womanofdulwich

Pickle you seem to have it sorted- I could not get over the money thing though- I packed full time work in for 4 months once when children were in nursery in mornings but could not bear the scrutiny about money/ haircuts /gifts/ being dependent on someone else. I quickly ended up with loads of charity committee work -I felt too guilty not to do something using my skills and not giving anything back to society-which I really enjoyed and was far more rewarding than working for money - made me feel good about myself and question what it was all about- ended up going back 3 days a week.

Just to say I have worked between 3 and 5 days a week since my 17 year old was born. Been through the whole lot , nannies, au pairs, "after school Care". My children are now 13 and 17 and it is still a bum deal, as they need someone around to keep an eye on them- just when you think - ah they can manage by themselves for 2 hours until I get in -( 3 days a week) you come home find they have eaten all the bread and cakes,it is 7 o' clock you have to feed them, then make them do homework, run them around etc. Do not kid your self it gets easier - it does not - it just changes- the only thing I would say is that it is impossible to get a paid job that will give you any satisfaction if you have not worked for 12 years, as some of my stay at home friends found ( the ones that waited until their children started secondary school). Force your self to do some thing- charitable if you can afford not to earn money- where deadlines/ cancelled meetings for sick children are looked on more sympathetically. School holidays- 13 weeks a year- versus 5 weeks work holidays if you are senior enough? don't even go there!!! One big regret was not getting into an education based job, where the holidays are so brilliant- provided you like that kind of work...........

I always think it is useful to be outside a school as the children come out and see how they are. Lively/ sulky/fighting/ in big groups - and then imagine what your child would be doing. The journey - to and from school is so important- it can really effect how much after school things they do if they don't feel safe coming out later by themselves. Also people are loathe to bad mouth the school their children are currently at- try and catch one that has just left and ask them.

why wait till 4pm? lovely sunny day - pimms o'clock I would say.

The perk of working for free in a charity shop is that you get first pick at what is donated. you should pay for it but it is you that gets first pick - just like jumble sales and nct nearly new sale etc etc. I think it is the only perk you get- some of the items donated are pretty smelly!!

I think there is another strike planned for the middle of JUne - by the way....................

tfl saying there may be strike action tomorrow- anyone know to what extent- so i can set my alarm a bit earlier? thanks

cash converters is a favourite for getting rid of bikes quickly.