RuthM

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 21 September 2016 - 10:42

Second everything FairyDust said but would also like to add snub nosed breeds really really suffer in heat, Dubai is quite possibly the worst place on the planet for them. Plus this today in BBC news: Vets warn people against buying 'flat-faced' dogs http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-37423040

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 September 2016 - 07:51

I had my scans at Bourne. I find Fakih (where I had IVF originally - successful) a bit of a factory, they are really rough with the scans as well and often hours waiting around (but then my full cycle was successful there). Bourne were more gentle although still not as good as my clinic in London where they have specialist sonographers (not rushed doctors) do scans. If you can I would suggest going to Greece a week early and doing your trigger shot there. I think I ovulated early. I don't think it would be the fault of the clinic, it was such a fast cycle for me, I must have ovulated on day 10 (on the next cycle it was about day 17!) but I had definite ovulation pain on day of trigger (should be 36 hours after) and cycle failed. Bourne offered to do bloods etc. which probably would have helped with pinpointing the ovulation date but my clinic in London didn't want them. HcG is easy anywhere can do it. Good luck sending you lots of baby dust :-)

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 29 June 2016 - 23:55

Thanks all, I've spoken to my husband and he hasn't asked her to do anything extra. He's working from home next week so said he will have a chat with her during the week. Fingers crossed we can explain things to her amicably and move on in a more positive way.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 29 June 2016 - 16:49

Hi RuthM It is your home and your child, why on earth are you letting another woman call the shots? You employ her, if she refuses to accept your authority as her boss then you need to fire her and find someone who does accept that you are in charge. I would sit her down one final time (with your husband too if that would help you) and explain in no uncertain terms that she is only to interact with your child when you have specifically asked her to, at other times she is to attend to her other duties and leave you to enjoy your time with your child. No discussion, no further warnings. If she can't do this she can find another job. No need to get nasty or accusatory, just tell her how things are going to be from now on. You really need to take charge and stop having your precious time with your child ruined by someone who you have employed to help you. I'm generally a calm reasonable person but if someone tried to wrestle my child off me they would be straight out my door. Thanks, I really wanted to know if this was a normal thing here and if I was just overreacting. I think I will get my husband to speak to her this weekend, with me present, I'm too upset and angry to speak to her directly. Then she can have until we get back after my hopefully last trip to the UK for medical treatment and see if she changes. If not then I think we will have to let her go.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 29 June 2016 - 16:44

I would say the maid isn't a fit for you, it sounds like she means well taking her to the park etc. Do you think you might be a bit too protective that the maid doesn't get a too close relationship with your child? It's difficult to change someone's personality and these girls mostly don't have much training or education and it's difficult to change if it's not working out. Perhaps but I do not joke when I say I am unable to hold my child without being constantly harassed. And I cannot put her down to play as she is removed. Constantly. It's basically a constant battle to get any time with my daughter. Right now I am sitting in another room furious again as I stepped out the room to get some water from the fridge and came back to find my daughter gone, I go to get her and then the maid tells me 'she's busy' as in my daughter is too busy for me whilst blocking my entry to the room. A normal person would have moved it the doorway and let me in! She may mean well but in the UK I had an untrained Eastern European lady helping with my daughter during surgery and she would never have overstepped like this. Even when I couldn't stand up she would have asked if it was okay to take her to the park and let her play in the room with me saying to call if I needed anything. She will not take no for an answer and no matter the lack of training that is just rude. I'm on medication at the moment for medical treatment that does make me short tempered and I just have to leave the room as I cannot deal with the confrontation. Fighting with the maid over my child, it's insane! I think you're right we need to look for someone else.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 17 April 2016 - 11:21

Thanks ladies. A broker is what we really need, I am in the UK post surgery and shopping around is not practical, also a broker should be able to advise on how much cover we need and how to structure it. We will try Allwyn D'souza, if anyone else knows any other brokers that would be great too thanks.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 April 2016 - 16:06

Sorry to resurrect this thread. I note the Principal at Foremarke has now departed and I think been replaced by the Deputy Head from Repton. Is there any further feedback regarding Foremarke? I'm inclined to think his departure is not a good sign but obviously if he was removed in order to try and improve things or left for personal reasons then it may just be bad luck the school losing him so early on. At the moment we have narrowed our options to Kings Al Barsha, Foremarke and Nord Anglia. Can anyone recommend any other schools that have small class sizes, lots of facilities / spacious and options for a variety of extracurricular activities? TIA

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 April 2016 - 14:37

Dr Delphine does babies, she is very good and teaches many courses in Dubai regarding tongue tie. If you contact her she may be able to recommend a surgeon for toddler corrective surgery. Sorry if you've already been in contact. If she can't recommend anyone in Dubai I would probably be inclined to have it done at home.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 April 2016 - 14:33

like lal1 said don't tell the dog off and ignore accidents. Not only is giving them attention when they make a mistake an issue but also if you tell them off they may then try to hide it next time, or even refuse to perform when you are there. This can cause issues as you will be there when you take them outside to perform! So toileting needs to be a positive experience, and our trainer said when they do perform make it like a party! Tons of praise, a treat etc. just wait until they've finished. When cleaning up accidents try to use an enzymatic cleaner (available from pet shops) normal household cleaners won't remove the smell properly and they may go back to the same spot. You can also buy a stinky spray to try and encourage them to go in the spot you want them to go in. When you are at home with them it is best to keep them with you at all times to try and avoid accidents, take them outside every 20-30minutes and watch out for circling and sniffing. I kept our puppy on a lead next to me. If you are out you can either crate them or if you are not happy doing that then put down puppy pads or newspaper (with stinky spray) by the door to try and encourage them to eliminate in that spot. The latter option may take longer to train but many people are not happy crating. With the latter option it is a good idea once they can hold themselves for longer to move the pad/paper outside.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 02 March 2016 - 00:18

