ClareC

TillieTrotter Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Miny! Me too!

Domitianus Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > intexasatthe moment Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > pepsi Wrote: > > > -------------------------------------------------- > > > ----- > > > Crikey - this really is like the Daily Mail! > > Some > > > astonishingly ignorant and prejudiced comments > > > > here. I think it would do a few people good > to > > be > > > in someone else's shoes for a bit. > > > > As long as they weren't new-ish shoes. > > Big Issue vendors should not be allowed to take > > pride in their appearance or try and look smart > > and presentable, according to some. Attempts at > > this shall be met with looks of disgust. > > > > And they must seem nice ,be polite and not be > > pushy . > > I think the issue is not about pride in one's > appearance or the like. It is the fact (which a > number of people seem to want to stray away from) > that owning a car, phones and being able to dress > in what are cited as being new and fashionable > clothes is simply not consistent with someone > being homeless, hard-up or destitute. And those > who are homeless or destitute are the people who > TBI was established to help. I think posters are > wondering whether someone who can afford to run a > motor etc etc is really entitled to be selling TBI > or has managed to get round whatever vetting or > criteria there are and is effectively doing a > genuinely needy person out of a pitch. > > By analogy, if you saw someone well dressed and > groomed, with a car and phone, mess up their hair > a little, rub a bit of grime under their finger > nails, put on a scruffy coat and, mournful > expression in place, nip into a homeless soup > kitchen to get a free meal you might feel that > they were taking the p*** a little and taking > advantage of the charity offered. At last! Some sense!!! Been out for the day and amazed that a thread simply wondering if a BI seller is real or not turns into a debate as to whether you can dictate what a person earning money should spend it on (don't believe anyone suggested this to be the case). For the record I entirely agree that everyone (Including BI sellers)earning money can spend it on whatever they choose! Maybe some people buy the BI for its content, in which case the transaction is similiar to that of buying a paper from a newsagent as Keef mentioned. For me personally, I give the money but do not take the magazine since I have no interest in the magazine but wish to support a worthy charitable cause. I do not have an infinite supply of money available for charitable donations (charitable in my personal circumstances not the "newsagent" situation), therefore choose where the money available goes - If it makes me prejudice donating to causes that on the face of it appear to be in more need then quite frankly I am happy to be prejudice!! We are only able to draw conclusions from what we see, I have no idea if that woman is genuinely needy or not, however she does not come across that way from the circumstantial evidence available. If I were to choose to give her money, I would not in any way shape or form expect to dictate how she spent that money. The way she does spend her money means I choose to donate the money I have to causes that appear more needy. Is it so wrong to want to help those that appear to need it most? I really do think certain people on here are constantly looking for a fight / to take offence and purposely misconstrue what is being said! Let the barrage begin.....

Gimme Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > And I saw one of them eating a mars bar the other > day... not even a generic low cost chocolate bar. > Pampers eh... what scumbags... what will they > spend the money they earn from selling the Big > Issue on next. > I mean, its not as if they have it hard sitting on > the pavement outside Somerfield all day selling > magazines. > > Hilariously most people seem to forgive Big Issue > sellers for smoking but to spend the money on > something selfish like Pampers for your baby > eh... It's not really a case of whether anyone does or does not want to give money, I think the consensus is that people do, they just want to be confident they are not being taken advantage of. It all come's down to what is deemed as necessities. If she wants to buy Pampers instead of a cheaper comparable alternative, gamble, own a mobile phone and buy mobile phone credits and anything else that is entirely her choice, however, not all would see these choices as life necessities. Maybe it's just me but I would rather donate to genuine need, she simply does not indicate that with her life choices in my opinion - maybe you see mobile phones, gambling and expensive nappys as necessity in which case that's your opinion and choice. At no time did I question her need for nappies at all!!!! If I think owning a Ferrari is a necessity so sell my house to buy one thus rendering me homeless would you be so sympathetic I wonder? Extreme and unlikely example however just making the point that this thread is questioning if she is genuine....The answer has not yet been forthcoming from BI and certain of her "life choices" seem to imply otherwise.

Beckenham Spa has been recommended to me, its not that close though.....

