Moos

Me too, and it's so convenient for pub lunches, picnics etc. Still don't get the tomato thing. They're so tasty and inoffensive! Anyway, it's my prejudice and I'm sticking to it..

The only additional complication is agreeing holidays, which can be tricky - but as with anything good communication of your expectations and the expectations of your nanny is the key. Might be the same with childminders for all I know, but I think you don't pay your childminder for their holidays?? I think Steve is talking about au pairs - a qualified nanny is a very different quality of childcare. It's worth putting together an employment contract which can be in plain English and not legalese, but clearly lays out what you expect and what your nanny should expect. If you use a payroll agency, they will be able to help you with a pro-forma. Should cover hours of work, what they should and shouldn't do, annual holidays paid and the system for arranging, whether holidays can be carried over from one year to the next, salary and date of salary review, etc.

I remember first seeing the Charlie & Lola lunchbox with the slogan 'I Will Not Ever Eat A Tomato' and thinking Eh, who doesn't like tomatoes?! Of course, I gave birth to someone who Will Not Ever Eat A Tomato. Sigh.

Jamma, dunno re: question one as some lovely forumite sold us our plastic one, but the answer to your second question is a definite yes - so you'll need a lid. But you'd need a lid anyway, as wet sandpits are no fun.

She's 5'10" according to the OP.

She didn't hear them. She's trying to start them.

I thought Brown's continual deferring to Clegg ("and I know Nick agrees with me about this") made him look weak. He should at least pretend he believes Labour can win alone.

Don't worry mrs f - they're just jealous :)

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, IP - especially since you're going to one of my favourite places in the world. Announcement I posted was from BA via our corporate travel agent. I also checked the website of the company I was flying with from City Airport (Cityjet) and they confirmed all of their flights planned for tomorrow have been cancelled. One of my colleagues stuck in Bangalore tells me that our business travel insurance company advised her that the 'worst case scenario' is that this will go on for 5 days 'or more'. But that sounds like ultra-prudent insurance company talk.

No ouch was intended! sorry Keef - was just thinking generally about the types of photos people put on FB. (agree about baby profiles too though)

Latest announcement at work: A volcanic eruption in Iceland has created an ash cloud that is currently travelling in an easterly direction. As a result, restrictions by UK National Air Traffic (NATS) are in place. ?UK airspace remains closed until 0700 UK time tomorrow ?All short haul services departing from or arriving into LHR or LGW up to 1000 UK time will be cancelled ?All departures from LHR, LGW and LCY will be cancelled for the rest of the day from 1130 UK time (all UK domestic flights have already been cancelled for today) ?This applies to all airlines ?Some flights from the USA (BA292/296/68) have been nightstopped and others already airborne may be diverted (BA228/192/264/188). ?Further disruption is likely as a second eruption has occurred in closer to Finland and Russia.

Keef, see what you mean about the chicken-counting but attention seeking? Any more so than wedding pics, or baby pics, or pics of exotic holidays?

Just stopped being a beazle and actually checked the website - all Cityjet flights out of City Airport (well known for falling over at the drop of a hat) are cancelled all day tomorrow. Ratty - so sorry about your holiday, poor you. I hope you can resume a day late? As for me it's a tedious work thing, so I don't mind much - just have to do it next week.

Hmm, what do we think are the odds of my getting my 7.50 flight tomorrow morning?

I live nearby, and think of myself as living in Peckham.

Goose Green Squatters, thanks for coming onto the forum and taking part in the discussion. It's really interesting to hear your view.

Huguenot has asked me to clarify both in his post and in a PM that I was talking about him. I sometimes find the debates too aggressive for my liking, and in my perception people sometimes pick up on others' responses and partially or wholly misinterpret them to score points rather than trying to move the general discussion towards a shared understanding. I didn't intend to be sly or snide - it would have been inappropriate to name Huguenot as he's not the only person who does it but to be clear he was someone I had in mind.

... And with a graceful little skip, Swagger crosses the line.

Lordy. Knowing my luck, I'd end up with 2 mismatching scars in a sort of 'X marks the spot'! Ruth, sorry to have gone all silly on your perfectly sensible thread. Sounds as though going to the doc is a good plan, good luck and let us know how you get on.

What I mostly object to with regard to my scar is the way my fat tummy bulges out over one side of the scar more than on the other. I mean, really! Do they not know about my future as a bikini model?

Yes, PGC - as Status Quo so memorably sung, we're in the Harmy now.

Not sure I can entirely remember, as it was almost 3 years ago now but I seem to recall that the scar and the area behind it were quite tender for a good six months, although I also had no complications / infections etc. However, I definitely don't remember pain or not being able to push a heavy buggy months afterwards - I'd have thought that ought to be behind you by now. *looks around for our resident medical friends*

Perhaps some of the other ones lurking and giving him a hard time?

What Jeremy said. (I'm starting to feel like a stalker)

Old Yeller, perhaps the sign is aimed at the street area and not at you as a dog owner. We have a 'Bin It' sign right outside our front garden, but no dog - however, it is an area frequently decorated by other people's dogs, which is why, I'm assuming, the sign is there. I must admit it doesn't seem to have made much difference.