Can anyone please recommend an agency for this type of cover? I just need someone to help with cleaning (I'm having medical treatment and it is now, my husband - who travels a lot, decides to get a new four month old large puppy) and to watch my daughter whilst I am cooking, or having a bath/shower etc. as well as put her to bed or down for naps sometimes. She will never be left alone with my daughter but it does need to be someone who can speak english and follow instructions and who has some experience with young children (I have had bad experiences with agencies in the past). Any suggestions please? TIA.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 29 February 2016 - 04:54

With modern day society a lot of people hear about bipolar and if they feel like they have strong mood swings believe this might be the issue. One of the biggest things with bipolar is that you are unlikely to suspect there is anything wrong because to you it is normal. Cycling typically takes weeks not days (unless you have cyclothymia). The manic phase. You will start to feel elevated, not of this world, like everyone else are ants going about their business and you are a superstar watching them. But you won't have time to watch them, you'll be wired, 24 hours a day you'll be busy planning something, undertaking a new task, a new invention, saving a major war, creating world peace, you may spend lots of money, you may think you are super rich, or have a grand scheme of how you will be super rich, you may talk so fast people cannot follow you, you may be quick to anger, you may spend hours doing fast paced exercise. You may also develop something called megalomania. You are unlikely to realise this change though, others will do and may comment on it, but you will not see it as there being anything wrong. Because of this you may get yourself into trouble, take risks, break the law. In a manic episode you may be completely out of control and The depressive phase. You will feel hopeless and worthless, empty, guilty, and tearful. You will not want to do anything, you will lose interest in the things you enjoy. You may consider suicide over and over. You may sleep more than normal or not sleep at all and you may feel constantly fatigued and not want to get out of bed. Anticipate that both these phases at their worst will prohibit you from working, during a manic phase after the initial fun phase friends will most likely start worry about you or even avoid you, during a depressive phase you will most likely avoid them. This description is for type I, type II will typically have a milder version of mania (hypomania) with severe depression. Cyclothymia is often long periods of hypomania with brief milder depressive episodes. Bipolar is considered a chemical imbalance and requires lifelong medication although some people may stabilise as they get older. The mind is a complex thing and there are dozens of conditions that could cause the issues you mentioned. Bipolar is famous but other illnesses can be just as serious and may cause as much pain and issues. As others have suggested external factors such as hormones or a thyroid problem can also cause issues and feel just as severe as bipolar. If you can I would suggest asking your doctor to take some bloods to ensure there are no underlying physical issues. Start to keep a mood diary and try to include what you have eaten as well as your monthly cycle in it as well as how you are feeling each day. Make a particular note of how you feel at each time of day. You can just ask for a referral to a therapist who could try some cognitive behavioural therapy or you can ask for a full psychiatric evaluation. Sorry I only know people in UK none in Dubai unfortunately. I hope you manage to get to the bottom of it in some ways mental health problems can be harder to deal with than physical health ones.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 February 2016 - 17:19

Another vote for Bristol, it's a great place to live, lucky you! :-)

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 15 February 2016 - 02:05

Dear me, what is happening to EW? So much aggression, so many unnecessarily defensive posts..........is it something in the water? Can't we post our own different views on here without starting WW3 any longer? And to the OP, I think after your final response that your maid is not perhaps, the only drama queen in your household. It's always been like this! If this maid was employed in a cafe in Europe, would she then be able to refuse to wash dishes after cooking food due to her beliefs? I do not think these beliefs are ones that are protected in Europe. Simple as that. Likewise you could not demand you boss gives you a day off because you don't want to work on Friday the 13th, or refuse to serve table 13 in a restaurant. Anyway for the OP here is an interesting blog on Pasma: http://www.lifesomundane.net/2014/09/pasma-pinoy.html At the end of the day this person is employed to do a job. If you employed an accountant to do a job and he couldn't do it would you be impressed? Or a solicitor? A personal trainer? If your doctor refused to examine you because of a superstitious belief would you still pay him? Simply put no. Just because she is a maid and it seems like a 'luxury' to employ someone to clean and help you cook etc. does not mean she should not have to do her job. My suggestion would be to advise your maid to organise her tasks accordingly to ensure she can get them all done without subjecting herself to risk from this ailment. Or look for another maid. Good luck, hope you manage to get it sorted!

