MissMoiselle | ExpatWoman.com
 

MissMoiselle

MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 20 October 2013 - 13:42
You're welcome! Let me know how your first shabby chic-ness turns out :)
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
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Latest post on 20 October 2013 - 13:41
Hi there! Soooo sorry, it completely slipped my mind. Of course I'd be willing to help! Going back home early November for a short visit so I'll pick up some material. Contact me and we'll figure something out. Looking forward to hear back from you! <em>edited by MissMoiselle on 20/10/2013</em>
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 19 October 2013 - 19:00
Hi! I've done it to an old pine writing desk and to my two ikea night stands. And they look fab!!!! The best paint to use for a shabby chic effect is Anne sloane chalk paint, it gives a matte, grainy feel. As I've searched high and low in the uae and couldn't find it, I now mix my own chalk paint. Very easy. First you mix one measure of plaster of Paris with one measure hot water, then, once that mix is done, you add two measures of latex paint. That's your chalk paint done. It dries very quickly and your furniture doesn't need any prior sanding. It works on basically anything. Chose a creamy or grey colour for your base paint. Then do another chalk paint mix with the chosen colour for your furniture (pastel colours for a whimsical feel, bright colours to brighten up a room). Once base coat is dry, paint it with your colour chalk mix. Once that is dry, you can gently sand the edges and handles and corners of legs to reveal the base paint (or sand it until original wood is visible, depends on your taste.) and finish off with some wax. Voila! Shabby chic piece of art done! You can buy all your supplies at ace or Danube, very convenient. It's very cheap and very easy and the end resuts are fantastic! Hope this helps! Enjoy your upcycling!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 11 September 2013 - 22:45
Hi rose We were in the same situation. Lived in dubai. Rents started going up. Then we visited a friend living in al hamra and BOOM, we were hooked. My husband needs about 50 minutes to get to work at the airport. When we lived in JVT, it could often take him 45 minutes.... If you don't have a 9-5 job, then traffic is not bad at all. Instead of taking emirates road, you can take dubai bypass road and avoid the build-up in Sharjah. Don't worry about quality of life, RAK is much more relaxed than dubai, there's a real community feeling and remember that you are always near the lagoon, the beach or a swimming pool. Rent is very very cheap compared to dubai, we live in a 3 bed townhouse with a lovely garden backing up to the lagoon and the beach a minute walks away(!) and were paying 85k. Our lovely landlord lives 4 houses down from us and he even did the garden up for us when we moved in! I would never ever move back to dubai, RAK gave us a real feeling of belonging and we love our life here. In the beginning, DH wasn't sure about the commute but he says the drive is so easy, gives him time to unwind, "switch off" and look forward to a dip in the sea when he gets home. Hope this helps, good luck with your decision! <em>edited by MissMoiselle on 11/09/2013</em>
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 02 September 2013 - 13:50
Ola! I am Portuguese on my father's side and would be willing to help. Are you looking at conversational Portuguese or more grammar based lessons? Let me know!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 02 September 2013 - 13:42
Bang & Olufsen are available in mercato..... LOL! This had me in stitches! Very funny! Even my Danish husband laughed at your comment, well done IzzyOnTheSeat :)
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 27 August 2013 - 13:34
Agree with sakhifa and genie.... You know the rules in dubai, it is illegal and you will only get in trouble if you report him. Learn from your mistakes and move on with your life. Take genie's advice and by all means stay out of it, no contact with your ex or with his landlord!!!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 17 August 2013 - 18:29
Hi marroosh I always had the same problem as you, even in Scotland... Imagine woolly jumpers sticking to the skin that just won't absorb my body lotion... Lol I now use Jergens sheer butter body moisturiser. It's great, absorbs quickly and leaves a subtle smell that isn't overpowering at all so you can still use perfume. Most supermarkets sell it and I now swear by it. It leaves skin soooooo soft without it being sticky or gooey. Result! :)
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 17 August 2013 - 13:58
Hi there. We are leaving our villa in JVT at the end of the month and we'd like to re-paint the walls before we go. Has anyone done it themselves or have you used a maintenance company that you can recommend? If anyone has painted their villas, any brand name and paint colour codes would be greatly appreciated, thanks a lot.
