Karen

If the chest is big enough to get one or both of them in it, could they emerge as toys from the toy box coming alive in the deserted nursery as the clock strikes midnight? Or could the chest be the tooth fairy's store for her hoard of teeth and she goes about collecting more from sleeping children? Tell us what you decide to do!

No breach intended - It was posted on Facebook on the day!

Don't see why not - dd has told everyone she knows! It was Beth Tweddle and her dancing on ice partner - sorry don't know his name. Dd said she was lovely and very patient with all the approaches from students. Edited to add that it was at The Hammond and she was using a studio to plan her next routine.

Yes, dd very excited about this and got autographs, but as phones not allowed in school, no camera for a picture!

With a bit of patience and detective work you can usually work out which the secret hotel is by reading and comparing the description of other hotels on offer. I have had lots of good secret hotels but have had a few disappointments too!

I think pups-mum has summed it up really well. My dd has enjoyed festival competition for a number of years (my avatar is her performing lyrical modern). Some great camaraderie and friendships with dancers beyond her own school and great learning that adjudication is one person's opinion on one day- rather like attending an audition. I'm sure it has done wonders for her performance skills and confidence and the timing of wins early last year were a great foundation to go into her vocational school auditions.

When we completed the MDS application, there was a set of guidance notes which told you what had to be included in each section. I don't want to give you wrong info that may not be correctly recalled, but I am happy to dig them out and scan an email to you if you would like to pm me your email address. I am away for work and collecting dd for Christmas hols (hooray!) so it will probably be the weekend before I get a chance.

You might like to look at what Hammond and Tring have to offer too - not sure from your post if your dd would be interested. It's always worth a look and a visit if you can manage it, but if you apply for an audition, you will possibly get the chance to see quite a lot and you will certainly get the feel of a place.

We saw the performance tonight in temperatures of -9, but were enchanted by the theatre and the quality of dance. Yekaterina Osmolkina as Sylphide was outstanding with beautiful, light elevation and no over extension whatsoever. For me, she was the star, although Maria Adzhamova as Effie and Alexei Popov as James were strong. Popov's facial expressions were limited; this was particularly noticeable against the very strong character performance of Lyubov Kozharskaa as Madge. All in all, a fantastic first visit to this glorious building. Interesting range of attire from ladies in evening gowns to jeans and also some rather bad audience behaviour with flash photography in act 2. Would go again given the opportunity.

From what my yr7 dd has said, the assessments for them seem quite unpressured. They seem very well prepared and dd is very clear about what they need to do. Hopefully this will help them do their best.

If only! Don't think we'd quite look the part- 4 forty somethings who could be a tad slimmer than we are!

Thank you - that's really helpful. Do you have any views about the preferred style for men? Wondering if we need to pack a suit!

We often wonder what's going on behind the hedge at a builder's yard in Essex which offers 'free hardcore!'

Very excited to say that tickets are booked for 1st December. Some issues with web site but helpful response in very good English from theatre staff. I would now appreciate any dress code advice(bearing in mind that snow is forecast for that weekend! Karen

Good luck and keep strong. My dd was offered a place but not MDS audition at Tring last year, but went on to gain MDS place elsewhere. Enjoy your other auditions - they all look for something different!

Thank you all so much for your delightful insights. I am hoping to sort tickets this weekend and if it comes off will be delighted to report back! Karen

We are in St Petersburg in a few week's time and there is a performance of La Sylphide that we could get to see at the Mariinskiy. Some of the tickets in the first tier boxes work out at about £35 (even for the non - Russians who get charged a higher rate!) and I was wondering about the view and the experience in general. If anyone has been, I would appreciate your thoughts. Thanks, Karen

My daughter started vocational school in yr 7 in September and needed new pointe shoes at this time. She was fitted by the school's supplier with me present and I was very happy with the way in which the fitter worked. The school shop stocked a range of brands and styles and the only suggestion was that she did not have Grishko ( as both her previous pairs had been) as there was a teacher at the school who did not want yr 7 to have this make, although no reason was offered. She has Bloch and is very pleased with them, even though pointe work is only done in RAD Intermediate class, not in daily class at present. I would be happy for her to be refitted by school's supplier when the time comes.

I have bought the groupon deal and have read the smallprint. Think I need to be careful to cancel after the 4 boxes, otherwise they keep on delivering and debiting your account. Not sure what dd will make of it - more a chocolate and sweets girl, but worth a go for £5.

My dd (yr 7) is very happy with the choice and quantity of food at school and her weight has remained constant over her first half term. From what she tells me, if you don't like it you don't select it, so I guess someone who doesn't choose much could be hungry. There seems to be every encouragement to have toast and tuck before bed time - 3rd large jar of Nutella sent back with her after half term!!

Very sorry to hear your news and hope that everything works out for you all in the future. Hope some lovely opportunities come your way.

Just got back from taking yr 7 dd back after first half term. Lovely to have her home for the week, but delighted to see how happy she was to go back. 2 more weeks till we visit again for her birthday!

Hoole is the nearest district to the school, so if you find a hotel on this side of town, you won't be far away! Some good places to eat in Hoole too, plus the school's uniform shop. Good luck!

DD rang at the start of day 2 this morning and gave me 3 mins and 17 seconds of her time! Seriously I am delighted that she seems to be settling in and making friends, but so want to know all about it!

I have enjoyed this topic as our dd is too heading off for the first time next Tuesday (my birthday!) ready to start yr 7 on Wednesday. She is so looking forward to it and we are on her behalf, we just know that we will very much miss having her at home. I have usually been the one who does the dance routine so it's my life that will change most, but I have already joined the local Dance Festival commitee and hope that will keep me connected to the dance world as well as staying involved with her former dance school by compling thier newsletter. We are looking forward to all the new doors that will be opened for her to participate in and for us to watch and we would like to send our family's very best wishes to everyone who is starting at a new vocational school and to those returning for the new academic year next week, with special thoughts to those parents who are in the same boat as us!