WEST LONDON MEET-UP THREAD - JANUARY 2007 - from Acton to Sunbury everybody welcome

[MrsBigD]

Time for a new general chat thread

HAPPY NEW YEAR

hi all. sorry meant to say hi everybody! have been discussing money matters with dh again and we are thinking of moving into renting accommodation in south ealing and are also looking at au-pair system. we would save close to 900 quid a month . might not materialise but well worth looking into; also that way we are closer to the schools we want dd to go to. dh brought the subject up last night - out of the blue - saying that way we can save up and try again for babies.... this is SSSO romantic coming from my dh i can't tell you how i was moved (typical broading school material that he is!). quokka - what was it then? rats/mice are my phobia. how is everyone else?

NAnou, Aupairs are about £60-£80 per week plus room and board. If she doesn't live with you, then that is a part time nanny and will cost much more (about £10 per hour gross). Au pairs work about 25-35 hours per week. They do house work but generally aren't very skilled at it. They are great for running errands (the shopping, the cleaners, pick up gift for birthday party, drop off prescription at GP, etc.)

Will DD still go to nursery? If so, I might suggest she do the dro poff and you do the pick up. That way you can get the report from the nursery at the end of each day.

If you do a nanny share does that mean you would drop the nursery?

thanks uwila. we are looking at stopping her current nursery (although she loves it there) and moves her to CoE nursersy in ealing (2.5 hours per day and it is free). but more to the point it is in the CoE school we want dd to go to. CoE nursery not keen on kids being in another creche part-time so au-pair/nanny/childminder seems a more appropriate solution. dh thinks that a lot of families in that nursery/school must be in similar situation as us. you ok?

I assume you wanted Uwila's experise on childcare? Mine is minimal tbh, one childminder and one PT live-out nanny, no experience of live in (nanny or au-pair).

I feel rather bad for dh, he took yesterday and today off work as he needs to use up some holiday from last year or loose it. Today is his actual b'day and we planned to have a lovely day, go out for lunch etc. Instead he has had to get up with the children the last 2 mornings, do the school run etc. and now has to be on a conference call with work. I haven't even got him a card or present as I was going to do that yesterday, and was planning a fab meal tonight . I will have to make up for it when I feel better. Although the party on saturday was a huge sucess. Several people commented I should go into catering {preen} .

veneer - you'll have to teach me your culinary skills then! actually i was "talking" to you as i saw one of your threads on the nannyshare section - i think it was. dont feel bad about your dh and it is not as if you did not do anything... you gave him a party!!!!! did not realise uwila was around; and yes she is the expert!

Nanou, I think a nanny share is probably your best bet. If you have a room where she could live, you could probably negotiate with other family that you pay a bit less in salary. Can you find another family at this nursery, perhaps?

We have just started sharing our nanny with another family at DD's nursery (same as you, 2.5 hours at a COE school). It is working fine. Though she only looks after the other family on two days, and we are full time.

biscuits

good suggestion uwila. thanks. dh feels the same as you and is sure that other families at that new creche will be in a similar position. we have til sept so plenty of time. not sure when we know for sure re dh being accepted or not but i think i'll ask the nursery to keep their eyes/ears open. also was thinking i would buy a big diary so that aupair can write everything in there. am thinking young girl from brittany here, countryside girl known directly / indirectly by family in france so reputation to keep iyswim and she will be trustworthy. breton girls have a reputation to be great nannies and rich parisian families last century were fighting over breton nannies as hard working, reliable, trustworthy, good catholic girls (whatever that means ). the above is if we must find the au-pair first then the family to share her with. also i like the idea that she would speak French to dd. and there are lots of french families in ealing of course!

sorry! i meant to post about how terrible biscuits are.

why do i buy them? why i can't stop eating them etc.

however, i had to return to the scene of the crime and re-offend.

all gone now, no longer feel the need to cram them in my mouth!

Breton girls sound lovely Nanou, bet you'd have no prob finding someone to share one with you.