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 14 August 2013 - 15:06
Hi, i have the exact same problem... Magnets all over the fridge, giving it an untidy look, i am forever rearranging them lol Found this online http://www.shanty-2-chic.com/2013/05/magnetic-board-diy.html I am a bit of a DIY nut, but I wouldn't go to as far as she did though, I'll just get a big, chunky frame and have the metal cut to the right size at ACE. Hope this helps?! <em>edited by MissMoiselle on 14/08/2013</em>
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 05 August 2013 - 21:31
Thanks, di@dxb, I'll give it a shot. Don't mind paying for it, as long as they don't try and rip me off :) I also thought about going to the fruit and vegetable market, what do you think?
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 03 August 2013 - 21:04
Hi Misoma I really cringed when I read your post. I am going to give you my opinion since you are asking for opinions. Bluntly, I don't think it's ok. Facebook is a dangerous playing ground for married men, even if they never physically meet a lady friend, it can destroy relationships. You say they have met through work, which is fine, but why would they feel the need to meet up and go for lunch or dinner together, just the two of them? I find it very wrong and quite disrespectful towards you, to be honest. I would advise you to talk to your husband and tell him it's not about trust, it's about mutual respect. If you're uncomfortable with it, he should take your feelings into account, except if he REALLY feels a profound need to be in touch with this woman... (In which case you need to ask him why). Don't play games of going out with male friends to test his reaction, it is childish and could turn into a vicious circle. As for the woman, yes, she is playing nice and all, but like you say, she has a relationship with a married man, so doesn't sound very trustworthy... I know I sound harsh but at the end of the day you are insecure and sad and angry and perplex, so I'm just trying to help. Sorry if I am blunt, don't mean to offend and/or judge, but I've seen many relationships endangered because of these "friendships" through Facebook. Good luck with everything and a big hug your way!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 02 August 2013 - 18:58
Maybe you should do as in the UK? Trim your shrubs and trees, pop over and ask if you (or your gardener) can pick it up and bin it? I would certainly be pleased and not offended at all if my neighbour did :) Or are you asking because your neighbour didn't pick it up? In that case, I would pop over and politely request that they clear it from my garden :) HTH
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 31 July 2013 - 21:29
- hypocrisy is often disguised through overt niceness. Be it colleagues, friends or other... Please elaborate. I would love to hear more about it ... ;) Well, two cases in point: Having people "educate you" about dress code in the optional condescending tone and the seeing them when they go on a night out.... I have to say I was sooooooo scared of being inappropriately dressed when it came to covering shoulders and knees, no hint of cleavage on show, etc. then I started to see men wearing a " dish dash " (apologies, still don't know the correct spelling) accompanied by very scantily clad young women. Got really mad at that one the first time I saw it :) Having a superior telling you that your dress is "absolutely lovely" *fluttering eyelashes*, then asking you for a favour regarding her work schedule (smitten like a kitten by the compliment, you agree)and then finally saying that the dress code requires that the length of your dress should be "knee-length" (as a newbie I didn't know whether that was just ABOVE the knee, BELOW the knee or ON the knee cap.) ;) I can laugh about most things now though, you do learn along as you go.... Lol
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 31 July 2013 - 18:56
... Well, I found out that you must identify what the meaning of "expat" is. Have identified three categories so far: - the ones that want to stay permanently and grow and settle down steadily - the ones that come here to save, save, save and eventually return home - the ones that come here for the experience or the adventure of it and live for today Depending on what kind of expat you are, or want to be, your attitude will have to adapt. I am very grateful for the job opportunity DH got when he came here, but Dubai is not home and there are a lot of things I personally don't understand or agree with but I still need to accept things that go against my personal values, out of respect and because I am