Thought I'd start a new thread for the update - save searching.......have posted this on the other thread too.
Finally - I've had a message - first thing this morning with a full and plausible explanation so I take it all back - except for the feelings of worry which were fairly strong when I went to bed last night. I sent a text saying I was v concerned and would need to call her mother which I was going to do this morning, but I got back from the school run to find two messages from a payphone explaining what had happened.
She was on her way here on the bus to Victoria to catch the train to ours and when she got there both her mobile phone and bank card were missing - she didn't know if she'd left it on the bus of if it had been stolen. Either way, she had no way to pay and no way of contacting me as all her other address books were at her employers (she's a nanny) in Oxford. They were away and have only just called her boyfriend's work with my number! She called him there to get it and rang here first thing. She didn't know whether I'd be cross or worried or what (all of the above!) - so am going to speak to her today and arrange another time. I did think it strange that there was no response at all to my texts and the phone was red-buttoned when I rang.
So - I'm sure all will be forgiven - esp as there was nothing she could do other than she did. Am glad! I know she's let us down before, but she'd usually have called at some point with some feeble excuse and I could just blow my fuse and carry on as normal, but there was just no contact at all and I didn't know what to think.
Am glad she's ok and hope to see her soon.
Thanks for all your messages