Mrs TP

Our 3 cream fabric Roman blinds in our front bay window are in a very sorry state and need a spruce up. How do I go about doing it? They have wooden stiffening rods in and the drawstrings so couldn't go in the washing machine and not even sure the fabric is up to that. Had them made at Linwood and Searle 8yrs ago and (somewhat ashamed to say) they have never been cleaned. Any tips. Hoovering won't cut it. Cheers

I tend to go for smellies, hard pretty wrapped soaps that can be put in drawers, or nice liquid soap dispenser, shower gel or hand cream, scented candles, potted seasonal plant, 'posh' biscuits. There are loads of great gift shops in E. Dul and the various markets.

I went in once for a quote for 1 bedroom and found them very snotty. Not interested as it wasn't a mega bucks order for them. They wanted ?500 for basic plain carpet in smallish kids bedroom. They asked about doing the whole house. I said we had polished floorboards on the ground floor and they laughed at me and said I would be back for carpets after a harsh winter. They rude, snotty and disinterested and it has stuck with me too. Most people don't buy carpets too often and so it is a strange new world when you venture into it so easy to remember good / bad service.

Really try to chill and ignore this peer pressure. Someone is sitting down and doing it with them either a parent / nursery teacher / older sibling / other relative / carer or the tv. At school you will see handful of well advanced children and the majority becoming comfortable with all of this towards the end of reception and into year 1. Take a step back think about how you want to parent your child and don't be suckered in. They get there when they are ready. Kids need love, food, stability, play. However also nothing wrong if your child is going to take it all in v. early and expresses an interest in what is seen as more formal learning.

I'm with you, my heart sinks at the mention of creative stuff. My kids now come home and pre-empt any discussions of plays with 'don't worry mum you don't have to make a costume'. Good luck.

Have you checked the deadline the deposit is required? Often private schools do ask early for their deposits but if you check the small print the deadline for paying is normally after state school place offer date.

For the little ones under 2 who are too young to take it all in clothes particularly PJs, tights and jumpers / t-shirts - as a parent these all great and least able to go wrong on. For sizing just take a punt at rounding up to older than their age. 15mths go for 18mth - 24mths or 2yrs 22mths go for 2-3yrs 10mth go for 12mths to 18mths or 1-2yrs 18mths go for 2-3yrs. Depends on your budget JoJo and Gap more expensive, Next and Boots middle of the range then the supermarkets and BHS cheaper with nice bits and pieces. I am rubbish for boys but would suggest cars or boys dressing up.

Cheers. Have spoken to someone at Kings who laughed and sympathised that it wasn't explained to me properly. If I hadn't posted on here I would still be none the wiser.

Ah ha - just received a kindly PM telling me they probably mean the Weymouth Hospital in Weymouth Street W1 (private hosp). The caller from Kindgs did not make that clear at all but just said Weymouth Hospital ... I found the confusion quite funny initially but now I am probably back at the bottom of the waiting list after declining.

I'm on the waiting list for minor day surgery (stomach hernia repair) at our lovely local hospital - Kings. Someone from there just phoned me and asked if I would like to have my op on 30 Nov under the same consultant but 'off-site'. I asked what 'off-site' meant and the lady said Weymouth Hospital. I declined and checked the web, Weymouth Hosp is 139 miles from me. What on earth is going on?

I have a Kindle and the best thing about it for me is picking up almost exactly at the spot you stopped reading rather than with a physical book where it is much easier to loose your page and end up re-reading several pages again. Worse thing is I have no feeling for the physical sz of the book and more of pain to flick through next few pages to see where chapter ends etc. I have actually gone into bookshops to look at the physical version of books I'm reading. My Kindle tracks along the bottom of the screen saying what %age of the book I have read rather than page x of xxxx. Slowly getting used to the %age business but bit odd.

Ah yes my cats neutered and placid with us and each other.

