ClareC

Set hotmail up as exchange account and that solves the problem! Had same problem myself but all sorted now and doesn't take long to do :)

There are places outside of London with easy commutes. My commute is 10 mins longer door to door than when I lived in ED. It's pleasant too, always get a seat and read books again, something I've barely had a chance to do post children!

We are much further into Kent, a village @ 5 miles outside of Ashford. HS1 gets you to Stratford International (for Canary Wharf) in 28 mins and St Pancras in 35 mins There are slower trains to LB, Charing Cross & Victoria. 20 min drive and you are on a beautiful golden sandy beach! I come into town 3 days a week and the commute is pleasant and fast! I do miss having trains every 10 mins, twice an hour does lead to clock watching!!

Glad it's not just me! Both dog poo and parent spaces make me see red! I have a dog, I don't allow him in the children area and I pick up! Don't see why others can't.... Hardly difficult! As for the parent spaces, always full of cars with no children! I only use them if i have both toddlers with me but rarely get one. I parked the furthest point surrounded by spaces to ensure I could get two toddlers out ok, came back to find a gas van parked as close as he could get one side despite the many empty spaces.... Grrrr On another occasion a tiny car parked wonky so the back was really close whilst the front was far away, ended up having to take each toddler into the front and climb through the middle to the back, I was fuming!

Hi Carbonara, Yes, looked at all schools not just Grammars. The Comprehensives are good too and have streams as in any other area. Cannot see how selective schooling can have a detrimental effect on the Comprehensives, interested to know how? We too had the pull of family in Kent, I grew up here myself and from my experience saw the top streams of the comprehensives can and do do as well as the Grammars. A lad in my class at school had two sisters, he and one sister went to Grammar, the other sister Comprehensive. It was the one at Comprehensive that ended up with straight A's and went on to medical school. Not all schools are good, just a lot easier to get a place in a good one and you genuinely do have a choice of school :)

We have moved to Kent too, journey into town only 10 mins longer door to door than when we were in ED! And you get a seat...... Bigger house, huge garden and grammar schools. It's harder to meet people / find the best places to go but once you do make friends everything falls into place very easily. We love it here, only part of ED I miss is the people. We have been here 3 months now and I still feel like we are on holiday!

I don't think this is an odd topic at all..... We have two, one of each sex, 15 mths apart. We are undecided as to whether to have a third, if of course we are fortunate enough to be able to have another. I think I would like too, but not yet..... My two are still very young (1&2). My partner would like another when he is getting full nights sleep, but a bad night or so and he goes off the idea ;) I don't think too much about it or plan as such given its not right now....

I bought and sold through Spencer Kennedy. Very professional and a pleasure to deal with. They outshone the others who came round (KFH, Winkworth and Pedder). KFH said the valuation was lower as buyers want proximity to Lordship Lane...... The house we were selling was a 2 min walk from Lordship Lane !?!?! The valuer admitted she was new to the area and had presumably driven from the other direction.

We are in Kent too ..... We moved end March. We are in deepest darkest Kent (nr Ashford) but still only half an hour away given the lack of traffic and decent m0torway! Love it here but agree it's far harder to find out what is going on locally etc! We are getting there slowly and had our first play date today :) I found the Internet forums non existent/ unused too! Surestart activities a bit hit and miss but the absolute gem has been the local free magazines, seems to be where everything is advertised! We found them in the local Tesco. We come under Tonbridge which may be close to you- seems to be lots going on there! Agree we should have an exile group :)

And they price match!

I bought a pillow on my friends recommendation. We didn't end up using it but bought it online for @?12. Think it was a Swedish make. We no longer live locally otherwise you would be welcome to it, it's unused. My friends daughter is 6 now, they only went private because there was no help available from the NHS- different health authority and different time so you may get the treatment on the NHS. I remember her having to wear a contraption that looked like a crash helmet. I suspect hers was a severe case. Definitely see your Dr as first port of call. Good luck x

I bought a pillow as one of my friends twins suffered with this. I didn't end up using the pillow as neither of my children ended up needing it. It's caused from laying the same side all the time. Apparently if you can ensure a different part of head laid on (turn when asleep) it avoids it happening in the first place / getting any worse. It can be corrected. There is a helmet that can be made and worn. I am happy to ask my friend for more details if your interested. I know they had to go private to do this, it did work.

