Jan/Feb locals chat

[SJ99]

How exciting to be starting thread

Yay, thanks Sfx, am already looking forward to banana bread, mmmm!

In Sweden they had Noise Police (everything is so formally governed over there) but what a great idea, they used to go and put a stop the noise polluters, no messing.

Yeah, that sounds fair. Might offer it as a weekely rate. £75 a week someohow sounds more worthwhile than £15 a day.

Hey if you have a spare room you could get an au pair for about the same rate and she could do laundry too.

Oh oh... I have a fab idea. Foxie can provide accommodattion, she can work for you, and then you pay Foxie cash avoiding the whole tax thing.

Just kidding.

parenting chez sfx
-mummy can we bake cookies
-sure - cue mess
followed by extensive sampling of baked goods

sfx looks at the clock it is less than 2 hrs before dinner

Sushi

put a note up as one of the other mums might want the extra cash. And at least you'll know that they are good with kids!
What nursery does your LO go to?

Mrs R et al - I've only just managed to get online, network has been down all day Mind you, lunchtime wouldn't have worked very well. When are you next around for a meet up??

Hi all. Dinner last night a big sucess. Today was fairly good. Went to dd's class assembly, where she was the narrator. She did really well but apparently was very nervous, when I saw her afterwards her hands were still shaking. Stayed (far to long) with the other mums having coffee and gassing. Managed to get soaked picking ds up from nursery. DD had a (usually rather trying) playdate over after school, but it was a pleasure. They played really well ate well. Looking forward to seeing a few of you tomorrow night, half contemplating a cab so I can have a couple of glasses of vino, but have already promised ele a lift home.

Oh, no worries. Don't forgoe your wine on my account. We can both take cabs home.

Don't worry ele. I can have a glass and enjoy a couple another evening. Just need to check on parking.

Don't worry bunyan - I went to Brent Cross and spoilt myself - had to get ds out of the house - he'd decided to clean my bed/bedroom with molton & mowbray shower gel. Just had a lovely afternoon at the school, watching dd1 in her sari doing Indian dancing - all of the staff were remarking on how she can really swing her hips (must get it from her mum ).

Right am off for a nice relaxing bath..

There is always the NCP by the station. A bit of a walk I suppose. But it's always got spaces.

Well I'm also out tonight -- reception parents night out in Twickers.

Two night in a row I don't have to make myself dinner. Yippee!!!

ele/cov - I think there's an underground carpark near where you're going. It's private by day but it open to the public evenings and weekends, its underneath the row of shops opposite teh big cinema.

I have a sodding cold again. Can you beleive it!? Think its becuase I have been so tired with DS being ill for pretty much 2 weeks that my immune system is a bit leaky! Its not too bad today I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn;t get much worse.

I'm thinking of going to the art/craft thing SJ recommended on Sat morning if anyone else wants to go? DO I need to book in advance?

Morning all

QC - might be worth calling the woman in advance as it was surprisingly busy yesterday, not sure how busy it gets at weekend as never been. She does have a massive table and there were about 14 toddlers yesterday.

DS made a chinese lantern and a rat in honour of the forthcoming Chinese New Year celebrations. We were also supposed to make a a puppet/mask thing but DS lost interest by this point and went on the climbing frame in the rm

Thanks for yesterday Ros, it was nearly 7pm by teh time we got home, and DS went out like light

Right, off swimming now

Hope everyone well (lots of lemon juice for you QC)

Morning all. Lovely day, isn't it?

Ele & xoxo - thanks again. DS goes to Asquith in Kew. Might talk to the manager if she knows anyone. DH is not happy that I'll be working longer hours, tho.

QC - there's a house v close to you (but on the main road) is up for sale. We might go and have a look this w/e. Hope you feel better soon.

Bunyan - do you use btinternet by any chance? Our wireless is down and it looks bt have problems with wireless.

Sushi, if it makes you feel better, I rarely walk in the door before 7:00pm. My view is work can have all they want Mon.-Fri. I am very dedicated and prepared to work hard for my money. But, the weekends belong to my kids.

CD : you can park in Cambridge Road, on Twickenham side of Richmond Bridge, at that time of night. Usually loads of spaces. And 2 mins walk to Bar Estilo. If you want your car watched (Richmond being so dodgy these days ), you are welcome to park at ours, about 5 mins walk away.

