tamieg1 | ExpatWoman.com
 

tamieg1

tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 April 2014 - 14:41
You can get regionally-made Aptamil in most supermarkets however the UK-made one is only available at Megamart. You might want to look at the Doha Mums borrow program to source baby things
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 April 2014 - 14:39
Vitamin D deficiency can cause hair loss and is extremely common in the region...
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 09 April 2014 - 21:28
Fake tan and dry shampoo can be difficult to come by (although I have seen the gradual tan stuff recently). Also if you have specific shampoo/conditioner (supermarket choice pretty much limited to Loreal, herbal essences, Pantene, dove)
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 April 2014 - 21:48
Just double check with HR that you are both allowed to work for Sidra, and if not, what his other options are... I knew a family who were both physicians - the husband was a specialist at Hamad and the wife could not be employed by them.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 03 April 2014 - 09:26
Other good gynecologists are Prof Badr at Feto Maternal Clinic or Dr Qush at Elite Medical
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 03 April 2014 - 09:24
Prices are comparable to a good salon in London... Without necessarily the quality... I went back to brunette from blonde when we moved here as it all got a bit too hard...
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 03 April 2014 - 08:58
You're asking about family housing so some additional things to consider - will your husband be allowed to work on your sponsorship? If not, is there work available for him? There are not many stay home dads and he could find it isolating - are there guaranteed school places included in your package? The school shortage is worsening and I would hesitate to bring school aged children over at the moment
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 24 March 2014 - 09:46
People tend to live where it is easy to commute to work and schools because the driving is so atrocious. I think I read the other day that in a city of 2 million people there are something like 900,000 Indians, so there is no one area to speak of.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 24 March 2014 - 09:43
Is there any possibility to take the dog that would need to be in a crate home with you for the summer? That would allow the maid to attend church and be back at 4...
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 21 March 2014 - 17:57
I have heard there is a new ruling that you can't switch between curriculums any more, but don't know if this is just a Doha rumour... Maybe someone else knows more?
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 March 2014 - 21:16
We bought ours in the UK and brought it back to Qatar with us. Just as a heads up, the frame, 2 seats, bassinet, maxi cosi adaptors and travel bag weighed just over 40kg.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 21:19
Yes - especially if there's something particular you're after. We don't even have Pottery Barn here (although it is in Dubai), and Mothercare, for example is about 30% more expensive than the UK. Between the Doha Mums classifieds and various Buy/Swap/Sell FB pages there is a thriving 2nd hand market for nearly new things though...
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 16:44
Bump for Admin - still showing as 2020
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 March 2014 - 16:42
The situation is similar - although there is more choice in Dubai!! I would ship as much as you can, but particularly bring car seats (and next stage up as well) and a decent buggy.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 27 February 2014 - 17:39
If you're only going to run one car... Who gets it when it's too hot to walk outside? You will either need to be running hubby to work every morning or you will be stuck in the apartment all day! We lived in Beverly Hills Tower and after about April/May it is too hot to walk to the office or even just across the road to City Centre, especially with a small child. An alternative might be to live in an apartment at the Pearl?
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 27 February 2014 - 17:35
Actually it was due to gas cylinders at a petrol station behind a mall. 12 dead and 31 injured according to the Ministry of Interior press conference
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 26 February 2014 - 08:24
There are a couple of regular posters who live there/have lived there, but as a visitor it seems nice, with a large pool and several playgrounds. It is managed by Al Asmakh and we have found them fairly efficient with regard to maintenance in other properties. Is there anything in particular you'd like to know?
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 26 February 2014 - 08:22
You might want to check on the Supreme Council of Health website that the prescription medicine you're currently taking is available here in Qatar - there is quite a detailed list on there - some medicines which you'd assume are widely available are actually controlled substances here...
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 February 2014 - 23:14
If it's Al Ghassar near Katara you're talking about, you might want to double check if there are any restrictions on using the facilities. I heard rumours last year that residents were only allowed to use the pool on certain days...?!
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 February 2014 - 23:12
Gina they had Paul's yoghurt and Aeroplane jelly at Lulu today :)
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 February 2014 - 23:12
Yes mine was included in the price
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 11 February 2014 - 16:51
Check out Doha Mums - they have lots of events, playgroups and coffee mornings that will be perfect for both of you.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 11 February 2014 - 16:49
Bacon or Pork products as they are expensive there It is illegal to bring in pork products (and alcohol) - your luggage and hand luggage will be xrayed I also bring natural food colouring for baking
