loube49445 | ExpatWoman.com
 

loube49445

loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 December 2011 - 18:26
there is a post office on the JAFZA (confirmed by Al Barsha branch) but Lord knows how you reach it what with the route changes up there, I couldn't reach it last time I tried in the car, but it is there!!!!
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 December 2011 - 18:18
how about tinned mini cocktail sausages...like the weiner thingys, then get a packet of bacon and hey presto...or wrap the tinned mini's in jusrol puff pastry....well anyway here is a festive business opportunity for an enterprising expat...mmmmmmm
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 December 2011 - 13:44
we are a no dried fruit house, on account of me (doin' the Dukan) and 4 males who hate dried fruit and love chocolate! So we have a Gingerbread house, and I am looking for a really good recipe for a Chocolate Yule Log for Christ,as Day, if anyone has any pointers would be much appreciated!!! Oh and before anyone thinks it...Christmas Day is a PV - yippee! <em>edited by loube on 15/12/2011</em>
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 December 2011 - 13:39
Good Luck. my advice for what it is worth is Give her a copy of the gate key, and one of the house keys (as well as her accom) Lock all money, passports (incl hers) and jewellery away...either in lockable box or safe. Do not leave cash etc lying around the house, it is temptation and for the rest...well Good Luck, but you will be glad you decided to have a live-in
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 15 December 2011 - 13:37
saw this on another thread ages ago, not sure if it is still there, but my nearest is DSO
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 14 December 2011 - 23:24
I kept hearing adverts on 92fm today, saying that freelance work is illegal without a trade licence (they were quoting virtuzone) you need this to get your labour card.....but nowhere is anything clear, and the relevant websites could do with an update by profession.
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 14 December 2011 - 23:21
Hi This is such an interesting debate. A few comments 1. Some A levels do actually include a personal study/written project, which has to be correctly referenced...i.e. History. Many moons ago my History A level included a 3,000 word assignment. Good prep for Uni. 2. Singapore Sling - are you Singaporean? Even if not, it is interesting to note that the Singaporean Governments choice of program for its local schools is Cambridge O level and A level and NOT IB. 3. Even now many UK (and I would guess US) Universities do not recognise/fully understand the IB and how to apply it to admissions when compared to A levels. 4. There are schools offering A level and IB all over the world, but you need to have over 120 students per year group to be able to afford to pay the teaching staff required for both. 5. After attending a talk about the reasons for choosing the IB over A levels at my kids school, I was left unconvinced about how applying to study a Science based degree - such as biochemistry could be achieved by doing the IB, rather than A levels. A levels allows time only to be devoted to those subjects. most potential Uni students realise the need to have more on their Uni applications than just the academic stuff, proof of part time working, volunteering, travel etc, etc. All UK schools have some work experience programs running, overseas students can take a gap year to add this on. So, the jury is out for me and my kids on the IB. I am looking ahead as far as the IGCSE and then will decide after that point. Even now I feel more comfortable with the A level option!!
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 December 2011 - 15:20
how about the small nutella glass pots?? or do they need to have a foot on them?
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 December 2011 - 15:19
you mean the Marriott Dubai Harbour & Hotel suites??? or is the other one open now at the Creek??
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 December 2011 - 12:41
Hi Everyone, thank you so much for your support, although I do not know any of you I do really appreciate your comments. I can report that it was the Mornflake Oat Bran I found, maybe Waitrose would have it too but not checked.....today I weighed in showing a total weightloss of 13.6kg.....now I have to go clothes shopping as I am wearing the dregs of the contents of my closet, which were sz16 I have kept.... Now that I am feeling a lot lighter I aim to ramp up on the exercise after Christmas, up until now I have not had the energy to lift myself for anything energetic but I feel a new sense of vitality. Re: alcohol, I am not sure Dukan would approve, and so far I have not taken any but perhaps the sugar free Red Bull at 8 cals a can may do the trick, or Bacardi & diet coke (a 25ml shot of bacardi is around 54 calories) anyway I will be having a glass or 2 of vino/bubbly on Christmas Day and New Years Eve
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 December 2011 - 12:22
Emirates Post at Silicone Oasis (the large HQ building) - by EMS.
