Abu Dhabi: Going away on a holiday should be a reason for joy, not apprehension. But as the summer exodus begins in the UAE, many expat families are losing sleep over a host of issues – summer bachelors who cannot survive without home-cooked food, the balcony garden that will not withstand the summer heat, the pedigree pup that needs a temporary shelter and the housemaid on your visa who is staying back. XPRESS lists six such nagging worries and offer tips to melt them away.
1 Food for thought
Women leaving their husbands behind said they constantly worry about how their spouses will manage their meals. “It’s my biggest concern,” said Indian housewife Seema Natarajan. “It will be a problem because all restaurants will be closed during daytime because of Ramadan,” she said.
TOP TIP: Hire a cook or get your hubby kitchen-literate. Better still, get kind relatives and friends to invite him over.
2 Pet peeve
Finding a temporary shelter for dogs and cats or arranging a pet-sitter can be daunting proposition as most pet care centres in town are already over-booked with long waiting lists.
TOP TIP: Check with veterinary clinics, some of them offer temporary homes for pets. Go through your contact list and see if there’s an animal lover who will look after your pet in your absence.
3 Green blues
Residents who have put in painstaking hours to set up terrace gardens fear that without regular watering and care, the plants will wilt in the summer heat.
TOP TIP: Prick a hole in a plastic cover filled with water and leave it in the pot for drip irrigation. Leave some pebbles in the pot, they will help to retain water for a longer period, suggests Indian housewife Rajshree Menon.
4 What happens to my maid?
You are travelling but your housemaid is not. Many families are grappling with the issue as they get ready for a long holiday. Some said they are counting on friends and family to put up their maids. That’s not a wise decision as it can have legal ramifications.
TOP TIP: Send your maid on holiday.
5 Long-term car parking
Parking is a daily nightmare for Abu Dhabi residents. Leaving cars in the Mawaqif parking lot without a long term resident parking permit can set you back thousands of dirhams in fines.
TOP TIP: Buy a long term parking permit or find a free parking space before it’s gone.
6 Burglar protection
Long term vacationers are losing sleep over the safety of their homes as burglars often strike during summer vacations.
TOP TIP: Store valuables in a bank locker, install CCTV cameras, notify your watchman and insure your home. A little extra vigilance will help keep your property and belongings safe while you’re gone.
You Speak
What’s your most pressing concern ahead of holidays and what are you doing to resolve it?
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