Never trust the pharmacist!!!!
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Printed Date: 10 October 2025 at 10:15am
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Topic: Never trust the pharmacist!!!!
Posted By: Maya
Subject: Never trust the pharmacist!!!!
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 10:18am
As some of you know (from my constant whinging  ) the gremlins have had diarrohea and it's given them bad nappy rash. Last week the doctor prescribed them some Zinc and Castor cream (coz it's free on prescription). I know that a lot of zinc and castor preparations contain peanut oil so I asked her to specify that it had to be peanut free. So she wrote on the prescription as clear as day (in fact it was typed so no excuses!) "Not to contain peanut oil".
Now you know where this is going... I finished up the stuff we already had here and Mercedes bottom cleared up. I started using the new stuff on Sienna and by the next change her bottom was blistered and bleeding. So I check the ingredients list and the first thing on the list is.... yep, sodding PEANUT OIL!!!! 
This is a huge mistake, I can't stress enough how huge it is. If I'd put it on Mercedes it could potentially have been fatal, and now it's confirmed that Sienna has peanut allergy too. I'm still trying to get thru to the pharmacy, they don't answer their phones, but if I don't have amy luck soon I'm going to go down there and blow their eardrums!! So don't EVER rely on the pharmacist to get things right, ALWAYS double check everything! If I had read the ingredients first poor Sienna would have been saved a lot of pain  -------------  Maya Grace (28/02/03)
 (02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Replies:
Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 10:26am
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Oh Emma, that truly sucks. I'm really really careful with things from the pharmacy after Andie's post.. oh, and Peace as well? (I think it was Peace anyway)
They REALLY need to hear about this to make sure it never happens again (although I do feel a little sorry for them that you were the one that they stuff up on   [said with all the love in the world])
Your poor little one. Hope it heals fast 
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Posted By: Kazzle
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 10:30am
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i would be marching down there and blowing my stack, that is so not acceptable...i hope that you give them hell, and get and apology which i know wont count for much, and maybe change pharmacies
poor Sienna i hope she recovers soon ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 10:31am
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Oh no! Yep, I'm in the 'don't take anything for granted from the pharmacy' category too after all the screw-ups that lousy pharmacy in town made. But Emma, that really sux and good on you for going postal at them (when you finally get to). That's a blimmin dangerous instruction for them to ignore. Idiots!
------------- Andie |
Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 10:35am
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Good grief! You have every right to blow your stack over that!
Agree that they need to know how (potentially) serious that screw up was... in fact, Nat (reading over my shoulder) suggested that you drop a line to Fair Go - not as a problem/complaint, more as a warning for other parents. ------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: mum2three
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 10:37am
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Oh that stinks! good luck getting through to them, hope wee Sienna and Mercedes get better soon! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: mum2three
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 10:38am
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I like Nats Idea! ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Faraway
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 10:47am
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OMG!! Thankfully our pharmacist is very onto it and checks stuff with us when we give him script then again when he gives it to us (our doc gave us a script for pamol but wrote on the bottom to discuss flavours with us since Kaleb refuses the pink one - he was very good about it and explained everything very thoroughly)
That is so shocking and really negligent!! Did he not read the script or does he NOT know the ingredients in his products?!! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: Bubbaloo
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 10:51am
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Oh No Emma to you and Sienna I would be marching down there and giving them a piece of my mind as others have said it's a pretty big instruction to ignore. ------------- http://lilypie.com" rel="nofollow">  Was danni-chick Mum to James My Angel 28/07/08 |
Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 11:10am
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I would be marching down there with Sienna and SHOWING him her poor little bottom. (In any case I would def take photos to have on "record"). Its so slack and so dangerous, we have a really high incident rate in NZ of illness / death caused by mis-prescribing and this sort of thing just proves that it isnt just the Doctors who are causing the problems! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 11:12am
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So I finally got thru to him and he said "there's no peanut oil in it" and I said "I'm looking at it and there is" and he said "oh yes, they must have changed the formulation". I said "WTF!!!! "
Is that all they have to say? I made him find the original script and he said "oh yes, it does say no peanut oil" and then tried to say that he didn't realise that the new brand they had got was a differet formula. So I ranted on (and on and on!) about how dangerous it is, and what could potentially have happened had I put it on Mercedes, and that I would have thought the fact that the prsecription SPECIFICALLY said NO peanut oil, that he would have double checked just to make sure. So now he suggests I give her antihistamine to help the reaction. But I do like Nat's idea of contacting Fair Go, I might email the allergy NZ people too, I'm just so, so nervous at what could have happened had I put it on Mercedes  ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Faraway
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 11:16am
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Emma! Thankfully you put the old stuff on Mercedes! Definitely don't leave it at that though - how slack, did he actually apologise? ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MILF
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 11:49am
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contact the paper emma, that will get it out to more people than those who watch fair go - and it would be far more effective as a warning. i dont know about the big cities but in invercargill the paper would definately run a story about that.
