Ondine

Anyone seen "In Bruges"?

There's a real issue about leadership here. Headteachers and their senior staff have to build belief in the school. Mine are at Lyndhurst and one of them a bad time in an almost out of control class last year, but the difference was that we were listened to and concerns were acted upon. We reached the point where I left her to discuss issues with her teacher as I was confident about how the school was responding.

They're mad busy and a bit disorganised but I can't say they were unhelpful. My 8 yr old got her first glasses from that branch this week and everyone we dealt with was lovely. Including the dispenser who was happy to go back and search the stockroom for that special Beano glasses case. :)

Blimey that's a shame. I had bad experience there when looking for a place for my now 10 year old, but took it things had picked up.

yes quite good flights - not the cheapest as I'm flying with kids but times are all good. And picked up good deals for two nights in Westport on the way over and Dublin on the way back Am busy training my two to be independent in London, so a wander in Ireland is all part of the plan!!

But how good was that banana custard????

booked for Clare Island - really looking forward to it. Grace O'Malley is one of the attractions for me. My dad went to school on that side of Ireland and is full of stories about her - sailing up the Thames for strategic discussions with Elizabeth 1, for example, how amazing is that??

Sounds like Jenny Eclair's house

oh yes it's a classic. Mine are 10 and 7 and we're still dealing with it but not too dire. And I suspect it's partly one of those psychological developments they have to go through, and stands them in good stead for the playground so while you're right to stay on top of it, wouldn't think it's too much of a worry. I'm definitely aware that my younger one can play the cute card and get away with things, which can wind up the other one big time. Kinds of things that work for us are: giving the bigger one some distinct activities and time with me as the older one - and deliberately presenting them as a privilege that comes with age - real simple stuff, like that we go for a hot choc once a week while younger one is at an after school activity everyone has to do something to "help the family" every day, ie you're not allowed to just clear up your own mess and step over the sib's stuff younger one has a specific job she has to do every day - recycling is the current job, and I let it pile up and tell her off about it if she doesn't do it when they were the age of your guys, they had separate bed times, big one got an extra half hour or so to stay up and have some 1:1 So the theme I guess is rebalancing things all the time so the big one can see evidence that you are being fair. It's logical to have different expectations of the different ages but you have to avoid falling into the trap of pampering the small one. Easier said than done, I know!

yes it's Mayo I'm talking about. My parents are from West Cork so I've been all round there, looking to branch out.

Thinking of going there this summer. Anyone been?

hmmmmm I spent 10 years as a support tenant to people with learning disabilities and we got heaps of abuse from neighbours. We had the (very posh) local primary school throwing stones at "the loonies" at one stage. Preciate there are some anti social folk around but heavy dose of tolerance is a good start.

Anyone else spooked their kids by taking them down Nancy's Steps at the side of London Bridge? Very creepy on a November afternoon

Wouldn't you just go into call centre mode and sell him some stuff? The guy's on his knees - I reckon he'd buy a mobile phone, a trip to Disneyland and agree to take part in future research on London governance.

48. Who stuck Peckham next door? The estate agent never mentioned that. I drove down Rye Lane and there wasn't a Bugaboo in sight - it was like being on Mars, and I've still got to pay the traffic fine to those idiots at the council.

went for grilled asparagus with sliced boiled egg (grating was a step too far and it was a rare outing for the egg slicer) and loads of black pepper. Very nice. Thanks everyone

Got a big bunch - tell me what to do

It's a great story. Wish I'd been the one to make it up!

I've been with Melbourne Grove about 12 years and like others was suspicious of the change, but I have to say I've been impressed so far. I got a home visit recently when one of my kids had what turned out to be v bad tonsilitis - because I'd followed the triage model and taken advice from NHS Direct and pharmacist, I got rapid call back from GP who was happy to visit. I was proactively phoned to book an appointment for a smear, and the receptionist was incredibly helpful about working around my diary (not how I remembered them being!). And most recently, during one of the winter vomiting type episodes, I had a telephone consultation with a nurse clinician - it was similar to NHS Direct except she had my daughter's notes and didn't have to work through a script. She gave very good advice, and guaranteed a GP appointment if I continued to have concerns. Disappointing that it has required such a drastic step to improve the service, but setting aside politics, I really can't complain - my family's service has improved.

yes you can vote without polling card

I've just booked for latitude too. Going with my kids for the first time, so have booked into Tangerine Fields. Anyone used them before?

Got round to watching Brick Lane today. Couldn't see why it was so badly panned by the critics. Missed some of the complexity of the book but pretty good nonetheless.

Anyone for a polyclinic?

I consulted the nurse at our GP practice as my daughter has been laid low by this same set of symptoms. She said it's a 10 day virus that's everywhere at the moment, and you don't start to feel better till day 7. Only remedy is combo of ibuprofen and paracetamol, and the usual stuff about keeping hydrated. Sorry guys! But the advice on timing does seem about right. She's definitely on the mend now

we keep guinea pigs and get loads of visits from hopeful foxes, who shit everywhere. And one of my neighbours was traumatised by seeing her screaming rabbit being dragged over the fence from a fox. So I suspect it's no fun. But have you checked out the eglu = claims to be fox proof