Staff Room..................Thursday

Wow ajj! You're doing well! Lets hope your good luck rubs off on Katymac, she's in your neck of the woods too!

Thanks for the warm welcome
Suprise call from another cm, passing on 2 boys for 1 day pw. they already go to her for 3 days, but she has a day off and doesn't want to give it up.coming later to sign contracts.

I agree with FO, theoretically you should be available, since she's paid you, but its still not really acceptable to just call you up the day before and expect you not to have made plans. I think there must be some way of working that into your t&c's. You know the woman to ask don't you? But she's gone to Portsmouth for the day! Bet she'll have something in place that'll work.

I have had similar situation in the past when a parent took a week off but had to work a couple of days cos collegue off ill and I took the child at short notice cos she was paying me while she was off. As I see it, we charge them for their holidays cos theoretically the place is there for them but they are just choosing not to use it and if you are not available to work while they are on holiday then technically we shouldn't be charging them IYSWIM. Its still damn maddening though cos you plan your week out don't you?

everyone think

S88AHG - I know, you're right, it's just that because she's double pay, when this baby is off then they know I'm not working as no older mindees. She actually told me a while back as wanted to give me as much notice as possible so I could have a long weekend to decorate (as she said it must be really hard when childminding - nice parents ). If I hadn't got plans then I may have gone to my parents (4 hrs away) but suppose that would be my problem.

Sooooo, does everything thing in these situations we should stay at home in case they change their mind at last min? Also, I was going to make loads of appointments to catch up with dentist and all sorts. IF I'd made these appointments would you cancel them all? Presume so, just that some appointments you get charged for canceling at short notice.

Oh well.......I'll put this down to me being in a foul mood and forget about it!

Is it your holiday or their holiday IYSWIM? If its theirs then its kinda ok but if you said you were not available then it should be just that !!!!

Hi everyone - LT fingers firmly crossed for you mate. Keep us updated.

I've been to toddler groups today for the first time in a while and it was nice to get out, though not many people there.
Dd1 and i have sorted through all the toys while the lo's have been napping, iv'e got a new child coming for settling in at 3pm i'm hoping it will go well! No doubt i'll come back and let you know!

Hello everyone - not been around much been very busy lol! Was dd birthday on Tues so she and her brother are happy watching her new dvd whilst the younger 2 are having a sleep

enjoying some peace!! 1/2 of singing today has really hurt my throat

I can't believe the 6 weeks is never up it has gone so fast not a bad thing - will be a shock going down to 2 in a morning when they go back lol

Looney - it really is unfair isn't it? I have had problems from a very young age and had to have fertility treatment to have my 2 kids so I think I have had enough to deal with without facing a menopause now too!!
I hope all goes well for you, I know only too well what it is like to want a baby and it be out of your control.

Not sure about the holiday thing, let me have a think if I can amongst all the noise.

Feelingold - wow, 7 under 5's! I thought my 5 under 5's was bad enough! . Oh, so you have a family history too then. My mum was only 29 and her mum and sister were also both early. I'd find it easier to cope with if I wasn't desperate for another child. The worst part is IF I am going through it and can't have children, I'll beat myself up about leaving it so long just because I wanted it to be the right time!!! Anyway, nothing I can do now until I have the results.

Sooooooooo, ANYONE??? What do you reckon about this parent holiday and giving notice if wanting to use me afterall?

Well the pizza went down well.

Looney - Dont know where TP is, but then again haven't been around much lately, been on holiday, my parents have both had operations/lots of hosp appointments etc, I have 7 under 5's I care for including a 7 month old so haven't really had much time to come on here even in the evenings.
Sorry to hear you may be approaching the menopause at such a young age, I too am facing this and I thought I was young at 42!! (my mum was only 43 when she started on the menopause and she has 4 sisters all of whom started before the age of 45 so not much hope for me is there). Good luck anyway.

