simpleasabc | ExpatWoman.com
 

simpleasabc

simpleasabc
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Latest post on 21 April 2013 - 09:23
I've tried it being truthful about our income but not about our social and cultural activities and turned out elite; when I lied about our finances but told the truth about how cultured and educated we and our friends are, I became a member of the "Precariat".
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 April 2013 - 08:21
It's simply based on money. I'm "elite", purely because of my husband's (not enormous) income and the fact we own property.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 April 2013 - 08:18
Thunder and lightning, quite frightening, and a burst of rain in Meadows 9.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 April 2013 - 20:38
TDB, I was also going to suggest Chimes, though, like my favourite, the Noodle House, it's more Pan Asian than what we English would think of as "Chinese Take Away"! Yorky, like you, I really miss the Copper Chimney, which we found expensive, but cheaper and better than our present alternative of the Rupee Room. Sitting here eating cheese on toast!
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 April 2013 - 17:13
Does not compute.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 18 April 2013 - 13:32
Sorry, I can't help you, but I just wanted to say hi, Hilsbils, hope all's well and you're feeling better than you were last time we saw you here :)
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 16 April 2013 - 15:05
I'm reading there was an earthquake of 7.8 magnitude on the Richter scale about 20 minutes ago on the Iran/Pakistan border. Would that have been it?
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 16 April 2013 - 14:55
I didn't feel the last one at all, but the earth really moved for me here on the second floor of a Meadows villa - can't imagine what it might be like in a tall block.. You'll be glad to know the earth moved for husbad too - he's over in the airport free zone at the mo.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 13 April 2013 - 11:25
There's a difference between sharing and co-habiting, anyway. In any case, have a look at this: http://www.dubaifaqs.com/living-together-in-dubai.php it might answer your question in some way. <em>edited by simpleasabc on 13/04/2013</em>
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 11 April 2013 - 14:53
If I have the right person, I think Speed Queen has undergone several transformations since her last post on this subject and may not be posting here any more. She did eventually find a job here but she had to give it up for family reasons and has since moved away from Dubai.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 11 April 2013 - 11:46
Oh, dear, I've just looked up their menu on line and it doesn't show prices - I think that probably means rather a lot.. I don't know how Traiteur compares, but their "menu de degustation" is AED695 per head with wine pairings, if that's any help.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 11 April 2013 - 09:54
There's just one card per family. If you're the one who does the booze shopping, take possession of it yourself so you can show it when asked; otherwise, if your husband keeps the card, there's no problem going into the shop and they'll just check your name on the computer.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 11 April 2013 - 09:50
The state, or public, schools in Switzerland are free. In Zurich, and I believe the surrounding Swiss German Cantons, Swiss German is the first language and the second language taught in state/public schools is English (not French or Italian). English is very well taught in Swiss German schools and most people will probably be able to communicate with you in English. International schools, where English would be the first language, are as expensive as mentioned and I don't believe would be manageable on that salary for three children. I agree that to save on taxes and housing costs, you would probably be better off living in an adjacent canton and have your husband commute into Zurich. Your youngest child will do fine with the language and you'll probably find that the older two, after floundering a bit, will happily be chattering away in Swiss German before you know it. In Geneva, certainly, I know newcomers from foreign countries are given special classes so they can learn the local first language and perhaps you will find the same thing happens in the Swiss German cantons' state schools, too. I'm not sure that CHF160k pa will be sufficient for you as Switzerland is expensive compared to Dubai, we find. Sorry, not quite sure that I understood you correctly - what does the figure of 60k you give refer to? AED per month or CHF pa? I'm presuming the former, and if so, with all the perks you're used to, you will probably feel the pinch if you move to the Zurich area. Medical insurance in Switzerland is compulsory and very expensive. You'll also have to invest in warm clothing, which, with growing children, will probably turn out more expensive than here. On the other hand, if you are from the UK originally, your travel costs home won't be too bad as you can get good deals on the TGV or flights into City airport. Good luck, I hope it works out for you.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 08 April 2013 - 09:03
Going off at a tangent - we haven't been here long enough to have had this issue, but I believe from what I've read here, that landlords routinely use your deposit to repaint and repair a place when you leave and in many cases, you cannot expect to see your deposit back at all.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 07 April 2013 - 22:23
Give estate agents a figure of about AED 10 - 20K less than you have in your budget, to make sure you are not shown places which are way beyond your means so they don't waste your time and you theirs. Depending on where you are looking, when driving round the places you're interested in, either ask the security guards at the gate of the compound you're looking at what's up for rent and they will probably help you, or (to be honest, we did it this way) make up the street and house number you want to visit and then just tour round the area. (Best to use St 1 or 2, villa number 4 or 5, in case street 10 villa 50 doesn't exist in that particular compound! In the Lakes, we said we were visiting the Club!)