that is appalling, shocking, and downright negligent - and to have him be so dismissive of it, is really really poor. follow up your phone call with a written letter asking what they will do about it, and how they will change their systems in future. ------------- Lyla - mum to Xanthe - my big 4 year old
and Jordis - 1 year old 
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Posted By: ShellandBella
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 11:55am
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I agree, more people need to know about these sorts of things - especially when it could have been life threatening! How slack of the pharmacist; doesn't sound like he was very remorseful...
Definitely get onto the paper or fair go...it makes me nervous as a parent as we have lots of allergies run in our family too ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: KateW
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 12:02pm
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That is really bad form! I dont think he gets how bad it could of been, thank goodness it wasnt! Hope your gils get better soon ------------- ~Our miracle IVF babies~ http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: Helen21
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 12:07pm
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I can't believe that! That's awful emma, I'd go to the paper, fair go and anywhere else you can let mums know about this stuff up. You can't just overlook it as it wasn't just a small mistake it was a life threatening one. Did you speak to the manager?
I always speak to the pharmacist to get advice for medicine for simple things but now I'm no so sure I should put so much trust in them. I hope your girls feel better soon
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Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 12:14pm
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OMG Emma!!!! That is shocking! Even more so because of the pharmacist's response. I would definitely follow it up in writing (you know, when you get the time ). It makes me shudder to think that you could have so easily put it on Mercedes, bad enough that Sienna now has an even worse rash situation to deal with. I hope they come back to you with a better apology and explanation of why this WON'T EVER HAPPEN AGAIN. Can you change pharmacies? ------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: james
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 12:30pm
omg i would of the same as you emma and gone off my rocker hope the gremlins are feeling better and a big big hug for you emma ------------- <a href="http://lilypie.com"><img src="http://b4.lilypie.com/nLJ5p13.png" alt="Lilypie 4th Birthday Ticker" border="0" /></a> |
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 1:00pm
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OMG, I would of totally lost it with him big time. Def take photos and do the whole press thing - use some of your media contacts (you must have a few), and get it out there. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 1:09pm
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what an arse! I only go to the pharmacist by work now (Nikki's ujncle/cousin???) - incidental;ly, he's bought out another phamarcy i see.
anyway, that is so bad. hope wee Sienna's butt feels better (and mercedes too) |
Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 1:18pm
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That's terrible! And what a response! Surely he should have paid way more attention. Hope the girls (and their mum) feel better soon! ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: buzimumto3boys
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 1:33pm
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Wow!! I would be angry too!! Good on you for following up and having a go at the guy... I guess I dont need to ask if you will be going to that pharmacy again?!
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Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 1:57pm
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That is very scarily dangerous! I agree, you should write to fair go or similar.
