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LadyBee

LadyBee
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Latest post on 16 April 2013 - 17:38
Just to add: black-out material is not black per se; it comes in different colours so you can get a colour which isn't going to detract from the theme of the curtains eg white or cream. It's just the thickness of the material which = the percentage of black-out capabilities. ;)
LadyBee
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Latest post on 16 April 2013 - 17:36
If it was me, I'd buy some black-out material and have the curtains lined. You can buy different percentages very cheaply in Satwa or at Dragonmart and have someone do it for you professionally if you do not sew yourself.
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Latest post on 15 April 2013 - 17:49
We get the best deal for points for flights on Amex. Easy to exchange, and you can use them on a number of different airlines though our preferred service ex-DXB is Etihad.
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Latest post on 15 April 2013 - 17:46
Thanks for some ideas ladies, - where can "Mandoos" be found, Anon? - Tod's! That's what they are called. The moccasins brand he was talking about. Thnks Ruth - He tried both Clarks and Eccos and he thinks they are too clunky for what he is looking for, although he admits they are very comfy - Will look into Massimo Dutti and Dune, never thought of Dune, always assumed it was all blingy ladies shoes! Re the Tods ... Just be careful you buy ones that aren't too soft on the sole/heel. A lot of their moccies are sold as 'driving shoes' and they really shouldn't be worn day in/day out because they are too flimsy. I mean, they're great shoes, but DH trashed his within months. Oh, also, if your man has a wide foot, the edges of the nice soft leather rub against the ground so it sort of spoils the nice look of them when they get rubbed so regularly. As for good work shoes though (not moccasins, but still) DH buys Church's. There's a shop in MOE which sells them. They aren't cheap, but they last and last and last. Also very comfy too, I'm told. :)
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Latest post on 15 April 2013 - 17:42
I was going to buy a Dorothy Perkins top online for dhs 60 not on sale. Wasn't 100% certain that it would suit me so went to Dorothy Perkins in MCC to try it on. Looked at the label and the price on it was dhs 350! Unbelievable! It is shocking! DP at home is so cheap and here ridiculously overpriced I buy alot from there, RI, Warehouse, Oasis and Miss Selfridge however i get it all online now and do as you do, try it on here first! don't know if you know but apparently that's called "showrooming"..yes there's actually a name for it now !! I saw on FB a note in a shop window that said they were going to charge 5 dollar entry to the shop because so many customers just go in to browse, then go home and buy the product online...therefore "showroomers" will now be charged for the privilege - if they buy something then their 5 dollars get refunded.. couldn't make it up...... That was an Aussie shop, I recall, that specialised in health foods etc, particularly for people with coeliac disease. The owner was completely fed up with people coming in, checking stuff out, price-comparing ... and then going off to order their stuff online. I've got sympathy for her, but I don't think it'll last.
LadyBee
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Latest post on 15 April 2013 - 09:48
Go the Thailand route. As Shellly says, it's pretty inexpensive and you will get all the goodies in terms of entertainment for the kids etc plus the great weather, even though the flight time is a little longer. Turkey is great too - if you find yourself a good resort (have a search on TripAdvisor) but I don't think Cyprus is the place to be right now; too many 'issues'. Maldives? It might be 'heaven on earth' but along with many MANY others, I wouldn't go near the place. I'm boycotting it. Completely. :( http://www.ibtimes.com/why-millions-are-boycotting-maldives-1167255
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Latest post on 13 April 2013 - 10:05
Ebay. I bought a bunch of these a few years back for Australia Day and it was cheaper to have them sent here than hunt around in the shops. I know that they've been spotted at various touristy shops on occasion, but I wouldn't want the bother of searching. And if you have shop and ship, it's cheaper because they weigh so little. Doesn't take long either. :)
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Latest post on 12 April 2013 - 23:17
I'm not sure about ones with pictures, but Spinneys sells lunchboxes in a variety of stripes/colours which come with compartments and drinks bottles. Plus, some of them have a canvas zip cover as well, for added insulation.
