alethea

Does anyone have any advice or solutions as to what is best way to handle after school childcare, we need childcare from 3.15-7pm 4 days a week, we currently have a nanny, things are always fine for a bit, but it always ends up that they need more hours, which we just don't need. It's never as flexible as we'd like it to be. Do you just have to accept that you will always need a new nanny every year or so or is there a better answer? It feels like there is a real gap in the market for a smaller group approach to after school clubs with slightly longer hours and pick up/ drop off facilities.

Just wanted to endorse this sports camp, as a working mum it works out well for the holidays, the staff are really friendly and they do a range of sports that my son really enjoys.

Thanks for replying, i am thinking it might be a bit of a lost cause I did mention that you wouldn't just replace a part of a carpet and is tiling not the same principal. Bit think Might be clutching at straws.

Hi there, We recently had a disaster with our floor to ceiling tiled bathroom and subsequently 1 wall and a bit of another need re-tiling. The old tiles are discontinued and the insurance company will only pay for the cost of re-tiling the damaged walls. So basically we need to pay for the rest to be done as we don't have a matching items cover on our policy annoyingly, or have random mismatching tiles. We have tried arguing this with the insurance company and they are not giving way and the quote to get the rest of the bathroom done is quite a lot. Has anyone any advice as to whether it's worth continuing to fight this, I've written below the clause in the policy that they refer to. In settling your claim we will not: pay for the cost of replacing or changing undamaged parts of the buildings which belong to a set or suite which have a common design or use when insured damage happens to another part or area of that suite or set and replacements cannot be matched and repair cannot be carried out satisfactorily.

Seriously not great, our house is stinking of smoke from the fire, lots of people milling around to top it off some guy on a car said to get my 3rd old in the house quick followed by only joking some joke.

What you can do is the 2 for one offer, where you basically buy a rail ticket, but this can be just from east dulwich to london bridge, then you can get the 2 for 1 they have the offer at the train stations where you pick up a booklet. I think it might be just worth while though if there is two adults going and possibly 2 children so you get two lots of the 2for 1. We did it and it saved us quite a bit of money. It would still be applicable with 1 adult and 1 child but you would get your chilod free plus the cost of the rail ticket. Sorry rather long winded there.

I plumped for the personal trainer [email protected] I always thought I was quite fit before. It's tough but just what I needed and for someone that has no motivation it was the only way for me. I have to say as well that exercise definately made me feel emotionally better as well. I've got some tone now which was sorely needed, think I had been in denial and after baby number 2 it was a lot harder. It was probably not the cheapest option, but the one that I could have least excuses for getting out of. Good luck

On a positive note, some children can come out the other side of addiction. But any form of rehabilitation has to come from the addict, once they make the decision to change then you do what you can to help, sometimes throwing money at it is not the answer. It was a harrowing story and every parents nightmare.

Hi there, I totally agree with bluesuperted, I think your prices are too cheap excluding the cost of the wool, its working out about ?2.00p/h and I know from my mum knitting things that the time it takes to sew them up is not quick. Having done market stalls in my time and about to embark again!! if you sell a few one week, then the pressure is on to then make more to sell the following week, it soon gets quite tiring. Good luck though, I love handknitted items although I have kept shrinking my mums in the wash which I have been feeling very guilty about. Ax

I attempted to sell a flat with foxtons when i lived in west london, we did this as we had found a property with them and thought it would be quicker to also sell through them, it was a classic 2 beds garden flat, bargain in hindsight. We had lots of viewings but they were all targeted at the wrong people who were looking for something else. In the end we decided to go with KFH and they sold our property in about a week. During the dual agent selling period foxtons were going to charge us 3% and this was totally non negotiable. Ironically the person that did actually buy our flat was on foxtons books but they had not contacted him with our property. Unless your property is worth a lot sometimes they don't put as much effort into it as it's not a big commission for them. I wouldn't use them again, infact would consider trying to sell our property ourselves to start, when you get that bill through + VAT it seems a lot of money. Probably not what an estate agent would want to hear.

I am hoping that someone with some mechanic advice will be able to help me. The clutch release spring has just snapped off my ford focus. It still drives okay, does anyone know if this is a situation where you shouldn't drive it at all or if it is something that needs to be sorted soon, but it's not dangerous. I've tried searching the web but can't find anything with regards to how serious it is. Thanks to anyone that can help.

make sure you have the little white round plastic bit, that was my mistake when mine didn't work. Then it was all go, never got to grips with the electric one.

