porthesia

Estate agents should really be at the top of the list and to think I went out with one - lucky escape! When we sold my mother's house there was a deal on that if they didn't sell the house within a certain period, then we paid less. The thing was it was difficult to prove when they started marketing the house. There were some documents with some suspicious dates on them but too distressed over mom's death, so we paid the higher rate in the end - especially after a few threatening phone calls to me from the "bully". head of branch.

My teeth, having had two extracted over the last two weeks, am still in discomfort and joy of joys am having a filling tomorrow. In my next life I just want good teeth!

Best wishes for a speedy recovery Anjuli. So many things to put in room 202 but I think for starters the people on this forum. You are such wonderful people, yes you especially, all of you.

Oh gosh everyone, I'd held it together until I got all the kind wishes. I'll get onto Lisa Howell's injury programme. She's upset as she always decorates the tree in the conservatory, her little Christmas ritual and she won't be able to do it, but guess who'll be running around being directed by her where everything has to go!! I'll hop over to the other thread. Thanks everyone, you are all so wonderful on here.

Ah thanks I feel better already and I was hoping Anjuli would have the answer, you always do. What would we do without you? She'll attend class and watch as they are just starting rehearsals for Swan Lake and hopefully by February she will be well fit to take part in the performances.

DD's just called to say she's broken two metatarsals in her foot. School took her to hospital and she will be in a cast for six weeks, She appears quite calm and we've worked out in our heads how to get her home on the train for Christmas. Just sitting here a bit stunned really.

Whilst perusing Christmas ornaments on notonthehightstreet found 4 pages of Advent calendars/countdowns. Sorry not a single one was Harry Potter themed or even ballet themed but there are a lot on there - and only a couple had chocolates, but if you're looking for a permanent calendar, then there's a lot here. I'm personally looking for a white swan Christmas ornament - I know I've seen one somewhere. I was lucky enough to get a lovely Nutcracker ornament from M&S last year. If anyone sees lone please let me know - thanks

I came on here to ask for a picture and there it was. Such a beautiful cake, I'm really envious of your skills. Hope she had a wonderful birthday.

I was receptionist in a school and the music room was next door but one (just past the Headmaster's study). I used to love listening to the orchestra and jazz band practising but I sometimes had to quietly sneak down and close the door as I couldn't hear the parents on the phone. I think they thought I was not appreciative but I was as they were very good and Christmas was always amazing - miss it!

Wow toomuch, that is amazing. Sadly dd has given up the violin now

It may be me but Catherine Tate - don't find her funny and her sketch in Children in Need was embarrassingly awful

Thank you for the warning on this, will be extra vigilent

Signed - I was going to fill in the "why is this important to you" bit but it didn't let me:(

Non dd has said she's not had stage fright so she's no help. Would you consider using the Bach flower remedies - I think there is a calming one - I've never tried these but others have recommended them. I imagine once the first phrase has been sung that the song will take her over and she'll be fabulous. How does she cope with exam nerves for dance - perhaps there is something she does for those that will help. Looking forward to hearing how it went and keeping fingers crossed the dreaded stage fright doesn't spoil it for her

Absolutely stunning and a bit creepy was when the red kites finally moved into our area. I could sit in my conservatory and watch them circling above. We lived on a hill and they used to take advantage of the thermals, but they sometimes got too low for my liking.

I think both dd and non dd have said to look for an object and spot on that rather than the audience - but that doesn't actually get you out onto the stage!! I'll try and get more out of them. Good luck and best wishes for the performance. edited because I pressed post before I'd finished

For a short period of time a physio we used to go to cut some rubber things in half and put those in dd's ballet shoes. It did help with the rolling a bit, but dd was not happy as these were slightly visible and she didn't do this for long. This physio spent a lot of time trying to persuade a company that if they took casts of dd's feet they could make orthotics to go in ballet shoes - the manufacturers could not be convinced! DD had orthotics made by a department in local hospital which she still puts in normal(!) shoes and continual use of these has helped. edited to say I hope this makes sense as on reading it back I'm not sure I've been clear

Adverts that say "best Christmas ever". Does that mean next years is not going to be good, last year's was rubbish. It should be to have a lovely, wonderful, happy anything but best ever, in fact there are other instances of the "best ever" not just Christmas and they really wind me up, grrr.

I usually park in the Churchill Car Park as it's convenient for the shops. Yes I got stung for £10.00 once, but if two of us go in that is less than the train from Polgate. I have wondered about parking the car at the Marina and getting the bus in from there but don't know which bus and it's only 4 hours free there and if DD is with me then 4 hours including bus time travelling each way might not be enough!! Back on thread, I'm looking forward to the Little Mermaid but I haven't booked tickets yet as the Assembly Rooms at Tunbridge seem to hold onto the upper tier and only sell that if the rest is sold out. I quite fancy going up there for a change. Edited to add info re Little Mermaid

Just hope goes ahead. It's quite a short course and no essays to write so should ease me back into learning. I might look at taking an OU course if I cope with this.

There does seem to be a problem with their web page but fortunately I follow them on Twitter. We're going to the evening performance. Not sure in Brighton where the Dome is and which is the best car park - do you know?

It's on medieval architecture and archaeology with Exeter University. I want to be able to look at an old building and know which period in history it comes from and when this bit or that bit was added - the archaeology is an added bonus for me - extremely limited knowledge but was and still am a Time Team addict

Tickets booked for Brighton Dome 28 December - so looking forward to it and this time DD will be coming with us as the last two performances we've seen she's been back at school.

Julie I have sent you a pm - I have not told you outright, just given a couple of hints - letting you know in case you don't want to open the message. I'm happy to give hints to everyone who wants them - I got a lot of hints from twitter and I had lists of the underground and DLR which I looked at so must admit it wasn't all my own work. Can't make up my mind if I'm glad I finished it - it got my brain going for a while. Off topic I've signed up for an on-line course which if enough people join I will be starting in February - it's one of the new non-accreditation ones - can't wait. Need to stretch those brain muscles ... and bend and stretch!

I was born not far from Birmingham, I used to get called a southerner by people further north and a northerner by people further south!! Birmingham is very underrated, has some beautiful architecture - haven't been back for a while - now getting homesick. I am very happy to say that I don't have a Brummie accent, unless I've had a tipple - quite pleased as I don't think it is a very endearing accent - sorry