emc

Hi there I'm putting together an item for a morning TV show next week about single mums. Gingerbread, the support group for single parents, is launching a new campaign which aims to challenge society's stereotypes about single mums (new research shows only 2 per cent are teenagers, most have been married before and most work) As a single mum myself it's a subject close to my heart! So, just wondered if there were any single mums out there who would like to have their say? If so, pls PM me and I will give you some more info. Cheers.

Giggirl, am with you....even though I know it's a load of old bollocks it still bothers me for some reason.

Absolutely dreading it - cried on my 39th birthay and think will really, really cry on this one (this summer) Pathetic but that's how I feel (and not sure why as have much to be thankful for)

I have a friend whose one year old little boy is there..think she is happy with the care, if you PM me I will send you an email address for you so you can email her directly (will check with her first!() cheers

thanks - am applying for church place so guess I need a form. x

help!

Does anyone know if you need to fill in a supplementary form when applying as well as the common application form (am assuming you do) thanks

Hi - I want to change a school choice on my application (am doing it online) but cannot see how I can do this - can see how update my profile details but nowhere to edit school applications and deadline is Friday please help!

I don't think so - but that's maybe because I'm not married! Today the Conservatives have said that should they win power at the next election they will re-introduce tax breaks for married couples. So....I'm looking to talk to single mums (you can have been married before) and families that choose to co-habit, rather than marry, who don't think it's fair that they won't get these benefits simply because they've chosen to not walk down the aisle. It's for a morning TV show - pls PM me for more details Many thanks!

My nanny charges ?11.50 per hour net when she works for me and another family and on top of that factor in around another ?4 for tax and NI so you are looking at around ?14.50 per hour, split between two families around ?7.25 per hour each family, so a ten hour day ?72.50 per family.

The Mexican on Lordship also not bad with kids...

As the single mum of a three year old I am qualified to answer as I have similar issues when it comes to dating - you could offer to pay half of babysitting fee (am sure you do anyway) so you can go out and don't use those agencies, they are horrifically expensive (am assuming she doesn't do overnights with her Dad if he still in the picture)...I use local au pairs (when friends and family not available) who are much cheaper and really lovely - PM if you want details. And once the little girl is in bed you can make a romantic evening even if not going out - take over some yummy food, good wine, candles and cook for her...as a single mum having someone prepare a meal is a real luxury As for the last query - God, I don't know...introductions to children only come when you are pretty far into the relationship and only when both of you think it may be serious - that's just my view others may disagree. Good luck!

My best friend had hers removed about six months ago and has had no problems at all - she was relatively young to get the problem (late thirties) and not overweight, etc but had it removed and is as healthy as ever. She's just a bit annoyed as being on the low fat diet before the op meant she lost loads of weight but since the op and gone back to 'normal' eating has gone back to normal weight! but think she's very happy to have had the op. (hers was done at Lewisham hospital)

around Borough market - any suggestions gratefully received. thanks

mumum, sorry am a bit rubbish about this stuff but can you explain in a bit more detail how you shared out the Mondays, trading days etc - she does work for another family Wed, thurs, Fri totally separate to me so can't see how they would be agreeable to this? thanks

I find these comments a bit odd - my daughter has been at nursery there since Sept, I drive from Nunhead on days I'm not working and can honestly say I don't really see any of this 'badly parked car' stuff - where???? I'd say I was one of the unusual ones in that I drive as most kids seem to be East D based and in walking distance..as for the original question I have been driven mad by 'she got in, he didn't'and numerous reasons why etc, etc and every single thing contradicts the other. I would dearly love my daughter to go there but if she doesn't get in, she doesn't and then will just have to think of a plan B....and there are definitely people from Nunhead in the school....

Hi there Just looking for a bit of advice - I employ my nanny two days a week, Mon and Tues and have been told that on this basis she is entitled to 11.6 days holiday per annum. I was advised that some nannies include bank holidays in this entitlement but some don't...at first I was all for giving bank hols as additional but obv this works out to around 15 days hols per year (as she works for me on a Monday) which seems an awful lot (in that if you pro-rated it it'd be more than 30 days a year) so now I just don't know what to do (as she has said she wants BH as additional) Also, we're in a share (with two others) so how an earth do you work out your Nanny's holidays (i.e.deciding when we're on holiday so nanny not needed) so that it's fair for all - nanny and parents. Have just sorted the nightmare of tax and NI for her but this is one thing that I just don't know how to go about Any advice much appreciated!

Also now looking for anti-Gina Forders.....

Hello Am sure some of you might have seen the comments on Ms Ford from Nick Clegg mp and I just wondered if anyone out there would be prepared to defend her for a short TV piece? If you'd like more info pls PM me. thanks Emc

Anyone know how bad/good Barry Road is as have to drive down it around 8.15 and know it was at a standstill yesterday aft

thanks everyone, but when I go to the Lewisham page it says I already have a login created etc via the generic eadmissions website (which I do, for Southwark) so I can get in but then the form seems to go straight back to Southwark admissions and doesn't give me a choice to change the borough to Lewisham - arrgggh! No worries, I will give Lewisham a call tomorrow but if anyone else had this problem then solved it pls do let me know. Many thanks

OK have done my Southwark application online but also want to apply for a couple of schools in Lewisham too....do you need to create another log in etc as can't seem to do that and it did look as if I could use the one I've just created (a kind of generic schools application one)but I can't. Arrgghh, sorry am feeling a bit thick about this!

Am going with my little girl tomorrow and just wondered what buses go that way from Lordship Lane (don't mind changing buses en route) thanks

It does depend a bit on the nanny's tax code etc but as a rough estimate, a nanny's net hourly rate if looking after children of two families will be around ?10-11.50 (if well qualified nannies,good references etc) per hour and then you have to pay their tax and NI on top so it works out it works out to about ?7-?7.50 an hour per family (that's when split between just two families)

Thanks all - think will buy tickets to both so can hedge my bets!