posted11/01/12
The kind of professional, managerial and technological jobs available to expatriates in the Gulf States are usually highly rewarding financially. But no matter whether you’re stepping into a Kuwait job, a Qatar job or a Dubai IT job, if you’re taking your family with you, you’re quickly going to be faced with the task of sorting out the optimal educational choice for your children.
Most of the time, expatriates (especially if non-Muslim) will find it impossible to find a place for their children in a state school. Priority is nearly always given to local Arab youngsters. If you’re not sure how long you’ll be staying, it’s probably safe to assume that you’ll be there for about two years – and opting for a private school makes much more sense if this is so. Some, though not many, expatriates manage to stay in their new country for many years; even so, few of them opt for state schools even under these longer term conditions, not least because such a decision would isolate their children from the local expat community.
You may think that state schools will facilitate your child’s integration into the culture (you’ll be required to convert to Islam if this is your wish); but a major obstacle for most expat children is the use of Arabic in state schools. The curriculum is entirely based on it, and older children in particular will struggle.
Most private schools are co-educational (state schools are all single sex) and probably offer a less abrupt switch in culture for expatriate children, as they will be meeting others who speak English as a first language and who, like them, have recently entered a new country with their parents.
posted09/01/12
When I think of choosing holiday destinations, one place I always come back to is the Caribbean if you’re looking for a luxury holiday destination then the Caribbean is it. Whether it’s astounding Anguilla, vigorous Virgin Islands or everything in between you are sure to find the holiday of your dreams.
The Caribbean is a popular destination for honeymooners, a romantic Caribbean getaway, is the perfect way to start of your married life. There are secluded beaches, adult’s only hotels and tailor-made services to make it a holiday to remember.
The Caribbean is also a family friendly destination, although travel times from the UK can be long the opportunities for families in Caribbean destinations, certainly make up for it. A lot of hotels that cater for families have dedicated kids clubs, so if you want some alone time you can and if you want to get out an about as a family then across all the Caribbean destinations you will find plenty of things to discover.
If you’re worried about cost there are some affordable Caribbean destinations for the bargain hunters who still want to enjoy the beauty and magic of this area, for a low cost holiday why not look at:
Puerto Rico
Punta Cana (Dominican Republic)
Jamaica
Bahamas
Puerto Plata (Dominican Republic
St Kitts & Nevis
Trinidad and Tobago
Mexico
Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata
Picture courtesy of princesspinkpaw
However if cost isn’t a problem and you want to spend a couple of weeks in the lap of luxury then you should be heading to:
Anguilla
St Lucia
Bahamas
U.S Virgin Islands
Barbados
Cancun
British Virgin Islands
St Martin
Great Harbor on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands.
Picture courtesy of CircumerroStock
posted06/01/12
A hydrogen-powered car refers to a vehicle that uses hydrogen as a fuel rather than petrol. Hydrogen can be converted to mechanical energy either by combustion or electrochemical conversion in a fuel cell. With combustion the hydrogen is burned in engines in almost the same way as petrol is in traditional cars. In fuel cell conversion the hydrogen is combined with oxygen to produce electricity. The electricity generated is used to drive a motor and the only waste product is water.
In 2008 the Japanese car manufacturer Honda became the first car company to produce commercial zero-emission hydrogen fuel-cell powered cars. The FCX Clarity is powered by electricity that is produced when hydrogen is combined with water. The only emission is water vapour. According to the company the car is 3 times more efficient than petrol-powered cars. The main obstacle to getting hydrogen-powered cars accepted is the lack of stations for re-fuelling.
Critics of the car have pointed out that not only is hydrogen costly to produce but it is still most commonly produced from fossil fuels. Hydrogen can thus hardly be considered as a truly green energy source. Research on the different fuel technologies has revealed that the environmental impact of hydrogen-powered cars in terms of the overall carbon dioxide emissions may actually be higher than that for petrol or diesel cars. Other technological problems that still have to be overcome are the problems of storing hydrogen. Hydrogen has to be compressed and liquefied and this requires on-board cryogenic systems or high pressures. Hydrogen can be stored as a solid, but so far this has only been achieved in the laboratory. Given these problems it might seem surprising that hydrogen has not been written off as an alternative power source. However, hydrogen’s big advantage is that it is possible to travel great distances on a single tank of hydrogen.
In California, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger is aiming to build a string of 200 hydrogen-filling stations that will stretch from Vancouver, British Columbia to Baja, California by 2010. However, as it will take some time to get the infrastructure in place it is likely that in the near future cars will be able to run on both petrol and hydrogen.
posted03/01/12
Updating your bathroom can prove to be quite expensive, plus a lot of the bathroom furniture seems very samey and boring, either matching units in white or off white colours or a wet room style, normally experienced in hotels.
But you can update your bathroom whilst steering away from those two themes, you can go vintage! Vintage is certainly becoming increasingly popular as consumers move away from expensive, boring mass produced products. Plus there is nothing more fun than searching savage yards for reclaimed bathroom furniture.
