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pinks

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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 July 2011 - 18:47
He has mail!
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 July 2011 - 15:50
It's lovely - and I can confirm that one 'afternoon tea' (the food part) is plenty for 2 people, although you will want to order a pot of tea per person. They also will top your pot up with hot water for free if you ask, rather than ordering and paying for a complete new pot. A group of us went last year for a celebration, and when I booked I told them this, and each of us was presented with complementary flowers. Enjoy!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 July 2011 - 16:00
M&S has some very reasonable machine washable suits (both skirt and trouser options) in at the moment (one in grey!) which from personal experience wash, and wash, and wash...
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 July 2011 - 14:02
I can only tell you what the head of one of the (recommended on EW many times) pest control companies told me last year - we were unfortunate enough to have an infestation, and hence I was grilling him on how/why/what to do to avoid going through it again. He told me that apart from infested hotels, you are more likely to pick up a bedbug in taxi seats and airline seats, as these are constantly 'warm and occupied'. He said when you get off a plane, get home, and put your clothes straight in the wash at 60 degrees - this WILL kill them. When you get out of a taxi, just brush yourself down just in case... With regards to hotels, he said when you get into a room, DO NOT put your case on the bed (like we all do!) but first check under the sheet on the matress at the head of the bed for any telltale signs (if you look on wikipedia it's all in glorious technicolour), and get out of there are! If not, he said to always keep your suitcase as far away from the head of the bed, even on the floor is fine, and again when you get home, just keep it off the bed, and a 60 degree wash will kill any of them.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 July 2011 - 13:03
If you look on Etislat's website, they have clear tables of all the costs for whichever plan you are on, and where you are calling.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 July 2011 - 09:39
I have to say I think you can live happily in London on much less... A take home of GPB 8,000 is an annual salary of 160,000! (the average UK salary if currently GBP 30k for men - 23k for women. I know that's not London, but even so...). I do agree that areas of north London like Barnet are worth looking at - I have several friends (all with 2 kids) that live there, and using the good state schools, all have a good quality of life, a car and an annual foreign holiday, AND shop at waitrose all earning less than 50k a year.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 July 2011 - 08:56
That's a real piece of string question! Where will your DH be working? Nailing down an area will be the first thing to do, remembering that generally (but not always) the futher out from the centre, the cheaper it will be. http://www.rightmove.co.uk will give you a good indication of rental prices. I lived there for 20 years, but no kids so cant help you on that front, sorry. IMO food prices are similar to here, transport is horrifically expensive (both petrol and public transport), but if DH is working in central London, it may be worth you looking more out of Lodnon to live if he can then get a direct train into one of the mainline stations in London - that might well be quicker than the tube/bus in from zone 2 or 3 (see www.tfl.gov.uk for tube station maps and prices). Some UK companies also give you season ticket loans (for travel) or even pay transport costs up to a certain level (mine did), so definitely worth asking. I used to live in Finchley (zone 3) and that would take me the same time to get into work as if I stayed with my Mum down in Hampshire because of the good direct train line.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 17 July 2011 - 23:01
Welcome (almost!). Shopping is a bit hit and miss here, and certainly amongst my group of friends, we find we have to shop in various supermarkets to get all the things we want for reasonable prices (and to even find them). I do most of my 'day to day' shopping at the Choitrams supermarket in the Greens where I live, but I also get a few items in the Organic Shop & Cafe there, plus I have to go to Waitrose for the soyamilk I like, and both C4 and Lulus respectively once a month or so to get other staples at a cost I'm prepared to pay. Combine that with also getting good fresh products at the supermarket next to where I work in Abu Dhabi! You'll also find that you see something once in a supermarket, and the next time you go, the range will be completely different... frustrating, and meaning you end up bulk buying if there's something you can't live without. But it's not all bad! ;)
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 July 2011 - 12:50
Might be worth popping quickly to see your GP first... these are symptoms of diabetes and a quick blood test would rule it in or out. Don't want to be alarmist, but better safe than sorry.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 July 2011 - 10:33
I've never used cleartrip, but 've bought flights for other people several times direct from the airlines themselves (DH and Mum respectively) and never had any problems ith them not having my card.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 16 July 2011 - 10:31
Hi Glitzi Can't help with the Green Community questions, but as for the driving time/distance, I work in the same area and drive in the from Greens every day, which is very similar distance. It's 100k each way, and it takes me just under the hour in the morning (I leave at 0630), and that's sitting between 110-130kph. The other traffic tends to dictate the speed! In the eveings, depending on what hours your DH is working, again it can be just under he hour getting back if he can leave before 6... In my experience leaving later with the main rush out of central AD means you can get caught in a jam if there's been an accident. If there's no traffic, it's doable in 45 minutes.