No one could eat a whole one I'm sure!

hhumm breton girls are reknowned for their love of food esp butter biscuits and cakes!!!! you ok?

this reminds me that mrsbigd brought some cookies to say thank you for looking after her little ones on saturday.... where have they gone???? bet you dh has hidden them for me....

Oh, I thinkDH would like a breton girl -- but he ain't gonna get one.

I prefer to hire nannies who won't fil the house with junk food (cause I'd be the one who ate it). My next nanny is going to be the super energetic super organises sporty type. I'm thinking kiwi. Don't really know why. I just hear they are lovely. But, DH says the accent is "annoying" and he doesn't want one.

I'm also pondering British nanny with car and share her with the family from school.

BTW NAnou, one 3 or 4 year old is a great candidate for a share. Our share includes two almost four year olds. One 20 month old and one 15 month old. So, my nanny, has got her hands full.

uwila. i said breton nannies were efficient not good looking!!!!! ideally i'd like same age tbh. am starving. out to get something to eat and will be back shortly!. thanks again.

nothing wrong with a Kiwi accent and also would he be talking to her all that much???

you having a little break mrs? how is it going?

I'll get to choose. I'll present him with the dilemma. This candidate is good,here, but this one has this experience, and candidate c has this complication, and so on... he will soon be overwhelmed with the complicated decisions involved in hiring a nanny and say "Whatever you say, dear." and I'll say, "okay this one". Then when it all goes pear shaped, he'll say "Now why did you hire her?"

Seriously, I'm far pickier about the childcare, so he generally let's me get on with it. (which is fine with me... usually)

I'm off to see a nursery on Friday - hoping it's going to be good as its attached to the school that we want to send ds to!

Uwila, as you seem to be the local childcare expert, any tips on what I should ask?

hi pud! it probably is good if not very good. they tend to go hand in hand. you ok pud?

hi nanou, I'm fine thanks - have you had something to eat now?!

Must dash as ds has just woken up

Pud,
Afraid nurseries are not really my specialty. I've never used one. I do have a bunch of questions you could use for a nanny/au pair/childminder. If you cat me, I'll send them to you and you can chop and change as you see fit for the nursery.

If I were going to use a nursery I would want to know (off the top of my head):

What are your hours (the longer the better)?
What is late policy / penalty?
What days of the year are you closed?
How much notice do I need to give if I need to terminate our agreement if say my work location changes and I can no longer drop off here?
How much notice do you have to give me?
How sick is too sick for DS to come to nursery?
In the event of an emergency, what hospital/doctor will you take DS to? (if they don't say the one I specify/prefer
would ccount as big strike against them)
What will you do if DS has feveer and you can not reach me at work?

yes having 5 minute break Nanou . Been one of these days including driving to M once already to have a look at dd's potential new school. They have soooo much space! and the largest class in Y5 is 22 pupils! They have 3 reception classes and what I counted it's about 15 in each class! Bliss indeed.

Have to drive back to M in about 45 mins with kids in tow, pick up dh and then meet new landlord and his wife for another chat because they would like to meet us before we move in .

Tomorrow I shall try and put more stuff into boxes though it seems and endless task.

Pudding we should be back for 1900 but if we should get held up i'll txt you.

Anyone interested in a London booze up, see here

had a lovely chicken curry soup . it sounds good mrsbigd!!! not long to go now and you will be so happy in your new home; a new beginning eh?!

MrsBigD that sounds relentless. Pleased you like the look of dd's new school. My dd is really settled in hers after 3 weeks (she only managed the first day of the first week and then was off sick for the rest), and already says she prefers it to her old school. Only 20 in each class and 2 classes in each year.

Hi all,

dh still upset at Dorset , but I love my new job = guilt

nannies are fab!! I come home and the kids are clean, fed, the house is spotless and teh fling themselves at me for happy hugs as soon as I come in the door. Why didn't I do this ages ago??

Now, a bit of housekeeping: My sister in laws friend's (tenuous!)house had a major fire a few weekend ago, so unfortunately a load of the stuff I promised you is now gone to a deserving cause. The car seat is still available Foxy (being an outside item, it didn't get burned).

I'm looking forward to the 10th - I could do with a night out.