Lisylou12 | ExpatWoman.com
 

Lisylou12

Lisylou12
34
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Latest post on 10 August 2015 - 12:31
I know I've entered into this thread a bit late - I'm having a bit of a slob out day and I tend to look at expat woman from time to time. I don't know if this helps but myself and husband for a few months have been worried about our weight and overall grape juice intake ;) plus I was getting fed up with my eyes being red all the time from dry eyes and blepharitis which had been diagnosed not by the doctor but by an optometrist. In fact I have to be honest my eyes were really getting me down for a good year as I looked like Count Dracula most of the time. So at the start of ramadan, I decided to stop drinking grape juice altogether which was starting to become too much like a bad habit and stick to soft drinks. Then at the end of Ramadan I was back in England and started taking some vitamin tablets called Centrum which miraculously seemed to cure my dry eyes and Blepharitis and since I've come back to Dubai I haven't had any flare ups since. (I promise this is going somewhere) Then start of last week my husband announced (just after I'd done a food shop typical!!) that he was going to start a diet. However, this is a diet with a difference and it is called The Harcombe Diet and I really recommend it. Sue Harcombe advocates that you don't need to exercise just to lose weight but you should exercise for other things such as stress relief. Which is fantastic as both myself and husband are not gym bunnies or runners to be honest. Both myself and husband have noticed a difference in the size of our stomachs which have lost that bloated look and my husband has lost 5lbs. To be honest I don't weigh myself and have only ever gone by the size of my stomach but I know I have lost weight. She advocates to eat as much as you can at each sitting. There are 3 phases to this and the first phase is to rid the body of candida, hypoglycaemia and food intolerances. Then in phase 2 you gradually re-introduce the foods to see which ones the body can digest and not digest. Its not starving yourself plus when you get to phase 3 you can have cheats. There is some saturated fats with it but the meals have been so good and healthy plus she provides eating plans which helps if you do work. I actually put down to the fact now that my eyes were so bad due to my bad diet and drinking and it has caught my interest so much that I am now doing an online course in nutrition. If you do the diet I would check with your doctor first. It is horrible knowing something is wrong but not knowing what to do about it and I wish you all the luck in the world.
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 June 2015 - 07:42
There's a lot of different coffee mates at Park'n'shop at The Greens/DIP. I've got the hazelnut powder one which is very nice - I can't guarantee its there but I do know there's quite a few different types
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 May 2015 - 21:03
Normally I don't reply on here and just sit on the fence but logged on as we had this on we had this on our mac and my hubby was going doolally over it. We tried everything to get rid of it but it still kept coming up. Anyway hubby mentioned it to a sales assistant at iStyle in Dubai Mall and he said to take it in and he would get rid of it. So I took it in a couple of weeks later and he took it off for free. It might be worth asking in there if you're still finding problems with it in a week or so.
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 November 2014 - 22:12
When I saw the title of this I knew precisely the radio advert that was being mentioned. My hubby has to go away with work a fair bit and this advert has had my son having nightmares and asking will he come home? My hubby has to do business trips for the last 10 years so nothing has changed but this has only started recently since the advert came out actually. I said to my husband about it and he hates the advert as well. I really considered complaining about it as well as it's just not something kids should hear!!
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2014 - 15:53
I'm in meadows and travel to victory heights and that is 15 minutes. However, I avoid Hessa Street like the plague and go down past DIA, onto sheikh mohammed bin zayed road and onto hessa street by victory heights and Sports City.
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2014 - 15:47
I live in the meadows as well and I think the prices seemed to have stopped increasing as much and there seemed to be more villas at the lower rent rate. From a local Facebook forum someone had suggested that because there is a surplus of villas being built it's slowing down the rent increase. How true that is though I'm not sure, however, I have noticed a slight change myself
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 November 2014 - 22:50
Just curious but have you asked other teachers in her other subjects how her concentration is when she has to write things down? Have you spoken to the headteacher at all about your concerns? Also does she like drawing? My son never used to draw at all when he was younger. Sorry for the many questions.
