Moos

A pair of beige trousers? Cor. Keep it up, Nettie. What is the etiquette in re: breaking wind on public transport. Does one frown admonishingly at the culprit or rise above it all, much like the resulting murk?

I'd be happy to donate but can't come - is anyone thinking of going and would they be prepared to take along a bag of my stuff if I dropped it off to you one evening?

I find it hard to stomach the idea of being charged, very unfair on the worse-off parent and a bizarre concept to be charged to see your child. Many workin parents have to take time off to attend anyway. No.1's school sells DVDs of the filming, which is quite a canny move just before Christmas.

Ride-on car very popular chez Moos. Wooden drum also much loved (obv not just for boys) and makes rather a nice noise when bashed He might be a bit young for a toy pirate ship (eg ELC not Playmobile), and definitely too young for a play workbench but both might feature happily in his future!

More unfunny racist crap. What's with you, Captain Scarlet?

Agreed, maxxi! But I wonder whether all thst swooping about when pissed might make you feel a bit sick..

Sorry Sue, I think this is going to sound really harsh but if someone sent me an e-Christmas card I'd think they were either lazy as hell or didn't like me very much. I do struggle to find the time myself and I know you're really busy but I try to put aside a couple of evenings with a large glass of wine and write cards. Probably only manage a couple of dozen so if you have a lot of friends I guess it might not be possible. Before we had kids I even made cards myself... yeah, that's gone for a Burton. Annette - pfffft indeed. Did you see the Playmobile Advent calendars with Proper Big Toys in EVERY CHUFFING DAY? Sheesh. We thought we were spoilt when I was a kid when they invented ones with chocolate in.

Sheltered, but at least, you know, actual.

For what it's worth, Advent started in November this year - often does.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh I have it, too!

Does it not strike you as ironic that you're inferring your assessment of the Arctic from the man whose knowledge of the Arctic you are criticising?

OK, now what is bbm? I couldn't work it out..

I'll have to remember to post my brother's card by Monday. But everyone else's will probably get put in the post some time around Christmas Eve. :-$ I'm entirely intimidated by the Christmas Organized. One of my forumite friends posted weeks ago on facebook that she'd already finished her Christmas shopping - eek.

I like Risk

Oh you beeeech. Actually, I'm having a dry run of Mr. Sparkes' best rib of beef this weekend, and though I've missed Stir-up Sunday will be attempting making a Christmas pud. So ner.

Gervais' thinness is not visibly apparent - for me, he comes under the irrational rage thread. But toner - nah, can't be bothered. Does anyone know the point of it? (as in cleanse, tone, moisturise the skin... probably quite useful stuff in photocopiers)

Mike P on the Frozen bloody Planet thread.

Mook's advice is good. If you already know the oter families then you have a head start- there are some venal people out there. We had a good nanny share with a very nice family, and it worked because we had similar expectations with regard to child-rearing approach. I'd also add it's essential to get a contract between all parties and spell out things like holiday allocation, pay share and so on. Don't assume anything, and don't leave anything to be sorted out when it arises, that is how friendships fall apart when money comes into it. If there's a change in the arrangement (such as someone having another baby) then recontract with the changes. It probably sounds excessively careful and pernickety but it will save arguments in the long run.

I'd have thought that a nanny (like any mother) would herd the children a bit closer together when crossing roads, or might make kids travel by buggy where a solo toddler might have been able to scoot. It's easy to imagine dreadful situations and speculate how they would be dealt with but a good nanny should be as good and careful as you would be yourself. Kids tend to listen to their nannies more than to their parents anyway (so galling!). Our nanny currently looks after 2 one-year-old babies and our schoolboy during holidays. It's hard work for her, but the older child can help out. It's early days but so far it is working OK. Another 6 months and I think it will get easier, with 3 bipeds and only one nap/day for the babies.

Hooray, how nice to read, as that is exactly our situation except that both are yet little. One has started asking for another baby! I told him that if he wants one he can have it himself. lillyanginger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > 3 1/2 years in age gap, 4 school years. For us > that was absolutely perfect, no way I could have > been pregnant again sooner...the whole ' first > baby shock' was too overwhelming. > > DS1 was ready for 'his' baby as most of his > friends had siblings by the time our DS2 arrived. > So he took to 'his' baby immediately and that > hasn't really changed (they are now 10 and 13:)) > Not too much competition either, 4 school years > are a great gap.

Who? The difference between negative and libellous is pretty hard to define. If a tradesperson queries or counters negative feedback (and they often do), then a negative post has become potentially libellous. This is what has happened here, isn't it? Edited to add 2nd comment and for fat fingers.

Cross-posted with Huguenot.

But this particular thread was initially about contacting a tradesperson by their username, and quickly got into an irreverent discussion, and a lot of personal comment. If the poster had started a thread entitled 'My experience with Builder J. Smith" it would probably have remained.

3 1/2 years has worked well for our two, One is protective of his brother and on the whole kind to him, Two adores One and thinks he's absolutely hilarious. But since Two is going to be a late walker, it will be a while before they can really play together, and meanwhile One is moving on. Personally, I was nowhere near ready with a very young toddler to go through pregnancy again, so the "traditional" two-year gap wasn't an option for us.

Not to mention the word games, Quids. I admire your principle, but at least I've now found out who Buddy Ackerman is..