The other night, as my friend realised he was too full to finish his meal - and mourned that he could not take the delicious homemade pesto offered for the bread at the start of the meal home for a little nosh in a couple of hours, when he was sure to be hungry again - I made my usual suggestion.
"Just ask for it all to go." He replied, "I'll be too embarrassed", but then caught himself (with my encouragement) at wondering why that would be. After all, if we didn't take it, the pesto, bread, half of my main course and some of his were all going straight in the bin.
Why on earth, if you know you are going to eat it later, if you have already ordered and paid for it, should you be worried about how it might look to take it with you? In an age where we are all wasting too much of everything, where food production is an energy intensive process exhausting our planet, where the UAE has an outsized carbon footprint, when people everywhere are going hungry and broke, would we be ashamed to signify our intention to consume all that we asked for?
When dining out, eating half now and half tomorrow is an excellent way to diminish the calorie and fat burden, too. There are just too many reasons in favour of asking for a doggie bag, if you want one, that one cannot fail to do so out of fear of a sideways glance from one's server. We got a sideways glance the other night, when we asked for our leftovers, as well as a few slices of bread and the pesto, to be put in a doggie bag. Then it was over and we were gone, glad that we had bothered.
So ask for the doggie bag. Just remember to take it with you. Otherwise you really should be embarrassed for making such a production.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially
Tailors and retailers miss out on back-to-school rush
Tailors and retailers across the city said it was an ominous start to what is usually a busy season for sales.
With many parents opting to continue home learning for their children, the usual rush to buy school uniforms was muted this year.
“So far we have taken about 70 to 80 orders for items like shirts and trousers,” said Vikram Attrai, manager at Stallion Bespoke Tailors in Dubai.
“Last year in the same period we had about 200 orders and lots of demand.
“We custom fit uniform pieces and use materials such as cotton, wool and cashmere.
“Depending on size, a white shirt with logo is priced at about Dh100 to Dh150 and shorts, trousers, skirts and dresses cost between Dh150 to Dh250 a piece.”
A spokesman for Threads, a uniform shop based in Times Square Centre Dubai, said customer footfall had slowed down dramatically over the past few months.
“Now parents have the option to keep children doing online learning they don’t need uniforms so it has quietened down.”
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
ADCC AFC Women’s Champions League Group A fixtures
October 3: v Wuhan Jiangda Women’s FC
October 6: v Hyundai Steel Red Angels Women’s FC
October 9: v Sabah FA
The 12 Syrian entities delisted by UK
Ministry of Interior
Ministry of Defence
General Intelligence Directorate
Air Force Intelligence Agency
Political Security Directorate
Syrian National Security Bureau
Military Intelligence Directorate
Army Supply Bureau
General Organisation of Radio and TV
Al Watan newspaper
Cham Press TV
Sama TV
