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We ate there last night with 3 little ones - the pizzas were great, service fantastic - very patient with the kids, lovely back garden and reasonable prices. Thoroughly recommended.

Yes! we're going on Sunday - looking forward to it but fearing I will also spend a fortune!!

I would also like to add my recommendation for Tony Pooley - he has just finished our front garden with new fence, path and gravel and has done a really excellent job. Very professional throughout, listened to what we wanted and gave some good ideas, good price and great finish. Highly recommended.

After lots of research and a few quotes we finally settled on the London Door Company for our much needed new front door. They are by no means cheap but I have to admit they are worth it - you do get what you pay for in this instance. The door is fantastic quality, feels very solid, fitted beautifully and has completely changed the appearance of our house. Customer service thus far has also been excellent. Thoroughly recommended.

Yes it opened not too long ago - I've been in a couple of times and it's got some really lovely stuff and quite reasonable. Definitely worth a visit. Corner of Grove Vale and Melbourne Grove - used to be a solicitors or something like that?

We're currently looking for similar advice - I also heard the London Door Company is expensive (?3,000 all in I've been told!). Someone mentioned F&E joinery in West Dulwich were very good and reasonable. Any experiences anyone?

I would also recommend John - twice now we have had boiler problems (separate issues) and John has come out the same day both times. Reasonably priced and knows his stuff as well as being friendly and professional.

I've just come across this - I didn't see it back in December. I just wanted to add that the lady who runs the playgroup used to be my son's child minder and she is lovely. She does the toddler group voluntarily and is certainly not the sort of person who would want to make anyone feel uncomfortable or unwelcome.

Do you sell these? I'd love a copy of the black and white one with the 176 bus - it's great.

Thanks guys - and thanks handstands - your post was sad. I did in fact worry that it might have been starting school for my 4 year old son (and me going back to work after maternity leave with his younger brother)- I actually think with my older son he was just doing it because his younger brother was doing it! but it's good to know anxiety may be a cause so I'm going to try a bit more investigating. Thanks again all for the posts x

My 6 year old and 4 year old have both bizarrely started biting their nails recently, and the eldest doesn't stop picking his nose - lovely! Anyone have a good tricks on how to stop it? I have a vague memory from my youth of something you can put on nails which tastes horrible? not sure they'd let me put it on mind you!

Yes! Angel used to work at Willis B but has left recently and now does mobile hairdressing, she's been cutting my hair for over 8 years and is brilliant. Her no. is 07590635515.

There is a recent thread on St John's (couple of weeks back) - someone asking opinions on it, I did a post on there as did a few other parents so might be worth a look at that. Basically I have one child in Reception and one in year 2 at St John's. We have loved ST John's so far, both my children are extremely happy there. There is a lovely atmosphere in the school, it is very friendly, sociable and the PTA are very active. As Toffeese15 says, it depends what you want from the school and for us too at this stage it gives us all we are after - that our boys are happy, have lovely friends, are stimulated and safe - they really enjoy going to school every day and I feel they are learning well. The recent Ofsted report for St John's was a bit disappointing but as I said before, some of the issues raised weren't too important for us and I think the senior management team are really trying to address the issues in a very pro active manner. Equally, my youngest went to Goose Green nursery last year so I have had some experience of that school too, albeit only the nursery and not the main school itself. I have to say that from what I saw it too is a really super school and I would have been happy for my children to go there - so I guess whichever one you choose they will be happy, but as someone else said, all you can really do is go with your instincts. If you'd like any more info please feel free to PM me - would be happy to chat through our experiences. Best of luck x

Sorry only just got back to this thread - I was registering 3 children for parent and child, pre school and stage 2 but I don't think it matters to be honest you just get there, get given a number then sit and wait until it's called out, whichever class you're going for - I think the problem is it takes a while to register each person so I'd say 5-10 mins per person so it doesn't take too many people to make for a good few hours wait. Like sunbob said though once you're in you just re-register so no more queing. I don't actually think they are that over-subscribed, I certainly don't think they are at full capacity at my sons classes it's just the registration process is a bit of a time consuming process.

