West London Thread August continued...

[Kewcumber]

shiny new thread to sully.

foxie i am sorry you are feeling low about this, it has not been the most relaxed maternity leave has it?
I am not really able to help with this but would like to lend you my support.

i so hope they are not pissing you around again

Foxie,
That's a bummer.

I'm afraid I can't offer anything more than my full moral support.

Is it legal to demand attendance at an office event when you're still on leave?

i'm not actually sure it is tbh.

i'd recommend dropping into Richmond Legal Advice Service and getting some free advice like MrsR did recently.

It's on a Weds night 8 - 9pm.

ah, dd is awake. gotta run.......

No they can;t insist you come in when you're on Maternity leave. And having given your cover notice may work in your favour from a negotiating standpoint.

I think perhaps a simple face to face meeting where you say "oh dear what a shame you can;t agree to my proposed flexible working now because that means I will not be able to come back for a few more months" in a regretful tone may be the way to go.

hi kew, i think i need your mum's solicitors details if you could get them.

we're on a bit of a slow start today but did you fancy trying to meet up this morning?

Foxcub - how "powerful" is HR compared to boss? If you get boss on your side HR will have to break the law to oppose you and HR of all people should know about employment law. I think Kew is right. All the best.

good morning all

hi foxie how are you this morning?

I was talking to my friend on tue about all this work/children business and apparently my former org. are having huge difficulties recruiting managers because they have driven away all of us who came through the ranks once we had children. most of us had been around since the start, that's 10yrs.

it seems finally there is a big re think

also my former my line manager who made my life a misery and blocked every move toward flexi work is adopting! wonder how she will feel now

sorry about rant

I have dentist at 12 then will pop over to Kew

Morning everyone.

Oh dear, foxie. I wish I could help but no experience in these things. So sorry. Surely your boss will have to give you a good reason why he doesn't accept your proposal?

Is anyone going to Kew Fayre this weekend?

oh god! is it kew fair this weekend? how has a year passed so quickly?

foxie, d'you remember that's where i first met you and ele?

Foxie I hope this gets sorted for you soon. But agree with Steppy and Kew.

My plans for this afternoon have fallen through - does anyone want to meet up?

Sj - thanks for the tea yesterday, sorry it was such a flying visit! Hope you had a nice evening.

Sushi Is the Kew Fayre on again? Seems to be on every few weeks! Do you know the times?

Thanks for the moral support. My boss e-mailed me that he didn't see a problem with my proposed hours, so I can only guess its HR being difficult. My boss has the final say. However the Chief Exec is famously against homeworking/home networks. These are available but to only about 5 people in the company. However, several childless blokes are allowed to work from home - inlcuding those who manage staff (so they can't use that as an excuse).

TBH I am slightly relived to have an excuse not to go back in 2 weeks, as I feel very unready, emotionally and practically, to go back atm. The reason I was going back so soon was 'cos they wanted to involve me in the awayday. I think I will say that I am happy to attend awaydays (its an overnighter) - as I want to look keen, but would have to bring DS2 as I have no childcare in place until I return to work.

The idea of a posh hotel for 2 days for me and DS2 is nice (don't think they would be too happy though hee hee)

I can't believe my boss wants me to return on my old hours, then switch to my new hours once they are agreed - HTF does he expect me to arrange childcare when I don't know what my permanent hours will be???

Kew - you are right about the approach me thinks - however I have left a message 2 days ago for my boss and he never, ever returns my calls....

Anyway - the good news is that the car is now fixed - for the third time in 2 months! Cost more than £140 for a new ignition barrel.!

We are going to a child friendly wedding this arvo otherwise I would come out to play.

It starts 11 am on Sat. DH spotted the beer section straight away! Think we'll be there on Sat, probably early to avoid crowds. I've never been there so can't wait. We'll be close to the petting zoo, I think.Kew Fayre 2007

Has anyone ever tried taking dc to Tate Modern on public transport singlehandedly (one pushchair, one on foot)? Nursery shut on Monday so plotting day-out but doubt feasibility ...

ooH Kew fayre, had forgotten about that - will defintiely be there early sushi so no doubt see you at the animal bit.

