WorkingMummy

I am right with you, too, rahrahrah. Religious discrimination based on the faith of the child's parents. It should be contrary to the Equality Act and for the life of me, I don't understand how it's legal, let alone tolerated, let alone actively encouraged.

...my puppy stands and stares at strangers. It's a phase.

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I wasn't suggesting that any child was out of > control.. I'm sure I stared at people when I was > little. > > I'm tempted to stick my thumbs against the side > of my head, waggle my fingers , stick my tongue > out > and go loblobloblo.. > > Do you think that would work.. ?? > > Foxy... You were very understanding about the kids Your method has got to vary with the child, that's the thing. Your head/waggle move would make my puppy back off but might make my kids laugh and talk to you.

Re Louisa's last post... Child not under control?? Because they were standing still and looking at someone? What the child did was a tiny bit inappropriate. The Fox himself said, we all know kids do this. They need to be reminded not to do it, but really... I understand entirley how upsetting it would be for The Fox to feel that the mother was trying to protect her children from him, but I really doubt that was her motive. Regardless, the Fox is not describing a situation in which the kid was out of control.

My now deceased grandparents loved crumpets, spread thinly with fish-paste (not your modern tubed seasoning/curry base, but something spreadable that used to come in small jars) or piled high with "cheese and onion". But that last one was always made fresh, with raw grated onions, cheese and milk. They also loved corned-beef and tinned pilchards. Anything that was considered a luxury in the War was always considered a treat. Actually I have a hankering for this stuff myself at times.

KidKruger's right. If my children were standing and staring at someone who was showing no sign of wanting to engage (which I'd totally understand) I would call them away. Because standing and staring at people - although a very natural thing for kids to do, as you say - is slightly rude. She was probably just trying to raise them right.

DulwichFox Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Why would America be so concerned about terrorism > when they have had 1,051 mass shootings in 1,066 > days.. > amongst their own people. That comment is very interesting in light of the report that the married couple who killed 14 people in San Bernadino yesterday are being posthumously investigated for "terrorism", because they were Muslim, and may have been in contact with extremists via social media. Obama and the Feds have both said that they "haven't ruled out the possibility" that this was a terrorist attack. Irony. The average, daily mass-killing in the US is apparently not terrorising. This single incident could probably be used to justify starting a war.

I just find the whole thing so confusing. Last time parliament voted, in 2013, the proposition was to bomb Assad. Now we are bombing ISIL. When Cameron answered the question re ?wtf is then plan yesterday, he trotted off some answer about getting everyone involved to sit down and talk. "So first, we need to identify who those people are..." ?? We don't know who they are yet. But we are weighing in? The only part of his explanation that really rang true was when he said, our allies keep asking us to do this.

I agree rahrahrah. Opposing the air strikes, on the ground that it will only make a very bad situation worse, and be as ineffective an answer to terrorism as say, hmm the war in Afghanastan... Or to say that air strikes as a response to the Paris attacks would be disproportionate (as well as useless), and to query why European lives should be valued so highly above Syrian lives... These are not arguments that express sympathy with terrorists. They do the opposite. Cameron says this kind of stuff, and it's like a prep school debate team is playing with the ISIL question.

Oh bravo you! It is a beautiful looking book. As well as being packed with useful advice. I was bought a copy by a friend about a year ago. Am so grateful. I'd have been utterly clueless.

Dogs are great for children and families and you. But the amount of work involved is a bit shocking if you are not prepared. I agree with first mate re Caesar Milan v Gwen Bailey. We have a new puppy now, and I read "Perfect Puppy" for several months beforehand and it was great prep. I also highly rate this woman: http://www.cadelac.co.uk I have her "It's a Dog's Life" dvd and learned loads. I would also echo the views that taking your time is good and that Christmas is potentially a bad time. A dog is a big change and puppies in particular are a lot of work. Unless you want a lot of problems down the line, you can't leave them on their own for long and you certainly can't leave them to romp and play with your children unsupervised. The natural way for a puppy to explore the world and play is with his mouth and teeth. And for the first few weeks you have to be hypervigalent, to gently correct and redirect him every time he pulls at your children's clothes, puts his teeth on them (even if softly). You have to do this hundreds and hundreds of times and it is exhausting. To really get it right, for the first few weeks, you cannot really turn your back (unless he is penned/crated). You also have to teach your children how to be around him, which in my case has meant, "Kids, when we are with the pup, you do exactly what I say, immediately, no questions. And darlings if you can't do that, he has to go back to find a different family." Then there is the housebreaking. But it is a lot of fun and the work does drop off quite quickly, if you are super committed from the start. Thank god for my puppy play pen. WM

I can echo that the Southwark admissions team are very helpful.

Great to hear.Really feel for you. I've had the same issue once or twice. It's stressful but normal and will pass. Xx

Oh poor you. Totally with Peachpie on this one. As you say, both your child and your au pair are behaving totally understandably and as Peachpie says the onus is on you to bring them together in fun ways. And give lots of encouragment and reassurance to both. Having an au pair, straight from her parents' house to you as host, in a foreign country, is a bit like having a new child. Potentially a great big sister to your LO and a really useful help to you but hardly an adult herself - and probably with no experience playing with strangers' children. Hang in there. I find that a lot of effort in the first few weeks, including your au pair in all you do as a family, just basic routine stuff like meals and walks, really pays off. And as Peachpie says, talk to your au pair. Ask her if there is anything she thinks would help and let her know your plans to make things easier. And ask for her input as you go along. It will pass.

We have a new puppy at home and I wondered if anyone could recommend me a really good vet? WM

Elizabeth Lang, Bird and Bird.

PS - I have ashy/platinum/strictly-no-yellow highlights myself as I have quite cold colouring but, akd, I have a girlfriend who is a redhead who uses 4thFloor too and she, like me, has been happy there for years.

For all your colouring (and styling) needs, 4thFloor, on Northington Street in the City. 02074056011. Just go, and you'll see. I was sent there by a friend whose colour is so good I thought for years it was natural. Been going for over a decade myself. A really well kept styling secret. My personal favourites are Jackson to cut and Rosie to colour. WM xx

Yes, there's quite a large German speaking community around ED/Herne Hill. My kids are German speakers but Judith Kerr is a bus ride away, and what I want is for them to be together with their friends in our local community school. The independent school which my daughter currently attends, our local primary and Southwark Admissions team have all been really kind and helpful and this situation is now sorted. Thank you everyone for pointing me in the right direction.

That is really kind of you - thank you Landsberger. Thank you everybody.

Good one. I like this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XjJQBjWYDTs

Thanks Canela - that's helpful.

Can anyone tell me what the score is on applications to Southwark primary schools, entry into year 3? My child is in year 2 at an independent infants school. I've looked into putting her through the 7+ for prep school places next year, but I don't want to do it. Do I just contact each school directly, get her name on the waiting lists, and hope? I have a child who will start in reception in September. We live very near to a good primary and I am wondering whether getting him a place in reception at our local school would improve my daughter's chances on the waiting list?

Rhs website has good advice on pruning most plants. For Hebes here: http://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-results?form-mode=false&query=Hebe+ And cistus: http://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/92784/Cistus-x-cyprius/Details Hebes I think flower on new wood each year so respond well to pruning. Cistus I don't know.

Rebekah Brooks had a team of three counsel: none of them are at Alex Cameron's chambers.