lovingthesun | ExpatWoman.com
 

lovingthesun

lovingthesun
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Latest post on 13 May 2015 - 09:27
It's only Thursday and Sunday, just called and checked. The parent portal has changed as well...it was an error apparently.
lovingthesun
458
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 May 2015 - 15:54
Even the dog wants to do it's business as quickly as possible
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 May 2015 - 10:09
Never meddle in other people's lives!! Agreed...and mostly because it never goes well. You/We just don't know what is going on and she will never thankyou for it.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 May 2015 - 09:18
They are sometimes rather slow to accept the entertainer vouchers as well. Try to make sure you get served by someone switched on.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 May 2015 - 06:22
The more I think about this the more angry I get (at him). Really...what a sleaze! I have a picture of him in my mind driving the car his wife paid for one inch from the bumper of my car when I'm with the kids flashing away when there is traffic ahead and to my side and I have nowhere to go because this seems to be exactly the kind of person he is. Why on EARTH would he tell you this other than to cement his "reputation" Unpleasant horrible little man.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 May 2015 - 06:19
Yes Nord is IGCSE and then IB Diploma. The other schools she mentiones are IB all through schools I think. IB diploma (which comes after IGCSE/GCSE) is very academically rigorous. In my opinion PYP (Primary IB prog) and the MYP (secondary IB prog before IB Diploma) are not so much but other opinions my vary :)
lovingthesun
458
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Latest post on 11 May 2015 - 20:12
We're very happy Nord parents too. It's quite far from IB though since, though a lovely school in feel, it's also quite academic. Totally agree with Blue though...go and see some schools and choose the one which makes you go "yes" :)
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 11 May 2015 - 09:23
He sounds like a creep and an iditot. Also what kind of "friend" makes you complicit in his lie...that's doubly bad!! On the other hand...you're stuck now. You can't come between a man and a woman, no good will come of it. I think you stay far far away. What a horrible man.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 May 2015 - 15:25
I wish they would cancel school during Ramadan and make it up at some other time of the year. It ends up being weeks of no learning, short hours and the kids can't concentrate - particularly the kids that are fasting. School calendars are pretty much fixed by the KHDA now so I don't think they have that flexibility at all.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 10 May 2015 - 15:01
I think the ones in Daiso aren't real lace if i recall correctly. This might be one of those things best ordered (we did this).
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 May 2015 - 07:50
Definately find time to meet with others working at your intended work place and have a coffee. You need to walk in eyes open. It can be great here and often is...but sometimes (and you are doing exactly the right thing by coming for a visit) all the glitters is not gold. Once you see it (same goes for houses/schools/nurseries etc) you will know. Good luck :)
lovingthesun
458
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Latest post on 06 May 2015 - 13:24
Thats like asking "What is the BEST lipstick?" MAC...Viva Glam :)
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 May 2015 - 11:33
This thread has been my education experience for the day :)
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 May 2015 - 09:58
Of the schools you list with high turnover...i can't say I'm surprised or would disagree with you.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 May 2015 - 08:42
One week and this is your priority? You must have a more fun life than me :)
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 May 2015 - 08:20
Well...normally someone making an unfounded and sweeping statement would need to justify it themselves but that doesn't seem to be the case here. I'm hardly a school expert, though I listen a lot, know what i like and have experience of a few, but I'm not privy to schools details! So...in no real order and with no real evidence, I don't hear of a lot of teachers leaving (and I'm sure i've missed loads!) from; JESS DESC JAPS DC Horizon AID DESS (the new schools like NAS where my children go have very happy staff but being open for the first year they can't really be on this list). I do hear of lots of teachers fleeing some other schools but It's not my place to mention them here because, as I said, I have no firm evidence...you seem to know about it though so perhaps you'd like to furnish your list of schools with huge staff turnover?
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 May 2015 - 08:14
Either I'm too old to know what this is or I just don't treat my cats well enough :) What is Catify?
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 May 2015 - 07:47
Repton for Infant and Primary schools. Completely disagree. Though at least their infants and primary are better than their secondary.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 May 2015 - 14:52
And/Or talk to a midwife...sensible advice from someone whose seen hundered of mums :) It's international midwives day after all (i heard on the radio just now!)
