So long and thanks for all the rides

In an attempt to stem the gushing torrent of money that is flowing out of our coffers in the run up to the wedding, I have started a new policy of selling one thing a week on eBay.

This set me to thinking that as I say goodbye to some of these items, I should point out just how good they were lest anyone else would want to buy them.

Weeride Carrier


(I've sold this already and its recipient was very pleased with it I understand.)

Let an excerpt from my eBay spiel do the talking.

This Weeride carrier is ideal as a first child seat as it mounts in front of the adult, meaning that communication with the child is much easier, the child has a better view and you can see what they are doing at all times.

Once the mounting bar is fitted, the seat mounts onto it using a single thumb-screw bolt, so it can be easily mounted and unmounted in seconds.

I used this carrier occasionally over two summers (would probably have used it much more if we'd had better weather!) and I can honestly say that it was loved by parent and child alike. (Not to mention the smiles it brought to many a passer-by.)


And you know this is true because I blogged as much 2 years ago this month.

So a hearty recommendation if you are looking for a first child seat.

Strolli Rider



Again I'll give you my eBay pitch.

This Bibi Strolli Rider is is a great alternative to a conventional buggy board. Kids love it and adults will appreciate its ease of use.

It saw relatively little use with us because it did not fit our main buggy (a 2005 Urban Detour) due to the angles of the buggy frame.

Features:
Unlike buggy boards, the rider is next to the adult, not between the adult and buggy, allowing the adult to push the buggy more normally.
Minimal width means doors can still be easily navigated (unlike a double stroller).
Foot and hand-rests are adjustable in height as your child grows.
Quick release lever and bolt makes attaching and detaching easy.
Fits oval, square and round tubes.
Suitable for children from 15 months old and up to 20Kg. (Personally I did not start my son on this until he was 18 months old as the design does not include a seat belt.)

The picture above shows the Strolli Rider I am auctioning here being used by my then 18 month old son. (Buggy not included!)

Although we didn't use it that often because we preferred our main buggy to the one this fitted, it was great fun, very eye-catching and Oliver loved it.

So there you have it. My two recommendations.

If it aint broke...

If it aint broke, we probably don't own it. Here's a list of applicances that have recently decided to become non-functional.

DVD Player/Recorder
After several months where the drawer wouldn't open when there was no disc in it (until you tapped it on its top), it finally decided that the drawer was best positioned half open, refusing to open or shut. Maybe it serves us right for buying a Netto bargain. We replaced it with a Philips today at Tesco. Best part of £80. Ouch.

Cooker/oven
The oven in our lovely looking 6-ring range style cooker now won't work with the fan on, thus requiring higher heat and more expense, even before I call someone out.

Microwave/oven combi
Our microwave was also an oven, which saved putting the big oven on for a couple of spring rolls. No longer. It is in the back of my car, ready for the tip. Thankfully I took the precaution of keeping our old microwave (though it isn't an oven).


Gas fire (and the rest)
The fire died some time ago but on trying to replace it we've now found there are complications. Consequently we have a rather nice gas fire we won't be fitting, still sitting in its box in the living room.

My car
Went out to it yesterday, dead as a Dodo. Thank goodness for free AA Home Start. Another job for tomorrow.

Central heating
After a bit of a saga involving multiple visits from British Gas last month, it appeared to be all sorted.... except that the timer has now convinced itself that it has to leave the hot water on overnight, despite being programmed otherwise.


Washing machine
Still functional but sometimes it decides it can't be bothered to spin so you have to ask it again nicely.

Upstairs toilet
The ballcock isn't set right and a little clean water overflows out into the garden each time the tank refills. Should be easy to sort out, but it's a funny looking ballcock mechanism (unlike any I've tampered with before) so I'm not fixing it outside of B&Q opening hours.

It's not a huge list, but when money is tight it's not exactly welcome either.

If I'm gone for sometime you'll probably find me on the Stockport Freecycle website.

BBC News - " Labour 'failing working parents' "

Labour 'failing working parents'

This area is a minefield. When you look at the family make-up of the kids in poverty the biggest group is those with 2 working parents. It seems crazy.

Personally, I think it's good to have a parent at home with pre-school kids, but once they are at school it makes sense to reward parents who want to rejoin the workforce. I'm not sure the government are yet providing sufficient support to enable either of these situations to happen for most families.