News on my mum is not brilliant. She has a perforated gall bladder and the doctor really doesn't want to have to operate as it seems to be quite messy in there and he could do more harm than good. So we are waiting to see if the mega-antibiotics that they're giving her help it all calm down and then the doctor will recommend at what stage she has the gall bladder out. It won't be a keyhole op apparently so will be quite a big deal for her. I'm pretty worried and she is only just being allowed to eat anything now (hasn't eaten anything since about Thursday lunchtime, so that can't help with strength). But on the plus side she is getting more respite from the pain and this morning seems to be doing better according to the doc.
I'm back at home again now as of last night, since my Dad is feeling much more on top of things and has lots of friends and neighbours who can help out if he needs food or anything. Luckily got the MIL staying (that would be a sarcastic 'luckily') who I have requested H gets out of the house as much as possible to avoid Doing My Head In.
Mucky, I don't know if I have quite caught the gist of it all but my understanding with nurseries is that you get up to 15 hours free per week and can split them between two providers if you want to (and if they will both offer them). You can't use all your hours on a two-day-a-week basis, only 3 days+, and each session that you are using them for must be at least 2.5 hours long.
The nursery will charge what they normally charge (say £60 per day) but your invoice will show the net of that after the 15 hours have been deducted.
You said that your current place is offering you 4 mornings plus a whole day? That sounds well in excess of 15 hours.
I was thinking, if this local nursery is offering you two days only, is it an option to keep them at the other place for an extra day so you get to use all the hours up and you still get your foot on the ladder with the local place?
First question for the local nursery would be whether they participate in the 15 hours scheme, and if they don't then you can weigh up what combination of days and places works out best for you financially (it might be cost effective to pay 2 days at the local place and take 15 hours in some combination at the current place)?
Maybe if you have to make your mind up straight away, it is best to accept the place and then hold off as long as you can on paying the deposit. If you accepted and then pulled out they couldn't do much about it.
As for childcare vouchers, these are not universal and depend on whether your employer offers them. I should say you don't have them as your H is self-employed. As ALL said, it's a salary sacrifice thing that allows you to buy £243 of childcare per month at a cost of 60% or 80% depending on your income tax rate, as you don't pay tax on that amount of your salary.
The tax credits are only relevant if you have lower income and are Government-awarded.
Well done for getting through a hen night in any form tarti. I hope the head is not too bad today, and same for LVB and ALL! Glad to hear that DS1 is still keeping up his Phil Mitchell impression when it comes to 'offers' to remove the wristband. Love him.