Loigal

I'm sure the council will allow you to double glaze the existing windows - you'll just need to change the glass to conservation double glazed glass ie thinner and get council permission. Also how about refurbishing the existing window frames? It's amazing what good joiners can do to old windows and how much warmer it can make it. It's also substantially cheaper than new windows. I've been there and done that ... happy to recommend a wood window joiner / refurbisher

Thanks everyone for the feedback. Lots of food for thought here!

Thanks for the response Pickle! He's preschool so good advice to factor in the reception exhaustion. One laid back club sounds about right for our household. Any other feedback?

Hello I'm wondering if those who have been through the club phase can give some tips on how to choose extra curricular kids clubs for young children? I think my 4 year old could do with one class, mainly for the experience, listening skills and socialising in a different setting. I've not bothered so far as it has felt too structured and I don't want to be too pushy. Now I'm looking there seems so much choice (sport, art, music) and of course my personal bias comes in (er wish I'd done tap or learnt the oboe!?). He's also already demonstrating some bias (eg boys sport vs dance) but I don't know if that is subconscious stereotyping he's picking up on and because of his sturdy physique and I'd like to shake it up! I'm also a bit lazy and precious about our spare time and don't want to spend all my free time ferrying him to clubs and things he drops out of. I'd welcome any wise words from those who've been through it. Is it just trial and error? Did the stereotypical activities work the best in the end? Did you encourage something they hadn't thought of? When's the best time to start? Thank you wise family room!

Hello I sympathise. I struggled to find this kind of help too for 18 months and in the end got our own au pair. My experience was that childminders and other au pairs are busy at that time and others wanted more hours. I'd suggest childcare.co.uk. I did find a mother's help for sometime. I know there are some after school childminders but they may want more days a week? Connect with nursery parents and potentially share after nursery care? Ask the nursery if they have a childminder list? The elusive handy retiree or sixth former would be handy! Good luck

I pay ?100 per week. She does about 4 hours 4 days a week before and after permanent childcare and babysits 1/2 nights a week. 4 weeks paid holiday a year. One child only. No extras like travel card as she doesn't need that for her duties. I'd pay for language classes but she doesn't need / want them. That amount seemed fair from the research I did, if you pay ?80 I think it is only fair to add on extras like travel / phone. Out of interest do most people pay for their flights to and from the UK? I wasn't asked and didn't contemplate it but I see SimoneA did and wondered if ive been lucky / tight! Thanks

I'm sure the lido (run by fusion?) will need to do a health and safety review of the incident and as you were a witness can you write to them? Then they have to formally investigate your witness statement and surely they'll have to remediate the low standards? I'm sure they'd welcome independent feedback. (Edited to make clear an investigation of the witness statement to add to their own inevitable review of what happened)

Emma Ries at Family Solutions http://riessolicitors.vpweb.co.uk/

I went through this search in relation to a second floor flat, no lift or space in stairwell. Got the baby jogger city mini, can hold baby and collapse and carry it up, it was really good. I'd recommend popping along to John Lewis or similar and trying them all out. Good luck

I'm looking for an au pair now using au pair world and great au pair. There are a number looking for shorter term e.g. 3, 6, 9 months. They have been responsive in terms of messaging and skype so far. It's like an evening job though so I can see why an agency is tempting!!

Sugar mountain do for sure *guilty pleasure

Thanks for great suggestions!

Hello wise family room. I'm sure this must be a fairly common dilemma ... what to buy children relatives for Xmas when they're visiting from abroad? Of course they'll want presents from all the extended family but their parents won't want to weigh down the luggage. In my case it is a 5 and 8 year old. I've ideas of the usual types of presents but am worried about weight. Does anyone have ideas of suitable lightweight presents? Maybe something on a fun British / London theme? I'm failing to think creatively! Thanks

The bog standard one from kiddcare's own brand did a good job for us.

Forest hill delivery service and sorting office (covering a wide area) have had a lot of changes recently which have been detrimental in terms of service. I get a delivery about 2/3 times a week now and have visited the sorting office much more than I ever used to. Good luck

Soak & Sleep have a good range and service

Lovely post and brave of you to share and post it. Good luck and glad you've got help and turned a corner. A acquaintance set up a related charity, it's up north but I hope the info on the website helps. http://www.thesmilegroup.org/

How about some age appropriate concentration games like big jigsaws (of cars!) and also playing matching and snap type games? Djeco do good puzzles for toddlers. I have a boisterous little one but find that when he's the mood those puzzles can entertain him for a certain period of time.

I didn't feel a thing having it fitted and a tiny twinge having it removed. I was amazed as I'd been anxious about it having heard friends' stories. I wish I'd done it years before. I had it fitted a few weeks after giving birth which I think makes it easy given openness of cervix. I wasn't going to due to pain fear but the Dr reminded me I'd just handled childbirth, fair point and absolutely no comparison between the two!

I'd recommend lipstick queen for lipstick. They do a lipstick shape balm range which is moisturising, subtle and stays in place wihout being gunky. I also wasn't a lipstick gal but its changed my attitude. I'd second Nars blusher stick too, lasts for years. Another staple of mine is eyebrow wax to repaint those eyebrows over plucked in teenage years ...

My friend's child that age is engrossed by playmags magnetic tiles, they look good and I going to put them on my little one's Xmas list. Puzzle and building theme

My experience of growing in the 80/90s in a market town / countryside no where near the Home Counties sounds very similar to the other posters. Endless boredom and far too much mischief. I remember being surprised by how the Londoners i met in uni seemed naive and un streetwise, some seemed to go crazy like they'd never had freedom before! I yearn frequently for the countryside and wonder about whether it would be better for the kids. I do think things have changed for the best now where I grew up, they have a cinemas, bowling, outdoor pursuits are mainstream like mountain biking and kite surfing and of course the shops are now open on Sundays and they have the Internet!! But London is wonderful and it is reassuring to hear from some posters about how great it is for teenagers. I figure it's the best of both worlds to be able to live in London (and just about afford it) and have family in the countryside to visit. Maybe retire to the countryside?

Can anyone expand on the potential downsides of the vaccination? I've read that vaccinating kids increases the risk of shingles in adults? Shingles poses higher risks to the elderly than chicken pox does to kids? How long does the vaccine work for, is there a risk of it wearing off and the person getting chicken pox when an adult which is more serious? Thanks