Sushimum: that nursery is lovely, we looked at that. Unfortunately I don't know any mums there so can't help with 'pick uppers'.

Hi all,

sj, glad minisj enjoyed himself. Ds was also out like a light, just woke up at around 8pm for a little chatter & then back off to sleep!

Kew - hope you feel better soon & that it doesn't get any worse.

Bunyan, hope the big stuff on the house is done soon so you can relax a bit more!

Does anyone fancy meeting up over the weekend? Dh has gone on a drinking golfing weekend to Belfast so I'll probably be in desperate need of adult conversation by tomorrow afternoon!

Hope you get your childcare situation sorted Sushi. I was talking to a friend at swimming today who is a CM and she mentioned there is a CM website for more casual/back up type work. You might find CM who will do pick ups on here, I asked her for details so when she sends them I'll fwd to you in case it helps.

Ros might be up for meeting tom as DH has got tickets for the rugby Not sure what to do this wkend but as we've been out loads this wk may just end up chilling out, I'll see how it goes & let you know tom...

We might go to Bunny Park this afternoon since the sun is shining. (Mind you it always looks grey by the time the kids woke up from their naps... Last time we went in the rain - it was nice 'cause we had the whole place to ourselves!) Anyway I might wake them earlier to go for a bit around 3.30. Anyone else?

hi all
how you all diddling?

sushi..hope you get your child care sorted out. prob a nanny share of mother's help, as others have said is the best bet.

how do you feel about your longer hours?
before i went freelance, i often didn't get home until 8ish (but was a job share, so not every night)
it's so difficult - logistically, emotionally and financially - organising childcare, isn't it? and it's a moveable feast, as your requirements change as you have more kids/they go to school, etc.

kew...hope you got my phone msg/email.
sorry you've got another cold. roll on spring, eh?
dd has missed your ds this week!

still got lurgy and a work backlog building up (sounds painful!) so plan to hibernate this weekend..get better and get my bloody work done..(where 3 kids fit into this, i'm not sure..) ho-hum..

hope everyone enjoying the sunshine.
toodlepip

sushi - how does it work with DH? perhaps to start with you could alternate leaving work a bit early 2 days a week each and get someone else to pick up one evening then when DS has settled do one day each and 3 days pick up. DS satys at CM for tea so I'm sure you may get a CM to pick him up and give him tea particularly if they have a childwho is picked up before tea and thereofre have a spare space.

There's an elderly couple who are oth CM's opposite mine. Not sure I'd give them sole charge full time but as there are two they may be able to send one to pick him up. Sure they'd be perfectly competant to give him tea and my CM says they are good with the kids.

OK have booked SJ's craft class tomorrow at 10am if anyone fancies joining us - Paddle? Ros? Her number to book is ALLISON on 020 8894 6254www.artytots.co.uk/2.html

I'm around in the afternoon too - Kew if the weather is nice.

Not around Sunday Ros - big family lunch for my birthday

sushi - if you view house in the afternoon then come for a coffee - let me know when you have a time.

Thanks all for the good advice.

SJ - yes please. Any info would be v helpful. TIA

QC and steppie - well, DH mentioned that he can go freelance next year so he can do the nursery run himself. He's not too happy about other people picking DS up. But in any case, we'll need someone to pick him up from April. I'm not really sure about this long hour (promotion) thing myself. I'm in a way flattered but I don't want to sacrifice anything.

of course I would say (not having the same issue to deal with!) that if its DH thats unhappy with someone else picking up then either he needs to pick him up or he needs to arrange to get you a payrise/promotion without the extra work

In truth whoever you get very quickly ceases to be a stranger - when people talk about WOHM's and using CM's they always talk about leaving your kids with "a stranger". I always laugh to myself about the idea that Cm is still "a stranger" after a year!

Just think of pick-up person as like a member of your extended family. I would pay neices/nephews to do pick up quite happily (if it were necessary) and once upon a time they were strangers to my DS too! They only first met him when he was 14 months...

also with very little of your families close - wouldn;t it be good to develop a relationship with a local CM or mum who can do the odd bit of babysitting etc. He's be in school before you know it - loads of strangers there.