Surfer…your mama!! :D

Mudpup, your child will be in the last 2 weeks of their time at Primary school and their education will not be affected by missing them so don't worry about that. Be honest with the school, you won't be alone in wanting to do this but they may have a wierd policy about only authorising so many kids out of school. At this late stage I wouldn't worry about attendance either, it will be included on the OFSTED report for the following inspection/year but who gives a damn what they think? It shouldn't be classed as an unauthorised absence anyway unless they say no and you go anyway…by saying yes, the absence is authorised (are we now saying that pre-arranged dental/doctors appointments are unauthorised?.
However, it is their last 2 weeks at that school…ever. Are they going to miss some important stuff that all their friends will do, celebration/awards stuff, residential or day trips, etc? These may be the things they remember about their time at the school.
Otherwise, go…have fun, teach your child about the world and let them teach you about theirs, spend time with them and enjoy their company and recognise that a major chapter in their life is ending – big school here we come.
PS. As a teacher it's always great to hear holiday stories from kids (no really I'm not being sarcastic), we chose our jobs and the limits it puts on when we take ours hols, they didn't chose to have to go to school.

Get a copy of the latest business accounts. (Profit and loss Account and Balance sheet) Get an accountant to check (or if you are handy with a calculator do it yourself)the "Acid Test Ratio." It will give you a good idea of how much money the company has to pay its debts. Any good GCSE business studies book (or BBC Bitesize) will show you how.

Accountants could also do lots of other annalysis on the accounts ("Return on Capital Employed" etc) and tell you if it is a good investment.

And yes, companies house is a good source of info if the business is incorporated.

Good luck and get an independant valuation if you are going to go for it. (It could save you lots of money.)

Cheers,

Kips husband.

Forgot to say…. Banks will probably be willing to lend up to 50% of the business valuation. They will definately be looking for you to stump up the rest (to show you're commitment) and would probably be looking for a written business plan. (LLoyds TSB have a great business banking service and can provide Business Plan templates.)

Get a copy of the latest business accounts. (Profit and loss Account and Balance sheet) Get an accountant to check (or if you are handy with a calculator do it yourself)the "Acid Test Ratio." It will give you a good idea of how much money the company has to pay its debts. Any good GCSE business studies book (or BBC Bitesize) will show you how.

Accountants could also do lots of other annalysis on the accounts ("Return on Capital Employed" etc) and tell you if it is a good investment.

And yes, companies house is a good source of info if the business is incorporated.

Good luck and get an independant valuation if you are going to go for it. (It could save you lots of money.)

Cheers,

Kips husband.

CADENCE SENSOR CHEAT>>>>>>>>>>

Cheap wired (or wireless computer)

Gaffer-tape magnet to inside of crank.

Zip-tie sensor to suitable place on frame.

Set computer tyre circumference to 1667 (this works only if computer works is set to kph.)

Cadence will be displayed as follows: 8.6 etc (just pretend you dont see the decimal point when reading it.)

Weird I know, but I have a Fiat Doblo 1.9 for sale. Only selling it because I came into a bit of money and bought a VW T4 instead.

The Doblo, has got 80k on the clock and timing belt was done at 60k. (does 38-40mpg) Ply-lined and carpeted with steel bulk-head. Roof rack included.(Looking for £1250 ono)

Took it to Morzine last year and it never missed a beat.
I'm in Exeter, Devon. Drop me a line if you are interested.

Simon (Kips husband)

Try "The Fox Tor Cafe" only 3 doors down from the Plume of Feathers. Great cafe with open fire and they have a bunk-house.

Please read "Let my people go surfing" by Yvon Chounard then make a decision.

Howies!!!!!??? (Shakes head in despair)

Go for the anthem. Amazing bike and will handle more than it should. I was riding everthing in the Alps on mine 2 years ago (rolling, not with air) and it was great. Also the Maestro system means that pedal bob is minimal and anything else feels sloppy!