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Latest post on 12 April 2013 - 23:15
I looked on a Wednesday and Thursday and we moved into the place I found, just a few days later, on the following Monday. It can be done. :)
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Latest post on 10 April 2013 - 16:35
I bought a babypen from Mothercare - it's not as brightly-coloured as the one in your pix, but it IS 'sectional', in that it folds up neatly and expands to a good size. We keep it between our washing machine/laundry sinks when not in use so it doesn't take up much space. You can also make it big or small depending on how much of the pen you want to use. It has a gate and is very sturdy. This is it (from memory, I paid 400dhs or thereabouts for it at Mothercare in Al Barsha) but they do have other types in stock. http://www.mothercare.com/Lindam-Safe-Secure-Metal-Playpen/450909,default,pd.html ETA: Also, it comes with the big padded cushion for the floor, which is washable etc. . <em>edited by LadyBee on 10/04/2013</em>
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Latest post on 10 April 2013 - 16:24
There is at least one rooster a street away from us in Meadows which makes an incredible racket early in the morning. Which in turn, sets the various dogs off around the place as well. Still ... we're used to it now. Not sure it's permitted but it's obviously something some people do.
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Latest post on 07 April 2013 - 09:48
Nine, sweetie. Dumping it down, I swear; pool is still full of crud, but at least it looks Purdy with spattery drops on it. :D Been raining for 10 minutes now ... Bliss. maybe it's working it's way here slowly - though the clouds will probably be empty by the time they get my way :( *Attempts to blow rain towards Meadows 2* Not just for me, you understand ... the dogs are looking askance because their walk hasn't ... happened yet. :D
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Latest post on 07 April 2013 - 09:37
Nine, sweetie. Dumping it down, I swear; pool is still full of crud, but at least it looks Purdy with spattery drops on it. :D Been raining for 10 minutes now ... Bliss.
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Latest post on 07 April 2013 - 09:33
*Sings* It's raaaain-ing again ... I'll have Supertramp in my head all morning methinks. Dumping it down in Meadows. Sky still that strange yellow/brown/grey/wouldn't want to put it on your walls colour. This. Is. Weather. :D
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Latest post on 07 April 2013 - 09:11
"Funny looks"? Yup; I give them. I give them for children who bang on my door while I'm trying to attempt to do my business, for children that stick their HANDS under my door when I am doing the same, for children that are seemingly unattended wandering around ladies' public restrooms while their mothers are attending to themselves and the children seem ... unrestrained, and for any child who isn't behaving in a manner appropriate to a private bathroom situation. Apart from that? I say: it's absolutely within mothers' rights to supervise/oversee their children, of either ***, up to a certain age because - let's face it - little kids shouldn't be wandering into bathrooms without being looked after properly, but honestly ... some people really do need to teach their LOs bathroom etiquette if they are going to enjoy the facilities on offer. Not attacking anyone here, promise, but I have been stunned at various behaviour of little idiots who think that a bathroom is a Mini Monsters. :(
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Latest post on 07 April 2013 - 09:00
Chuckles. Weird non-wind but almost suggestive of a breeze + brown/yellow sky + that strange light one gets when the weather gods just might decide to dump down a mini-shower to REALLY set that sand slag into stone ... Nah. This weather is very entertaining. A bright sunny day is NOT what we're going to experience on this happy Sunday. No complaints here; if it *looks* dark-ish, that's my ticket to a mid-morning napski. Er ... well, that's what I'm telling myself anyway! :D
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Latest post on 06 April 2013 - 16:23
Remember when Emirates Road was renamed Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road? Oh how we missed it. But fear not: Dubai Bypass Road is now going to be known as Emirates Road. Confused? Taxi Drivers will be. Sheesh. http://www.emirates247.com/news/emirates/dubai-bypass-road-renamed-emirates-road-2013-04-06-1.501498
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Latest post on 06 April 2013 - 16:10
I thought you could only have a maid of a certain nationality Filipina, Idian etc would SAbe allowed? Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Sri Lanka are the nations from which maids can be employed. That said, I seem to remember that people have had luck in the past bringing in their helpers from other countries. The way to get around it is to employ them as a nanny/governess NOT a maid. What you do when they get here is your business; this is just to get around the domestic servant visa limitations. It's a different process. Not sure of the details, but that's how you do it apparently.