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 15 February 2016 - 01:08

It all depends on where in the UK you will be living and working. For the most part a salary of 60k p/a and for you 30k p/a would be considered a good salary for many in the UK. Housing is the main problem especially if you want to buy in the South East. Cost of housing in the South East of England is comparative to Dubai. But other living costs are cheaper (except petrol). People in the UK tend to have smaller cars, the roads are much much safer than Dubai. Public transport is excellent in some areas, most people in London will use public transport regardless of income or class. Trains however can be expensive, you buy an annual ticket if commuting by train. Cost of living in North of England or Scotland however can be far cheaper than the South East. Housing is the main cost and the South East is having serious issues with their property market. Depending on where in Africa you are from your trip home to visit family may be cheaper than from Dubai - however it is unlikely the cost of annual flights will be paid for by your new employer. Schooling costs are paid for through taxes, you need to be selective where you live to ensure your daughter gets a place at a good school. You can opt for private school, they can be cheaper than Dubai. If you are Catholic there are some amazing Catholic schools that can be quite cheap and offer great education (I'm not but have friends who have been to them). There are other faith based schools that are run on charitable foundations with nominal fees that can also be quite good. Housing costs are likely to be higher in areas which have outstanding secondary schools. If your daughter is only in primary education it will be easier to get a property in a good area for primary than secondary, good secondary schools really drive house prices up. Childcare costs are expensive. There are several options, again it depends on the age of your child. On the plus side everyone should be paid the same for the same job regardless of where their passport is from (this is why childcare is expensive). Healthcare is paid for by taxes, although again you need to ensure you are in a good area, in some areas the NHS is overloaded. If you opt to buy additional private health care it is far cheaper than Dubai, especially if you have the option of buying through a corporate policy. (my UK Bupa is around £1500 a year, Dubai is upwards of $10,000 for a couple, a corporate Bupa policy may be around £600 a year). Supermarkets have a good range of food often lower prices than Dubai. If you eat out a lot in Dubai, eating out in the UK is generally cheaper and supermarkets have a wide range of 'ready to cook' meals which can be made from raw freshly prepared ingredients or meals you can heat up which are made from precooked ingredients (generally less healthy). If you prefer to cook from scratch you can get some great deals on food, especially if you shop online and compare prices. Prices can vary widely from say Waitrose to Tesco. I don't know about the prices of halal food in the UK though, halal meat will be more expensive than regular meat, I don't know how it compares to prices in Dubai. Water rates are much cheaper in the UK, in most areas the tap water tastes fine. Heating costs can add up, but not as expensive as air conditioning in Dubai. The UK is very different to Dubai. People tend to be less transient. In the South-East people are very mixed, if I look at my friends from when I grew up they are all British but came from a large mixture of backgrounds, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Nigerian, Indian, Irish (on half Irish half Indian, one half Bulgarian half Irish), Ghanaian, South African, Japanese, HK Chinese, Malaysian, Algerian, Greek, Argentinian etc. Of course you can meet a great mixture of people in Dubai. However in the UK (certainly the South-East) if you speak good English (which from your post it would seem you do) and decide to settle there it won't be long before the Brits consider you as British but in Dubai you will always be an expat, I guess it depends on what you want.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 14 February 2016 - 22:55

Okay so just to ensure my life is broadcast on here. I am having IVF in the UK. I am travelling to Dubai before the 2WW. If I test positive after 2WW I need to have an early scan in Dubai to check for: 1) Chemical pregnancy 2) Ectopic pregnancy 3) Multiples So that if there are issues I can get early care, if it is a chemical pregnancy I can travel back to UK at the soonest to do a frozen cycle (which they cannot do in Dubai). Finally any suggestions for where to go for a scan please? TIA.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 13 February 2016 - 22:03

One of the fertility clinics in Dubai. They use stirrups and are not at all gentle So regardless of UK NHS policy I still need to get an early TV scan in Dubai. Clinics in the UK do not use stirrups but I will not be in the UK when I need my scan. Any actual suggestions of places for scan please?

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 08 October 2015 - 14:04

I bought some Waterwipes in the UK but are they available in Dubai? (the baby wipes) [url=http://waterwipes.com/product/baby-waterwipes/'>link[/url'> I'm looking for water wipes too - did you try the carrefour ones how did they compare? thx

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 17 September 2015 - 16:32

I note that the Babyzen Yoyo is too big for many airlines hand baggage dimensions. Has anyone flown with this and carried it onboard successfully and which airline was it with please?

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 17 September 2015 - 15:15

We are about to register at Foremarke. Can't give feedback on the education/teachers but a friend has her kids there and is very happy (formally at Repton). Most of the facilities seem to be ready although as they are only opening year by year some parts of the school whilst finished are currently not being used. We did two tours and found the Headmaster very forthcoming, he certainly has a vision of what he hopes for the school and is quite passionate about it. If you haven't already why not book a tour and have a look?

