Thanks girls, I'm beginning to get the picture. There's so much SKIN on show...

Looking at those pictures has brought on my next crisis - one which (amazingly) I hadn't yet considered: the 'dancing' thing.

OMG! I'd be so much happier headbanging to Metallica.

This is TONIGHT btw! I'm so lost (wasn't serious about pyjamas). Maybe a picture of something appropriate - I really have no idea! C'mon and be specific... please?

Good point about jeans and hot! Glow-in-the-dark-bindis?! Where would I even get them from? Never mind, I'm thinking that pyjamas might be the way to go...

Re the smoking ban, it was my understanding that existing council workers are simply to be trained to enforce it, with only a handful dedicated to the 'cause'. Landlords etc. are unlikely to ignore it if the system is to follow other counties - they will get fined more than the 'perpetrators'. Heard this info on 5Live whilst driving yesterday... could be wrong (it happens)

Advice sought by a slightly aging rock chick who doesn't 'do' clubs that often any more!

My younger brothers promote and DJ at a club that I'm supposed to be going to tonight. I think the music includes 'trance' (?) and I'm a bit scared...

Apparantly the dress code involves fancy dress and hippy stuff (? again). Can I just go in my jeans?

Your points are well made SuperHam - and I'm sorry for simplifying the issue. You are obviously on the ball. Perhaps there are one or two ostrich genes somewhere in my make-up.

good question SuperHam - and the answer is 'How can I know?' When I have sat and listened to older members of my family recount their incredible life stories, I understand exactly what the males in my family were fighting for: freedom. I remember my great grandad (who fought in both world wars) and my grandfathers (one a partisan) and grandmothers (removed from their homes and ferried from Poland to Siberia, Kazakhstan, Africa...) and I remember all my own visits to Communist Poland - maybe under different circumstances I would resist and not be as 'passive'. My life here is good.

was just teasing roopa - please don't be cross

found a short article to explain more eloquently than I am able (for you juno )

http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/5to14/specialfocus/earlyintervention/issues/phonics.asp

dazed: ...what the heck does my hubby see in me???
roopa: ...Yeah he is quite yummy!

Got you!

Ooh - and what freebies have you managed to bag as a result?

whilst the majority of us can be trusted, I'm with richmond on this one - maybe playing devil's advocate a little, but not too worried about sharing my lifestyle habits (makes me feel quite important actually!). It sounds a bit scary to US, but if it's the norm one day then so be it. The police slowing a speeding car may prevent a child from being run over. Change is scary - imagine just how freaked out a person who died only 100 years ago would be if they could see how we live today.

it's called 'synthetic phonics', juno, and it's a really successful strategy, but any experienced teacher will tell you that it's best used in conjunction with other methods (English isn't a phonetic language - all the rules have exceptions).

I think the main thing is that kids are taught to love books and read them for the immense pleasure they can bring. Sharing a book with even the youngest child is magic, and if they see adults reading then they are having good habits modelled to them as well.

roopa! Have you been munching on dazed's hubby again? You just put him down...

I'm still here Otto - awaiting further instructions