KH | ExpatWoman.com
 

KH

KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 26 May 2013 - 11:33
We emailed and went last week, he said the can not keep a car forever... If they took a deposit to reserve the car, and the delay was on their side, then yes, they should have held the car until their delays were resolved. If they sold the 'reserved' car to someone else, and cannot give you what you ordered, they should refund your deposit and allow you to walk away. or give you the more expensive model at the same price as the one sold. Is it possible for you to go (or threaten to go) to their 'Head Office' abroad to make a complaint? if it's BMW, threaten to complain to BMW in Germany etc. most of the international car companies should have global service level agreements. As 1000 dhms is not much for the car dealership, they may decide it's too much hassle to fight you/ deal with their global head office and just give you your deposit back. I would then find another dealership to buy from, and have your own finance pre-approved by your bank (if this is at all possible) to move ahead with the purchase as soon as you find something!
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 25 May 2013 - 21:46
Ikea do nice floating shelves, look good but you couldn't put very heavy stuff on them.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 25 May 2013 - 18:38
Thanks for this!
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 25 May 2013 - 18:36
So glad it all went off without further drama :) you must be feeling very relieved. Enjoy your visitors and good luck with the search for new help!
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 May 2013 - 13:52
dont worry about her stuff, not your problem...in any case, i can assure you she will not lose out, her sisters will ship anything on to her in Philippines. As far as I can remember, the contract I have specifies no. of hours to be worked per day (but not precise start/ finish times) and the rate of pay for any overtime, one day off per week, no staying out overnight etc. Cant remember exactly though... have to run now...good luck and good riddance : ) <em>edited by KH on 23/05/2013</em>
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 May 2013 - 13:38
are you giving him lots of milk to make up for lack of solids? if so, he may just be too full at mealtimes...or he might be teething (molars?)...they go through phases. if you are very worried, check with your doctor.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 May 2013 - 13:35
have never had my belly measured here - u/s is a much more accurate indicator of weight gain/ size in any case, if that's what you are after. still not 100% accurate though of course.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 May 2013 - 13:24
The cure is book the ticket, take her to the airport and say Masallama Agree 100%. cut your losses, dont let this drag out for weeks. you can send her home today, and have the weekend to recover from the stress (and I know the stress you must be feeling!) before your guests arrive. it's not your problem how/ if she gets back, if she has to find work in another country away from her sisters etc etc. she has behaved in an unacceptable way, and these are the consequences of her actions. khalas.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 May 2013 - 13:10
You are right though, we are still trying to accomodate her. Is a ban for a year or 6 months? Does she deserve a ban when as far as we know she hasnt done anything really dreadful like steal or beat the children. She has behaved rudely and with disrespect, but that is hardly a criminal offence. You say you would not want to risk her playing up in your home before she finds a new employer. She wouldnt be here. The plan is to cancel the visa so she is not working here anymore and for her to stay with her sister. Presumably that will be considered a huge risk too as she is not under my nose being supervised. The alternative if we want to keep an eye on her is let her work here for a month and find a new job in that time. After a month we cancel her visa. She would be warned that if she dares to step out of line again we cancel her visa immediately. In my view, she does deserve a ban - you have paid a huge amount of money to sponsor her, she knows that, and has not held up her end of the deal. that is breaking her contract. why should you be AED10,000 out of pocket and she has the benefit of hanging about and finding another job on your time? If you let her stay and work elsewhere (and if she is living elsewhere, she will be working elsewhere), you risk a HUGE fine. I KNOW friends who have had to pay this 50,000 fine, and they THOUGHT they had hired a maid through a legitimate agency and had the contract to prove it. it turns out the agency was dodgy, the maid was illegal, was picked up at the airport on her way home for annual holiday, and our friends got a call from Immigration, had to go down and pay the fine on the spot or risk being put in jail for hiring a maid they had not personally sponsored. (i know in this case you are the sponsor, but that still puts you at risk for allowing her to work elsewhere as far as I know). In my mind, yor maid is not worth the risk or stress. I definitely wouldnt have her in my home, and to allow her to live out, work illegally until she finds a new sponsor, definitely not worth the risk also. You are not being heartless or a slave driver by sending her home, or infringing on her human rights. You are terminating a contract of employment and sending her home, as you are obliged to do. Nothing more, nothing less. FYI - I have another maid now that I do treat well (her words to me), but the t&c's are written in the contract, and we both stick to them. I am not unreasonable, but I do not encourage over familiarity and am willing to say 'no' when requests are made that do not suit me or bend the rules we have agreed to. She is happy as far as I know, as am I. You dont have to compromise your beliefs, just be firm and fair. <em>edited by KH on 23/05/2013</em>
