mich72 | ExpatWoman.com
 

mich72

mich72
178
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Latest post on 29 February 2016 - 16:47
If you put potatoes in the fridge the starch turns to sugar much more quickly, resulting in sweeter and grittier potatoes. Have you tried storing them in a paper bag in a cool (not cold) place? If you want good mash then try baking potatoes and then scooping the potato from the skin.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 23 December 2015 - 15:37
Kinokuniya in Dubai Mall have them.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 18 June 2015 - 08:08
Used to work in the document management industry in a previous life. having worked with many large companies trying to achieve this my advice is don't bother. Not one of them managed it, even with buy in from top management. The best thing to do is look to reduce and lower costs. I would advise contacting Canon and meeting with one of their solutions people. There is software available to control printing in an office environment and redirect print jobs based on rules you set. You would also need to look at other tools such as ecopy or full versions of Acrobat so that staff can manipulate files rather than print/copy them. There are many ways to go about it, but it is expensive and a painful process as you will meet lots of resistance due to you effectively changing the way people work. Without buy in from top management and a suitably sized whip I guarantee you will get nowhere. even with the buy in, prepare for stress and a lot of battles and frustration.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 29 April 2015 - 12:42
Sue - Sent you a message via Dubizzle.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 14 April 2015 - 08:42
Had similar with them a few weeks back for a package from the UK. Didn't complain due to expecting the usual Dubai apathy. Luckily no damage done, or I might have put aside my own apathy!
mich72
178
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Latest post on 15 March 2015 - 09:20
It's better to pay in the currency of the place you are spending the money in. Paying in the card's home currency is a service, a convenience if you will, and you always pay for service and convenience! Every time I have worked the numbers out it has been more expensive to take up the offer of paying in your home currency. Let's face it, they aren't offering it out of the goodness of their heart...
mich72
178
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Latest post on 01 March 2015 - 09:04
There are only 2 adult only resorts in the Maldives and both are a seaplane transfer. The best option a speedboat ride away from the airport is Baros that has an over 8s policy, meaning no smaller children. Baros doesn't offer AI. The best meal plan for this resort is B&B unless you intend to eat 3 course meals every day. B&B also allows you to eat where you want rather than being restricted to 1 restaurant. Room service on your deck is very nice, without the price tag of the special meals on the beach they offer. Another (expensive) option is Huvafen Fushi. Kids are allowed, but they are not encouraged. There are some larger resorts with adult only sections, but are a seaplane journey away from the airport. If you can manage the seaplane then Komandoo (40 mins) and Maafushivaru (25 mins) are both currently over 18s. Both have good reefs, food at Komandoo is better, but Maafushivaru is a prettier and smaller island.
mich72
178
Posts
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Latest post on 13 January 2015 - 09:44
If your current tv has a HDMI socket spare then just buy a chromecast from Jado Pado. This means you can cast what ever you've got on your Google Chrome browser on your laptop to your tv wirelessly. There are apps for Android and iOS as well. Chromecast costs 160 AED vs 1,000s for a new tv :)
mich72
178
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Latest post on 10 December 2014 - 08:12
Ever since Du 'upgraded' the equipment on our street the service has been dire. Torrent seeding has dropped 7 fold and my ratio is sinking like the Titanic :cry:
mich72
178
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Latest post on 07 December 2014 - 09:54
For reliability Canon and Xerox. Avoid Toshiba at all costs. Some of the Xerox office machines have what I think is a safety issue, but otherwise they are good. After years of leasing copiers I only use Canon now.
mich72
178
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 December 2014 - 17:45
Really depends on budget as the prices vary a lot and Feb is peak season price wise. Baros is a very good resort close to Male. A bit further afield you have Kandolhu that only has 30 villas on the island. For adults only then Komandoo (highly recommend) and Maafushivaru are the only 2 (over 18s). Can recommend Constance Moofushi for a really nice mid-priced resort that is all inclusive. All the resorts I've mentioned are renowned for good snorkelling, except Moofushi which is just ok. If house reef is important, the best are the Park Hyatt, Robinson Club and Mirihi. Kandolhu isn't far behind with Athuruga too.
mich72
178
Posts
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Latest post on 09 October 2014 - 17:17
The Shark steam mop (from Lakeland) comes with various attachments, including a brush that is good for grout. You need to put some elbow grease in to do the grout with the brush attachment, but it works and is easier than scrubbing by hand. You can use it as a hand steamer as well as mop, so quite flexible.