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 May 2015 - 14:49
All the schools here are relatively new, have huge staff turnover and are basically operating to earn as much money in as short a period of time as possible. This is factually untrue. Not all schools have huge staff turnover, many do not. Of course they are relatively new, so is the country. Have you experienced many UK prep schools? I have; some are good, some are great, some are terrible. It's much the same here but comments like the above are misleading and unhelpful. <em>edited by lovingthesun on 05/05/2015</em>
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 05 May 2015 - 14:47
Only Repton would try to gloss over literally hunderds of people leaving the school as if it was no big deal.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 04 May 2015 - 09:38
Sadly it seems many people here attended the "I have blinkers on" school of driving.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 May 2015 - 12:00
So now you have a choice of all three :)
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 03 May 2015 - 09:06
In my ear all night. Turn on the lights...invisible. In my ear again. I would cheerfully wipe the evil things from the face of the earth.
lovingthesun
458
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2015 - 11:12
At the risk of a very dull, non rhyming post A bespoke design would fit you the most When we had one done in the fall As my husband is uncommonly tall they were cheaper than some of the ones i'd seen in the shop and helpfully they were made on the hop sorry! But...carpenter made us a great one in 2 weeks. Spot on :)
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2015 - 11:06
https://www.gov.uk/government/policies/improving-the-quality-and-range-of-education-and-childcare-from-birth-to-5-years 96% (according to this site) of UK 3&4 year olds attend state funded education. (perhaps the other 4% are private?) I don't think this is coming from the KHDA...They are quite seperate from the education ministry which is more AD based.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2015 - 10:51
Is FS1 required or optional in the UK? Forgive my lack of knowledge. I haven't sent my children that young, but it seems that if KG1 is dissolved/dissolving, this would leave a lot of desperation, wait lists etc. It's required, so it would be a disaster if this was enforced.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2015 - 09:58
Well FS1 is glorified nursery so I guess KHDA want nursery kids to stay at nursery? This would be a very interesting development if its true.... Not really true of British Schools which are often "through" schools. I think it would be a great shame to make this change as it would just be more difficult for parents and more disruptive for children.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2015 - 09:49
Anything, in any reasonable condition, in Meadows, Springs, Lakes or Arabian Ranches is not seeing any rent reductions unfortunately. I think AR and the Lakes are even seeing rent increases. We looked at Jumeriah Park as an alternative, but no real community feel to it, so not an option for us. Agreed It's a shame about Jumeriah Park as we looked at that too but just didn't feel right. No kids on bikes etc. I don't think the nice places will fall any time soon.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2015 - 08:53
I don't know the schools I must admit but that huge roundabout would be enough to put me off...especially at drop off/home time. I just think that's too risky personally. Regent got a reasonable write up on Which School Advisor...
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 30 April 2015 - 08:51
Lakes and Springs are nice :) One word of (and don't panic!) slight caution...be careful with the plumbing/drainage in SOME of those houses (certainly not all). A good look/smell around before taking the place would be enough. A friend of mine had a nightmare with a place they took unseen. I guess I'm only saying that they are not all the same and to look at any specific house you might take before you sign rather than accepting that "it's the same as house x". I like living this side of town and out of the traffic as I think it's a bit more "family" but others prefer to be closer to the "buzz" and that's just a choice, (mostly because I don't like some of the insane drivers on the roads here especially when i have the kids in the car). Good luck, it's a lovely place, and not always this hot!
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 27 April 2015 - 12:01
We don't pay anything it is all provided by school. They use a tablet/laptop/pc when the teacher thinks it's useful. I really don't like the idea of primary children being "forced" to buy/use a certain brand at all.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 27 April 2015 - 08:00
Never been tailgated by a cab. Usually a Male in a 4X4 or an American muscle car. Very much agreed...or an old banger on the way to Sharjah!
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 27 April 2015 - 07:53
So basics are. The kids are in a small (ish, small classes rather than small overall) academically selective private school here seem to be thriving in that environment - so we would love them to be in a similar school in Dubai. Is there anywhere like that? Sounds like maybe not? For living the more I think about it the more I fancy a nice gated estate where small children can roam on their bikes and then where we can hang out at a communal pool and meet people and have fun. We like to keep fit so need somewhere to do that... Budget for accommodation is flexible but I'd like to keep it under 250. I'd like 4 beds.... Around 3000sq ft. Am I off my rocker?? Any suggestions? What are the Um Sequimm places- schools/ accomodation? Thank you and you'll be glad to hear we're definitely still back to wearing coats and feeling chilly after the brief burst of warmth we had a couple of weeks ago! I think you need to look and you're doing the right thing. Nord is academically selective with a lovely feel but places are quite limited. You do need to visit schools though as some are not finished and their websites won't tell you that (it's a Dubai thing I have come to learn). In terms of housing the Ranches is nice and is close enough to all the areas you are interested in and you could likely get something in budget. There are a number of other housing areas that are nice but agents here can be tricky so you do need to be very careful and present. They will not hold houses for a set time either, they always want you to sign there and then which you may or may not be able to (or you company won't do it). Agents are all about the commission and actually benefit if you pay more...be careful. So...don't worry it's a great place and you have options but go in with (literally!) you eyes open :)
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 26 April 2015 - 13:21