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 May 2013 - 12:09
These recipes sound awsome!! defo gonna try rancheros out on Saturday. my family is a bit tired of steak, fried eggs and hash browns :)
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 23 May 2013 - 12:02
Victoria, you seem to be bending over backwards to accommodate someone who has behaved very badly towards you and yours. I perhaps made the same mistake with the first maid I had, who after I had accommodated her special requests, played up in a number of ways including leaving without telling me on her days off, not returning on time (again without informing me) and becoming incredibly inflexible on working hours (despite my flexibility when she had asked for unscheduled/ extra time off). when I put my foot down and said enough was enough, she insisted that she would rather go home to nurse her 'sick' mum than stick to the terms she had originally agreed to work for. So I took her at face value, sent her home, with full pay and a bit of extra cash as well as boxes of almost new kids clothes, shoes, homewares I was no longer using etc. Only to find out a couple of weeks after she left that she had infact simply found another job that gave her 2-day weekends off, and was paying nearly double what I was paying her. While I dont begrudge her looking to make the most money for her family back home, I was devastated that she had lied to me about it (I had asked her if she had found another job and if money was the issue, in which case I would consider giving her a raise or transfer her visa instead of sending her home. I work and she was great with my kids so I wanted to try and make it work). From my perspective, I had treated her as I had treated my home help back in the UK (ie as a human being, and part of my family) and didnt feel I deserved either her attrocious behaviour before she left, nor her dishonesty. In retrospect, I can totally see how she manipulated and played me, and I am glad that she left when she did, and i have learned my lesson. If I was in your situation, I would cancel your maid's visa and send her on her way asap, with a ban for breaking her contract (it was her behaviour that has caused problems). If she chooses to return after a year, it is up to her to find a way back out of her own pocket, and find a new employer. I would not want to have to deal with tantrums, risk of absconding, or someone i don't trust in my home, around my children, until she finds herself a new situation here. Good luck with whatever you decide.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 May 2013 - 10:28
Hi KH, I have a gliding rocker with gliding footstool from Pottery Barn Kids that I'm getting rid of (no room for it ). It's espresso color with white cushions if you are interested. I have hardly ever used it unfortunately. edited by Jalapeno on 20/05/2013 Hi Jalapeno thanks for pic, pls check your email...
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 May 2013 - 21:30
Would prob only accept molton brown toiletries and spinneys food, in addition to the 3000pm, plus room with en suite. The total value of her required package is prob more than many office tea girls/ PAs (who wouldn't get flights home - emirates only? - month's paid holiday etc) The mind boggles.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 May 2013 - 20:07
Thanks Alison and Judy, I'll check both these out!
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 May 2013 - 19:21
Is it really possible to anticipate and plan for ALL contingencies? Hindsight is always 20/20. It is rwasonable to assume that if you have private insurance you will be covered when you need it, and if you change jobs, your insurance company may change but you'll still be covered. It has surprised me that not all companies here offer medical history disregarded group policies to all employees. If I found myself in the OPs unfortunate position, I would have been unprepared, and I consider myself fairly organised about such things as life/ critical illness cover, access to emergency funds in case of death etc. personally, I don't see what the problem is with what OP is asking. Group policies simply spread the risk for the insurance company, it doesn't matter who's in the group. As long as everyone pays in (and OP would pay her own premium), she is covered. If she doesnt claim, there is no additional cost to other members via higher premiums. If the insurance company allows this, where does the ethical problem come in?
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 19 May 2013 - 18:40
Yes if you can send a pic that would be great. Driving around in this heat is doing me no favours, and I hate shopping at the best of times :) Am guessing it's not a rocking chair? Thx v much <em>edited by KH on 19/05/2013</em>
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 16 May 2013 - 11:56
i was being sarcastic sorry, didnt pick it up : )
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 16 May 2013 - 11:49