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 15 July 2011 - 14:11
Yes, here: http://www.osteopathydubai.com/ (and all the osteopaths here are fantastic!)
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 15 July 2011 - 07:56
I've been buying World Traveller Plus and upgrading to Business using miles each time I fly for the last couple of years (DXB - LHR), and there definitely are some tricks. Firstly, if you want to upgrade at the time of buying online, you have to book way, way in advance, as they dont have many seats allocated for this. Don't waste your money paying to choose your seats at time of booking - if you're going to upgrade to business later, there's no point. Even if I've been in economy, I check in online 24 hours before and have always been able to get the seats that I want (i.e. front row!). Remember, you may be able to upgrade one of the legs when you book, even if you can't do both, and I've never had to buy the most expensive flexi-fares to do this. If you havent been able to upgrade at time of booking, then call BA the day before you fly and ask if there's availability to upgrade using points. Normally works, as they want to fill any empty seats further up the plane. With BA you can also buy purely with miles, but this also goves you the option to use soem miles and some cash in differing proportions - worth checking out. Hope that helps! ETA it's 20,000 to upgrade one cabin level from DXB to the UK edited by pinks on 15/07/2011 <em>edited by pinks on 15/07/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 July 2011 - 09:18
They will only let you use one form of discount at a time (it actually says this in the small print on both offers). Parking: drive past the hotel and past the entrance to Aquaventure, and into a big carpark furthest away. Park there and collect a ticket from the hut on the other side of the carpark - you then get on the shuttle bus that takes you back to the Aquaventure entrance, and when you get your tickets/buy food, get the parking ticket stamped (else it's AED 25 for parking if I remember correctly), and have a wonderful day - very jealous!
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 14 July 2011 - 09:13
Which country do you want the card delivered in (or do you actually want it in an email)?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 July 2011 - 15:51
Ok.....going to ask a really stupid question - but how do you manage bringing up your weekly shopping?? Many trips to the basement and back? Any of you do this with a baby? edited by N.Kaye on 11/07/2011 If I'm on my own, I park the car next to the lift entrance in the carpark, unload, park the car, and then straight up in the lift. Never had any problem. And if you shop in Choitrams in the Greens, I often see the men from the shops wheeling people's shopping trolleys back to their flats for them.
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 11 July 2011 - 14:07
Hi N.Kaye - I'm in an apartment in Street 2, which was the first phase built, so can only comment on those (haven't seen an 'villas' but not to say they don't exist, maybe in the newer areas of the Greens?). Never had any problem with neighbours cooking (or other!) smells in the 6 years we've been there. As far as car parking is concerned, 2 beds get one allocated u/g space, but some of the larger apartments have 2 and 3 spaces. We have one space and 2 cars, but we rent a space from a neighbour who has a spare one for peppercorn rent, and to be honest, there's generally spare slots in the road too when I come home from work, so have never had a problem. ETA: Love the area - have moved within the Greens but didn't want to move out of it. Like the fact that even during the summer you can walk to the shops for a pint of milk! <em>edited by pinks on 11/07/2011</em>
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 July 2011 - 18:59
If you go over SZR using the bridge from the Greens, turn left at the lights, and I'm 99% sure it's the second building on your right - there's a big area of sand where you can park, and that's got a BBC logo on the top of it (I interviewed there last year and they told me to look for that). However, if it's Building 10 MEDIA City, then it's the one with Sumo Sushi in. Again, come over the bridge from the Greens, down to the lights, and then turn right, and then right again into car park (buildings in front of you are in a U shape) and Sumo is on the left hand side. Hope that helps! <em>edited by pinks on 10/07/2011</em>
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 July 2011 - 17:58
Just come back from AD - clear all the way and then you hit this wall of sand as you pass JLT... very odd!
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 July 2011 - 13:49
Yeh! But just remember, work is also what people used to do at their desk before the internet was invented...
