Hello hello!
[quaffs soothing tea - thanks Blue and Whoknows]
Carpe oh I'm so sorry lunch was so stressful for you, especially when you had made such an effort to be there. It's sod's law isn't it - just when you want 'em to behave. Honestly though, bet you could go to repeat of very same lunch tomorrow and your lo would be perfectly behaved and someone else's child would be playing up so don't blame yourself!! Have a glass of 
or three x And hope sore throat doesn't develop in to anything more serious x
Toffee oh no - sorry on-line learning proved so stress-provoking this afternoon - and that you had to be peacemaker (v. wearing). Bound to be swings and roundabouts at the start and your ds will be learning as much from the bad days, as from the good!! Glad magic dog could soothe nerves all around.
Thanks for sympathy over shouting incident - it did shake me up a bit - mostly because it was so baffling and unexpected.
[Mahoosive vent alert]
I tried my best to soothe situation but things did not go well 
. I probably mishandled it but genuinely don't know what else I could have said/done. Employee blew up again and resigned. She also said some pretty unfair (and factually incorrect) things about dh (or things he had neglected to do or done incorrectly) in his absence which I rebutted fairly forcefully (criticising dh being strictly my department 
!!) I tried to stay calm but things did get heated towards the end and that is never good in a professional context, so I blame myself for that.
I am really bemused though because we've been (although I say it myself) scrupulously fair/kind/flexible throughout her 5-yr employment. We've always paid her when she was ill or when her ds was ill and always paid 3/4 for holidays (even though we weren't obliged to as she is employed by an agency). We have also been very flexible over days off and defended her (legally) when she was having difficulties with her landlord. So we've given her the benefit of the doubt quite often, and frankly I'm disappointed that she couldn't extend us the same courtesy when it came to a dispute with a third party.
What makes this particularly bemusing and sad is that she has been a really good, hard-working and kind colleague and one of the most patient people you could meet. It is like she had a personality change overnight! The central office of the agency which employs her is staffed by a load of twonks but we can't really be blamed for that.
I'm just relieved that having discussed situation over phone with dh, he is not blaming me for mishandling situation (something he quite rightly wouldn't hesitate to do if I was in wrong) . He has studied relevant documents/cold hard facts and agrees it is agency that has made error.
Wish I felt well enough to drink tonight! My head is still full of it all now.
Lauren congrats on your new mindee!! And thanks for horse update. Sod's law again isn't it - they always do something mental just when they need to be especially careful - so - shame about the nail but good you have a long term plan of treatment and that she can jump! Here's to a speedy recovery!
Whey hey Blue!! Top marks for Flying so high today and will definitely take a look at low-fat food thread - thanks for heads up - will be taking notes!!
Mahoosive wing flaps to Whoknows and everyone else.
BBL!!
Leaves out crate of and several corkscrews in naughty corner ...