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 November 2014 - 15:04
Both of my children go to Victory Heights Primary School over by Motor City and the school is incredibly supportive and caring. I can only say really positive things about all of them there they all really do care about the children and the headteacher has been fantastic
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 November 2014 - 14:49
Hi, I completely relate to your worries. I had this when my son was 7 years old and would keep begging the school for some help back in the UK. I knew something wasn't right and would get my son to work on his writing everyday before school and I was virtually bringing it up at every stage I could. He's very clever but very low concentration, gets easily frustrated and his writing would just not improve! The teachers were probably sick of the sight of me but when you feel there's a problem you have to stand up for your child otherwise who else is going to? I remember going to a parents evening where his english teacher had been shouting at him saying his writing was too slow and the teacher was quick enough to label my son with anger management issues because he snapped his pencil in that class!! Anyway moved out here to Dubai and he was 9 years old his writing was still atrocious and his teacher suggested that his writing should be screened. The occupational therapist found 3 different things wrong and the help and support he's getting now has turned his life around as his writing back in the uk was knocking his confidence and he was daydreaming and having problems with other kids. My son now gets help from an outside agency called The Child Development Centre and Michelle his occupational therapist and Tonya the manager have been fantastic and deal with us as a family. I would really recommend them plus they are a not for profit centre so their prices are lower. Obviously, we have to pay for each session as we are here in Dubai! When do you not pay? I seriously recommend them though. Our son is completely different now and so much happier because he knows its not his fault plus his school have been fantastic in supporting us and suggested he learns to touch type which we are now going through with him. I'm not sure if this may help but our son has symptoms of dysgraphia which I didn't know about all that time. The symptoms that show up is the numbers 6 & 9 are usually back to front, some letters are back to front b & d especially plus the writing is usually off the writing lines and there's no spatial understanding so no spaces between words. Sorry it's so long but if it helps anybody then at least it's saves on another mother feeling the way I have done in the past xx <em>edited by Lisylou12 on 08/11/2014</em>
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 November 2014 - 02:13
We've been recently down to the Gold Souk around Deira way but parking was pretty horrible. We managed to find a parking spot but wondered what the best time was to get there? Its just that next to the gold souk are some really nice rug shops and I don't really fancy taking my chances getting a big rug back on the metro ;) I'm kind of figuring that if anyone knows it will be one of you lovely ladies
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 October 2014 - 13:06
I've been here 8 months now and love it so much. The best thing I did was join the ladies ski camp on a monday morning. I've made so many good friends from it
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 October 2014 - 01:29
Thanks Guiness2. Both myself and hubby are feeling pretty down with it all. We don't really know what to do about it to be honest. The schools that we've spoken to are saying to declare everything on the application forms but we're scared that when we do they will take one look at the application form and throw it out. They'll say they're not allowed to do that but the reality? We've said to the schools that our child is really clever it's just this one impediment. We spoke to one school today and all the head seemed to bang on about is the highest achievers and how full they were, it just completely depressed us. To top it all off tonight the dishwasher went on the blink, the cooker wouldn't work and the printer was getting jammed constantly and it felt like everything is conspired against us. Genuinely, we just don't really know who to turn to
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2014 - 20:17
How are secondary schools out here on taking children with known disorders such as dyslexia, dyspraxia or dysgraphia? My child is now in year 6 and we have to look for a school for next year. Does an educational psychologist need to be involved for a formal assessment as my child already has help from an o/t . I don't really want to give too much away as I'm a bit concerned about it all really
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 20:03
I love watching the Zoo - it's a really sweet programme - film on tv on iPad and put it through on apple tv. I think it might be a day later you'll watch it though
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 October 2014 - 20:00
I thought I'd read somewhere that Uber's prices were higher than Careems? Although I can't be 100% sure. Anyway, as hubby does a lot of travelling plus we wanted to go out at the end of a week we couldn't get a taxi on a thursday for love or for money! My husband was despairing especially not being able to go out on a Thursday night so I mentioned Careem and they are fantastic. He uses them all the time now!
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2014 - 10:28
Haha, I couldn't tell you anything about Dubai but this is one thing I KNOW all about as my son hero worships Stampy and another one called i ballistic squid. It sounds so ridiculous I know!! Stampy builds up mine craft worlds using viewers suggestions and also shares some of the work that other mine craft viewers have sent him on new releases and then just goes around showing his mine craft worlds and fighting baddies. I actually have to watch these with my son on youtube just to make sure theres no real swearing and nastiness and Stampy is very tame. My son told me that apparently Stampy has a young nephew so he wants to make it nice for kids to watch his videos (not sure how true that is though ;) I saw something in the daily mail saying that due to the success of it all Stampy's been able to give up work in a pub!! i Ballistic squid is another one (you can have stampy with ballistic squid mine craft videos), I would monitor i ballistic squid if he's commentating on his own though as generally he is ok but sometimes if you pick on the wrong episode it could be more for adults. There is also another one with a lad and a girl commentating on Minecraft and other lego ones and they are pretty funny but could need monitoring. My son's usually crying with laughter at these 2 though!! I usually end up tearing my hair out when i see my son watching these youtube videos as they all drive me a bit batty. Plus my son is really good and if I've missed an episode and someones said something naughty he'll tell me and then stop watching it, good communication is key to this stuff. Good Luck!