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 September 2014 - 12:55
When you make them, make sure you keep the meat very cold at each stage. When you do the cold water stage, make it ice cold and make sure you mix the mixture until it gets sticky, otherwise you'll get dry grainy sausages. Once you've made them a few times and got the knack there is no going back :)
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 August 2014 - 11:14
HTC One M8 is a nicer phone, though if the camera is super important then the Samsung camera is better. The HTC camera is good, but not as good. The HTC front camera is better (selfies, Skype etc).
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 July 2014 - 15:50
GE Express will be about 400 and very reliable.
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 July 2014 - 17:13
Save yourself the hassle and install Start8. Free trial for a month, then a one off $4.99. It allows you to make Windows 8 seem like Windows 7 in most important respects.
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 June 2014 - 09:09
pmd - have you tried taking your SIM and battery out and putting them back in? This sometimes works. You could also try your SIM in a different phone. Had issues with Etisalat myself. Tried to complain, but they couldn't even use their own complaints system <rolls eyes>
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 June 2014 - 10:57
She's probably referring to smelly people, who sadly can't be refreshed every 2-3 minutes :)
mich72
178
Posts
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Latest post on 05 June 2014 - 08:54
Can recommend Pet Air UK. Great door to door service, which they will tailor to your needs outside of their standard packages. Not cheap, but well worth it for peace of mind.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 04 June 2014 - 11:10
Ours moved here at 12 and 13 and they were fine with the journey. They're very settled and happy here (though they're not allowed out of the garden!).
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 May 2014 - 08:34
The problem is with your DH and not your son. For the majority, they never have the opportunity to follow their dream, let alone achieve it. If your son genuinely has the talent to make it as a pro footballer then please let him follow his dream. In Europe most youngsters of his age continue their education hand in hand with the football at a club. A few years back Sharjah FC partnered with Bolton Wanderers. This might provide some opportunities for your son as they have some fantastic education and sports facilities, not to mention Premiership standard coaching etc. http://sharjahfc.ae/bolton_wanderers.php Speak to the coaches at the club and see where his talent might take him. Most importantly your family needs to support your son's decisions. Education will be available to him for the rest of his life. Football only for the next 20 years.
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 May 2014 - 12:26
So, after signing out and back in, the profile link is there. After updating my profile, the link was still there. 2 clicks later the profile link has gone, no matter what page I'm on. Admin- you might want to look into that...
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 May 2014 - 12:23
I've not got that. Just links to various bits of the site and sign out at the far right. I'll try signing out as you suggest. Thanks.
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 May 2014 - 11:46
Not lived there, but know it well. It is typically Mediterranean in that everything gets done slowly. Hot in summer and mild in winter. The cost of living is lower than here, but due to it being a small place and a major holiday destination, property can be pricey in some areas. You may want to avoid the main tourist areas, as it can be a bit Costa del Sol in places. Fine for a holiday, but to live all year round? Driving/parking is busy/difficult in places, again due to small size of the place. Choose the right place to live and the lifestyle can be very good. You can walk to places, lots of cafes etc. Shopping is limited, but S&S works there and more places will deliver direct there due to it being EU. I prefer Gozo to Malta itself. Quieter and more laid back. The ferry between can get very busy around festivals, particularly the festa in August. If the package/career prospects are right, then there is nothing about the place that would stop me from living there. If you want to visit beforehand, the easiest route from here is Emirates. The plane lands at Larnaca en-route, but you stay on the plane. Around 6 hours in total if I recall. Any other route seems to have really long stopovers. <em>edited by mich72 on 13/05/2014</em>
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 April 2014 - 20:27
Constance Moofushi has one of the better AI packages, though it is likely in a similar price bracket to Lily Beach. The most comprehensive AI is Park Hyatt. It is expensive, but if you're a UK passport holder they are doing some great deals. Try Simply Maldives or Purely Maldives for pricing. A more basic AI package, but very good value for money is Komandoo. It is an over 18s resort though. Thanks for the suggestions. I think I looked at Constance Moofushi and that is the same price as Lily Beach, I just don't see how they can now justify over 1000 Dhs extra per night from less than 2 years ago, but as everything else prices just keep going up. Have you stayed at Komandoo? When you say more basic is that the quality of food and drink? I do fall into the over 18 catagery though so that's one to consider :) Off to Komandoo later this year, after months of research! The food is very good and mini bar included. Compared to Moofushi the range of drinks isn't as good, but perfectly adequate for me. At nearly half the price of Moofushi it is a winner! I recommend the sunrise side of the island in a jacuzzi beach villa. The sunset side is a bit hotter (less breeze) and has a view towards a local island. Check out this video for an idea of the island - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7rqPnZcXz-A
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 April 2014 - 20:11
Constance Moofushi has one of the better AI packages, though it is likely in a similar price bracket to Lily Beach. The most comprehensive AI is Park Hyatt. It is expensive, but if you're a UK passport holder they are doing some great deals. Try Simply Maldives or Purely Maldives for pricing. A more basic AI package, but very good value for money is Komandoo. It is an over 18s resort though.