Fixtures and fittings which fit and work with modern plumbing systems are quite easy to get hold of now, you can either cheat, and buy reproductions from highstreet store or buy refurbished fixtures and fittings from specialists.
Decorations are also quite easy to come by mirrors for example can be easily found in charity shops or at car boot sales or specific vintage shops or wholesalers. The more mismatched the better really with this type of décor style, which is handy especially as vintage sets are normally hard to find, unless you co for reproductions.
You should remember however, older furniture and vintage baths, showers, toilets and taps will need care when cleaning, don’t use acidic or citrus-based cleaning products on old enamelled items, a putty-based cleaner, is a good alternative.
posted01/01/12
More and more of us are paying astronomically high prices to change our hard-earned cash into foreign currency, holiday money at the last minute – but you don’t have to pay the overpriced rates at the bureau.
Are cards becoming the new holiday cash alternative? Yes, if you have the right card you will almost certainly save money by using it when compared to exchanging your personal cash for foreign notes. However, for some, any forms of cards, can be off-putting and of course the wrong card can carry high risks. Although cash is by far the easiest to use, it is also the easiest to lose or have stolen. And therefore, I advise you not to take any more than your travel insurance has agreed to cover. If you believe cash is still the way forward, exchanging money is probably right for you – but still make sure you’re getting the best deal, the key to this is looking around.
You must not assume that a sign saying ‘commission free’ automatically means you’re going to get a great rate. actually, you should be very wary of those companies which claim to be ‘commission free’ as they will often try and charge a worse rate than what the bureau itself is being offered, in order to allow them to keep making profit. The only way that you can tell is to simply ask how many euros/dollars, for example, you will get in exchange for your pounds. It’s as easy as that!
Some companies don’t have commission charges at all– so if their rate is competitive and their exchange is good, then they are definitely worth a look. However, this does not mean that you should completely discard the companies that do charge commission because there rates can be just as good.
You should always be wary however, of flat fees and minimum charges. Minimum charges make it extremely difficult to change over small amounts of money. In comparison, flat fees can offer good value if you are changing larger sums of money. You should also keep a look out for handling fees too, which are normally about £3 but can be higher and should also be considered before choosing where you are going to exchange your money. It may also be worth considering your own bank or building society as they might have preferential rates for their account holders.
posted27/12/11
Every home or office has some type of furniture as the focal point. When you have the proper set of furniture gracing your front office or living room, you are making a statement. Furniture arrangement is especially important when you are trying to maximise the attractiveness of the room the furniture is in and make it inviting. Many people enjoy the look and feel of antique furniture and traditional antique pieces can be quite expensive.
Of course, you do have the option of purchasing traditional antique furniture made by Chesterfield. Associated with prominent names and periods in the furniture industry, each chair or sofa made by this company has been constructed of durable, hardwood and are each a unique illustration of some of the best artisanship. They are all distinctive and they bring the rich heritage of British craftsmanship to your home and office.
The traditional antique furniture collections available from Chesterfield are designed to be durable, comfortable, and beautiful. When you own furniture produced by Chesterfield, you will need to make sure that they are properly protected from scratches, dents, dings, dirt, and stains. Sunlight, environmental contaminants, and dust are all enemies for this type of furniture. You will always want to clean the wood surfaces with the proper solution and protect the fabric or leather of the seats and backs with stain resistant protectant. Never place your Chesterfield traditional antique furniture near windows or in direct sunlight to keep fabrics from fading and leather from drying out.
Because wood can expand and contract, it is imperative to check your Chesterfield traditional antique furniture for stability, especially before you purchase it. Shake it lightly to see if there is any movement that indicates lack of sturdiness. Always check the hardware to make sure it is secure and if you ever need to replace it, use original hardware if possible.
posted25/12/11
Writing university assignments follow a similar patter, no matter what subject you are studying. If you are in your first year you are probably wondering how to write university assignments to get you the highest grade.
Assignments consist of some project based work as well as coursework and analyses of your subject matter they are designed to test you on a number of different skills such as understanding and knowledge of your chosen subject. They can also vary in difficulty, the further along your course you get the harder assignments will become. Depending on what subject you study, tasks you are given for your assignments will vary, some may be writing based and some may be practical based so be open to using different skills.
Most assignments have minimum criteria which have to be covered, this will normally be covered by your tutor/lecturer on what you have to achieve to get a minimum grade. Always be open to push yourself further to get the highest grade possible, sometimes one to one with your tutor/lecturer will help you understand how to push yourself to get a higher grade.
If you are struggling you may be able to find assignment examples online to help you along, however do not be tempted to copy straight from the internet as this can easily be picked up by those marking your work. All your thoughts should be original and any which are not should be accredited. You may find working with others beneficial when it comes to university assignments, bouncing ideas off other people can help your own creativity and ultimately help you achieve a higher grade again as long as copying isn’t involved.
posted23/12/11
Laminate flooring is one of the easiest flooring materials to lay. The material can be laid on practically any surface provided that the surface is dry, firm and level. Even on old cement floors, it will just require some self-levelling compound work to level and smooth out any bumps.
