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Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

The curse of Boff. Again.

281 replies

BoffinMum · 13/01/2010 17:23

You are not going to believe this, guys. The lovely temp (and she really is lovely) who came today has had to leave because her mum was rushed into hospital. We don't know if/when she'll be coming back. So we are without childcare again! I am currently in Paris and DH was supposed to be going into work tomorrow because he hasn't been able to get in all week. He has no leave left either. Crikey! Anybody want three lovely children, two with diarrhoea?

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BoffinMum · 25/02/2010 12:18

I think it's blardy brilliant, actually. We should have a meetup in an outdoor adventure centre (but no blowing stuff up, of course).

I will kick off with singing the Queen of the Night whilst standing on a table. I did this once at a conference and people were, shall we say, speechless.

Then pois.

Then huntin shootin fishin.

Then a show jumping competition (I will only do trotting poles on account of SPD)

What next?

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frakkinaround · 25/02/2010 11:33

Anyone else now concerned about the nannies frequenting MN?

We spin fire round our heads and shoot for fun. This isn't doing our image any good!

Blondeshavemorefun · 25/02/2010 11:14

mr blondes has guns - i can shoot, but dont have a great aim lol

frakkinaround · 25/02/2010 08:28

I would have thought it was a very useful skill to have. Obviously the gnu is kept in a gun cabinet and not left lying around for the kiddiwinks to play with but there's no pleasing some people

Tavvy · 25/02/2010 07:37

My current mb is less than impressed that I can shoot though have never been asked to do it in a job (just as well because am not the best shot in the world)

frakkinaround · 25/02/2010 06:38

Tavvy I?m with you on the fire poi and raise you a flaming staff but I can't kill a cactus. I've tried, the little buggers just won't die!

Other ?useful? skills
Building a nuclear bomb in a filing cabinet (need some uranium, polonium and lithium though)
I can drive a car with two tyres blown out and check underneath it for a bomb
I can crack a safe , break into a car with a coathanger and pick most chubb locks!

And things I actually put on my CV I can:

Do all manner of sewing things, including darning (dying art...) and I can knit
Play 5 instruments and sing
Support 3 different school curricula (British, French and International)
Speak 2 and a half languages
First Aid
Cook Ride, Swim, Ski (snowboard...), Do ballet, Do gym [and Shoot (I have a gun license and DH promised me a Sig for my birthday) but I tend not to mention that unless they ask for a nanny who rides, swims and shoots]

My ex employers were most impressed with my fire skills ? I made an entire day out of wood collecting, fire setting, firelighting, fire feeding, smoke signals (not advisable to do SOS smoke signals whilst in the alps in the middle of ski season)

Boff the kidney thing is....special?

Blondeshavemorefun · 25/02/2010 00:18

fire weilding pyromaniac - tavvy you sounds just like my dh

helenlovelyperson · 24/02/2010 21:34

god I am bored

typing up new nanny contract in hopes of getting it right with lovely nanny number 2 after mess first time round....

yawn

BoffinMum hope all is continuing harmoniously chez Boff with lovely new nanny?

helenlovelyperson · 24/02/2010 21:31

tavvy having read you on this and other threads, would kill to have you as my nanny, what's a little fire-wielding between friends

helenlovelyperson · 24/02/2010 21:29

ah ha ah ha I saw Pois in NZ, know the thing you mean, I'd like to learn that one please!

and can I have some singing lessons please BoffinMum?

Summersoon LOVED the prrroof reading typo, couldn't have planned it better. I am good at chairing conference calls with seniors in my business and customers whilst helping DD2 onto the potty (quite a mental image)
I am also stunning at holding my sh* together when eejit XH walks out on our happy (it was ) home for good leaving 2 gorgeous DDs behind . Definitely shouldn't be investigating looks etc of fellow MN brothers via this thread (sorry Tavvy* ) in my current fragile metal state but can't resist troublemakers

on a lighter note, I too see off all greenery in record quick time and can't for the life of me get the hang of primary year 2 maths method, which is REALLy worrying, poor DDs

Tavvy · 24/02/2010 21:28

'I'd like to teach the world to sing.
In perfect har-mon-eeeeeeeeeeeeeee.'

Never include the pois thing on my CV. Most parents are not impressed that their potential nanny can be a fire weilding pyromaniac

BoffinMum · 24/02/2010 20:51

Tavvy, the Pois thing is hard core. Really hard core. You win.

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BoffinMum · 24/02/2010 20:50

Summersoon, I can teach you to sing in six weeks.

I can't however do timetabling to save my life, which is my industry (education) is one hell of a liability, Luckily we have a course administrator sent by God for such eventualities.

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Tavvy · 24/02/2010 20:49

Oh another of my talents is cactus killing.
I am the only person I have ever met who cannot keep a cactus alive.

Tavvy · 24/02/2010 20:48

He is all grown up and he landed in the deep end of the gene pool when it came to looks and doesn't he know about it as well. (Rolls eyes dramatically.)

Pond wasn't quite as funny as when he was in the choir and it was his turn to carry the cross through the chapel. He forgot to lower it as they got to the door so Jesus ended up at a ninety degree angle from the waist.

You can get several types of pois. The boring ones are like weighted bean bags on string with coloured streamers attached and you make patterns in the air with them. They're good to practise with before you go for the real deal.
The fun ones are on metal chains and you set them alight and make patterns with the flames - like a sparkler but much more dangerous. Looks really spectacular in the dark and you can have whole routines. It's an ancient Maori art.

Summersoon · 24/02/2010 20:47

proof-reading!!!

Did I mention the outstanding at proof-reading is only if something is written on paper? Can't do it on a screen!

Summersoon · 24/02/2010 20:42

Boffin and Tavvy you are clearly ladies of many unexpected and useful talents - and you haven't included cooking dinner for your kids while entertaining youngest while trying to take an after-hours call from a colleague while talking to DH while calming the dog - which I am sure you do all the time! I am very impressed!
I was trying to think what I could put down and it all seems to be either work-related (good at spreadsheets, outstanding at proof-rreading) or the kitchen (baking cakes!).

It seems almost easier to think of what I can't do - anyone want to join me in that one?

  • no visual imagination. At all. Whatsoever. My PP charts are the office joke.
  • can't keep a houseplant alive - give me 4 weeks and it'll be dead
  • after >20 years still can't reverse a car into a tight space and will go to great lengths to avoid having to do it
  • sing
  • read instruction booklets for any kind of technical gadget (and I do realize how much easier it would be if I could summon the patience!)
helenlovelyperson · 24/02/2010 20:13

nope, sorry, spin fire?? no idea, even with the pois in brackets

helpppp

have thought of some more

have unerring ability to get thrown by chestnut mares (100% success rate so far)
ok, grasping at straws now....

Tavvy lol re pond... assuming he is now all grown up, is he good looking?

Tavvy · 24/02/2010 19:33

Random skills!

I can spin fire (pois)
I actually used to be really good until I accidently set fire to my hair by mistake and haven't really done it since

Can do both the flying and static trapeze
Picking locks.
Am a mean shot with a catapult.
Can embroider,smock and sew.
Excellent at making educational resources
Making puppets
Can create pretty much anything out of cardboard.
Cake decorating - did a scale model of Hogwarts once complete with flying Harry, Ron and Hermione.
Climbing trees and making tree houses
Can deliver lambs
Milk cows and goats
Pluck pheasants

Never have learnt to blow anything up
My brother once got sent home from boarding school for a few days because he and his mates 'borrowed' a lot of potassium from the chemistry stores and decided it would be clever to launch it into the school nature reserve pond. Completely destroyed the whole ecosystem

BoffinMum · 24/02/2010 16:24

tbh I have never actually made one, but I do know how (too much time spend with ex-Army chums)

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helenlovelyperson · 24/02/2010 16:05

does require a glass or two to get the voice right, which i am guessing you don't do when blowing stuff up.......

BoffinMum · 24/02/2010 15:55

Miranda Richardson is a helluva achievement IMO. Beats smocking and blowing stuff up, taking your own fingers with it.

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helenlovelyperson · 24/02/2010 15:37

and yes, i have modified my name in a belated attempt to show a bit more imagination...........

by the way, am so glad I stumbled across you lot when I cried for help a coupla weeks ago, makes my day coming on here

helenlovelyperson · 24/02/2010 15:34

thanks Boffy Blondes and Frak am larfing heartily which given the day I am having workwise is a minor miracle. Helps that I have just found a mini packet of chocolate buttons

random skills, not sure I dare share after seeing Boff's, am overcome with inferiority complex

light a fire with one match
do a mean impression of miranda richardson in backadder (shoulda made my nickname queenie....)
ski backwards

ermmmm

BoffinMum · 24/02/2010 14:57

UUUUUUURGH!!!!!!!
Dog breath!

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