June 07 - Schools Out for Summer; well for some of us anyway

[LackaDAISYcal]

Sorry Jammy, The link isn't working and I don't know that area. There are various wheelchair accessible routes though, so it is quite possible.

I rarely venture into central London with the DCs, unless DH is with me, for exactly that reason! The only time I did, I took black cabs, as I could wheel the pushchair straight in

I'll try ringing them tomorrow to check. I had planned on getting the bus so i could wheel on and off, but I just checked the website and it says that because of works it's now a 50 minute bus journey and I've only got an hour to get across London, including getting on and off the trains etc.

I know there are severa; entrances to Paddington tube Jammy, but I find it hard to believe that there are NO stairs down to the circle line...I know its overground, but I've never not used ANY stairs....

That's what I was finding hard to believe.

Is it a stroller? Can't put folded up stroller under one arm and DD under other? ....or as Fairy said, get a black cab?

I know that there are several stations on Jubilee Line where you can get down without using any stairs as they have lifts. It is a very new line though and I don't know about the Circle Line. Why don't you give TFL a call on 020 7222 1234 - they can advise you on step-free access to all stations and lines.

evening all
ive had a terrible day.
MIL is being awful, and i just dont know what to do about any of it.
for months now she has been neglecting her son, my BIL, who is 9, by not feeding him proper meals only junk, not clothing him propally, refusing to wash him, and letting him goes days without a bath, and leaving him unattended in the house while she goes to work.
now he has phoned this evening to say that she is hitting him, and we are now taking him for a week to give her a break.
i personally want to take him on full time, as i love that boy and it hurts to see him so unhappy, when he was such a bright little spark when i first knew him.
DH is reluctant to talk to his mother about it, but this is resting on my conciance so much now that its affecting my sleep.

what do i do?

Oh no Natty, how horrible for your BIL and what a hard position for you to be in. How does DH feel about it? Would your MIL consider you having him to stay a bit longer-term, to see how it goes?

Ah fark - Ds is awake again and screaming. Here we go again.... Good night all

natty, your poor BIL . Is there an underlying reason for your MIL to behave like this? mental ill health or something? Maybe she needs some help herself? Can you and DH talk to her about letting him stay for a bit until she gets whatever is going on sorted out and then take it from there? This must be very hard for you, especially on the back of all that has been going on with DH and you over the last few weeks.

Natty, that's sad for you BIL, you, your DH, (and possibly your MIL too?). I understand you wanting to have him with you and hope you work out what to do for the best.

OK, I'm off to bed. Will ring TFL in the morning.

doubt MIL will let us take him.
MIL has always had manic depression and made DH childhood terrible. she seems very unstable to me, and i dont understand why DH is trying to ignore it.
im so stuck as what to do, my heart is telling me a call to social services, but my head tells me i cant lose DH over this.
what do it do?

I'm back, briefly. Ds back asleep, for now.

Natty, it really does sound like an awful position for you to be in. It sounds to me like it needs to be your Dh who takes action, if at all possible, as it's his family. As a first step, could you talk to him about it again - if he had an awful childhood, I'm sure he doesn't want his brother to have the same. Maybe you could have him, regularly, for a few days at a time to 'help out' your MIL - or at least that's how you could sell it to her.

Sorry I can't be much help - but we're always here to listen.

right
DH has been told he has till the end of the week to speak to her about it before i report her to the NSPCC, annomoiusly of course, because i cant sleep at night knowing whats going on. i told him to imagine how crap his childhood was and then add to that the fact he cant play on the streets like DH used to, and get NO break from her at all.
he has agreed. so i think i feel a little better now

I hope things work out for everyone natty. Is she getting any help for it at all, medicines etc? It's a terrible thing to live with; a friend of ours is bipolar, as is my SIL and I can see (and feel) the effect it has on family.

Where is everybody

I'm now off to do a bit of work FF. I got some done while jamlet had a nap this afternoon, so only 1 hour tonight instead of 2 though

Don't work too hard Jammy....

I didn't

Evening

I've also done my bit of work from home for this week

Done my calculations for next lot of mat leave and with annual leave I might be able to squeeze out (literally....we'll be BROKE) 11 months....he he.....haven't told work yet! So with any luck I'll finish at Xmas and go back December 09

i'm here....having huge pooter problems tonight though, so not sure for how much longer!

fairy I have just tried to send you a very long message on FB, and it has crashed for me . upshot is...got 50 rainy day activities and 50 Christmas things to make and do, but can't find any reference to 50 things to do on a plane or 100 things for litle people to do on a journey, but there is a 50 things to do on a journey. And I think the order comes to me and then I send it out to you or will bring it with me on the 21st. there is also a £5 delivery charge. not sure how you want to do payment and I haven't gotten that far in my training sessions yet can you email me at daisybump at yahoo dot co dot uk and then i can email you when i have figured it all out! Ta.

Did you get your laptop replaced Daisy?

I'm BORED....nothing interesting in active convo's.....if I sit here much longer, I gonna end up buying something

Sounds good Norty

Well the whole access on the underground thing is very confusing. TfL website gave me a route which it said had ramps and no stairs, but their access tube map said it wasn't possible at the stations I'm using. Their phone line said no, I would HAVE to use stairs, yet a website about accessibility at various places, including Londin underground says I can use a lift at Paddington, and can avoid most stairs at Liv.St. So I'll give it a go and have printed out instructions that tell me it can be done in case anyone starts telling me I'm stupid for trying!

If anyone is planning a trip into London with pushchair I'd recommend this accessability site as it gives descriptions and even photos so you can plan where you're going. Of course, will see how useful it is in practice tomorrow