Zebra

I cannot comprehend why in England, where we speak English as our mother tongue, people cannot spell adequately nor even take the time to ensure that they are understood by the normal rules of the English language. Why do a bad job of something which should be almost as natural as breathing? Why leave communication open to misinterpretation if it can be correct and exact? Surely if anyone wants something to be read and understood they should create it in the most well understood medium?

Lambrell Green I think

Down past what used to be the White City and keep the building site on the left and through the land down there, can't miss it at the moment as it features a well trodden path through the snow.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27274748@N04/ Sculpture trail overlooking M1 in S26

Yep, sounds good. I'll pass it on to the ladies but I'm sure they'll check in on the thread and you can let them know yourself if you're going in this week. I'm sure any extra hands would be useful, thankyou.

I'm curious about the people who've gone to work. I was texted at 6.55 am and told not to even try as the first foray to travel 4 miles had taken over an hour and twenty minutes. I'm glad of that as our local roads haven't been gritted in S26 and I doubt I would have safely got to S2, a distance of around 8 miles or so. What was you situation and how far did you have to travel?

Hi Katy, Good to hear from you! Re the positive feedback - thankyou Re constructive criticism - I'll ask if anything has changed regarding room bookings so that we can consider changing times and check in with those currently delivering sessions too. Tea and coffee..... this could be partially my fault as I was the complete tea fiend (and still am) so I was the one always chasing the tea bags . Anyone who wants a drink should feel free to ask but it should usually be offered too. I'll ask the ladies to keep this in mind The 'special' sessions we ran were things I arranged. I'll run it by the current team to see if we could get more of these going, I'm loathe to ask too much of them as they've all got multiple kids and it feels like a cheek. However, if you know of something or someone that we could have in then please do let us know - this applies to everyone. We've got a venue and a number of people and a medium to communicate so we're always happy to have groups/sessions/classes etc in. The team have suggested that they will run craft sessions again and have been discussing how best to go about it. There's discussion of a Christmas Party too which will probably be on a Friday. I'll try and book time off to get to that too and I've emailed a certain company to ask for assistance with a treat - so we might pull something good off again See you soon

Yup, plenty are at school, mine included. We've got some back with grandchildren, some with second and third babies and of course new members, as there's the usual turnover as some return to work or their child attends nursery in the afternoons or moves up to school. It's a shame about Kati, I wish you'd let me know. Not sure what I would have done but it would have been nice to know so I could at least try. It's constructive anyway, so it's appreciated

I'm mostly behind the scenes doing the work involved other than the session delivery, so the ladies currently delivering are 'old faces' who were regulars back when you were coming SpeedDemon. They knew how things went and it was left in safe hands. I still call in at times and I'm still the main contact and co-ordinator for the group.

Thankyou camum, it's good to get some pleasant feedback. Shame the timing didn't suit. We did think about sliding the times back a little but had trouble with the room availability, perhaps we can look at that again.

Actually, I closed the thread to prevent it descending into madness, as these things often do. What started as one person feeling a bit put out about something from a personal point of view actually became a huge vendetta involving various agencies. One persons spite has actually caused a number of people to avoid attending the group, which is unfortunate since they might have liked it, plenty of people do, hence being there four years. Ultimately, we came out of it without any problems because we do actually run as we should, to protocol, with policies and with insurance. However, looking on the bright side, it's always good to check and double check that we're up to date and doing things right. We've banned two people from the group in 4 years, neither have a disability that I know of. It's none of our business if someone has a disability, unless we can somehow support them whilst at the group and very few people have ever needed any assistance. Those who were banned, one has a foul mouth and both are spiteful/derogatory and for that reason cannot attend a group which is attended by people/children who do not wish to be abused. We've never banned anyone from attending for being clumsy, that would be ridiculous. The group is not a business, it cannot be. Our group cannot suit everyone, it isn't possible. We've had very many people through the door who are perfectly happy with what we do and how we do it and we've had plenty who don't. We've welcomed and actively sought feedback from members and the overall feedback is great. I welcome constructive criticism and we've made tweaks here and there because of it. I intensely dislike overall verbal bashing fests, they are usually personal, always negative and serve no useful purpose. Those are the posts and threads which become personal and vindictive, often peppered with untruths and nonsense because the people posting them are simply trying to cause trouble, not because there is genuinely any great fault. They exaggerate the truth to make it bigger and more serious, to get more attention and to feel validated because the truth is often far less worrisome. Some people attend the group and don't really want to talk to the ladies who currently run the sessions, some want to dip in and out of conversation when it suits, some want to chat constantly, any approach is welcomed. We have had some individuals in the past who complain bitterly that they attend groups where no one talks to them and after a few weeks we find out that it's because they aren't forthcoming so conversation becomes hard work and many people give up, again, it happens. I'm sure those people complain too and that's their opinion. One thing which does jump out is that by the very nature of the group, we attract women. Women are nothing if not capable of articulating themselves and as a result we will hear about it if people have a negative opinion of us. It happens. What shouldn't happen is that other people are swayed by the opinion of the vast minority. People love to write/email/call any group/company to complain but very few groups/companies get letters/emails or calls telling them how good they are. That's human nature. We provide shed loads of toys and lots of space for kids to run around and play and lots of seating and drinks and space to eat, along with changing mats and magazines, breastfeeding cushions and highchairs and a million and one other bits besides. We've provided baby massage sessions , healthy eating sessions, information of parenting (from NSPCC) and lots of other resources and for a while we were even providing free courses via the sessions. We are run by parents and carers, for parents/carers and we can only do our best. If you don't like it, fine, it you do like it, fine. Leave others to decide for themselves instead of insisting that your opinion is the only correct opinion.