I waited 3 hours! But i didn't get there until about 10am, so yes definitely get there early and you should be ok. They give you a number - a bit like a butcher counter in the supermarket so you're not literally standing in a queue for all of the time.

Hi Becky - could you post class times? Many thanks Emma

I have two children at St Johns (year 2 and reception) and I really like the school. It has a lovely warm feel to it and my eldest has been very happy there from day one (my other son only started yesterday so a bit early to tell!). The PTA are very active and I think this adds to the community feel of the school. A lot of parents were very surprised at the satisfactory rating but I think it has given the management team a good focus on certain issues which perhaps had slipped under the radar - they certainly seem to be taking some positive actions to address the issues. I agree with Emily that many of the issues (although not all) I didn't particularly see as major ones. So all in all I would definitely recommend it but probably the best way, as with any school is to go and have a look around and get a feel for it. Good luck whatever you decide!

I'd recommend Dulwich Magic - it's on a sports field on Burbage road - my 6 year old and 4 year old go and love it - 10-11am on a Saturday morning. I think it's ?6 a session. Drop Mike an email for more inof - it's very busy though so not sure how much space they have [email protected]

I think he meant a guy like him being "relatively athletic" so he could defend or run off - I don't think he meant he was in any way superior.

I think my son might have been the little kid who turned up? I was walking down Crystal Palace Road and my two sons were on their bikes and had gone on ahead of me up to the side road next to The Great Exhibition and had stopped to wit for me - there was an old lady behind me who I had exchanged a few words with when my sons were trying to get past her - I heard a bike ringing it's bell and looked around to see the 2 lads behind her trying to get past her - I thought it a bit odd that they were cycling on the pavement. They then stopped in the middle of the junction even though a car was trying to pull out and he had to beep them to get them out the way. Must have been around 2.30 I guess? I could give a basic description of one of them if needed but I'm afraid not too detailed as I was too busy trying to make sure my boys weren't getting run over - but I do remember thinking it was a little odd.

Hi - my son has just finished at Goose Green nursery (it's fab by the way!) - as he is off to St John's in September I have a spare jumper going if you'd like it? (we had 2 but I donated one to the nursery as a spare) it's the smallest size so depending on whether your little one is big/small for their age it may or may not be ok - anyway it's yours if you'd like it - just send me a PM and we can arrange for you to pick it up. Emma

My son is currently at Goose Green nursery but will be moving to St John's and St Clement's in September as his older brother is there (and it's closer to us!). I moved my son from a private nursery to Goose Green knowing he would then be moving to St John's for reception but I figured it was worth it as I was so impressed with the nursery and had heard so many good things about it. It has certainly lived up to it's reputation - it's a really lovely nursery - great activities, good staff and a lovely outdoor space. My son will certainly miss it when he moves to St John's in September. I would say go for it!

Thanks all for your replies and the PM's - it's really good to hear other people's experiences. I think you're right it has to be what we think is right for us and at the right time - it's just reaching that decision which is tricky. I think sometimes you need a catalyst to make these things happen!

I thought I would see if any wise family roomers could offer some pearls of wisdom or their personal experiences. We have lived in ED for about 10 years, had 3 children here, 2 of which are now happy at school, have made lots of friends in the area and generally are very happy here. But coming from the West Country there is a strong part of me that would love to live closer to parents (help with the kids) and closer to the sea / countryside and escape the big smoke. I guess the dilemma we are going through is do we move back down to the West Country (depending on whether we can find jobs of course) or do we stay put. We have pros and cons for both but I thought I would see how many others are having a similar dilemma and what decisions have been made and why! Thanks!

Hi Pickle, Emma (Billy's mum) here. Such a shame the music class isn't happening this term. I've managed to get a free trial at diddidance Tom at 2pm at the constitutional hall place, if you go to the diddidance website and email Anne Marie she replied very quickly. I also do tennis on a Monday afternoon but I think you said before you had something else on then x