We got two from Celia Hammond almost 2yrs ago. Was reluctant to commit to two but I can really see why it is recommended, they play together, fight together, find each other if one is 'lost' outside and generally look after each other like I never would have believed. Our female goes out late at night to drag the male in from the 'cat pub' or wherever he has got to. All good as long as you prepared for the expense of the food, litter, proper flea and worming treatment, insurance, neutering, think about holidays / weekends away - who will mind them etc. Much as they don't need walking or as much company as a dog they are still dependent on you for food, health, toilet facilities and their general well being. My youngest was almost 2 when we got ours and probably a bit too rough with them, which we had to watch and a couple of days constantly warning her to keep out of the litter tray - she kept picking the kittens up and putting them in it and all but showing them what to do. All good in the long run. Few bits of scratched furniture and two unexpected trips to the vet of just under ?50 for the male being attacked by another cat. All that said they settled in really well (keep the mice at bay) and we can't remember not having them.

I plan to sell girls' clothes various sizes, baby toys, endless teddies in great condition, bits n bobs of baby stuff and loads of nice books in good condition. Hoping for a good turn out. I've not done it before is it indoors / outdoors?

I recently switched from Orange (not 3G) to O2 (3G) and now have the worst time of my life with connection. The lack of signal is pathetic. Also when it goes completely wrong my phone displays and seems to get locked into its own no signal symbol - I have to switch it off and on again to get it going. Finally, sussed the difference between a 3G phone and a 4G phone - you don't want to smash a 4G phone against the wall for being so rubbish.

What's with the family ticket for 2 adults and 2 children? Don't they know 3 children is the new 2 in ED? ?18 per child - don't think so. Also are these people any good? I remember stories of shameful winter wonderlands in the news last year.

We've had so many dolls bought for us over the years I have almost lost track. Out of them all I think the Chou Chou and Baby Annabelle (spelling?) were the best i.e. various models that did talk, cry, drink, wee etc. They're not cheap though and neither are all their accessories.

Loving Homeland too but have to say didn't go with the bit where Brody was taking the tailor to the safe house and ended up killing him. Surely, if Brody was about to speak at some glamorous political fund raiser the terrorists could have found someone else to deal with the tailor. Also the tailor falling on the spike in the wood - of all the spikes in all the woods. I thought for a minute they were going to run into the Walking Dead Zombies (fab too). Am I too involved? Oh and is the new surveillance guy (brought in to oversee last wk's Brody following and capture) a goody or a bady? Good to see a smattering of fab British actors with lead roles in both dramas - once I've got over their accents.

Perhaps have it ready in a sep bag and if necessary your other half could pop home to get it if needed. Good luck.

Or lights on and curtains open with even rough sign or Halloween pic in your window if no pumpkin.

I had it for odema, which was particularly bad in my first and third pregnancies. Had the reflexology roughly once a week for the last month or so of the pregnancies (gosh those were the days money to spend ...). Yes was great to take some time out relaxing but also found it incredibly beneficial. Had the last lot at The Vale Practice in Grove Vale and was fantastic, legs felt tonnes lighter and bizarrely I stopped drinking tea and switched to water almost without thinking - I just didn't fancy tea after the sessions and that will have helped too. I think it is great for any digestive tract problems too. Big fan just wish I had the spare cash for it these days.

I have just bought two shamballa style bracelets for my daughter's friends who have recently turned 12. My yr 7 daughter is quite young in her year and so not 12 til next summer but for her 11th we got her Doc Martins. For Christmas she has asked for not NHS glasses! She wants to choose her own frames. So it does seem to be all about appearance and fashion.

Go for it. We all focus on diff things and 'your colours' may not be obvious to you until someone points it out. Various coloured clothes make more of a difference than most of us may care to admit. You don't have to go mad buying tonnes of red stripes with indigo spots but just to know what suits you may help future purchases. Take the advice but moderate your wardrobe changes to suit your budget.

Phone up the surgery and ask what is the best way to approach this? The receptionist will know the best way to accommodate you rather than any of us. That said as a rule of thumb GPs want to know who is coming in and have their notes handy. We are at Melbourne Grove but whenever I have needed two consultations for kids or me and kids, I have let them know in advance and we have been given double appt.

As others have said Shot by the Sherrif. They have a whizzy bit of software that contains all the international sizing rules etc and they know what they are doing.