I read that in one of the eHow or How to mend it.com guides, not sure if I dare or if that'll cause more damage if it's bad news a for a combi boiler. It does make sense though - thankyou

Zhu zhu pets house is a bit pointless IMO but this is from the mother of twins who killed the first Zhu zhu pet by hugging it (the sides squash and stop the wheels from turning) and the second by letting it go on the carpet and it wound up their long hair in the wheels. Not the greatest fun

I'm having a plumbing problem I think. I've got a good strong flow of hot water in the kitchen but no other flow in the house and no hot water at all. There is an occasional trickle of cold water out of the hot water tap. It's taken over an hour for the downstairs loo to refill to flush once. It's a relatively new house, we have a combi boiler, no tank. We've never had problems in the previous winters we've lived here and the boiler is doing fine. The heating is fine. For a little while we got only hot water trickling out of all taps but now it's reverted back to only cold in the kitchen and nothing everywhere else. We have suspicions of a frozen pipe but it doesn't especially make sense to me in this instance. Any ideas or experience or do I have to start searching for a plumber?

Thinking of you.

I've had a brief of how the session went and as far as I can gather there was nothing specifically done wrong. However, we are all entitled to opinions and not all aspects of Jellytots will suit all parents. We have had one or two parents with very specific issues who haven't returned as they would no longer be welcome. We've also had a few who want to be babysat through the session. I always ask for the people who run it now to be friendly and welcoming but not to foist themselves on others and in my experience that is what happens. Some people feel that they must be attended to and dislike this approach, others prefer to find their feet in their own time. We cannot suit everyone and although I'm sorry not everyone can find it to their taste it shouldn't involve personal vendettas or attacks. For that reason I shall close this thread whilst it all calms down.

Jellytots, we have a running thread at the top of the parenting group. No waiting list and you'll be very welcome

Hi, We'll be at Marlcliffe School again. Apologies for the incredibly late reply, I've only just seen the question.

Jellytots will welcome all and sundry and we welcome visitors without kids too. Mon, Wed and Fri. 1pm - 3pm in the lower hall of the Victoria Methodist Church in the city centre. It generally attracts parents with children aged 0-5, mums and dads alike but primarily mums. We have the occasional lady in there who has no children but is pregnant and various visitors and friends of members. We've also had a number of people in our sessions during training on playwork and similar courses. It's a fairly generic group, lots of toys out and the kids can play whilst parents chat, eat lunch or have a bit of peace with a cuppa.

Where do you live? I don't know of such a service but as a childminder I can say that if someone asked that of me I'd probably make myself available. You could look for registered childminders in your area and make a point of visiting them so your child is familiar with them.

I can offer a foster home for the fire kittens too. We've got 3 tolerant adult cats but we've not looking to expand the family permanently.

We had a pretty useless midwife during my twin pregnancy and she never asked to see the room the girls would have (not that they used it until 7 months) but I would have felt irked by it and most likely I would have refused too. I dislike the government who put excess observations on society and social services who make a poor job of dealing with the children who are reported as needing observing/already in the system. Escalating matters by putting none services staff in a front line role in an already poor service is a joke. As a rule I tend to buck against anyone to tells me how things should be. Like the local health visitor who sent a note when we moved in the area telling me she was coming to visit on a certain day and with a time of her choice. I refused and said although I would happily bring the children to the clinic at a time of mutual convenience she could not tell me she was coming to my house. I think sometimes people/government/services forget that in fact the majority of people can adequately provide for and care for a child without any interference whatsoever and in fact some of us would prefer to just get on with it without being condemned for rebelling.

We can offer foster care until they are rehomed but we're not a permanent fixture as we've already got 3.

Following an earlier comment I wanted to point out that my twins start in September this year, just before their 5th birthday, however, we are not offered delayed intake as we come under Rotherham Metropants Council and their rules differ. I would shout, stamp my feet and generally show off about it until some numpty listened, but in our case it works out well. However, it doesn't work out for everyone and it should be addressed. There has been some (limited) discussion about allowing boys to take GCSEs via exams and girls via coursework, so the results are just beginning to filter through to the powers that be but frankly the powers that be should be parents an facts, not numpties!

Some of you will know about us and some will be new to us, HIllsborough Young Performers is an annual summer school event which takes place in the school holidays for children interested in performing arts aged 6-16. We're now in our 12th year! You can get an application form by emailing us at [email protected] or look for H.Y.P on Facebook. We provide drama, dance , music and art as a series of workshops, beginning with a theme chosen by the participants on a Monday and ending with a newly devised performance on the Friday performed for the benefit of parents, friends, family and community residents. Our events this year will take place on 2nd - 6th August inc, 9th Aug -13th Aug inc, and then again in the October half term. The event in week 1 will take place at Marlcliffe School in HIllsborough but we accept participants from anywhere and it's just by the tram route. IN week 2 we'll be at The Victoria Methodist Church in Sheffield City Centre. Also, it's £50 per week (full time), £95 for 2 and possible reductions available for more. We have a number of forum members who can testify to the fun factor and achievements for the children at our events. All tutors have enhanced CRB checks, we follow Ofsted guidelines and carry teaching qualifications in addition to first aid etc. If anyone is interested, would like a registration form to book a place or more information please email us at [email protected] or ring 07866754838.