Calling all lurkers! This is YOUR week: prizes to be won!

[RebeccaMumsnet]

AHOY! LONGTIME LURKERS!

We know you’re out there and we long to welcome you into the light. If you’ve been reading the boards for a while, but haven’t quite plucked up the courage to jump into the fray - or simply haven’t been able to settle on a username from your longlist - then this is YOUR week.

We’ve created a new topic - Newbies’ corner, especially for you. We’ve updated our ‘getting started’ guidelines in your honour (and even put them into video form, to make things easier still). We’ve come up with a guide to Mumsnet’s acronyms, so you’ll be spared the embarrassment of having to ask what a BFP is, or what you’d be doing if you LTB. We’ve summarised the key things you need to know about Mumsnet in a handy infographic (click here to discover exactly how many teabags we get through a week in MNHQ), and gathered the most legendary threads in the site’s history in one place, so you can do your background reading.

We've got a clutch of offers available exclusively to de-lurked MNers - and as if all that isn’t enough, we’re also offering spot prizes to those of you who make their your first post this week. Yes, really! So if you want to be in the running for

-two pairs of Kickers and £100 vouchers from <a class="break-all" href="http://track.webgains.com/click.html?wgcampaignid=185523&wgprogramid=10431&clickref=competitionthread&wgtarget=www.tower-london.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Tower London

• a midweek family break for four at Crieff Hydro
• a Benefit beauty hamper worth £200
• a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Bloom and Wild
• tickets to the Ideal Home show
• Audible are giving all new members five free books

among many other prizes, get posting now.

And! We'll be awarding all stalwarts who extend the hand of friendship to newbies with your very own halo emoji, to say thanks

So come on folks, don't be shy: venture on below and tell us what you think of MN, and we'll pop your name into the lurkers' hat to win some fab goodies. Happy posting! MNHQ

I am going on holiday soon and need to renew my daughters passport. I was just wondering if anyone knew if my cousin can counter sign my daughters application. She is not a direct relation of my daughter as she is my cousin. Anyone any idea?

Teenage daughter has located my personal toy and altho Im shocked as she doesnt seem to have a boyfriend, Im a little anxious how I deal with this situation? She took it from my room, not locked a way admittedly, but how do I appraoch this ...shes 16.. any pointers ?

Your cousin can if they are one of the listed professionals on the Passports lists, ie, Dr; Teacher etc

Not a lurker - genuine newbie! Found this through the blog of another widow on mum's net and thought I would check it out. Looking forward to being a part of the dialogue!

Not sure if I'm the longest/oldest lurker, but I've been lurking since pregnant with my eldest who is about to celebrate his 16th birthday. I've lurked through three births, five house moves (across three continents), seven miscarriages and a messy painful divorce. Read the threads for hours just never got around to posting before.

Hi :) I've often read the forums here while googling different things, but finally joined tonight to ask some questions :)

I have 2 kids, a 10 year old girl and an almost 2 year old boy, tween years and terrible two's in full swing in our house!

Hello there everyone
It's been 2 years that I've been reading Mumsnet posts. I must say it has been my main "go to for advice on anything under the sun" in a new country with hardly any friends. It has helped me decide my daughter's secondary school, or the best vacuum cleaner to buy, and even best place to buy coats and tights and other cold weather clothes of which I knew nothing!
Finally decided to take the plunge and register.
Thank you everyone on Mumsnet -my invisible friend(s) 😊.

New to mumsnet. Hoping I can find inspiration to sort out a better work life balance. Anyone with work from home job tips for someone not living in central London?

Hi guys.I'm new and bare with until I learn how to get around properly.anyone on here had to register with petlog to register new ownership of a puppy who is microchipped.would love to hear from you

Newbie today! Over 45, with history of 5 miscarriages due to ovarian reserve. No other probs, thank heavens. Now 6 weeks pregnant with US donor egg & clinic. Doing well so far, with lots of extra progesterone. Very happy to have found mumset!

Hi
Im very new
Heard lots of fab things on here
Cant wait to learn all the terms
All help is good help

Hi, I'm moving to Rottingdean in May with my 14 year old daughter. I'd really appreciate meeting anyone in the area with girls of a similar age

Hi everyone!
I'm def a long time lurker! I have been googling the anacronyms and think I'm finally getting the hang of them! I like reading everyone's comments and seeing people going through similar problems/getting support from others. It's great to see people's positive attitudes!

Well hello.

I'm definitely one of your long-time lurkers. I love reading everything that others are saying, but never seem to pop my head out of my shell... Well, here I am!

Hello - long time lurker thats me - serial poster as of today x

Hey I'm new to mumsnet today but like most of us I have been lurking for years literally! This site was a godsend when I was pregnant and still is now good to feel apart of the universal mum club 😎 I'm definitely feeling I should have put more effort into my username now ..my own name wow inventive haha still not up to date with all the acronyms though :\

As with most things in my life, I havnt got a clue what I'm doing

Hi everyone first post great site! So much good info....

I'm new today - something caught my eye on fb about after-bath and drew me in...
curious and hooked.

TheNanaTroll nice spammy first post

TheNanaTroll thanks for asking for guidance about where to post information about your competition - we don't allow members to advertise things like this on our boards as Mumsnetters tend to view them as spam and report them as such (our boards are meant to resemble a conversation, and posts like that are seen as interruptions). We usually delete such posts and suspend the person's ability to post until they promise to adhere to our Talk Guidelines www.mumsnet.com/info/netiquette. Obviously we're not going to stop you from posting in this instance as that's the whole point of this board - to be able to ask for guidance and find out what posting on Mumsnet is all about. But we have deleted your post as it was reported to us. Happy Mumsnetting!

Hi clairem54 - we just wanted to let you know that we have a special place on Mumsnet to post listings about activities in your local area such as adult kayaking classes. We're afraid we do not allow people to advertise for free on our Talk boards - and so we've deleted your post.

However, you are most welcome to list your events for free on the Mumsnet Local boards (where members who live near each other can swap advice and info).

Here's how do that:

FIND YOUR MUMSNET LOCAL SITE
Go to local.mumsnet.com, and log in. You can choose your local area by clicking on the name. This will bring up a list of place names on the right hand side. Choose the appropriate place from this list. This will bring you to the Local homepage for that area.

ADD YOUR LISTING
Once you've got to the right Mumsnet Local site, click on the large pink button on the top right of the page that says 'Add a listing' and enter the relevant details under the right section (Things to do/Classes/Adult classes). Be warned that there is a word limit, so please keep your info nice and succinct.

Hope that's helpful. Lisa

Hi,
I've been lurking for years. There are lots for very knowledgeable (and funny) people on here, I've finally joined because I wanted to ask a question of my own, perhaps I'll be able to offer something worthwhile.

I don't have any DC, I've got some more growing up to do yet , but I hope to someday.