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 07 September 2015 - 14:57

Eyesight - is first to check if the pain is more towards the end of the day eyes are likely. Sinusitis - Air conditioning in Dubai can contribute to long term sinus problems, to have sinusitis you do not necessarily need to have a stuffy nose. The most common symptom is pain in the forehead which will normally feel worse when leaning forward and may also be able to feel pressure then too. I had a headache every morning for four years before a doctor figured it out morning headaches are common with sinusitis. A humidifier in his room may help. Cervical spine - it is unlikely in someone of his age but various joints in the cervical spine can cause head pain in the forehead, a physiotherapist will know which ones. Diabetes - high/low blood sugar can cause headaches, you could run a diabetes test. Stress - from school, bullying or he may just naturally be an anxious child, if you think this may be the case try talking to him and see if there is anything you can do to help. Low blood sugar - from not eating frequently enough. Dehydration - as you suggested dehydration is a massive cause to headaches, whilst unhealthy perhaps adding a splash of fruit juice to his water to encourage him to drink may help? You could try putting fruit pieces in to give the water more flavour? Perhaps make a diary of: what he eats how much water he drinks sleeping patterns reading/using computer times when headaches occur other symptoms when he has headaches Then you can try to go from there to see what it may be. If you do look to be referred to another doctor this will also help them find the cause of the issue. I would question your neurologist though as I have never in all my life heard of doing a routine MRI every year to 'check things are still okay' when they don't actually have a diagnosis of anything being wrong. A doctor should continue investigations until they find the cause of the symptom. Or if the cause is found then monitor it with routine scans as appropriate. Sorry but this just sounds like another doctor raking in the $$$ with kick backs from referring for expensive scans.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 August 2015 - 15:55

I have an L4/L5 disk bulge and herniation, I have three times now been completely incapacitated for several weeks (literally unable to straighten up, regardless of pain I physically have no movement, even a physio cannot force my body to straighten). I also have a C5 bulge as well. I have seen a few doctors in Dubai (when I have been in an acute phase) and generally they are very keen on surgery, however the doctor I have privately seen in the UK (Clinical director at a leading NHS London Hospital but also works out of private consulting rooms), has advised at this stage surgery is not necessary and rehabilitation is both safer and could potentially yield better results. His opinion is that unless you have severe neuro issues or several acute episodes (that is completely immobile for several weeks) then surgery should not be performed at this stage as whilst it may alleviate pain it may also leave you with a less than fully mobile spine afterwards. However if you are not interested in sports at all (I ski a lot and need my back to be fully functional) then you could consider a spinal fusion or diseconomy but if you want to remain fully rotational then best to avoid surgery except as a last option and if you do consider surgery I recommend going to Europe (namely Germany - Munich Apex Spine Center) where they have great success with endoscopic spinal surgery (if you are suitable for this). One other thing to note is that severe spinal issues are not always caused by bulging discs, in fact many people have bulging discs with no symptoms at all, it is possible something else may be causing the pain. I myself also have an SI joint issue that causes more problems and has been treated with physiotherapy. Therefore first port of call could be a good physiotherapist. I recommend someone who is Australian or South African trained (this is coming from a Brit). The training in Australia and South Africa is quite different to the UK and they tend to do more work with physical manipulation (like an Osteopath of Chiropractor) rather than just gentle tissue work and exercises. My original injury was in a Canadian ski resort and all of the Canadian Physiotherapists there were trained in Australia! Physiotherapy does require a lot of commitment though as it is imperative to recovery to do exercises and to stay fit but continuing to do exercises on a maintenance basis. So far the best physiotherapist I have seen in Dubai was at Optimal Fitness in Studio City, I think her name was Robyn. Up and Running have a good reputation and I am sure a google search may be able to find you other Aussie and SA physios. I recommend looking for someone with a few years experience in their home country, preferably in a hospital/clinic environment with other physios (not individual private practice) who has been in Dubai for less than five years. Good luck hope he feels better soon.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 30 July 2015 - 13:42

They're an authorised Apple repair centre, they replaced my laptop screen under warranty no problem. Only thing is if you have an iPhone/iPad with FaceTime and it needs replacing the new one will be UAE version without FaceTime.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 30 July 2015 - 13:29

We were successful first time at Fakih. I know someone else who had a few unsuccessful rounds at Conceive then was successful with twins at Fakih. However it probably depends on your personal circumstances. For us the issue was not major and it was with DH which I think is easier to deal with. The only thing I didn't like about Fakih (aside from the obvious pushy sales tactics and the factory like atmosphere) was that they really wanted to transfer three embryos - most EU countries won't do this due to the risk of multiples, they also do 3 day transfers and cannot freeze leftover embryos. We are having a round for no.2 in London at the moment - they plan on a blastocyst transfer and will only transfer 1-2. My cousin had two failed cycles in Leeds and was told she had no chance of success. Then she went to a really good clinic in Greece (also quite cheap I think) and had a successful cycle there first time.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 14 May 2015 - 18:52

Had to order them from the US Amazon :( Only the Calma ones seem to be available in Dubai. I ordered mine from UK Amazon - are you after the wide base ones or the narrow ones (US ones are wide UK ones are narrow). If you're after UK ones I have four boxes of slow flow which are brand new unopened (8 nipples) I am about to sell them - was going to put them on Breastfeeding Fun and Marketplace on FaceBook - my baby won't take the slow flow anymore so I had to order medium flow and silly me stocked up with the slow ones!!! UK http://www.amazon.co.uk/Medela-Medium-Silicone-Teats-2-Pack/dp/B003CKBAGI/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1431615163&sr=8-1&keywords=medela+teats US http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Wide-Base-Slow-Nipple/dp/B002SDD7LQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1431615205&sr=8-2&keywords=medela+teats The bottle caps (little lid bit) are not interchangeable so you need to get the right ones for your bottles or buy an entire new cap.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 25 April 2015 - 13:03

It's really easy , I'm going via Oman , you just follow the signs for transit passengers etc check in and grab a costas lol and hop on return flight ...collect duty free in Dxb ?? Thanks Aberdeenquine. Does she not need to enter Oman and get an Oman visa then - just transfer on arrival to the return flight? How long apart should I book the arrival and return flight? Is it possible to put her on the same flight for return as the one she arrives on? I just know my mum, she will wander off into arrivals and we'll never see her again!!!