Definitely wise not to keep your cash here. . umm - because it was the crash of local banks that caused the recession..... Just sayin' umm - local banks did not 'crash' or 'cause the recession'. UAE banks are probably safer than European banks; depositors have NEVER lost money here, a local bank has never been allowed to fail, and deposits are 100% guaranteed. couldnt say the same about eurozone banks (ask the Cypriots), and no european govt - including the UK - offers 100% govt guarantee on all deposits (they only guarantee up to a certain amount, anything over this limit could be lost if your bank fails). However, expats are recommended to keep most of their money offshore because accounts will be frozen on death, and it means you/ your partner have no access to your funds just when you need them the most. If you prefer to have a dirham offshore account (because you earn and spend dirhams) then you should be able to get this. HSBC Jersey offers dirham accounts offshore, free transfers online to and from other HSBC accounts anywhere in the world.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 15 May 2013 - 12:24
thanks for the link ilovewine, I'll take a look. may come back to you in a few months about borrowing the book - no 3 not born yet : )
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 20:55
Unfortunately, Gina Ford is neither a trained nutritionist, lactation consultant nor a pediatrician. Not even a mother. Annabel Karmel is a dietician though (I think) so you'd think she would be more up to date with the guidelines of major health bodies ( such as AAP, WHO etc but then again, even the advice from paediatricians here is very outdated. Studies have shown that babies weaned onto foods that are not nutrient dense ( ie when babies are weaned onto just fruit veg and grains) they are worse of nutritionally and far more likely to be low in iron than babies who are not given solids at all ( ie purely breastfed until 9 months). edited by kiwispiers on 14/05/2013 Wow I know GF is an emotive issue, but surely not all nannies are mothers, dieticians or paediatricians? As I understand it, she is someone who has had a lot of experience caring for babies and has written books based on this experience. As a new first time mom, I found her books hugely helpful, as I did tracey hogg's baby whisperer. The routines and guidelines about what to expect in terms of development, how much baby needs to sleep and eat were like a roadmap for me. I never left my babies to cry, and didn't expect them to follow the routines to the minute, but generally, they seemed to work. On the weaning, protein was always the key ingredient for baby's main meal (lunch) and GF introduced different types of fish as well as chicken, lamb from quite early on. My kids had lots of fruit, veg, soups and meat before they turned one, and I used mainly GF recipes. I was more surprised to hear of babies skipping the first phase of purees/ baby rice and going straight to 'whole' food...will defo read up on it in due course.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 20:28
Have you tried a pharmacy for citric acid? If they sell the sterilisers they *should* sell the stuff you need to maintain it in good working order. Although this being dxb, that may be too much to hope for...
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 13:36
Misoma, accidents happen so just come clean and not just because he will notice work, however small, has been done on the car. This really isn't worth what you are going through right now. agree with DR. get your glad rags on,your makeup nice,prepare a nice romantic dinner,tell him how much you missed him,how much you really love him etc etc Then tell him. :) or you could not say anything, wait until he notices (which could be weeks away!), and then deny all knowledge 'oh gosh, I hadnt seen that, someone must have scratched the car while i was parked at the supermarket/ mall/ school but I couldn't say where or when'. you then have plenty of time to get a police report and get it repaired under warranty. not that i've ever been so dishonest, just saying it's an option : )
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 13:05
i'd go so far as to say I can't stomach much from ANY of the north american food chains here. I think generally their sugar/ salt/ chemical content is much higher than what I'm used to. went to iHOP to meet a friend for brunch a few weekends ago - she was a big fan of the pancakes in the US and said the ones here were 'amazing, just like in the US'. i couldnt even finish my breakfast it was so awful and processed. mind you, i was comparing them with what I usually have (home made using Nigella's recipe, with organic eggs and flour : ) ) each to his own i guess.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 12:53
Can highly recommend Dr Jaco at the Dental Studio in Umm Suqeim. They're not cheap, but this is not an area I would scrimp on as it's a major procedure from what I remember (had mine taken out under GA as a teenager), and your insurance may cover part of the cost if it's medically required. I hope you get it sorted and some relief asap!
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 12:49
OP and naiyyar - the people you talk about, we call human resources in our company LOL LOL!!
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 12:27
it can be a lonely place, especially as a newbie. even after 4 yrs here, i still feel the friendships I have are more superficial than those I had in the UK, partly because most people are here 'temporarily'. As I work fulltime, opportunities for meeting people outside work are limited. Mostly I've made friends through kids' school. There is a huge UK expat community here (including Brit Muslims), so if you can plug into that, it's a big help in widening your social network.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 12:18
