yes, but also doing other bits and bobs (cassette, chain gears cables etc) just miffed about the bearings

I hope you limit how many shoes she can own

I bet if you counted all the foetuses aborted on medical grounds they would be outnumbered by children born with problems due to parental ignorance or selfishness – and by that I mean children born with foetal alcohol syndrome and problems due to poor maternal health from drug use etc.

The world will never be free if disability – accidents, genetics, mental health issues etc will always see to that

With regards to CE marks and all that, the only considerations i can think of from a safety point of view are fibre shedding and ribbons.

As babies tend to suck and chew things yarns for babies tend to be made so as not to shed lots of fibers, don’t want the little darlings getting fur balls. Also Ribbons and cords(not such and issue with a blanket) needs to be securely attached and not of a length a child can garrot itself with.

Strangely the second of those points is a regulation for manufactured clothes – but isn’t noted on some knitting patterns for babies. I check patterns before publications for a large pattern house and am often surprised that the same rules dont seem to apply – even if only to add them as guidance.

Sounds lovely though – any pictures?

Twice I have had “how much is your bike worth mrs”, both in Sheffield commuting and once in Manchester where I’d stopped to check directons. Makes me feel uneasy and then I pedal faster.

i was going to say attain – but a similar company already exists

implement – not such a nice looking work but similar meaning

sea horse?????

Having been a nightmare teenage daughter I think thisisnotaspoon has the best idea – organised time doing constructive rewarding things with plenty of adult company

I wasn’t really one for name calling but i was getting up to alsorts, to which may dad used to blow his top and ground me then give me a whole list of things i couldn’t do – but never any options of what i could do.

She’s at a weird age when she has grown out of all her toys and is now immersed in a world probably of girly gossip/boys/makeup and generally all things shallow.

Parents are no longer cool having become embarassing over night, so best to try and encourage her to get involved with other groups.

I would also look up the princes trust and see if they do activity holiday for like minded charming girls – my brother got sent on something similar and it really helped.

One thing i did surprisingly get into during my rebellious years was voluntary work at a local playcentre and that did give me a focus and sense of responsibility. but my dad put a stop to that too as he wanted me grounded for something.

needless to say to say i got worse and eventually fell pregnant – and he threw me out. the best thing that happened sorted myself out faster than you can imagine!!

My daughter is nearly 24 and teenage times passed relatively smoothly – but in one outburst she did scream ‘I hate you!!’

To which my reply was ‘that’s ok my job is only to get you out of the door as a reasonably well balanced adult, whether you hate me or not during the time it takes to get you there is irrelevant’

She did accept that – thankfully!

As said before danny champion of the world, definite family favourite with all of mine and stig of the dump too – read to them all around that age

I’v been really impressed by some of the Michael mupurgo books, have read Kensuke’s Kingdom and Why the Whales Came to my boys recently really lovely books. My youngest two are now 8&9 so a bit older but he has loads of books out so worth a look.

And musn’t forget dr seuss – really good fun with words and the sleep book is a great way to wind them down. all about a contagious yawn spreading around the world (im usually ready for bed by the time ive read it). The lorax is great too, neither are long.

alcohol is a big depressant and can easily make you feel down afterwards

it also lowers your blood sugar which has an impact on brain function and can also make you feel down and anxious

reassure yourself its just the booze and have a biscuit and get some sleep – all will seem better in the morning (except the fact that its monday morning)

:-)

I bought a deuter ‘superbike’ bag in 1998 – and its still alive and well. great bag well made, although I did replce the zip about 5 years ago.

If they still produce bags of that quality I would definitely recommend them.

You also have to consider when things apparently dont work but people swear by them anyway – glucosamine and evening primrose oil are two that spring to mind.

I spend a lot of my day reading research papers – and sometimes I feel I could find papers to back up or dispute most things depending on which way we are trying to argue something.

Zulu-Eleven – Member Has anyone done it as a single parent/carer?Are the lecture times etc fairly friendly for someone with kids of school age?

I was a single parent of two when I did my degree, fitted around the kids quite well. had a few evening lectures which I did actually take the kids to (they were 8&5 and quite happy to watch chemistry demonstrations.

the biggest clash I had was during exam times, 9am exams when the university kids holiday club opens at 8.30 and is over half an hour away – made for some interesting entrances to the exam hall!

the best bit abut doing it with school age kids is the freedom during holidays, and it works out reasonably well money wise as you still get a grant type payment for dependants so you dont have to brrow more than childless students

I did a chemistry degree at 25 – was a but if a culture shock. I had definitely been a bit of a rebel in my teens – so walking in on the first day to a sea of geeky 18 year olds (mainly boys) did make me wonder if it was a wise move.

