WEST LONDONTHREAD - JULY/AUG 2007 (when we finally get a summer?)

[ComeOVeneer]

Just thought I would get this up and running before the old one is full.

my lovely lovely mum has paid to have my grass mowed and all the flower beds weeded and weed suppressor fabric laid and bark on top. Came home to a fantastically tidy garden. Apparently they're coming back Friday to change back steps to slightly less death defying ones...

Anyone want to come admire my garden?

My evening has gone totally pear shaped . With the children away dh and I planned to go out for dinner then to see the Harry Potter film (last showing starting a 9.15pm) He has just left the office 5 mins ago so cinema out and it will be a late supper, I am starving and have no food in the house, nor any means of cooking.

KC - that sounds lovely - when's the party?

oxo - you are right - I am after revenge but I've just spoken to my df who has said that I should go via the small claims as that's what they are there for - for people like me who don't have access to solicitors and have been done over by someone. Thats why it is so easy to issue a claim against someone. I am just fuming that a year after my original letter they are disputing the 5 days. And I had payslips and a P60 for payment for the days they are now disputing. One of the periods of absence was when dd1 was seriously ill in hospital and I rang up and said I would take it unpaid and they said not to worry, they would put me down as sick. B***ds.

ele - I've already tried the extra 10 days with them and they checked with acas (oh a sign they don't have access to a proper legal team) who said this only applies to babies born after April 07.

kew, your Ma is lovely!

I have to tell you, the power of MumsNet is amazing.

I regularly post on another thread in Relationships (saves me wearying your tired ears with dhh's latest idiotic antics ) and one of the other regulars has a dp who is a mortgage consultant.

He just rang me with 2 much better deals than I had on the table and is confident of securing me a mortgage. Parents have also offered a bit of assistance too which has tipped the balance.

Hey MrsR, wasn't it you who said it was often darkest before the dawn? Well, I don't think the sun is up just yet but the horizon is definately getting a little lighter.

MrsRecycle, that is bullshit because it appplied to DS who was born in 2005. Either that or I unknowingly pulled a fast one on my HR department.

KC lovely mummy you have there nevermind the ice cream dinner for gherkin

mrsR i accrued AL while on MAT leave and dd was born jun06 was also able to keep AL from before baby to take after i got back. if it is worth it and you can take the hassle fight them i say

june05 that is

www.eoc-law.org.uk/Default.aspx?page=2980&theme=print#_Does_holiday_accrue

Scroll about 1/3 of the way down the page. They owe you 15 days of pay, not 5.

I'm really pissed off on your behalf.

Do you know any solicitors? If you could just get a letter to them on a solicitor's letterhead I bet that would get their attention. Remember that they don't want solicitor fees either.

Oh ele - I just assumed they were right - I'll check it out!

pc - my saying is "When life is at its darkest, the best is yet to come" but I like that one as well. The power of mumsnet is brilliant isn't it? Well done on getting a better mortgage deal. Oh and if you want a laugh, my dsis exh broke his wrist falling off a ladder last week. She wonders why everyone laughs when she tells them yet she has such a short memory about him disconnecting the phone/etc.

oh ele - it looks like you are right (like you always are ). I'm going to ring up the two numbers Foxie gave me and see if I have a case for unfair discrimination (after all I have it in black and white now from my ex employers). Oxo has recommended a employer law and VickiVQ has volunteered to give me some advice as well. I love mumsnet.

MrsR - sorry about my faux pas[sp] on your other thread - had no sleep last night! Looks as though the legal situation is becoming a bit clearer for you. Working Families have a fab legal line

Kew - does your Mum want to adopt another daughetr. I bet she's always wanted a "strawbery blonde" daughter hasn't she?

Paddle -well done - seems its starting to fall into place doesn't it?

Mellow - thanks - I remembered your books as I was chasing you for them - then after all that I haven't even been able to read them!

I might be around tomorrow arvo - depends how the clearing out goes...

I don't think it's a case of discrimination -- or maybe it is actually on the basis that you were treated differently due to being onmaternity leave. But, I wouldn't play that card just yet.

I would simple say, you owe me £xxx and please pay now. And if they didn't then they's get a letter from a solicitor. And then when they refused to pay the bill then I'd mention that I thought it was grounds for discrimination.

Ello ello!

Hope all are well

Got back last week but the weather here was sooo miserable and bad jet lag has kept me hidden.

Hawaii was Amazing! Well worth the 27 hours it took to get there! The culture, people, beach, everything was wow. They were well impressed that DS has a Hawaiin name. Disney World was also great and my brother flew out there as part of my surprise.

Paddle - I'm really glad things are looking positive for you

MrsR - Sorry about your work.

Lemonaid - Congratulations!! Am really though.

I still haven't adjusted back nor has DS which is why I'm still up!

welcome back 2cute. and thank you for bringing the hawaiian weather back with you.
I wondered where it had come from

Hi 2cute, glad you had a great time!

Paddle, also glad things seem to be looking up a bit for you!

Foxie, dh told me last night that he's playing golf tomorrow so I won't be able to pop round yours after all! How about Fri?

Welcome back 2cute.

Paddle, I think I'm way out of date on what's happening with your DH. But, I'm glad you feel that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

hi 2cute welcome back

paddle glad things are looking up

day started with a drill in my tooth now have numb mouth, hate that more than anything!

planning on being out as much as possible today

welcome back 2cute

Paddle great news about mortgage possibilities.

What a glorious morning! How is everyone?

QC, your mum is so lovely! I'd love to come admire your garden! Do they cut trees, too? Are they cheap? [cheeky emoticon]

CoV, hope you had a nice meal with DH.

Paddle, great to hear things are looking up! BTW, were you crossing south circular near KG station at around 5pm yesterday? I swear I spotted you with DS in the sling.

Ele, you are such an asset to MN![impressed emoticon]

2cute, Hawaii is great, innit?

Have a great day and enjoy the sun if you can!

Morning all. We finally made it to a Thai restaraunt just down the road at 10.15 last night. I was starving. We did have a lovely meal though (even if I had had Thai the night before too ). I have a couple of hours to myself this morning before I have to drive down to Hampshire to pick the children up. Please pray for nice weather for the rest of the week so I can keep them outdoors as much as possible whilst they are still doing the kitchen. DH forgot to set the alarm this morning, and without the children to wake us up we were woken by the front door bell at 9.00am when the builders arrived . SO KC what time are you planning on going to Kew on Friday? Anyone else interested?

Glad your day ended well Cov, Social worker arrives at about 10.30 should leave by 11 so off to Kew then. Think men will be building back steps on Friday (not sure yet) which can;t be used for 24 hours then. So need to get out of the house if the weather is good as DS will nag to go into the garden.

Sushi - they weren't cheap sadly but my sister may have a number of a tree surgeon if thats what you need.

My mobile if bloody lost again so don't bother texting or ringing me on it - leave messages on the home one if necessary.

Foxie how about post nap for clotehs rummage? say 4ish for an hour then I'll clear out of your hair to give DS tea - alternatively after tea for an hour 5.30ish. Or Saturday sometime - take your pick.

Foxie I mean post-nap on Friday.

QC, oh, please, if you don't mind asking your sister. Thank you so much in advance.

Hi foxie,

Do you mean you're around at home? Or are you venturing out to Kew Gardens?

I'm sending out an order this morning, then off for a bit of shopping, then Kew.

If anyone else is going to Kew, please text me. I'll be at Kew Beach, trying to convince dd to the delights of sand. She wasn't too keen yesterday.

convince dd sand is fun, I mean.