what about just simple grilled salmon or fish fillets - my maid just seasons the fillet and whacks it in the oven and it's ready in 15 mins, same as chicken nuggets. alternatively slice hamour/ cod fillet into strips, dip in egg/ breadcrumbs and shallow fry for 5 mins - home made fish fingers. serve either with oven chips or steamed veg (from the frozen veg bags) and the obligatory ketchup. my kids also like: burger patties - great in lunchboxes as well, I make them on the weekend, cook and freeze in portions. home made fish cakes minced lamb cooked in tomato (similar to bolognaise sauce), frozen in portions and maid just steeps some couscous in boiling water to serve with it. mac & cheese veg soups with toast soldiers - usually for dinner rather than lunch.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 12:04
sorry you're having a bad day... when i've felt like this about work, i've just focussed on why i am here, and keep asking myself if overall i'm still better off here than elsewhere. if the answer is yes, i put my head down and get on with it and ignore the other goings on. when the answer is no, it'll be time to pack it in and move on : )
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 11:57
this is really interesting...5/6 yrs ago i used gina ford weaning and that based around baby rice with fruit/ veg purees added for first stage weaning. didnt realise the advice had changed, will have to read up on it for the next one! TBH it makes more common sense to add solids for nutritional value rather than just filling up on starch, so i may take a more relaxed approach this time : ) if it saves the hassle of endless pureeing everything in sight - even better!!
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 11:51
All schools require copies of vaccination records for their files, but i've never heard of a child being denied a place because they didnt have a particular vaccine. As the schedule differs from country to country, it is very likely that not all kids will have had the same shots. My two have never had BCG (was not part of the schedule in the UK when they were born), but it is considered 'essential' here. My daughter had Hep B jab before we moved, but my son was too young so our GP in the UK wouldn't give it to him, forgot to get it done here when he was 'old enough' so he's never had it. Neither have had chicken-pox jab, but both have had the pox. No-one at school has ever asked us about it or insisted we get it done.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 11:36
I really like Dr George as well, have seen him several times during this pregnancy for my scans. His new clinic is great, right next to City Hospital. He is very thorough, professional, and evidence-based in his approach, in my opinion. I've met a few women who have been supervised by and delivered with him for high risk pregnancies and have not heard a single negative comment. Good luck!
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 09 May 2013 - 10:43
Have never taken a car seat on a flight, have always hired one with a hired car, or borrowed one from family if we are 'going home'. there are also companies at airports that sometimes just allow to rent a car seat, for the duration of your visit (similar to renting a car), you pick up and drop off at the airport. just google your destination airport/ city and see if you can find something. Bassinet would be waaaay to small for a 21 month old - if you can afford it, I would book an extra seat next you and request it in the bassinet row, if you know what I mean. this gives you more legroom and space for todder to play on the floor, move around etc. At 21 months, you might want to give the little one a biscuit or choccie to chew on during take off and landing to help with keeping ears unblocked. As to getting her to sleep, i found this easier when they were smaller babies! As toddlers, mine tended to stay away for most of the flight, unless the cabin lights were dimmed for everyone else to sleep. DS would only sleep on me, even though he had his own seat. You could ask your GP for a strong antihistamine to help knock the little one out - we used Valergan once or twice for long hauls when kiddies were under 2. very effective : ) Happy travels! ETA you prob only need a second seat in economy. business is big enough for both of you and second seat is a whole other city - great when they're older!! <em>edited by KH on 09/05/2013</em>
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 May 2013 - 11:28
Hi - I have a child in both those years, and I really dont think you need to hire a tutor for extra help, you could easily do this yourself. it's just practice with sounding out, writing letters, and counting. basic adding and subtracting in FS2. I bought a 'brainquest' workbook from our local bookshop which has some excercises on all these topics for each year, and my kids view it as after school 'fun'. I also bought an abacus to help with adding and subtracting as they can actually see/ count the beads as they are doing sums. my daughter (Yr 1) is also starting to look at division using the abacus - '12 beads divided into three equal groups, how many beads in each group?' This way she can SEE what division means, rather than just being an abstract concept. Or just use a bunch of straws/ matchsticks/ marbles - whatever you have to hand really.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 14:07
have given up the fight...i just dont look in the mirror anymore : )
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 13:44
around 4000pm for all groceries including cleaning stuff, loo paper, toiletries etc. 3 adults, 2 kids.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 13:34
