WEST LONDON MEET-UP THREAD - DECEMBER 2006 - from Acton to Sunbury everybody welcome

[MrsBojangles]

The brand new general chit-chat thread

MrsB - thanks for the advice.

I'm taking amoxycilin and have just had half a glass of cava. Result? I feel completely spaced out!!! ...Quite pleasant it is

LOL, only just got a chance to log onto mumsnet, and there are so many posts, the main problem is that by the time i have finished reading all of the posts, I have completely forgotten what the first ones were about!!! Ho hum!
Has anyone put up there xmas trees yet? I got my first xmas card today and that sent me into a frenzy of panic as have done nothing.
I would also like a bit of advice, i am thinking of returning to work next year after the summer, but have no idea what to do with myself. I have a degree and did an assortment of office jobs but have no real idea what I want to do as a career - how did you guys discover your vocational 'calling'? Before I had children, I just drifted and I don't really want to do that, so any ideas would be gratefully received. Is this a bit too serious for this time of night? Ok, have a good night, am off to watch the end of 'rumour has it' with jennifer aniston (she in the film not hanging out with me ).

foxie, sounds like you're doing all the right things!
MrsB, it's always the day before you back it up!

t2bg, my vocation don't pay so i drifted into something that does pay...........

model agency thing was good, dd was her normal happy chick and the contacts are great - email me and i'll send you a link to them if you like.

on the other hand, ilford is effin miles away adn their council obviously don't give a toss about sign posting anything.

took 3.5 hours to get home ;-(

nighty night all, peace and sleep to all women!

Ilford FFS???? Paddle, that sounds like a eal trek. I always imagined all the agencies were in W1, Oxford Circus

T2BG - like Paddle my vocation didn't pay either. I did freelance journalism for a year, but then had to get a proper job LOL. Think about what you like doing:

working with people, maths, arts, media, gardening, animals, kids, report writing etc etc. Also, do you want to work in the private or public sectors. Want a permenant contract?

That will narrow it down a bit. I remember when I was about 28 I went to the local library with this vague idea I wanted to do something worthy ("helping people"). I found a book of "careers" and shortlisted welfare rights/advice and social housing. Then I did some voluntary work for a housing association for 6 months and hen applied for a post, and have been working in that field for 15 years. Its sounds really boring, but I like it and there are loads of jobs.

Not suggesting you work in housing LOL , but it helps if you narrow it down to the kind of thing you'd like to do. Next step is maybe having a chat with some people who do that type of work, to find out the skills/experience you'd need? What was your degree in?

I think its quite exciting - the world is your oyster!!

yeh i know! if she gets accepted we have to go back once more for her folio session then it'll be castings in central london.

i will be getting the train next time.

hey foxie, you should be a careers adviser. excellent advice. i may have to pick your brains about housing associations when i see you next actually.

what about doing nannying? childminding? you'd earn a bloody fortune

have worked out I'd earn more money that way.

our christmas tree is up ; we got out our old tree on sunday and ds was devastated that it did not work (£180 fiber optic jobbie from Homebase, 3 yrs ago). I nipped off to Tecos yesterday and got a super one for £25: it's REALLY good. A suprise for when they got home from school. Whelps of delight . made me all warm and yummy mummy inside.

morning all
just having breakfast after a cr#p night, dh went to work late so i could sleep some from 7.

foxie- hope you feeling better must say drugs and alcohol works a treat

paddle- hi that sounds very far nothing like getting lost in a stange part of town to mess with your day

t2bgood - i most certainly drifted but i always liked some sort of 'helping people' anyway, had always done voluntary work in that area.
am now on self imposed 'career break' but studying to keep working in some sort of social care but i hope in a different role, pref. not dealing with staff.

my tree is not up yet usually it is on the 8th as per home tradition, will have to keep some since here presents are opened on Christmas day, although i still open one on Christmas eve to honour my tradition, dh says its cheating nothing to do with cultural traditions but i ramble.
oh yes and i have to put up with father Christmas, oh the heathen tradition

Trying2bgood, I drifted lots when younger then sort of fell into admin/secretarial because I'm good at it. Also did IT but after babies sort of fell back into admin stuff. I'm good at it but getting bored with it too, so maybe I really should concentrate on a career with photography?

Foxie what do you think Mrs Careeradviser?

I'm starting to panic about Christmas as I haven't done any Christmas shopping. I haven't even bought Christmas cards!

