Tag Archives: Mummy blogger London

Boarding Schools

UK Boarding Schools | Helena Frith Powell | Published Author & Editor tells her take on boarding schools

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Helena Frith Powell, lives in between Abu Dhabi and the UK, and is a published author of several books including her latest book, The Ex-Factor, and a best-selling author of Love In a Warm Climate.  Helena has almost 20 years experience in journalism and still writes for the Daily Mail UK and is the Editor of Five Magazine in Abu Dhabi.  Helena and her husband have 3 children currently at boarding school, and she shares her personal feelings about a much debated system.

The children have now been at boarding school for a year and a half and I am still not really sure what I think of it all. Having never been to boarding school, it was never one of those things I was adamant I wanted to do, although I could see the benefits and was jealous of all my friends who went.

It all started with a bike ride. Bertrand Russell, the philosopher, returned from a bicycle ride with the realisation that he no longer loved his wife and told her that they must separate. My husband returned from cycling in the Languedoc hills two summers ago with a similar epiphany, although his concerned the children, not me. “We must send the children to boarding school,” he said, before going upstairs for a shower.

When a man comes back from a bike ride with something to say, one is forced to listen and, sometimes, even to act. In fact, our children’s education had been worrying me too.

We had been based in Abu Dhabi for six years by then and I felt there was something missing from their lives. One of our friends from France summed it up when he came to stay by saying that Olivia was “running on empty”. There just wasn’t enough to stimulate them in Abu Dhabi, at least not in terms of education. I still don’t believe that a school that finishes at 2.30 pm can possibly be teaching them enough. Added to which, it was expensive. And as we were spending our own money we decided we would rather spend it on something more worthwhile.

As I said they have now been there for a year and a half. There is no doubting the benefits. All of them have flourished. Leo has developed into a gorgeous little gentleman and already knows more than I do about just about everything. He has captained his school football and cricket teams. Bea has turned out to be a school superstar, with great grades and masses of extra-curricular activities such as the school play, musical theatre and netball to mention a few. Olivia has become a lovely, confident and capable young lady, who is on track to do really well in her GCSEs this year and has made friends I think she will know forever.

There are so many upsides; the education (obviously), the people they meet, the things they do (Leo’s school just raised money for Afghanistan by reading poetry for 24 hours in a tree-house, nuts I know, but what a lovely romantic idea), the sport they play, the values they learn, the bonds they make. But what are the downsides?

I suppose the biggest one is that I miss them. OK I won’t pretend to miss the everyday drudgery of the school run, the homework, and the endless bickering. But I do miss not seeing them every day and not kissing them goodnight. The girls are much better at keeping in touch with me than Leo, so we skype or talk every day, but sometimes I won’t hear from him for ten days, which is tough. I rely on texts from another mother to know how he got on in his football matches. And of course I wake up in the middle of the night wondering how he is.

The truth is of course, he’s fine. He’s more than fine. If he weren’t fine I would hear about it. We have had some bouts of homesickness from all three and I can confirm the saying about boarding school that ‘you’re only as happy as your most miserable child’. A year and a half in though they are all pretty settled and I think would be horrified at the thought of going back to school in Abu Dhabi.

I suppose the reason I say I’m not sure what I think about it is that although I know it’s the best thing for them, I still can’t help wondering if we are all missing out on family life. Having said that I worked out the other day that they have five months at home so we have plenty of that as well.

I don’t think there always is a right or a wrong when it comes to children. Maybe there is just a middle ground that works and for the moment at least, this is it.

Helena Frith Powell is the author of The Ex-Factor published by Gibson Square.  You can follow Helena on her blog www.helenafrithpowell.com and purchase her books on Amazon.co.uk

Children's Products

Keeping track of your kids | New innovative technology

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For me, having 4 children running around the malls of Dubai or the high streets of London can be overwhelming.  If you are in the malls this long weekend you may need this new innovation to keep track of the children in the crowds.