DH and I were just talking about this possibily last week, mainly as he was worried about quality of education here in dxb (he is Aussie, I'm not). it does have a lot to offer in terms of lifestyle but two things are making me reluctant to move in the near future: 1) it is SO far away from everywhere else that it would be difficult to travel with the kids to see the rest of the world, and I am BIG on travelling. 2) the cost of living is high, more so than in the UK in my view. clothes, any kind of home help (even a cleaner once a week charges $30 per hour minimum), petrol, cars are all much more expensive than here and even UK. Buying a house not cheap either, and tax rates are very high. If you want private school that is a whole other ballgame. would love to hear others' input as its a hot topic in our house as well : )
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 13:28
My maid has just done this - she also had to wait about 7 weeks for an appointment and it still took most of the day. she was there at 8am and only got out after 3pm. you could call the embassy if it is a real emergency, but my understanding is they wont see you unless you have an apptmt.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 16:52
When you complain about working mums being made to feel guilty do you ever consider that stay at home mums are sometimes made to feel inadequate, as if what we do isn't a worthy job just because we don't leave the house to do it .. ?? (not TDB necessarily, just in general) Yes I do think SAHMs are not always given enough credit. It is a hard job with very little recognition and reward. Although you have to admit, being an expat SAHM in dxb if your kids are in school is WAY easier than most other places :) Having been on both sides of the situation, I agree with TDB, it is awesome doing something you enjoy outside home and being well rewarded for it. I do feel bad when my DD asks if my meeting is more important than taking her to ballet, but she understands that it is part of my job, and I go out to work to pay her private school fees and give her the best start in life that I can. It will only be for a few more years hopefully, and then As TDB says, we should be able to live 'back home' mortgage free and having secured our kids education for the future.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 16:11
Maybe I misunderstood what TDB said then... but I wouldn't be able to earn enough money to sustain our family - my husband is better qualified.. and what kind of wife WOULD I be ? please tell....... edited by Pikachu on 05/05/2013 I know this is a digression from OPs original post but...if your husband couldn't find a job, would you not make every effort to help supplement the family income, even if you couldn't earn as much as him? If for no other reason than to take some of the pressure off him and offer your support to your partner? I have been in this situation, and went back to work far sooner than I wanted to, after my DH was unemployed for close on a year. I earned less than half his previous salary. Did I want to be a SAHM until my kids were older? Of course! Was I earning enough to 'sustain' our family? Definitely not! Do I regret going back to work at that time? NO, it was what I had to do for my family, so I made the best if it, put my little one in nursery and went off to work. I could never sit back and expect my other half to sort out the problem without at least trying to help ease the financial burden. I thought DB's husband was doing really well? Don't know DB's circumstances, but was just saying in general, some women may have to go back to work and leave their babies. Was just shocked at pikachu's comment that if her DH lost his job, he would have to just get another and the burden would never fall on her to go out to work!!
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 16:03
Maybe I misunderstood what TDB said then... but I wouldn't be able to earn enough money to sustain our family - my husband is better qualified.. and what kind of wife WOULD I be ? please tell....... edited by Pikachu on 05/05/2013 I know this is a digression from OPs original post but...if your husband couldn't find a job, would you not make every effort to help supplement the family income, even if you couldn't earn as much as him? If for no other reason than to take some of the pressure off him and offer your support to your partner? I have been in this situation, and went back to work far sooner than I wanted to, after my DH was unemployed for close on a year. I earned less than half his previous salary. Did I want to be a SAHM until my kids were older? Of course! Was I earning enough to 'sustain' our family? Definitely not! Do I regret going back to work at that time? NO, it was what I had to do for my family, so I made the best if it, put my little one in nursery and went off to work. I could never sit back and expect my other half to sort out the problem without at least trying to help ease the financial burden.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 13:27
If he's not ready to leave her you'll be wasting your time !! He'll spend the whole time checking his watch, phoning the sitter and talking about her...... i have to admit, this was me the first time we left DD at 9 months. in the end, it was about 2 1/2 yrs after she was born that DH and I really started going out on our own in the evenings, knowing the children were asleep, wouldnt wake up and were with a trusted sitter, so we could really relax and enjoy our 'grown up' time.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 13:19