grateful for what we'll eventually have when we leave. That's for the "philosophical" advice :) On a lighter note: - people jump the queue all the time and I always say something to the queue jumper, whether male or female, local or not. - remember to BREATHE when driving, patience is key, otherwise your stress levels will go through the roof! - be kind to all workers that respect you and that mean well. Rude store employees, cheeky gardeners or staring men will get the "evil look" and sometimes, yes, I do snap and tell them off. - hypocrisy is often disguised through overt niceness. Be it colleagues, friends or other... - When going to a store alone, you'll be greeted with "hello maaaaaam", but if your husband is accompanying you, you'll realise it's like you're wearing an invisibility cloak as they'll only greet "sir" :) still winds me up..... - it's better to laugh at the language barrier (see the thread Overheard at McDonald's) than to rebel against it That's my bit Who's got something else? :) Looks like this could be a fun thread.... <em>edited by MissMoiselle on 31/07/2013</em>
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 25 July 2013 - 21:53
Forgot to add that made you should call Nakheel, they might be able to help speed up the process? We called them once with a problem with our stove and they were very helpful and sent someone around within an hour!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 25 July 2013 - 21:46
Hi sandy We live in JVT as well, in district 9b and we have had none of the problems you are mentioning. I did see that certain spots have been constantly leaking and there's a huge area on orchid boulevard that has flooded.... Neighbours should help each other, in my opinion. If you need to wash your clothes or even shower (not meaning to cross a line here but I know in this weather I need to shower up to three times a day!!! ) (we have a guest bedroom, don't worry), let me know, I'll gladly help you out.
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 25 July 2013 - 17:03
Thanks meagle! We have two weeks between vacancy of our current villa and lease in our new villa. Is it reasonable to ask the landlord to inspect the premises when we've vacated the villa? We haven't had a great relationship with them and I suspect he'll come up with loads of things that need to be fixed. We took pictures of the things that were damaged/wrong when we moved in, can we use them to claim back our deposit?
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 24 July 2013 - 18:47
Hi there. DH and I went to bali last April for our honeymoon and it was fantastic! We stayed in Sanur, about a 45 minute drive from the airport. It has a lovely village feel, loads of good quality restaurants with a variety of cuisine, and a lovely beach with the friendliest locals! Depends on what kind of hen do you're looking at, really. Sanur is quite relaxed and not very tourist-y. We stayed at the Kamuela resort, which only has about 10 villas with private pool each. Kitchen and Living area are open (as in outside) , bedroom was huge and there was an outside en-suite shower. There is also a big shared pool for all guests next to the bar. i think the villas range from a one bedroom villa to 4-bedroom villas. Their spa is amazing and the food fantastic. Staff was amazing and very helpful. Hope you'll find a great venue for your friend's hen do, Bali is a gem and you won't regret it!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 17 July 2013 - 16:11
Hi greekgirl. I have been here for almost a year as well and I absolutely hated the "agent" that is managing our current villa. It's a tough one in dubai re landlords or agents. What I can say is that it is pretty normal for them to say that the door is unlocked and that you can go and have a look. We had that reply many times and we actually liked being on our own to open cupboards, inspect every corner, etc. if you end up liking the place, call back and ask for details. We were dreaming about moving to RAK for a while and last weekend we drove up, told the security guards that we wanted to have a nosy and he had no problem with that. Most places that are not rented out have the front door unlocked, and we just had a wander around. Next day, we signed a lease with a fab real estate agent. What I mean to say is that you should make the most out of this "go and have a look yourself" system, and maybe you've been unlucky with your agents for the greens, but there are some good ones out there! :) best of luck with your search! <em>edited by MissMoiselle on 17/07/2013</em>
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 24 June 2013 - 19:56
Gentle bump...
