catgirl

Just to clarify a few points: The terms were not explained to me when I accepted the credit note. If I'd been told that it was 14 or even 30 days only then I would have pushed for a refund as I would know it was unlikely that I'd even get back to the shop within that time let alone get back and find something I wanted to buy. I wasn't offered a refund - you said that the jacket would have to be sent back to the manufacturer and they would then decide if faulty or not, it was not your product to authorise a refund. As I said before, I was happy to re spend the money in there to support a local business so didn't argue the point. I didn't receive an electronic receipt - you may have offered one but I never accept these in shops as I get enough spam email as it is. New Wave - she told me that it was common in retail that credit notes only lasted 14 - 30 days! I did say that this was rubbish and most were 6 - 12 months but she insisted that this wasn't the case. I do understand that small businesses don't have the same financial stability / clout to accept credit a long time after the original money was spent but then an expiry date does need to be written on the credit note so that it's clear. I don't want to damage a local business which I'm sure is run in very good faith and with a lot of hard work. I don't know when I'll next be near the shop but will message you my number Katie, thanks for the offer.

I bought a jacket in Mac and Miller and after one wear loads of the threads at the bottom at come unravelled and were sticking out so I took it back and was given a credit note for the ?49. The next time I went past the shop had closed and then reopened a few weeks or so later. I've been in a couple of times but not seen anything I particularly wanted and as the credit note had no expiry date on it I wasn't in a hurry. I went in today, found a couple of things and went to use the credit note but was told they couldn't take it as it was given by the pop up not the shop. I pointed out that the pop up closed a few days after the credit note was given to me and she said in any case the credit notes are only valid for 14 days. I said that the credit note didn't say that and had it had an expiry date on it I would have made sure I used it by then. Anyway, they refused to honour it, leaving me basically having thrown ?49 down the drain. What is even more galling is that I think I was entitled to money back rather than credit note initially as the jacket was clearly faulty but I didn't push for that as I wanted to support a local independent business. If they are going to have such ridiculously short terms for a credit note (2 weeks, really?!) then this needs to be clearly stated on the credit note and pointed out to the customer when the note is issued, neither of which happened in my case. They could have even offered me half the amount or something as a gesture but no I was just offered 20% off what I wanted to buy - ie. asking me to spend more money in there having wasted the ?49 credit note.

my parents have a national art pass which gives free entry to loads of museums, galleries and stately homes and big discounts off others. Dulwich picture gallery is one of the free ones (50% off special exhibitions)but loads of others in and around London as well. They have been on various tours of churches, areas of London etc. as well which I also think was through their art pass.

Has anyone used anyone other than shutterly fabulous to make window shutters? We want some for front room bay window. Shutterly fabulous have quoted but I thought were really expensive and now they have lost the quote and twice not called back when they said they would so am not impressed. Any other recommendations most welcome. Thanks.

What did you find? I'm having the same problem! Why do all the clubs stop this week when the holiday runs for another week?

Thanks for all the replies, think have PM'd everyone back. Have found someone now.

Wondered if anybody free to do a days gardening for us in the next week. Basically weeding and tidying up back garden and driveway. Please pm me. Thanks.

Another thing that can be very useful is keeping a diary. When he has a meltdown, write it down and note what the meltdown was about and also any other factors: - was he hungry / tired / just left school / just about to go to school / been at friends house / been watching TV etc etc. I know things don't always follow a pattern but there often is some common denominator. As a parent you have such an emotional response when your child is being challenging that you don't see anything but what is in the moment but if you note things down and look at them afterwards it can be quite enlightening. My son is 7 and has a lot of anxiety issues which can lead to very difficult behaviour and meltdowns. Learning to understand his needs and what leads to or causes the meltdowns has enabled us to put things in place to help avoid them. e.g. he hates to be taken by surprise and needs everything mapped out for him so we are now very careful to give him advance warning of everything and have timetables etc written out. It sounds basic but actually took us ages to realise that this was something that he needed. But has made a big difference to our lives. Another interesting read is 'the explosive child' by RW Greene. It's very American and cites extreme examples but I think the underlying message is very useful. He says that children intrinsically want to do well, be good and please people and when they don't do this it's usually because they can't rather than because they won't. ie they are lacking in the skills to enable them to respond well to the situation they are in. His answer is to have a collaborative approach - rather than - you will do this because I say so - which just makes things worse for these kind of children, his suggestion is to evaluate what your child has problems doing and discuss with them how they could deal with those situations better in future. We didn't follow through his whole program which is quite detailed and involved but I did find it very enlightening to view my son's behaviour as him finding things difficult rather than him being difficult.

That's reminded me that around that age mine all loved 'painting' things outside. Get a bowl of water and a big paintbrush (the kind you paint walls with) and put them in the garden and let them 'paint' the shed, garden furniture etc. hours of fun!

That country kids place in France says prices 'start from' 8850 euro a week for a family of 4!!!! (yes I realise it's all inclusive but still!) We stayed here a few years ago in one of the suites and it was lovely. https://www.clubpollentia.com/ Only one bedroom but the living room has sofa beds (and both living room and bedroom open onto the terrace) - if your 20 mo is still in a cot then they have really long curtains with blackout lining that isn't attached to the main bit of the curtain - we had a 14 mo at the time and she slept in her travel cot next to the window with the blackout bit between the window and her cot and the other part of the curtain draped over the cot to make a kind of tent so she was in our bedroom but we could still have the lights on etc when she was asleep. The suites are in groups of 4 around the grounds so doesn't feel at all claustrophobic as I find lots of hotels do. Also means you can sit on the terrace and children can bumble around on the lawn in front of you. Beautiful views of the mountains too. They have a lovely pool and also an indoor pool in case weather bad. We didn't use the kids club but had a look at it - is one separate baby room and one for older children - both looked brand new when we were there in 2012 and all the staff were really friendly. There is also a lovely little playground and splash park. Hotel is very popular with cyclists which meant (at least when we were there in May) that it was really empty during the day and pool almost deserted until about 4pm as everyone was off cycling around the island! Also meant that the buffet had loads of healthy options as well as more junky stuff. Only downside was that it was about 2 miles outside POllensa so quite a long walk or a drive to get into town - this didn't bother us but I know would not suit everyone.

ah found one now - look at holidaydropoff.com - it's at dulwich college and is a sporty one

Did you find anything? I'm also I need of something for a couple of days but nobody seems to run them in half terms, not sure why?

So the whole of Underhill from Barry road to Lordship Lane will be closed for that entire time?

Thanks ourview, yes I had ruled out going back to the supplier as they have a strong business relationship with the builders who f***** up the instal but hadn't thought of going to the actual manufacturer and asking for recommended fitters - good idea, thanks!

hi We had some bi fold doors installed recently as part of some building work but we are not happy with the instal and for various reasons don't want the original people back to rectify. We would like them re-installed properly (ie flush with the floor and not letting in draught) and any related making good. We also have a window that is above the newly built wall that is now far more draughty than before so I think also needs some kind of re sealing / adjusting. thanks