West London Thread August continued...

[Kewcumber]

shiny new thread to sully.

I signed up but reckon I'm just going to end up with loads of spam now! Thanks anyway Paddle!

Btw, I'm around tomorrow afternoon about 3-ish after ds' nap if you want to meet up.

Haven't been on the net all week, been really unwell and then had to spend wknd in B'ham comforting cousin and her kids because cousin's 16 yr old daughter has run away from home Will properly catch up a bit later, just wanted to pop in and say hey and hope all are well xx

I'm up for a meet tomorrow if anyone's free....

saw foxie earlier (delivering dd's sunnies) and i think we're keen on a trip to the tropical forest tomorrow arvo.

i've got an annual card and i know under 3's are free but not sure about admission prices.

anytime after 2:30ish suits me......

2cute, sounds like a nightmare. hope you're feeling better now.

what a shock for your cousin, has she heard from her dd?

Tropical forest is £5, I'll probably pop along tho ds just likes watching the monkeys

2cute, that sounds awful, have they heard from her or know where she is?

Hi

I might pop along tom if I can get the car, will also have to bring my mum along with me as she's staying the week, hope that's ok.

2cute - how awful for your cousin, she must be worried sick - any news yet?

When I was little my hair used to be poker straight and now it's wavy, how bizarre!

We are going to this pregnant friend's wedding later this month and they want vouchers for the wedding gift. Haven't been to weddings for years and have no idea what appropriate amount is, ie how much? She is very close to us, more like family (my mum is invited, too). What do you think?

This is a question to all MN friends, btw.

I know it's a bit vulgar question but any advice will be much appreciated! Thanks.

depends how much spare cash you have Sushi. In teh olden days I would have given £40/50 to someone I was really close to but these days even family are lucky if they get present worth more than £20 as I just don't have the spare cash. Thats why I dislike the voucher thing - makes those of us who can't afford as much as we would like feel bad.

Particularly those of us who pissed copious amounts of money up a rope in the past

Thanks QC. The olden days 40/50 quid means today's 60/70 with inflation, do you reckon? So 100 quick as a couple plus whatever my mum wants to contribute sounds OK? Oh dear. I guess I'll have to use my 'rainy day' funds after all. Sigh.

QC, you could always put your cute DS up for modelling (child labour) to get some cash.

I think going rate is about £50 but I guess it's up to you. Like your piccies btw

I need help too. It's our wedding anniversary on Thurs night and we wanted to go out for a meal in Richmond but as I 've never been out there I have no idea where to go. Doesn't have to be mega posh but good food and atmosphere is what we're after. Any ideas?

£100 sounds a LOT to me! I would say £60/70 is plenty (but maybe I am tight).

Child labour sounds good...

Thanks SJ.

Does it have to be Richmond? There's a really good one in Kew called Glasshouse. (sorry can't find the link..)

60/70 sounds better. Afterall, we are going ALL the way to Inverness.

I cap every gift at £20 these days and in fact often find ingenious ways to undercut this by judicious use of pics of dd for rellies etc!

sj, d'you like Thai? Fat Boys on Richmond Road just this side of Richmond Bridge is fab.

There's Brula nearby to you too which I understand is very good but no personal experience.

There's a fabulous Italian in that little passage down from Tesco but not much atmosphere.

There are some lovely places down Petersham Road that overlook the river that look lovely but haven't been myself.

mmmm, out for dinner a deux, how nice. [dreaming icon]

On the wedding gift front, we gave our friends £50 vouchers about 2 years ago and they seemd quite chuffed.

However, the one we went to last week we only gave £40 'cos I'm on mat leave and broke (spent all our money on a playhouse ...). I think you should give what feels right to you. Depends on many factors. The fact that we've just had to shell out £400 on car repairs and about £150 on school uniforms/shoes, plus had a baptism was a factor in our friends only being given £40.

I would have though £100 is a bit much, but we are quite frugal in our family - don't go for flash gifts - more something small but carefully chosen.

Steppy - we were on our way to DVD shop and DH had the dinner last night on so no worries

I wonder when MrsRecycle ill be back fromthe seaside?

I left messages for Nanou BTW - she agreed on 7th but didn't get back re venue. Anyone else want to try her???

£400 on car repairs and £150 on school uniforms, ouch

Thanks for the tips, I do love Thai but DH's sensitive tummy might need a break from all my ma's spicy Indian cooking this week
Will bear it in mind for future though. Glasshouse looks really nice, just found it on web. Will try and call to see if I can get table - thanks

ok will try to leave comfort zone and see if I manage Syon park it would be nice to see everyone anyway.

wedding gifts like everyone said depends on what you feel you can manage, good friends understand that more than stranger I feel

we just received a birth announcement card from some of dh's friends it is their 5th child and she home schools all of them with not much help from him, no idea how she copes

Mellow - hope job and childminding is going well. Just ordered that cream from your web site, hope it arrives soon can't wait to use it

Thanks, foxie. I know £100 is a lot and we really have to be careful with our money. This friend is Japanese and all her Japanese guests will give her cash (Japanese tradition) which I suspect around £150 per person these days. I don't know what my friend expects from me, Japanese tradition or British one. I would be happy to choose a nice present but she asked for vouchers. Maybe £50 worth vouchers and a nice little present (like good maternity books)!?