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 07 April 2013 - 16:30
Is this link any good to you, OP? http://www.propertyfinder.ae/en/rent/dubai/properties-for-rent-jumeirah-village-triangle.html?t/16/v/4
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 07 April 2013 - 14:38
Thank you both for that, serves me right for doing a search for 12, not twelve :) I must have mistakenly understood that I read somewhere on here that there has been a recent new amendment which allows the LL to evict a tenant at the end of their contract without having to give any sort of reason. Clearly, that's wrong - or rather, landlords who try it on will be fined if the tenant moves out and later finds out that the property has been rented out again at a much higher price, I think?
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 07 April 2013 - 13:55
I find this confusing. The tenancy law clearly states that a tenant can only be made to move out under strictly defined circumstances, ie landlord moving in, villa being knocked down etc. [b'>and that the landlord must give 12 months minimum notice.[/b'> Which law (or amendment) is that, please? I've looked in various places but can't find mention of the 12 months' notice.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 April 2013 - 23:25
It's the terrace of the Al Fayrooz lobby lounge at the Al Qasr hotel, Bubby1234. I think I got the right car back last time I was there ;)
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 05 April 2013 - 10:20
Make it easier on yourselves and say he discovered he lost it somewhere in Dubai, yesterday.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 03 April 2013 - 12:12
I've only just discovered Traiteur and haven't been there for brunch. It is officially our favourite French restaurant in Dubai but am not sure if a brunch there would be what the OP and her party are looking for?
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 03 April 2013 - 09:59
We went to Yallumba for a farewell do last year and although I love the Al Qasr brunch, I would definitely choose Yallumba for a large number of party animals :) I've also heard about Saffron at the Atlantis, but never been..
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 21:12
Thank you both very much for the info, I shall be investigating. We're wondering whether it will really be cheaper to buy the material and get the dress made here than getting it sent from an online shop - it's just I do think 80 quid plus delivery charges is an awful lot for a dress she'll only wear once.. <em>edited by simpleasabc on 01/04/2013</em>
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 17:00
Has anyone managed to open a uk account using their UAE bank? We use HSBC here and would like to open a HSBC account in the uk, is that possible at all, are they linked? This may help http://www.connexionfrance.com/uk-bank-accounts-for-non-residents-10441-news-article.html Thanks, Sarahlou, interesting info there. Dates back to 2009, I see, shows things were getting stricter already then.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 16:15
I didnt but my friend did that was the reason for my question Thank you for all your advice :-) I also think, as busybee said, everything to do with banking has become more difficult in the UK in the past couple of years, even if you are a resident there, as they are so aware of security and the possibility of fraud.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 16:11
I didn't ever contemplate closing my UK account when I moved away, and I was certainly never told I wasn't allowed to keep it open. Even if I didn't have money going into it regularly, I would still have left a nominal sum there in case I returned to live in England.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 15:31
Here's something from the Nationwide, I think you'll find other banks work on similar lines, according to UK banking regulations: http://www.nationwide.co.uk/search/DisplayArticle.aspx?article=1491
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 15:15
I believe the "Clean and Polish Alex's Shoes" list was first put up as a joke, though many others disagree with me and think there is not enough on that list for a live-in maid to do. In any case, I wouldn't ask a nanny to do much on it, I would only want her to look after my children and their washing and ironing and to prepare their meals and feed them if I was out.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 14:51
I think Nutty was saying that her daughter's vocab and speech and language in general were in advance of others in nursery, Lou! Nutty, I'm afraid I've no suggestions except that another poster posted recently about how the Finnish education system produces the same, if not better, educated children than those in the UK or US systems, yet the children only start at school aged six or seven, so please take heart! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_Finland ETA: Have you thought about the Montessori method? http://www.gulfmontessori.com/dfacility.htm <em>edited by simpleasabc on 01/04/2013</em>
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 14:41
No, to the best of my knowledge, you can't, you need to provide proof of residence in the UK with one or two bills (electricity, gas, water) addressed to you at a home address in the UK. Otherwise, as you said, your other option is an offshore account. I'm not even sure you are allowed to open an online only account in the UK if you are not resident there. I still have a UK account as I didn't close mine when I left over 20 years ago, but I couldn't open a new account with a different bank today as I am not resident in the UK, even though I have a British passport and own property there. <em>edited by simpleasabc on 01/04/2013</em>
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 14:39
Owh I wonder what that title was...can anyone else help?? An actual list of duties would be soo helpful so that I can write it to her! Holiday entitlement, what their package is etc?? Do they eat lunch at your house or bring their own?? Clean car?? All very new to me!! x Nannies are very different from maids and the list "Alex's Shoes" specifically refers to chores for maids, not for nannies.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 13:05
Go and have a coffee and do some shopping at the Meadows Town Centre and you'll find a couple of such numbers stuck to your car in no time..