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 13 June 2013 - 00:36
so sorry to hear about that. Even though I've never been in the same situation, I think you did the right thing! Stealing is wrong, and although VERY tempting for these poor workers, they should know better! Don't beat yourself up, you did the right thing by calling the company straight away and kudos to the manager for dealing quickly and efficiently with the situation. Don't beat yourself up, just be glad the situation was resolved. Next time, put ALL valuables away or keep them in the room you're in (it's what I do when someone's in the house and I don't want it to seem like i'm spying on them for an hour, standing in a corner of the room and staring at them)...
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 10 June 2013 - 23:31
I don't mean any disrespect, but more often than not I find that "professional" dog trainers or dog whisperers are quite hard to take seriously. First, because they all have different techniques and approaches, and second, you are basically asking a person that doesn't know your dog to advise on how to educate your dog... I could never talk myself into hiring one of these specialists, preferring to do it myself, relying on advice of friends and lots of patience and love.... So far, it has worked, maybe I've just been lucky or maybe I am just narrow-minded and stubborn :) Sound like you have just been unlucky. My lovely SIL is only 5 feet tall but has more than 30 years experience of training dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds. She used to breed dobermanns and showed a few of her dogs at Crufts. I have seen her in action with many dogs, including my sister's very unruly and badly trained Border Collie. My sister is a darling but completely clueless about how to manage her dog who is very big and strong. 5 minutes in my SIL's hands and this dog is a different animal!! There are excellent dog trainers out there who get good results where loving owners have failed dismally. There is no doubt that most people can manage an average mutt when it comes to teaching the basics but dogs with more "challenging" behaviour need people who know what they're doing. :) That's lovely to read, you might just convince me ;) I always think that as long as you love your dog, anything can be achieved, maybe that's a romanticised idea.... Some of the trainers I have seen on tv or YouTube just seem to get in and train the dog without even questioning their methods which I sometimes find too harsh or inappropriate, but then I'm just a big softie :) would love to see a petite woman training a Doberman, she has guts and is obviously good at what she does, so she can only be a dog-lover... :) Thanks for broadening my opinions!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 10 June 2013 - 23:12
I don't mean any disrespect, but more often than not I find that "professional" dog trainers or dog whisperers are quite hard to take seriously. First, because they all have different techniques and approaches, and second, you are basically asking a person that doesn't know your dog to advise on how to educate your dog... I could never talk myself into hiring one of these specialists, preferring to do it myself, relying on advice of friends and lots of patience and love.... So far, it has worked, maybe I've just been lucky or maybe I am just narrow-minded and stubborn :)
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 10 June 2013 - 21:41
How old is DD? Maybe you can find a way around it? You could ask DD to teach her new tricks and commands, rewarding her with lots of treats? If a dog understands simple commands. (sit, lie down, stay, stop, come here, carry on, heel, etc.), she'll be more obedient and more submissive without losing her personality, if that makes sense?!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 10 June 2013 - 21:21
Hi there. My mum used to have a dog who acted like yours, just became very aggressive out of the blue, very territorial and extremely possessive. Nobody could come close to my mum, nobody could greet her or touch her without being growled at or bitten. In the end, my mum had to put him down, the vet explained that the relationship had somewhat switched, that the dog didn't see my mum as a pack leader and he was the boss.... Sad... My lovely furry son has had a couple of weeks where his behaviour changed as well, but what triggered it was that he got attacked by a German Shepard, so he became weary of all male dogs that approached him. Here is what we did, maybe it'll help you. When walking him on the lead and another dog comes to us, he tighten the grip on the lead and make it very short so we can pull him back if necessary. We always tell the other dog owner that ours might get silly so he's aware of it as we'll and