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Latest post on 05 April 2013 - 21:01
Yikes! I can't help you there, sorry! Last time I could legitimately be described as a Sydneysider was, ahem, 11 years ago! Hopefully a more recent arrival/expert will be able to assist you though. Really wish I could be of more help; you must be beside yourself with worry. Be assured that he'll get great care at RPA though. :)
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Latest post on 05 April 2013 - 20:48
Royal Prince Alfred or 'RPA' as it's commonly known, which is near Sydney Uni; you drive up Parramatta Road OR City Road (depending upon where you are in Newtown) and turn onto Carillon Avenue where you'll find the ER entrance. That's your best bet. http://www.sswahs.nsw.gov.au/rpa/ Good luck.
LadyBee
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Latest post on 04 April 2013 - 13:59
No idea. Maybe tune into Radio 1 or 2 and listen for a traffic report/update? :)
LadyBee
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Latest post on 03 April 2013 - 10:05
Um ... sarahlou ... you have to edit your message as well. ;)
LadyBee
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Latest post on 03 April 2013 - 09:48
Okay ... call off the dogs. So to speak. ;) Our guy arrived. Two hours' late, but he's here. *Whistles happy tune*
LadyBee
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Latest post on 03 April 2013 - 08:10
Hi there Does anyone have a contract with Exclusive Pools for bi-weekly cleaning? We have used them for close to six years but the last two cleaning sessions, no one has shown up to do the biz. I have tried calling the company landline but it just rings out. If anyone else has any info, that would be grand. Thanks.
LadyBee
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Latest post on 27 March 2013 - 17:20
There are loads of Moroccan food websites which will give you the combinations of spices/herbs to use for tagine. Have you got a mortar and pestle? I think that making one's own spice mixes is so easy and so much more delicious; you can hit the spice souk and buy everything there and then do it yourself. That said, there are places in the spice souk which sell spice mixes as well eg Za'atar, Ras Al Hanout etc (but you can buy that in Spinneys as well). Good luck. Have fun. :)
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Latest post on 26 March 2013 - 12:17
Here's a 'homegrown' idea ... I realise the hot weather may make this option difficult in the coming months, but how about outfitting your children and yourself with rubber gloves, grabbing a big rubbish bag and hitting some of the rubbish spots around the area? Even the median strip near Spinney's Town Centre is chock-a-block with garbage thrown from cars, let alone the dunes further out around Dubai. When I was small - I know it sounds weird - but we used to do this as a family before the annual 'Clean Up Australia' days. It fostered a sense of pride in the environment and even though we were only making a small dent in the problem, it certainly hit home. :)
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Latest post on 25 March 2013 - 16:24
This isn't strictly 'not washing', but have you thought of buying a dry shampoo? I know Boots in the UK sell stuff like this (maybe even supermarkets have it here, not sure) but that would be my suggestion. I shudder to put up a Daily Fail link, but when I googled, this article was the best at demonstrating the different types available. :) http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/beauty/article-1350883/Sales-dry-shampoo-rocketing--YOU-buy.html
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Latest post on 25 March 2013 - 16:17
If you have a stroll on the second floor of MoE, there are loads of shops specialising in gifts like this. Actually, I'm *pretty* sure it's the second floor; it's the one with Villeroy & Boch on the corner. I've seen lots of decanters/crystal here ranging from modern to traditional eg Stuart/Waterford and the like in the shops on this level. Good luck. :)
LadyBee
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Latest post on 25 March 2013 - 16:12
Do take a glass in with you to match it against the selection. If you go onto the Riedel website, you'll notice that there is a HUGE selection of glasses for every conceivable red/white wine, and some differ by a matter of cm in terms of bowl size/stem length etc. Agree: Tavola MOE has the best selection I've seen. :)
LadyBee
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Latest post on 24 March 2013 - 11:38
Best they might be able to do is strap it for you. I had a hairline fracture at the base of one of my little toes last year and it's not considered a 'plaster' job unless you have major tissue damage in the foot as well. Basically, rest and anti-inflammatories would be the most likely prescription. I know how much it hurts though! Good luck. And when you CAN get into shoes again, make sure they're comfy to start with, and supportive as you're healing. :)
LadyBee
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Latest post on 24 March 2013 - 11:35
