Due in Sept '07 - part 5 - '.... Half Way to Heaven......?'

[Hopeitwontbebig]

Hope you all don't mind about the new thread. We've been AGONISING over the name

Ha ha! thank you.
not sure if i would even fit in them but i had a lovely pair before i got preg and miss them and getting a pair of maternity ones would make me feel great! unless they dont fit :-(

Well if you miss them and it would make you feel fab, then go for it I say! I miss dressing up and feeling sexy, so I bought one of the more reasonable dresses from that dress website I was drooling over! justify it as my pick me up indulgence which is crucial to my wellbeing at this stage
Think DH is looking forward to seeing me in it too as he wasnt complaining!

You are so bad!!!! i wanna spend spend spend spend now i love that site v expensive... think ideserve a little something

If you can justify it, then do it! When i showed DH the dress online last night, he did very sweetly point out that it had been a long time since I had treated myself for me, as opposed to thinking about things for the baby. I am kinda hoping that the evening I wear the dress reminds us of pre preg days where it was about us and i felt sexy when i dressed up.
This dress had better be nice! LOL!

Just popping in quickly. Sorry not read today's posts.

DH is still in hospital, he's developed flu like symptoms so they are monitoring him very closely .. WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAh TBH I'm glad he's being so well looked after.

I praying he'll be able to come home tomorrow.

HIWBB - I hope your dh is ok and is allowed home soon. Tis much better to be at home IMO, most people heal quicker in their own beds! keeping everything crossed for him xxx

if not then you can send the dress to me now that sounds like a v good idea. found some red skinny jeans for maternity on the topshop website but their out of stock! Boo0!

Fingers crossed Hopey xx

HIWBB - hope your hubby is ok! Make sure you are looking after yourself too!

Looby - never knew topshop did the skinny maternity! they didnt have them in store! If you really like them - is worth calling Head Office to see if they are getting them in soon. they are really helpful!

Oh and p.s. if dress has desired effect, am spending rest of pg in it!

Flying visit so hope you don't think it's rude of me...

Kinki - saw your post
This is on the DirectGov site
"Your employer must work out your average weekly earnings to find out whether or not you qualify for SMP and, if so, at what rate. As a general rule, your earnings will be averaged over a period of at least 8 weeks up to and including the last pay day before the end of the qualifying week. But the calculation may differ from this, depending on your pay period.

For SMP purposes, ?pay? means gross pay that is due before any deductions. The gross pay you get from your employer in the relevant period will be taken into account, as long as it counts for NI contributions (or would count if you earned enough or were old enough to pay NI contributions).

Sick pay, overtime, bonus payments, arrears of pay and even, in most circumstances, holiday pay, must all be included if you actually get them at this time. It is when you get the money that counts, not when it was earned."

So, I can see that you only earning £215 in 8 weeks means no SMP, but it doesn't stop you claiming Maternity Allowance, which is still £112.75 per week for 39 weeks, it just doesn't get topped up to 90% pay for the first 6 weeks. Hope that helps a bit.

Thank you so much lou and everyone else for your advice and support. I'll follow up all your leads, I don't want to let it drop. I had this problem after ds2, and didn't get anything in the end. I put up with it then. The difference this time is that I have been really ill during the pregnancy. Although I'm anticipating a good recovery after delivery, I could do with a break from the pressures of work. Tbh, the drs have advised me not to be working now, but we need the cash.

I know its only one day a week, but if I have to work its the little things that worry me, like as I won't be insured after the section for 6 weeks, I'll have to walk the 2kms to work, finding someone to take care of 3 dc (although dh can help out sometimes if he skives) and wanting to get feeding established (with d2 I took him to work with me, but can't this time as I now have a toddler).

I'll figure it out somehow, things usually have a way of getting sorted don't they? I just not got to let it get me too stressed. Thanks again everyone.

Can I share something trivial with my new cyber buddies. Went to ds1's sports day today. He did really well, came 1st in one race, and 3rd in another. Obviously we're proud of him. But the amazing thing is dh ran in the dad's race. That's amazing in itself, but he only went and came 2nd. You'd think you know someone after 20 years, but I swear I never knew he could sprint. Up against dads 15 years his junior I thought we were going to be in for an incy weeny bit of embarrassment. But he came second. How did he do that? How come I didn't know he could run? I'm gobsmacked. I'm also a little bit impressed with him, but I haven't let on yet, because he's been a right PITA this week. They didn't have a 'waddling like a duck' race, so needless to say, I didn't compete this year.

Hi everyone, no news from me today I just popped in to say hi! X

Kinki you poor thing what a nightmare! I know you've already had lots of great advice, just to add to it as although I'm not an employment law expert I do work within HR so I have a bit of an understanding of your issue. Personally I think your HR team sound pants, and have really screwed up here. Firstly the fact you have a fixed slot on Fridays may negate the fact you don't actually have a contract as if it's been going on a while (pref over a year) then it is potentially actually an implied contract, so you may actually be entitled to sick pay, holiday pay etc. Secondly the fact they didn't pay your claim is their fault not yours and should not affect your maternity claims. Are you a memer of a TU as they could help get this sorted for you, otherwise I'd really consider getting legal advise, as soon as HR see a letter from lawyer, (especially if it mentions certain key words like discrimination and stress ) they should react pretty sharpish as not only have they behaved appalingly to you but messing about with pregnant ladies can be an expensive business!

Pennypops what a nasty evil lady on the train - just think Karma and what goes around comes around

HIWBB - hope DH is ok and gets home soon

SeamonstEr - loving the subtle name change!

hehe kinki, your dh is a dark horse obviously! Mine looks quite porky himself and is actually really fit and sporty, beats his skinnier mates at most sports

You sound much more positive about the mat pay thing... I hope it all works out. I know it's tough when money is tight (believe me I know!) but your health and the baby's health is much more important, don't rush back to work if you're not ready.

Why, you noticed!

i get looked at in disbelief when I say September as well as my bump is huge.
I have no useful things to say about the maternity money etc but good luck to you.
HIWBB. Apart from poor dh how are you doing?

Good to see you again chatty

um, nasty woman on train. You could have whacked her with your bag and claimed it was your hormones.

also have been told off in supermarket for adding to worlds problems by bringing 4 lo's into the world....

SeaM you think people would at least be grateful that there is someone around to pay tax to fund their pensions!

how are you anyway?

Hi, I'm good although getting a little stressed about the move abroad as it's only 2 weeks until we go now.
Apart from evil people in supermarkets etc, how r things with u?

not as stressed as you, you've probably mentioned it before, but where? Very exciting, help take your mind off things maybe

thanks again everyone, good advice fb, as I say I'll follow up all tips and leads. Feeling a bit better about it today.

Oh oh oh, anyone got a new title for our next thread, someone think of one quick.

Fat, bored, moaning or depressed? Then welcome to the DUE IN SEPT 07 thread.

We're off to the Philippines, I am really excited and can't wait, it's a fantastic country which I love and most of DH family are there. We also have some great friends there, it's just I'll miss my family and friends in UK and am a little nervous about differnet health care system and sulture etc (oe thing to visit another to live there). I also think DD wil really miss her grandparents esp as my mum is like a second mum to her. We also need to finish packing up our house here before it's rented out, pack the stuff thats coming with us etc etc...

Sorry sound like I'm a total spoilt brat moaning like this, I am really excited and the thought of 35 degree heat (with the option of air con!) and the swimming pool out there is making it easier to come to terms with things

Did I get the 1000th message ?! Def time for a new thread...