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 24 April 2015 - 17:02

I'm actually doing the very same in May , your mum is more than welcome to join me ? That's so kind thank you - but unfortunately it needs to be before 30th April as her current visa expires then and I'm not sure about grace periods when she is already on an extension. Thank you ever so much for the kind offer though :)

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 10 January 2015 - 08:35

Thanks Vixen for your helpful and prompt response. And erm thanks for the thumbs down from whoever reminding me why I rarely use this site.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 16 November 2014 - 18:37

Shopmate? You can shop from the US and ship to Australia. I want to shop from Australia and ship to Dubai :-(

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 05 October 2014 - 13:17

Don't know anyone in the UAE but my mother has been seeing someone via Skype consultations in the UK she is having chemo for bowel cancer, she seems to think it has made a big difference to her chemo side effects. Let me know if you want details and I will ask.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 05 October 2014 - 13:06

We looked at the Bednest but in the end preferred the Snuzpod from Little Green Sheep. http://www.thelittlegreensheep.co.uk/the-little-green-sheep/snuzpod-3-in-1-bedside-crib-natural.aspx It's one of our best purchases. That and her Sleepyhead which we use all over the house and can put in our bed or in her cot and she feels safe and secure in it. She hates the Moses basket. http://www.enfant-terrible.se/products/sleepyhead®-deluxe-9707003 We also got the Chicco Next2Me for travelling but were disappointed to find it can only be permanently up or permanently down unlike the Snuzpod (and I think Bednest) where the side can be taken up and down during the night. However it is very wide and can accommodate the Sleepyhead inside which is really useful for when away from home as it is so familiar for her. The Snuzpod and Sleepyhead are both available from NCT who do the Bednest too.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 28 September 2014 - 23:34

Sorry to resurrect an old thread, I have the Korbell bin in the UK and it's great does anyone know where you can buy it in Dubai please?

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 14 September 2014 - 01:00

I'd never been constipated in my life until third trimester when I was so badly constipated I was miserable. I was constipated when I went in for c-section (not a good start) and afterwards it got even worse until I was asking for an enema (not as bad as it sounds!) Anyway during the pregnancy I managed to keep the constipation under control with the following daily: 6-8 kiwi fruit (these work wonders - apparently a constipation remedy in Italy) 1/2 pineapple blended into a smoothie with some mixed frozen berries 2-3 litres of water a day (literally drown yourself) Really I think it was the kiwi fruit that worked for me. Some studies show they can be helpful for constipation for IBS sufferers. I'm sure certain other fruit may be as effective but kiwis are really easy to eat I just cut them in half and ate them with a teaspoon like a hard boiled egg (although if you don't mind the fur apparently you can eat the skin too). Prunes are also good although I didn't need any until after the c-section. I had some latulose on occasion but wouldn't recommend it unless desperate.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 09 September 2014 - 01:00

For taxis Uber now operate in London. Their black car service is expensive but UberX (most often a Toyota) is cheaper than black cabs. The downside is the drivers do not know London as well, I often have to use googlemaps to find the route with Uber. <em>edited by RuthM on 09/09/2014</em>

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 09 September 2014 - 00:03

Thanks for all your kind responses. I finally managed to get some from a friend in Paris who was coming to London this weekend. I also have some posted to me from Istanbul and Bulgaria (it seems the UK is one of the very few countries where it is prescription only!). My UK GP still refuses to prescribe (as she hasn't heard of it) but now my oby-gyn has agreed to do a prescription for me to pick up on Wednesday - so I have domperidone coming out my ears! Thanks again :-)

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 05 September 2014 - 07:43

RuthM, your supply is low because you are mixed feeding. Stop giving her formula now and you will see that your supply will increase. Don't pay too much attention to how many ounces you are getting from a pump. A pump is not as efficient as a baby sucking. Crying and frequent feeds are normal at this age. It does not mean that your baby is not getting enough breast milk. If you have any more questions about breastfeeding, I am happy to answer them for you. Surprisingly, a lot of pediatricians don't know much about breastfeeding.... Sorry but whilst everything you say can be correct this is a broad statement being that you have no idea of my circumstances. My supply is low because I was incorrectly advised in hospital not to breastfeed due to circumstances at home. Therefore I did not feed for the crucial first week. The baby does not latch on well and frequently pulls away. I have seen two lactation consultants. It is possible I may have to exclusively pump if this cannot be improved. She did not latch on the first time until she was 3 weeks old. I am expressing with a hospital grade pump eight times a day to try to improve milk supply, this is what I have been advised to do. No doctor or lactation consultant has advised me to exclusively breastfeed at this stage, it could take weeks or longer to build my supply up due to this bad start, if it is even possible. My supply has been improving since taking domperidone. It was suggested to take it for a few weeks to build supply then gradually reduce it over the next few weeks. Hopefully as my supply increases we will be able to improve latch and she will not pull away. It's a tall order but the last option I have before resigning myself to formula.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 05 September 2014 - 01:29

can't promise but if you post your email address for 5 minutes i'll ask my husband tomorrow if he can post some - he's going to the uk next week Buttmonki at gmail dot com Thanks so much :-)