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EW GURU
Latest post on 10 July 2011 - 12:32
Hi - yes, do check people are sending to the right international number... We've got both du and estislat contracts and don't have any trouble with either sending or receiving texts and calls from the UK
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 July 2011 - 17:46
Hi granola – sorry, didn’t see your question until now. From my experience, people love one or the other, and I’m an osteopath fan, purely because (again from my experience) they treat you ‘as a whole’ and not just focussing on what’s wrong at the point in time (I’m not saying chiropractors do this!). They can also be very gentle on initial treatment, which, if you’ve got bad back pain especially for the first time, you can be quite scared of anyone going close to it! All the osteopaths I’ve seen have been very proactive in sorting out why the pain has appeared in the first place if it’s not from something obvious like an accident, and after dealing with that, helping you to prevent it happening again, be it with specific exercises to build up muscles supporting the damaged area, or suggesting raising your PC screen height by two inches (as with me – who know something as simple as that would make such a huge difference). I’m sure someone else on here can extol the virtues of chiropractors, but in the meantime, I really hope your DH gets some help and feels better.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 July 2011 - 10:27
If you're open to Osteopathy as well as Chiropractors, these people are amazing (Al Wasl and Mirdi locations). www.osteopathydubai.com/
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 09 July 2011 - 10:23
Check what is on on the date you want to go because hampton court often hold special festivals which are amazing. The flower festival is on at the moment my mum is going there today. They also hold a Jazz festival too so I would choose Hampton court over hever if there was something on Agree with Clairehdp - check the respective websites, as Hampton C has amazing things on for adults and children alike. They often have cooking in their amazing banqueting kitchens, with huge spits going and original recipes! Love the maze too... and the fact that you can arrive by boat from down the Thames (but I love Hever too!)
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 08 July 2011 - 13:14
Boy do I need my mates today!!! Here for you! Sending lots of positive thoughts! x x
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EW GURU
Latest post on 08 July 2011 - 07:59
At least if ever the Australian contingent is EVER in the region, you'll know where to find us on a Friday morning. Miss you too! x x
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 July 2011 - 13:26
Treat yourself. Turn up early, use the lounges both ends, pick up all the freebies and make the most of it ;)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 05 July 2011 - 09:17
Super article on Woman's Hour this week (BBC Radio 4 - available online) about snoring. Estimated a whopping 75% of couples sleep separately at some point due to snoring. The programme had a couple on who had suffered, found there was no help (this was 20 years ago) so set up their own helpline/clinic. Some very sensible, practice advice (I'll re-listen and find their website) but they said whilst there are many factors that cause it, a huge proportion of snoring was caused by the tongue blocking the airway and that they had found a solution from the military! Obviously in battle and on submarines, they can't have snorning, so they came up with a small device that you put in the mouth to hold the lower jaw slightly forward, and this pulls the tongue forward and the snoring stops. Apparently not uncomfortable, and as one wearer said, you get used to it like you get used to wearing a watch or a pair of glasses - slightly odd at first. I must admit I wanted to find out more as I have to wear earplugs every night and hate it :( edited by pinks on 05/07/2011 <em>edited by pinks on 05/07/2011</em>
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 28 June 2011 - 20:13
http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=70078 Quite a few threads on this subject, but DH used these guys last year and was very nicely turned out with no complaints.
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 June 2011 - 16:09
Too much handling? That can make things like homemade burgers tough...
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 June 2011 - 15:15
Hi Keila Are you going to be completely alone or have a small person with you? Makes all the difference to what gets suggested! Don't be nervous - I'm all alone this weeknd too and really looking forward to it - cinema, eating what I want when I want to... going to bed really early with Jack Reacher :D
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 June 2011 - 14:21
We've used Jim'll Fix It in the past and always been happy. There are some threads knocking them, but I've always been clear when I've called as to what I want, what I am providing (or not!) and asked for the price. I think that's the answer to most things! The only thing that annoyed me was they didn't come with a long ladder when we were having curtains hung - luckily we had one, but given the length of windows and height of curtains, they did an amazing job - everything was just quarter of an inch off the floor, just liked I'd asked for.
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 June 2011 - 14:07
I don't like Karma Kafe due to the fact that when you're sitting down at your table, the wall around you is so high you can't see any of the water, therefore we've ended up with guests jumping up from the table each time the fountains came on in order to see them! Food so-so... nothing negative but never been overly impressed.
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 June 2011 - 13:47
If I had to pick from your shortlist, it would definitely be Rivington Grill. I always think about the negative (no vouchers) before we go, but ALWAYS come away having fab food and excellent service, even if we go for a late 'snack' or full blown dinner.
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 27 June 2011 - 09:24
...but, everytime I've been there, the large 'room' to the right of the reception area has been full of families with small children, so as long as you are all happy to sit there (and you tell them in advance), that's an option for you.
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 26 June 2011 - 18:07
Hi KM Which Lee are you referring to?
