have me barred from both as I always end up buying so much. I use the ones in Mirdif City Centre, but there are Tavolas in lots of malls and there is also a Lakeland in MoE now.
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Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 10:44
We just had my DD's 4th birthday at Mini Monsters and it was really lovely. Very well organised and the little ones loved it. Also good if you have a mixed age range attending, as there is a separate 0-3 yr soft play area and the main area is certainly fun enough to keep up to 6 yr olds entertained.
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Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 10:41
the Meat company madinat or souq al bahar (happy birthday african style with a cake) great fun. i second this! I third it! I always hope there is a birthday when we go to the Meat Company. If you get a table outside on the decking at the Madinat one, it is a really lovely setting with a view of the Burj Al Arab.
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Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 10:40
We used to live in Jumeirah Islands and there are definitely a couple in the playgrounds there, as well as older swings. It is only meant to be for residents though. They have one at the Hatta Fort Hotel playground, but that is quite a way to go for a swing!
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Latest post on 23 April 2012 - 10:38
I haven't personally, but I have one serious runner friend in the UK who swears by them. He did say it took a good long time to get used to them though. That said, I am not sure if they significantly improve performance or reduce the risk of injury (we, my friends and I, are all the wrong side of 35 so little injuries and niggles are unfortunately par for the course if you do lots of running). My husband did buy some but they weren't his thing so he didn't persist with them. Anyone else had any experience?
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Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 12:23
The Ski Dubai snow park is really good fun for little ones and they can go in from 3 yrs onwards. It only really takes an hour or so (as there isn't much to do but the little ones love it) and then you can have tea at one of the cafes nearby. Alternatively, I really like Cafe Ceramique in Town Centre on the beach road. My DDs are 6 and 4 and they absolutely love painting pottery (as do I - fun for everyone) and the menu is quite good, so you can eat there. Have fun!
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Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 10:45
Another vote for Saucony :) The sales associates are helpful and knowledgeable at Dubai Mall--save one time I had a less than average experience there. I have two pairs, because a friend of mine who is a veteran runner told me it is best not to wear the same running shoes 2 days in a row. I have no idea if this is her personal opinion, or a common belief among runners, but mine are holding up better than when I wore the same over and over again. I always have two pairs on the go - one wearing in and one wearing out, if that makes sense. Also, once my running shoes have gone too 'flat' for running, I find they are still fine for gym work/classes for a while, so I get a little more wear out them that way.
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Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 10:42
We shut up our house In England during the year whilst we are here and then open it again over summer. We maintain our house and contents insurance for it as a second/holiday home, which works out much cheaper. It might be worth investigating that option, but I am not sure whether it would apply if your son is living there full-time.
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Latest post on 22 April 2012 - 10:39
When my mother got stuck here due to the Icelandic volcano, she had a similar problem with warfarin. Thankfully we got her home before she ran out, but we were told that the Iranian hospital was our best bet. It is correct that none of the pharmacies stock warfarin and it has to be dispensed by a hospital. I would call a few first and see what they suggest. It will be expensive though - might be worth keeping receipts and checking the terms of his travel insurance though, just in case it is covered or you could get some contribution back. Good luck!
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Latest post on 21 April 2012 - 18:33
I converted from Asics to Saucony after being persuaded to try a pair whilst I was training for the London marathon. I now only run in Sauconys and the shop in Dubai Mall is great - they have a treadmill so you have a quick run in the different styles etc. It is on the top floor near Galeries Lafayette. If I were you, I would try a pair of Asics and a pair of Sauconys and alternate them to see which work best for you. I over-pronate a little and I find the cushioning of the Sauconys so much better for me. Depending on your running style, it might be worth looking at New Balance, as some of my runner friends swear by those, but I have never tried them. Good luck!