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 March 2014 - 10:42
I can't remember what the charges were as I just got an amount paid into my account in AED. They didn't state separate charges and obviously the exchange rate would have been fairly random and profitable! On the forms I had to fill in it stated from and too charges that were dependant on something not stated - not very transparent! The maximum I remember was 200 USD, but I wasn't charged anywhere near that. Just go to the branch on Al Wasl and queue for the tellers. They have the forms behind the counter. You might need your Emirates ID (can't remember).
mich72
178
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Latest post on 19 March 2014 - 09:08
HSBC will cash it. They charge a fair whack (as any bank would) and it takes a good month to clear. I cashed one in Dec last year and got the money in my account late January I think.
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 November 2013 - 12:29
Treu mich72 - although having the ability to ues FaceTime, greatly outweighs the need for LTE For you that might be true, but others it might not. I just felt your statement about working fine everywhere was misleading to anyone that might take it at face value. Therefore I wanted to add caution to anyone reading. Personally I think iPhones are ridiculously expensive inflexible devices that are purely designed to rip people off. But that is just me and each to their own.
mich72
178
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 November 2013 - 10:53
Loads of threads on this at the moment. Go to one of the little electrical stores and buy and unlocked US or UK one HERE. No need to buy from apple and pay extra tax etc. [b'>They will work fine elsewhere.[/b'> Not strictly true. The networks in different countries work on different frequencies and technologies. Some aspects of a phone built for a particular market may not be compatible in another. An example of this is I believe the US LTE networks are generally not compatible with the UAE ones. This means you wouldn't be able to use a major feature (fast internet) of the newer iPhones if you bought a US iPhone. This may not matter to everyone, but it could be a nasty surprise if you spent a lot of money on it not knowing. I'm no expert on iPhones, but please do check out compatibility if you're buying a phone made for a different market.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 13 November 2013 - 11:19
I also think I read somewhere that there should be an upgrade to Windows8 out now, which will put majority of these issues right. This is just typical Microsoft :( Yes. The 8.1 upgrade in the app store. It helps, but is still rubbish. Tru Blu - the problem with Windows 8 is that as a laptop OS it doesn't work well. The new interface is designed for touch. As a tablet it is also poor as half the time you end up in desktop mode, which is terrible for touch screen. It is trying to do 2 things at once and does neither particularly well. There is some good stuff in Windows 8, but the UI completely ruins it.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 13 November 2013 - 08:58
Easiest thing by far is to install Start8. This will give you the proper start button with associated menus etc. Once installed the rest of Windows 8 changes are relatively easy to get used to. It costs $4.99, but worth it. You can customise it as well. There is a free alternative called Classicshell. It works but isn't as good IMO.
mich72
178
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 November 2013 - 14:02
Just use Earlybird. They will deliver whatever day/time you want and they sell Masafi. Might be a few dirhams more expensive, but worth it for the convenience. They do other stuff like milk, so can be handy and save the odd trip to the shop.
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 October 2013 - 18:05
If you have concerns about her using the Internet at certain times, or to visit dubious websites etc then you could buy a WiFi router that has a guest network in addition to the main one (most Netgear ones have this feature). The advantage of this is that you separate the devices you are using on your WiFi network from hers - no accidental sharing of stuff. You can also have the guest network automatically switch off at certain times. You can also block any websites you want as well.You can give the guest network a different password to your own. All without affecting your own use of the WiFi network and gives you lots of control. The Netgear WNDR3400 and 4300 definitely have this feature.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 26 September 2013 - 09:22
Jinja in Business Bay deliver to AR. The best chinese delivery to AR I've found so far - not that the competition is up to much! You can view their menu and order on Foodonclick.com. They're opening a branch in the Marina as well, but don't know when that is.
