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

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Calling families with au pairs in & around Cambridge - I know you're out there!

30 replies

cheapskatemum · 25/02/2009 19:19

We live in Suffolk. My German au pair would like to visit Cambridge and was wondering if there were any au pairs who live thereabouts who'd like to meet up with her at the weekend.

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Millarkie · 25/02/2009 21:08

Hi, I can ask my (also German) AP if she would like to meet up with yours. We are outside Cambridge but she often travels in at weekends.
Will have to ask her tomorrow though because she's hibernating right now

DadInsteadofMum · 26/02/2009 08:56

THere is a very strong AP community in Cambridge - on the coldest weekend of the year a couple of weeks ago three car loads decided they wanted to visit the beach!

Mine (Dutch) travels in most weekends and often meets up for lunch during the week. CAT me and I can pass on email addresses.

Alternatively I believe there is a facebook community (I don't do FB so can't comment further as to how one finds such a thing).

Original poster
cheapskatemum · 26/02/2009 21:00

Thanks, Millarkie. I've responded to you on the "cleaning" thread too. Perhaps, if they do meet up, my AP could have a chat to yours about what proper "cleaning" entails, too?

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Original poster
cheapskatemum · 26/02/2009 21:02

DIoM - have CATted you. If they fancy going to the beach again, they would probably drive past the end of our road! We could tell them about some great beaches along the Suffolk coast.

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Millarkie · 28/02/2009 19:46

CSM - are you CATable? I have been useless and not asked AP permission to send on her details yet (paths have not crossed for more than a few minutes over the past few days - which is quite unusual for us). Will CAT you once I've checked with her.
Oh, and she has suddenly turned into 'top au pair' cleaning done, interacting with the kids nicely, and generally being thoughtful and helpful this week . Not sure what has brought on this turn-around but have heaped on praise and bought her a pressie so hoping it lasts

Original poster
cheapskatemum · 28/02/2009 22:51

Yes, I'm CATable. Read your other post about recent improvements must be "something in the air"!

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DadInsteadofMum · 01/03/2009 00:07

They have made contact!

Millarkie · 01/03/2009 21:25

CSM - have CATed you at last! (Although it sounds as if DIOM's au pair has come up trumps )

Millarkie · 15/03/2009 16:57

Hi CSM - I hear that our APs (and I believe DIOMs and 'hundreds more' - according to our AP) have met up Hope she enjoyed Cambridge. Our AP was in a small state of shock when she got home - just at the sheer number of APs I think.
(Our AP is still keeping up with the good behaviour by the way, not sure what changed her - except the gentle redirection each day, but has been a dramatic change since half term!)

PixiNanny · 15/03/2009 18:08

Is there a big AP and nanny community there? I will be moving there after I'm done doing the travelling thing and want to Nanny there

Millarkie · 15/03/2009 19:15

Seem to be lots of APs, not sure about nannies, and nanny salaries seem very low compared to London. The APs socialise without children in tow (evenings/lunches) which is different to my experience of nannies who meet up with kids for play dates (not sure if that makes any sense).

PixiNanny · 15/03/2009 20:31

It makes sense! I prefer working with school-aged kids and it seems the nannies in my area all have non-school aged kids so meet up which can be annoying when I haven't got midgets

I keep trying to get hold of AP's but a lot of the ones I've contacted get really snotty with me when they find out I'm English! I'm doing the same job as them and want to meet people just like them

Is it average pay for non-London? I haven't looked into it much yet, not planning on moving there for a while yet!

Millarkie · 15/03/2009 21:12

I had a look around at job ads recently (trying to work out the cost of a potential third child ) and there were a few live-in nanny jobs at £200 net per week which is I think, less than a lot of places outside London but still in South-East. Not sure if it is caused by too many nannies and not enough jobs? Live-out jobs were at about £300 net IIRC.

Original poster
cheapskatemum · 16/03/2009 19:29

Hi Millarkie, and DIOM, wanted to thank you & your APs. Yes, my AP reckoned there were about 10 in all - no wonder they couldn't agree which film to watch! She had a lovely time, despite a rotten train journey back. London this weekend, but I'm sure she'll be back!

M - how are your 3rd child sums working out?!

Pixinanny - I've had APs in the past who've been really keen to make friends with native English speakers of same age - for obvious reasons! Good luck!

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Millarkie · 16/03/2009 22:03

CSM - well, child 3 is probably affordable (would mean live-in nanny instead of au pair for a few years) - just so hard to make the leap when 1 and 2 have got to school age..but then.... oh, I don't know

catepilarr · 16/03/2009 23:25

lucky aps. when i aupair nr beccles there were not many around.
and i miss suffolk beaches ;)

PixiNanny · 17/03/2009 00:07

CSM - My thoughts were that exactly, I really can't understand their attitudes, but even the cabbies around here complain about the APs, say the lot around here know they are well paid and therefore think they are gods gift on earth

This cabbie I was chatting to at the weekend had me in sticthes though, telling me the sorts of things the local APs have done in the past

DadInsteadofMum · 18/03/2009 09:51

CSM - apparently your AP was a bit overawed by the numbers of APs that kept turning up, I gather its quite a gang of them.

Millarkie · 28/06/2009 21:59

I'm bumping this to ask if anyone has an au pair in the Cambridge area who would be happy to meet up with our new (shy) au pair and show her around a bit?
(DIOM she has emailed your AP but before she came to the UK, I have encouraged her to email again but, as I said, she is very shy)

Millarkie · 29/06/2009 14:46

bump - at a more reasonable time of day

DadInsteadofMum · 29/06/2009 15:14

Mill - have reminded my AP that your AP has arrived - she was going to get back in touch.

Millarkie · 29/06/2009 15:31

Thanks a million DIOM - AP seems a really nice girl but so shy and missing her last family tremendously - would be very grateful if your AP could get her into the Cambridge loop.

Original poster
cheapskatemum · 29/06/2009 19:12

Hi! Was surprised to see my old thread resurface! My AP is going home in 2 and a half weeks, I can't believe 6 months has gone so quickly! I don't think she has plans to go to Cambridge again (exams looming, therefore studying hard), but she's going to London on 11th July & would probably appreciate company. What nationality is your new AP?

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Millarkie · 29/06/2009 19:18

Hi CSM - Sorry, just thought it was worth re-surrecting
New AP is German (again!)

Original poster
cheapskatemum · 29/06/2009 20:06

Don't be sorry - I'm honoured. Also intrigued about above posts re: what Cambridge area APs are like, which I hadn't read before!

My AP knew your last AP'd gone home and said yes she'd show your new one London on 11th, if she's interested. Have just booked new Harry Potter film on 15th July for her leaving "do". Don't know who's more excited: me, her, or kids!! How about us East Anglian MNers meeting up?

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