WEST LONDON MEET-UP THREAD - MARCH 2007 (REST OF) - from Acton to Sunbury everybody welcom

[mellow2]

Hi,

Got this started 'cos I think the other thread is going to run out before the end of tomorrow.

"chief prat" LOL!

I remember when the Tories were last in, in LBRUT, they lobbied government for funding for another secondary school for the borough and the Lib Dems opposed it

Decaf, I don't think you should feel that your child is any less deserving of a state school place.

I wouldn't send my kid to a school I wasn't happy with. What will the LEA do if you don't enroll your kids anywhere? I also wouldn't send my kid to a private school unless they wanted to refund my taxes that are now not paying for my own child to be educated.

I am so sorry for you guys. This is just plain wrong. What are they doing with the taxes???? We pay a fortune in taxes in this country and we can't even scrape together quality primary education for 5 year olds????

Somebody needs to be voted out of office!

DEcaf - iognore Ele - she just wants Maggie back in office

Maybe it's my ago or 'parent'ness but I now find teh Guardian too annoying to reda. Have long time switched to the Times, but now am leanbing towards the Telegraph. Some one save me from myself, please

Somehow, I think Maggie past her prime... don't you?

But, I do think that as a tax payer you have the same right to a quality state school education as the rest of the taxpayers.

I also think that if the state can't offer you a quality school place, then you ought to get your taxes back -- of course that would never happen. But, you should get what you pay for. And if the government fails to deliver, then it's only fair and just that get voted out.

Ooooh good - an arguement hee hee

Oxo - the Torygraph eh?

Ele - totally agree and I get sick of people saying "well, sometimes you just have to pay..." (regarding dentists, doctors and schools) - we DO bloody pay - we pay so much tax in this country and deserve decent public services!!!

I thought the LEA had a statutory duty to provide schooling to all children withion the borough!

Foxie, the LEA does have an obligation to provide a school place for all children who live in the borough. However, they will try to convince oxo to take the ones on offer so they can fulfill that duty. And this is exactly why she must not take one of those places: because when she does the LEA will have fulfilled their duty.

Stop arguing and move to Ruislip you lot!!!

I can't believe Arnica is good for sore nips - I've given it to dh for his infection/wound and didn't think it'd be good for me as well although I did use it post section.

Foxie hope you're feeling better and, tbh, no they never stop hurting (not even 7 months down the line). You just get used to the pain.

My new AP is just wonderful - so eager and the girls love her to bits. She even did the school run this morning (having only shown her once before).

Is anyone up for a meetup this week (daytime)?

Yeah, let's move to Ruislip, where we can be robbed and have the police department not give a toss.

Glad you like new au pair. I'm on the nanny hunt, and leaning towards another Canadian. I'm a bit unsure of the fact that she's never been a live in au pair / nanny. But, I think I might go for it...

but at least my kids get to school with class sizes less than that of the private school they were due to go to!

I'd say go for the Canadian - our AP has no experience whatsoever - has never held a baby until I plonked ds in her arms - but is so eager and so enthusiastic. If you're clicking with her (I'm assumming its a her!) then go with it.

Yes, it's a her. She's really keen to get involved with an Anglican church, which is something I wasn't really looking for but now I think is really cool.

I se out looking for a New Zealander, but I think I'll end up with another Canadian.

MrsR do you want to try and catch up on Thurs?

I thinks the school situation is terrible and glad we are moving. Saying that I'll get a call saying the aussie school is full and I'll have to find somewhere else .

Oh, forgot to ask is anyone free on Saturday for ameet-up? I don't mind where. Dh is running off to Norfolk (I think?) with his brother. Actually, I can't remember where they are going. Anyway, DS, DD, and I are free for a meet up if anyone is around. We could even do it at my house if people want to come out ot Sunbury.

I'm heading over to Lollipop on Thursday, probably for about 10.30, then for a walk in Kew if anyone wants to meet up.

Not free this Saturday Eleusis, have to go shopping for a dress for a friend's wedding, I hate this kind of shopping, too much pressure!

if its like today then I'm up for Kew on thurs

I'm free Tuesday and Friday this week and may also be free Saturday Ele, what can you provide to tempt me out aws far as Sunbury ?

I can offer you a map, where you will notice that Sunbury is about a 15 mintue drive down the 316 from Kew/Richmond (unless there is a rugby game in which case I recommend a detour through Twickers avaoiding the 316 until the homebase / McDonalds -- can't remember the name of the road).

However, guests who have to be bribed to come round need not bother.

paddle gives me carrot cake to get me to Isleworth... [hopeful emoticon]

Well, maybe if Paddle wants to come and brings her carrot cake then she might let you have some. Trust me, you wouldn't want to eat anything that I personally had baked.

aha - thought you were about to suggest an outing near you and was was waiting to see what it was! As I said I am free Saturday though I think DS may be a bit young and dull for your DC's as he doesn't really play as such, just roams around hitting tihngs...

and before you take that the wrong way - I was waiting to see if it was something suitable for DS as he isn't walking yet and hates being strapped into the buggy for too long - not because I don't think your DC's need any additional incentive! Misinterpreted your "meet-up" as an event a-la Brocketts farm...

My house is actually well suited to little ones. The living room opens up to the back garden (if weather is nice). So those who are big enough to run around can do so in the back garden (but can't get out because they are fenced in all around). And little ones can sit/crawl/cruise round the living room. The room functions as living room / play room and has lots of toys for all ages.

Oh, and there's a gat between the living room and the rest of the house, so if you want to abandon kids for a few hours and go into the kitchen/dining room that is also an option.

if there is a cat between the living room and rest of the house DS will be there like a shot, if there is a gap, then why is there a gap (puzzled emoticon)