Bellenden Belle

I used to work in the Natural Shoe Store - the original Birkenstock shop - many moons ago. They do come up "big" - but this doesn't mean they aren't the correct size - it is a different kind of shoe which can take a while to adjust to. You should be able to fit the top of your thumb between the back of your ankle and shoe. It really is worth trying to go to a shop and get them properly fitted. Not least because they come in different width sizes too that can make a big difference.

Hi Nabz, Congratulations! We are meeting at Green and Blue at 7pm on Thursday. Hope you can make it. C x

Congratulations Kate - yes, there's space. Look forward to meeting you. C x

Thank you for all your replies. I think the key is definitely in the maternity contract they draw up for my cover - and Yak as you put it - it is up to them to put contractual agreements in place to ensure they don't pay double. Just have to stick to my guns!

Hi Midivydale, Just to say - I remembeer the Winter Baby Thread going up and no one writing on it for ages! I think most people wait until their twelve week scan is out of the way - and obviously for a three month period, some people won't even know themselves yet! So fret not - it'll fill up in the future. C x

I'm hoping people/ HR specialists might be able to shed some light on a maternity leave/ cover question for me. I work for a very small organisation and already there is low level panic about recruiting for my maternity cover. My question is - do I have to say a date when I want to return at present? I suspect I will want to take 12 months but would like the option to return at nine.My understanding is that I am not legally obliged to give a return date until much later. But how does one advertise for cover in such circumstances? As a charity, my company can't afford even a couple of months of extra pay if there happens to be an overlap. Is it quite common to state Maternity Cover - minimum 9 months with a view to extension? I am worried I am gioing to be pressurised into deciding to take a year before I'm even four months pregnant.

Hi Tomo and Mooncake, I've signed up with Sofie too... my midwife at Oakwood recommended her too. There is also a continuing group on a Friday afternoon at the Mag where parents who have taken her course can continue to meet each week. But just to warn you - she only has two places left. I'm also quite keen on hypnobirthing. I'm off to Jags tonight to do my first yoga class. Looking forward to Thursday. I popped in to Green and Blue at the weekend to make sure there's plenty of space for us now there's lots of us!

Wow - that's fanastic MissMack - thank you so much!

Poppysnores, LillyD, and Pinkhalf - you are all more than welcome to join us on the 25th. I am going to do a little tally next week so I can give Green and Blue exact numbers. But congratulations to all. And congratulations to Midivydale too! To be honest, I am sure it won't be long before the Family Room Moderator puts up a new thread for Spring Babies 2012 to join - and you'll find there will no doubt be just as many mums as there are on this thread. But that is absolutely not to say you aren't welcome to join us - just that you might want to wait for people who will be due around the same time as you.

Hello everyone, Just spoken to Green and Blue and booked a table for the 25th. I booked it for 12 people -there's about eight of us now so I thought I'd book extra in case others join us in the meantime. Really looking forward to it. Hope everyone is doing well. I've had ligament pains for the first time this week - hoping that means a little growth spurt is on the way since I still look like I've just eaten too many puddings!

Anna, Pickle, and Julia - really pleased you can make it. Thanks for letting me know.....every one else most welcome too! Winter Babies Club meeting on August Thursday 25th, 7pm at Green and Blue.

Congratulations Di - how exciting to have a Valentine's Baby - they'd never be short of cards! And congratulations to Julia too - you've certainly moved to the right part of London to get to know new people and meet other mums. Seems there's lots of first timers and I'm suspecting a lot of us work and so can't make daytime meet ups. So why don't we get the ball rolling and get a date in our diary for an early evening meet up? Green and Blue might be a good place - they do a good selection of soft drinks for those not drinking, nibbles and cake - and we could reserve some space in the back if there's a few of us. How about Thursday 25th? Hopefully most 12 weeks scans for this babies club will be completed so people still waiting to 'come out' could also join us by that point. And hopefully some of us won't be feeling so tired in a few weeks time! Let me know if you'd like to come along - second time mums also welcome of course - and I can book a space. Caroline x

Another first timer here! I had my scan yesterday and am due on February 15th. Would love to meet others. I actually met my other half at a forum drinks - so expect David Carnell to be popping into the Family Room soon!

I agree it's sad to see - I was one of those that so vehmently defended the wagon. But I've been disappointed on a couple of occasions now and when I sent a friendly email to Yianni saying what a fan I was but how something had slipped, I received a rather lacklustre response.

For years fox hunting continued despite hunt saboteurs. Nothing changed until the law was changed. It was debate and canvassing of public opinion that ultimately made the difference. I agree with Huguenot here - why should a minority attempt to speak for the rest of us. And welcome back H.

I'm really sorry to hear this news MP. Whilst my mother did undergo treatment and chemotherapy and I can't imagine how I would have felt if she hadn't, she was also a great fan of what I would dismiss as "woo" and would often tell senior consultants that it was these alternative treatments that were having an effect rather than anything they did. This ranged from traipsing to healing services in Woolwich where I would watch her spasm and collapse onto the floor when a priest laid hands on her through to going to Suffolk to visit Matthew Manning, a healer "as seen on Richard and Judy". Those things made her incredibly happy and hopeful and each time I would see a surge of energy in her that she never usually had. I think they were vital for her mental well-being. Suppporting her in her pursuit of these treatments did actually make us closer and I actually really value the time we spent together. I always thought they were a load of nonsense and I still do - but like religion, some people just need to believe in something, and supporting them in that pursuit whilst putting our own judgements aside can be what they need you to do for them at that point in time. Easier said than done though. But perhaps by accepting her way of doing things at the moment might might her more open to hearing your thoughts and concerns. Take care, C x

karter Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Is hardwood house which sells paint at the end of > Oglander still trading? Yes I think so - walked past it yesterday.

The dim sum is absolutely fantastic - don't be misled by its rather plain interior, it's well worth a visit. And the owners are lovely - I'd love to see this do well.

Agree about the swimming pool - I went once on a weekday evening and it was overcrowded to the point where people were actually getting quite aggressive with each other. It's such a shame as it's a lovely pool but I just won't go back.

Another vote for American Wife; Freedom; and Caitlin Moran's How to be a Woman. I also loved Emma Henderson's Grace Williams Says it Loud - really original and beautifully written. If you want something light and easy to digest in chunks then short stories by David Sedaris or Magical Thinking by Augusten Burroughs are great choices. I also loved Augusten Burrough's "Dry", though it did make me weep on a train once.

Karter I think Straferjack was referring to the comment made by poppylucky, not the original op. Ah yes, Poppylucky - how apt her name, she kept the forum entertained a few years back with her tales of abuse by schoolkids, her horror at findin litter in the streets and her altercations with owners of fouling dogs. Good to see she's back to her pet subject of reminding us of the horrors of East Dulwich - and how tedious trolls are. To the OP - sorry to hear about your experience, you were very wise not to chase.

Just to say I have trained with Giulio over the past year and he's been fantastic - he's really kept me on track. He helped me shift quite a bit of weight and I even managed to climb the tallest mountain in Indo-China after three months of training with him. Worth every penny.

Joanna's is just lovely - definitely my favourite though Franklins is great too.

StraferJack Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Can I blame predictive textery? No matter, you are > quite correct. Anyone reading that post, please > move the ' one character to the right. Thank you > > ????. I'll speak to you later One should actually have written 'Moos's instructions'. As in Bridget Jones's Diary....a handy populist reference to keep you on track there Mr Jack.

http://www.stopjunkmail.org.uk/stickers/no_junk_mail_stickers.php There is a sign that differentiates between commercial junk mail and other community-minded matters like free newspapers. Not perfect, but still....