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 February 2014 - 19:46
Qatar Airways fly to Perth now
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 February 2014 - 12:19
Ok I had a look in one of the smaller supermarkets (Carrefour Market at Ezdan Mall) and found S-26 in the Gold, HA, and LF varieties for between 33-40QR/400g, made in Ireland.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 04 February 2014 - 10:53
They charge for everything! It's a few years ago now so I can't really remember, but I don't think it was a huge amount. Good luck!
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 02 February 2014 - 15:19
We got British first followed by Australian, as it was easier - we are in Qatar so slightly different process, but you don't need to apply for citizenship by descent prior to passport application with the British one.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 01 February 2014 - 21:03
Yes I had one there at 27w in my first pregnancy. It was definitely worth it as it was covered by our insurance, but I believe you can get them cheaper at Dr Mariam's (search on here for details) if you don't have insurance. Think they spent about 20 mins, but there was quite a bit of waiting around as it was Al Ahli!! I'm sure you know this but after 26w airlines will require a "fitness to travel" certificate - Al Ahli charge extra for this!
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 30 January 2014 - 12:31
Yes all the Beverly Hills compounds are Al Asmakh (so are any "Regency" ones). I'd try calling rather than emailing but from memory they are closed between 12-4. I have an old contact there if there isn't a contact number on the website. They may be reluctant to talk until you have a definite moving date though...
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 28 January 2014 - 21:06
I *think* I've seen it here, but will have a look for you next time I'm at the shops. Someone else may know for sure... Regarding the vaccination schedule, the Qatari schedule is more in line with the US than other countries. It is possible to stick to your home country's schedule (I'm pretty sure Kiwispiers did, if she comes on here anymore), but I'm not entirely sure how you'd go about it. Here is the Qatari schedule [url=https://www.sch.gov.qa/NIP/En/immsche.jsp'>link[/url'>
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 27 January 2014 - 20:53
It's in Dubai, Andrea :)
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 27 January 2014 - 11:20
Off the top of my head, Nan and Aptamil are widely available in regular, HA and comfort forms. Cow & Gate is stocked at Megamart. I know Neocate is only available on prescription and there is occasionally a shortage. Is there a particular one you're after?
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 17 January 2014 - 16:57
LMAO - your hubby will also need bank account etc before you can rent anywhere as the rental market is moving so fast you will need to pay the deposit and 12 months worth of cheques immediately. We found that agents are not really willing to show you stuff unless you can move immediately and that the websites are generally horribly out of date. You really need to be on the ground and approach the compounds/management companies directly.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 17 January 2014 - 16:53
Remember this is not the NHS - everything is done to get you to pay more money. That is why you will have appointments every 4 weeks, including scans, and everyone is encouraged to have the NT scan. 12-13 weeks is the normal time to have tests done on the NHS as well, you must have just been lucky getting them earlier in your previous pregnancy. TOWIS - it's not only for the continuation of the pregnancy but to give the parents time to get used to the idea etc
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 January 2014 - 21:33
All pills have some risk of blood clots/DVT - studies on Yasmin have shown they are higher than with some other pills. Your doctor will advise you if you should change to another one.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 January 2014 - 21:15
Hello and welcome. Storey is the number of floors in the house.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 13 January 2014 - 21:14
I saw Dr Asmaa at Al Ahli in my first pregnancy, and she also delivered my baby (delivery there is not done done by your own dr but by whoever is on duty at the time). I was very happy with her but not the waiting times, so this time around I am seeing Prof Badreldeen at the Feto Maternal Clinic near Landmark. It is more expensive but no waiting around - worth it for me. He delivers at both Doha Clinic and Al Ahli.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 24 December 2013 - 15:34
Plus the fact that the country is run differently than Dubai (less long term strategy, more greed, no high end finishing) makes living there different. That's not quite fair - I think you'll find most of the expat population is here due to the "2030 vision" LMAO - It is always hard leaving close friends who have become our surrogate families but at least in this move you will only be an hour away. I agree, come over for another looksee and try and attend a Doha Mums event while you're here - check their website for details - that way you can join and be ready to hit the ground going to play groups/play dates/coffee mornings etc when you arrive. You might need to look fairly hard to find a nursery that does afternoon sessions, I believe most of them are in the morning, but I don't know for sure. Area to live in will depend on your budget - I would probably go for Al Waab if you wanted a villa in a compound or West Bay/The Pearl if you were happy with an apartment. There is apparently a huge property shortage at the moment though, so it might be more a case of taking what you can get. The advantage of Al Waab is that it's very close to Aspire Park, which is a huge kid friendly park, and also to several malls for shopping; while the advantage of the Pearl is that you can easily go for a walk (which isn't so easy due to construction in other parts of town) plus there a few parks now and a big Spinneys opening soon (there is already a little Spinneys). No dogs allowed in the parks here, but I think you can walk them on the Pearl. There are groups of dogwalkers that go to the mangroves and the beaches together, so that will be a way to meet new people as well :)
