Au Pairs and Christmas

I've come to this thread very late on but just wanted to say (to anyone else like me who scans the au pair threads for info and tips) that our au pair (German, has been with us less than a week but is settling in well) specifically wanted somewhere rural and isn't at all interested in cities. She wants fields or the coastline around her, so don't despair if you are far from a city. Some positively seek that and actually turn down the London jobs! She's the exception, of course. Lots have turned us down because we are too far (2 hours travel by bus/train) from cities.

Weegle our AP didn't arrive until mid Oct, so too late to sign up for classes at WK and is going home in Feb. It's a shame really as she hasn't met anyone and must be really lonely.

My ex Mother's Help (part of a Slovak couple and now a good friend) tried to befriend her but finds her surly manner a little offputting.

Ours went home on the 14th, and doesn't return until the 6th. She's having her wisdom teeth out at home though sometime this week. Luckily DH will be around for the next few weeks, so it fits in well with our plans.

I didn't give a Christmas bonus, but she's only been with us just short of 4 weeks.

I bought her a few pressies though - a couple of pairs of PJ's, slippers, a nice throw for her room and some bed socks. I also sent back a goodie bag for her parents, with English tea, cornish biscuits, lemon curd, marmalade.... lots of 'English' things.

Missing her terribly - she doesn't have a lot to do round the house, but what she does do makes a huge difference to my general stress levels! Not sure I'd ever cope without an ap with DH away now!

Oh that is Wonderful news MrsRecycle! Such a relief to get that sorted before Christmas!

Yes and yes. The conversation really flowed and I definitely clicked with her.

Did you offer the job? Did she take it?

Update - just spoken to Portugese girl and she is lovely - perfect English and very chatty. And the good thing is she only wants to go home for August so could come back in September (if she wants to). So sorry, Aly, but 6monther is taken now (but am so pleased I've found someone before Christmas).

It says she is 19, not much experience, £150-199, and full time. Being an au pair isn't really full time, so if you you prorate it and adjust down according to the hours, I think you'll find her reasistically around say £90ish which seems not too far off. Besides, just because she ticked that box doesn't mean she won't settle for less.

Didn't realise SN was needed. Sorry.

yes Aly - MrR said she'd run off with our kids!

Mrs R I'd be seriously concerned about an AP who was prepared to share such personal info on an application, perhaps a little unhinged overfriendly?

Gloria Looks great, but sadly not prepared to work with children with SN - an ongoing problem for me. Also $400? If that is $US that is £200ish (and changing all the time!)which I think is quite a bit for AP.

How bout this one?

www.greataupair.com/fastfind.cfm/locatorID/737055/page/3/pagelist/1/searchType/Advanced/aupairLiveIn /1/aupairGender/1/aupairShortStay/12/aupairStartDate/2/aupairEndDate/3/aupairPhotos/1/countryList/0/ countryWorkList/242/aupairSmoker/0/languageList/18/aupairBefore/1/nationalityReq/1/nationalityList/1 2,18,19,38,24,4,5,8,9,11,12,13,14,15,20,23,24,30,31,32,33,39,41,42,45,48,56,58,62,63,77,117/aupairAg eRange/18-26/aupairLiveIn/1/displayRows/5/fulltime/1/salaryExpectation/5

I always did like him -- great minds think alike.

exactly what MrR said ele!!

No -- for more reasons than one.

You are right Aly - even in West London we are not close enough for most Au Pairs. The Hungarian is looking for mid-Feb and may consider outskirts of London - I'll email her and see how her search is going.

Oh have just found a brilliant Au Pair until I read her profile in full.. eleusis/Aly/Squiffy - would you consider this Au Pair

I just put our AP on the plane home. She is back after Christmas and then we are all going down to Edinburgh for Hogmanay.
I gave her some presents and also a present for her mother. No bonus I am afraid. But we are taking her on holiday to Edinburgh!

Mrs R, I'm in West Kent not far from Tunbridge Wells. It is fairly rural, althou good sized town 1 mile away. Most AP's are not interested tbh!

I'm one of the lucky folk you sent your schedule to in the vain hope I could 'train' my French AP - no such luck I'm afraid! She is staying until Feb, although has gone home for now - left 16th back 6th Jan.

Our AP leaves tomorrow and will be back just before New Year bringing a friend with her to stay for a few days so they can have fun together in London. So AP will not "work" again until 6th or so. I am not paying her while she is not here, partly because she hasn't been with us long enough, and partly because I am letting her friend stay and it means she is basically unavailable to me for the whole of the school hols and I have had to turn down a piece of work because of that. I am giving her presents - book about London, smellies, chocs etc - and a bonus of £40 though.

Oh I would love to find a family for her - she's so nice. Whereabouts are you?

Mrs R, if you don't want your six monther can I have her??? Pretty please.

Portugal, Scotland and Hungary (there's a joke there!). Would love another Swedish girl but they are all so popular (lots have 200 families interested in them).

Glad you think 6 months is a short time. Maybe I could do that, hire her until July and then look for someone for two years but I really like the Scottish girl (Mormon) but if her timetable doesn't fit ours then there is no point really is there?

Aww poor you (with voice, etc) and 6 months really is a short time. It would only bring you till JUST before summer holidays! Mind you, lots of girls are looking at the time, so it might be worth taking her on for 6 months and look for somebody who can stay longer from July onwards. Where are these girls from, if you dont mind me asking?

I've got a shortlist of 3 and was meant to speak to one last night but I've lost my voice. I'm a real quandry - she's a lovely girl who is my favourite but can only stay for 6 months. Have another who is a Mormon and can stay for 2 years but depends on her timetable which she doesn't know until next year (and she's nice as well). I am so stressed out with this looking for a new AP that I really want someone who can stay a lot longer.

Hello MrsRecycle!
How are you? Have you found a replacement from February?