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 05 September 2014 - 01:28

From a legal point of view Kish is fine. Our Maid's former Employer was leaving the UAE and there was a delay with my visa, hence we couldn't process hers so she went to Kish to wait. Her former a Employer had no issues cancelling visas and leaving the UAE. I don't think Oman is an option however. From a personal point of view Kish is not nice and many maids get stuck there. We sent our maid with a food package and plenty of cash but it was still no picnic for her. You may need to strongly advise your maid of this before making such a decision.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 05 September 2014 - 01:16

where in the UK are you ? London.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 05 September 2014 - 01:07

I have been taking some over the counter medication for the last few days to help with breastfeeding, in just a few days I have more than doubled supply (need to double again). It's now been changed to prescription only (new rules yesterday) and the UK GP I have seen refuses to prescribe it as 'she hasn't heard of it for this use'. The drug name is domperidone, it is technically used for nausea but well known by lactation consultants is that a side effect is an increase breast milk (unfortunately for some they have an increase without needing it!). If anyone is travelling to the UK over the next few days I would be most grateful if they could bring me some. I will arrange for a friend in Dubai to buy it and can either Aramex it to you or ask someone to drop it off. Here is some more information about it: http://www.bedfordhospital.nhs.uk/upload_folder/patient%20information/domperidone%20to%20increase%20breast%20milk%20production.pdf http://www.colchesterhospital.nhs.uk/patient_information/maternity/763n4%20Domperidone.pdf TIA. so you're asking for someone to carry a prescription only medication into the UK which they have been given by a stranger to giveTO a stranger ? Actually I was going to ask them to post it. It has only been removed from sale over the counter (yesterday) due to issues with some people having cardiac issues, generally those who are aged over 60 and/or have an existing heart problem. It is not a controlled drug like an opiate, there is no issue bringing it to the UK. Am happy to send money if someone wants to buy it and bring it themselves. https://www.gov.uk/travelling-controlled-drugs Without it my baby will end up formula fed, she cannot be sustained on 1/4-1/2oz of milk eight times a day, it is recommended to take for 2- 3 weeks to build milk supply then gradually reduce. Already an increase to 2-3oz after a few days. With regard to the FDA recommendation in the US this is due to people importing it from Canada for exactly this use, following issues with this medication used intravenously it has been withdrawn from sale in the US. The amount present in milk is so small it is unlikely to be harmful, furthermore as she is mixed fed whilst trying to build supply the amount passed to her is even smaller. http://www.icid.salisbury.nhs.uk/ClinicalManagement/MaternityNeonatal/Pages/EnhancingLactationinNursingMothers.aspx I was taking Fenugreek and Blessed Thistle but the health visitor advised a drug with trials is safer than uncontrolled herbs and there are at least three positive NHS reports on it. Also the fenugreek made me and milk smell funky. I am eating lots of almonds and oats and drinking tons of water too. Expressing 8- 10 times a day. Anyway if anyone is travelling to the UK who can bring this over the counter nausea medication with them I would be most grateful. <em>edited by RuthM on 05/09/2014</em>

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 31 August 2014 - 00:04

I actually think gun handling and respect for firearms is a good thing to teach children - although definitely not with Uzis. I was taught to shoot a shotgun when I was eight. I don't remember much about the actual shooting but more about the gun safety I was taught at the time. I recall the instructor shooting an empty box of cartridges right next to us and it was obliterated and him showing me how to safety carry a gun, how to check the barrels are clear and most importantly to never point a gun at a person loaded or not. I also remember playing games with friends when I was young and me telling them not to point guns (even toy guns) at people and being mocked for it. But it was something that was completely drilled into me. When I was older and a neighbour had an air rifle and was being silly with it and all the other kids were so excited about a 'gun' I was only concerned about the safety, not at all thrilled like the other kids. I've never been tempted to take my father's guns out the safe when friends are round, not only because I would have been in big trouble but also because I've seen them, handled them so much it had no novelty factor. I've never had that sort of attitude towards guns. Children are always drawn to things that are forbidden, exciting and dangerous so in some ways teaching a child gun safety and handling is a way to mitigate this - especially if you are in a home where someone does keep, use and store guns. However an uzi does seem a little excessive for anyone to be playing around with, 9 year old or 49 year old. edited by RuthM on 31/08/2014 <em>edited by RuthM on 31/08/2014</em>

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 19 August 2014 - 01:17

We've just increased our maid's salary to 2500 all inclusive for live in. She has 20+ years experience and has required barely any managing since we took her on. Presently I am in the UK with my mother who is unwell and I have just had a baby. Our maid is running the house, looking after the dogs, paying the gardener, managing the maintenance people. When anything happens she texts or emails DH to let him know. We've had friends 'drop in' and every time they have told us she is busy cleaning windows or brushing the dogs so she manages to find things to ensure her time is filled. DH is mostly travelling on business and when he returns it is normally late at night and he leaves his luggage downstairs. By the time he comes down the next morning it is all washed and in the process of being ironed. We couldn't ask for more therefore think she deserves every penny she gets. This said 5-6k would be outwith our reach for sure.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 17 August 2014 - 23:58