Short answer: no. Women employed as nannies/maids/babysitters in the UAE are from a select group of nations eg Philippines, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, India etc whether they are full-time/live-in or part-time helpers. Your best bet is to hit the ground and ask for recommendations from people as to an agency you might utilise OR make friends with expats who might have teenagers who are after some extra work after school/in holidays. Sorry. Rules are tight here. PS. I recall there is or was a 'fairygodmother group' that was set up by a group of helpful ladies in 2011? 2012? to help out with occasional babysitting, but I'm not sure of the status of that group as of now. Basically, it was a bunch of mostly western women who would volunteer to help out/babysit when a mum needed a break etc ... but it wasn't a paid service; just a way to give busy mums a break. Might be worth seeing if the Facebook group set up is still in operation. Good luck. :)
LadyBee
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 16:12
Finally back in my heels after pregnancy and I have missed them! But also have forgotten how uncomfortable they are! Had 4 pairs ballet flats and 4 pairs flip flops that saw me through pregnancy, felt like a midget. Not sure my gold stilettoes are very "mumsy" tho! lol :) I think a balance is key. Like others, I only wear heels - and not really high ones at that - on special occasions when I know I don't have to stand around AND when I can taxi-restaurant-taxi-home, so to speak. Apparently Sarah Jessica Parker's feet are completely ruined courtesy of the years she spent trotting around in 5-inch Manolos/Choos/Louboutins/no-names and SHE was tiny and wasn't exactly carrying a lot of weight on said heels. Unlike me. Sigh.
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 16:05
A party on a school night is a bit beyond the pale, irrespective of it being a special occasion. Most people are able to shift a special celebration to a Friday night and most guests, I would imagine, would appreciate the opportunity to not have to get up early the next morning. Letting one's neighbours know that there is going to be shindig is also the least one can do. That said, we've had outdoor parties on a Friday night and we turn the music right down by 11pm at the latest and/or move everyone inside. Noise really DOES travel on quiet streets! I wouldn't even consider having a big party on a weekday; just too too inconsiderate for words. :(
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 15:54
Riv' Grill at Souk Madinat? They always seem to have a happy hour or Veuve Clicquot specials or similar just about every night of the week. It's nice to hang out at the upstairs bar area where there are sofas, groovy music etc, and then toddle downstairs for dinner. Staff are really nice too. :)
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 15:51
i'm wondering which blog or newspaper this is going to end up in...... Ditto. And chuckling to myself when I remember it's Thursday. :D Can't relate at all to the OP's statement. Sounds like something out of a blog about what people 'think' Dubai will be like rather than the reality. I've made some lifelong friends, some acquaintances, had a few hiccups when I've realised that so-called friends aren't really friends at all, but that's true of life in general. That could happen to anyone, anywhere, irrespective of the country in which one resides. I never expected Dubai to be a place where I'd "have a good time and play hard" in the OP's parlance, but then, I'm not a single twentysomething. We came here to WORK hard, save money and hopefully have a reasonably nice lifestyle with some savings for the future. Anything on top of that is icing on the cake. :) Happy to add that I don't know any "rude, ignorant, spoiled expats" other than the ones I occasionally bump horns with on expat forums. Everyone I know is just trying to get along, get ahead, get by, get on with things.
LadyBee
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 10:45
PS. Another option - if there does appear to be a genuine interest in learning from your child! - is to check out Dubizzle. Lots of people sell their pianos there at quite reasonable prices and not just good-quality uprights/grands. You might consider paying a smaller amount for an electronic piano (to start with) rather than investing in a 'real' piano. Personally, I'm not a fan of electronic pianos/keyboards, because I think the action of the keys differs too radically from a real instrument. It's not as stark as the difference between an organ and a piano, but it can influence a pupil's finger action-on-keys. If that makes sense. That said, it's a great 'middle man' between having no instrument and investing in a piano which can last for years if tuned/maintained properly. Worth a look anyway! Good luck. :)
LadyBee
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 10:41
What you need to do is find a potential teacher who has a piano in their home; you can take your child along for a few lessons and guage the interest there initially. Not having a piano to start with isn't a deal-breaker per se, but you might consider hiring a piano for a few months before purchasing one. As an example, there is a music shop near Safa Park (from memory) which does hire out pianos: Juli Music Centre P.O.Box 74465 Dubai 04 3212588 This might be a way to start off to see whether the piano is a likely fit for your child. I don't know how much Mr Li, the proprietor, charges for hire, but it is a way of starting out without a huge investment. :) Hope that helps.