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 22 December 2013 - 13:46
Swiss Label Maids have been popping up a lot on FB lately
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 22 December 2013 - 13:45
Check the Doha Mums Nursery Guide for info on nurseries. We pay around QR2000 a month for 2 days a week at a British nursery. I would say the school situation here is worse than in Dubai because the building of "international" schools hasn't kept pace with the population increase - the population has increased by something like 300% in the past 5 years. Of the schools favoured by Westerners, DESS and Doha College are two of the cheaper ones, ACS and Compass are two of the more expensive ones. I believe ASD is pretty difficult to get into unless you have a company debenture. All of them are oversubscribed for FS/Kindergarten years. No idea what current school fees are but I'm sure the info is available searching here or on Qatar Living. Residential area you need to decide who is going to be doing more driving - if your husband's office is going to be in West Bay and you want to live in an apartment, then you would want to live in West Bay or the Pearl, and not somewhere like Abu Hamour or Al Waab. However you are then limited to certain schools and if you end up only with a place at Doha British School, you would be looking at over an hour school run each way. I paid signifcantly less in BHT than Notnewintown 2 years ago - but rents are on the rise and there is no rent cap like in Dubai. I think 200-250k is a good amount to budget right now but who knows where it is going. For the record I like living in Doha :)
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 19 December 2013 - 19:25
I'm sure it is as most people I know are off. Although I did hear that for the private sector they may be given 2nd January off so they can have a long weekend Even in Qatar? Definitely not a public holiday here...
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 19 December 2013 - 19:19
Puréed pears make my DS go every time - usually fairly quickly. I would try this or some water that prunes have been soaked in before trying suppositories?
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 17 December 2013 - 21:34
Thanks very much for all your replies. To be honest, it's not just the handwriting but an ensemble of things that are not right this year with my son. He is having trouble keeping up, is very inconsistent with his work ( some days he's fine). The teacher really doesn't have anything positive to say about his abilities and she has now involved Learning Support. I can't understand how this was not flagged before considering he has been at the same school since KG2. Why only now are we hearing all these negative things? I am quite angry at the school as they surely would have seen a downward trend over the years. We are starting Brain and Learning for a Semester in January which I hope will have a positive impact on him. But the teacher keeps going on and on about cursive writing as well so I thought I would help him in that area as well. :-( I would also get his eyes tested if it has been a sudden onset
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 12 December 2013 - 20:08
The attitude of the teacher combined with an ongoing reluctance to provide the CCTV footage suggest to me that something else is going in there and I would be withdrawing my child immediately.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 10 December 2013 - 09:56
Not very convenient if you're in Doha though! I have heard rumours of dry shampoo in Boots here but never seen it myself...
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 09 December 2013 - 09:50
Only one I can think of is Cucina in the Renaissance - it's probably more family friendly than say, La Spiga at the W, but no kids' entertainment if that's what you're after.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 00:57
Similar to the exit permit issue, unlike Dubai, NOC's (no objection certificate) are still required to change employers here - many employers simply have a policy of not granting them. This may be an issue if you were to take the first job available hoping to switch when something better came along...
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 08 December 2013 - 00:54
I believe the other Movenpick (near the Souq) is also good for kids and is not dry. We like Vine at the St Regis. Depending on the age of your kids the Oryx can be good too as they have a separate children's room.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 05 December 2013 - 22:46
Is there anything in particular attracting you to Qatar? It will depend on what part of property and marketing you both work in. Everything I can think of would require previous regional experience, and generally speaking, you would also need to be degree qualified. Some people find jobs quickly, others take months and months - same as anywhere else in the world. If you are planning to come on your husband's sponsorship, he will need to have his Residence Permit (RP) and earn over a certain amount of money in order to sponsor you. Depending on the company he works for, he may need to provide up to 6 months of bank statements before he can sponsor you after he gets his RP. You would not be able to work in this time and would most likely have to do visa runs every 30 or 60 days. One thing to keep in mind if you're planning a family in the near future is that maternity coverage is not always included in employer-provided private health insurance, and can often have a 12 month waiting period before coverage starts. There is a government hospital that is free, however men are not allowed in the delivery room.
tamieg1
676
Posts
EW GURU
Latest post on 03 December 2013 - 12:10
What part of London? I always use Manchester Flowers in Greeenwich, not sure how wide their delivery area is though.
 
