Fmm

Brilliant - thank you

We are holidaying in La Rochelle but we have got 2-3 days/ nights to spend elsewhere on the journey back, preferably within 3ish hours drive of Calais. We are looking for a family friendly place to stay. Happy with Eurocamp-type places, resorts or independent hotels. Any recommendations? TIA

Thank you very much - that's really helpful.

I'm looking to buy a howdens/ benchmarx kitchen - I think - as I understand they are cheaper than a kitchen showroom kitchen. However I am baffled as to how I find out how much it will cost. I need to know how much the kitchen will cost before I decide on the builder, so that I can budget accordingly for the building work. However you can't get prices, they will only be given to a builder. So, my kitchen units may cost ?8k or they may cost ?18k and I don't know until I have engaged a builder to fit the thing! Plus every builder asks which kitchrn I am going for, but I can't confirm as I don't know how much they each cost! Is there any way to find out the cost of a kitchen before engaging a builder? I don't want to waste a builders time, or worse, engage a builder, before knowing how much the kitchen is going to cost approx. can anyone tell me how I deal with this? Thanks a lot.

I know I'm looking really late, but I'm trying to book 2 bedroom holiday accommodation for August near a pool and beach. I would prefer a package this year as the flights are all so expensive by now. I'm not picky where we go but am thinking Spain, Portugal, Greece. We are 2 adults 2 small children. The problem is it appears every search engine assumes we will all sleep in the same room, or in a 1 bed apartment with me and husband on a sofa bed in the lounge... For over ?2k a week... Is it really so strange for me to want to sleep in a separate room from my kids? Surely there must be 2 bed apartments in the swathes of apartment blocks across the med? The only way I can get any 2 bed places to come up is by saying that we have 2 further kids, but then the price rockets to over ?4k as it's done per person. So frustrating. Rant over. Maybe I am the only person whose idea of a holiday doesn't include sharing a room with the kids?!

Thank you - I might well be in touch!

Thank you so much Snowboarder. That is very very helpful. Do you do architect stuff for houses?! - I'll have to get in touch if so!!!

We want to build a 4m2 extension, add an ensuite, get a new bathroom and a rewire. It is a detached house so there are no party wall issues and the extension will be under permitted development. We have drawn plans ourselves showing in detail the floorplan we want. I am really confused about the order which we should do things next: - do we need architects plans (even though we know the design we want) before builders start work, in order for the work to be signed off as permitted development? - do architects do building control plans as well? Are these separate plans from the plans used by the builders? Do we need these before the builder starts work? - presumably we need to know how many RSJs we need, whether we need to move plumbing etc, before we speak to builders to get quotes. If so, how do we find this out? If we need a structural engineer to do this, do we employ the structural engineer direct? - will builders quote for a job bit by bit ie. this much for new bathroom, this much for extension, this much to fit kitchen, or is it usually a broad quote for the whole job? - does the architect assist with the contract with the builder or are you 'on your own'? Sorry for the long and boring post! any assistance really appreciated.

Would you be able to tell me how much the Health Hub charges for the meningitis B vaccine? I asked at JA Medical in Bromley when I took the kids for the chicken pox vaccine, but remember thinking it was very pricey (and I couldn't consider it until 6 months after the pox vaccine anyway so kind of dismissed it for the time being).

We also like: - Mog's Christmas - Father Christmas Needs A Wee - How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Thanks all, great ideas.

ps is it too much to want something not too overtly aggressive ie. preferably not soldiers/ man with gun...

My situation sounds similar to yours - my first slept through by 10 wks, by second wasn't consistent at 4 months and I was on my knees with tiredness, illness and PND. Both were exclusively breast fed. I couldn't cope with the lack of sleep etc and did speak to Nicola, putting in place her plan before little one was 6 months. It 'worked' and baby slept through pretty much ever since. I would recommend calling and discussing your concerns and she can tell you whether it's worth paying for her service now or waiting a few weeks.

My 3 year old son loves playing with his sister's Barbies and Happyland, zooming them around in their car for hours. I'd like to get him something similar of his own to regain sibling harmony, some kind of action figure I guess. He doesn't really watch tv so doesn't have any allegiances to particular brands. Any suggestions/ ideas for figures or playsets? I'd prefer something small that he could play with with his Playmobil (pirates and fireman)and I don't mind if it is branded or generic.

I think it is nice to have name or initials on a christening gift. I have done: - nice editions of books that include his name as the main/ key character eg. Just William books for a William, Harry potter for a harry. I'm sure I have been more unexpected in the past but cant think of any right now! - Cufflinks with engraved initials - Silver plated money box with engraved initials - Cool superhero print collection for his room from notonthehighstreet or similar - Quentin blake print for his room - the Links keepsake box engraved - name a star (John Lewis) - a lovely globe and atlas for a child who has cousins/ grandparents abroad - buy a Christmas tree/ olive tree for child to plant in the garden I do usually give an engraved bible too as it is a christening after all.