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 19:15
I have a complete phobia about getting symptoms to be honest and I guarantee I would get symptoms on the most inconvenient times i.e. in the middle of the night!!. Do all chemists stock Canestan and sell it over the counter does anyone know? Or do they only sell it based on a doctors prescription? Remember only too well traipsing to Tesco's back in the UK at 2am to go and get some!! Horrible!!
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 17:12
I remember feeling so guilty about everything and my immune system was shot to pieces back in the Uk. I remember comparing myself to my mil thinking 'my god, she's so organised' but she's retired - go figure lol!! I love it here and genuinely there is so much you can do. I've taken up skiing and now I'm looking around for an art course. Plus it's also amazing how fast the school day goes!! I actually resent the school holidays now
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 16:40
I use Carrefour over in Motorcity a lot because of the good parking there. If you turn right at the motor karting there's a massive car park behind. It is outside unfortunately but what I tend to do is park on the road under the trees. Then any last bits they haven't got in there I'll go to the very bottom level of the car park next to Spinneys at Motor City.
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 16:34
I used to have my own little business back in the UK. I remember arguing with my husband that I am going to work when I came to live in Dubai and that I need my independence! My 10 year old son was really unhappy at school and just generally finding things hard back in the Uk, however, my little girl 8yrs was happy and very entrenched in life. We came to live out here 2 days before Christmas and to be honest I love not working, my kids are settled especially my son. My son attends school out here and the school found that he had 3 separate writing issues. So now I can really give him my time and attention whereas before I couldn't and he has just come on leaps and bounds. My husband seems happier I can give him more time and I go and meet him for lunch a couple of times a week while he's at work. My daughter now gets all the cuddles and attention that she wants. I don't feel that I'm scrabbling around trying to save time anymore and that is the nicest feeling! Now if I'm feeling a bit low I threaten my husband that I'll go back to work and the look of horror on his face says it all haha.
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 August 2014 - 19:08
I'm looking for my own son for a school for next year and so I've seriously done my homework on the schools and I wish for him to be there as long as possible. All of the schools I've mentioned don't go up to year 10 they go further. Nord Anglia is hoping to grow up to the age of 18 as stated on their website. The pricing structures for Kings dubai run upto school year 12-13. They are both gcse and English curriculum. Victory heights is a primary English curriculum which is a great school but I'm sorry I don't know the gems school that I've mentioned because I only pass it every day but worth googling gems al barsha. Desc again as I mentioned before has been recommended by my children's headmistress (which personally I think is a good thing) but academic city is too far from us and it would be a huge day everyday for my son with the travel, homework etc. However there are the other schools as mentioned by everyone else on this thread. In terms of WSO I'm assuming the op has already looked at kdha website I think they have reviews on there? I think personally it's a case of get out here and see what suits you as a family and how each schools ethos fits with your children. It's very difficult!
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2014 - 23:20
Oh god its horrible isn't it?? First thing to do is get a siege mentality on. Make a list of all the schools from the KDHA website that you can apply to and just contact every school. Then next to the list of schools write down their responses in terms of waiting lists. Then do your homework with regards to the areas and get a feel for each school. You may need to apply to 2 or 3 (could be expensive) and then your children will need to sit assessments and hopefully you will know then. I would like to say its easy but its not. One woman I know actually did a spreadsheet of the schools and the answers she would receive back but not all schools do reply so you may need to do some phoning around. If you are thinking of living in or around the al warqa area, the headmistress of my children's school has recommended to me Dubai English Speaking College as a comprehensive. She told me that she was really impressed by the head of the school and the schools ethos. Its around academic city so shouldn't be too far to travel if you decide to live around the area. However, it depends on whether your husband is willing to travel to work. If he is then I would suggest to look at the comprehensives around the Al Barsha area is 2 new comprehensive schools opening which is Nord Anglia (looks very impressive to me and I'm hoping to get my son registered there for next year) and also Kings Al Barsha which is opening as well. There's also a big blue Gems school there as well which I think is new. Also not very far from Al Barsha is Victory Heights Primary and is about a 10 minute drive away (if you're thinking of doing the school run yourself). Good luck with your move and we've all been there with the schools.
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 12:26
i'm currently on itv player trying to reduce buffering have tried to right click to reduce kbps - can't understand it. Can you explain?
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 February 2014 - 21:12
We had issues like this with regents international. I despise the whole schools admission thing out here.
