alexist

I have to go to the post office/cleaners/newsagent, and I'd rather put her on my back because 1, the post office is tiny; 2, the stroller is in the boot of the car (parked up the street); 3, there are large steps in front of both the newsagent and dry cleaners.

Unfortunately she isn't having it today. Either she tugs on my hair till I scream (even if i pin it up--then she pulls at the roots) or she goes completely straight-legged and arches her back, making it impossible to get her secure (either in a wrap or a mei tai).

It's not an objection to being carried--she was happy to be on my front or hip last week (she was ill and wanted to be carried all the time). It's just being put on my back. This is actually something of a problem because I suspect she'll need to be carried in Rome. Maybe with Neil distracting her I'll be able to get her up. She's too big to have on my front or hip for long periods.

One school in Barnet is apparently charging a supplemental fee of £995 PER TERM. I'm sure it's one of the Jewish ones--they all charge voluntary levies for the Jewish studies. It's legal, because they're technically voluntary, but I think this is starting to get ridiculous. If it were a private school, they'd be entitled to charge whatever they want, but it's not. The fees are only technically voluntary--they'll make some arrangements, but King David Manchester got a smackdown a couple of years ago for harassing a parent for not paying.

Jewish schools may largely be middle class ghettos in any case, so turning away poor parents is less of a factor--but we should still be concerned for two reasons. One, many Jewish schools compete with non-Jewish ones. A parent may not want to pay £1K a term for state Jewish schools when they could either go to a regular state school for free, or pay £3-4K and go fully private with all the advantages that entails. Two, we have a responsibility to act according to the rules and set a good example for everyone else. I don't think that £3K a year is in keeping with that.

I'm trying not to panic too much, and wondering just how much I can get away with as hand baggage... assuming our flight isn't cancelled!

Should I ask the GP for Valium/Xanax tomorrow, or just buy a lot of booze in duty free?

In today's Evening Standard, Nick Cohen says BA forced a passenger to check her stroller at the desk (normally strollers are gate checked--this also means they don;t go through normal baggage handling, so you know they're on the right plane). If they try that on me I will lose it.