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 December 2011 - 12:14
finding a real Christmas tree last weekend (only 5 left in Spinneys at Mirdiff, non at Ace or DGC)..and decorating it has really helped me, that lovely smell of pine wafting through the air as I come downstairs in the morning is making me feel really warm and Christmassy...plus the cold mornings - 13 celsius at 7 a.m. this morning
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 December 2011 - 12:06
hello. I thought I would close this thread by letting you know, that the agency did finally get in touch, very awful for them really. They had to let 7 maids go, as these Ladies had been to the court...terrible for everyone. So now I have someone coming on Tuesday, and Sunday (not as convenient for me) but I will see what the standard is like. I will have to explain and observe again...it takes so much energy doing this, but then maybe it will be worth the effort....starting to consider the FT live-in option as more appealing....but then again I am quite liking the house to myself and my family which I have not had for 7 years!!
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 10 December 2011 - 21:54
Hi I'm doing the Dukan. In Choitram Green Community we have oat bran (cereal section, orange cylinder), Total 0% fat greek yoghurt, virtually fat free cottage cheese, Onken fat free vanilla yoghurt, Onken Fat Free strawberry (with bits) and rhubarb (yaay!!) I started Oct 1st, and so far have lost 13.5 kg lost, 12 kg to go!!! It is a great diet, and the consolidation and stabilisation phases are the parts of the diet which appealed to me. No other diet provides this level of rehab back to normal eating patterns. Good Luck!
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 09 December 2011 - 21:58
well no one contacted me, it is very strange...but of course if my cleaner has been given the elbow, then I will need a new agency as Supermaid had no replacement for me last week when my cleaner did not turn up! Also no bill from them since mid Oct when she started, very odd indeed! All has been chased up, and I will be deciding Sunday on the next steps. Shame if she has gone, because when she did come she was very good!!
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 08 December 2011 - 11:55
4 hours 35AED per hour
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 08 December 2011 - 11:44
Hi Emlsnre You are right, mine was one of Ladies who did not come in. According to them they are classified as cleaners and not domestic helpers, so they can apply the labor law. Even tho' double time was offered for working. I am just not sure whether to continue with them, or accept that this is the nature of the beast so to speak!
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 08 December 2011 - 11:41
sold, thx
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 20:35
We have had a few queries from good friends, who usually send us a crate or two and this year we have had to decline, much to DH's dismay
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 20:33
thx Admin
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 20:26
my pet peeve is the packages - does anyone want 6 of 2x3?? and this year out of 3 kids, only one has had his photo taken so far, and odd position he is standing in and DH says he looks cheesy! but as I have not had any school photos for 2 years (previous school did not bother) then I am pleased to be able to acquire an updated set, and a few for the relatives And I asked for my own combo of sizes, cash was preferred but cheque ok if it was going to be a struggle
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 20:18
My 3 have had the vaccine in Bangkok as chicken pox is endemic in Thai society, according to my then GP.
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 20:15
I have a flyer for Chiropodist & podiatrist Kersten Elliott at Dubai Physio & family med clinic - tel: 04 3496333 - it came from the EW You in Dubai coffee morning in September.Not tried her yet, but need to fix an appointment myself too. It looks comprehensive.
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 20:10
smart dress
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 16:25
watch our for the Heinz TK in Green comm Choitram - price difference is huge, but when I queried it before getting to check out the explanation was '...the dearer one is from the UK' (i.e. not high fructose corn syrup) - the UK one costs around Dhs20 and the others are half that price
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 16:23
my all time favourite is Out of Africa
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 16:20
no bonus for mine, he did not notice the irrigation system had not been working for 3 days last month.....
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 06 December 2011 - 16:19
This has happened to us, we moved in Aug 1st, LL said he was going to sell at some point but not now as the market is flat...then a few weeks later we get calls asking to show people around. To be frank, I am not one for standing in peoples way so I agreed and now we have a new LL as of a few weeks ago. They want to move in at end of tenancy period - 1 yr. Contract has not been RERA stamped and presently our relocation company do not seem to be bothered to ratify the tenancy agreement with the new owner, and it is their duty....so Lord knows what will happen. Anyway, we are happy to move to somewhere a little cheaper, and to forego the pool (as we have not used it since end Sept as the water is too cold for us.....) Maybe we should stand our ground, I am thinking....
