Pickle

I'm another tongue-tie "survivior", with my son finally being diagnosed at about 6 weeks old (and due to administrative c*ck ups it wasn't corrected until he was 8 weeks old). Similar problems - fed for hours and hours, never seemed satisfied, weight continued to drop off him. Despite having been seen by the paeds unit at Kings regarding his weight loss ("best to put him on formula, he's obviously not thriving on the breast") it was a student midwife who finally realised what the problem was. His was quite a mild tie, no obvious heart shape to his tongue, but it wasn't until afterwards that I realised he had never stuck his tongue out before it was fixed. Even a mild tie can dramatically affect breast feeding. Due to the operation to correct it being so late it took us a long time to finally be able to breastfeed successfully, but with help we managed it. It is a really common condition, but missed far too often. I refused to leave hospital after I had #2 until Claire Kedves had looked in her mouth!

I'm going to the "dark side" and joining the main forum drinks on Friday which are at the Phoenix (Denmark Hill). If the family room drinks don't end up being a goer anyone who fancies it should join me!

Don't worry, you'll be fine. I've done the return trip to NZ many times since having children with them at a variety of ages (3 months, 10 months, 15 months, 2.5, 3 etc.) and have survived to tell the tale. Heading off again in a couple of weeks by myself with them (now 2.5 and 4). There have been some great posts full of helpful hints, which should come up in a search. P x

Will do my best, but might be closer to 7pm for me

It was a real PCN, and the clamping company were not council based. Thanks for input so far, much appreciated.

I used cloth with both of my kids, and had a year or so where they were both in them due to my close age gap. I never found it a hassle (honestly) to do it all myself. Son was in Bamboozles, daughter was in prefolds to begin with, then a mixture of Itti Bitti D'lish and Blueberries. All soiled nappied were put into a nappy bucket (dry pailed), every other day I bunged the whole lot in my washing machine at 60 degrees. Personally I wouldn't like the thought of using communal nappies, however I'm not sure whether that has to be the way it's done. Give it another try, it's worth it :)

Yet another vote for the BT 150 - we're still using ours and daughter is 2.5! We also had the older model for our son, which is still going strong after 4 years.

Hi all, Does anyone have any experience in recouping charges paid to a clamping company? Our situation is that the clamping (and subsequent charges, which were paid) occurred due to PCN's being sent to an old address - so the first we knew about it was when the clamping occurred. At the time the fine (very large) was paid, but we've since realised that we may have had a case against the original PCN due to them being sent to the wrong address. I understand that we could file an "out of time statutory declaration" regarding the PCN, but would we have any chance of then being refunded the clamping fees? Any advice welcomed!

Mockney, you've obviously been watching far too much of the lovely Katie... I'm assuming that's where your roast lamb knowledge stems from? ;-) Although it's possible that lamb is far too common for that show, and the children have been preparing roast pheasant instead...

Fantastic performance from Matt. I think TrayC will go... good voice, but far too arrogant and not different enough. Wagner, oh dear, but I fear the "voting public" (whoever they may be) will keep him in. He is funny, I'll give him that. Is it wrong to fancy the lead singer from the boyband when I'm well and truly old enough to be his mother?

I restrict the amount of TV my kids watch, within reason. My daughter isn't really that interested, at most will sit for 30 minutes. Son sat on a plane from London to Singapore and watched Disney's "Princess and the Frog" on repeat for 12 hours, I don't even think he blinked...

Oooooh, my very own stalker, fabulous! ;-)

I'm planning to pop in on my way home for a couple - long time forumista, never attended the "proper" drinks. Be nice.

Congratulations - 4kg, wow! I managed 2 natural births without pain relief but my babies were only 6lbs - I take my hat off to you! Enjoy the newborn cuddles x

Wonderful news Moos, congratulations! Is that a bit earlier than due date, or have I lost track of the weeks? Hope to meet the new addition soon x

My daughter at Sainsbury's last week, upon being asked her name by the checkout lady: "I'm M, I'm a girl, I haven't got a willie, C (brother)'s got a willie, it's a teeeeeeny tiny willie. Daddy's got a willie, Mummy hasn't got a willie, have you got a willie?". My son the week before, at the Horniman museum musical instrument section, having followed a man and his children around listening while the Dad told his kids what the instruments were called: "no, that's not a trumpet, that's a cornet" (and he was right too!) We've also had "why's that lady got a beard?" and numerous "I don't WANT to sit beside that lady Mummy, she looks very scary" instances from my son in buses. Kids eh?!

We lie our kids back in the bath to wash their hair - son (nearly 4) has a massive water in eyes phobia, so it's the only way we can do it without him screaming.

Now if that was my house I would be taking them to give to less fortunate children... and putting them in my mouth! At least she had self control ;-)

Love Inbetweeners, never fails to make me laugh (and cringe). Guilty pleasure is "Swingtown", late on Tuesday nights in ITV3... set in the 70's America, not the sort of thing I usually watch but I've really enjoyed it.

It's all very polite in our street - the little ones are out in force but seem to be abiding by the "no pumpkin no knocking" rule more so than in other years. We don't have decorations but I had stocked up just in case... looks like we'll be living on trick or treat goodies for a few months...

I recommend Alan Yeo and his team at ARY Property Services Ltd - they knocked out the back of our house, put bi-fold doors in, new kitchen, redecoration throughout, roof repairs etc etc and we were very impressed with their professionalism and attention to detail. PM me if you would like his details.

That sounds like a lot going on in one small pool! I'm just back from Crystal Palace, where I had a great swim in the big 50m pool with lots of lanes and plenty of space. We went last Sunday morning for the family swim in the training pool, had the pool to ourselves for the first 20 mins, and it wasn't terribly busy this morning either - highly recommended and only 10 mins up the hill by car.

I tried bio-oil but it made me come out in horrible spots. When I remembered I used some lovely "whipped" cream from Boots, but to be honest I didn't do it very often. Maybe I'm lucky but I've escaped strech mark free!

Yep, cold turkey in this house too. Kids were up at 6am and told to go and play quietly in another room as it was "still nighttime" (they're 2.5 and nearly 4, so thankfully we can do that these days!). I predict dinnertime meltdowns but hopefully they'll be on track tomorrow. However it is one of those days where I really start to dislike my childless Facebook friends who will all be gloating about that extra hour when they finally drag themselves out of their pits...

Oooooh, I thought Cher was good!