You have to put in the claim by the last day of the third month from which it is purchased. i.e. if purchased today the claim would need to be done by 30th November. The refund can be done by post. However you need to ensure you send the correct form to the correct agent. Most forms come with an appropriately addressed envelope. Premier Tax Free (http://www.premiertaxfree.com/) and Global Blue (http://www.globalblue.com/) are the two main ones. However some stores process the refunds themselves, without an agent.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 06 August 2014 - 18:11

It really depends where in Hampshire you want to live. Apart from petrol and train fares (which presumably you would not need) the biggest cost of living in UK is housing. Utilities are not cheap but also not hugely expensive (if you are paying for aircon/water in Dubai as an extra you will probably find heating in the UK cheaper). I have a friend whose wife has just had a baby. They have just bought a four bedroom house in Liphook, Hampshire. I am not 100% sure of his earnings but I would suspect around 40k. He goes on relatively cheap holidays (Thailand etc.), and is not a big spender (no designer clothes etc.). But lives fairly well, they eat home cooked meals, and an occasional pub lunch, they have two cars (one is a company car) and he has a camper van for his camping holidays to Wales. :-) A 40k salary would leave you with take home of around £2500 a month. This is a useful calculator: http://www.listentotaxman.com/ we pay for water (and sewerage) in the UK too..and gas. electricity, community charge, prescriptions, road tax, income tax, National Insurance and in some areas residents' parking... Sorry Ruth but Thailand is not a cheap holiday...not many of our friends venture further than Europe for their hols - that's if they an afford to go away at all...(now trying to think of someone I know who's been abroad this year and can only think of two !! lol). I did wonder how Thailand was a cheap holiday. We could never have afforded to go there when DH and I were still in the UK and we were both on fairly decent salaries with no kids. For us it was Easyjet to Europe, or a drive to the Lakes :) edited by Geordie expat on 06/08/2014 Exactly !! It's a dream holiday here - the sort most people only get to have if they win the lottery !! lol Depends really, are you intending on staying in five star hotels or backpacking? Sorry but the only expensive part of Thailand, is getting to Thailand. Once you are there you can have a very cheap holiday indeed. If you so choose. Food and accommodation is far far cheaper than Western Europe. <em>edited by RuthM on 06/08/2014</em>

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 06 August 2014 - 15:41

It really depends where in Hampshire you want to live. Apart from petrol and train fares (which presumably you would not need) the biggest cost of living in UK is housing. Utilities are not cheap but also not hugely expensive (if you are paying for aircon/water in Dubai as an extra you will probably find heating in the UK cheaper). I have a friend whose wife has just had a baby. They have just bought a four bedroom house in Liphook, Hampshire. I am not 100% sure of his earnings but I would suspect around 40k. He goes on relatively cheap holidays (Thailand etc.), and is not a big spender (no designer clothes etc.). But lives fairly well, they eat home cooked meals, and an occasional pub lunch, they have two cars (one is a company car) and he has a camper van for his camping holidays to Wales. :-) A 40k salary would leave you with take home of around £2500 a month. This is a useful calculator: http://www.listentotaxman.com/

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 30 July 2014 - 17:09

I'm an only child whose mother was also an only child and whose father was one of three but a bit of an outsider (his sisters were twins and he was packed off to boarding school whilst they stayed at home, then he moved to London and they stayed in north England). I have cousins but they mean little to me, they all grew up together and I saw them maybe once a year. So I'd love four but frankly it is too expensive. I know kids don't need to be given a financial hand in life but I would like them to be able to go to a good quality school with a wide variety of both academic and recreational options. For them to be able to study at university for as long as they need to in order to achieve their life goals. Or to pursue a sport or practical skill until they reach a level to be able to sustain themselves. To give them a safe reliable vehicle when they get to driving age so they can get around independently and to help them get on the housing ladder. In addition I would love for them to see the world, not just have a regular beach holiday to Spain or Thailand, but to go further afar to other places for example safari in Africa, an Antarctic cruise, a visit to Galapagos, as well as visiting sites of religious and historic significance. So we've decided to only have two children. But if we had more funds we would almost certainly hope for a family with four. To me finances are the only downside of a larger family, although it you go over four children there is also one very small issue of transportation to consider, eight seater cars are available but cramped when seating eight, then after that you are onto a minibus! <em>edited by RuthM on 30/07/2014</em>

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 30 July 2014 - 02:47

Thanks for the reply RuthM! Seems like there aren't too many Americans on this forum so I appreciate all your help! :) I looked at AmazonUK and didn't see a Ninja specifically :( I'm not familiar with british brands to find something comparable to a Ninja. The top brands in UK would probably be Magimix and KitchenAid. You can also consider Kenwood and maybe Waring My KitchenAid blends anything, chops/crushes ice no problem. The Magimix I bought my mum (bit of a Homer present I am visiting and wanted a decent blender!) is great the really useful thing is it has preset functions so you can just press a button and leave it going. I make smoothies with it and start on the ice function to crush the ice, then throw in the smoothie ingredients and leave it for a few mins, come back and it's done. The Magimix has a 1200W motor and 1.8L jug the KitchenAid only 550W with a 1.5L jug. Sorry I don't know much else about the specs. Hope you manage to find something you're happy with. <em>edited by RuthM on 30/07/2014</em>

