Dutch Au Pair available - preferably close to London - Available now

Yep still waiting for mine too, I guess she found somewhere?

Hi-- have e-mailed her ,but no reply eaither.I live in Leatherhead and need an au-pair for my db's as i'm to return to work after a year off.
Any info would be gratefully received.thanks.

Poor ol' Stressed (less of the old, eh? )

I can see what you were doing and I think it commendable.

I know so APs that are treated dreadfully (amongst my friends ) so it could ba a case of A bad family rather than a poor AP.

I once met a lovely MAP who was literally kicked out of the house at 12 hrs notice as he refused the advances of the (single) mother - fwiw I did think it odd that she had chosen a MAP, but maybe I'm a cynic. He ended up at a good friend's and he was fab. The ex family had their house on the market and MAP was there when I went round, he was courteous and polite the house (inc his room) were spotless. The mother when I went for a second viewing on the house quizzed me more about what he'd been like when I went round than she told me about the house.

Another friend's AP sleeps in a room over the garage - fine and dandy - but the family have 2 dogs that yap/bark all night and disturb the family's sleep. So the family shut them in the car (parked in the garage) every night, the AP then gets no sleep.

I wouldn't want to sleep in a room with no curtains and I wouldn't expect my AP to either.

People are unkind to APs for no reason sometimes. It does happen

PS. I emailer her basic details yesterday evening, but she obviously doesn't fancy Kent as she's not replied.

There are good and bad au pairs (and nannies) out there. And the best way to weed them out is to be sceptical about all of them.

She may be a nice girl. And it is of course nice of you to try and help her. But, no propective employers here should enter into these discussion with a potential au pair with a false sense of security on some whom you don't actually know.

She may be lovely. But, of course, these questions should be asked. It does not make me mean spirited. It makes me thorough.

Incidentally, my current nanny was working as an au pair for a horrible family when I found her. I asked a lot of questions. I checked her references. I asked more questioned. I came to the conclusion that she was telling the truth and that she would really appreciate what we had to offer after the way they had treated her. I was right. She is fantastic.

A bit of scepticism is not a bad thing when you are interviewing for someone who is going to come llive in your house.

FWIW I had planned with my current AP for her to do lots of childcare, but now she does almost none, um, because she is no good at it. Not saying that will be the case with dutch girl, but it IS a possibility... Still am sure dutch girl can speak for herself about all family set up and difficulties with someone who is interested

OOPS - wrong thread. Don't mind me

When the weather is like this, it has to be Preludes 1, TS Elliot:

The winter evening settles down
With smell of steaks in passageways.
Six o`clock.
The burnt-out ends of smokey days.
And now a gusty shower wraps
The grimy scraps
Of withered leaves about your feet
And newspapers from vacant lots;
The showers beat
On broken blinds and chimney pots,
And in the corner of the street
A lonely cab-horse steams and stamps.

And then the lighting of the lamps.

I am reading this thread, and I am a little flummoxed.

So, OP doesnt really want this AP, infact she hasnt met her,she wants a different AP, yet she vouches for her. AP has only been at her present house for 3 months, and it is so horrible, as she has no curtains and only housework. Her email address is really silly, and she has no second thougths about bitching about her present family and moan about her room.

err... Why would anyone want her?

I am not surprised the OP doesnt want her. I am guessing OP has offered her a job and changed her mind when the faouvered AP became available, and now feals a little guilty?

I know HArriett. If I meet someone with a RL weird name, I think "What were your parents thinking?" (I don't say this of course). But an e-mail adress? You chose that yourself. That is the name you use to present yourself to people who don't know you.

I have crossed off numerous applicant based upon rude or crude e-mail addresses. And if someone's CV came across my desk like that... oh my I don't think so.

But, I'm obviously alone on this thread so I'll shut up.

AN
Re the email. We got so many weird email addresses when recruiting au pairs. My husband is a deputy head of a secondary school and he regularly has to tell kids not to put 'sexy' in their email addresses when they're used for CVs to apply for jobs!!!!

I nevertheless did actually reject someone whose mail was 'little minx.' It was mid way down then rejection reasons but still on there.

Hi, our current AP has just flipped her lid resigned. Your Dutch girl sounds like a real possible - our AP has no responsibility for cleaning and only around 15 hours a week childcare ... No need for her to drive - in fact after a very dented car I would prefer a non-driver. Would you mind catting me with her email address? Thanks lots Qx

Hallowe'en name competition on here.

Have emailed AP.

Febes, an AP usually earns between £55-75 for a AP (25 hrs + 1-2 nights babysitting) or £75-95 for AP+ (35hrs +2 nights babysitting). Live in.

An AP usually should not be left in sole charge of under 2's, help with childcare and light housework.

how much do you pay the AP? Sory just jumping in here but I've always wanted to know. Do they do full child care or just mother help?

Fair point on the taxi vs insurance!
But we have the "nanny" car and would be a shame not to use it-would also be good for taking dd swimming etc.

If the AuPair you are taking has messed you about-why are youtaking her and not this Dutch one?

Marmaduke Scarlet is from The Little White Horse - a fave childhood book. I wanted to be Maria Merrywheather but it was taken (for a total of 5 posts some while back so a complete waste!)

I was trying to think of a spooky name for the competition and added the bloodstiains (as blood is scarlet) a bit naff and uninspired generally, but I made an effort!

I forgot to mention we are lovely in a very laid back, slighly eccentric (she'll have to put up with me singing in the car!) way.

Our AP room is very pretty with hanmade lilac ginham blinds (blackout lining) with velvet ribbon trim and a jali pelmet - to reassure on the curtain front!

Ingles2 has met me, and will vouch for me I'm sure! (Has anyone seen her recently? Or is she another from The Body Count?)

I am in Kent and looking for an AP, non driver OK. Less than 1 mile to MLS for a 45 - 50 minute commute to London.