Sorry Grant but I'm struggling to understand how you are managing to keep your prospective new employer sweet. If you have been offered the job, then either accept it or dont (and pretty quickly.) I may have gotten the wrong end of the stick but your post was started a few days ago. If I had interviewed you and I was made to wait for your answer, I wouldn't be best pleased.

Be under no illusions. Working in a LSU is bloody tough. LSU Teachers and teaching assistants specialise in teaching appropriate behaviour, not english, maths, mechanics or woodwork. The activity is completely irrelevant. Building a positive relationship which helps young people to improve their self-esteem is the key. I have spent countless times planning really cool, interactive lessons only to discover that my kids went joy-riding the night before and were still in Police custody.

Being able to maintain a "safety bubble" is really important for staff. (I drink lots!) If you are coming into this profession hoping that you will win friends and change damaged young minds then forget it. (Watch out for youth worker types who want to change the world and often get too close to the kids – I've had to pick up the peices a number of times.) Messed up kids will only change when they want to and not because you are their friend. Remember this when you have been called a f**kin c*unt 5 times before the kids get out of the taxi.

Think long and hard if the LSU is in a city centre location. (Far more difficult to deal with than a rural location.)

Sorry….. I could go on. Its been a tough day. If you like dealing with the sons and daughters of alcoholics, drug addicts and thieves then good for you.

I have found that every single damaged kid I have worked with has an equally damaged parent. This can also be challenging to deal with.

Bloody hell, I've been in this job toooooo long.

If you fancy the job set yourself a time limit (say 2 years.) No ordinary person can do this type of job for longer without going completely potty.

Sorry for the rant but I've been in eduaction (Primary, secondary and now an LSU) for more than 15 years now. Every job I have interviewed for, has required an acceptance on the day.

You seem in a very fortunate position if they are prepared to wait around for your answer.

Simon

Hey Grant,

Kips blokey husband type person here. I manage a referral unit in Devon and have employed teaching assistants and the like.

Any specific info you are looking for?

Simon.

Cheers, will look but still want opinions on the Transit or trafic/Vivaro debate. There are other reasons for looking at other vans, mainly size and Value For Money.

Ah yes, the mythical older T4 in great nick. We live in the south west, they don't exist anymore. They did cos my mate has one, alas they are no more…unless you know of one?

Oh, don't joke…right now that's fast becoming an option. The question is – Shire or Clydesdale? Which has better fuel economy and less breakdowns?

Only train available when we can go is the sleeper. The return back down country would take about 18hrs with 4 changes without the sleeper!

The main problem is that the World Cup at FW always takes place in term time for England so can’t take any extra days off to travel during the week…bummer!

Blimey this one ran didn’t it?!

I’m pretty sure I can call myself a northerner especially going by the “gravy on chips” and the “going into a chippy and asking for a pudding” statements.

I also find the whole Cheshire is a lost section of the home counties thing a bit strange. Yes, I grew up in Kelsall and it would appear at least 2 of you are are familiar with it, but when I grew up it wasn’t anything like the WAGS inspired sections of Cheshire you get now.

Personally I think that North is a state of mind, you either believe you are or you don’t. Anyway my hubby reckons if you aren’t from Northern Ireland you can’t say you’re from the North! :D

marcus7 – bless your little heart, that’ll be the village I’m talking about then! I think you’ll find that it is just about north and east of Chester but only just :D. As for the farming/forestry deprivation – did you ever go into the farmer’s arms pre T’House at Top on a friday night (so glad it’s the Farmer’s again makes asking for a bus ticket sooo much easier)?!

You’ll ride Delamere then? I got hassled by some scouse lad with a DH rig a while back when visiting folks. Should’ve seen his face when I asked him if he was local enough to have ridden there!

the best answer I heard was “about 10 miles south of where you were born, wherever that may be!”

I now live in Exeter so anywhere else is up country and when I lived in Scotland all England was down south.

Cheers R_R, thought so.

Ok, first time back properly on the forums in the new style so didn’t actually do a proper search/look for the info. I’m guessing that from a post about 73mm BB’s both go on the drive side. Duh!!