Ant

I often think it's a shame that I can't put boring people straight to voicemail when talking face to face. Or report people trying to hand me free crap/sign my up for randmom charity x as spam.

It's been due to happen for much longer than that. Glad they've finally got round to it.

Yes! They keep very quiet about that when they're trying to sell you an iPhone (unsurprisingly of course) but it's a fairly big feature to just miss out entirely. According to a guy who used to work for them it's because their network's just incapable of handling it, so it's pretty unlikely ever to be available on Orange.

iPhone 3GS on Orange. Mobile coverage is dodgy and getting worse. 3G network is beyond bad, laughably rubbish. I suggest avoiding it at all costs. I've been with Orange for years and never had any trouble until they started offering iPhones, after which it all dropped off a cliff - I think their network just isn't up to it. Shall be moving elsewhere as soon as I'm out of contract.

>Where does the Sixpence under the pillow come from. ? Very good question - where do you get a sixpence these days? Fairly sure the tooth fairy went decimal before I was even born...

Another vote for Aoife, she's great with kids (and adults too).

BTW the Burbage Road one is on Saturday, not Friday.

>Shouldn't it be dodgy goings on? Yup.

I'm sure most parents will have these links already, but just in case anyone's missed them: http://www.goodrich.org.uk/ - see under diary for term dates etc. http://www.friendsofgoodrich.com/ - for PTA news

I'm with DaveR - this agreement seems to be just window dressing. Though the school seems to have had no choice in the matter so no point moaning at them about it. If it's true that the school has paid another company to work out how many sick days members of staff have taken then I'd possibly be more concerned. I'd assume these are the sort of records the school could reasonably be expected to keep. Surely it can't be that hard to look it up in the records. It makes me think there's more to it that we're not hearing, so again not worth moaning at the school. Not yet at any rate. (Perhaps they're looking into why all three Yr2 teachers are signed off sick at the moment!)

I almost liked Garth Marenghi's Darkplace but in the end I felt they overplayed it. And I know that's kind of the point. Perhaps what I mean is they over-overplayed it for me.

I think you've hit the nail on the head there. That's what makes it special. It would be easy to write a more cynical take on this, holding the family up as a freakshow, but there's an inclusive feeling in this. It's less Ha ha look at the freaks! and more They're freaks but they're my freaks and I love them, and I'm probably a freak too.

I quite like the idea of punitive fines for delayed works that was mentioned above. Just a thought though: where would the money go, and what should it be used for?

It wouldn't have scanned in three times a lady. But yes, I very much approve of thrice in general.

So you're the one encouraging them. Tsk. Well done. *slow clap*

I'm biting my tongue somewhat, as obviously I don't know exactly what's been going on at the school, but I will say that I'm not impressed. We've had to change childcare plans at the drop of a hat only to abandon everything again. I agree with earwig1 that communication with parents needs to be improved. For the record: no texts received today.

Only if I still had my city pad as well.

I spoke to someone this morning who said they'd found the fault, but it was underground so they didn't know how long it would take to fix. Walking to work later, there were indeed some chaps from the leccy getting ready to do a spot of digging on Landells. I hope they've got it sorted by the time I get home!

I admit to not being the most ardent vomitologist ever, but doesn't all of it look pretty much the same? Perhaps it's just me. Perhaps you can pick out a particular pile from an identity parade of spew by the quality of its chunks or something.

On a similar note, take your contact lenses out before you cook with chillies. Taking them out afterwards, even several hours and hand-washes later, risks being something less than enjoyable. Unless you swing that way of course. Takes all sorts.

I feel I ought to make some sort of joke here...

Angelique Houtkamp Don't think they'd suit me, but I like 'em.

Yeah but only on alternate Tuesdays.

Wonder how well something like that would work in ED... Always seems to me there are plenty of part-time/WFH type parents around here.

I remember hearing the management had changed not too long ago. Might be worth keeping in mind, and making sure any advice you hear relates to the current set of managers. My own experience of it was under the past managers, so probably not helpful to pass along now.