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 13:04
Sorry, Dogcatcher, I enjoy April 1st jokes myself, and was just trying to say that there is so much in the real news today that is ludicrous, there's no need to make anything up.. You have to look carefully at the date for this one, for example: http://www.twincities.com/national/ci_22911446/german-flea-circus-freezes-death
simpleasabc
5400
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 12:48
Not when you've got real news to contend with - N Korea threatening to start a nuclear war, for example.
simpleasabc
5400
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 12:38
Thanks, Sarahlou - seems an awfully long time to wait, and Season 2 seemed very short :(
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 12:35
This is the link to the KHDA latest news page: http://www.khda.gov.ae/en/news/khdanews.aspx
simpleasabc
5400
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 12:31
Who was talking about Homeland, and where? I can't find anything recent about it apart from this thread. Is it back yet?
simpleasabc
5400
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 12:29
Look at the date, Ladies :)
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 01 April 2013 - 12:05
Thanks, Pikachu, we loved it: http://blog.virgin-atlantic.com/t5/Our-Experience/Virgin-Atlantic-Launches-World-s-First-Ever-Glass-Bottomed-Plane/ba-p/6096 for anyone who hasn't seen it. And for you nursing mothers suffering from mastitis: http://fitelle.com/
simpleasabc
5400
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 31 March 2013 - 14:24
I've been using the rental calculator for the past couple of years, and it's only ever worked for one month ahead - that message that comes up is misleading :)
simpleasabc
5400
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 28 March 2013 - 13:19
Still waiting.. Have a feeling will have to go to the Embassy, which of course is now closed till Tuesday..
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 28 March 2013 - 11:20
Thanks, ladies, I have done that and am waiting for a call back. I have only been able to find one UK legal company here, which must be wrong, but the FCO site, though it advertises that it lists lawyers here, is actually completely useless and you can't talk to a real person at the British Embassy in either AD or Dubai unless you go there in person, apparently.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 27 March 2013 - 09:48
Hamar, writing as a Brit, I would imagine British people don't feel the need to have a maid living-in full time and find agency maids expensive and not very good as part-time maids, as well as being unreliable for timings. That's been my experience. I feel as if I've tried every agency in Dubai and just can't find what I want. Certainly have no need nor desire for a full-time live-in maid but would love a legal, reasonably priced, regular part-time maid who would know the household, use their initiative and whom I could trust, which so far I've not found from an agency.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 27 March 2013 - 09:23
This isn't exactly what you want, but might be of interest? http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/topic179618-setting-up-a-business.aspx I vaguely remember someone, more than a month ago, who mentioned working from home as a consultant for the company they had always worked for before coming to the UAE, though am not sure how legal it was. Was that what you were thinking of?
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 25 March 2013 - 08:10
Quite often a villa is used to refer to a stand-alone or semi-detached property and a townhouse is used to refer to a terraced property. I know the houses in Springs are terraced/townhouses, but not sure about the properties in Mirdiff? Are some of them detached or semi-detached? As well as Jumeirah Village Triangle, Jumeirah Circle and Victory Heights might also be possibilities for the OP?
simpleasabc
5400
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 25 March 2013 - 08:07
OP, have you tried the Universal American School (UAS*)? They are very good, though it may be now they are established, there is a long waiting list for places :( *Which reminds me, whatever happened to Gleeky? Is she still here by another name, or has she disappeared from Dubai or just EW, anyone know?
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 25 March 2013 - 08:03
If I were you, I wouldn't risk it. I certainly wouldn't be broadcasting it on forums. What you want to do is illegal without a licence here: http://bluetutors.co.uk/tutor_articles/2011/01/uae-ban-on-private-tuition/431 Perhaps you could try working for a licenced tutoring company in Knowledge Village?
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 22 March 2013 - 11:33
I was just about to post that I would suggest a Montessori nursery for your little one, OP. I don't have any recommendations for here, though, but their principle at that age is learning through play. You have to be careful which system you choose for afterwards for your child, though, as some are a complete shock to the child's system after Montessori's nurturing approach and your child may never get into the mainstream academic rhythm after Montessori. Our daughter was in a Montessori school till she was 9 and then got the shock of her life when she went into the French system. She still hasn't recovered. If she had been able to stay with Montessori till she was 18, as I understand is possible in the Netherlands, she'd be doing a lot better academically now.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 19:47
NOPE - on ipad no subscription needed. It is a free app. According to my 11 year old she just downloaded the app for free from the app store on ipad. I think she said you can pay money so you can watch without the ads ....I'll ask her tonight. Only 'problem' is that you can only watch LIVE tv but it's great for sports fixtures and kids TV on a Sat afternoon as you get the UK Sat am stuff. edited by Feefmick on 21/03/2013 Thanks for that tip, Feefmick, am delighted with it! Now, if only there were something similar for the various iplayers!
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 19:44
When I was a kid in London, they used to do that to certain trees and I remember being told it was to prevent lime disease.
 
 
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