schm25 | ExpatWoman.com
 

schm25

schm25
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Latest post on 13 January 2015 - 18:49
We went with Simon from Allsopp & Allsopp, he was fab showed us so many villas, did so much for us and would always reply even at 11pm on a Friday night! We eventually found a house we liked through another agent and asked him to find the landlords details for us so he would get the broker fee.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2015 - 18:41
So after living in our villa for 2 months, water started coming through the ceiling in our en suite. Maintenance company came out and water heater in ceiling was old and rusted beyond repair, they said we needed a new one. It's going to cost around 800-1000dhs but LL is refusing to pay saying this is our responsibility? Even though contract states that anything over 500dhs is his responsibility? Not to mention that we don't fancy buying him a new water heater for his villa that we've just moved into! A further 2 months on and we're all using the kids shower just now, which in reality isn't so bad and I'm tempted just to leave it that way until we move out (September) but have been told he will probably just take it from our deposit! What's the best thing to do? edited by schm25 on 13/01/2015 <em>edited by schm25 on 13/01/2015</em>
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 January 2015 - 18:16
I just got one from a site like groupon for 199 aed plus I think 15aed delivery? Arrived today, Amazing deal. Think the site was hot shot deals or something!!
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 December 2014 - 21:50
Springs, Meadows, Lakes would be good for Media City, is that where your/husbands work is? Do you have school age children? Sometimes it's preferable to have an easier commute to school than work, as there's more trips in a day. Other areas to consider might be Jumeirah Park, Jumeirah Islands, Green Community and Victory Heights. If you're on a tighter budget, you can get a lot more for your money in Jebel Ali, it's a bit further out but do-able.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 November 2014 - 07:28
Springs 9 does not, however Springs 8 does and they share an entrance gate.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 November 2014 - 22:36
We use Home Safe, our maid has been amazing, she comes twice a week for 4 hours, works so quickly and thoroughly and needs very little direction. She also speaks very good English, the company is British run and the owner came out with her the first time she came. Very happy with them all round, would definitely recommend!
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 November 2014 - 11:01
There's lots of floor lamps in IKEA here too! I got a few nice ones recently.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 November 2014 - 08:51
We just recently bought a Nespresso machine, and it's amazing! Really nice coffee, a huge selection of different flavours in the Nespresso shop, and I love how when you go to buy more capsules you can sit and have a free coffee while you're there! There's one in Mall of Emirates and I think Dubai Mall too Oh and right across from it in the mall there's a selection of different machines in Crate and Barrel! <em>edited by schm25 on 18/11/2014</em>
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 November 2014 - 11:58
It's for my 9 year old daughter, she needs it as a prop for Chinese class (don't ask - I still don't understand :) ) thanks, I might check out the place you mentioned, haven't been to Mirdif CC yet!
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 November 2014 - 22:09
Hi Mrs P, all you have to do is scroll down to the bottom of the main screen and press the arrow in the bottom right corner, scroll down and click settings, then into email and accounts, and add an account.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 November 2014 - 23:04
We were there on Friday and it was less than half-open. Some parts looked like they had a way to go too.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2014 - 17:06
When you bring food items across, packet mixes etc, do you just put them in hold luggage? I'm such a panicker when it comes to flying and what's allowed etc, don't want to get myself arrested over a roasted veg mix :lol:
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 November 2014 - 16:59
We just moved here in August, lived in the Marina for 7 weeks and commuted to Nord Anglia, left at 7.10am and was there by 7.30, sometimes 7.35 on busier days! I think it also depends on where in the Marina you are, we were in the Radisson so was only a U turn and a set of lights between us and SZR.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 November 2014 - 15:56
Zain Car Care in Ras Al Khor ind estate, I just had mine done this weekend they did an excellent job, took an hour and a half. 400dhs for full valet of an SUV.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 October 2014 - 09:23
Hi @Audrey76, I am also in springs 9 I will keep an eye out for your little cat! Hopefully she will come home soon.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 September 2014 - 12:52
Allsopp and Allsopp is who we used. Simon our agent was great, really efficient and quick at responding to texts and calls even at 10pm on a Saturday night when we finally decided which villa we wanted. Have a look at their website and see who specialises in the areas you want to live.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 September 2014 - 15:37
We looked at villas there just two weeks ago, there are no community pools and there isn't a shopping centre/town centre either. There was a sign outside the main gate which said 'supermarket and mosque' with an arrow pointing in another direction, but I think it takes you toward silicon oasis. Beautiful villas at amazing prices though.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 September 2014 - 09:33
I use a Nivea spray on my little ones, SPF 50 and it's been great at keeping them protected. It comes out blue too (disappears after rubbing in) so my youngest loves it! :)
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2014 - 09:41
Before I moved to Dubai I was advised by our Relocation Officer that I only needed to have our marriage certificate legalised by the foreign office, and that I didn't have to send it to the UAE Embassy in London, so that's what I did. Residency visa is currently in process so I really hope I wasn't ill informed :-/
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 September 2014 - 14:07
@Bayan01 if you find anything please let me know, we are about to move into our new house in the springs and hubby & I would love the odd evening out without the kids! :)
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 September 2014 - 13:05
Thanks SusieSue! I had read a bit on a few websites but you never know if these are paid adverts or genuine reviews. I will definitely try one of those! :) <em>edited by schm25 on 21/09/2014</em>
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 September 2014 - 10:21
Also - we'd prefer something with a fun atmosphere!