As we're on a tight budget this eyar, does anyone have any short cuts (including links to online shopping deals) they can offer on getting Christmas sorted with little effort?

mellow this year i am ignoring almost everyone sending emails to acquantances cards to friends and small gifts to family.
also spending christmas with inlaws is pretty cheap not to mention restful, can't wait 4 days of putting feet up sorry not much help.

ok i am off to Kew really need fresh air today will try and stay away from C&C can't deal with loads of kids

Mellow buy some card (paper) glitter and a glue stick. Put the glue stick in dd hand rub some onto card then shake glitter on top. Hand made xmas cards by very talented dd , everyone will love it. If you want to be really clever make a xmas tree stencil, then glitter will resemble a tree.

I have done all my shopping online. Letterbox is good for kids/baby presents, mn has shopping partners with some offering discounts.

i want to do something more socially related than IT. i'd love to teach but no degree ;-(

mellow, i've just forwarded a sainsbury voucher thing to you.

i've also got a 40% off Thresher and voucher Borders books i'll forward as well.

CAT me if you want these things people.

i haven't done anything Christmassy yet other than do something for the Soapy MN Xmas appeal!

i'm doing a calendar at TruPrint of DD which will be everyones main present and then will try to buy some small token bits and bobs for people.

dunno when i'll do that tho!

hope Kew revives you sfx!

I might go into childminding. Looking after one after school would fit in nicely and the money would be good. Once the LO are grown up I'd like to go into social care or become a doula.

you'd be great at that quokka. get them to plant the rocket in the garden
bump again for good/ cheap painter/ decorators?

dd has skits and just wants to be cuddled, and slept until after 9 (nevr heard of before!). I was up for almost 2 hrs puking, which I put down to wine/ beer/ fancy dinner last night (my bil was staying over), but now puking again. Now, where's that ginger?

Oh, I was SO longing to have a quiet time when they aer both at school

btw, there is a thread on coupons/ vouchers.
in the meantime, pc: can I have yr codes please.
Beer/ wine baskets good for inlaws

oxo I could get them to do the vacuuming, dusting it'll be great, maybe I could get rid of my cleaner

back from the rigours of C&C

at least dd completely exhausted and sleeping in her buggy, so result! took pics which i think are suitable Christmas presents for grandparents.

sorry about the puking Hoxo, that is something i am almost unable to do terrible phobia, i can handle dd but as for myself no, its a weird thing i know.

i don't think i could do childminding at all. i worked with children in the past and i don't think i could deal with child protection side of things anymore, just too upseting.

hope you are all having a good day.
must go back to study, tutor gave me an extension until friday so best make use of it

hi everyone! oxo - where is that thread you are talking about - coupons etc? also; what codes are you talking about? or just tell me to mind my own business!

nanou, cat me if you're able and i will email you some vouchers.

if you can't cat then tell quokka or uwila or someone to give me your email addy instead.

hope you're good. sorry to hear your job is bumming you out.

hoxo, you've caught the kids bug same as i did just recently. don't be blaming the nice food and drink!

hi paddle! thanks . i cant cat but you can email me on annelj at hotmail dot co dot uk. on the phone with orange aaaggghhh. you ok?

Paddle is going to be fired if she doesn't get back to work (as am I).

Oxo, Are you sick??? If so, you stay away from me!

Nanou1, two days in a row on MN? What is going on?

am having a little french revolution on my own! tomorrow will be even better cos will be in my own most of the day! you ok?

emailed you nanou. oxo tells me threshers have shut the site down but i don't know if the voucher is still valid.

probably not, they would've gone bust otherwise!

i just spent 10 mins on a very difficult technical phone call ergo i have justified my existence at work today!

uwila: 24 hr puke bug, apparently so should be fine for tmrw. will definately let you know if I'n not in good time. you can still go to get yr hands/ feet done anyway.

Took dd to doctor (spot paranoid mum) but she just went so pale and crying over her 'sore tummy'. she is now eating rice with ginger in it so am little happier

for coupon , see Times on line, it lists about 10 with closing dates.
have tried thresher one but they have closed down the website as it 'got out of hand'. too late

am going to eat some ginger rice now: at least with ginger it should taste ok if it comes up again

Nanou: Here's teh times list. I'll try to find teh chat thread on vouchers/ codes:

Times on line 2 december
Net vouchers

Money-off vouchers found on the internet:

Threshers 40% off champagne and wine until December 10

Selfridges & Co 20 per cent off until December 3

Habitat 25% off until December 3

Gap 30% off until December 3

Borders 20% off until December 3

Asda £10 when you spend £50 online until December 8

John Lewis £10 off when you spend over £50. No deadline given

Boots 10% off when spending £45 online. Until December 5

Marks & Spencer 10% off on all homeware. No deadline given

HMV 10% off CDs, Games, XBOX PSPs and DVDs. No deadline given

Early Learning Centre 10% off all online sales. No deadline given

Halfords 10% off online purchases until December 31