chose whether to walk on or let the dogs meet each other. If our dog started growling, we pulled on the lead, made him sit, made him look at us and told him off in a very harsh tone, repeating "bad dog" and "no, Charlie, no". Over the days he would let other dogs come close and sniff him, so we praised him profusely, both with pats on the head and treats. He is much better now, but we know that as soon as the hair on his neck comes up (signal of mistrust), we just say "no, Charlie, carry on" and more often that not, next time he meets the same dog, he'll be fine because he's met him before and knows there's no threat of being attacked. We now even leave him of the lead when he's playing on the big lawn close to our house (all Dog owners seem to meet up for a chat and playtime at the same time), most dogs are off the lead and everything is fine. I advise you to force her to socialise with other dogs, whether she likes it or not, even if it's just sniffing each other. Same thing when people come to the house, don't let her get territorial, she has to understand that it is your house, not hers. If your guests sit on the couch, don't let her sit on the couch as well, she'll consider herself an "equal" to humans, which is bad.... Hope some of this helped, let me know how you get on, but remember to be firm, you are the boss and she must obey you (even if it breaks your heart to tell her off, I know, I've been there...) :)
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 03 June 2013 - 16:41
Hi there. Sorry to hijack this thread... Our friends currently live in springs and are looking for a 3 bed. They are lovely and don't want the hassle of moving too often, so are looking for a long-term home. They don't want to disrupt the kids who go to dubai British school nearby so this would be perfect for them. I hope you don't mind, but I gave them your e-mail address.... (Was this totally rude of me? Hope not...) oh, they are also keen gardeners so I know they'd take care of your garden like it was theirs.... Hope you'll find good tenants soon!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 27 May 2013 - 13:53
sorry.... we have saturday tickets as well. Good luck though!!!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 27 May 2013 - 13:15
we live in JVT and although not all common areas are finished, we see lots of kinds in the finished playgrounds, playing football on the football fields and basket ball on the basket ball fields. Loads of people have been moving in the past couple of months and it's really nice to see parents, kids and dog walkers on the big green lawns... such a cosy atmosphere. Recommend it! :D
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 27 May 2013 - 13:12
hi there. I'll ask DH about his work schedule. Pretty sure we have friday night tickets... I'll let you know as soon as he gets home. :)
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 25 May 2013 - 17:12
Lynett, first and foremost, i am sending you a big big hug! I think it is good for you to come to this forum and let everything out. Sometimes, even if people can't give advice, you'll still get lovely feedbacks and positive thoughts sent your way. I am really sad to read your story and i cannot begin to understand how life has treated you unfairly. Until now. You have a lovely baby on the way and that is what you should focus your attention and energy on. He/She needs you to make everything you can to offer him/her the life you never had. I don't know if the dreaded "D-Word" is acceptable in your culture, but i can tell you that personally (!!!) it is what i would be looking into right now. Your husband is unhappy, you are unhappy, your husband is holding you hostage by keeping your passport and threatening you with your father and that is a horrible thing to do. He hasn't changed his ways and probably never will. I don't mean to sound harsh or cruel but it needs to be said. You have suffered enough in your life. Is there any way you could go to a friend or family member abroad and get some advice on how to separate from your husband (even if it is just temporary)? Maybe rummage through the house to find your passport? I hope the lovely EW will be able to give you some concrete advice, like i said, i am from Southern Europe, and even though i am fairly traditionalist, I would not tolerate this kind of behaviour towards me or my child. One person can turn your life around and build happy foundations for your child's life and that's YOU. Good luck with everything, stay strong and don't give up on your happiness. As long as you have a future to look forward to (your lovely baby) then that will give you courage and strenght to fight for what you deserve. Again, big hugs your way!!!!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 23 May 2013 - 14:16
