pebbles

Hi Thanks so much midivydale for thinking of me and thanks pickle for letting me know about this thread Insomnia is still unfortunately very much part of my life but I've learnt to live with it rather than trying desperately to cure it. I take an AD whose side affect is sleep and this helps me sleep about 4 hrs a night and then I have sleeping pills that I take for 2 nights in a row about once a month when i'm at rock bottom to boost me up again. Both the kids are now at school which definitely makes life easier for me coping wise. I struggle with their long holidays but it's fine. Thanks again for thinking of me xxx

I would also like to recommend Helen and Steve from Gardenia. They've done a lot of work in both mine and my mothers gardens (and now plenty of friends) and they're just fabulous. Don't hesitate to PM if you want further information

I'd also like to recommend Helen, Steve and their team at Gardenia Gardens. They have done a lot of work for us over the years. Most recently they have replaced our fencing in the back garden after it was blown down. They worked so hard and made such an effort not to damage any plants in the flower beds. We got quite a few quotes however they were the most reasonable. They have also built us raised flower beds and a decking area and Helen is amazing at helping me choose plants right for our space and sun situation. Don't hesitate to pm me if you have any questions. Helen's number is 07986 077 963

We're off down to Kent, near Cranbrook

Thanks everyone. I think we're going to do ?10 per person per day and a crate of beers.

Thanks so much for advice What if they are working over 4 days and different men come each day!!! Should we do ?20 per person per day and then let the manager split it up at the end? cos surely someone who has worked all 4 days should get more than someone who has only done 1. sorry for the silly questions i just want to get it right as they're working so hard and it's so hot!!!

Please can anyone help me with how much we should tip our removal men. They're doing all the packing and moving and will be with us for 4 days (2 people 1st day, 4 people 2nd day, 6 people moving day, 4 people day after). I have no idea where to start? Thanks so much

We've just sold through Winkworth and I have to say they've been fab throughout. Very realistic and honest and prices and what we should accept. Wouldn't hesitate to use them again :)

Tennis racket, cricket bat, balls - go onto SportsDirect and you can get them all for under ?10 (not Swingball - Tesco's do a good one

Balls (there are some great tennis balls that are a bit squishier than normal so that they are slower and a bit bigger than normal), football gloves, swing ball - all a huge hit with Seb

We've done quite a few weekends away for weddings etc and have done two 5 nights away when MrP and I went away on holiday. We don't talk/facetime the kids (now 6 and 4) as when we have in the past they got upset seeing us/speaking to us however now that we don't speak to them they're happy as larry. Both my Mummy and Father in Law who have taken it in turns to do the looking after send an email in the evening with the days activities and photos so that we can check in and see how much fun they're having (to ease our guilt). I know it's not under the best circumstances but go and try and enjoy your time without them. No matter how much we love our children I think it's so important to still have "me and us" time. *sb* - I love that your parents did an annual holiday on their own :)

I've thought of another reason for having it downstairs. If you have kids they come in dirty from sport and playing in the garden pretty much every day so you strip them off as soon as they come in and then send them upstairs for a shower. I would hate their muddy clothes to go upstairs in the state that they come in???

Very good question Iclaudia. We are just about to move and the house needs total restoration and I'm currently wondering whether to have a utility downstairs or upstairs. Still undecided to be honest. I am a tumble dryer lover though for about 9 months of the year!!! Just thought though - I do a lot of my washing and drying at night and I don't think I could cope with the noise being upstairs so I think that might have just answered my query - downstairs utility it will be :)

Yes yes yes It wasn't on our wish list when we moved here but we got one and now I wouldn't want to live anywhere without one. Go for it :)

I too have been with them all my life and so now is my husband and both kids. They're great with all of us and it's always pretty easy to get an appointment.

Oh number 2 that is truly hysterical. You've made me giggle out loud :)

I've done it too. Great blog, I'm now following on bloglovin :( Sally x

Can you please pm me your email address as the picture is too big to attach. Thanks Sally x

I'll take some tomorrow when hopefully it has stopped raining and send them over to you

Really really recommend Helen and Steve from Gardenier Gardens. We've used them a lot as has my mother and quite a few of my friends. They're very reasonably priced, very trustworthy and great with kids (sometimes it felt we had a permanent babysitter as they had my kids helping them!!). Helen's mobile is 07986 077 963 If you would like photos of what they've done for us please just ask and I'll pm them over.

Thank you everyone for your recommendations. We went to The Gallery at Odeon Greenwich on Fri night and it was fab. Nearly as comfortable as our own sofa :) Free popcorn, nachos and soft drinks. Definitely worth the money. Highly recommend it :)

Thank you everyone, I have booked The Gallery at the Odeon Greenwich :) Happy days x

Are the Greenwich ones better than the Brixton ones? He (and his back) has an issue with the Brixton ones - the film we want to see isn't on the main screen? Sorry to be picky :) Thanks for everyones advice so far :)

Mr Pebbles has a bad back at the moment so the thought of sitting on uncomfortable cinema seats isn't appealing to him but we really want to go to the cinema this weekend. Does anyone know of any cinemas with comfortable seats locally ish. We would drive so don't mind travelling a bit. Thanks x

I would have loved to have been a PE Teacher. I was meant to read Sports Science at Uni to become exactly that but I ended up falling in love in Australia and going to Uni out there (reading IT as it was the only thing on offer for an International Student) and by the time I came home I didn't want to be a student again so gave up on the idea of PE Teacher. I'm now at home with the kids but when they're a bit older I think I will definitely teach sport of some sort even if it's not a full time teacher.