Pickle

Yes, that definitely sounds like it's the problem! Have you confronted her about not working the hours you are paying for? I think 3.5 hours is long enough for an average sized house to get a proper clean, I know I can do it in that time.

Just to add - I make sure the house is very tidy on the day my cleaners come, so they simply have to clean, not tidy. I remove all the towels from the bathrooms etc before they arrive.

3.5 hours a week 5 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, downstairs loo (2 bedrooms in loft, not really used, so just get a cursory clean every couple of weeks) They dust, vacuum, generally clean every room. Kitchen gets a thorough clean. Change the bed linen in the master bedroom only, and iron 5 work shirts. They do the insides of windows when needed etc., and if we are away I still get them to come and do things they don't usually have time to do, like the fridge. I pay ?10 per hour, but then an additional week's pay every quarter as holiday pay (I think I pay less than other clients for my particular cleaners, but I've used them for years and get them a lot of work!).

The dodgy duster sellers were out on Upland during the day yesterday, maybe it was them?

Ah, yes it will help you if you've got a bit of CA firm experience behind you. My experience is that there are a lot of small businesses looking for "freelance" accountancy support, so with experience of small business accounting it's quite easy to build up a decent client base. Keep approaching local firms, I'm sure something will come up. Goodrich school are currently advertising for a finance administrator, 21 hours a week I think. Might be worth looking into? P x

Your "wife" has been to GBK on a tinder date, apparently. Might be worth checking paternity of any future sprogs.

Have you thought about working for yourself? I'm a CA, and work from home while my youngest is at school nursery in the mornings. Good luck!

On a recent visit to my home town in NZ I noticed this mural, thought it looked familiar, and it turns out it's by Phlegm too. Small world!

I loved Pumpkin Patch maternity jeans, really comfy and didn't look like maternity clothes

Sorry to hear you're having a hard time, but congratulations on the new arrival! My view (only my view, based on having had three babies): Firstly, 7 weeks is not too early to start thinking about a routine. I openly admit to having used Gina Ford, albeit a "lite" approach, to give me a bit of a guide as how much sleep and approximate times etc. I left it until about 8 weeks with my first, who I was convinced would never sleep in the day (he screamed a lot!). Within a few days life was transformed. I think it also helps you to feel assured that baby is getting enough to eat, allowing you to rule out hunger as a cause. Secondly, can you help facilitate nap times by using a dummy? I didn't need one with two of my babies, but once again my first needed something to help him chill out, and as he was tongue tied I was too sore to let him suckle to sleep. It was purely an interim measure for us, by 3 or 4 months he had stopped needing it. Make sure you've ruled out any medical/physical causes (tongue tie, reflux etc). Good luck x

redjam, I have to admit having to do a quick (and sneaky) google when attempting to help my daughter with her literacy homework, I had no idea what a fronted adverbial was! I'm a product of 1980's kiwi schooling, definitely not something that we were taught!

It's been a while since my children were in reception, but when they were (Goodrich) it was 3 x classes of 30. They have their own playground and there's an element of "free flow" between classes (although my kids generally stayed within their own classroom).

Irrational rage today caused by finding a potato caked in mud, in my bag of "washed and ready to use" potatoes. If I wanted a muddy one I would pay extra for organic ones (that's the main difference, right?). Mud on my Tesco Maris Piper is not acceptable.

Definitely have a look at instrument hire, or rent to buy schemes. If he's keen and has put in the practise it seems a shame to have to switch instruments now. That said, I didn't take up the flute until I was 10 (in NZ at the time, that was the age you had to wait to get to before taking up a "proper" instrument). As Yak said, it's a great choice of instrument in terms of it being less common, therefore more opportunities. I'm trying to gently guide my son towards less common orchestral instruments, as being a flautist I'm all too aware of the competition for places. Good luck.

I take photos on my phone, then use one of the free online photo resizing websites to reduce them. You then save the image back to your device and attach to your message.

It will really come down to you - do you want a religion based primary experience, or a non-denominational one? Both are good schools with different underlying principles. For Goodrich you need to live very close by, for St Anthony's I believe you need a pretty rock solid base of church attendance. My three children are all very happy at Goodrich, but as we have no experience of St A's it's impossible to compare the two schools. As we aren't religious I didn't even consider putting it as an option when we first had to apply for school places for our eldest child, so haven't been inside the school. If both really are options, I suggest attending their respective winter fairs and any other events that are open to,the public, to get a feel for whether the school is right for your child/family.

Yes, I stopped going there a couple of years ago now. Second the recommendation for Shaun at Barry Rd Barbers, and also the barber on Forest Hill Rd, at the top end of the parade of shops where the Co-Op, Si Mangia etc are. Both do a great job. Another good option is Bounce, also on Forest Hill Rd. They did both my daughter and son's cuts before school started again - cheaper than Little Clipper and really lovely staff who genuinely seem to like kids.

Entrance exams are for private schools, whereas catchment areas apply for state schools. As far as I'm aware, catchment isn't such an issue for private schools. No experience of private, but have used a school nursery for my 3 children from age 3ish before moving to reception. In state schools, a nursery place does not guarantee a reception place. Good luck!

James, do you know whether the recycling centre would let a cubs group visit? Would have to be during normal cub meeting time (6:30 - 8pm). My son's group would love it (and I'd be interested too).

I would imagine so, subsidence affects the structure of the whole house, not just one floor. It's usually an insurance issue though, my friends recently had underpinning work done as an insurance claim.

Agree with what's been said already, but would also add that instead of going on an arranged visit/open day, visit the schools at times like summer/winter fetes - that way you get a real feel for the school. We are very lucky to have great state schools in East Dulwich and surrounds. At the end of the day, it's what you make of it, no matter where your child ends up. Get involved, support both your child and the teacher, it's often the support of families that make schools successful, as well as the work of the staff within.

Yes, we decided against it for our children too, and I'm completely pro-immunisation usually.

Just over the hill towards Forest Hill, past the Horniman Museum. Probably strictly SE23, but it's the one I tend to use the most.

Watching with interest, my 7 and 8 year olds get sporadic amounts for "helping" with things around the house, but I keep thinking I should put something regular in place (son loves Beano, so also thinking around the ?3 mark so he can afford it).

I'm just a block up the road, will drop some bits off to you on Saturday x