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 30 July 2014 - 02:16

I'm in Uk at Present and can think instantly of 20 reasons why I love Dubai. Has any one created a more positive list of 20 reasons why the UAE is great? I am not a Dubai lover and already have an exit strategy but there are a few good things: 1) Being able to eat out pork free and buy pork free meats. Beef bacon, beef sausages (which are not in pork skins), lasagne/bolognese without pork in it, turkey/beef ham on pizza etc. 2) Decent snow dome, unfortunately it has some down right dangerous skiers in it and zero ski patrol but if you're a strong skier that can avoid such dangers (or take them out) it's good. 3) Cheap petrol. 4) Meat imported from Australia and NZ. Sorry UK but Australian beef and NZ lamb rules. (Although have recently discovered some great meat from the UK online butcher Donald Russell). 5) Climate conducive to grow some fruits such as mango, pineapple and dates for yourself. 6) Dates. 7) Variety of cars. It's kind of fun (as a Brit) to have the choice of buying a huge Cadillac! 8) Kids. Restaurants are normally welcoming of kids in Dubai. The UK often seems to hate kids. (Of course if only every resident could control their kids it would make for a perfect situation!)

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 29 July 2014 - 15:10

Baggage handlers cannot lift bags greater than 32kg, they must go as freight. For bags over 23kg they require specialist handling and must be labelled as 'heavy'. Some airlines will impose a charge for this, British airways charge £40. As far as I'm aware this is for handling of the bag not for extra weight. An airline may be able to check in two peoples bags as one single bag but this could be difficult depending on the computer system they are using. The bag will actually only be labelled with one passenger's name. Emirates is a 30kg allowance in economy in any case.

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 29 July 2014 - 15:08

I guess it depends on how you see things. A lot of people keep their national dress here whereas it would not be tolerated elsewhere. Also, lots of men walk around wearing makeup here. In my home country, that would be sure to raise eyebrows. I have met Jews living in this country with no issues... Really? Which synagogue do they go to and where do they shop for kosher food? I've never seen someone in traditional hasidic dress in Dubai or even sporting a yarmulke? Also with regard to dress then skimpy dress is not tolerated here. Frankly I'm pleased about that, I'm all against people dressing up like they're for sale. I myself only ever wear jeans/trousers and t-shirts/sweaters anywhere except the beach/pool and gym. But I was slightly peeved off when pregnant and a security guard had a fit because my t-shirt had ridden up slightly when I was sitting in a chair and it was showing a cm of flesh on my back, (visible only if you walked directly past when I leaned forward and if you peered over - I was yet to get some larger maternity clothes). And weren't some people fined and deported for cross dressing earlier this year? Finally what does wearing makeup have to do with anything? Is this to do with gays? Do gay people all wear makeup? What about emo kids? Are they all gay? I'm confused? Dubai may turn a blind eye to many of these things but it does not mean it is legal, they may be more liberal than other countries in the region but cannot be compared to many other places in Europe where you can be openly gay, cross dress etc. These things to my knowledge are illegal in Dubai. It's not a criticism, I wouldn't expect any religious country to be liberal in this way, but it cannot be stated as an accolade either. Whilst there are many great things about Dubai, I cannot agree that tolerance for all religions and ways of life is one of them. <em>edited by RuthM on 29/07/2014</em>

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EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 29 July 2014 - 14:44

Hi all, appreciate your concern for the dog..the reason I don't want her in the house is very simple. We have plenty of friends with dogs and as much as their house is clean you can never get rid of the dog smell and dog hairs. I like my house clean, tidy and fragrant. She is well looked after and receives plenty of attention from all family members. Her kennel is being built tomorrow and her AC is ready for installation. Just out of interest how will she be getting plenty of attention in the summer months? If you won't allow the dog in the house at all then will the family go and sit outside in the garden or in the kennel with the dog for several hours a day in the heat? We have had a number of working dogs which were live out (spaniels and labradors). But they were regularly trained (several times a day) and still came into the house in the evening to sit with the family, they were only permitted in the study and tv room, the rest of the house was off limits. Perhaps you could consider having one room in the house where the dog is permitted, for at least part of the day so she can spend some relaxing time with the family? I genuinely do feel a live out non working GSD will go crazy, and realistically if you are not working her it is unfair on both yourself and the dog to be trying to find enough quality time to spend with her. She will most likely become frustrated, anti-social and destructive making it harder for you to be able to look after her as once behavioural issues start it is even harder to reverse them. It is then likely you will end up resenting her and consider her uncontrollable. Which could result in you not enjoying spending time with her (as due to circumstance she simply will not be a nice dog), starting a vicious cycle of spending time with the dog becoming a chore instead of something you look forward to, so the dog will sense that and become more problematic, which will mean you enjoy her company less and possibly spend less time with her and she becomes more problematic still. Having a well mannered, content, socialised outdoor dog is a lot of hard work, most likely more hard work than simply cleaning your house of dog hair. It is actually fairly easy to keep your house not smelling of dog and hair free. I find by brushing the dogs daily (outside) it gets rid of most of the dead fur and keeps the oils in their coats replenished so they don't smell, they are also bathed when required. I hoover and mop daily as well. I notice when a house smells as my mother has one small spaniel and her house does smell of dog (she never brushes or baths the dog which drives me nuts), our house however does not.

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