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 September 2013 - 15:16
Constance Moofushi, Maldives. Fantastic place and a really good all inclusive package.
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 September 2013 - 11:43
If an old laptop you might find you don't have enough memory, or that the memory isn't running properly. What I would do first is download the latest version of your browser of choice - don't install it yet. Uninstall your existing browsers then install the one you just downloaded. See if this works. If still not working. What operating system do you have? If Vista, Windows 7 or Windows 8, you really need to have at least 2gb RAM. If you only have 512mb, or even 1gb then this might be the problem. A memory upgrade wont cost loads. Good luck...
mich72
178
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Latest post on 24 July 2013 - 16:19
We've got the same type. I ran a few litres of water through it with the sterilising tablets from the baby section. It then took about half a big bottle of water before it tasted as it should.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 23 July 2013 - 10:21
Short term lets of less than 6 months are not allowed in the Ranches and residents are encouraged by Emaar to report this type of activity. Even if you were to find one, you would run the risk of being kicked out by Emaar and losing your money.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 17 July 2013 - 16:21
Speak to Adam or Richard at Purely Maldives. They will get a better price than you can with the resorts. Based in the UK and a very good reputation. I can recommend Constance Moofushi. It is an all inclusive resort and really good. Not overrun with kids, but there are often some there. The All inclusive package is very good and includes more than most resorts. Good luck.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 16 July 2013 - 17:56
Speak to the resort. They'll allow you to change the booking to them direct, but may not honour the price you got with Atoll. You could speak to another travel agent and ask them to take over the booking. This might get you a better price than going direct to the resort. Purely Maldives and Destinology get favourable reviews on Tripadvisor, as well as the usual Travelbag et al. I would speak to your card company about doing a charge back for your deposit and show them the Maldives government notice posted (link on Tripadvisor forum). Whatever you do, don't give them more money. Good luck TDB. Hope you get it sorted.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 04 July 2013 - 10:00
That's about right. You'll pay about 120-130 to refill once you've emptied it. If you are setting up new, they'll likely charge you for a regulator as well. About 40 is right.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 03 July 2013 - 12:48
They had some in Waitrose Dubai Mall this morning. I think it was flavoured, but not sure.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 20 June 2013 - 22:00
had the same problem a while ago. Check to see if the item you want is listed on Amazon. Debenhams sell some of their range there and ship to shop and ship if done through Amazon - stoopid I know!
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 June 2013 - 12:22
Use the sterilising tablets/liquid you can get in the baby section in Boots. Probably harder to get here, but booze equipment sterilising tablets will do the job too. Both options avoid after tastes you can get with bleach/vinegar.
mich72
178
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 June 2013 - 08:41
For Android the HTC One is the one (excuse the pun) to go for at the moment. Less plasticky than the Samsung and the HTC interface features are better IMO. The new Blackberrys are pretty good. The interface does my head in, but that is just me. Many of the apps are ported from Android. I think they have a way to go to catch up with Apple and Android yet. iPhone. Personally think it is a bit staid and hasn't moved on in any significant way for a while. You either love 'em or hate 'em. I'm in the latter.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 17 June 2013 - 14:05
Trade Centre Apartments on SZR (the old low rise buildings, 3 of them). They accept pets but you have to leave a deposit against damage.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 11 June 2013 - 11:37
Can anyone tell me a ballpark figure of the garmin? There seem to be so many editions, which one is good? Mine is the Garmin Nuvi 2905. Can't remember how much. Things to look for is decent screen size and if you find the touch interface easy to use. Some cheap ones are so darned hard to hit the on-screen buttons. You tap the right place but it thinks you tapped the one next to it! Edit: in the shop try using it from the side - this is how you'll use it in the car ;) <em>edited by mich72 on 11/06/2013</em>
mich72
178
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Latest post on 11 June 2013 - 11:35
Google Maps navigation has voice directions just like a sat nav. More accurate and less annoying than my Garmin! Google Maps navigation - is this an app i need to download? On Android it comes as standard on the phone. On Apple you can download it from the app store. I assume it works the same way, though there could be differences. It is a free app.
mich72
178
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Latest post on 11 June 2013 - 09:31
Your mum sounds like a lady of discerning taste but personally I prefer the teletubbies. :D Discerning wouldn't be the 1st word that came to mind! lol
 
 
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