Before you begin laying your laminate flooring it is a good idea to consider adding under-floor heating. Your existing floor covering will be removed meaning that now is the ideal time to add under-floor heating before you lay your new laminate flooring. If the idea of under-floor heating interests you, then electric under-floor heating is a great place to start as it is quite easy to integrate.
Underlay’s
There are a variety of underlays available for laminate flooring. Underlays need to be laid down before the actual laminate flooring. Here are some examples of common types of underlays:
Poly foam – this is the thinnest type of underlay. It is suitable for any firm, dry and level surfaces, such as a wooden floor.
Combined Underlay – This type of underlay combines damp proofing and underlay in one material. It is slightly thicker than the pervious and so it can be laid on a slightly more uneven floor.
Wood Fibre Boards – This type of underlay is the thickest underlay and can be used on fairly uneven floors. It provides good insulation for both sound and heat.
Fitting the boards is relatively simple, but this does not mean care should not be taken. One of the properties of Laminate flooring is that it expands and contracts naturally, which means that space needs to be left around the edges of the room. Allow approximately 1cm between the boards and the skirting. The boards should be laid lengthways toward the light source of the room; you should start laying them from the left hand side of the room. The first board should be laid with the short tongue against the wall. You can even fit your spacers between the wall and the board which ensures that the board is parallel to the wall.
The next board should be laid end-on to the first board making sure that the tongues lock together. (slide the board in at 30 degrees so that it slots-in when lowered.) This method must be continued until you reach the end of the row. The last board will almost certainly need to be cut to fit. To cut the board, you should lay it upside down over the last board with the end 1cm from the wall, you can then draw a line where it overlaps over the previous board and cut it there with a Stanley knife.
The boards need to be offset, in order to strengthen the laminate. To do this, start the second row with half a board then angle the long side at 30 degrees to lock the tongues. You must press forward and down at the same time to lock it into place. The short end of the next board needs to be placed at an angle against the previous board and fold down; making sure the board is on the locking strip in the previous row. Angle the boards by 30° and then you must push them against the row in front. When the boards are tightly together, you should push them down.
It is highly unlikely that the last row will fit perfectly but this is rarely the case. Work slowly, place a board at a time over the previous row. Place a third board on top with the tongue touching the skirting and use the edge of it to mark the cutting line on the board beneath. Then simply, cut the board and ease it into position, you should then remove the wedges.
After the flooring is laid, you should remove the spacers from around the outside, and cover the gap around the edge of the room with laminate flooring trim, you should purchase one which matches the floor in colour. You Remember, you must fix the trim to the skirting, not the floor, because the floor expands and contracts. Measure and cut the correct lengths of the trim, use trim cutters to keep your work neat and presentable.
posted18/12/11
If you’re looking for someone to provide you with website hosting, especially for business reasons you need to find a component and reliable company. There are a huge number of providers out there; however what they can offer varies greatly so you need to make sure you get the right service for your needs.
You will find that many providers offer different options for support as well as bandwidth and maintenance, which is good if you need a flexible service. Support is important especially if you don’t have much experience or have poor technical skills.
As with most things, the more services you require the more the costs will be, however popular hosting companies tend to offer competitive pricing. You do need to make a decision on how much you are willing to spend on website hosting, finding the right balance is best, if you go too cheap you may not get a good enough service but then if you go for expensive you may not find the service to be cost effective.
The same principles also apply for wordpress hosting as well however with wordpress site you don’t really want to be spending as much money as you would for a website.
posted16/12/11
Whether you’re considering accounting jobs in Dubai, Qatar finance jobs or jobs in Saudi Arabia, you’re almost certainly looking at earning lucrative remuneration for your skills if you’re a well-qualified professional, manager or technician. But you’ll need to think through the mechanics of actually moving to your new country.
The task can be greatly eased with the use of a reputable removal company. Always get a quote from at least three; prices are based on four main considerations – the distance you’re travelling, the number of workers needed to do the job, the load size and the type of furniture/equipment you’re taking with you (a grand piano is going to rack up more cost than an occasional table). When you’re asking for quotes, supply an exact inventory of everything you intend to transport; the company will then know exactly what to quote for, and you’ll be able to prove they were carrying specific items in the event of an insurance claim. Put your inventory on a basic spreadsheet for ease of viewing (it’ll also help when it comes to unpacking at the other end).
It will also help if you measure up larger items so that the company has an accurate idea of the amount of space needed to transport them. And don’t forget to mention if your new accommodation has a flight of stairs – it’s always better to know in advance how much the fee will be rather than be stung on the day with additional costs. Generally speaking, smaller companies tend to be cheaper (check that they have industry accreditation, though) but they’ll offer fewer services. Bigger companies not only supply packing crates, but frequently offer to unload and unpack at the other end, too. Finally, insure the load if you’re taking valuable items, which you almost certainly will be.
