Ellie78

Firstly, I've just realised I didn't respond to the amazing responses I got on what to do on weekends with my v active toddler.im so sorry! Thanks everyone! He loves music, particularly accoustic, and I reckon he'd love live folk. Does anyone know of anywhere I can take him during the weekends (and it would have to be the day- he's a nightmare if he goes past 7). Yes, and he'd have to be able to run around and dance. Surely somewhere like this exists!

That's true of owners leases certainly - it's a condition of our lease and our upstairs neighbours that there can be no wooden floors bare. If it's council owned, then they should have to enforce carpets or provide them.

Congratulations! Somewhere long haul would be more than doable with those ages... If you like the heat!

That should be 'just not thinking of..'

My son is now coming up to the big 17 months this month and we are trying to get our head round weekends in winter (we both work full time during the week, so he's in nursery) The summer has been great - he loves parks and people, anywhere busy, so we've spent most of our time outside or (if wet) in various soft play centres. Now I know we CAN go out in all weathers (we've kitted him out in full waterproofs already) but there might be weekends where it's just too awful and (to be honest) I'm getting a bit bored of the parks option (Peckham,Greenwich, Dulwich). Our soft play options (Museum of Docklands, Deptford - never really liked peckham - ) are also starting to wear a bit thin. He's been walking for c.8 months now so I kind of feel like we've been doing the same old stuff forever... Wondered if anyone knew of any weekend toddler groups that he might enjoy going to? Or any other activities that I'm just thinking of...that will keep him (and us) amused.

I found it useful - not to get a seat necessarily (I did take people up on the offer for them but didn't desperately need to) - but it did make me more confident that my pregnancy was flagged up and I did think people were more careful about pushing, prodding etc, and generally giving me space than they otherwise would have been. It's mayhem out there in rush hour and if you wear dark clothes or you don't have a particularly enormous bump people don't necessarily notice that you're a bit more vulnerable than your average person.

Check and send and took a week, did it September

Sorry- hope that post makes sense. Am Now suffering from insomnia which, incidentally, always hits me in run up to my period. This is entirely normal, but this month is particularly bad.

I'd consider other options too. My undiagnosed soy allergy caused chronic fatigue symptoms that would last for a day after eating. Couldn't get out of bed. GP went down all blood tests and told me there was nothing wring. It was so bad 6 years ago (I'd switched to soy milk in my cereal) that we were pursuing a CFS diagnosis. It was me who worked out it was soy, and as soon as I switched the symptoms disappeared. I shudder when I think I could have spent years out if work because of this- oh, and my GP didn't believe that soy could do this and refused to refer me to the allergies clinic. Ultimately, I got better and knew what to avoid myself, except soy is sneaky and ends up in loads of things- I still occasionally have bad days that I can always trace back to food the day before. (Sorryz, rant- everyone knows I think my GP is a waste of space). My point is that you probably need to widen the net, so you don't shut down possible causes. U may well be right, you may not be. Have you tried ovulation sticks to confirm that you are ovulating in these days?.

Fernando came today and spent this afternoon chopping our hedge. He was punctual, pleasant and did a very good job. We'll be asking him back I am sure for other jobs in the future. I would recommend him to anyone needing work on their gardens. Thanks Fernando!

Yeah, it's just hiking, all our bags transported, so that's a plus. It's not just that I might not be comfortable - I agree, I think ill be fine- But it involves some sierras hiking, and I don't know whether scrambling about uphill and down in the middle of rural Spain is very sensible when you're already vulnerable. I have a 13mo son and more than anything need to make sure I don't break my arm or leg!

Not depend on driving that shoukd be...

Have just broken my wrist- in 4 weeks we are due to go on a hiking holiday in southern Spain. I am waiting to hear from the tour group but it may not be the most sensible thing to do. We will still have the flights though, so I wondered if anyone could make a recommendation for a holiday in that vicinity that would depend on driving (partner doesn't) and would cater somewhat for the restless people we are...

Well you did ask... Midwife: well, as you're only 2cm dilated, I'm going to have to send you home. Me: bleurghhhhhh (vomits everywhere) Midwife: ok, you can stay.

Oh this is soooo helpful. Some of it a bit out of our price range I fear but I will do the research. If I had an unlimited budget.... Well now...there's a thought.

We're getting married in November. Very small, immediate family only celebration. HOWEVER... I have an enormous family who I'm very close to but it was beyond our will and means to do anything actually on the day. We are going to have a drinks/snacks party in the New Year and we're just fixing the date, but I am clueless as to our options. I want it to be somewhere special, somewhere that'll tick the boxes for the rellies expectations (ok, they won't get to wear hats but hey it'll be a nice ambiance etc) but I can't afford somewhere too amazing. And frankly I don't want a massively formal place. So what do you think, forumites? Not a 3rd class steerage, but without bells and whistles. Very happy to be local, or move further afield. Though I would think it has to be London, as most of the people I want to invite are here.... Would need somewhere I can bring own booze/food - OR come to an arrangement as to drinks and snacks.... I've counted 50.That's our max. (and that's only pretty much family, and a very few friends)

You can buy cartons the other side of security at heathrow at least- we reserved out with boots a week before and picked up on the day- it means you'd only have to think about the weight of the cartons on way back... Would that help?

Ok - I have to admit, before people feel sorry for me, that we're taking the cowards way out. Off out to dinner with family after The Event in a registry office we haven't quite decided on yet, so it requires minimal organisation. Thanks for the advice! Really appreciated

Oh and any advice about where we could ask about this would be good. I know 'night nannies' don't usually come out until 9pm and we'd need someone there from 6.

We're getting married and it looks like we might need a nanny to put our little fellow to bed at about 7ish and possibly stay over night. He will be about 17 months. Is a one-off nanny experience going to throw him? Or should I just acknowledge that we can't go anywhere (we're going out for dinner) until we get him to sleep, which will mean probably getting to any dinner venue for 830 and not 730, so not a massive disaster. I would prefer if someone else put him to bed, just because then he's not entirely flummoxed if said someone comforts him in the night, but is it too much for a little one?

That is absolutely ridiculous - next time, tell them to stuff it, honestly. I hate it when people feel they have a right to comment on your baby when they don't know anything her/him. we use the Snooze Shade because our son WILL NOT SLEEP if he's stimulated by daylight and interesting goings on. It's a must, a life saver no less! (erm, and it's not like it wasn't designed precisely for babies and went through safety checks etc.) I do have to say though I have consistently encountered strangers commenting whilst using it - they haven't commented to my face, but they'll walk past and loudly say something about it to their friends- ranging from 'Snooze shade....doesn't sound like it's working...' (no, not yet - I've just got it on and he's protesting because he knows he off to Snooze Land) to 'That's awful - have you seen one of those before?'.

I didn't realise you could do this - this would make sense for us, as neither of us can afford to take a week off work at the moment.... Is that a bad reason for doing it? Possibly. What are the side effects, does anyone know? And why don't they provide it on the NHS? Just because it's not considered a serious illness, or is the vaccine somehow...I don't know...inefficient. No knowledge of medical issues so any advice gratefully received.

Go and see a lunchtime showing of a movie at one of the picturehouse cinemas (nice seats), eat popcorn. Luxury, I love the naughty feeling of lunchtime films. Only on one day. Ok, maybe 2. He he he.

How old for the car seat?

Just looked at the website actually...http://www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/HamptonCourtPalaceActivitiesforfamiliesaspx There's more than I remember on for families. I'm sure there are other options too though, which the wise EDFites will come up with.