I found it ok even though sheffield university chemists definitely do the hours – we would usually still be in labs at 5 on a friday, doing around 30 weeks of lectures and lab work. if you want to do less lectures dont do science!

fitting it ariund kids was ok but definitely felt my needs were better understood 10 years later when I did a post graduate course and where everyone was ‘mature’

I really hope so – or am I just too trusting of photobucket’s private setting?!

there are some great respiratory consultants out there so the best way to find out whats near you is to look on your local private hospital website – that should give you an idea of who is available.

The diagnosis of asthma is not based on maximum peak flow but of change in peak flow. the common test is to measure peak flow morning (when typically it is lower) and in the evening. a 20% or greater diurnal variation in readings is taken to be an indicator of asthma. if something else is the trigger (exercise/allergy) then the measurements should be taken when the symptoms have been triggered. so better to look at the change rather than a solitary peak flow rate

I swear by the ergon grips, had some for 7 years now and never have any problems. prior to that any long ride would leave me in pain – have arthritis in a few of my fingers (from my other extreme hobby – knitting! ). I can even ride happily when my finger are sore with those grips – position is everything though so make sure the hand is supported keeping the wrist as straight as possible.

looking at getting a cyclocross bike – and slightly worried problems may come back ith the change of position, but only by one way to find out.

I really wouldn’t worry, my eldest son wasn’t allowed guns. but anything vaguely gun shaped became a pretend gun. I realised I was going to have to accept that gun play was inevitable when I had to super glue his favourite (pistol shaped) stick back together when it got broken.

I then decided when he was older he could have a bag of toys only to be used in the woods near the resevoir I used to sail at. so he had catapults and potato guns etc.

he has grown into a relatively well rounded lad, but briefly had hair that justin beiber would have been proud of and expressed a desire to be a hairdresser – I then worried he’d not played with enough guns!!

needless to say the two sons I have had 10 years after my eldest son have nerf guns and I dont worry

there is no toy that will affect kids as much as open discussion and debate about the world and all that goes on in it

Understandably so, and I could probably tell you stuff about road rage against cyclists (for just being cyclists) that would make you even more sacred.

but like I say you need to consider how rare these things actually are – bad things will always get talked about but it doesn’t mean they are common. Safe rides are common :-)

But when I weigh up the risks of cycling in light of the awful things I deal with on a day to day basis I feel it is worth the risk. maybe because I also deal with pedestrians getting knocked over on crossings and on pavements, freak work accidents that kill or seriously injure people.

There will always be extreme tales of woe in everything we do – just remember the millions who get through each day with nothing more than the feeling of a good ride!

And I would say it is far more risky walking through the fruit and veg section of a supermarket – the risk of a serious slipping injury that will leave you on your fat back side capable of no more than watching Jeremy kyle,is dangerously high. . . .

(and that isnt a dig at anyone genuine but one of the more enjoyable bits of my job is identifying the fibbers :-) )

Unfortunately at work I deal with accidents like this all to often. one that will stick with me is a chap riding in an organised event that took him along an A road. he was an experienced road cyclist. that didnt make any difference to his outcome. He was run over by a polish lorry driver who they believe was on his lap top at the time.
The driver didnt stop (because he hadn’t realised he’d hit anything) and took some finding, unfortunately he died a few days later from his injuries. His wife pursued a case against him as she wanted a sorry. She did get a large settlement but never an apology.

ok I give up some things just cant be done on a smart phone

obviously my pic is not fit for public viewing and has censored itself

im amazed you can mtb comfortably in a submarine :)

medical researcher for a firm of solicitors

I like it although it can be a little depressing on occasion, especially as we represent the CTC so I read far too much about squashed cyclists

in an ideal world id run away to the hils and have a farm or something that involved a bit more fresh air.

I also work freelance as a ‘mathematical knitting pattern checker’ – mainly due to a sad intrest in design and knitting but the extra funds are nice

and I also have another job – I think I just like to be busy, but still get a chance to ride although not as much as id like. The main restriction to that is childcare not work

I wear them if I want to, cant understand why people think its irresposible to.

I can hear more than I can when riding a motorbike. cars are getting so quiet these days youd be a fool to rely on hearing anyway. as I say to my children when teaching them to ride – imagine every car driver to be one of the numpties in tesco that doesnt even know how to push a trolley let alone know whats happening around it.

observations and a very low opinion of drivers abilities has kept me relatively accident free all these years – so I feel Im ok to listen to music/ sing/practice languages/ listen to the radio as I ride – especially dance tunes when late definitely makes you move quicker :-)

(in a safe way obviously!)

roger the cat – sounds like valentines day might not be the only thing you havent got the hang of … :-O

Will cook something lovely for my boys (all of the small son variety), and then i will probably be knitting – unless i get a sudden burst of energy in which case i may get a babysitter and go for a night ride.

