sweetpea78

After mowing the lawn of my new house I discovered a small border running along the fence so I cleared it of grass and weeds and now I want to plant there.

I have a bit of an idea how to do it. I intend to neaten the edge with my edging tool and turn over the soil (which is quite wet) with a fork and pick out the stones.

What do I do next? I was going to dig in some top soil or compost ti the places I wanted to plant. Is this correct?

Also what plants can I use? Do I really need to test the acidity of the soil? I just want a few hardy perennials that will grow anywhere and don't need too much attention.

The border gets some sun but the rest of the day is shaded.

I really want to keep my budget low as it is a privately rented house but I don't want to grow from seed as I want an immediate effect.

Can anyone help?

Many thanks for those who give an actually helpful response.

Hi. A few weeks ago my toddler (he is walking) banged his head after falling from our sofa which is thankfully quite low. He acted really strange straight away by doing a kinda silent scream and making his body very rigid. His eyes then rolled to the back of his head and he went 'to sleep' for now longer than a minute.

Then he just woke up, burst into tears drank a bottle of milk and was right as rain.

I phoned NhS direct immediately as told the nurse exactly what had happened - and that I am almost certain he lost consciousness far a few seconds but to my shock she didn't suggest I take him to A&E as I expected or even out of hours doctors but just to 'keep and eye on him for a few days' and take him in if he seems lethargic or is vomitting.

The thing is this has happened twice since, once when he was learning to walk, he just caught his head on the skirting board when he lost control of his stride and most recently today when he was sat on the floor with his 9 year old brother and he pulled a headboard on his head - what really shocked me is the headboard is really lightweight and it didn't even fall with a smack it was just a very gentle knock - and yet his body reacted in such an extreme way.

Has anyone had this happen before or any advice please? Because I phoned NHS direct again (the docs are closed) and they just fobbed me off.

Maybe it's a defence mechanism that happens after a shock or fall but it makes me sick it's so unusual neither of my other boys did this and they were terribly accident prone.

Many thanls

Hi,

I am just trying to switch bluetooth on my mobile on and it says 'bluetooth turned on' with the loading bar but it never actually switches on the icon does't even appear on the screen.

It worked fine the other week - what is wrong?

Honestly, I have had nothing but trouble with this mobile.

I can barely walk and it really hampers even looking after my baby and children. Do people with severe sciatica get classed as disabled in the UK and therefore qualify for DLA?

Hi, I am asking on behalf of my boyfriend. He is trying to sort a team for sunday league football (adults) they have already got sponsor from local pub but he would like info on - referee and pitch cost, how much registering with FA costs, how much to register the league and just general tips and advice from anyone who already does this or has experience in doing this.

many thanks

My son is drinking 8-9 bottles of 6-7oz a day, the box says he should need 6 a day. He has an appetite I can't seem to satisfy. He already has baby juice which he loves, twice a day. Yesterday we tried him at tea time with a spoon full of baby rice he loved it and on the 6th time swallowed well, no spitting out. He ate about half a small pot but I was scared of making him constipated so I stopped.

His brother who was also a big baby (their dad is 6ft and stocky) was weaned at 3 and a half months and my health visitor said it was ok as long as he still had the recommended amount of milk. She suggested getting that prune juice to add to water now and then to help combat constipation.

However, this is my third child and I don't see my health worker much and I am scared because I know that until 4 months their digestive system can't (they say) cope with solids. Will two weeks make much difference?

Like I said we weaden my second at the same age, he is now 2 and totally fine! We wouldn't do it if we didn't think he was ready - he wasn't just having lots of milk but would watch us eat and stare at the food. Last night when we tried feeding him he was so happy and excited and grabbing the spoon and laughing and opening hiss mouth when the spoon was placed in front of him.

He is already a brilliant sleeper so just went to bed at 8pm then woke for milk once as usual before sleeping agan until 7 am so that is not the reason we are doing it. If anything I'd rather him stay on just milk as long as possible it is cheaper and once they start solids their poo is nasty!

The pain is so much worse when I get cold or stand on a cold floor (like kitchen tiles). There is no swelling and my skin on that foot and leg is normal. I am carrying a little extra weight, I just had a baby, and the pain sometimes spreads to my lower back which hurt a lot at the end of my pregnancy.