I don't really find taxis to be the problem... Now if it was big SUV's being driven by people on their phones that this was aimed at (as i suspect it is)...then I'm all for a wider roll out.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 26 April 2015 - 11:14
Pretty much all done at school thankfully! Scouts, swimming, Diverse and others...I wouldn't want to be trecking around town and being nothing but a glorified taxt all week...that's for the weekends :) Sounds good, that's how I will try to organise after the summer. Glorified taxi is the word, the drive there, then sitting around for an hour somewhere and then drive back... Haha...too right. This makes me want to break out into some kind of Monty Python type "when I were a girl" banter! Spoilt monsters are having cold cabbage tonight :) <em>edited by lovingthesun on 26/04/2015</em>
lovingthesun
458
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Latest post on 26 April 2015 - 10:35
Pretty much all done at school thankfully! Scouts, swimming, Diverse and others...I wouldn't want to be trecking around town and being nothing but a glorified taxi all week...that's for the weekends :) <em>edited by lovingthesun on 26/04/2015</em>
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 26 April 2015 - 08:40
Morning If you go to Nord (as my children do) and live in Ranches/Victory Heights/Motor City/Springs area you won't be in the car all the time. If you live in the Ranches (for example) your total travel time to school will be about 5 minutes.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 April 2015 - 14:52
take a look at Which School Advisor they have pretty solid listings.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 April 2015 - 06:31
As I said at the start, I quite like her. She's not bland and boring at least. I think it's like anything really...people moan and complain at change or anything slightly unusual. I was talking to a friend and people moaned and complained about CB/GB too...but they were excellent. I also think internet forums mostly attract negative posts, it's almost self selecting, which is perhaps a shame. And of course people will have different opinions and some people won't like the change or won't give it chance. So be it, I like her. Still haven't got around to listening to Stef on 103.8 though which I really should.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 16 April 2015 - 11:12
I asked for exactly that in the Samsung store in Dubai Mall. The floor worker said "no we don't have it". When I asked to talk to the manager to find out when it might be coming in he said "maybe in some months" so it seems that for now the answer is "no". Though I must add I wasn't all the confident that the people I was dealing with were all that interested in my query once it became apparent I didn't want to buy what was in stock there and then.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 09:52
We loved GB and do still miss her (has anyone heard her on 103.8 yet...i really should do that today) But have to say, I like the new lady as well.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 09:48
Having said the above... Travel times are an issue as traffic can be terrible and also the standard of driving here can be quite frightening, especially when transporting tots. Look very much at somewhere close to where you are going to live. Dubai British Foundation and Hartland are both new and should both be good. They are on reasonably opposite sides of the city so give options in terms of living location.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 09:24
Unfortunately it's a bit tricky to comment on two of the schools on your list as they are deleted quickly as you will have noted already The schools concerned are very active on these forums. My recomendation would be to go and physically look at the schools in question as there is no substitute for a personal visit. Websites are not always 100% accurate in their depiction of the school in many ways. FS2 places are tricky to find in the best schools that is for certain so you could always be pragmatic and take an FS2 place in one school whilst on a waiting list for your more preferred school. <em>edited by lovingthesun on 14/04/2015</em>
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 13 April 2015 - 10:58
Agreed with the above. It doesn't sound like something you need a mammogram for and if it's getting smaller...then give it a little while. Especially since you've had spots like this before.
lovingthesun
458
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 12 April 2015 - 12:18
I quite like some of the humorous replies that come back, but some of them are a bit overly terse for my personal taste and some seem to verge on the outright rude which I'm not a fan of. I realize of course that taste varies and that's OK of course, i'd hate to see more heavy handed moderation. I did take (at the start until I realised it was common) offence at some of the really obvious spoiler threads that appeared with lots of fake posters. I thought that was a real shame but again I have seen a few more of these now and have mostly got over it. That and the "I have heard" brigade which still does, to my great shame, really manage to wind me up over my morning coffee! Facebook groups don't replace an open forum though as many are closed?
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 31 March 2015 - 10:48
The company are aware of the biological status of the children and they still offered him the job with education and health allowance. I wasn't aware that the father had to write a letter, we were advised that permission from the judge with an undertaking that I get the order 'mirrored' in the UAE would be what we would need. Now I'm even more anxious I won't be able to relocate I strongly recommend you contact your companies PRO (it's a known position here) and get them to sort it ahead of time. A good one can move things in the right direction (or at least give you a definitive answer) and they are the only people who can give you the RIGHT advice. This forum is useful but is always opinion, some well informed, some well intentioned guesswork. The company can arrange for you to come out for a week and spend that time with the PRO and/or take a phone call with them ahead of time. It's P-R-O not Pro (I mades this mistake when I moved here and no one knew what i was talking about!)
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 26 March 2015 - 07:48
I wonder if they will have to change the "sing-a-long" tapes at all.
lovingthesun
458
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 March 2015 - 11:21
I love the show but I can see what she means. She is a great presenter and funny in her own right. Good for her I say. I wonder who will replace her on the show as it's our morning listening on the way to school.
lovingthesun
458
Posts
EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 22 March 2015 - 08:38
I thought it was going to be about Eric Clapton!
 
 
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