gwod

Beef Bisto has no meat products in its ingredient list - my Veggie friends pour it liberally over their Linda Mcartney pies!

Farm, plastic animals and tractor. So fun!

His Dark Materials trilogy - Philip Pullman, Good for any age from 10 - 80, my older girls LOVE it. Now my 13 year old she and all her friend are wanting to read Noughts and Crosses, By Malorie Blackman,the first in a trilogy about friendship and love in a segregated society.

Thanks Jollybaby, That does make it much more interesting reading than previous studies.

I find it hard to get the the bottom of the statistics, It reads as though, there is approximately equal risk/safety whether you choose a home birth or a hospital birth, but surely seeing as the majority of home births are considered "low risk" at the outset, this figure should be more in favour of the home deliveries than it is. Also are home deliveries that develop difficulties and conclude in hospital considered home birth or hospital deliveries as this could also skew the findings. I ask these questions out of genuine interest in understanding the data, not because I feel strongly about what women should choose, but because I think it important that women can make an educated choice. (...and also because I am always wary of statistics!)

I agree with Snowboarder - the front bar is usually enough, however, one of mine was a bit of a super escaper so I just added a bog standard ?6 mothercare harness until we were both in agreement about sitting up at the table!

Admin, Please take this down.

I want to reserect this thread in a few years time and see how your priniciples have fared!! Ive ended up doing alot of things with my kids that I swore I never would!

I know where you're coming from Newcomer - but I guarentee you'll change your mind when baby newcomer is older! Also, there is a unspoken rule that you only knock on decorated houses, a signal that they are joining in, which rather takes the notion of "begging" I think. Happy Halloween!

Sadly for you jelly rabbits are these: http://www.justjellycat.co.uk/Browse-by-Animal/Bunnies/c-1-7-108/ Hope you find your pet soon.

Come What May.... Ewen Mcgreggor and Nicole Kidman. I challenge you to listen to it, thinking about your children it without bawling. Its not possible. Its got a long intro though so feel free to scroll through the 1st 30secs to get straight to the schmaltz.

http://www.emmaus.org.uk/south-lambeth

Glad to know you are well (if a little frazzled). Such a shame you felt you needed to go. A good reminder for us all to excersize empathy and careful writing in the family room. As a mother of 4 as well I was interested in your views. I'm glad I started this thread and hope it goes some way to redress any nastiness the forum brought you.

She was such a big voice in the family room and had good google-foo for research and info - not a peep for months. Its a pity, good discussions were had.

All contacted up now, thanks everyone.

I want one of these. (Scroll in about 20 seconds to avoid boring intro)

That certainly is them Mr Shorty, but I think this was their exhibition for Dulwich Artweek back in June, which is where I met them....but where are they now? Very Mysterious.

Does anyone know how can I get hold of the Skip Sisters - their website has no contact details or info about how to buy their stuff - and a want to buy something from them

I used these when the girls were little http://www.amazon.co.uk/Goody-Multi-Clear-Elastic-Holder/dp/B005CSYTCU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316169537&sr=8-1 They stay in really well (after the initial struggle)and one at the front to one side looks very cute as there hair grows into a cutable style. They sell them in most chemists etc

I agree that the bereavement books would be of little help in the early months. I couldn't read anything longer than a poem or magazine for several months after our bereavement and then looked for fiction to escape into. Eventually I did find accounts of people who had suffered losses similar to ours very helpful - just to know you are not alone. A piece of well chosen poetry was always good though, succinct and beautiful and without empathy, which was strangely helpful. I would advise reading about grief before one is bereaved, so that we can properly support our friends and know a little about the process before we are plunged into it ourselves. As an aside, the most helpful gifts I received in the desperate early weeks were food. You can never know how relieved you are to receive a shepherds pie, when your children need tea and you cant even think about food, let alone make any. The least helpful gifts are flowers - you get too many, you have to get out and borrow vases from your neighbours, your house starts to smell like a florist, and the water all starts to turn brown. I wish your friend strength and peace.

Maybe it's a parent of schoolchildren thing then...I think I'd like it more If I were out and about hunting for conkers with the kids instead of sending them off dressed in acrylic with a packed lunch!

The house is quiet, the children are back at school, it is evident that they have all grown over the summer - shoes and uniform no longer fit, new school starters in the younger classes look tiny by comparison. Old friendships are rekindled and parents and siblings are downgraded slightly. Sigh.

My brother put me off jelly babies by making a little squeak each time I bit into them when we were kids - he's got a warped sense of humour and had his eye any unrequired sweeties!

All go to adventure playground at Dog Kennel Hill - there is a room for tea and cake afterwards

I too love this book, Such a helpful read for mothers - not just a fix to get through a particular phase but a gentle attitude changer that makes all parenting easier.