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plum2

plum2
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Latest post on 22 December 2014 - 21:29
I truly hope Dubai does not follow suit :(
plum2
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Latest post on 22 December 2014 - 21:16
Will that also affect Dubai?
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Latest post on 22 December 2014 - 21:14
Of course DC have a lot of Oxbridge students. They are a long established school with a v selective entry process. I just think Repton are doing well for a relatively new school and they keep on improving every year. I don't know how much sport they do in the senior school sorry.
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Latest post on 22 December 2014 - 19:02
I am more familiar with the Junior School but have two friends with children in the Senior School and they are very happy. The IB programme in the 6th form has only had 3 cohorts through I think but results have improved year on year. They had their first successful Oxbridge applicant this year I believe. The Senior School library is excellent and there is talk that the theatre will finally be finished soon. They have a lot of space and their sports facilities are good. My friend has found the pastoral care to be good. HTH
plum2
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Latest post on 18 December 2014 - 22:05
Try the Circuit Factory. Www.circuitfactory.ae It is 20% exercise and 80% food. The Food Plan they advise is great. They run monthly challenges. I think the next one starts on Jan 11th, but get along and try some classes before then..
plum2
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Latest post on 18 December 2014 - 21:57
Couch potato, does this include the Housing Fee?
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Latest post on 02 December 2014 - 07:47
Road access on to the 311 (MBZ Rd) is good and HessaSt or Umm Suqeim Rd will easily take you to Sh Zayed Rd. The only problem is when the cricket is on I gather! Friends got stuck there for 2 hrs with the traffic.
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Latest post on 24 November 2014 - 22:35
If you have a British passport you can exchange your UK driving licence for a UAE one. You must do this as soon as you get your residence permit. Until then you are fine to drive a rental car on your UK license I believe.
plum2
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Latest post on 19 November 2014 - 18:33
a typical nutribullet smoothie for me includes the following: - one handful (or two) of spinach - 1/2 stick of celery - one apple - one pear - one banana - two figs - two teaspoons of flax seeds - two strawberries i fill the cup to the brim and drink it a bit at a time at my desk... definitely helps keep me full although it's not very pleasant on the eye (coz it's all green!!) The fact that smoothies are green in colour does not necessarily make them healthy. There is a phenomenal amount of sugar in that smoothie recipe. Healthy smoothies should really be more vegetables than fruit. It doesn't take much fruit to sweeten the mix.
plum2
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Latest post on 18 November 2014 - 19:48
You can usually pick them up cheaply at most of the school table top sales. I believe there is one at Jebel Ali School this Friday. I bet you'd find some there.
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Latest post on 18 November 2014 - 19:45
Any idea where it will be?
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Latest post on 14 November 2014 - 05:58
Hi Where exactly are you going to be based? As far as I know there are no western schools west of Abu Dhabi. Expats are not allowed to attend Arabic Government Schools. Is your employer not providing you with accommodation?
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Latest post on 26 October 2014 - 01:04
I have done my license renewal online for the last few years. I don't see why you couldn't do from anywhere. You just log on to the system and do it.
plum2
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Latest post on 21 October 2014 - 05:32
The weather should be good. It'll be spring heading into summer. But it can still be unpredictable so best to be prepared for all weathers. Hope you are lucky! Lots of previous threads on EW about surviving long flights with little ones.
plum2
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Latest post on 21 October 2014 - 05:28
Carbone clinic, Stepping Stones, Child Early Intervention Medical Centre -all in Healthcare City. Reach Out in Knowledge Village.
plum2
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Latest post on 15 October 2014 - 18:12
I currently work with children from 3 -12 who have hearing aids. They mostly wear hearing aids that sit just behind their ear. They are not bothered by them and neither are their friends. Your attitude towards this will affect how your daughter views her hearing aids. Hair can easily be grown/styled to cover the hearing aids but most don't bother about this. The American Hospital are very good. The Audiologists and ENT specialists work closely together. Vienna Trading close to Bur Juman shopping centre is a good Hearing Aid supply company. HTH
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Latest post on 13 October 2014 - 22:06
The allowable work break used to be 2 years. A colleague went off on maternity leave thinking she could have a decent break. By the time she was ready to return, after about 14 months, they had changed the rule to a year and she no longer met the requirement. There was nothing she could do. The DHA solution? " Go and work in another country for 2 years and come back and reapply" :( Their inflexible rules are the main reason we currently have such a shortage of therapists in Dubai. <em>edited by plum2 on 13/10/2014</em>
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Latest post on 13 October 2014 - 22:02
I am a speech therapist and only have experience of how things currently stand for SLTs,OTs and PTs. Hopefully someone with more knowledge of the current rules for doctors can advise you. Best of luck :)
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Latest post on 13 October 2014 - 21:25
Yes, most opticians in the malls can do the official eye-test. I was quoted 150dhs last night. I was told we needed Emirates ID card and a passport photo.