LadyBee
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 10:29
Yes, it's each lesson. ETA: No offence, but 100dhs per month wouldn't even pay for petrol. <em>edited by LadyBee on 21/03/2013</em>
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 10:28
Love love love The Walking Dead and Sons of Anarchy. Just watched season 1 of Dexter which I really enjoyed. My all time favourite would probably be 24. Action, nail biting suspense and the hotness that is Keifer Sutherland. Tee hee. You should hook up to Netflix. ALL the eps are there for re-visiting. :)
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 10:27
Just back from a stroll around the block in Meadows. Drops of rain on my face and evidence on the bin/driveway. Okay, it felt like someone was spitting on me, but still ... ! :D
LadyBee
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 10:19
Are these prices per hour per lesson? It depends, younger children generally start off with 30mins which starts from around 100, upto an hour which roughly would start from 200. Be careful, although you should expect better quality teaching the more you pay, this isn't always the case. I see children who play without lifting their heads from the keys, my dd can't play unless she has the music sheet in front of her. There are unfortunately a few cheats out there, so beware.... Half an hour is a perfect amount of lesson time for a child who is starting out on an instrument be it piano, violin, flute, guitar or whatever. Their concentration span will only stretch to about this amount of time and you DO want them to be on the ball for the entire time for which their parents are paying! Older students eg adults who are returning to an instrument ie want to get back into it, can certainly cope with an hour-long lesson, but I would never subject a littlie to this amount of time. What one wants is to leave a student wanting MORE, not to be in a situation where they just want to get out of there. Encouragement is key here, regardless of potential talent, and there is also only so much a little one can take on board in a one-on-one lesson. With apologies, any teacher who insists upon an hour being 'required' for a little child starting out has no idea. They are more likely to put off a potentially fantastic musician than to encourage one. Sad, really. BTW, all students, be they adults or children, should be able to find a balance between playing 'from the music' and being able to play from memory after a good many sessions with a decent teacher. Playing by ear should also be encouraged, if possible, but not at the expense of actual learning. Sight-reading is a MUST as well. No one who wants to play 'forever' for enjoyment can do without the miracle of being able to sight read. Moreover, learning about the music itself comprising of melody, musicianship, background to the composer and the era in which the composer did his bit .... oh, there is so much interesting stuff to learn that will bring the music alive to ANY learner ... you really need that. And you need to find a teacher that will pass those things on. :) <em>edited by LadyBee on 21/03/2013</em>
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 10:09
They vary depending upon the length of lesson. I personally wouldn't put a tiny through an hour-long lesson because it's just too much to take on board. That applies to practice time as well; regardless of the amount of homework children seem to be required to do these days (!!!), for a five/six-year-old starting out on an instrument, 15 minutes a day, possibly twice (making it two x 15 minute sessions at different times) is more than enough. As the child/student grows and learns and becomes familiar with reading and learning about music in general -- not just on the instrument upon which they are learning -- obviously practice time can be increased. But it definitely depends on the student and their level of musicianship. I reiterate: an hour is something I would only consider suggesting for an older student or a child who is reasonably proficient eg has done a few exams, knows how to sight-read reasonably well and can practice without being pushed! Oh, and who has a goal to get better as well. No point in forcing ANYONE to practice for too long or to have a long lesson unless they are invested in the learning process. :)
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 09:56
Grrrreat tips, Beebers. Cheers! :)
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 09:50
I agree and I really dont see the point in learning tunes by heart when the kids could learn how to play properly and then be able to play whatever they want forever. For parents that dont know music themselves I feel they are beeing cheated on. Thinking their kids are learning how to play the piano, they get to hear some lovely tunes and dont kow that will be the very only tunes their kids can play. Three of my friends kids couldnt even read one single note after 1-2 years. Whatever method that is, it is a waste of time and money for sure. TOTALLY! Couldn't agree more. The emphasis should be on musicianship itself. If a student doesn't know how to read music properly, what is the point of lessons at all? A student with a good ear, after all, could run rings around those without that advantage but the end result is still going to be that both students will not be able to progress to advanced levels without the BASICS. I'm all for encouraging students to use their ears and make them work in a positive way, but it's not the be-all and end-all. Technique has to be a part of the learning process and the learning-by-ear method sadly doesn't do everything it should. NB. When I was learning way back when, my piano teacher took ill and I did some time with a Suzuki afficionado just to keep me playing while I was preparing for an exam. Worst four months of my life. We even did Tai Chi (not that there's anything wrong with that, but still!) before the lesson. Shudder.