You've never been to karama? :) it is definitely our go-to place for family and friends visiting.... My mum, sister and MIL really love a good bargain! I am assuming you're going to karama to shop for handbags and stuff? You can go to karama any day of the week, I'd suggest going in the morning (9.30 ish) though or later in the evening (again, 8.30-9pm). Parking might be an issue though, you'll have to be patient. There's a parking behind one of the "malls", it's where we usually park. you will find that taking the metro to karama can be a "fun" adventure for your visitors... :) whatever you do, (and this will sound like a cliche, but oh well) if you want a good bargain, start at a third of the asking price and try and get it for half the asking price. Don't wear bling jewellery or posh clothes, they are very good at reading your "wealth" :) also, always be friendly and smile when you are haggling, in my experience they see it as a game. Plenty of shops (and upstairs apartments) to browse through, so don't be afraid to walk away if they won't budge on price. I usually ask for free stuff if they're not willing to budge and once I got a nice leather make-up bag and my MIL got a free wallet. Nice!! Hope this helps?! Let us know how you get on!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 19 May 2013 - 19:18
sorry to hear about that desperatemom77! Being a teacher, i can only understand that the process of finding the right school can be tough, really tough. Regarding Dubai though, what Akia and I say about Dubai is a very personal opinion. I am sure you will find tons of ladies here on EW who absolutely LOVE it. It can be right for some and not quite so right for others. I don't have children so socialising with other ladies my age can be quite difficult as most of them will be mummies and have priorities that i don't have (don't get me wrong, I LOVE children and that's why i am a teacher!)... Don't write Dubai off just yet. Maybe let DH come first, settle in, visit from time to time with your DS and see whether this would be the right move for your family. As another poster said on an older threat, whenever having the choice of being apart or being together, a lot of people would advise you to stay together as a family. Maybe there's another school you could consider? Think about it and good luck with your decision!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 19 May 2013 - 16:11
I agree with you, akia, I always seem to be busy (when really I'm just "needing" to pass the time when I am not working...) and I can't wait to move to RAK to re-discover the simple pleasures in life. I love refurbishing/painting furniture and sewing home accessories and I can already picture myself on the balcony, with a cup of tea and a biscuit, looking at the sea... Bliss! If you're writing, then I'm guessing you won't be bored and you will enjoy life in UAQ as much as I will in RAK! Feel free to come and visit RAK if you need a break! :) <em>edited by MissMoiselle on 19/05/2013</em>
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Latest post on 18 May 2013 - 14:29
Hi Akia! We are in the same frame of mind, even though we've only lived in dubai for less than a year (DH has been here for 18 months though). We just feel that even Dubai might be some people's idea of paradise, we feel like we are not shopping-people or brunch-people or fitness-people. We like the idea of living in a small community, having friends araound for dinner, take long walks with our dog, etc. A couple of months ago we "discovered" Ras al Khaimah and it was a revelation! Totally different feel to Dubai, and a much slower and relaxed pace of life. Like you, we'll still have "Dubai Days" two or three times a month and that will be enough for us. Think about what's best for you and your family, if your LO is too small to attend school and you'll be spending your days with her (and DH) in UAQ, think about one "essential" question: Are you going to get bored? :) If you think your quality of life will be better in UAQ, the i'd say go for it! We are moving to RAK in July-August and I can't wait to live "the simple life"! Good luck to you and let me know how you get on!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 11 May 2013 - 20:39
Thanks for all your lovely suggestions, ladies, they were great help. I did consider buying a voucher because i know he's a responsible, sensible boy (middle of three boys) so I thought I'd go against the "sensible" gift and ended up buying a remote-control helicopter. He opened our present last because it was "huge" and he was pretty excited about it... Chuffed! :) It is quite hard to know what to buy for kids when we don't have children ourselves but all our friends do. And with many birthdays coming up i'll be turning to the excellent advice on EW again! Thanks again, ladies!