I had a vbac at kings last april which I was really keen to have, they were really supportive, I had the mobile wireless monitor which worked okay but did keep slipping off my belly. They don't really monitor you till you are in proper labour. Because it kept slipping off I did end up on the bed and with ventose etc and the monitoring on the babies head. I did have to have a canular just in case, even though I didn't want one but at the end of the day it probably was for the best. I think it really depends on why you had the c section in the first place mine was because my son was breech so there was no reason why I couldn't try for a vbac. On the plus side I had a midwife with me the whole time and my own room etc. It was a bit stressful in the run up to it as my daughter was 8 days late so I had to push to get them to wait before I was booked in for another c-section, I had that many sweeps it was becoming embarassing. Kings love a vbac though, the midwifes called me to say congratulations as they knew how much I wanted one, it was a long labour and not quite how I imagined in the end but worth it. Also re the pain relief, I was only on gas and air as my belief was that was all you could have 'they like you to feel the pain'!!! But depending on the time of your last birth they can give you an epidural. Ax

That sounds like a good idea, I am slightly nervous of having too big a space, when I have done things in past in East Dulwich, albeit not for charity it can sometimes be a struggle getting people involved. Thanks Alethea

Give yourself a break my dear, I've resorted to doing squats while doing the ironing, and steps on patricks toilet step while he is in the bath and the plank whilst watching eastenders. Failing that have a colonic, that can help!! Ax

I would like Little treasures to do a make your own bracelet event for children in need where people donate money for their child to make a bracelet or adults for that matter. But I need a venue, I have been racking my brains for somewhere that might be a good place for people to come, it doesn't need a huge amount of space, but it needs to be easy for people to get to and somewhere people would want to come. If anyone has any suggestions that would be great. I would like to do it around the 19th and the TV event. Any help would be great, Thanks Alethea

Hi there, apologies in advance for the mostly non family related post, Not sure if anyone will be able to help but I am trying to grow my jewellery brand at the moment and am interested in anyone that can either reccomend or give advice on the success of using a pr and/or sales agent. I have recently gone back to work and it's looks my job is going to go a pear shaped so I think it's finally time to concentrate on what's going to work for me and my family. Any advice gratefully received. Alethea www.aletheacarey.co.uk

Hi there, I am settling in my little girl tomorrow as well at greendale, although will not be in the same room, my son also goes there 3.5yr and is really happy. It sounds like maybe you are slightly concerned that as it was the only nursery you could get a place that this may be a negative. I wouldn't worry, it's a great little nursery that really is a bit of hidden gem. Ax

My sons nursery increased there fees, but it had been after a fee freeze so could it have just been bad timing for you unfortunately. Expensive business this childcare.

Hi there, I am a jewellery designer with my own jewellery company as well as working for the highstreet. I also recently launched a childrens jewellery design concept that lets children explore there creativity. I also have two chidlren, a 3 year old and 4 month old. I am intrigued by what you are looking for, would be great to know if I fit the profile. Thanks Alethea www.aletheacarey.co.uk

southwark council runs a service for awkward childcare arrangements, they will find someone for you, they are all checked etc and you obviously get to decide. We found a lovely person through this for some nursery pick ups that we needed. Might be worth a try if you want.

I've got some bits if you like, black wrap dress, black trousers, couple of tops, leggings, pretty much all size 12, was wondering what to do with them, pm me if you want them. Ax

Hi there, I really want to get a trampoline that can be used by adults as well, well about a 12st weight restriction, but do not have any grass so it would have to go on concrete, am going to get a net surround etc. Anyway have been told that you need to have special rubber feet, or at least some kind of layer in between, I just wondered if anyone had any experience of trampolines on hard surfaces or could recommend anything or if this might just be a bad idea. The size I am looking to get is 8ft. Thanks

My 3 year old is at mother goose greendale and loves it, a real not so hidden gem now with great spaces. I'm almost reluctant to give a positive recommendation as my 4 month is starting in september and they have very few places. Ax

Okay, well obviously you are seriously pi**ed off with pregnant people on public transport and in general. Probably on one of the trains coming from London bridge as when I was pregnant, probably got offered a seat a handful of times right up to the end. I think what pi**ed me off was people that sat in the special seats and then didn't offer their seats to anyone old, disabled, pregnant etc. It would then be left up to someone else to do it. If you don't want to potentially give up your seat then don't increase your chances by sitting in special seats. To be honest I think it is depressing that you would even put a post saying this, it always amazes me how negative people can be regarding pregnancy, children etc. Yes it is a lifestyle choice for most, but in the grand scheme of things it's for a few months and how many times do you actually give up your seat in a week? Perhaps you would be better off taking your grievance up with Boris to sort out the trains rather than putting all the blame on pregnant women.