Search found 108 matches

Go to advanced search

Re: How much cash for a wedding gift?

Most couples ask for money these days with young people often stating it is to fund their honeymoon. For recent weddings we have given £200 for a family of 5. If it was just husband and me I think we’d give about £100/150 depending on how well we knew the couple. If it was an older couple marrying o...
Forum: Got a Question?
Topic: How much cash for a wedding gift?
Replies: 4
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Apr 15, 2024 7:44 am

Re: Should we go to Centreparcs with a potentially infectious child?

I’d say stay at home. It is massively infectious and your daughter is pretty much certain of getting it. Other parents are likely to notice your son's spots (or remains of spots) especially if you go swimming. And what can be a mild bout with one child can be much more severe with another, making th...
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Should we go to Centreparcs with a potentially infectious child?
Replies: 6
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Apr 08, 2024 7:51 am

Re: Neighbour's dachshund barking aggressively many times a day

When our lovely neighbours acquired two jack russells we had the same problem - in stereo! They stood at the front window and literally barked at every passer-by, all day long. Are the owners of your sausage dog out during the day? In which case (like our neighbours) they may be unaware of the probl...
Forum: Homes & Garden
Topic: Neighbour's dachshund barking aggressively many times a day
Replies: 11
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Mar 11, 2024 7:57 am

Re: Measles – The Outbreak You Need to Know About

Another really important reason to vaccinate is that rubella (which can be almost symptomless to the person who catches it) can seriously damage the foetuses of pregnant women. I’m surprised this isn’t mentioned more. And yes, measles it at best miserable and at worse, very dangerous. I had it befor...
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Measles – The Outbreak You Need to Know About
Replies: 2
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Jan 29, 2024 3:26 pm

Re: Daughter being left out of playdate group

All good advice here and agree with MollyK that it is friendships with parents that might be the key. We had similar issues moving children to a school with established parent friendship groups. While trying these suggestions I’d also recommend getting your child into a few activities outside school...
Forum: Schools
Topic: Daughter being left out of playdate group
Replies: 6
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Jan 22, 2024 8:50 am

Re: Asked to keep window closed because of husband's snoring

Mine has been an awful snorer for years and and I’m surprised neighbours haven’t complained. He tried various devices (not the apnea mask though). What seems to work best is some Oil of Olbas on a tissue nearby (clears the pssages) and losing a bit of weight. Also a mild hayfever tablet such as Piri...
Forum: Got a Question?
Topic: Asked to keep window closed because of husband's snoring
Replies: 9
by Needcoffeenow
Thu Jan 18, 2024 7:52 am

Re: More about in laws and Christmas

The behaviour of relatives is often hard to fathom and it’s better not to fret about it. And anyway, you can’t make them want to stay with you. Like you we both worked full time. We didn’t see either set of grandparents after the children were tiny because they had all died. So we made it a positive...
Forum: Got a Question?
Topic: More about in laws and Christmas
Replies: 9
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Dec 18, 2023 8:27 am

Re: Grandparents treat my children differently to their cousins

How old are your children and how far away do the grandparents live? Do they have to stay with them when they visit? He does sound like a bit of a bully but, more importantly, he is making a drama about food, with a ‘punishment’, which is not good. Have your children said how they feel about it to t...
Forum: Got a Question?
Topic: Grandparents treat my children differently to their cousins
Replies: 2
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Oct 30, 2023 7:48 am

Re: University allowances - advice needed please

Our youngest left last year and, as with his older siblings, we based his living allowance on what he would have been able to borrow if he had been eligible for the full maintenance loan. So we paid his accommodation and were paying him £125 a week in addition. In addition we paid for larger items (...
Forum: Schools
Topic: University allowances - advice needed please
Replies: 7
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Sep 18, 2023 7:20 am

Re: 5/6 year old suddenly refusing to sleep

A tough one. The theory (!) is that children need to get to a stage where, if they wake up on their own in bed, they can go back to sleep again without getting up/waking up a parent etc. So possibly she’s not done that yet. Having had three children and gone through a few sleep problems (including a...
Forum: General Chat
Topic: 5/6 year old suddenly refusing to sleep
Replies: 2
by Needcoffeenow
Tue Aug 29, 2023 8:16 am

Re: Bolingbroke Academy could be judged outstanding

That is brilliant and testimony to the hard work of staff, head and students. I know from our own kids’ school how much effort goes into achieving outstanding status. Well done to the Oxbridge students, too.
Forum: Got a Question?
Topic: Bolingbroke Academy could be judged outstanding
Replies: 2
by Needcoffeenow
Tue Aug 29, 2023 7:57 am

Re: fussy eater - help!

We had a Scottish fully qualified ‘super nanny’ who I’m sure would agree with the above. Her previous job had been to help a child who was an incredibly picky eater (because the parents were minor royals and the child was expected to attend receptions with them!) She always said don’t offer substitu...
Forum: General Chat
Topic: fussy eater - help!
Replies: 9
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Aug 21, 2023 8:28 am

Re: Husband wants me to ask friend to pay for parking permit when they leave car

My husband, like yours, has raised this issue at various times and, like yours, always expected me to have the awkward conversation! So you could try suggesting he asks them! But if your visitor permits are restricted to a certain number per year could you simply say ‘I’m really sorry, but we are qu...
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Husband wants me to ask friend to pay for parking permit when they leave car
Replies: 15
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Aug 21, 2023 8:10 am

Re: Au pair cost

It has always been a government scheme and you can check the rules, recommendations and which nationalities are eligible on the .gov website. I agree you need to be aware of NI and employer’s contribution tax rules. A colleague of mine didn’t bother and, at the end of a year, his au pair asked him f...
Forum: Got a Question?
Topic: Au pair cost
Replies: 20
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Jul 17, 2023 8:27 am

Re: Should we pay son not to work so he can study for A levels?

Presumably your husband is keen for him to go to uni and to do that he will need to write a Personal Statement. Experience of working in the real world will strengthen this. Not to have done any proper, paid work at his age can look a bit odd. And any experience of work gained now, however humble, w...
Forum: General Chat
Topic: Should we pay son not to work so he can study for A levels?
Replies: 8
by Needcoffeenow
Mon Jun 26, 2023 9:57 am