I've got two which I've used in the P&T's Vibe, one is a Jo Jo one, the other Blooming Marvellous. Both wash well and still look brand new. I only use one now as rarely use my Vibe (eldest 2 and 3 months), in hindsite didn't need two. Vibe folds with them in no problem.

Hmmm wedding politics!! That's exactly why we are planning to organise ours with a 6 week turnaround ;) less time for family interference!! Seriously though, a B&G should please themselves, it is their day after all. Just be aware the knock on effect their decisions have on others and don't be offended if people subsequently can't make it!

theasidonio wrote " my partner and I were not entitled to an invite....." Agreed, but it works both ways. As complimentary it is to receive an invite, if guests decline because the B&G choose to have a no children policy (whatever the reason, whether it be they are having a wedding beyond their means or just simply do not like children), then the B&G should not be offended by the rejected invite. Personally, at our wedding, the fact people do have children is a huge consideration. We will ensure they are included (should their parents wish to bring them) even if that means we have to reduce costs elsewhere. As for wanting the parents to let their hair down, that's their choice not mine! I cant enforce it! I am ensuring it's as easy as possible to do so without excluding their children! Edited to add I'm not sure if I would be offended or not if my children were excluded from an invite. I would be less likely to attend though as attendance is subject to far more than being available on the day!

Were you given a volumiser too? Makes inhalation for children far easier.

Im asthmatic and was fortunate in that my asthma stayed under control during pregnancy. I did however speak to the Dr about my asthma drugs and the view was very much that I should take them as normal if needed since its far more dangerous to a baby if it's mother is struggling to breath. Hope you feel better soon, X

It's odd, we are rural but with civilisation a short drive away (@ 5 miles). It still feels like we are on holiday!! There is no local shop to pop too, although the farmers son (next door) sells eggs so there is always the fall back position of scrambled egg/ omelette etc I had to order oil last week, that was interesting!! When asked how much I wanted I had to admit to not having a clue!! Bought 700 litres as recommended by the very helpful farmers co operative lady! As for cooking with an ancient Aga..... Hmmm fortunately there is a normal cooker too albeit the hob runs off LPG!!

Ooh great ideas, thankyou :) new inspiration! I'm planning to invest in an additional freezer to accommodate my latest attempt at being efficient. My MIL has just bought us a slow cooker so I plan to try out some of those recipes too. We have moved house recently and no longer have shops nearby, it's forcing me to be more organised which can't be a bad thing :)

Im trying to make large batches of meals to fill my freezer with home made convenient quick food!So far I've made Spaghetti bolognaise, shepherds pie, green Thai curry, fish pie, home made burgers and chilli. Any other suggestions for great home made freezer food? I've run out of ideas!

EmmaCC Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > A small point but please don't be put off getting > legal advice or using the panel firm because of > what you've read about associate solicitors- I'm a > solicitor working in a completely different field > but have just been made an associate 10 years post > qualification- my job title previously was 'senior > solicitor' - different firms use different > terminology but usually the most junior solicitors > are 'assistant solicitors'. If you can get sone > advice free then you really should do this- even a > chat over the phone with a solicitor should > provide you with some ammunition to use with your > employers... > > I really don't understand anyone who posts on here > defending the employer- what happened to > solidarity?! It makes me so angry how difficult it > is for 'middle income earners' to return to work > cos of childcare costs- it seems that if you earn > v little then you're encorouged with tax credits > and if you earn loads then the childcare costs > don't impact but for a lot of people in the middle > there seems little incentive to go back. I know > things have improved but they need to improve more > so that women aren't faced with the dilemma of > going back to work for no financial gain! > > Anyway, rant over- I really, really hope you sort > this out- good luck!x Totally agree!

The maze at Leeds castle is good too :)

Night will be fine! Daytime...... Could you travel night instead?

I've had 2, one emergency and one planned. Was advised any further pregnancies would have to be c section. Although vbac is possible it's not recommended by NHS due to increased risk of rupture. Was also told fine to have another C section but they don't recommend csection for people who want v large families. 3 fine. All info was given last year by a consultant obstetrician at Kings.

Hmmm I'm with Marie81 on this one. Totally agree dog owners like this are best avoided, however, this dog is no greater or less risk to people because it attacked (and tragically killed) another dog. By all means keep an eye on whose around you in the park be it dogs or people! Be careful as you cross the road too and watch out for the large grass cutters, people on bikes, falling tree branches, child attacking foxes..... The list is endless! Dog attacks on people are thankfully very rare, sadly on the rare occassion it happens the media go to town! Let's not blow this sad occurrence out of prospective.