VictoriaM

562

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 21:38

Emily, is it just a rumour about DESS moving, or even just supposition?

562

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 30 May 2012 - 14:25

Adrianat, definitely get it biopsied for certainty. Without that the doctors are taking an educated guess. Chances are it will be nothing sinister, but better safe than sorry. My husband had enlarged lymph nodes around his collar bone for 2 years before finally seeing a doctor who took it seriously and referred him for a biopsy immediately. Turned out it was Hodgkins disease (lymphoma), and very advanced by then. Fortunately he is fine now, but it would have been much better, treatment wise, to have caught it earlier. I dont mean to worry you, as his lumps were nearer the collar bone (which, as I know now, should set alarm bells ringing at the GP surgery, but often doesnt). Neck may be nothing, but I would hate for anyone else to get fobbed off like we did. Hope you get some reassurance very soon.

562

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EW GURU

Latest post on 23 May 2012 - 12:57

Sorry to hijack this thread, but Irooni could I just ask what it was about DESS that didn't appeal to you? DD is number 12 on waiting list for y4 in SEptember so may be a long shot anyway, but she is desperate to go there! We haven't had the benefit of a tour as we're still in the Uk, and it's just so hard to judge without that. Thanks so muCh.

562

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EW GURU

Latest post on 14 May 2012 - 17:00

Thanks for your input ladies. Dilys, that is what I am discovering too - probably not much in it cost-wise between disconnecting and reconnecting versus keeping the line running, but certainly more hassle to disconnect. But does that mean you will lose your tel number? Virgin has said tenants will have to use our number (which we dont want). Perhaps BT is more flexible... Busybee, do you mean short/holiday lets not worth it generally in your view? We have friends moving in for 9 months or so on a normal shorthold tenancy, but may do short lets via an agent after next summer. Would have to be pretty lucrative to make it worthwhile! At least we are in London where I hope demand is quite strong (people moving out for short time whilst their houses are renovated, people in between moves etc).

562

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EW GURU

Latest post on 29 April 2012 - 18:40

If you want it done quickly and easily, you could get a company to take care of it for you. We have just used Argentum ([email protected]). Their normal turnaround is about 7-10 days I believe, but they also have a very fast express service. They were very helpful and efficient, and I was so glad we had used them when the FCO ran into a problem and was unable to legalise our marriage certificate! Tony Munden at Argentum knew exactly what to do. It is expensive though - cost us about £300 for 2 certificates. We had to have our marriage certificate done (I think for my husband to sponsor me) and our daughter's birth certificate (for him to sponsor her). My husbands employer said we didnt need degree certificates nor our own birth certificates.

562

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EW GURU

Latest post on 16 April 2012 - 23:22

Thats really helpful, thanks ladies. Looks like the surveyor is totally out saying we need to pack up the container in May to get it there by September! Thank goodness. Panic over!

562

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EW GURU

Latest post on 16 April 2012 - 20:33

Hi ladies, just to update this thread, we have now been told (by the same company) that Ramadan is likely to cause a long delay. The surveyor said that in her experience customs pretty much comes to a standstill during Ramadan and then they are dealing with the backlog once it ends. She thinks it will add another 5 weeks to our schedule! Unfortunately we cannot avoid Ramadan. The other company quoting is far more upbeat (1 week extra). I would like to know who is right (to the extent that you can foresee) as it will affect when we ship our belongings. Has anyone actually had experience of shipping during Ramadan, ie having a container arriving at the port in Dubai during Ramadan who can shed some light on the likely delay?

562

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EW GURU

Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 14:00

Sounds good Sue, plus the lake to walk, cycle, jog around of course. Anyone have any feedback on parks in Mirador, Mirador La Colleccion, Al Mahra, Terra Nova or Alvorada? Those are the communities that seem to crop up most in our search for a 4 bedder. Thanks for all your help.

562

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EW GURU

Latest post on 11 April 2012 - 01:03

Jules, yes the location of Saheel is very convenient, all the more so with this roundabout closure I keep reading about. We will be renting rather than buying so more limited in what we can do to a villa, but we'll see. Any idea if there are any other Ranches communities with similar larger parks? The more options the better!

562

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EW GURU

Latest post on 10 April 2012 - 15:03

Oooh, that sounds great Jules! Just what I was hoping for. Have a very active football loving daughter! Perhaps we will have to take a closer look at Saheel. Hadnt really targeted either Saheel or Al Reem as we are looking for 4 beds and Saheels are all 3 or 5, and Al Reem 2 or 3 I think. Perhaps there is a Saheel 3 bed with a study that would work. Love the idea of being able to cycle around the whole of the Ranches on our bikes without venturing on the road.

562

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 10 April 2012 - 13:47

Thats OK if they are enough to kick a ball around in. Are the communal parks the small areas inside gates next to the pools or is there something else I didnt see? We only looked in Al Mahra and Mirador, and of course the communities might differ in facilities. Is there a particular community that is best for parks or is it all much of a muchness? Fairycakemumm - thats good to hear there are walkways on which you can ride a bike. We didnt see those either. Do the kids play on them with their bikes or is it more to get around?

562

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EW GURU

Latest post on 19 March 2012 - 19:12

Kaydee - yes Santa Fe are our relocation agent, and that is where the referal comes from. Is Interdean/Santa Fe any good for removals as far as you know? They were pretty impressive for our look-see. The other option is Crown. Have seen lots of recommendations for them on EW. Thanks for all the quick answers ladies - all very helpful. Good to know the 6 weeks is a worst case estimate, but that it could be significantly quicker. Unfortunately we can't rent another serviced apartment (good idea though) because of our pets, nor can we stay elsewhere in the UK. But we do have a week's holiday booked in August, so maybe we should get our stuff shipped out just before then and live in a half emply house in the UK for a week or 2 on return. Better than living in a totally empty villa in Dubai, and easier to borrow stuff temporarily from friends and neighbours. Then hopefully we will only have a couple of weeks eating off paper plates and sitting on the floor like Goldeelocks! What about shared containers - would anyone who's used this option care to share the bad news on what I imagine might well be months of waiting? And does anyone know if you can pay the extra cost and have a small shipment shipped separately rathern than bundled with others in a shared container?

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