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 September 2014 - 09:58
Hi ladies! Now that we have been in Dubai 2 weeks and have found a house, we have some free time this weekend and are thinking of trying these famous Dubai brunches! Can you recommend which are best? We have two children (9 and almost 3) who will be with us, so something child friendly would be great! :)
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 September 2014 - 09:54
I'm very glad of the result, had I voted it would have been a no! I'm more concerned about the divide and conflict this has caused in Scotland now, the things I've seen on the news and on FB, it's awful to watch :(
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 September 2014 - 09:51
Ok, so it can leave the UK it just can't leave the port in the UAE until the visa is in place? Because that wouldn't be a problem, we will have our residency visa by the time it gets here. The problem is they're saying it can't leave the UK! :(
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 September 2014 - 09:01
Thanks TB, that's what I thought. We have to wait til Monday now as the Relocation company is based in Prague (silly) but hopefully we can get it sorted. Otherwise it'll be patio furniture and sleeping bags! (lol)
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 September 2014 - 08:56
My daughter attends Nord Anglia and so far it's been wonderful. Their communication is great, the facilities are wonderful and they offer a wide range of Co-Curricular Activities at no extra cost, the ones which my daughter attends she loves. They have been open and honest from the start about any and all delays and problems, and contact is made daily, sometimes two-three times a day with information and updates about the school and what children have been learning. Very happy here!
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 September 2014 - 08:52
We have been in Dubai for two weeks now, our relocation company have just told us that all of our stuff (furniture etc) is still in the UK as they can't ship it until we have our residency visa. Is this true?? Residency visa is still in progress, could be another two weeks to get my husbands back then apply for myself and the children. Then they said it will take 8-10 weeks from then? We have to move out of the hotel at the start of October and into a villa, seems we will have to live without furniture for up to two months? Has this happened to anyone else or are they making this up? <em>edited by schm25 on 20/09/2014</em>
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 21:23
@Buddha I actually found that car park but quickly left as I felt like I was somewhere I shouldn't be! @AnonDubai - I have no idea, so far I've found the Waitrose in Marina Mall, C4 in MoE and I've been buying bread/milk etc from the fuel station at Hessa Street turn off from SZR. I feel like I need a day just to drive around and see what I can find! @kemsmum I drove out to Silicon Oasis a few days ago but quickly got lost, and as I haven't yet changed my UK mobile contract for a UAE one I don't get internet outside and couldn't use the map, rookie error. Tomorrow's job - buy a paper map (or get a new phone lol) I pass the motor city entrance on the way to drop my daughter off at school, would I have to go aallll the way back up Hessa St to turn back and get back to that roundabout? <em>edited by schm25 on 15/09/2014</em>
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2014 - 12:27
Thanks for all your replies, this will be very helpful! I'll try one of these out tomorrow morning after the school run! :)
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 September 2014 - 11:13
Thank you, that's one less thing to stress about before we move then! :)
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 September 2014 - 17:10
We are due to move the end of this week and due to how quick it's all happened have only just found out this needs done before we apply for residence. My husbands visa is due to come back within the next couple of days, then we will fly out and myself and the children will enter on visit visas. Does anyone know how easy/hard it is to get marriage and birth certificates attested from Dubai? Or is it worth trying to do it while we're still in the UK? Bearing in mind we are around 600 miles from London :-/
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2014 - 17:36
Other option re a pool is to take a membership somewhere like the Polo club which gives you use of pool,and facilities. It can be way cheaper than the extra rent required to get a place with. Pool. Villas in Layan, Dubailand are nice and access to a 25m pool, gym, community shop etc etc. it is far out but basically I can get pretty much anywhere in Dubai in 25 mins. That sounds ideal, is that where you are? I have looked at a few properties in Dubailand and they are lovely. Seeing as my husband currently does a 1.5 hour commute each way to work it doesn't seem far out to us at all, anything less than that would be amazing!
