Jules-and-Boo

Staggered holidays do have obvious problems as pointed out - but also benefits too. Some challenges just need working through.

had a lovely run in with my upstairs neighbour who had been throwing her rubbish into my garden "I thought you were having a bonfire!, she said. I said "no, but even if I was it would be wood, not eggshells, ladies toilet items and plastic rubbish - and there's some letters with addresses on..." She offered to tidy it up and asked if she could have her letters back. Waiting to see if she stops or I have to escalate it to putting it all in the blender and pouring it through her letterbox.

thanks for that Ilona :-)

We obviously know only some of what's going on. What the media want us to know. Killing children is an outrage and we are outraged, rightly. Trump bombing them so they can't do it again is fully supported. Stop the bully. But Assad's been doing bad stuff for years and getting away with it because he's got big friends. so Trump decides he doesn't care about Assad's big friends and steps in anyway. The things is - we're all scared of Trump getting hi ass kicked for standing up to Assed, by his big friend. so - what do we think is the right thing to do? Let the bully keep provoking a reaction? Give that reaction? The ultimate provocation is killing children. It's clear there are many games at play - one of which is to see what Trump would do. Now Assad/ Putin know. What does that mean they will do next? What would they have done next - if Trump had gone and played golf instead? No response means that they have permission to do anything they like..... It's a hard position for Trump to be in. but he's either stupid, or has balls. Either way, he had to do something - particularly when doing nothing is actually a response.

Reporting it doesn't seem to be solving the problem, Renata. There are so many threads about moped crime and mobile theft, let alone daylight robbery - literally. Can you please provide some reassurance that this is being actively 'dealt with'?

staggered school holidays are a great idea.

is it the schools responsibility to address the parents reluctance to walk? That's why I suggested the PTA and not the school.

Probably. Less sympathy with OP than before.

this is the most pointless thread I've come across. Let's comment on something vague, we don't know anything about and see if we can draw the same conculsion as the OP. In light of the little information, the OP expected a level of service from a volunteer, didn't get it - got completely riled and was not happy when same volunteer later said they were having a bad morning. 1) issues with expectation too high 2) lack of tolerance or empathy with a volunteer 3) Anger management issues 4) looking for validation from community sorry - I'm with the volunteer on this. And kudos for admitting fault. Volunteeer - gives up time to do things for others - not often appreciated.

hi - perhaps get involved with the school PTA - and actually ask parents to not drive to school.

There is that - but there is the real fact of people not getting the benefits they need in time. It's no joke that some people think of benefits as an entitlement while for some people it is a lifeline. I watched recent similar programme with a mother refusing to work because she felt it was not reasonable to leave her young child with a nanny. Not only that, but she was complaining she didn't get given enough money to get the bigger house she needed for all her kids. No mother wants to leave their family but many women do - just to work. There is also the comment from the head of the benefits system saying that they punish people for making the wrong choices (not to work). They seem ill prepared to differentiate between those who can and don't and those who can't. You have to also consider the message the programme wanted to convey and whose 'side of the story' they wanted to report.

It's actually hilarious that he had the temerity to stand up in front of a judge and say a trip to Disney is more important than his child's education.

what's wrong with asking for proof of residency? If you're a business then you need to pay for disposal. It's quite simple.

Certainly don't kill the bees, please. Do you not know how important and at risk they are? They are completely harmless - some live in hives and some live on their own in holes in the ground. If anything, please grow flowers and provide water for the bees to drink.

it's not as bad as the parents who go to church just to get their kids into the church schools.

KK - do you need it spelling out?

and just to add - there are support services that the child would be referred to - to keep themselves safe as well - it's NOT to punish the child. It's about keeping everyone safe and that's of paramount importance. I really hope you follow this up - if this is not taken seriously by the school - it paves the way for a repeated occurrence and your child has confided in you - and wants you to step in to protect him.

As the school what their policy is for weapons in school. It's usually zero tolerance. Knifes/ blades are an automatic exclusion. It may be that because of the knife-owners age, they are reinstated. I can't think so though. They should have been immediately suspended while an investigation takes place. Your nephew has a right to be protected at school and I would raise very serious concerns with the school, the school governors, the PTA etc if they fail to act upon the report or the fact that a child at school had a knife. The things is, children will gossip and if word gets out that someone had a knife and got away with it, what type of behavior is that validating? Also - the child who brought the knife needs to be taught the dangers of knifes. It's more likely the knife owner gets stabbed than any other child. Please take this as seriously as it should be. No one is out to punish a child for making an error of judgement or a stupid decision, but the gap in awareness is very serious. It takes a second for this to have become a very different story. God forbid.

that's actually illegal and you should phone the fire service. They will put it out.

Can any unspent money please be redirected to our schools who are suffering May's cuts. Vacacnies not being recruited into, lack of materials etc. And instead - we chose new lamp posts. Priorities.....

Lovely! can't wait to get out to see - hopefully we'll be lucky too!

lucky it wasn't a thistle by mistake

When I was little and picked buttercups etc., my nan would tell me that they're beautiful but so much more beautiful outside where they belong. Consequently, having fresh flowers is something we don't do but we have lots of pots and a beautiful garden because of it. And going out for a walk is lovely. Seems to be a habit that isn't so commonly enjoyed anymore (and no, I'm not particularly 'old') - it's just how I was brought up...

Child steals and shows contempt for public property - mother thinks it's a compliment. No one can really think like that?

Lovely pic! I still have to upload mine