srisky

Such a brave post, Susyp. It was hard just reading it, so I can't imagine how hard it must have been for you to go through it and write it. I know nothing of your situation, other than what you have posted, but from what you have written it really seems like you have done the right thing. Domestic violence can be perpetuated through the generations and in an ideal world all children will have parents who enjoy a loving relationship to aspire to. Now that he has left, hopefully your daughter will be able to enjoy just the good times with her father rather than witness his violent side. She is still very young and hopefully will have very little memory of these times, as she gets older. You say you love your husband and I understand how that can be - just to put a different perspective on it, do you love the 'idea' of a husband and the nuclear family? Rhetorical question. You will almost certainly question repeatedly whether you did the right thing, especially during the tough times. Whenever that happens, just think of your daughter, what you want for her future and how you wouldn't want for her ever to go through what you have and draw strength from that.

Don't be cruel - Bobby Brown

Daughter - Pearl Jam

Salsaboy Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Killer queen - Queen Killer - Adamski

There is one room with a permanent pool. From memory there are at least 2 smaller inflatable pools that can be moved between the other rooms, but I could be wrong. The labour ward (Nightingale ward: 020 3299 3222) hold water birth talks (monthly?) and run labour tours (weekly?), which are worth going to and they will be able to answer these questions as well as show you the facilities. If you call the ward they'll be able to give you the actual days/frequency of these. It's also worth calling again to check about an hour before you set off, as they do cancel these at short notice due to the unpredictable nature of deliveries! When it comes down to it there is no way to guarantee that a pool will be available when you need it. Good luck!

leapt

The first time ever I saw your face - Roberta Flack

I'd rather my little one has chicken pox now rather than as an older child/adult, when it can be really awful. 3 weeks of house arrest does sound pretty miserable, though!

I don't mean to frighten you but also be super careful in the weeks after replacing all your stolen goods. I know of a few incidents when the burgalers return to the same homes to steal all the newly replaced belongings.

> Frankly, I am nor sure how tight your grip is. > You are effectively objecting to a first > come-first served consequence. Well I have no > objection to that - let's apply it to the bigger > parking spaces as well. > > Re trolling behaviour - if you think I am a troll, > then why are any of you engaging in this > discussion? I have a firm grip on reality, so much so that I can not seem to get remotely incensed about this topic in the way you have. I was reading it out of interest & bewilderment. - Parent & child parking spaces are for parents with children in tow - as there are plenty of 'normal' parking spaces, which are adequate in size - Silver swim sessions for people over a certain age - as there are plenty of other sessions to attend - Child-free section in the Dulwich Park cafe, only for adults - as there is a section for those with children. I am happy to respect these restrictions, as I don't think anyone is really being inconvenienced, discriminated against or having there human rights violated by them. Whilst they remain then people are 'entitled' to use them as intended. However, I'm sure we will all cope if they are removed. Everyone should be respectful of each other (which includes respecting the restrictions of parent & child spaces to parents with children) and, as I have said before, inconsiderate behaviour is not just demonstrated by those with children. Ah, for such a utopia. Over and out (for now).

> The fundamental difference is that no-one who goes > to use the wifi attempts to prevent other people > using the same space for their different purposes. > They wish to share the space for different > purposes. > > In the case of larger parking spaces, however, one > group wishes to use them exclusively and prevent > any other group having use of them - read back to > the opening post, for heaven's sake!!! These wifi users take the best spot in the cafe from the moment it opens and sit there all day, so I can't sit in my favourite seat and have a coffee. Get a grip!

Perhaps the parents are retaliating, because someone without a child parked in the parent & child spaces? It sounds like your losing insight into your argument.

Quite, as are the parent & child parking spaces.

StraferJack Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Edit to say: before it is misconstrued, I am > agreeing with you StraferJack > > Crikey - that makes it sound like if I thought you > were disagreeing with me, Things Could Get Ugly > Ha, ha, not at all personal, just mindful of the current tone of this thread!

