stunt big hi-5 for J sleeping! Amazing.
In ground breaking news, S slept until 5.50am. Granted, he was up several times in the night and slept with me for the majority of the night, but this was so close to 6am as to be an utter luxury, after months and months of 4am starts. Obviously this is a massive one off, but I take hope in the fact it can be done!
lily congratulations, wonderful news. 
I think I joined in thread 2 as well 
Have been scrolling through the first antenatal thread and so nice to see names that are now so familiar. Det's epic posting made me lol a lot, and evil's reference to her as "the lady who already knows exactly what she wants for the birth".
GT H coming to sit by you sounds so cute. Sounds like feeding A is still going really well, you must be so pleased as you were so keen for it to work!
MsJJones I get that a lot about S. "Oh, typical boy, likes to bash stuff". Um, don't all toddlers like to engage in a spot of bashing from time to time?
pass if we open a quiche school you'd be the only teacher I think... and imagine all the difficult parents you'd have to deal with?! 
Although I am sure that YW will be a model parent of course!
apple, I really think that too. Every year I watch colleagues engage in all sorts of antics which seem to be to be ridiculous, just to try and get into what is perceived to be "the best". I really get wanting to do the best for one's DC. But I agree that clever and/or motivated children will do well wherever they are. I also believe that what goes on at home is at least as important as what is happening in the classroom. The sorts of lunacy that I see people routinely engaged in suggests that this is not a common view though. One colleague spent the best part of £30k moving accross the road to be definitely in a catchment area. She thinks it was worth it, but seriously? Other routine tactics seem to be feigning religious fervour, or suddenly volunteering to be a community govenor. I'm not doing it. There are three primary schools in walking distance of our house. None are "the best" school in the city, all rated good, all perfectly pleasant. DD will go to school in September 2015. At some stage before we apply, we will go and look at them. I am sure we will have a mild preference for one over the others. But we will fill in our form, and take our allocated place, DD will go, and we will encourage and motivate her at home and support the school. watch the insane back track in, oooh, October this year when I turn into one of the lunatics
I have very fond memories of school. Basically what eliza said she hopes for her girls. Primary school was fun, just as it should be, but as a summer born child, I was always somewhat on the back foot compared to peers. I blossomed in secondary school, where that was no longer a factor. I went to an all girls grammar school, mixed 6th form. My bestest friends now are chums from school. My two closest friends are the two I met and befriended on day 1, aged 11. I look back and think how lucky I was, to rock up every day, spend the entire day with my friends, play sports, get a decent enough education. Certainly more than enough to open doors at the next stage. I would wish the same for everyone, to have the sort of school experience which leaves you nostalgic. I would trade quite a lot to go back for one day and relive it.
Interesting what you say about escaping the strictness of the French system PR. My cousins are French, educated in France, both now English teachers of secondary school age. I agree that their system is strict, but my understanding of their system, and my encounters with it, and my mum's view (French teacher in UK schools) is that the average quality of education received is much better than the average quality over here. Significantly less disruption / discipline issues on average. The focus on languages, not narrowing subjects so early and to the same extent, the general standards attained. But, I don't think the average French school has the same emphasis on pastoral care, community, sports, clubs etc. Which for me, and based on how much I enjoyed those aspects of school, But in terms of preparing school leavers for the market place, I've often had the impression that the average French or German school leaver is better equipped than their average British counterpart. Just my view, and not based on very much knowledge at all, so happy to be corrected.
pikz FX L doesnt get it, but if he does, then for all of the hideousness, at least it will be out of the way. Have you and DH had it?
isles congrats on the exam passes! 
So good that you are happy and enjoying your career. It's such a big part of life when you work, makes it infinitely more pleasant to enjoy it. The house stuff will work itself out, but along with wiser members of the quiche, my view is that waiting a while but so you can do what you want totally independently is probably for the best.
Pic of the bookshelf please BP - I enjoy a good nose of room decor.
VQ hope J is better today and you manage to get some rest.