*********** Yes it's Fridays staff Room ***************

[mumlove]

Morning all, I have lovely hot sausage rolls on the go, made about 150 last night now on more for DH birthday party later!

me?

well im a fed up..mum with 1yr old was due between 1-2.30 but told her i leave for school run at 2.30...no sign..really had heart set on this, LO sounds lovely and the two days were perfect for me, plus PFSTED gave me the green light!, so very fsad now

oh but Lonny, so glad you got to hear little beans heartbeat and all is well

dya know what this mum, i offered tor educe my ffes when she rang by 50p per hour as i would have been charging more than the nursery, she was pleased with that, she said how close we were and that was ideal and the last person i reduced my feels for as well also didnt bother coming in the ned??!!...dont get it?, surley that makes me adaptable and kind??????

SS - I must have git mixed up with another snowflake then

Sorry about them not turning up Can you call her?

Thanks, loved hearing heartbeat, it's been a weird pregnancy so far!!

Henni - yes, I was silly and fell off a chair, was told off by Shosh after for being a silly girl for doing it!!

QUICK QUESTION......i have these sisters mon-wed and have to give 8 weeks notice. 8 weeks today is 8th feb, do i put that date or 6th feb (which is wed?)

she came! yayyyy..BUT althouhg sh took all my contract stuff nad asked me to drop rest round tomorrow, shes been advised to STILL see the otehr two cm's on monday..she said she certain she wants her dd to come to me(i even waverd retainer unless someone else came along), but her mum has said to see us all...when she said this i got hot..and started going red..i looked like id eaten a chilli, so embarressed..so stoopid, hope i havent put her off, she was really nice and her dd was adorable, sos wet..am helping out on monday at school so when she sees the other two in morn i wont be is, so asked her to leave me a message on house phone confirming????..fingers crossed..gotta go, house full

so sweet not sos wetdoh!

Fingers crossed mate!

Right, what do you guys think to this final letter??? Please rip apart if needed!!

Dear X & X (or should I put Mr & Mrs X ?)

I am writing to give you 8 weeks notice that as of 8th February 2008, I will be unable to provide childcare services to you.

This decision is one that has been made after considerable thought, in line with the needs of and my commitment to my own family.

The last date that I will be able to provide care for X and X will be Wednesday 6th February 2008. If, however, you choose to cease our arrangement at an earlier date, I will respect this decision and there will of course be no charge so long as I have at least 1 weeks notice.

As you know, £X was put aside for future overnight care. This amount has been deducted from January?s invoice (see attached paperwork relating to the £X and January?s invoice). If however you choose to leave before the end of January, I am happy to do an amended invoice if you give me a confirmed leave date.

You will find a list of other childminders on www.childcarelink.gov.uk and you can also call The Family Information Service on 0800 xxxx (X Borough i.e. X area) or xxxxx (X Borough i.e. X, X, X etc. area) and they will help you if you require.

I wish you and your family the very best for the future.

Yours sincerely

Sounds perfect Looney. I think you've got to be business like about it, so it should be Mr & Mrs and therefore its Faithfully. Have you got a plan for what you'll say when she phoned/e-mails about why in more detail? (Or is that our next challenge! )

I did come on to tell you all something!

I've just done the yearly ritual of sending Father Christmas letters up the chimney. My 3 mindees have written their lists and then we all kiss the letters and one by one put them in the fire place and I light them! Tis very magical, especially since I give them coloured paper, which turns the flames green! They get all excited and when I say 'Look for the green flame, Oh, look, look, there's the magic working.'

At least this year I remembered to write down on the sly what they wanted, so I can send letters back to them tomorrow (via the fireplace of course!)

Cheers Mo - although the other person said first names sounded better so not sure now I feel VERY VERY formal doing Mr & Mrs for this - do you really think I should?

And YES.....your next challenge is what the hell I say on the phone/email (she'll probably phone just to put me on the spot!)

HELP!!!!

p.s. sounds FAB with the magic - wish I could do the same but ours isn't a REAL fire

TBH, only you know how well you know these people and how they are going to respond. Since its a business letter, I think Mr & Mrs is better, but maybe you're right, our business does have a bit more of personal touch I suppose.

The fire was magical. If only the two girls weren't spoilt little brats and weren't fighting over the fact that the younger one wanted exactly the same as the bigger one! I've never known two children to expect exactly whats on their lists quite like these two! Far too much money thrown at them every year!

Your letter sounds good looney.

My plumbers turned up today , do you know what? I love them because I have a gas fire that works for the first time in 3 yrs

Can I pick it apart? Only joking... just one tiny error. It's 1 week's / 8 weeks' notice with apostrophes. You know how us MNers love apostrophes.

Cheers mate, which way round?

Just phoned my dad and he INSISTS that it's NO apostrophe because it's not belonging to anything which is EXACTLY what my understanding was.

Anyone able to confirm for SURE?

How do you mean?

If you're writing 1 week it's 1 week's notice, if it's more than one week it's 2/3/4 weeks' notice with the apostrophe after the 's'. Does that make sense?

I'd leave it out all together! I only ever use them when its replacing a letter, like 'they'll' or 'won't' these days.

TH, sorry about earlier, I was having a right mental block and wasn't thinking about the word 'notice' so of course it needs them. I then explained to my dad who said mum didn't mention the word notice, probably because I didn't - DOH!!! (spent too long with this letter! ) Anyway, thanks for pointing it out!

Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!!!1

I'm guessing, but has your lady phoned you back?

yippe - i - o!

will start in jan, ive told ehr to bring her dd round for 2 hours tues for settling in although she wont need it i dont think, its more for muma s they just moved here last week and shes got christmas and boxes to sort out..im a good un' me y'know!