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2014 - 17:33
Thanks all! I will definitely check out Arabian Ranches, sounds lovely! As for the health insurance, on double checking it's actually more like 800AED per month (amounts are all listed in USD and my mental currency conversion is shocking), I don't know what other people receive/pay but to me, paying that amount for full coverage including vision and dental doesn't seem like a lot at all? Especially seeing as everything else is paid anyway. The only thing to consider that if for some reason you make a lot of claims on you health insurance then the cost of it might shoot up the following year. Has your husband asked about his company covering the whole family? It seems a little odd that they aren't, he is clearly on a family package and the norm (as far as I am aware) would be for coverage for the whole family. Yes he has asked but apparently it's company policy, my husband is a manager himself, but even his manager above him wasn't able to make the company pay for his family. I guess it's just the way they do it. But we'd rather have to pay for health insurance than school fees, so we're counting ourselves lucky haha! :)
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2014 - 02:09
Thanks all! I will definitely check out Arabian Ranches, sounds lovely! As for the health insurance, on double checking it's actually more like 800AED per month (amounts are all listed in USD and my mental currency conversion is shocking), I don't know what other people receive/pay but to me, paying that amount for full coverage including vision and dental doesn't seem like a lot at all? Especially seeing as everything else is paid anyway.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 August 2014 - 13:41
Great, pool is now on the list of must haves too! I feel slightly better now that I won't be going in blind, at least if I have a few things in mind it will help with making a decision! Flying out in the next couple of weeks to have a look and hopefully find something! Thanks :)
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 August 2014 - 13:14
Al Barsha could be good and you would be able to find a good villa within budget and not far from Al Quoz. You could maybe get a 3 bedroom in Jumeirah Park, which is a newer community next to Springs. They have their own newly opened community centre there. Where is the school located? The school is (on google maps) between miracle garden and jumeirah village circle? I have seen some nice villas in Al Barsha but I was advised by someone not to pick a home that is not in a gated compound? I found that weird but I guess as I know nothing about living in dubai I just blindly accepted it. If this is not the case then I guess that opens up far more choice!
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 August 2014 - 12:59
Thank you Tallybalt I think that's exactly what we'll do the first day we get there, just drive around and get a feel for some areas, maybe try the drives during rush hour too! Pollydxb1 - that's so reassuring to hear, thanks! We will definitely make sure medical is sorted, it's scary leaving the UK and the NHS, as flawed as it is at times it is free.
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 August 2014 - 12:43
To add - Cigna Global Health is the company, and the amount for adding myself and the children would be paid via payroll for us
schm25
40
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 August 2014 - 12:39
Thanks for the quick replies ladies! We don't live an extravagant lifestyle just now, we eat out maybe twice a month and rarely go out without the children (nights out etc) but that's more because we already live away from our families and have no babysitters! The health insurance is something I will have my husband ask about. I did research it and it's a good standard of cover which normally costs a lot more but we only have to pay a small amount to add myself and the kids on if that makes sense? I had looked at dubailand and seems you get a lot more for your money there, is there a reason for this? I'm not sure about the springs area, from pictures it all looks like rows and rows of the same houses and seems you don't get very much yet pay higher rent? Though it is a good location for the school and my husbands work. We would be happy to pay a bit extra if we found a place we liked that was more than 180k, also the company are very good and if we found a place at say 195k or something they would pay the extra as a discretionary amount.
 
 
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