It also hurts when I walk, I now limp, and also when I twist my body to the side.

I just walked my kids friends home and the pain was so unbearable I cried in the street and literally had to drag myself home.

Any ideas??

My son is two in december and doesn't have sensitive skin and only once as a baby had nappy rash. However, since tuesday he has had two patches of red skin on each buttock. The patches are deep red, not spots or blisters, looks like he has had a hard slap (he hasn't!!) They do look like they are dry, there is no pus and they don't seem itchy but at first they did prevent him from sitting down though this has worn off a little.

It isn't nappy rash, looks nothing like it, if anything it looks like dry skin or chaffing. He isn't fond of having a nappy on but in particular at the moment he hates it more.

We haven't changed anything such as nappy type, bath wash, wipes etc and other than these two patches he has nothing else on his body. he was a bit mardier than usual when the patches first appeared but is fine now.

We have been using Sudacrem and have a Doc appointment tomorrow (booked yesterday - our surgery is shocking) but wondered if anyone could help solve this mystery.

I was just struggling to open the patio door when I felt incredible strain in my lady bits, pain ripped through me and bought me to my knees. I am 32 weeks pregnant but have gestational diabetes. Everything else is fine. I haven't had a bloody show neither has the mucus plug come out but there is still a lot of pain below especially when I walk.

To be honest, it feels like a little head is poking out but I am sure it isn't.

What should I do?

I am 28 weeks and 4 days pregnant. So far it has gone fine, as have my other two previously. I am having a glucose (diabetes) and thyroid test next week as both disorders run in my family, I have had both tests in every pregnancy so know this is precaution.

What worries me is I have been told to have another scan at 32 weeks, just to 'check the baby is growing ok'. I have never had this suggested by my consultant (due to family history I have to gone to see a hospital consultant along with regular midwife care).

Does anyone have any idea why I have to have this extra scan, and so late in my pregnancy? Sounds stupid but I never thought to ask at the time and the consultant seemed happy and relaxed, but I would like to know other peoples advice. I intend to phone Midwife in the morning, but the morning feels so far away.

Thanks.

His agents, Whitegates, put it on inventory, surely if it were an illegal fire hazard etc they would have noticed? My mother in law is convinced it is illegal to only have one exit/entrance on the property, this seems to ring true. I don't know though. Does anyone else? There is a fire escape window on the landing (the type of window which doesn't open at an angle so you can climb out easily) and everything else seems to be in order (we have relevant gas inspection papers etc). the patio/sliding door is screwed shut, maybe due to it being faulty or just a way to stop vandals/burglaries when it is empty. Can anyone help??

I am due to have a little baby boy. We will call him Beau (pronounced Bow).

What middle name will sound good?

I like Finley.

Please don't suggest alternative first names, he will be Beau!

He has two elder brothers, Callum Jake and Alfie George.

Thanks for all your suggestions. :) xx

My partner just left me and his two sons for good and I am 20 weeks pregnant with our third.

He hasn't bothered contacting us and has ran back to his mothers who gleefully informed me he has gone for good.

What am I supposed to do? I feel so alone and sad. I have no one to speak to, my parents disowned me over my choice of partner, and one by one my friends all gave up on me cos I was never allowed out.

I don't feel I can go on with the pregnancy, not alone again (we split before I found I was having our second child and got back together after the birth). I can't be both a mum and dad.

Oh please someone help because I feel so low and alone and I feel so scared for our futures I almost can't see one anymore.

He has broken my heart so completely.

My brother in law just dumped his untrained frisky dog on us (female). Not enough food for 2 weeks, no money, but that is the least of my concerns.

WHAT DO I DO WITH IT??

I mean, how many walks per day, toilet walks round the block, feeding, what time to feed.

I just stopped my other half giving it bits of our food - I don't want it to be fed something that gives it the runs!

But what I also want to know is, he never bought her bed. So how do I tell it to sleep when I can't even tell it to go to bed?

