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Hmmm, it looks fab, but would like to see a real life review, eg is it sturdy and does the stuff really sift through all the different layers, or would everything just pile up at the top. It also depends on all the lego being broken up into bits, which can be as time-consuming as picking it up.

Urgh, I would be v mad with the comment about nice things. Agree though that mr pickle should handle it!

My sil had a v difficult second birth (21 month age gap), shoulder dystocia? But much better third birth.

Life's too short!

Let your husband look after the baby and get someone to look at your back, important to look after it.

I really disliked grace and favour, was very expensive even by ED standards. Good cards though.

"a fair proportion of them in jim-jams presumably for a streamlined meal/bed-time experience", and presumably swigging babyccinos! I want to go to see it! (but not that much).

Hee hee fuschia, travel lodges! Where we live now (beyond suburbia) there is a rural, log-cabin-like travel lodge, and not far away a suspiciously busy at night dark car park with views over to the far away lights of london. D'you reckon they're all at it?

Oh dear midivydale, hope things look up for you soon. I can tick 3, on a good day, did better when at home on maternity leave, think it's working again that has cocked things up! hopefully not forever..... Thanks clare. Time for self is tricky with toddlers around. I like the concept of "equal leisure time" for both partners (with a bit of a sad definition of "leisure time" to include stuff like lies-in, DIY, exercise, extra - ie above minimum necessary to retain employment! - work, cooking-for-fun, socialising etc). Also turning down invitations for dates in the future that I wouldn't want to do that evening (if can get away with it). Nothing worse than a "nice break" (in someone else's eyes, for you) that is anything but!

Am currently struggling big-time with what feels like a total loss of myself, 4.5 years and 2 children on! The children seem fine, and I could tick all the boxes on that stupid list (with the help of cleaners!) but feel pretty rubbish in myself. Obviously want the children to be OK, but my list in terms of being "on top of things" would be more like: 1. Ok relationship with partner, bit of time together sometimes 2. Having some kind of a social life 3. Doing OK at work (if working) 4. Fair share of domestic work, childcare etc with partner 5. Sleeping OK, eating ok 6. Being able to smile, laugh, relax (without booze/fags/chocolate) 7 looking ok (at least for work/when wanting to look nice) 8 health ok And not: 1. Crying every

That list is from the stepford wives school of thought. Completely agree with clare11.

What was your impression?

How many children they care for (ages etc) and how many school runs, eg a morning drop off ( or two) a nursery lunchtime pick-up then after school pick-up can be disruptive for younger children. Safety stuff, obviously. If you like them get them to give you a draft contract and read it through, eg things like holidays, bank holidays

Buttercup, you sound like you've made your mind up, so may as well take the formula!

Our (female) CM's daily journal book from the National Child Minders Association has a male CM on the cover, your friend might be able to get some advice from them!

My eldest had croup at 13 months, not needing hospital (how scary for you all) but horrible, she had the recurring horrible cough all night when got colds etc. never s bad as the first time. the gaps between episodes got longer and longer, although she has just had a bout of it aged four and a half. Hadn't thought of asthma/allergies, thanks for the tips.

I feel a little sorry for your MIL, but reckon honesty is the best policy, or could just be the same next year, and the one after that! A friend of mine has a truly hellish MIL who hand makes dresses for her granddaughter in OK styles but hideous, inappropriate fabrics, e.g. those neon acid smiley faces! This all started after my friend swapped some (pink, v v frilly) clothes. Extremely hard to challenge, although I couldn't remain quiet in my friend's shoes!

"It's also nonsense to imply that men are being 'driven from' fields of work such as teaching." It's obvious - and am sure backed by evidence - that public anxiety about paedophiles puts many men off teaching and other work with children. So the "traditional" female roles become yet more female dominated. This a big problem IMO in the same ways that any occupation being dominated by one gender or group is a problem.

Hang in there sillywoman. It will pass........it will get easier. Is not difficult because you've been away a while, or have Dulwich expectations, is because uni/NHS admin are shite! It's not you, it's them! Good for youngsillywoman!

If you do pay for tests, find out about the AMH (ovarian reserve?)test. I know two friends (early 30s outside london) who having had the "standard" fertility tests paid for IVF with no success and not many eggs, after which the clinics suggested the AMH tests, which found low reserves, indicating lower chances of IVF success and a different approach to IVF treatment. Seems unfair that the test wasn't offered before the first IVF cycle. Hope things go well for you, and you uptowngirl, fertility problems are horrible.

You might well be able to get details of patient numbers etc with a freedom of information request?

They used to take phone appts at same time, I would use mobile and landline on redial at same time to get through! From a demand management point of view, it's actually sensible to discourage people from coming into the surgery to make appointments and do stuff by phone. But v annoying for patients. For the Lanes you didn't used to need to go through DMC (other than being a registered patiend at DMC) to get on their list, you could just write to them with details making clear that you were with DMC. I did this the minute got a positive test result!. Might've changed though. they were fab!

Went to a wedding ceremony in the summer at Dulwich College, the "old library" I think, was lovely, but quite big, they may have other rooms. Or you could go to one of the more glam / famous registry offices in central london.

Is similar in surrey, all carers are only allowed to go to one or two specified sessions a week. As cora says, if you can afford a nanny, you're not who the service is there for.

Oh dear, sounds awful, glad you had help from kind people, hope he's doing OK now.