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Hello from Mumsnet Towers...

Where we're just recovering from the shock of discovering that some bright spark has entered a MNHQ team into the Adidas Women's 5k Challenge in London's Hyde Park in September. If we've got to pull on our running shorts and bare our legs for charidee, why not you? Go on: someone's got to give Carrie a run for her money.

Here is TillyBookClub's shortlist for our June Book of the Month, which has a post-apocalyptic feel (oh joy!). Vote for your fave here. And don't forget to join us on Tuesday at 8pm to discuss this month's more domestic disaster tale, Marilynne Robinson's Home.

And, finally, a warm welcome back to Blooming Marvellous, who are offering one lucky Mumsnetter the chance to win a £250 voucher to spend online and all Mumsnetters 15% off their purchases.

Now for this week's parenting news ...

IVF twin health worries: IVF twins face more health problems in early life, making them far more likely to be admitted to neonatal intensive care and to be hospitalised before the age of three, according to a study in the journal Human Reproduction. However, another article in the same publication provides reassurance that the 25% of IVF children whose embryos were frozen before implantation have a better or as good outcome in terms of premature birth and birth weight as babies born after fresh cycles of IVF. (BBC Online 20.05.09)

Parents face legal actions over unpaid school fees: The recession has led to a huge surge in the number of legal actions brought against parents who have defaulted on school fees. These measures are usually a last resort, but the number of actions has gone up by 33% in some cases. Pupils can face expulsion if their parents can't pay up. One school, Wellington College in Berkshire, is hosting a seminar on 'fee recovery' in June, giving tips to private school heads and bursars on how to deal with non-payment of fees. (Times 16.05.09)

Other stories in brief

HOLIDAY SPEND-SAVER! Save on your holiday spending with Siblu Holidays, who have launched a new Euro voucher with a 1.25€ exchange rate. That's better than the Post Office, any travel agent or online service. Find more here and remember to save on your holiday cost by quoting MUMNET.

Hot threads 

Competitions

This week's prizes are:

It's easy to enter (and keep an eye on winners' corner to see if your name has come out of the hat). 

GREAT OFFER FOR MUMSNET MEMBERS Blooming Marvellous is delighted to join forces with Mumsnet to offer all members a very exclusive introductory 15% OFF all purchases. Our New Summer Collection is online now, with a fantastic selection of must-haves, which take account of your changing needs without sacrificing your style.

Quote of the week

KingCanuteIAm spies the silver lining behind the black cloud of recent MN downtimes: "Luckily for me, you have managed to keep most of them inside school hours or after bedtime, so I have not had to do too much interacting with my family."

Looking for somewhere to take the kids this half-term? Mumsnetters suggest:

Find more Mumsnetter recommendations for great days out near you in Mumsnet Local. 

Aitch's TV round-up: Flight of the Conchords, Tuesdays, BBC4, 10.30pm
Silly, I know, but I've been worried that you're not watching Bret and Jemaine doing their thing in NYC. So, despite it being the third episode, I'm flagging this up. I can't compete with some of the more prolific MN Conchord-heads but suffice it to say that the stories revolve around a band (New Zealand's fourth most popular guitar-based digi-bongo a capella rap funk comedy folk duo), their manager Murray and their attempts to get paid gigs. It's curiously cartoonish without being nonsensical, it's whimsical without being twee, and the performances guarantee four or five proper LOLs per episode. Plus, Bret's kinda hot for a LOTR elf...

Blog of the week: Pregnancy highs and lows
Nearly due carollcreative takes a (mostly) wistful look back at the past nine months: "The three-cup increase in boob size, resulting in a cleavage like the Grand Canyon..."
Why not join the MN bloghood yourself?

Recipe of the week: Carmenere's cheddar and rosemary biscuits
Classy-looking savoury biccies that are a cinch to make and are lovely to nibble with cheese of a long Bank Holiday weekend lunch. Or, for extra bunting-cupcake points, pop them in a ribbon-tied bag and take them as "thank you" gifts when visiting friends.
Review this week's recipe here - or why not post one yourself?

That's all, we're off to buy some fake tan...
Love,
Mumsnet Towers

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