MissMoiselle
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Latest post on 08 May 2013 - 22:23
Hi Ladies Just wondering if anyone's heard about this company, whether you recommend it or not....? TIA
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Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 14:48
Just checked out marina motel and it is LOVELY !!! Thanks so much for the recommendation! Since they have an airport shuttle i'm thinking or renting a car when we leave San Francisco to avoid the parking issue you mentioned. It sounds like a lovely potential start to our trip...!! *getting excited* :) I'm familiar with the Cow Hollow/Marina neighborhood in SF and while that neighborhood is excellent, the particular street (highway actually) that the Marina hotel is located on is not the best. It can be very noisy / busy at all times (as it connects traffic to the Golden Gate Bridge). That section of Lombard street has its fair share of drugged out homeless people. Also, some other not so great motels on the same street and I remember back in the day there was news that the city was using some of the other motels on that street as '[url=http://www.marinatimes.com/apr10/news_homeless.html'>half way houses[/url'>'. However, it could well be the 'whacky cultural" must-see" thing' you are looking for... edited by random1 on 07/05/2013 edited by random1 on 07/05/2013 I did check some travel websites and their guests' reviews and it does say that it can be quite noisy so we'd need to ask for a courtyard room. Would you not recommend it then, location wise? I guess we're not used to see homeless people and "junkies" (not sure how acceptable this word is, so sorry if I offend anyone, but certainly don't mean to...) so I don't know how comfortable we'd be with that. I guess as long as it doesn't involve any danger we'd be fine with it. Hmmmm, tricky one, that.
MissMoiselle
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 20:45
San Diego is a must see and can be done as a day trip from LA. Other Must-sees include the drive to Big Sur and a day in San Francisco If you have time; I would go to Yosemite or Kings Canyon/Seqouia May should be one of the best times for Yosemite as the waterfalls will be in full flow. May can be a bit chilly in LA and coastal regions so a convertible may not be practical. Mid May is also when Cherry season starts. Forget Death Valley or Palm Springs as it will be too hot there. Thanks, Arch! We're quite into Nature-Sightseeing, so Yosemite and Sequoia sound really nice! Do you think it'd be worth spending the night in San Francisco? I love the idea of a road trip, but i don't want to feel too rushed... 2 days in San Francisco too much? we stayed in san fran 3 nights, there is plenty to see and do, if you do go to san fran you usually dont need a car, there is usually no where to park a car if you are in the center we actually stayed at the original motel which you can actually see in the film "bullet" as it had its own garage underneath and 2 bedrooms. http://www.marinamotel.com/ edited by busybee2 on 06/05/2013 Just checked out marina motel and it is LOVELY !!! Thanks so much for the recommendation! Since they have an airport shuttle i'm thinking or renting a car when we leave San Francisco to avoid the parking issue you mentioned. It sounds like a lovely potential start to our trip...!! *getting excited* :)
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 20:41
BusyBee, did you just google search "car rental or hire" or can you recommend a good company? I know you did three weeks but was it expensive in your eyes? Arch, what would you recommend? convertible for the style (am picturing myself as a modern-day Audrey Hepburn with head-scarf and big sunglasses, LOL) or a comfy saloon with A/C?
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 20:36
San Diego is a must see and can be done as a day trip from LA. Other Must-sees include the drive to Big Sur and a day in San Francisco If you have time; I would go to Yosemite or Kings Canyon/Seqouia May should be one of the best times for Yosemite as the waterfalls will be in full flow. May can be a bit chilly in LA and coastal regions so a convertible may not be practical. Mid May is also when Cherry season starts. Forget Death Valley or Palm Springs as it will be too hot there. Thanks, Arch! We're quite into Nature-Sightseeing, so Yosemite and Sequoia sound really nice! Do you think it'd be worth spending the night in San Francisco? I love the idea of a road trip, but i don't want to feel too rushed... 2 days in San Francisco too much?