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 09:14
I watched the first episode of American Horror Story, and um...I think that is too creepy even for me, and I love horror/ghost stories. Sticking with Dexter for the mo. *Shudder* I 'just' managed to wade through a few eps of the first series with difficulty, but left it after that. And the second series? Oh. My. Word. Just reading the reviews was enough to put me off. I just can't be doing with torture p0rn -- which is what this show is, essentially -- because it's wrong on too many levels. I'm sure it's popular with many, but for me? Give me political intrigue and drug runners and mysteries and on-the-edge-of-my-seat drama, and I'm happy. Gratuitous violence just doesn't get my gears into action.
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 09:08
Thanks so much for the feedback. I heard 150dhs for an hour from another friend but it's good to know that the prices do vary. Of course, the money one pays would depend on the teacher and the goals expected by the student/parent, but y'gets what y'pay for, I guess. Jobert, thanks for your input re the 'learning by heart' issues. That sounds so Suzuki ... which is fine if you're into that sort of thing, but I'm a traditionalist at heart and want the building blocks of learning -- ie musicianship plus technical ability -- to be built over time. And that includes being ABLE to read music and not just parrot off notes from memory. :) Again, thanks everyone.
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 09:01
If you are at all interested in legal dramas, then "Suits" and "The Good Wife" are both excellent. There was a crime series called "Mayday" on BBC 1 a couple of weeks ago but it was a daily one and seems to have disappeared from the iplayer and I missed it all, so can't comment. Am also following "Broadchurch" and can't wait for the next epi.. Another 'political drama' from the '90s is The Politican's Wife, starring Juliet Stevenson. Fantastic stuff. We bought the DVD set of this -- not expensive -- from Amazon, and I still dip into it on occasion. Makes 'The Good Wife' look like child's play. :D <em>edited by LadyBee on 21/03/2013</em>
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 08:59
RuthM --- FIREFLY! Wow. I had no idea anyone else had watched this. Have you watched the movie that was tacked onto the end of the series? We haven't, yet, but will do shortly. Nice to know that someone here is also a fan. :)
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Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 08:57
House Of Cards -- the new one featuring Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright -- on NetFlix. 13 eps dumped down at once. Celestial. I believe Netflix gives you the first month free so you could technically/naughty-like join and watch this and then get out of the commitment to pay before they garnishee your account. Absolutely loved it. It's a fantastic update to the UK version from the early '90s and everyone involved acts their socks off. Oh, and PS. This has NOTHING to do with 'Homeland' or the like, but does everyone know that MasterChef UK has started again? Already 'done' the first week and it's been fab. :) PPS. If you haven't yet watched 'The Wire': do it. PPPS. 'Sherlock' -- the BBC version -- is omg fantastic. We had to stop watching it in a bunch because it was just too too good. We had to ration ourselves! :D
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 March 2013 - 16:27
Registries are the way to go. I learnt this after having my baby shower where I felt embarrassed to send out a "gift list". Everyone went "off piste" and the gifts were interesting to say the least. Although, I have to say - what is with people going off registry? It is sooo annoying yet very common. My friend is having her baby shower this weekend and over half the guests have yet to purchase off the registry and will likely be buying their own gift. What's with that? It's beyond annoying, I agree. Maybe they just want to be individuals and do their own thing, but seriously, it's a lot more work, isn't it, to go to the trouble of choosing something when there's a ready-made list there to make things easier for guest AND gift recipient. We didn't have too many people who did their own thing for our wedding, but those that did certainly gave us some good dining-out stories. I know it's awful of me to admit that, but it's true. What's weird is that some people give things that they think are personal and will be meaningful to the recipient, but one look at our Country-Living-style set-up should have been evidence enough that a two-foot-tall Buddha head was only going to end up as a garden ornament. Or at a garage sale. :D
 
 
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