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2014 - 00:24
My kids go to victory heights and I can only give you good feedback from me so far! I'm not sure about your budget but I live around the springs/lakes/meadows area and it takes me 10 minutes to get the kids to school in the morning. So it shouldn't take too much longer from dubai marina. I tried japs just before crimbo but no joy for my 2 kids. There is Bradenton which is new and I think a new gems school off Hessa street around al barsha which is absolutely massive!
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2014 - 00:07
Just really wanted to say my kids go to victory heights and they love it! They were fantastic at setting up the assessment for the kids to do at their school back in the uk. Miss Sasha the head teacher is always there at the school gate every morning and is always there at the end of the school day to ring the bell and say something to the kids. Also any problems or messages to the teachers you may have you just write them in the school link book and there is always an answer at the end of the day. i think there is still space. there is another school as well in victory heights called Bradenton that's opened recently as well but I don't know a great deal about it but pretty certain that its bound to have spaces available. Good luck x
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 January 2014 - 23:54
There are loads of stories in 7 days that just dumbfound me! I don't think there's a day that goes by without there being a maid story or about children. There was the maid who was refused to go to her mothers funeral in Nepal? As reported by 7 days she murdered the child according to the employer to get to the funeral. The employer refutes it and say they allowed her to go.
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 January 2014 - 23:45
If the other hibiscus in a pot is doing well. Have you tried potting up the failing hibiscus in soil and sinking the pot into the ground? Is the healthy hibiscus in shade, it might need a bit of sun to kickstart the flowering or it's been pruned at the wrong time?
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 December 2013 - 00:19
Hi, my 2 kids are starting in January and I am so excited for them. They were both allowed to sit their assessments in their school over here. It really helped them to focus and when they sat the assessment for regent international over there, my son just went very flaky!! I have to be honest victory heights was my first choice and when we got them in, I reread the headmistress's mission statement and it was very positive! My husband went to see the school and he was very impressed not only with the school but also the teaching staff. He did mention to be aware that there is construction going on outside but it takes a lot to impress my husband and he came back with a smile. We've only heard good reviews about the school and the school has also put in plans for a comprehensive which the kids would automatically get into if they've been to victory heights primary
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 December 2013 - 09:55
Seriously losing the will to live with schools out in Dubai at the moment!! We applied about everywhere with the waiting lists as you do for our 2 kids 8 & 9 years old. We found that regent international and victory heights were taking on children. Victory Heights allowed us to to have the assessment on the computer over here in England at their school. Regent international required the assessment over in Dubai. We received an email from Victory heights offering a place to both kids, however, the kids did the assessment at regents last week and have just received an email saying only one kid has been accepted. We've been able to get the kids in at Victory Heights but can anyone tell us what victory heights school is like as I know it has only just opened.
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 October 2013 - 23:06
Hubbies company have set up a debenture on regent international - any views on the school? Their school here in uk is generally pretty good with good teachers. On the whole parents are pretty pleased but a couple aren't. Is that the case for Regent international? I get the impression it is but it's trying to work it all out!!
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 October 2013 - 20:02
Ok, myself and family are moving out in December a week before crimbo. To be honest, both myself and husband did an attack mentality on every school in dubai that follows the uk curriculum and are getting replies back. My husband is more dealing with this but with every school he's hearing from he's getting more confused. The schools that we have heard from are Star School by mirdif, jebel ali, victory heights and regents international. The kids are 8 & 9 so ideally we would like to send them to a school where they can attend up to 16 years old. I like the look of all of them and think just so long as the kids are happy and to be honest i'm not too bothered about outstanding ratings as good ratings means that the school will always do that bit more to try harder. could anyone give us feedback on these schools Star school, victory heights and regents all have spaces so trying to work this all out. any feedback gratefully received. My head is more pounding about getting the dog out haha!!!
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 October 2013 - 18:49
Thanks for your help, I'll check those out! Ultimately I'm looking for courses I can attend so I can also meet new people and hopefully make friends
Lisylou12
34
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 October 2013 - 18:15
I'm going to be living in Dubai just before Christmas. At the moment, I lead a very busy life with my own gardening business which I love, my family and dog (which we will be bringing over). I like to stay busy, if I don't it can affect me! Which sounds ludicrous but I can feel low! I can see there are a lot of things to do and I am looking at starting things from scratch I.e yoga, art but I need to keep my brain active and wondered if there are any kind of adult education courses especially in psychology. I have found the directions to the plant souks which I am excited by. I've also found Yoga and kickboxing courses - not sure if any of you can hear the panic in this post haha!!
 
 
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