plum2
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Latest post on 13 October 2014 - 21:15
Just to let you know that you can never have a career gap of more than 12 months with the DHA Licenses. Don't get caught out by that. There is absolutely nothing you can do. No re-training options, no supervised practise - absolutely nothing. There is no recognition of the added skills that being a parent brings to any of the para medical professions. Crazy! Another point to note is that whilst those with a Bachelors degree seem to be able to renew their licenses OK, new applications are only being accepted from those with a Masters degree. So if you don't have a Master's degree I would do your utmost not to cancel your license. Hope this helps!
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Latest post on 11 October 2014 - 19:42
The Nicholas and Asp post-graduate orthodontic training school in Healthcare City is excellent. Both my teens had their braces thought them with good results. It is by far the cheapest option. A few years ago it was 6K all up. No idea what it costs now but worth investigating. I believe the initial assessment is free of charge.
plum2
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Latest post on 08 October 2014 - 22:39
Bingo, we also live in our own villa in AR. There is no central cooling system here. We all pay for AC via DEWA.
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Latest post on 30 September 2014 - 22:17
Suzanne Maclean at the Camali Clinic in Healthcare City
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Latest post on 29 September 2014 - 14:58
I work in a school and we sometimes have shadow teachers even in years 4 or 5. Its really no big deal as long as they don't stick to 'their' student like glue but help out with other students of similar ability as required. Are they saying she needs supervision on the bus? Why have you not met with her classroom teacher if there are issues? <em>edited by plum2 on 29/09/2014</em>
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Latest post on 29 September 2014 - 14:55
Do you have a crock pot/slow cooker? You can throw stuff in in 10-15 mins in the morning and then put it on Auto. It will be delicious by the time you get home. If I need to leave extra early I chop all the vegetables the night before and then simply put it all together in the morning.
plum2
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Latest post on 26 September 2014 - 22:04
I would have a look at Widad Learning.
plum2
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Latest post on 26 September 2014 - 01:21
Circuit Factory in Al Quoz has a great class weekdays at 8.30am Check out www.circuitfactory.ae
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Latest post on 24 September 2014 - 18:25
Sharjah Wildlife Park Posh Paws petting zoo Kidzania
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Latest post on 23 September 2014 - 20:15
There's also Oaks Liwa Heights on JLT but no idea what they are like. I visited a friend staying there. They were fine.
plum2
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Latest post on 22 September 2014 - 22:32
Do you not have your own medical insurance?
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Latest post on 21 September 2014 - 21:32
Souq al Bahar also has a Spinneys.
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Latest post on 20 September 2014 - 23:02
I saw it at Ibn Battuta last night. Loved it!