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 17:03
5 x Thai 2 x burmese (very short spell) 3 x filipina 1 x PT cleaner (here!) <em>edited by loube on 05/12/2011</em>
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 16:47
at least someone can help, it is awful that a child may have to suffer when the Mother is just trying to provide for a good life for that child......
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 11:45
it is not showing...and I updated it with a photo not so long ago Also it would be good to have a search function that allows you to see only the adverts with photo's <em>edited by loube on 05/12/2011</em>
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 11:41
Not had our DEWA yet for November, expecting about 2000 AED incl housing fee Emicool is 1890 AED - consumption low so is mainly standing charge and DEWA surcharge
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 11:36
I am no expert but perhaps they may accept a proof of paternity? And maybe something from the Embassy saying you were common law when your child was conceived and not resident in UAE at the time ask your Embassy for advice or Dubai immigration Good Luck
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 December 2011 - 09:34
just emailed EW as I had the confirmation email that the ad was on, but it is not there...
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 17:25
yeah Choitrams - they have the chocolate orange ones in my local
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 17:15
I have a Yamaha Clavinova CLP220 for sale, excellent condition, it is the browny/black colour, just put an advert on so maybe if you want to look - or is the real thing you want? these electric pianos give as close a sound to a real piano as you can get, but we now have the real thing, so this one is available Loube
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 17:06
Hi Everyone I am so glad someone raised this topic. My DS1 is 12 and has been asking me for a mobile since he was 10, because some of his mates have them. My view to him is, a phone is not a toy, and you can have one once you are old enough to go to the mall without your parents (then we need to call him etc...) until then NO. Then last week I got the request for BB, and I asked him how is he going to pay the bill? mmmm....no answer. So we have a rain check on the phone. He does have an iPad, he had that for his 11th Birthday using money from rellys and from us, and he now drives me crazy with it, noise level too high, 'please input password to update my apps' and he keeps breaking every set of headphones (4 sets this year) and I am now refusing to buy any more, until Christmas!! So they can Skype on this thing, and video chat with their mates if it works out...and he chats with his mates in Bangkok and Singapore so his life is not too bad! My DS2 is 10, he has an iPad - same headphone issue and Skype and Minecraft (anyone else's suffering with Minecraft?) A gameboy, did not want a DS of any type and has not dared ask for a phone...yet. Broken 4 sets of headphones...but all pairs lasted longer than DS1 My DS3 is 8 - no phone, no iPad only a Nintendo 3DS. Model son, only broken 1 pair of headphones, never lost his 1st Gameboy (still has it) and has not lost his 3DS since last May...so maybe third time lucky we have done something right as parents!! He has been told he is too young for an iPad, and he doesn't even talk about a mobile phone So there you have it, a synopsis of my little corner of the world
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 16:54
saw lots in the Toystore this morning at Ibn, would avoid Hamleys - very expensive, not sure on the prices
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 16:52
however as the other Louise just said it maybe that you acquired your mortgage whilst you were UK resident. Our case was we sold our home (Santander mortgage) and had another one ready to purchase, but Santander would not lend to us as we were not UK resident, lots of stalling and shoddy customer service on their part when it would have helped everyone if they had told us BEFORE we put in our application. Anyway we now have a HSBC International mortgage, and we can borrow against that should we need to
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 December 2011 - 16:50
you could apply for an increase to the borrowing on your mortgage, some allow a % to be borrowed for house repairs 'caring for your asset', unless your mortgage covers the house value 100%
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 28 November 2011 - 15:51
Two Christmas's ago, in another country, I gave my maid a not very expensive but new clock radio, thinking this would be very useful for her room....next thing I know it has disappeared back to the philippines...so she never got another present from me..in this other country it is not common to supply maid with TV/Internet access or any of the luxuries they seem to be gifted with here in Dubai....but of course I should have known as she sent a 27" TV back home too, and she won that in the Filipine embassy christmas raffle.
