Grumpy Hamster

Midnight Mass at St John's on Goose Green - if CofE is what your after. Always friendly and very well attended. It is high church (traditional with smells and bells).

Just to add a recommendation for Gary Vu (above). Our electrics failed this evening and he very kindly talked us through a possible solution which worked. Clearly a very good chap who knows his stuff.

Hi Mrs C. You could try the Goose Green Centre - http://www.stjohnseastdulwich.org/the-goose-green-centre

I would be upset with this approach and I am a card carrying/flag waving Christian. Truth is good things happend to people who believe and people who don't. Bad things happen to people who believe and people who don't. I think that trying to promise good things to a child if they "believe" is a dangerous game - what if the day after they decide to "believe" something bad/terrible does happen? Is it worth suggesting to you MIL that it is enough that she is involved in the lives of her grandchildren and they are aware of her beliefs. She will be there if they have any questions and perhaps some of the more widely celebrated festivals (Easter/Christmas) might be worthy of a visit to the local church with her at some point (but until they are old enough to decide this is obviously up to the parents). As you say - once they are old enough they will decide for themselves. Best of luck. I hope your MIL is able to moderate her approach.

Hi Susyp Like all these things part of this is to do with the circumstances in which the clauses are used. So, for example if they ask you to be medically examined every week for no apparent reason this would clearly be unreasonable (regardless of what is in the contract). However if they ask for a medical examination because you have been sick for the last 6 months and they wish to understand how much longer you might be absent - this could be reasonable. Likewise the unpaid overtime. A little bit here and there is usual, but doubling your hours is not (unless its standard for the industry - in which case wage should reflect this). Also be aware of what impact this might have on your pay with regards to the minimum wage - you can not earn less than the national minimum wage (not much but better than nothing). On the medical examination - you would be asked your permission again regardless of what is in the contract and the medical examiner would ask if you wished to see the report before it is given to your employer - this is governed by seperate legislation which supercedes anything in the contract. The bit on working elsewhere is unusual and likely to be hard to enforce unless your work involves the liklihood of emergency call outs. I agree with the earlier post - this is more common in f/t jobs or bank/zero hour contracts. The one on holiday is standard and included in the working time regs. I also agree with the earlier post about employers sticking things in contracts and not enforcing them. Finally please remember that since the recent changes - unfair dismissal rights do not kick in until 2 years service. Therefore you are always better off sorting these things out amicably (but especially so in the first 2 years). I hope everything goes well and you enjoy the new job.

Yesterday early afternoon, we had some friends over. Unfortunately they left an iphone in their car and failed to lock the car. About 1 hour later the phone had been taken. Notwithstanding the usual advice about locking vehicles and putting valuables out of sight, I just wanted to make other residents of the St Francis estate aware. The car was parked outside our house and we are based at the very top of Abbotswood Road (therefore, being a close, it gets very little footfall) so it appears likely someone came into the estate with the intention of looking for vulnerable valuables.

Really interesting discussion about the use of faith in schools. I take the point that in circumstances where the best school in a local area is a faith school, then those families of the relevent faith will apply to that School and have an advantage. However, might it not also be the case that a family might choose as their first choice a school which is not considered the best in the area, but because it is a faith school i.e. that the family chooses a faith School almost regardless of standard, rather than a good/outstanding school and are assisted by their faith. I accept that this adds nothing to the argument over how faith schools should be funded.

I like the idea of Green & Blue, that way you're not far from the "Do It Yourself" shop if one of you doesn't turn up. Seriously, if this is a genuine question, and presumably only the OP knows for sure, you're really covering the total humiliation angle if one or both of the other partners does discover you - bravo.

ACAS are very good. Also some Citizen's Advice Centres may be able to help. I am not a lawyer, but have worked as an HR professional for over 10 years if you need a quick and basic answer to something.

If anyone finds a fluffy white seal toy between Goose Green and Abbotswood Road please could you let me know. The seal belonds to my 18 month daughter and is a favourite. Thanks.

Really sympathise with you Gussy - this must be extremely hard for the whole family. Is there any chance this is linked to potty training? When our 3 year old has woken up in the night it has usually been wanting a drink or a wee. It's the only suggestion Mrs Grumpy Hamster and I have at present I'm afraid. Best of luck.

As a parent of 3, including twins, and someone who enjoys responsible drinking, I think it will probably be quite clear where my views on this lie. And I think on this thread at least it is pretty much game, set and match. However, good for Marie81 to join this thread and state that she 'didn't mean to offend any parents'. It probably might have been easier for her to ignore this thread or post something more inflamatory. Right that said I'm off to drink meths and try and sell the youngest on e-bay.

No fairly sure it wasn't William Hague. Although perhaps government ministers putting on public fire works displays would fit in well with the "Big Society" idea...

He looked about middle aged, bald/balding, maybe 5'10"-6' tall, white.

Did anyone see the man letting off fireworks in the middle of the road on Abbotswood Road (just past Shaw Road) last night at around 7:30pm?