Au Pair recruitment. Can you please bear with me while I just SCREEEEAAAAMMMMM

[squiffy]

I had forgotten how soul destroying it all is. There I was, chatting to my fab live-out nanny about the upcoming holidays and like a fool I suggested that, if she wanted, I would get an AP in to give her a hand as she has a lot more work....

What was I thinking of?

I have tried all those fab recommendations that people have made on here for agencies (am too late of course) and am now trawling through those websites (we all know them - 400,000 AP's world-wide but none of them manage to achieve the holy trinity of right to work in UK, willingness to work outside of London, and the vaguest interest in actually doing an AP role for an AP salary).

I now have an inbox full of people who said they can drive, but can't; said they don't smoke, but do; who hope very much that I don't mind their (very tidy) boyfriend coming along, and who are definately definately keen but can they please arrive on 6th July and leave on 2nd August....

I have managed to hold it together until just now, when I opened another application and - for the third time this morning - came across that marvellous English phrase "I wanna..."

Straw. Back. Camel, I know, but aaaarggggghhhhh.

I thought you already did

I mean a secnd job.

Jura, pleased to hear it!

(She probably didnt get in... same thing with my last Norwegian au pair!)

so Jura, when do you think you find out if your Swedish AP has any friends who also didn't get in decided against uni and want to come be Au Pairs in the UK instead?

German potential AP has stood me up. Radio silence for 5 days now, so back to drawing board..... hi ho hi ho it's off to slit wrists I go...

maybe contact the local college and ask if any of the 16-19yr old childcare students are looking for a summer job, maybe as live in for £60 a week, would give them some experience and pocket money, you may find a uni student teacher willing to live in for around £100 a week, worth considering these options.

I don't know whether to laugh or cry.

Me: "We are on holiday in France soon and will get back on 19th so a starting date of 19th rather than the 18th would be best"

DPAP (daft potential AP) "I have to start work by the 18th if I am to get full accreditation from uni for work experience"

Me: "Well, you could come on the 18th if you absolutely have to, and just stay overnight with my parents until the 19th when we can collect you from there. They live 10km from my house and can collect you from the airport"

DPAP "I feel somehow uncomfortable with this situation so I think it would be better, if we both look for someone else."

{is it me? emoticon}

AAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRGGGGGHHHHHH

Squiffy I don't know if this is any help to you but my AP is here over August looking after the animals whilst we are in France. She might be able to do some hours for you if you are stuck...I can't remember whereabouts in Kent you are though..

ingles - thank you so much for your offer. Fortunately we are not in a desperate situation because we already have our full-time nanny - our plan was to bring in an au-pair to give the nanny a breather because she otherwise has long days without a break during the school holidays, but we can get by without an AP. I just suspect the ironing pile will be a mountain by the time school restarts!

Saying that, if your AP does want some extra work or wants to extend her stay then do cat me as we might be able to sort something out. We live half-way between Canterbury & Faversham (Boughton). If you think your AP might like to do this then I can send you the link to our profile to forward to her.

Jura, you have cheered me up no-end. How daft are they? I sometimes wonder if we were as funny when we were that age...