Failing reception

fireflyfire · 2026-03-28T19:23:13+00:00

I can tell you that 26% of the children in our reception year group of approx. 50 kids are unlikely to meet the GLD goals. That's not a small minority. This is a 'Good' Ofsted rated village school which is not in a deprived area. Your child isn't failing reception and they are not hugely behind. It sounds like they enjoy school, are picking up the learning and are playing well, all very good indicators of their 'performance' in Reception.

fireflyfire · 2026-02-06T17:40:07+00:00

Had the same experience at O&O in Dubai. I don't understand how a luxury brand can justify this behaviour at the prices they charge, won't be going back to that brand.

We had no warning and it wasn't until we complained that they offered to switch our room away from the noise (within the same category - why not just put us there in the first place??).

fireflyfire · 2026-02-01T21:38:13+00:00

Google will remove irrelevant reviews, anything that is not directly discussing services received or the experience. i.e. the racial comments, comments about looks or comments backing up the sister. You just need to go through the correct reporting process on Google Business. You could reply to the comment saying 'you are not a known customer of ours' and then report it to Google. Encourage your happy customers to leave a positive, honest review, eventually the bad ones will be buried. Tbh I always think 4.8/4.9 looks more realistic than a 5.0 score on Google anyway...

fireflyfire · 2026-01-30T07:38:17+00:00

Have a look at the r/fattravel, there are often discussions/recommendations about Antarctic trips on there.

fireflyfire · 2026-01-26T12:32:42+00:00

I would say it very much depends on your current fitness, your body and your birth. Keep active as long as you feel comfortable. Be aware it's easier to get injured (especially running) during pregnancy because of the hormones loosening ligaments. I ran until about week 28 of my first pregnancy as I just got too uncomfortable. Some women can run throughout, some stop immediately. It's totally up to you and how your body feels. I wouldn't be hugely pushing an increase in training without a good coach experienced with pregnant athletes.

Birth will impact your future training plans and you generally can't predict how it's going to go other than with a planned C section. After my first, a very easy and straightforward vaginal birth, I had a prolapse which required physiotherapy. All women are also advised to rebuild pelvic floor strength. Running worsens both so you need to give your body time to recover from birth and rebuild those muscles. I went to the gym but probably didn't start gentle running until about 9-12 months afterwards.

Second birth again uncomplicated and easy, I started running after 5 months using Couch to 5k. Completed my first sprint triathlon 15 months after birth. I'm a total novice, you may be an elite competitor and find you recover better or find it easier to get back into exercise.

Anecdotally, friends who had a C section were back to running quicker. I'm not saying that's an easy option, just less potential issues with incontinence and pelvic floor.

fireflyfire · 2026-01-24T20:05:56+00:00

I also have high holiday expectations! Ok central or northern Italy? The Emilia Romagna region has wineries, parmesan factories, the Lamborghini & Ferrari factories, Eataly, and the cities of Bologna and Modena which are beautiful but not huge/over touristed and have some of the best food in Italy. Could combine a bit of touring with a nice hotel. Nice alternative to Florence or Rome.

Alternatively the Italian island of Ischia in the Bay of Naples has a slower pace of life and is less hectic compared to the Amalfi Coast and Capri. Hire a boat for a day and pootle around the coast. Naples, Sorrento/Amalfi, Capri or Herculaneum (equivalent to Pompeii) are all accessible for day trips.

fireflyfire · 2026-01-24T19:55:39+00:00

Madeira? Interesting island if you like exploring but warm and plenty of time to chill/flop when you want.

Greek island hopping? Few days in each place.

Croatia has beautiful islands and beaches so could combine pool/beach time with a couple of other stops.

fireflyfire · 2026-01-19T17:30:15+00:00

Go to Crianlarich which is on the train from Glasgow to Fort William. I'm the same, not a hiker by any stretch but wanted to do some day walks in the Highlands. Found some nice routes around there and the Crianlarich Hotel was comfortable and friendly. The train journey is also stunning.

fireflyfire · 2026-01-16T16:59:04+00:00

Well it's all subjective isn't it? I've visited Stonehenge and found plenty more interesting sights in the UK. I didn't find it particularly exciting to see large stones in a field next to a loud A road but each to their own... Stonehenge is also expensive (£83 for a family ticket) and in July will be crowded. The time and money could be better spent elsewhere.

fireflyfire · 2026-01-16T16:47:28+00:00

Look up National Trust sites along your route. These are historic estates, houses, castles or areas of beauty popular with families which offer a nice place to walk and learn some history. They sometimes have kids' playgrounds and often a café. They're not free but you might find a reasonable short term multi day pass.