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EW GURU
Latest post on 24 June 2011 - 15:48
I take all back! :\:
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EW GURU
Latest post on 24 June 2011 - 15:34
There is a highway planned between Dubai and Abu Dhabi to reduce congestion. So what's the five+ lane highway that runs between Dubai and AD at the moment? Are you sure this isn't a wind-up? It was posted a little too close to April Fool's Day!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 24 June 2011 - 09:56
You'll get a lot of limp handshakes here: in the west we are used to strong, often over powerful grips, but in a lot of cultures this is seen as potentially aggressive and hence hands are offered just to literally touch. The origins of a handshake was actually to let the other person see you had no weapons up your sleeve!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 June 2011 - 22:08
Dr Sean Whittaker at the Whittington (http://www.thewellingtonhospital.com/services.asp?sid=54). He specilaises in skin cancer, but deals with all aspects of dermatology (I saw him for acne). Super guy - very approachable and explains everything clearly and sensibly. He even told me where in London to get the prescription I needed cheaper than going through the hospital pharmacy! Can't recommend him highly enough.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 June 2011 - 09:39
Dont set foot on the Seychelles,its a dump with very nice scenery. If you decide to go think mars bar for a fiver and take enough funds accordingly. Have been few times with work and stayed in different 4* resorts (think 2*). Also they only accept Euros and $ because their own currency in worthless, could even pay for groceries with it. Sadly, I couldn't agree more.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 22 June 2011 - 09:28
Hi Yorky - have you tried the Labour Ministry? DH had big issue with his gratuity payment recently, and he went there first (as it's free!) and admittedly had to push to see the right person, but they were incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. Worth a visit if you havent. It's the huge building on the road (right hand side) between Dubai and Sharjah. Thanks Pinks, we haven't tried anywhere yet just found out today so trying to get some advice before we do anything. Do you know if the Labour Ministry deals with Free Zone issues? I can't believe a company can come back after 8 months and expect you to hand money back to them.....but then again maybe they can? Not entirely sure, but I'll ask DH who he spoke to (he came back VERY impressed, and that's rare!)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 June 2011 - 21:25
Hilton Resort and Spa in RAK :) Second this! Went last weekend, and if you book direct with them online, after booking you get an option to upgrade (if available) for less than half the normal price. We were upgraded to a beach villa for only another AED200, and at the weekend, that means getting breakfast in the smaller restaurants, not 'en mass' in the main hotel, and direct beach access from your room. Really enjoyed it.
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 June 2011 - 21:20
Hi Yorky - have you tried the Labour Ministry? DH had big issue with his gratuity payment recently, and he went there first (as it's free!) and admittedly had to push to see the right person, but they were incredibly knowledgeable and supportive. Worth a visit if you havent. It's the huge building on the road (right hand side) between Dubai and Sharjah.
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 June 2011 - 16:23
Another fan here. Plus www.seatguru.com for your flight there! That's saved me from non-reclining seats many a time...
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EW GURU
Latest post on 21 June 2011 - 15:41
It's so random here... even the UK based companies I've worked for out here don't have proper JDs, or very sketchy ones at most. Then again, I went for an interview last year and the JD had been written by the guy who would have been my boss, and it was 5 pages of A4! Needless to say he came across as a tiny bit a n a l !! Look on the bright side, if you get the job you can fit the role to what you want it to be, rather than the other way round. I havent found any problem with that here ;)
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 June 2011 - 20:22
Hi ladygodiva - I'm going to go against the grain and thoroughly recommend it! It's not for everyone, but I've had it twice over the past 20 years for mild but chronic acne. Prescibed by dermo in London both times. Yes, it needs to be monitored carefully, but not everyone gets side effects (and for both mine, I only had a blood test beginning and end - it's a liver function test), and I only ever experienced dry lips, and that was only for the first month or so. I can honestly say it changed my life for the better hugely - and I'm incredibly grateful for being prescribed it. There's been a few very detailed threads about it on here in the past - do a search on roaccutane and you'll see them. <em>edited by pinks on 20/06/2011</em>
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 June 2011 - 14:07
Sorry bananaisland, I don't, but for those of us at work and with an iPhone, the free (and official) Wimbledon app is fantastic! Shall be glued to the BBC when I get home....
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 June 2011 - 12:13
Remember, if you are not sure what to aim for - and they appear to like you - you can always say "Make me a sensible offer". I've done this twice and come away with higher than I was expecting!
pinks
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EW GURU
Latest post on 20 June 2011 - 10:54
Most small print limits you to a set amount of days (generally up to 60) outside the country you reside in, else they'd be way too many 'health tourists' and premiums would be unaffordable. <em>edited by pinks on 20/06/2011</em>
 
 
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