Ive always been suspicious of the girls outside somerfield, I saw one coming out of Somerfield with (presumably) her shopping which included (amongst the numerous bags) Pampers - hardly a nappy for the cost conscious! One of them was outside the new Sainsbury's local a few weeks ago selling Big Issue (only seen her there once), as I came out she was chatting on her mobile phone !?!? Seemed rather ironic to me. Maybe its just me and the homeless these days have mobiles and shop for named brands! That said the BI seller near my work and the one by my gym are both lovely chaps who seem very genuine - I give them both money and don't take the magazine so they then have an extra to sell. I definitely support BI but am genuinely dubious of the Somerfield girls!

That sounds great Mellors, I would love to take her asap!

I have a friend who is BA cabin crew, she has twin girls and has an au pair and has done so as long as I have known her (she is a single parent having split from her husband when the girls were very young). My sister's friend also has twins and is a single parent in the police force (shift work etc), she too uses an au pair, her twins are below 2, I wasn't aware there was any restriction on age with au pairs.

That's great thanks for that, will discuss with the nurse tomorrow when she has her jabs.

My GP says after the second jabs, Health Visitor and Internet search suggest not linked to jabs at all and can go as early as you like! Seems to be some contradiction here! Any ideas anyone? My daughter is 8 weeks so first jabs this week :( would love to get her swimming as early as is safe for her!

I do 80ml bottles and just give her more than one if she wants more.....tonight she had 3!!!! She is 8 weeks today. I work on the basis I would rather do it that way than waste any!!!

The Jolly Postman is a great one :-)

How about plain clothes police walking on Barry Road on a Sat night .....when asked for phone they can bring out warrant card :-)

The CVTV on the bus will show him, if he followed you off the bus that is. I use that stop all the time and have on occasion used it and the 12 late at night, I do watch who gets off at the same time but I suppose by then it's too late anyway :-( hate that bus!! Were you heading towards the CAstle or Domkey Alley? There is a real dark corner towards the Castle where I believe this has happened before!

Dumb question maybe but where is the harness in a Bugaboo pram? Am feeling incompetent that it didn't even occur to me there should be one, let alone notice there actually is!!! sb Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We have the TT and always use the harnesss. Like > someone said, they might not wriggle/escape at 6m > but try introducing the harness for the first time > at 12m (when they turn into little Houdinis)and I > imagine it'd be a challenge. > The harness is an add-on, just like the babyseat. > It all adds up but best not to scrimp on safety. > > Having said all that, I never used the harness > when our daughter was in the bugaboo pram....It > just never occurred to me (I blame sleep > deprivation).....I feel very stupid now! Awful > thing to happen Fuschia! Made me feel ill too... > :0

I feel left out now......... and slightly disurbed by how common this seems to be!! I had a lad used to stand outside the shop I worked in for my Saturday job when I was 16..... never found it intimidating just thought him a bit odd!! I am ashamed to say I used to accept a lift back home from him each week since it saved the bus fare and was much quicker!?!?!? In hindsight not the best of moves! In my defence he was a friend of my cousins so I did know him!

A small bump isnt always great either! Mine never got huge, turned out my baby was posterior(?) (back to back) which is known to reduce the bump size! Would have been helpful to know before I went into labour.

Hiya, I piled it on at the beginning and then didn't really put on much more. I think aot of people retain water which can make a huge difference!

Hi all, has anyone successfully contacted them recently?I've called 3 or 4 times during their open hours but always got ananswer phone. I have left two messages but nobody has called me back...

sounds great, do you have a link with the details? Must be over a year since I went to the cinema what with not beng able to sit long periods in pregnancy (sore back / ribs) and now having a newborn - well 5 weeks, is that still newborn?

Thx for the tip re dog poo bags, I have dogs and didn't know that! I use the scented nappy sacks which work well - although I now associate the scented smell with dog poo which rather defeats the object ;-)

Hiya Paps, yes there are a few of us meet up on a Tuesday at the Plough, 1 oclock. Be good to see you, feel free to PM if you fancy coming along just to ensure you get the right group of prams! Hopefully meet you soon. Cx

Data Protection Act will still apply, ie you can gain a copy of what is there and have it corrected if wrong. also your consent would be required for access to be gained. Insurance companies could only access with your consent. I read the letter and had no issue with this, sounds like progress and updating an archaic system.

Thx for the recomendations :-) If anyone has one that would be great, happy to borrow or buy. If not I will be heading shopping :-)

I hope she makes a swift recovery! Wouldn't have occurred to me either this could happen, thx for the warning.

Hiya, The sling I bought is only suitable for 3 mths plus, could do with something now - Any recomendations? Does anyone have one they are happy to loan for a couple of months / sell? Thanks Clare