jollybaby

Looks like it may be H&M then - a shame as I walked past one yesterday. I think half my problem is that I keep buying enormous sizes. Thanks all

And the nail clippings . . . though in this particular instance I did confront the offending clipper. He really didn't get why I found him dropping his clippings on the seat that disgusting!!

A little more light hearted than some of the subjects but I'm having a nightmare finding decent maternity vests for summer. All I want is one with thickish straps that doesn't show my bra straps and the top bit of my bra cups (and of course with decent bump coverage). I don't mind paying a little bit more for something that does the job- I've already wasted money on a few that i spend most the day pulling up Any suggestions?

Sackdonger - am not going to get into a discussion about whether I deserve my salary - and hope you get well soon. The one minute cut off is too strict and you should complain through the proper channels (and I agree with Hoonaloochie about your choice of language). It's always difficult with appointment slots - I bet if they did allow an extra half hour to 'catch up that would soon be filled with extra patients just pushing the same problem backwards.

whilst a one minute cut off for being late for appointments does seem too strict . . . there do have to be measures to try keeping to time when you're running a system that relies on closely booked appointments like a GP surgery. A GP may have a patients booked every 10 minutes over a 3 hour period and so if every patient turns up late that has a huge knock on effect on the whole morning. Similarly if someone is unwell or comes with multiple problems that take longer to sort out than 10 minutes that often leads to clinics running late - and from my experience that is far more likely to be the cause of being kept waiting in a hospital/GP practice- not the doctor being late for work. (And yes the argument then is should GP appointments be longer than 10 minutes) And as for saying that your GPs are are lazy and can't be a**ed to stay 10 minutes extra . . . bit harsh I'd be very surprised if your GP was leaving work on time every day . This policy is probably to protect them (and the admin and the nursing staff) having to work an hour late every day just because people can't be bothered to allow time for crap tube journeys- although I accept that a one minute cut off is too strict! Love a p**ssed off doctor who has spent an extra 4 hours at work tonight and earns nowhere near ?80 000

We've been having problems too but touch wood things have been better for the past 48 hours. It's interesting that some people have been told by virgin that the problem was with their boxes as when I rang I was told there was a major technical fault in the area ( was almost relieved as meant i wouln't have to sit in and wait for an engineer).

My dad always used to say to me 'don't work too hard' . . . . I now find myself saying the exact same to Mr JB when he goes off to work!

Whilst the FSID website does recommend that children sleep in the same room for 6 months -in my quick search on the subject I haven't come across any strong evidence for this- unlike other factors such as sleep position, co sleeping, smoking, birthweight etc. I could quite easily be missing something but I'm not convinced that this would put me off moving baby JB out of our bedroom way before this time . . . . . will be interesting to see how my thoughts change when she finally makes her appearance

I agree sell - I feel far more guilty thinking that something is sitting unused in a cupboard. We recently had a bit of a conundrum about an unwanted gift . . . . . we were bought a silver photo frame and clock as an engagement present by Mr JB's dad and stepmother. they are not really our style and have sat in their boxes for the past 6 months. Now Mr JB's mother is getting remarried soon and Mr JB thought it would be a good idea to give her the frame and the clock as a wedding present!! It took a lot of persuasion on my part to explain that she may be a bit put out if she knew her gift was not only second hand but also from her ex husband!!

I'm due Sept 11th . . and would be keen to meet up with some people due around the same time. I'm going through a period of total terror - not helped by spending the weekend with my 3 and 5 year old nieces!!

Well thanks penguin and Sean for encouraging me to pursue this. . . it wasn't a scam- I wish it was that would be more straight forward. Was a real letter from the inland revenue about a rebate and somehow someone has managed to submit a tax return on line using my unique tax reference. If I'd had ignored this I'd only have discovered this when I went to do mine later in the year. Great.

SeanMacGabhann Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I'm not saying it isn't a scam jollybaby as I > haven't seen the documents in question, but the > Inland Revenue giving money back is not that > unusual No I think this one's a scam. They've addressed me slightly differently from any previous correspondence and on the back it gave some random bank details that they are supposed to be transferring the money to . presumably wanting me to correct them . ..I will of course double check and report it.

Just a word of warning on the identity theft/fraud side of things - I received a very convincing letter in the post today supposedly from the inland revenue - it came in a prepaid envelope and looked very professional. It was only when I read that they were wanted to repay me some money that I became suspicious! I think they wanted me to ring up to confirm my bank details. I've had seen these sort of scams via email before but never via the post. Be warned.

Thanks for all your replies . . . . so maybe my idea of 36 weeks isn't unreasonable. I have a bit of annual leave to add towards it so it won't cut into my time with the baby afterwards and I suppose August is not a bad month to be spending in the park or garden (and a horrible month to be commuting) 12 weeks to go!

I'm beginning to have to think about when I want to start my maternity leave and would be interested to hear from others about how close to their EDD they managed to keep working. I know every pregnancy, person and job is different but it would be helpful to get a rough idea of what is realistic. I'm currently 23 weeks, with a smallish bump, feeling quite sprightly and a bit of a fraud talking about stopping work . . . although I expect that things may change quite soon! My job is also quite hectic - I'm on my feet a lot, commute to Hammersmith and it's a bit all or nothing - ie continuing working and cutting back my duties would be quite tricky. I'm thinking 36 weeks . . but don't want to be at home twiddling my thumbs. Any thoughts/advice welcome!

No am afraid it does look like the 24 hour opening is over - the leaflet and the announcements given yesterday in store definitely said the store will be shutting at midnight Mon - Fri

Hooray and hope you haven't too much cleaning up to do!!

umm maybe I'll forgive Mr JB for his four bikes in our dining room

I've always been a first come first served girl - but have regretted it on a couple of occasions when people have barely said thank you. saying that I think my telly may have gone into the hands of the aforementioned banned couple - they were very polite and sent me a lovely pm!

Apart from the fact that a house costs a few hundred thousands times more, hasn't been left 'lying around' and creates slightly more complicated issues if the borrower doesn't want to give it back.

Arranging for Southwark council to collect my fence panels- as detailed on request form. The panels not being collected and when I phone up to find out why being told 'because they used to be a fence!!'

So it's now 'Daily Mail' to think that it's wrong for people to break into and occupy someone else's recently purchased property . . I'd better get off to the newsagents now. Why should the owner have to 'ask' for it back? They shouldn't be in there!

My sister went to Marwell Zoo last week with her 2 young children (3 and 4) and had a fantastic day http://www.marwell.org.uk/. It's a bit further out - close to Winchester I think - but may be worth a visit.

"In any event, this wouldn't address the underlying problem ? the inequality " If factors such as poor education etc don't contribute to 'inequality' - then it is simply like saying that people are born unequal and you're at a loss from the start. You can't just make a society more equal -whatever that means. Surely you need to address all the individual factors that perpertuate the inequality. Of course there are going to be areas where cause and effect are interlinked - poverty-drugs-poverty but saying that it's pointless to try and deal with drug addiction because it's a symptom on inequality does not really make sense

The tube driver who saw me running to the train at Baron's Court and reopened the doors for me . . . never before has that happened and am sure it never will again. Made a horrid day marginally less horrible