I am SOO annoyed right now, he never even told me he was coming, just dropped her off with the tiniest bit of stuff to my tiny, overcrowded with kids, house. What bothers me is I said NO and they can well afford to kennel it.

ARGHHHHHHHHHHH.

My next door neighbour is making me ill with constant insinuations that my family is making too much noise. The problem? We don't play any loud music, we don't have the TV on loud or late. As I am pregnant, we all usually go to bed before 8pm! We are very considerate. The trouble, he says, is my toddler who PLAYS in the living room in the morning when he gets up about 7.30am. Apparently, despite having a thick wool carpet over the floorboards, my toddler bangs too much that the man living next door (semi detached house) can't sleep in until 9am. At first, he started telling my 8 year old when he was playng on the front garden to 'be quiet' in the orning so he could sleep. I thought this was a bit off, he should have spoken to me. When he did, he confronted me outside whilst I was putting rubbish in my bin - in my nighty. Inappropriate. He was very rude and blunt and he upset me as I couldn't see my family were doing anything wrong. I cried a little and kept my toddler strapped in his

I am very sad.

My husband is happy that we are having our 2nd child but he isn't the most paternal type. I have a lovely round, hard bump but he never pats it, or kisses it goodbye (my 8 year old does at bedtime and before leaving for school), he never says I look beautiful or glowing (and right now, feeling like a whale, I need it most) but most hurtful of all he hardly ever tells me he loves me. He does, I know, but right now, more than ever, I want to hear it. During pregnancy you are meant to feel special and maybe not get constant attention but be made to feel special. I don't at all. I bent double with tummy cramp the other day in Morrisions, he didn't even ask if I was ok. I'm not milking it at all like some women do, I am pretty much carrying on as usual. I can't make him love my bump, but this time I wanted a prenancy that I could enjoy.

What should I do? I am so saddened by this and it makes me cry - maybe just hormones. I just want him to fuss a bit.

I am nearly 5 months pregnant and absolutely stumped for a name.

I think it is a girl (I was right at guessing the sex of my last two children).

I like old fashioned, traditional names, my husband likes modern, American sounding names.

For instance, I love Melody Grace for a girl and Freddie for a boy.

He prefers Shelby for a girl and Jack for a boy (I rather like Jack).

We already have two boys called callum Jake and Alfie Geogre.

Please help, we can't agree, any suggestions are most welcome!

Thanks!!

:) x

I would like to put a reed/wicker type fence, 6ft high, on an existing 3ft fence between my property and the property next door (semi detached).

We are both Mansfield District Council tenants.

He has already said I 'can't' have a fence over 4ft as it will block the sunlight to his back garden (it is a triangular shaped garden, very narrow, he doesn't use it for anything other than drying his washing as it is currently VERY overgrown).

The type of fence I propose is very see through, I don't think it would block that much light. I have a nice back garden which I use to sun bath and relax, my children play and we would like to eat outside.

We are so over looked though that we don't feel comfortable.

This screen is an idea solution as it just gives that little bit of privacy.

We are looking to fence properly but won't afford if for about 18 months. My neighbour has said he intends to put a huge fence on his side, and if he did, I'd trim mine down.

Do I need his permission?

I go to parent groups with my 18 month old son but the mothers there brag endlessly about their offspring. No one ever seems to admit that they are a handful.

I am pleased with my son's speech progress but he still isn't feeding himself with a spoon. My health vistor last came at 1 year and told me to stop using sipper cups! My father in law is nagging me to potty train!

What kind of things does your toddler do that make you crazy?

How much do they sleep/nap in the day?

What snacks/meals do you make?

What words do they know?

I am just looking for stories, good and bad. I am tired of the 'Oh my Henry can tapdance whilst reciting french ' bull crap.

:)

I am going to the Ricky Hatton fight on the 24th with my husband, his workmate and his wife. The other couple are a little older than me and I don't really know them. I have no idea what to wear, and it doesn't help that I am pregnant and look really fat - I look more fat than pregnant! I was thinking of wearing smart jealsn with a nice black top, as I am sure we will be going out into Manchester after and before. Maybe I should give up my ticket completely, I look like such a fat blimp, I am sure I will be an embarrassement to all that are there. What do you think?