My Buddy Tag, named one of the Most Innovated Products 2014, is now available in Dubai that uses Blue Tooth technology to keep track of your kids, and if your children move a certain distance away, the phone sends out a notification message.  The great thing is that each wrist band can link to up to six devices. (this includes iphone and android)

I love the colours of the wristbands – they are bright and vibrant.    The range of the bluetooth is between 80 to 120 feet, and parents can customise this to suit their environment.  I think it is a great idea if you are taking a few children out (playdates) to the mall or if you are going on holiday to an unfamiliar city.

Each tag costs AED179, and is available from Big On Children which has its first flagship store in the Middle East located in Dubai Mall between Kidzania and Sega Republic.

For more details visit www.bigonchildren.com

Food

Milas | An Emirati Restaurant | Reviewed by Carolyn Ziebarth

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Carolyn Ziebarth, our regular contributor, is from Chicago and has lived in Dubai for 2 years with her husband and two young children aged 3 and 1.  She reviews Milas, an Emirati restaurant that might be a great idea for visiting friends and family.

Dubai often feels like the crossroads of the world—and we’ve got the food to prove it: fresh produce is flown in for our markets daily, top chefs open new restaurants showcasing their home cuisine on a regular basis, even Angelina’s famous croissants are flown in fresh every morning from Paris. It can, however, be difficult to find a place to go that is distinctly Emirati.

Milas is an Emirati restaurant in the Dubai Mall, aiming to match the famous hospitality of an Emirati home with the ambiance of a modern restaurant. The only other place in Dubai where I have sampled Emirati cuisine is the Bastakiya, from which Milas offers a stark contrast in style with its modern black, purple, and gold interiors.

The name “Milas” is a casual, Emirati pronunciation for “Majilis.” The owner’s ethos is that a meal is not a break from your life, but a space of time in your life that you invest in them. With such an ambitious approach, they take their hospitality very seriously. Upon my first visit to the restaurant recently, I was greeted by three people, who promptly showed me to a table. Someone else immediately appeared with a handbag hook to place on the table before I even had a moment to wonder where to put mine. Service was attentive and helpufl throughout the meal. In Emirati homes, the end of the meal is typically signaled with the lighting of the dokhoon. At Milas, they bring perfume bottles instead, another modern take on an Emirati tradition.

The food is also good. The menu is a mix of Emirati favorites as well as international staples blended with local flavors, like pizzas for example. Emirati food uses lots of rice as well as ginger, cumin, cardamom, curry, black pepper, turmeric, and saffron spices. Our favorites were the delicious salads, the chicken and halloumi dish, and the marinated chickpeas brought to every table with bread at the beginning of the meal. Save room for yummy desserts and lots of super sweet mocktails.

Milas is located in The Village area of the Dubai Mall. This is a great place to stop for a respite from your next shopping adventure or for a nice dinner out. Families and couples would be equally comfortable here with something on the menu for everyone. Milas is a welcome oppoortunity for all of us, residents and visitors alike, to get to know our generous hosts, the Emiraties, who welcome us all in Dubai, a little bit better.

Health & Wellness

Organic Superfoods | Some inspiring foods to add to the children’s menu

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#1 Organic Avocado

It is not easy to persuade kids to eat avocado but try grilling it and adding a squeeze of lemon.  Otherwise make your own guacamole at home to spread on rice cakes as a snack.

#2 Hemp oil

This is not available in the UAE but for those in the UK, US, and other countries use this as a salad oil which is a great source of protein.

#3 Organic Spinach

I usually buy a whole organic bulk for the freezer and if I can get it fresh locally, even better.  I chuck it into soups and stews for the children.  The list of goodness is just endless including iron, Vitamin C, Beta Carotene, and also has anti-oxidants that helps with ageing.

#4 Organic Walnuts

Great brain food.  They say that most foods look that the part of the body they are suppose to help the most.  It is a great source of protein, anti-oxidants and much more.  If your children don’t like it, add it to their freshly homemade pesto sauce, or grind it up and sprinkle over their cereal or salads or even soups.

#5 Organic Cinnamon

It is important to purchase quality cinnamon because there is a lot of poor quality spice on the market that makes little or no difference if you add it to your food.  Cinnamon is great for regulating your blood sugar and has a long list of health benefits such as lowering cholesterol.  We sprinkle it on everything.  Best to grind up your own cinnamon for full effect.