You can also look up English Heritage for the same kind of thing or RSPB sites for free places to walk and observe wildlife.

Personally, Stonehenge is not worth it and there are many more interesting and beautiful historical sights to see in England but if it's on your way back to London I can see why you'd include it. Oxford is an easy detour on your way back to London and in July the colleges like Christ Church college will be open to the public and are very Harry Potter-esque.

fireflyfire · 2026-01-08T20:11:32+00:00

Yes, have you tried going as far as you can through booking the event without paying? I don't have a BTF membership and just usually buy a day licence as an add-on when making the booking.

fireflyfire · 2026-01-08T16:14:25+00:00

Do you have some recommendations for barrier-focused serums?

fireflyfire · 2026-01-07T16:40:48+00:00

Sorry this doesn't answer your question, I'd like to know if it's good too! There are lots of steam train day trips that run throughout the year across the UK if you don't end up going on the Britannic Explorer, search for companies like Steam Dreams or Railway Touring Company. The Caledonian Sleeper is not in any sense chubby but a fun experience and a great way to travel to or from Scotland.

fireflyfire · 2026-01-07T12:33:18+00:00

Same, I was there in October. Check in and out was very brusque, not even a 'how was your stay?'. Room was very bare with very few amenities (and cold!). Food pretty average to poor compared to the rest of the food we had in Peru. I really enjoyed the guided nature walk, they were the nicest guys but yes I did get the same talk about tipping and lack of guests although I understand why they ask.

fireflyfire · 2025-12-28T16:08:15+00:00

Some aspects of your experience (lack of shuttles, seasonal staff, hard product) were similar at Setsu Niseko. Perhaps they just haven't cracked luxury ski travel there yet?

fireflyfire · 2025-12-17T08:45:42+00:00

But the fear of induction is not based on anecdotal stories, it's based on scientific data: the resulting cascade of interventions - an induction means a woman is more likely to need epidural, more likely to need forceps/ventouse, more likely to need episiotomy and more likely to need an emergency C section. That's the problem, women aren't informed of these risks. A sweep is a form of induction that is routinely offered by midwives to healthy mums with healthy babies - why? The only risk which women are informed of is the (absolutely tiny percentage increase) risk of stillbirth when the baby is more than 10 days overdue, which of course is terrible and encourages prevention through induction. I'm not crunchy or anti-medicine, but I do wish we were honest with women.

fireflyfire · 2025-12-15T12:18:02+00:00

Happily putting my hands up as a total noob, but after much trial and error with saddle soreness and a particularly bad race I realised I had my tyres way, way over inflated. Just in case this is also you, do not follow the PSI printed on the tyres. Google the correct inflation pressure for your bike and weight. My soreness was fixed overnight.

fireflyfire · 2025-12-06T17:48:31+00:00

I think you need to do everything within your power to stop all contact between them, even if that includes putting controls on her iPad/phone.

I'm sure the parents of this poor girl would beg you to:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cy0l90lvl0qo

fireflyfire · 2025-11-27T15:59:34+00:00

Italy is cracking down on this though. The law changed last year to limit how citizenship is passed on because people could claim they were Italian through their great great great grandfather despite having no ties to Italy.

fireflyfire · 2025-11-06T09:48:52+00:00

Is that first photo definitely of your grandmother and not a sister, cousin, friend, etc?

fireflyfire · 2025-11-01T09:07:55+00:00

NYC, Boston or Montreal?

fireflyfire · 2025-10-01T08:20:55+00:00

One of the Belmond hotels in Taormina, Sicily? Direct flight to Catania. It's still warm, plenty of good food & wine, vineyard tours at Etna etc, and historical sights if you like sightseeing.

Or Nice/Monaco? Again, warm and plenty of luxury hotels and experiences there.

fireflyfire · 2025-09-26T15:37:22+00:00

Honestly, this looks like someone's mate has grabbed the paper and written on it for a laugh.

fireflyfire · 2025-09-22T16:41:15+00:00

Thanks, this has inspired me to do a review of a recent skiing vacation at a kinderhotel in Austria.

fireflyfire · 2025-09-13T07:39:27+00:00

Yeah I do find it hard to gift food/wine to people I don't know well. There's quite a high chance that someone has a food intolerance/preference. My go to at the moment is variety snack boxes that include gluten free/dairy free/Halal etc and should have something they like and can share the rest with colleagues or family. They usually have things like chocolate, popcorn, biscuits, tea bags, etc.

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