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Latest post on 20 September 2014 - 14:09
I haven't done this trip but I do think it could be a nightmare as you say. I live in AR so you would presumably come along MBZ Rd past here to get to JLT. When there is no traffic Hessa St would be the way to go but at round 7.30am, the estimated time you would be there, the traffic can be quite slow. A friend has recently taken to using Umm Suqeim Rd and heading into Sh Zayed Rd that way as it is less congested. I would say you would be looking at a minimum of 45mins, maybe closer to an hour. I hope you can find someone who has done the same trip at a similar time. Best of luck! <em>edited by plum2 on 20/09/2014</em>
plum2
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Latest post on 18 September 2014 - 18:28
Yes, I know of many expat kids who have completed their whole secondary education but have managed to get home status. Not that there is much difference between international fees and home status in England. I think there is quite a difference in fees! We pay just over 16K this year which is quite a bit more than 9K! For my friends living here who have managed to secure home status for their children they have generally owned property in the UK and had to provide evidence of how often they visit. One friend has gone out of her way to create as many links to the UK as possible, like getting NI numbers, joining her kids to the local library etc etc. Everything you can do to demonstrate your ties to the UK helps. I figured it wasn't even worth trying, although a couple of Uni's insisted I fill in their forms. I left the Uk at 23, have never owned property in the UK and had children born overseas who have never lived in the UK. <em>edited by plum2 on 18/09/2014</em>
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Latest post on 18 September 2014 - 18:04
Hi. I live in the Ranches and agree that it is an excellent place for families to live. I am lucky that I work in the other direction and can exit straight out onto MBZ RD. Both exits on the motor city side of AR are a nightmare. My daughter takes the school bus from Saheel at 6.50 and has not been at school on time yet this term (school starts 7.45). This trip takes 15 mins without traffic. This issue is only going to get worse as the developments further along from the Ranches (new AR villas, Mudon and the others) come on to the market. :(
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Latest post on 16 September 2014 - 22:44
There is a new clinic opening in Healthcare city offering a full Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. It is called Camali Clinic. They sound like they could help you.
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Latest post on 16 September 2014 - 22:28
You may be very happy with your medical team but if you need a second opinion there is a new clinic opening in DHCC specialising in Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, something that is much needed. They have a wealth of expertise on their team. Many of the staff are UK trained and experienced. The team includes psychiatrist, psychologist, counsellors, mental health nurse, speech-language therapist etc. it might be worth a try. I don't have the number but it's called the Camali Clinic. I'm sure if you google it you'll find it.
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Latest post on 13 September 2014 - 16:28
I would approach schools personally and explain your decision to hold your son back. I know of many that will let him start FS1.
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Latest post on 13 September 2014 - 16:21
There must be a post shop around Ibn Battuta but I have no idea. The main information desk at Mall of the Emirates weighs mail and sells the appropriate stamps.
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Latest post on 11 September 2014 - 06:31
You could try the Pulse Center in Umm Suqeim. Grace Higson is highly recommended. Www.pulselisteningcenter.com
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Latest post on 09 September 2014 - 22:11
There is a new centre opening in al Barsha called Top up Tutoring. I am not advertising but work in education and just heard about it from a friend. They have a FB page. It's not far from Motor City so might be worth checking out. No idea where Barsha Business Centre is though.
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Latest post on 09 September 2014 - 21:48
Where do you live?
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Latest post on 06 September 2014 - 14:19
My daughter 17 and son 14 got an offer from English college Dubai and also from DBS Dubai British School please any body can help me ? I have to choose quick please please any experience? Please if you know anything I will be very thankful.. edited by ale123 on 06/09/2014 I have many friends whose children have been at English College and they have been very happy with it. Just check that the College confirms that they are staying open for the few years your 14 year old needs to finish. They recently closed the English College Primary School.
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Latest post on 03 September 2014 - 21:24
This sounds great JDlover. I think you might mean Inclusion Officer though, not Exclusion Officer :)
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Latest post on 02 September 2014 - 22:30
Are the school not interested in working with you and your son? If he passed their assessment I feel they have some responsibility to try and meet his needs. Ruba Tabari is a great bilingual (English and Arabic) Educational psychologist who would visit him at school and advise. You can contact her on [email protected]
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Latest post on 02 September 2014 - 19:49
Hi January04 Whilst I can understand your frustration (did they assess him first?), you really need your son to be in an educational facility that meets his needs. Would supplying a one to one shadow go some way towards solving the problem?
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Latest post on 02 September 2014 - 19:47
Thanks Genie! I'll certainly check that out. I have done most routes going, including Egypt Air with an awful few hours in Cairo airport in the middle of the night, but I haven't tried Swiss Air. It might be a nice change :)
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Latest post on 02 September 2014 - 16:54
According to a Fb post on Arabian Ranches mums page you can go to any FF branch while the Motor City one is closed.
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Latest post on 02 September 2014 - 16:53
I don't know about special offers! I just looked at Emirates prices to go to Spain for the half term week and it's almost 4K. Not cheap at all :(
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Latest post on 02 September 2014 - 16:51
You could always start at Wellington for FS1 and see how it goes. JAPS is an excellent primary school but, as others have mentioned, it doesn't have a secondary school.
 
 
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