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 27 November 2011 - 17:37
Hi I would say change it whilst you are there, but not in the large hotels - depends what you have - sterling or USD is usually wanted...thai baht is not traded as a currency globally so your rate here would not be so good I would think...but check xe.com, then check here...and decide
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 26 November 2011 - 23:22
a wonderfully comfortable chair, that does not swivel.....that I can place next to my landline..to replace the chair already there that does swivel and the children sit in...it is the swivel factor which attracts I believe
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 26 November 2011 - 10:00
i-style (IBN Battuta) are now selling these for AED 149 each, the apple online store is doing them for AED 169, very pleased...good colour choice, but no pink ones. FYI
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 24 November 2011 - 14:49
Just checked IRAS and they have changed the rates for tax year 2012 http://www.iras.gov.sg/irasHome/page04.aspx?id=1190 TBH it was clear as mud for me, but then you can use the calculator to work it our. Tax is not deducted as you go, but paid at the end of the year after you have completed your tax return. You are tax resident as a foreigner if you are resident in Singapore for more than 183 days of a year
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 24 November 2011 - 14:42
Probably you would need about 25000 AED, but that is 7000 x 3 (1SGD = 3AED) plus a bit more, and then you need to have the rent etc on top. TBH if you do not push for a higher salary you will find it hard, as you would not be able to vacation long haul etc, which I would think would be a must-have for an expat, but not necessarily for a local (who have family around them). However you can board the train to Malaysia, and get ferry to Bintan, Indonesia for reasonable price, so holidays would not be out of the equation though on the salary you mention. I would say it is imperative to have your rent covered if anything and a home leave flight. Good point regarding the income tax - it is around 14-15% over 300K SGD per year, no income tax under that amount and this should not have changed since June, as the budget was already announced, check www.iras.gov.sg for the figures and the guru website is good for property...we used sgcarmart.com for guideline car prices. You can check utility rates on www.spservices.com.sg and the provider for phones/tv is Singtel or can't remember the other provider for TV, but there is one. For any other info you can go to www.gov.sg or the various forums. Good Luck!
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 24 November 2011 - 10:36
we have elife, and for the past 5 days we keep getting the update message about every 5 mins, very annoying...will be calling them later <em>edited by loube on 24/11/2011</em>
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 24 November 2011 - 10:35
my husband has Sun 27th & Sun 4th Dec off, but the school (Repton) is open :)
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 24 November 2011 - 10:20
Hi Eva B I moved from Singapore in June, after living there for 2 years. The salary is possible to live on with No kids, assuming you are covered for your rent, health care, employment pass, home leave flights costs etc. If you are not then it will be difficult. Rents for 2 bed apartment can be 5 - 15,000 depends on where you live. You can apply for the gov. apartment - HDB (housing development board) and the rent would be 1500 per month, there is usually a wait list....I have 3 kids and to be honest we were living in a 5 bed house with pool but we struggled and without annual bonus etc would not have survived. Try and get as much covered by the employer as you can. I have a friend who is in a 2 bed apartment near Orchard Rd (main shopping area) so not needing a car (bus transport is cheap but crowded and the underground system is good) for 7K per month. Food if you eat in the food courts (some is very good quality and delicious) can be SGD 5 pp meal. I hope this is of some use. I have to say that Singapore is presently installing FREE broadband island wide, and you can get it in most Starbucks, and many homes are being offered free installation presently. So broadband & Tv packages are less than here. Water & Elec it depends on your view about cooling. The unit rates are similar to here. If you choose an apartment high up and you can open all windows etc, and no need to turn on a/c. Low level you would close the windows to keep out mosquitoes. It is a very clean city... very little dust. Oh and also it is a perpetual building site...roadworks everywhere and always a new condo going up, but the Singaporeans like to pull buildings down every 10 years or so and put a new one up. Very green, lush and always something to do - plenty of expat clubs, and Balls to attend and if you have a hobby you will find a club for it. Good Luck!
loube49445
604
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 19 November 2011 - 20:42
ditto dyson...love the hard floor attachments and compact design
 
 
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