we only started going out sans kiddies after we moved to Dubai (youngest was a year old). We tried once when DD was 9 months, as she also was in a regular Gina Ford routine and asleep by 6:45pm. of course, that evening, she refused to settle. the sitter (who was lovely) insisted we stick to our plans and leave, and she would settle the baby (she was a full time nanny for a friend of ours in her day job). needless to say, at 8:30pm DD was still awake and crying, so I headed home and left DH at the wedding reception we were attending. of course, she fell asleep finally, just as I walked in the door. we didnt venture out after that for some time, and only if one of our parents could babysit. I guess it depends on how you both feel, and also the baby. perhaps try something a little closer to home initially, say a pizza or casual dinner rather than a full on painting the town red night. he might feel better after leaving her for a couple of hours and coming home to find her still asleep and not having missed anyone. once you have done it once successfully, it gets a lot easier : )
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 12:36
i also just moved onto plain cows milk at 1yr with both my kids. at 6 yrs old, it is still my DD's drink of choice : ) i defo would avoid adding flavouring to anything if you can avoid it.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 May 2013 - 09:55
I bought the Bugaboo Cameleon 6 yrs ago for my first baby (in the UK) and loved it. never even thought about switching to another buggy such as mclaren. Used it for my second baby straight after the first (15 months apart) and got a buggy board for my toddler to stand on while little one was in the buggy. could be used up to 2 1/2 - 3 yrs before becoming a little small, but by then my little one was pretty much walking everywhere anyway. we also used the bassinet as a travel cot in the first 2 months, after this, it was a little small so switched to the seat. I am now expecting my third and have been lucky enough to be gifted a new cameleon 3, so getting rid of my old bugaboo. downsides: - you need two hands to disassemble and assemble. the first time i tried to do this on my own was a nightmare (couldnt get it to fit in our small car in the UK), so make sure you can do this on your own before leaving the house : ) once i got used to it, it was fine, but still more of a hassle than the umbrella type strollers. would definitely be a problem if you are regularly using taxis in dxb. - my old bugaboo was little heavy, the new ones may be lighter. - cost; it is expensive. - while surviving handling by flight staff all over the world and daily use for over 2 years, when we moved to DXB my first maid managed to break the handbrake and puncture 2 wheels within a few months. (they seem to have a knack for breaking stuff though - am onto my 4th vacuum cleaner in as many years). however, comfort, manoeverabiliity etc mentioned by other posters all outweighed the downsides for me and I used the buggy everyday for 3 years. we also travelled with it long haul to SA, Egypt, Aus and it was fine (no damage, i didnt use a travel bag, just took it up to the plane and left it there). can't wait to get my new one - but the maid will not be allowed near it unsupervised : )
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 May 2013 - 11:55
I too have had more than one friend in the same situation, and it was incredibly tough for them. The time did pass, one had a beautiful son after several 'late' miscarriages before the cerclage and went on to do it again several years later for a second baby. The other carried twins to full term, also after several losses. Hang in there! One of my friends used her bed rest to write a blog about her experience and treatment, and provided online support to other women undergoing the same thing...might be something you could consider?
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 May 2013 - 11:37
It seems unlikely someone will sell only part of a stroller or travel system a they'll be left with bits they can't use/ get rid of. I am selling my old bugaboo cameleon (advert on classifieds) asking 1200dhms but will consider reasonable offers. All the accessories are in perfect condition, but there is no carseat. ETA : Or you could go to the manufacturer of the stroller you have and just order a new chassis and wheels? <em>edited by KH on 04/05/2013</em>
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 May 2013 - 11:28
You can get everything here, but bear in mind that it is often much more expensive than the UK. We were glad to have brought all our furniture with us when we saw prices for similar quality stuff in Dubai, but we were fortunate to have a container shipment paid for by employer. As another poster said, it depends on if you will be using your UK home and furniture during holidays, and what your setting up allowances are here.
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2013 - 12:15
Any jeans/jacket is wrong. Men either look like they are going through a midlife crisis or they look like Jeremy Clarkson. Fashion police needed. edited by summer breeze on 30/04/2013 I think JC went on Trinny and Susanna once to sort out his fashion issues. even they couldnt help him : )
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2013 - 10:59
I totally get the frustration with higher rents and the inefficient rental/ sales market here. this is part and parcel of where we all choose to live. IMO the authorities have really tried to protect tenants from abuse/ unfair actions on the part of the LL, and generally side with tenants in case of dispute. I'd like to know what people think can be done in ADDITION to requiring 12 months notice for eviction. Once a tenant is in a property, should they be allowed to remain there until they decide to leave, at the same/ similar rent even if the market has moved 30%?
KH
345
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2013 - 10:49
LL's do not pay a thing to rent out their properties. It's all on the tenant Our landlord paid the same commission cheque to the agent as we did. Same with our previous landlord. DH and LL were there at the same time in agent's office when papers were signed and all cheques handed over.
 