What’s not to love about that :-)

Then I would definitely be asking for an explaination, doesn’t seem to make a lot of sense.

You are entitled to a second opinion on the NHS, but if you have left the consultations with questions I would be clear what questions you need answered and phone the consultant’s secretary and ask her to pass them on to the consultant before you ask someone else.

I work in personal injury law, its amazing what difference having private funding and the goal to return the person to their pre injury state makes to a treatment pathway. The funding issues and guidelines within the NHS may be behind their conservative approach to your treatment.

at least you could cross reference posts if there was a lonely hearts sub forum on here . . . no other online dating site gives you the ability to find out how often someone washes their clothes, whether he has any extreme views on things or more importantly whether they were fairly chipper or grumpy.

I did just come on this thread to find ideas about pressies though, any ideas? :-)

ha ha somafunk – I am a size 12, sometimes a 10 but even if I starved myself down to a size 8 bits of me would still bounce whilst riding a bike in a bikini!

I think in the name of equality it should be for both sexes to wear bikinis – mayhay may be the word when the mud starts flying and the confusion sets in :-O

Born in bradford on Avon from there i have lived in Melksham, bedford, buckden, peterborough (shit hole), crowland (scary redneck swampsville), peterborough again, and then finally Sheffield.

Came for uni (late) and stayed quite happy here hills not swamps are the way forward (a thing i should remember when choosing routes in Wales!)

Well with 4 i think i have definitely helped the population explosion and bought doom to the planet (albeit in a small part) – however living in one of the less pleasant parts of Sheffield i am surrounded but a growing population of chavs that seem happy to litter, dont recycle anything, drive anywhere whenever possible and have the heating on full blast at all time – how they afford it all on benefits is beyond me.

Whereas we recyle as much as possible try and live generally with a conscience and even though we own a car cycle everywhere as much as possible. Even in this weather!

So I may have increased the population but hopefully have produced some very considerate people to the masses – which to be fair if everyone did abstain from having children due to a fear of overpopulation the resulting population might not look out of place on jeremy kyle or belong to communities who still have large families – good to try and get some balance i think.

when I’ve told them I considered smothering my eldest. I never would have done it of course

Anyone who denies this is a liar…

Absolutely – eldest son, during the screaming baby, tantrum throwing toddler and obnoxious teenager phases …

My first two were relatively cheap initially, then i went to uni and got a ‘proper’ job. took 11 months off after baby 3 and then 9 months after baby 4. tried to minimise childcare costs by doing 4 working days in 3 actual days, but when i totted up the total childcare bill when the nursery time was over it was about 60k!

Other than that they are generally reasonable until the wants for christmas’ and birthdays get more expensive and they realise what a label is, as much as you try to stop it it does happen.

Oh yes and when they hit the age where you stop worrying if they eat enough and start worrying they will actually eat the fridge – the food bill does shoot up

Ha ha yes – but at 23 and 19 are my grown up ones grown up yet?

My 19 year old son who has been slightly trying to say the least did proclaim that he was my best creation to date the other day – at least it shows he has confidence and a fine sense of humour!

Very proud of all 4 of them, and I am sure they will be just fine. I have made an efforrt to let them mix with real people and the great outdoors more than tv and computer games and that seems to have helped

I think either is a valid choice, although I can’t really speak about the not having children stance I have friends who have chosen that option.

Luckily being the teenage tear away that I was I haven’t got any wistful sentimental thoughts about what it was like before children – as I was 16 when i fell pregnant. And i have no regrets about that either and am pleased i didn’t go through the bereavement process of lost freedom and funds that I see many of my friend go through when they have a child later on.

‘Children are brillilant’ – well no, children are just little people and there is no knowing whether you are going to produce a child you get on with, see eye to eye with or ever really share anything in common. They come fitted their own personalities and the trick is to try and bring the best out in them – and hopefully having fun in the process.

There will be times when it is excruciatingly hard – but they do generally bring more positives that negatives. Although only just getting to that point with one of my brood – who has been hard work since he was a week old,it’s slowly getting better 19 years later

As for the parent vs non-parent, i think there’s a saying it takes a village to raise a child,and i think a lot of parents and non-parents would be better if they considered that. I am single parent now – but that does not mean i credit myself with single handedly doing everything, there are many people in my childrens lives, with and without children and they all contribute to their upbringing.