 
How expats in Germany can get German pension refund

Bye Bye Germany - Hello German Pension Refund?

UAE Emirati Lawyer Awatif Khouri in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Meet the Emirati Woman Breaking Grounds in UAE Law: Awatif Khouri

Mashreq NEO NXT Account | Why Kids and Teens Need Financial Education

Why Teens Need Real-World Financial Education?

International university transition tips

How to Make the Transition to University Life Easier

How to apply for Germany VBL Pension Refund as an expatriate | Germany Pension Refund

Bye Bye German Public Service Job - Hello VBL Pension Refund

Tourist SIM cards in Dubai guide

Tourist SIM Cards in Dubai: Where to Get One and Package Prices

World's most expensive cities to live in 2024

These Are the World's Most Expensive Cities To Live in 2024

Dubai ranked as one of the best cities to work in 2024

Dubai Ranked Among Top 5 Cities in the World to Work In

What are the signs that your online date is a fraud

8 Warning Signs Your Online Date is a Scammer

10 Expat Experiences You Should Check Off Before Repatriation

10 Expat Experiences You Should Check Off Before Leaving For Good

Best and Worst Countries to Get Started Abroad for New Expats

Best and Worst Countries for New Expats to Get Started Abroad

Under the Mango Tree by Robyn Fok | Expat Books

Expat Author Robyn Fok's 'Under the Mango Tree' Deals With Pet Grief & Loss

Expat Wife, Happy Life: Interview With Expat Author Florence Reisch

(Images: Supplied)

Expat Interview: Meet Florence Reisch, Author of 'Expat Wife, Happy Life!'

Remembering Queen Elizabeth II: A Tribute by UAE Expats

Remembering an Extraordinary Woman: A Tribute to Queen Elizabeth II

10 reasons why expat women love the UAE

10 Reasons Why the UAE is a Popular Choice for Expat Women

6 Common Fears of Moving Abroad By Yourself and How to Overcome Them

Moving to the UAE Alone: 6 Common Fears and How to Overcome Them

Ultimate Babyshop Baby and Toddler Travel Packing List

These Baby Travel Essentials Are Must-Haves For Your Next Family Getaway

Requirements to apply for a UAE Golden Visa

How Do I Obtain a UAE Golden Visa? Requirements, Eligibility, and Process Explained

5 Tip for Expats to Survive Long-Distance Relationships

5 Tip for Expats to Survive Long-Distance Relationships

Opening a bank account in the UAE

A Newcomer to the UAE? What to Consider When Choosing a Bank for Opening an Account

Culture shock in the United Arab Emirates for expats

14 Ways You Will Experience Culture Shock in the UAE

Why you shouldn't upload your resume on your LinkedIn profile

5 Reasons Why You Shouldn't Upload a Resume to Your LinkedIn Profile

10 Secrets to Happiness as an Expat

10 Secrets to Finding Happiness as an Expat

4 Ways to Network as an Expat

4 Ways to Network as an Expat

8 Expat Problems That Are Just Too Real

8 Expat Problems That Are Just Too Real

How to Make New Friends in a Foreign Country

How to Make New Friends in a Foreign Country

Top 10 Countries with the Best Quality of Life

Top 10 Countries with the Best Quality of Life

The best European cities for new expats

Pictured: Prague

The Best Cities in Europe for Expat Arrivals

House in Husavik

10 Amazing Things To Do In Iceland

How to Make Your Own Life as an Expat and Why It’s Important

How to Make Your Own Life as an Expat and Why It’s Important

The Labriz eforea spa location

Why Seychelles is One of the Best Holiday Destinations

The Real Expat: Chasing Your Dreams to Find Your True Purpose

The Real Expat: Chasing Your Dreams to Find Your True Purpose

6 Annoying Things Expats Hate Hearing

6 Annoying Things Expats Hate Hearing