simpleasabc | ExpatWoman.com
 

simpleasabc

simpleasabc
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Latest post on 15 May 2013 - 22:13
Hilary did for me, too, and there is still debate on him going on at alt.usage.english, apparently, though I've not investigated yet :D
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 15 May 2013 - 14:07
I've just forwarded you the message Laurelm sent me, dxbfamilia. Oh, will do the other two now!
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 15 May 2013 - 13:56
Yes ;) Unless interflora have new routes :D edited by Splinters on 15/05/2013 Brilliant, Splinters, thanks for the coffee over the keyboard moment :)
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 15 May 2013 - 12:22
I imagine they have to have a break of at least 12 hours, but I'm sure someone here will know for a fact :)
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 15 May 2013 - 11:53
Wow really? I thought Dubai was supposed to be considered ultra liberal in this regard and not on a terrorist watch type of list. :( I'll talk to my husband about your advice re: US credit cards and such. What a bummer! Old news: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/dubai/7251960/Dubai-Hamas-assassination-how-it-was-planned.html Recent news: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/27/is-al-qaeda-s-attention-now-turning-to-united-arab-emirates.html Wherever you move here from, it is very useful to keep your home bank accounts and credit cards valid if you possibly can.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 15 May 2013 - 11:40
Thanks, laurelm - unfortunately doesn't solve the problem I've been having. Think mine must be more to do with broadband allowances.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 15 May 2013 - 11:31
Could someone please send me this info? Email addy is: Thanks in advance! <em>edited by simpleasabc on 15/05/2013</em>
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 15 May 2013 - 11:26
Disaster! Can I get a transformer here? I thought about cancelling or re-routing to my mother, but unfortunately, it has already shipped! [b'>And I don't think I'll be allowed to re-send it back to the US because they don't let you ship anything to the US anymore, thanks to the terrorists[/b'>. Hi sorry I can't help with advice because I don't live in Dubai (yet) but can you explain this to me? Does that mean when we do move that I won't be able to send Christmas gifts back home? Your best bet for presents will be to make sure you don't cancel your US credit cards before moving and that you have a US address you can still associate with them and then pay your cc bills on line. Then you can avoid the restrictions the US is placing on gifts coming from the ME (or is it just "abroad"?) cos of fears of terrorism and order stuff to be delivered in the US from online US shops. Hope that makes sense :)
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 14 May 2013 - 16:59
JinD, just curious on how you intend to send the parcel. I will be sending a parcel for my friend's birthday and need to know the most cost effective method. I would think the simplest way to send books and DVDs to a friend in the UK would be to order from Amazon.co.uk and get them delivered direct.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 13 May 2013 - 23:25
Annabel karmel may be up your street. She gives details on how to freeze the suggested meal, and if they can or not. Really good idea, DesertRose. I'd forgotten her recipe books, but they were really useful if you had a child who ate a wide variety of food :)
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 13 May 2013 - 23:11
You'll be fine, with young kids, you'll be arranging play-dates and classes and somewhere amongst the huge mix of different people you'll meet, you'll find friends. Not like family, but friends. You have to bear in mind that this is mostly a floating population and people come and go at regular intervals, so you have to learn to let go of your friends, too. Good luck, don't worry!
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 13 May 2013 - 22:37
I'm sorry to hear about your friend. I hope she comes through it well. The first book/film that came to mind was "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel". Loved both. Do you know if she watched "Desperate Housewives", as she might find a boxed set amusing?
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 13 May 2013 - 21:47
I'm afraid mine would only eat pasta with home-made tomato sauce and grated parmesan till she was about 7. She also used to like smoked salmon for a change. Could you do white fish fillets in a cheese sauce? Mine would also eat anything with a bechamel and cheese sauce on it!
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 13 May 2013 - 21:40
I do the chicken nuggets sometimes with cornflakes Anything else? I used to make them with plain kettle chips and organic chicken fillet, went down a treat!
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 13 May 2013 - 21:24
Home-made chicken nuggets always go down well! Served with pasta or pots. Lamb-mince burgers are always popular, too.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 18:35
They do look tempting.. The main thing I miss about the UK - excellent fresh ready meals from Co-Op, Waitrose and M&S..
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 18:22
yes that was around the time I felt the quake....strange no one else felt it Some people are definitely more sensitive to things like this. It must be all inner ear/balance related. [b'>Some people even feel them a few hours before they happen.[/b'> That's a different sort of earth moving..
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 18:21
Are those the quack quack ones and the garlic mash and stuff?