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 20:24
San Francisco is a fantastic city, you could have a few days there, then drive down the coast through the Big Spur, you could stay along the coast, Monterey and Carmel are nice. Then down to Los Angeles, and visit Hollywood/Beverly Hills. We then went down to San Diego. We also went to Yosemite and Disneyland but you probably won't have time to fit it all in. My husband always wanted to hire a convertible and cruise down the coast, but it wasn't too practical with 2 kids and 3 suitcases :) edited by TimTam on 06/05/2013 Thanks, TimTam I think his family is planning a day trip to Disneyland the day before or after the wedding. I've always wanted to go to San Francisco... Do you think i't be realistic to book our flight out of DXB to San Francisco Airport, rent a car and then fly out of LAX at the end of our trip?
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 20:16
LOL you know, i knew i'd be asked about this. I don't know where his cousin lives EXACTLY, i know it's in L.A (suburbia), about an hour and a half from the airport. So we'd probably do our little romantic solo trip first and then use our last two or three days for the wedding. DH is not home so I can't ask him where she lives, but i'll make sure i'll post a more detailed update on this... :)
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 May 2013 - 20:08
Hi Ladies DH and I have been invited to a wedding in the US next year in May. Even though there is still a year to go, we need to start planning in an around the wedding date with hotel, planes, dog sitter, etc. Hence the early start on planning :) We are thinking about a ten-day (max. 2 weeks) trip but have no idea where to start... DH's dream is to rent a classic car for us to enjoy the scenery, but we have no idea about a realistic itinerary, where to stay and what is worth seeing. I know California is huge and there's probably loads to see but any suggestion and recommendation would be greatly appreciated, even if you just mention ONE single thing, like a charming B&B or a whacky "cultural" must-see :) TIA !!!
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 February 2013 - 19:51
Yes, spongemonkey, that's what our says as well.... Thanks to everyone for their input, I feel a lot better now. I just have to hope that RERA won't decide to increase our rent until Spetember. I guess i'll need to keep on checking every month or something :) Have a lovely weekend, everyone!
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 February 2013 - 19:37
Thanks, ladies. I will follow your advice and stay put. I won't say anything and wait for the 89th day prior to our lease end and hope for him not to get in touch, that will avoid us a lot of hassle (I am quite quick-tempered...) :) One last question though: it doesn't say on our contract whether the lease is renewable or not. It just mentions the start date of our lease and the duration of the lease. Do I assume it is renewable? What does the law say about me getting in touch with him if we want to stay another year? If he implied there's a possible rent increase, shall i assume that it is renewable? I just hope i'll be as lucky as you emlsnre! :)
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 February 2013 - 20:41
So I have two options really: - either pay whatever rent increase he demands within the 90 day window (so technically he can't do it any later than June 1st) to avoid a clash and keep him happy Or -contest it with the RERA rent increase calculator result as well as that 2 year rent freeze, but then risk being asked to leave a villa and a neighbourhood we really really love Dilemma, dilemma....
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 February 2013 - 20:25
We used two agents, one export agent from Frankfurt and DKC as our import agent in dubai. They were really helpful, kept in touch constantly, helping us with paperwork, answering all our worried questions and I can only recommend them. Their website is really useful, I think it even provides a checklist of documents you need and all dog details that need to be checked. I do remember paying a hefty price for our German agent but I think I remember DKC were quite reasonable. Hope this helps.
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 February 2013 - 20:05
Thanks for your advice, simpleasabc.... Sometimes it really helps to get an outside perspective, in case I'm unaware of the laws and regulations.... :)
MissMoiselle
105
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 February 2013 - 19:57
Starsouthern, just did what you advised. Put in tomorrow's date when asked by the rent calculator and this came up: The rent for a Two bedrooms Villa in Jumeirah Village ( Triangle ) is in the range 100000 to 140000 AED per year. Your rent is less than or equal to 25% of the average similar rent in the area. So you are not entitled to any increase of rent. Do you think I can use this when arguing our case with the landlord? Have been trying to find in my contract whether it's renewable or not and can't find a clause that says either....?!? <em>edited by MissMoiselle on 21/02/2013</em>
 
 
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