 
Top 5 UK curriculum online schools for expat families and kids abroad

Top 5 Online Schools For Expat Families in the Middle East

How expats in Germany can get German pension refund

Bye Bye Germany - Hello German Pension Refund?

UAE Emirati Lawyer Awatif Khouri in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Meet the Emirati Woman Breaking Grounds in UAE Law: Awatif Khouri

Mashreq NEO NXT Account | Why Kids and Teens Need Financial Education

Why Teens Need Real-World Financial Education?

International university transition tips

How to Make the Transition to University Life Easier

How to apply for Germany VBL Pension Refund as an expatriate | Germany Pension Refund

Bye Bye German Public Service Job - Hello VBL Pension Refund

Tourist SIM cards in Dubai guide

Tourist SIM Cards in Dubai: Where to Get One and Package Prices

World's most expensive cities to live in 2024

These Are the World's Most Expensive Cities To Live in 2024

Dubai ranked as one of the best cities to work in 2024

Dubai Ranked Among Top 5 Cities in the World to Work In

What are the signs that your online date is a fraud

8 Warning Signs Your Online Date is a Scammer

10 Expat Experiences You Should Check Off Before Repatriation

10 Expat Experiences You Should Check Off Before Leaving For Good

Best and Worst Countries to Get Started Abroad for New Expats

Best and Worst Countries for New Expats to Get Started Abroad

Under the Mango Tree by Robyn Fok | Expat Books

Expat Author Robyn Fok's 'Under the Mango Tree' Deals With Pet Grief & Loss

Expat Wife, Happy Life: Interview With Expat Author Florence Reisch

(Images: Supplied)

Expat Interview: Meet Florence Reisch, Author of 'Expat Wife, Happy Life!'

Remembering Queen Elizabeth II: A Tribute by UAE Expats

Remembering an Extraordinary Woman: A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

10 reasons why expat women love the UAE

10 Reasons Why the UAE is a Popular Choice for Expat Women

6 Common Fears of Moving Abroad By Yourself and How to Overcome Them

Moving to the UAE Alone: 6 Common Fears and How to Overcome Them

Ultimate Babyshop Baby and Toddler Travel Packing List

These Baby Travel Essentials Are Must-Haves For Your Next Family Getaway

Requirements to apply for a UAE Golden Visa

How Do I Obtain a UAE Golden Visa? Requirements, Eligibility, and Process Explained

5 Tip for Expats to Survive Long-Distance Relationships

5 Tip for Expats to Survive Long-Distance Relationships

Opening a bank account in the UAE

A Newcomer to the UAE? What to Consider When Choosing a Bank for Opening an Account

Culture shock in the United Arab Emirates for expats

14 Ways You Will Experience Culture Shock in the UAE

Why you shouldn't upload your resume on your LinkedIn profile

5 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Upload a Resume to Your LinkedIn Profile

10 Secrets to Happiness as an Expat

10 Secrets to Finding Happiness as an Expat

4 Ways to Network as an Expat

4 Ways to Network as an Expat

8 Expat Problems That Are Just Too Real

8 Expat Problems That Are Just Too Real

How to Make New Friends in a Foreign Country

How to Make New Friends in a Foreign Country

Top 10 Countries with the Best Quality of Life

Top 10 Countries with the Best Quality of Life

The best European cities for new expats

Pictured: Prague

The Best Cities in Europe for Expat Arrivals

House in Husavik

10 Amazing Things To Do In Iceland

How to Make Your Own Life as an Expat and Why It’s Important

How to Make Your Own Life as an Expat and Why It’s Important

The Labriz eforea spa location

Why Seychelles is One of the Best Holiday Destinations

The Real Expat: Chasing Your Dreams to Find Your True Purpose

The Real Expat: Chasing Your Dreams to Find Your True Purpose