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 17:47
I thought it might be nice to move there from Meadows as we are anticipating our rent going up when our contract ends, but have just looked at prices in Green Community Motor City and they are asking for more for a two bed apartment than we are paying for a 4 bed villa :(
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 16:01
According to this, HSBC do give home loans and mortgages - maybe you don't meet their requirements? http://www.hsbc.ae/1/2/personal/borrowing/loans/home-loans Oh, if you read the fine print, they only offer mortgage loans for completed properties. That would be it. I don't know how accurate this is, but I found this list of mortgage lenders here, might be worth a look? http://www.dubaicityguide.com/site/real-estate/mortgage-guide.asp
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 14:49
I think the mortgage-lending rules have changed here quite recently for ex-pats and now you have to be able to put a huge sum down as a deposit. But I could be wrong. I've quoogled and find that ex-pats need to put 25 to 30 per cent of the valuation of the property down before they can get a mortgage. <em>edited by simpleasabc on 12/05/2013</em>
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 14:39
I think Friday is its busiest day of the week! Sorry, don't know opening hours, but maybe contact them via here: http://www.rootstock.ae/contact/uaq-store/locations-directions.aspx
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 11:52
For all the reasons mentioned below, definitely take company accommodation, particularly as you will be both living and working in Mirdiff. Congratulations and good luck with your new job!
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 11:08
[b'>The only time i have seen mental drivers is SZR around 3-4pm. That is the only time i am tailgated, flashed at, cut up etc etc. I avoid the roads at that time at all cost. [/b'> I do enjoy Ramadan for the same reasons as you do But that's EVERY day here, not just Ramadan, surely? :)
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 12 May 2013 - 10:10
I've always used my Aramex account for Amazon since I've been here as I don't believe they use a courier to deliver to your physical address, you have to give a PO Box number. It is also my understanding that shipping by Amazon to the UAE takes longer than using Shop & Ship. I haven't compared shipping costs, though, and the delivery charges for Aramex are getting heftier and heftier.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 11 May 2013 - 12:15
Thank you for writing to update us, Nippy and many congratulations on what you have achieved. Please don't worry about the benefits aspect, I gather they very sticky now and the fact you've successfully jumped through all their hoops must mean the powers-that-be think you deserve the money you are getting. It's easy for me to say, but please do try to forget your husband - it seems he doesn't want to do the right thing by his children, which is a terrible shame for them, but you can't force him to take emotional responsibility for them. Is he asking to see them when he will be over in England? Anyhow, what you have done is very impressive, I'm not sure I could have managed it were I in your shoes. {{{Hugs}}}
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 11 May 2013 - 11:26
married in france, both me and dh had to have blood tests done too! Its not just here. edited by suzieirl on 11/05/2013 I gather from books I've read that pre-marital blood tests are mandatory in New York, too, for the reasons mentioned below - not sure if all the States are the same? <em>edited by simpleasabc on 11/05/2013</em>
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 11 May 2013 - 11:23
Dogcatcher, I presume it's so they don't have to police the purchase and intake of alcohol illegally.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 11 May 2013 - 08:26
Gosh, seeing and hearing the birds in our garden is one of our favourite things about living here! Almost the first thing we did when we moved into our villa was to buy a book about birds of the ME, to be able to identify them! There seem to be more birds and bird-song here than we ever saw and heard in our garden in Geneva (apart from crows/ravens/big black birds with evil beaks, which I agree, are vile). We don't even have to put food out for them, the hoopoes dig up worms from our grass for breakfast every day! <em>edited by simpleasabc on 11/05/2013</em>
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 10 May 2013 - 14:17
My apologies, Fiat500, I was wrong to say all passenger flights would be using DWC and I misread your posts as saying only General Aviation would be flying from DWC.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 10 May 2013 - 13:55
Not a typo...they will not be moving. There will be one runway operational in Dubai International Airport and this will be used by scheduled passenger airlines. Not quite sure that's right. Did you read the letter there was a link to below?
