Over_the_Pond

RobMiller Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > You might find this info on GOV.UK useful: > https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/overview. > > > I don't think you *need to* use a paid service to > make a change by deed poll (you definitely don't > for adults). But I would still need to pay for a solicitor to sign the declaration? I don't think hubbie and I know anyone who is a solicitor, at least not personally. All our close friends do artsy stuff. In which case, is it easier to use a paid service?

Or, the child survived in spite of the staffs' purported lack of action. I don't know. I wasn't there. But it's not logical to conclude one way or the other that the outcome was entirely and only dependent on the lifeguards. Also, because details don't appear to have been released due to privacy, there's no way to know what extent of injury this child suffered. And, agreed seconds can seem longer to onlookers; however, seconds do count when someone is drowning. The OP appears to be an eye witness and felt strongly enough about it to raise concerns. I can't see any reason to downplay that.

DH and I are harmonizing documents, and we want to change our daughter's name. It looks like deed poll will be the most reliable way. I would love some insight from anyone who has been through this process recent-ish. There's more paperwork than I expected on the government website. And how does the declaration bit work... you have to have solicitor?

Buggy Pitstop do repairs, but I had a mixed experience with them. This was a good while back when they were a new-ish company. They seem to be getting decent reviews now. Maybe someone who has used them more recently can advise further, or call and speak to them directly? http://www.buggypitstopltd.com/

Update-- So I was toying with the idea of getting Glen Duncan's The Last Werewolf (because what's more cheerful than the existential crisis of a werewolf, right?)... but then Matt Haig's The Humans crossed my path, so I'm going with that for now. It's proving quite entertaining in a quirky philosophical way, though I'm only about 20 pages into it.

chrisbeach Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Disclosure: this is my website. > > Just wanted to put out a mention of the new forum > for SE23: https://se23.life > > It's only two weeks old, but growing really fast > (5000 pageviews/day) and getting loads of positive > local input (about 100 posts / day at the moment). > Our approach of going out and meeting people in > real life to "Verify" their profiles is working > well to build a trusted online community. > Hmm interesting idea about 'verifying' members? Slightly stalker-ish feeling to that for some reason.

"Under current arrangements, when schools become academies they lease the land from local authorities. The new plans, however, will see all school land transferred directly to the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, who will then grant leases to academy trusts." http://www.theguardian.com/education/2016/apr/01/councils-decry-governments-academy-schools-land-grab If you search a bit more, there are better articles for explaining the details, but this one is ok. The land now held by local authorities would be handed over to the central government, and the possibility is that long leases (~100 yrs, similar to current local authority leases) to academies would effectively be a form of privatisation, as the land would be under private control (by an academy) for the rest of our own lifetimes, and a good chunk of our children's lives.

Noun-y McNoun-thingy: Fascinating... http://www.slate.com/blogs/lexicon_valley/2016/03/25/boaty_mcboatface_mcdreamy_tits_mcgee_and_the_internet_s_favorite_naming.html

I'm guessing a computer repair shop could probably do it. Not used any local ones recently. There are also some groups around London that have meet ups to help people with ideas for repairing electronics. Have a look at these: http://www.meetup.com/Restarters-London/ https://therestartproject.org/

I can't quite shake my winter blues. Things aren't going quite as planned with work. DH and I need to move house again shortly, and it's tricky to coordinate with our child's school timetable. I used to read a lot, but I fell into an exhausted postnatal slump and lost my momentum. Lately a I find myself reading a lot of short articles online and not being able to focus on anything longer. I think it's time I returned to reading paperbacks, but I spent half and hour in a bookshop at the airport last week and couldn't find anything to pique my interest. I like scifi (eg Heinlein, Le Guin etc) and books with quirky humor (eg Pratchett or Tom Robbins). I don't think I can stomach anything sad or dramatic atm, and certainly nothing too philosophical/esoteric. I'm looking for something really engaging, it doesn't necessarily need to be fiction. It probably shouldn't be too long, or I'll lose the plot -- literally. Any suggestions, Forumites? :)

What is Sunshine House? We are in Lewisham btw. My daughter doesn't have problems at school, but seems to hold it all in for exploding at home. Won't brush hair, won't let anyone else brush it w/o a major fuss. Didn't regularly sleep through until 3+ yrs (still not great). Also a bit clumsy, but I always put this down to her being on the upper 'centile. She is very tall/big for her age, and often doesn't seem aware of her physical boundaries. She regularly has accidents herself, and other accidents, like accidentally kicked our cat in the head while getting up on the sofa. Then she was v upset about the cat (cat was fine actually). Lots of other small things that would make more sense in light of SPD or similar, in addition to the major issues with clothing and shoes I described. But if she's just going through a fussy phase, I don't want to waste anyone's time. Are there certain 'touchstones' for SPD that would make this behaviour stand out from generally fussy 5 yo behaviour?

How were your LOs diagnosed with SPD? What led you to seek a diagnosis? I have recently begun to wonder if my 5 yo might have a sensory integration disorder. Mostly it centers around clothes, particularly sock & shoes. No mount of rewarding, praising, reasoning, pleading, shouting, or threatening (to take away priviledges) makes any difference to her behaviour, and she also gets upset with herself. :( She will repeatedly change clothes or shoes before going out, because they "don't feel good". Sometimes she even refuses to put on shoes. I've had to "force" shoes on her to go to school, and this morning we were actually late because of her behaviour. I don't feel like this is necessarily just a phase or just bad behaviour, because she is otherwise v well behaved, but this type of behaviour is recently getting worse. I'm struggling with knowing how to cope with this, since nothing I do makes any difference.

Thanks for the recommendation, ianr. Fortunately I don't have need of LadyDeliah's service, as my application has been approved despite being late. :) It was late because I got the timing wrong for the grace period (thought it was longer than 28 days). I had two brief consultations with different solicitors, but in the end my husband I decided to submit the application ourselves without a lawyer, as their prices seemed out of proportion to the task at hand. We did get some good tips about what to include with the application (which weren't mentioned on the UKBA website, like additional documents and photographs). I wrote a cover letter myself briefly explaining my lateness and shoved it all in an envelope. Maybe it helps that I wasn't too far outside the grace period? Plus, my husband and I have been married for over three years and have a child together, and we both work fulltime. So, we're obviously a real family and not looking for handouts. Indeed my job is very specialised, so I could have qualified for a work visa independently. Lesson learned: be more organized and careful about dates!

Have read a lot of expat forums, but there is very conflicting information. Filing out of time can't be avoided, so DH and I decided we'd turn the whole thing over to a barrister. I really don't know what else we can do. Other than being late it's a straightforward application.

Hi Forum. Just wondering what people's experiences have been with UKBA and filing Indefinite Leave to Remain (spousal)? I've heard this can take up to 9 months?! I thought I'd be fine to file this on my own, but now I'm not so sure. I've had to renew my US passport, still waiting. Now my ILR application is going to be filed late. I recently spoke to another lady at my work who is filing hers through a barrister. That sounds expensive. Is it really necessary? Are there any reasonably priced immigration solicitors/barristers local-ish? I know, technically you're not meant to give out immigration advice. I have tried to contact UKBA and the US embassy, but got nothing back. I guess I'm just wondering what others' experiences have been? Thanks!