DS was very stroppy with me for not letting him go on the train in Kew (we were late for lunch as it was). Made the mistake of driving over and walking him around. Which as Paddle will confirm is a slow process with ds as everything interests him and he in therefore incapable of going in a sstraight line.

He is now mad keen on trains and buses and has a "Thomas" book (I cracked!). Can see plenty of bus catching in my immediate future!

how come the kew fair link to punch n judy goes to the reptile house page

i think dd would LOVE punch n judy!

shame it's 11 - 6pm tho as it doesn't really fit particularly well with dd's lunch/nap times.

rather inconsiderate of the organisers IMO

ps: gherkin is on great form having seen him this morning for the first time in ages.

it did take us some time to get from vicky gate to c&c it's true but i'm proud to report both gherkin and little paddle showed great interest and respect for the Moore sculptures we encountered.

clearly they are a cultured pair

Sorry to hear about your predicament Foxie do you know why HR are being so unsupportive? Hope you get it sorted.

Fair looks good for those of you who are going, but alas I have yet another wedding to attend tomorrow. I went to the Mendhi party last night at the bride's place so I'm now a painted lady - DS keeps looking at my hands strangely

Nice to see you Ros and DS, hope you enjoyed your night out too.

STEPPIE STEPPIE STEPPIE

Did you know the Prima article is already out (perhaps to subscribers?) - and bugger me sideways (his words not mine) it was read by an ex-boyfriend/colleague who emailed me!!!

slng - I have taken dd to the Tate modern by myself, I took the overland train from Richmond then walked along the river. Quite easy except the first time which was when she was 3months old

kew - shall have a look at your article
btw I have plenty of Thomas stuff around including a small track so you are welcome to pop along

can't do fayre tomorrow but dh is likely to take dd, quite fancy popping along on Sunday if the weather holds

slng, no, never been to tate modern. heard it's good for all ages. as for the public transport, most stations don't have a lift so it might be a pita... anyway, best of luck and have a lovely time if you go!

QC, welcome to the mad world of Thomas and his friends!DS loves this site! maybe we can do a Thomas themed meet-up with sfx & mini-sfx?

So it's this month's prima, then? Did buy the last one by mistake. Well, it said on the front cover something like 'my life changing story...' so thought this is it!

KEW KEW KEW

blimey o'reilly..
really?
not due out until 25th and didn't think subscribers got it that much earlier..but obviously may be wrong.
ohhh, how exciting...were you pleased/dismayed/underwhelmed to hear from the ex?! does he work in media at all...just wondering if he somehow got hold of a pdf or something?

foxie, hoping you're having a fab time at the wedding - what a lovely day for it. yes, deffo think it's better to wait for another few months to go back to work if you can...just gives you time to get the practicalities/logistics/year head sorted, doesn't it?

especially going back after number 3, everything gets so complicated, eh? my maternity leaves got progressively longer. 7 months woith ds1, 8 months with ds2 and 13 months with dd. it's not the bambinos, tbh, i think they need you more the older they get.

dd cried when i left her at nuersery this morning. upsetting but didn't stop me hotfooting it out ofg the door ('cos better for her, i hasten to add..)
took the little fellas to see evan almighty at the flicks. i really enjoyed it...mind you, i'm easily pleased these days.
toodlepip

as for "bugger me sideways", lady...spare us the finer details

it's still in the oct issue, btw, kew - as i've got sep issue and isn't in that

no his wife is a subscriber and another mumsnetter has confirmed that her subscription recently arrived.

Ooh blimey, how odd that other people have seen it but not me. I feel a bit nervous of telling people without having checked it out for myself.

Quite pleased to have heard from the ex, and to be fair he was a colleague/friend for longer than he was a love affair. It was hot and intense but fairly short-lived (for immoral embarassing reasons which shall remain confidential ) - I think of him as being "the one who got away". We met up once about 4 years ago after he emailed me through friendsreunited I think. Sent me the loveliest email about how often he'd thought of me and wondered what I was doing and how much he missed our chats. Very sweet.

know how you feel, matey.. like to check it out myself first too!

blimey they get them bloody early..sep's only been on sale about a week. will hopefully get copy in the post next week.

hmmm, sounds intriguing...will have to ply you with cake and probe.....