Hope her bottom clears up quickly! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and: 
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 3:09pm
| Is this the same pharmacy that stuffed up your Neocate order back when the girls still had to have that? |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 3:14pm
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Because I am a journalist, and just because I CAN, I've sent this press release out to my local media contacts, Fair Go and Allergy NZ...
PHARMACY APOLOGISES AFTER POTENTIALLY DEADLY ERROR An Auckland pharmacy has apologized after making a potentially life-threatening mistake when dispensing a prescription. Midwest Pharmacy in New Lynn inadvertently gave a woman zinc and castor ointment containing peanut oil to use on her daughter, who has a severe peanut allergy, despite the GP having noted on the prescription that the product dispensed should not contain peanut oils. Emma Fahy took her daughter, Mercedes, to the GP with a severe nappy rash, and the GP prescribed zinc and castor ointment. Aware that many zinc and castor preparations do contain peanut oil, Ms Fahy asked the GP to make a note of her daughter’s allergy on the prescription. Before using the cream on Mercedes, Ms Fahy used it on Mercedes’ twin sister. Within minutes a red, blistering rash had developed on her bottom. “I never even thought to check the label,” Ms Fahy says. “I assumed that because the GP’s instructions were so clear, the pharmacist would get it right.” Ms Fahy then rang the pharmacy who apologized, and blamed the mix up on a change of supplier. A spokesperson for the pharmacy said they had only recently begun stocking the Multichem brand zinc and castor ointment and hadn’t realized that it did contain peanut oil. They concede that the prescription was marked ‘not to contain peanut oil’ and blame the error on an oversight on the part of the pharmacist concerned. Ms Fahy says that parents need to be aware that such mistakes do happen, and that they should double check all prescriptions before administering them to their children. “I don’t think they realized the seriousness of the error,” Ms Fahy says. “If I had put it on Mercedes it could potentially have caused a fatal reaction.” Mercedes is one of a growing number of children who have peanut anaphylaxis, meaning that contact with even a tiny trace of a peanut product can cause a very severe reaction. When people with peanut anaphylaxis are exposed to peanuts their bodies react by going into shock, which can lead to cardiac arrest if not treated promptly. ENDS  ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: MissCandice
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 3:18pm
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Emma, that article sounds very good and professional well done, and to the pharmacy that done it, well he should loose his licence. Or have a big sign on his dore saying "Beware i cant read" ------------- ~ Mummy to a beautiful girl ~ |
Posted By: caraMel
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 3:19pm
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Good Job!
I hope that prompts a real shake up on the part of the pharmacy, and others too. Its not a job they can afford to become casual about and they're damn lucky it didn't end in an emergency or worse because of their oversight! ------------- Mel, Mummy to E: 6, B: 4 and:
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Posted By: MummyFreckle
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 3:20pm
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Well done Emma, it will be interesting to see if any of them "pick up" the story. I think it needs to be a wake up call for the pharmacists as well as parents....so fingers crossed! ------------- http://lilypie.com"> http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Mama2two
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 3:49pm
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Good on you Emma. That is a very frightening thing that has happened to you, and unfortunatley we seem to be hearing about more and more cases of it! I hope somebody does pick up the story and print it for all of us out there that trust the pharmacy. (Never again I must say though).
I would definitley recommend taking photos incase someone like Fair go picks up your story too. I hope you and the gremlins feel better soon ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 6:11pm
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In light of your comment about peanut anaphylaxis being increasingly common in babies, what I want to know, is why the hell they are putting peanut oil in this baby product when there is clearly an alternative?!?!?
I hope you've put it in writing to the pharmacy too Emma. If it's in corresponence then surely they'd have to take some sort of disciplinary action with the staff member...? Go you! |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 6:34pm
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Well ladies, check out the Herald tomorrow morning!