> As for the debate at hand. Lord spare us. Can I > agree with Damian's core point that parents with > kids don't need special spaces? If a company wants > to provide them then goody gumdrops, I think they > should be respected as such and anyone without > kids who thinks they are special enough to park > there is a tosser. And Damian is doing an > admirable job of proving that point > > But that seems about as far as one can go. To > say, as a parent with children, "I need special > spaces" is taking things far. For a start, those > spaces are a bonus for the early birds who arrive > at the right time. All the other parents still > have to make do with the standard-issue space. And > that's fine really isn't it? It's not that bad is > it? I don't think anyone has ever said that parents 'need' the space. Only that they are useful and, as there are only a few of them, why can't it be left for those with children? Edit to say: before it is misconstrued, I am agreeing with you StraferJack

As with most 'optional' health care treatments, I'd wait a good 50+ years from when it came into mass use for any longterm effects to become apparent before doing it myself. With regards to short-term effects, I know approx. 5 people who have had it done and all but one are absolutely delighted with the results. The person not thrilled with her results (I don't think her vision was completely corrected following the laser therapy so still needed glasses) had to return for further treatment but has had no serious ill-effects. Personally, I'd avoid high street therapists, as they have '??' on the agenda. Have you considered going to Moorfield's for assessment?

Damian H Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > srisky Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > Gosh, since I am a stay at home mum and go to > the > > local cafes to meet my friends with children, I > > hadn't actually stopped to think that some of > the > > people there working on laptops and taking > > advantage of the free Wi-fi (clearly not > supplied > > for the benefit of toddlers) may actually be > > hard-working self employed people who find it > > extremely difficult to focus when my two year > old > > is screaming because I am ignoring him or is > > repeatedly banging his Tommy Tiptree mug on the > > table." > > > > If you 'chose' to work in a public place (other > > than the library) then I don't think you can > > complain about the noise from other patrons. I > > appreciate not everyone can afford to have the > > internet at home but that's another topic. > > So if I decided to stick my iphone on speaker and > blast out a bit of hip-hop no-one would be > entitled to ask me to turn it down or off? After > all, if someone goes to a cafe or bar and everyone > is entitled to act with complete disregard for > others there is no reason why I should not play > mymusic if I want to. Your arguments are becoming more irrational. A patron using the free wifi in a cafe can not expect others to quieten down, because they want to concentrate on their own work - it doesn't matter if they are a a group of adults having a lively discussion, mums with babies, teenagers listening to the latest tracks on their iphone. As just commented, the free wifi is a marketing gimick deisgned to lure such patrons into the establishments. If the establishment had a quiet/child-free area then I am sure most parents would not take their children in there, nor would they have cause to complain if they were asked to leave that section. The child-free section in the Dulwich Park cafe is respected as such. The parent & child parking in Sainsbury's may well be a marketing ploy, just like the free wifi. Why can't it be left to those with young children, in a similar way that those with children do not go into child-free areas? It is perfectly reasonable for someone to be annoyed if a designanted area is being used by someone for who it's not intended. Of course, there is a sense of entitlement - just like those in a child-free area are entitled to use it without children being there. Have you considered getting riled up about the family swimming sessions? Women only swim sessions? Silver swim sessions? People of different ages and different abilities need adaptations in society for their own safety, well being and, where possible, comfort. And why not the latter, if it's not at the detriment of others? If parents are offered a slightly wider parking space, if it's near the entrance, why does it really matter to you? If it helps them to get young children safely in/out of their cars and through the car park, then so be it. I'd understand your argument if parking spaces were few and far between or they decided replace all the disabled parking spots with parent/child parking. It appears that some people seem to think that children are a nuisance (should be seen and not heard), which is a real shame. If society looks after them then they will become the adults that you would want looking after you in your old age.

virtuous

Your Woman - White Town

miser

If you 'chose' to work in a public place (other than the library) then I don't think you can complain about the noise from other patrons. I appreciate not everyone can afford to have the internet at home but that's another topic.

BellendenBear Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Has anyone had anyone managed to contact the new > 'Destiny' nursery on Coppleston Road? They are not > replying to my emails and can't find a phone > number. No luck either with emails and I also can't find a contact number. Not a good a first impression!

The fact that person is pushing a buggy/has a child is irrelevant. Acknowledgment for acts of courtesy is seen infrequently nowadays whether it be from those with children, without children, on foot, in a car etc.

Thanks all for the advice - the 'arguments' for the Tripp Trapp are compelling, now to convince hubbie!

I, too, am confused by the huge range out there! I am tempted by the Tripp Trapp but my hubbie did raise an eyebrow when I mentioned the price! Bonfire2010 - assuming that most tables are of a similar height, does the Antilop fit comfortably under the dining table? What do people use once their child becomes too big for a standard high chair (i.e if you didn't get something like a Tripp Trapp that lasts for several years)? Sorry to hijack your thread, Heidi!