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 10 May 2013 - 13:53
Sorry, PPM, you have two completely different answers there. One thing is sure, you will be told when you book which airport you will be using :)
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 10 May 2013 - 13:42
I am sorry, so confused. Which flights will be diverted to DWC? WIll we know before booking? Gosh, it sounds a bit messy. I might prefer to use Etihad. From next May, (edited because I was wrong) some passenger flights will fly in and out of DWC as both of DIA's runways will be closed (one after the other) because of resurfacing. I presume Emirates will return to DIA as it is intended to ultimately be their dedicated airport, but I'm not sure most of the other airline companies will. (I think "diversion" is the wrong word here :) ) <em>edited by simpleasabc on 10/05/2013</em>
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 09 May 2013 - 16:02
There's been a very interesting discussion with Ed Balls about this: http://businessdisabilityforum.org.uk/newsletters/employers-stammering-network-launching-in-may on the Jeremy Vine show on BBC Radio at about 40 minutes in to the programme. http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01s8qth You'll be able to "listen again" a couple of hours after the proramme has ended, later today. One remark that struck me was someone saying that the sooner the stammer is discussed and something done about it, the better, although lots of people don't like to discuss it, even in old married couples! Also, proper breathing is a key to dealing with it. Good luck, again.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 09 May 2013 - 09:32
My husband's salary has not been paid into UAE bank account. In order to take out car loans, he had to arrange for his non-UAE employer to transfer part of his salary every month to our UAE bank account. No tax implications for us, we found, as tax depends on residence, not where the salary is paid, I believe. I would still check, just in case.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 08 May 2013 - 20:53
Until people stand up and say no ,companies will get away with this. Surely a gift card is the same as cash or credit card so why should companies have an expiring date on a gift card, after all ,they already have the money in the bank and making interest. Amazon e-gift cards have an expiry date of a year after issue. You need to read the T&C, is all.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 08 May 2013 - 17:31
Can you see the picture for settings - that cog wheel thing? It will probably be under your email address, which I presume will be showing on the top left of the calendar page? Click on the settings icon, the fifth line down should be settings, try clicking on that, then the first drop down menu should be the one for language and you should be able to find English if you scroll down the list. Select it and the line immediately above the language drop down menu should be have two buttons - the one to the left in bold is the save button, so probably there's one on the right in bold in Arabic you could use for save.. Good luck!
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 08 May 2013 - 13:39
What's Air Fiji like? I have a vague feeling Fijians are generally small in stature, but maybe sweaty and with a tendency to overflow?
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 08 May 2013 - 12:53
Shash_TQ, you need to have access to the ITV Player and to look as if you are watching from the UK. If you don't know about this, google Virtual Private Network and you may find what you want. You have 11 days left to watch the first episode on the ITV Player.
simpleasabc
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 16:26
No rye bread available in the shops near you? Oh, of course, that's not wholewheat.. sorry.. <em>edited by simpleasabc on 07/05/2013</em>
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 15:13
I have a feeling it says clearly in Emaar's terms and conditions that the card has an expiry date - some are six months and some are 12, so I don't think you'll get far with that :(
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 15:10
Am not Greek, but have attended several Greek weddings. The "dress code" has varied depending on the people getting married - we went to one very formal military wedding where all the ladies were dressed up to the nines and wearing diamonds furs (well, it was Greek winter, went down to 18 degrees C!), and have also been to those of other friends which have been far more relaxed, where the men have worn suits and the ladies nice dresses, (but no hats!) and everyone just had a good time! As to presents, I'm not sure. Actually, I think presents are given, rather than gifts of money (the pinning of money to the wedding-dress is a custom in Cyprus, not Greece), but it depends on the people who are getting married. My mother-in-law insisted on giving an old fashioned Greek coffee-pot to a couple who'd been living together for ages and had all their household equipment in place so had asked for monetary contributions so they could buy a plasma TV - m-i-l really objected to being asked for money! Traditions may be different according to the island, of course.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 14:54
Crikey, that's fascinating, XmasBaby! Who'd a thunk!
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 14:53
Must say, never had a live-in maid but concur whole-heartedly with Daza, I feel like that if I don't give an agency maid a tip, even if she's been rubbish and I have to do all the ironing again.
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 14:51
A London-style sandwich bar where you can get a proper BLT or an oink oink sausage sarnie with brahn sauce and proper bagels with cream cheese and smoked salmon. Mind you, it's so long since I was working in London I'd probably find that all the old-style sandwich bars have been replaced by Prets anyway!
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 13:54
Baxters Royal Game soup - yum yummy :) Yep, got some of that!! Went to Baxters yesterday and bought about 2 dozen tins of mixed flavours including Royal game and lobster bisque! I'll post you a tin :D Oh, I'd forgotten the lobster bisque - even better than Royal Game :) That's fine, Joyce, if your son is still unattached, I thought I'd introduce him to my daughter, he sounds so lovely - I'll send her to fetch the soup from him and they can take it from there, what do you think? ;)
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 13:10
Do you mind telling us which method you used? And good luck with your new job!
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 12:52
If you're looking for paid work, it is my understanding that what you are suggesting is not legal in the UAE. On the other hand, you get sites like this: http://www.careerjet.ae/online-work-at-home-jobs/dubai-123161.html, so maybe it is allowed?
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 12:42
Baxters Royal Game soup - yum yummy :)
simpleasabc
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Latest post on 07 May 2013 - 12:40
Just curious, if she *hadn't* asked for a gratuity, would you have given her a present of money on her departure? Yes Oooh, I do understand your reticence.. Was that the first time in five years she'd asked for anything like that?
 
 
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