He's had the Highland and the Bowmore, so I shall make a note of the other one for a Xmas pressie, since we didn't go to Scotland this year!

Try again! And cheers! Here's to happy endings!

Well according to DH, The Macallan, Highland Park and Bowmore (from the island of Islay) are the best 3 malt whiskys in the world

I tell you what, you know all my moaning about my 2 days off being fu**ed up due to this ex mindees parent..........WELL ......had a text from my double baby's mum saying she's sorry for short notice but she needs me from midday tomorrow as she has to go into work after all and her dh is taking his older kids out for the day. I know they still pay but what if I was in the middle of decorating like I originally was going to be? I just feel like time off should be time off and that's that. Does anyone have anything in their policies saying about this? Was wondering if I could get away with adding something about parent holidays and that if they want to cancel and use me afterall, they need to give me x notice??? Or am I mean??

We always have to scour the shops for a good single malt when we go to Scotland every year! DH is quite anal about it actually! He currently has a 15 year old from the Ben Nevis distillery on the go. He doesn't share though and its only for very special occasions. Everyone else has to have the Teachers or shops own brand!

Mo's link didn't work but thanks, I can smell it and.......OH.......it's gone in my tummy!! As for the strong drink, cheers for the thought but I can't drink that stuff as nearly died on too much Jack Daniels when I was 17!!! A barrel of Stella would go down nicely though (I'll just lock the kids in the shed for the rest of the day!!! hehe

maureen, I can't stand the stuff, but The Macallan, cloesly folloed by Highland Park are DH's two favourite malts. he has loads of bottles so I thought I'd share some .

Get you! Handing out the strong stuff! You can tell you've got a spring in your step again!

Looney I thought it was later today you were going, I was thinking about you. Do you want flapjacks, or a glass of something stronger?
like this

Here we are! How about a bit of ginger cake? Dig in!

Thanks for all the good luck wishes

Mo - PS all day, why not!!!

Saltire - fab news, about time. I suggest once you're reg'd, you do a formal complaint as your treatment has been disgusting!!

FeelingOld - hello, nice to see you in the staffroom. Haven't seen many of the old lot from MN for a while. And where is TP??? Anyway, just wanted to say hi and yes, I love my laptop too

Right, Dr's.....she took my very seriously and has arranged all sorts of blood tests including the ones they do for people who've been ttc for over a year. She just said she may as well. I've had blood taken today and have 3 holes with bruises where they tried to get the blood out with no success (always happens to me!) Anyway, the nurse called the Dr in and eventually they got some using some vacuum thing (apparently I went grey at one point! lol). Anyway, got to wait until next week for the results. A couple of things upset me because I thought if the test showed I'm ok now, then they'd be able to see if I'm likely to start the menopause soon. She said no, if this test is clear then we must just get down to business and try everything to get pregnant asap coz in 6 months etc, I could start it. Basically they can only see from the test if I've started already. She also said that as soon as you start the menopause, that's it, your chances of getting pregnant drop dramatically. I thought it was a gradual thing but no I'm pleased she was honest and now am just waiting for the results. Feels a bit funny being given a booklet called 'Living with the Menopause' when you're only 31!

Anyway........where's all the nice cakes, flapjacks etc????? If no-one has any today, please can you share your pizza FeelingOld???

I know Maureen, I couldn't believe it when the postie knocke dnad said he had a registered letter for me.
All I need to do now is sit down and read them properly, will do it tonight. If I don't fall asleep I am so shattered.

Welcome FeelingOld! The lap top is a marvel! I have mine on one of the shelves in the room I use for minding! Its on Staff Room, most of the day! Its just nice to have a bit of adult convo now and again, allbeit written! Nice to meet you, hope you manage to keep cool with all those mindees this afternoon!

Yay for Saltire! Excellent news. It was meant to be that you didn't go out with Shosh today. You may not have known they came in the post and then you'd have wasted a precious day dealing with them!