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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.

I can only echo Snowboarder's thoughts. I had to switch from nursery care to a nanny for my 2 and 4 year old a year ago due to moving house. I hadn't realised until I got a nanny how stressful the rushed mornings to be at nursery for 7.30am then pick up for 6pm was. Nowadays generally the kids are still asleep or in PJs when I leave at 7.30am. When I return from work at 6pm they have had nice downtime at home with their toys, a lovely tea and my (now-reception age) daughter has done her homework. If either are ill I do not have to take time off work (although don't forget that if the nanny works for another family on the days that they do not work for you, the nanny may not be able to work for you if your child has an infectious disease eg. chicken pox. I guess you could state in your contract with the nanny that your family takes precedence in this instance if you employ the nanny for the greater number of days per week...?). The cost is comparable to a nursery for 2 kids (I work 3 days/ wk), even if I factor in 2-3 daytime activities or playgroups a week for the nanny to take my pre-schooler to. But if you are in an area where there are more nannies around for your nanny to meet with then you may not even need this expense. Having no family nearby, for us as well it is amazing to have a trusted person to babysit and/or work a bit longer if I am caught late at work. I haven't had to deal with my nanny being ill yet, but yes this would definitely be a problem from a logistical point of view.... but the "being an employer" thing I have found not a problem at all as there are so many resources available to help you particularly on the payroll side. hope that helps.

Thanks very much, have checked this out and it looks exactly what I am looking for. And currently half price on amazon!

My 5 year old really really wants a camera for Christmas. She is quite into and good at artistic/ crafty stuff so I think she could enjoy taking pictures as an extension of that. She certainly loves taking over my phone camera to take close ups of random things as her "art".... Does anyone have any recommendations for an easy to use, basic digital camera that I could get her? I have no idea of price or anything so am prepared for the idea to be scuppered on that basis. TIA. PS. I guess if a camera is out, any recommendations of craft activity presents also appreciated. She loves the sticky mosaics pictures, sticker dolly dressing and the "How To Draw..." books.

Apologies for the boring subject. My cleaner does a good job I think, but after she's been the house doesn't smell particularly refreshed. Does anyone have any recommendations for cleaning products which do the job but also leave the place smelling lovely and fresh? I prefer eco-type products and like the Method lavender spray but other than that nothing seems to linger. TIA.

I have done a couple of hams with different glazes in the past for this - honey and mustard ham in oven and boiled ham on hob. Or a roast chicken in the oven and pot roast chicken on the hob. With baked mash with cheese on top/ posh sliced potatoes which go in the oven so are no hassle. Also roasted carrots and other root veg that doesn't need anything doing to it other than roasting in baking tray. If you think you will need you can do corns on the cob, salads and garlic breads to go with it. I have also done homemade sausage rolls (eg turkey mince and cranberry to prevent pork overload) to go with this as well if I think I may need extra stuff.

Thanks for the info Tara and Snowboarder. Your kitchens are beautiful! Snowboarder where's yours from? *hopefully local as I think you are now based near to me in BR6*

Tara - can I ask how you have found Benchmarx in term of ease to deal with, design help and delivery/ installation times? V interested in one of their kitchens. Also, does the microwave cupboard take 60cm width space - I will probably have a range (90cm wide) as well as a microwave, but I am struggling with finding a space for a microwave as I'd would prefer it to be counterheight, but then lose 60cm of worktop space... Thanks.

I'm so relieved to see the original post on this! My little one is nearly 5 and it seems all her peers are dry at night. I have also been wondering if it is now a habit to wee in nappy at night. All advice seems to be to go cold turkey and just take the nappy off (perhaps with one lift at 11ish). But my little one cant even get to 11pm without wetting the bed! Then at 11pm won't actually 'go'. Then wakes up wet at 2am, 3am etc. Having always slept very well this is a bit of a shocker to all of us! I have noticed that my child does not drink nearly half as much as other children during the day. Could this be a contributing factor? Or, any other advice?

Do travel car seats exist? We are hiring a car in France and cannot take our usual huge bulky car seats on the plane. Is the only option to hire car seats with the hire car (expensive and often not big enough for bigger kids). Kids are aged 2.5 and 4 years. Thanks for any suggestions.

The school doesn't run many after school classes/ clubs, and doesn't do Rainbows, swimming or dance/ gym which my little one's most interested in trying (aka begging for mummy to enrol her in for over a year). I guess like said earlier, we will need to book out our Saturday mornings for a couple of classes rather than precious family time (or lie ins, in my dreams!)