smirnoff

What about a unisex scrapbook kit? Then Mum can start building it up straight away with baby scan photos or a page about her hopes for her baby and her feelings about becoming a Mum. This one is unisex. http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12x12-BABY-scrapbook-album-kit-vellums-papers-more-/230503390858?pt=UK_CollCrafts_Scrapbooks_RL When baby is born, I bought the most beautiful dream catcher from Ebay made up in candy colours with baby's name and date of birth in beads woven into the design. Not expensive either.

so sorry, Kathy. Run free little ones. And how very special, Liz.

It looks great now, Margaret. I'm quite interested in the pressed concrete too - my driveway is looking awful.

I think it might be a general move in favour of Facebook so people are posting less on forums. That and summer holidays. I know my own forum is very quiet. But these things go in cycles. I bet people will come back when the novelty of Facebook wears off.

I've never been in RMF. Billy no mates and I wonder why!!!!

I became a bit of a stranger too - no real reason. I still visit other rescue forums quite often. An auction might get people posting again and do some valuable fundraising at the same time. I've just helped on the RDR auction and done the spreadsheet to say who won what and I'd be happy to the same for the Refuge. Not sure I've got anything to sell anymore though - I think it's already gone to the RDR auction.

Happy Gotcha Day to Vena. What an inspiration

Just give me a date and I'll be there with as many gadgetty things as I can find in my tip of a garage. It looks wonderful. What gorgeous views. I admit the bath arrangement sounds very odd - but I like odd. Be a boring world without it.

Owl!!! You're only going to be about 30 miles from me!!! All minor roads so it takes nearly an hour to get there but it's close enough that I may finally get to meet you! And maybe this is also my chance to finally Mrs Mop in her caravan. Good luck with the move. Do let me know if you want any help with anything. I've got loads of hedge clippers saw things if you want to tackle that overgrown orchard. Diane

It says I don't have permission. Not that I have anything to post......

Well what did you expect at that hour!!!! Worked for me too. But I was also a norma-no-mates.

I've added me!

The care you're giving Ellie is amazing! Bless you. I guess you have to do the same as when you have a baby in the house - sleep when they do. Good luck this afternoon at the vets.

Well done, Ellie!

So pleased Ellie is home. Hope she continues to make excellent progress.

Hugs for you and Ellie. It's so brave of you to say that Ellie's well being must come first - it's such a tough decision every time it happens. You know where I am if you need me. Diane

Only just caught up with this thread - so sorry you've had such a trauma, Margaret, but so pleased that Ellie is feeling better now. Sending love to you both tonight - and hoping Ellie will soon be home. Diane

I thought it was only me did things like that! I bought an easter present for my son one year and hid it in a china casserole dish in the dining room. Took me five years to find it again! Happy birthday, other half!

I've been doing summer fayres for nursing homes in the area and the mystery bottle stall works really well. Get loads of bottles of anything (buy cheap ones, ask for donations for something a bit tastier!). It can be wine, whisky, bottled water, vinegar, tomato sauce, anything. I buy bottles now when I see them on BOGOF and then stash them away for the next time. Then get the same number of empty bottles. Fill up the empty bottles with tap water and put the tops back on, stick on a label which says "sorry" or "better luck next time" or "try again". Wrap them all up in newspaper and, mix up the full ones and the mock ones and stand them in crates. Pound a go to pull out a bottle. On the last one I did it was a really hot day and people were just as happy to win a bottle of tap water. I had the water bottles stood by my feet and people were coming along asking if they could buy them! I've also had a large Connect 4 game which I let kids play for free. While they're amusing themselves the parents talk to us about dog rescue and adopting dogs and volunteering. I borrowed the game from a friend who works for the local youth service, but I've now got a cheap inflatable version myself. Teddy tombola worked well for us too. Five tickets for a pound, win on a number ending 5 or 0. I got all the teddies from Freecycle. Just get them washed in the machine and hung on the line to dry and they're fine. But make sure you go through the bags and take out the good ones. Sometimes you get quite expensive teddies which make better prizes or special ones (like Christmas themed ones) which would sell in an online rescue auction in the festive season. (Wiccaweys usually have one!) You also get good books on Freecycle for a book stall. I'm lucky enough to have plenty of storage space at home so I store them in banana boxes (already organised so people can see what's on offer) and just fill up the car with boxes every time I'm off to a show. Pop in a small table, a cover and a poster with prices on and you can set up in 5 minutes flat. Any that don't sell come home with me for the next time. Good luck!

I think that's lovely. They go with friends. What could be better.

I pray you have many more days to enjoy each other's company before the time comes.

My vet has arranged most of our cremations. We've always had a private cremation and had the ashes back in lovely box. When I had a friend staying with me and her kitten died by drowning we took them both to the crematorium my vet used at the time. I phoned ahead to say we were coming as it was evening and they were just about to shut for the weekend. They stayed open and were so gentle with her and with Pebbles. She was allowed to stay with Pebbles as long as she wanted to say goodbye and they were very understanding. They sent Pebbles back to our vet for us to collect, in a lovely little china urn with her name written on the front. I honestly can't fault the service we've received for any of our animals. I'd suggest you contact your vet to find out which crematorium they use and then phone them to chat about how they do things. You'll learn a lot from their attitude to you. And maybe they'd let you go along and see around the place to set your mind at rest. I find it much easier to leave it all to my vet. They carry our beloved animals away gently and put them in their van wrapped in blankets and I'm sure they're treated gently the whole time, as they were in their lives. Saying goodbye is a really important part of life and I hope you find a way which comforts you. Diane

Fingers crossed. Get well soon Barney!

How absolutely terrifying for you to hear such news, Brenda. Thank heavens Rachel is OK. Although I know it will be incredibly hard to her to come to terms with the loss of her friends. Healing thoughts for those injured, and loving thoughts to the families of those who lost their lives. Diane

Good thoughts coming from Derbyshire too.