I kid you not, less than an hour after I sent it to them I got a call from their health reporter and they've spoken to the pharmacy and are going to run the story in tomorrow's Herald. LOL at me tho, I rang my sister to tell her the gremlins are about to be famous and she said, "man, you and your complaining, you ALWAYS complain about stuff!" Altho she did agree that this IS a big deal! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 6:34pm
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I'm glad you've done the article Emma but LOL at you quoting yourself!!
Is the guy who served you the owner? If you can write a private and confidential letter address to the Manager, it's very very important and I would hope that disciplinary action - or at very least a stern warning - would take place. Pharmacists ought to know better. ------------- |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 6:41pm
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The guy who did it is the owner, so hopefully the negative publicity is enough to give him a major wake up call. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 7:07pm
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Even if it doesn't Emma, he's sure to lose a few bucks from your family alone! ------------- |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 7:22pm
Good point! ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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busymum wrote:Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 7:27pm
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Bloody well done Emma! Will be logging on to the Herald website tomorrow morning. Great release by the way, cracks me up that you were quoting yourself too!
Did you slip in a plug for the mega meet up while you were on the phone to the Herald reporter? ------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: daikini
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 7:30pm
 Way to go, Emma! Great article, and great result with it being picked up by the Herald!------------- Becca, mum of 2 girls & 3 boys |
Posted By: lizzle
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 8:03pm
| just had a thought, I am allergic to peanuts - so Taine can have that cream on his body, but if I'm the one using it, it could cause adverse reactions on my hands - surely if chocolate bars have to say if they are produced on the same line as one with peanuts, creams should have HUGE labels saying peanut oil. and nikki is right - why wo9uld they change TO peanut oil???? |
Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 8:04pm
Ahhh Mazzy, I have a devious plan... you see I thought I might call the reporter tomorrow and say "hey, thanks for running the story and by the way, did you know we're having this thing Labour Weekend..." ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Mazzy
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 8:09pm
Brilliant! Should have known you'd have a sneaky way of getting it in there! 
------------- Mum to two gorgeous girls! |
Posted By: Bombshell
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 8:18pm
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and you are still going all the way to that pharmacy WHY??????????
love the article BTW!
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Posted By: Skyflame
Date Posted: 03 October 2007 at 11:03pm
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Well done Emma. Hopefully it shocks them in to taking notice of what is written on the prescriptions.
I hope the gremlins get better soon. LOL at your devious ways on mega meet up advertising though. |
Posted By: Faraway
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 8:12am
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Great work Emma! When Kaleb got prescribed some of the z&c cream we got it home and used it once then just out of interest I read ingredients and saw peanut oil so haven't used again and we don't (think) there's any allergy...
I really hope this makes pharmacists be a bit more responsible for the medications they are dispensing. ------------- http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: Maya
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 8:58am
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No sign of the article in this morning's herald, but then I suspect it may have missed the deadline for today so will keep an eye out tomorrow. ------------- Maya Grace (28/02/03)
(02/01/06)
The Gremlins:Sienna Marie & Mercedes Kailah (14/10/06)
Lil miss:Chiara Louise Chloe (09/07/08)
Her ladyship:Rosalia Sophie Anais (18/06/12)
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Posted By: Andie
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 10:01am
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Lovin the article. Love how you quoted yourself (he he he!!) and GOOD ON YOU for doing it, too! Hope they run it tomorrow. ------------- Andie |
Posted By: AlyAyde
Date Posted: 04 October 2007 at 3:20pm
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Man what a mistake to make. and the moral of the story.... never piss of a mother especially one that is a journalist.
Thankgoodness the reaction was relatively minor compared to how it could have panned out. ------------- Jayde 25/12/04 Alyssa 08/04/03 http://Alyayde.bebo.com |
Posted By: KateW
Date Posted: 07 October 2007 at 12:46pm
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Has anyone seen it yet? I tried looking online to day but couldn't find it ------------- ~Our miracle IVF babies~ http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 07 October 2007 at 2:21pm
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I tried looking for it on Friday but couldn't find it. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |