Awkward (and other) questions about MNers jobs-following on from *Pinocchio's 1st thread.

Grandpa I don't get teary, I get bemused and bashful - it surprises me loads as I usually don't feel I've done much

Foamy Who makes up primary school governors? It's something I'd be interested in before my son goes to school but would a 26 year old makeup artist be of any use?

jux i think it's because he's damn sexy

Re: actors playing baddies having mistaken identities, yes is the answer - we lived next door to someone who played a rapist on popular tv and we had people knocking on our door asking if 'the rapist' lived next door (to which we answered, no, an actor lives there...). Very sad.

I'm a managing agent for freehold blocks if anyone wants to ask anything!

thanksamillion how neat, my grandparents were missionaries. But they were the kind that were sent over from a church to provide services, not to preach (GM was a nurse, GF a carpenter). What are your days like?

My background's in marketing and teaching (university students) and online education. I'm American if that makes the jobs more interesting

Moosey On the helplines, you hear of stories of people calling in distress and in some really sad cases pass away/take their own life while on the phone. I understand that the helpline phone operator must get counselling and time off following these situations, but I wondered what the training is for them to deal with this if it's actually happening?

I'm thinking in terms of say The Samaritans and someone's called up to say they've taken an overdose, how can a helpline person deal with that?

Sorry if that's distressing to anyone, I'm genuinely curious but not been able to ask in RL.

youretoast you're right in the case of a legitimate technicality, it couldn't be contested. My guess is that the people who suggested taking it further were probably annoyed on your behalf. It does get frustrating when people think that 'something should be done' when all our hands are tied in policy and no amount of phone calls and ranting could change things. And some people think their little John or Jane take priority over everybody else's little John's and Jane's, so trying to remain empathetic but unwavering is a bit tough sometimes.

Norbert I take it it's just the last few degrees of straight that he lacks? the elbow is particularly unhappy at being broken. It stiffens up really quickly and a slight reduction in range of movement is not unexpected (particularly straightening it out). So long as he can use it well and it's not impacting his function then it's absolutely fine.

To TV people: why is Bruce still on TV? He was always crap, and now he's even crapper.

Namey, not really annoying. The policy was clear. That was why I was wondering what exactly people thought I could do about it.

A missionary, thanksamillion? Where do you do it? I actually didn't realise people still did that. What is the current stance then, on sensitivity to the existing culture's beliefs? Why do you want to/how do you try to change their mind?

Thanksamillion, are you allowed to have sex in other positions? ;)

I don't have much experience of church schools youretoast but I empathise with your situation. Losing out on a placement on a technicality must be very annoying for parents. I am not connected to admissions so wouldn't have the power to make decisions based on a parent "having a word", but there have been situations where I wonder if this has been the case, the squeakiest wheel gets oiled first kind of thing. But I personally wouldn't know if that had happened, and I'm sure exceptional circumstances on an individual case basis would be taken into account.

Hearts My question to you is how do you find working with Chairs (as in governors, not the furniture ) It's a mixed bag with me, some are personable, willing to accept constructive advice and truly have the best interests of the school at heart, but I have seen some serious ego-trippers and wonder at the motives behind their involvement.

Hello, I saw the last thread but was too busy last week to follow it. I'm a missionary if anyone wants to ask any questions about that

Waiter/waitresses - do you expect people to offer to clean up their children's mess before they leave, or do you just shrug it off as part of the job? It's always nice that people offer, but I'd much rather do it myself. I have the proper equipment but mostly I hate seeing customers cleaning up.

If you're busy and haven't had chance to clean a table yet, and a new customer came up and asked for a cloth to clean it, would you be offended? Offended, no, but I would be cross that it hasn't been done.

Happy to answer any more.

Great thread.

I've worked on and trained staff for several of the country's national helplines (bereavement, HIV, domestic violence, hate crime etc).

I'd agree that state school governance is more robust and personally wonder if that's because they feel they have more to prove so only select from the highest caibre of candidates. Especially as I work in a more deprived area.

I can't speak for all state schools, but IME the governors don't get paid expenses, the only exception being certain concessions such as governors children getting free access to after school clubs at the discretion of the school. But this is more to do with parent governors needing to attend meetings and having this as a form of childcare is the only way, rather than an act of favouritism towards a governor's own child IYSWIM.

hey gussie, by the way
I'm 16 wks pregnant, and been doing some pf exercises, but they make me feel really uncomfortable / give me a cystitis-sy feeling, is it better to wait til after the birth?
can you advise the best pf exercises -

is it 3 short, 3 long? or the elevator squeeze?

Fingers crossed Heps

Thank you Doin - yes she had some on the ward with the snazzy mobile one too, and the radiographer was patiently asking my questions about the machine. Thank you - we'll get to the bottom of it soon we hope.

Nameymcchange, what kind of school is it? Can you shed any light in admissions to church schools? My dd did not get a place at the c of e school through a legitimate technicality and muttering stirrers implied that something could be done, someone could have a word. Not at all my style, but do people, and does it work?

Namey would be interesting to trade war stories with you, I think governance in state schools is generally more robust than in independent schools.

Do state school governors get expenses paid?

Delaying tactic - ooh I've got a question for you...DS has broken his arm (by the elbow) on 2 separate occasions. Should we be worried that when he stretches his arm out straight that it isn't actually straight?

so glad I found the 2nd instalment!

''I have a question for you about your English Lit studies. Do you ever feel that your enjoyment of a book, play or poetry has been affected negatively by close textual analysis? Does it impinge upon the mystery or does it enhance enjoyment?''
mignonette asked this in the 1st thread, I have an English degree in lang & Lit, and this made me think.

The knowledge I picked up from studying how to study texts is always in my head when reading; if the book is particularly gripping I try and work out why, I enjoy great writing and love to re-read writing that seems to be perfection- in A clockwork orange some of the descriptions of classical music are breath taking. Chuck Paluniak has written some crazy stuff that will stay in my head for ever.
I am a fast chucker of books, life is too short to read something that is dull, I search out the next as nothing is better than finding a gripping book that takes over your free time!

to the poster who hated turbulence - read 'Airframe' by Michael Crichton and Nelson Demille's 'Mayday'

I work with school governors, I shan't say exactly in which capacity but will try to answer as honestly as I can (unless it's about term time holiday fines and TA contracts because I've researched loads and still know feck all as goalposts keep changing! )

Only made it to page 10 of the first thread so far but how interesting!

DBro is an In-Charge Flight Attendant and has tons of good stories. Ask away!

I'm an accountant

I work at an independent school though, that's a bit interesting...

Zing it's now advised for patients NOT to wear lead rubber aprons as they actually keep the radiation inside them. If a patient insists on wearing one though we do let them.