ryedalema

Ah - thanks Fuschia. Should we try the Plough then? Molly - ;-( Hope you can make it!

David - is there somewhere you can dump/give away compost? We've been composting at the back of our postage stamp back garden for nearly five years and have masses too much for what we need? If there a service that will collect it and put it to good use?

I'd love to say that the oldest thing in our kitchen is my husband - but he doesn't go in there much!

We've recently had number 2 and I think we're going to stop there. I remember after the birth (which was a bit more ouchy than I remembered the first) thinking 'thank heavens I don't have to do that again!' The most exhausting part of having two for me is eldest daughter who is three in July. She's like a whirling dirvish! I'm so glad we can afford to keep her in nursery during my mat leave otherwise you'd have to scrape me off the floor - as it is I'm much more partial to a 'thank G*d it's over' G&T or V&DC in the evening than I remember being for a while. The other reason for us sticking at 2 is that my OH is 1 of 3 and his youngest sister is bi-polar and very prone to histrionics. He seems to feel that if we had a third we may have a big challenge on our hands - who knows - but that's his mindset. Ruth - my husband was working in Solihull for the whole of last year (until I was eight months preggers) so I was looking after out toddler by myself. It is exhausting - but I/we managed. You just get through don't you - tankety tank tank. And when I/we see you on the 16th I'll buy you a nice glass of something to celebrate our multi-tasking greatness!

Hi all - I'm bumping this as I (sob) got no replies...:( Please don't leave me as Norman no-mates - my post natal paranoid self can't handle the angst. What do you reckon - supper club thing or the Mag on the 16th? If I can work out level of interest I can book a table. Also what time for? I think I can get though the bedtime routine by 8pm - famous last words. I'll be the one with sick-up on my shoulder and sudocrem under my nails - mainlining G&T. Oh - so pull-worthy!

Oh dear - I'm now watching much more CBeebies than I used to (purely for research purposes obv.) and I don't think I can blame this purely on the lack of adverts (although a serious +). I'm still trying to work out the attraction of Mister Maker and Justin...which costume seems to be 'doing it for you' then? Clowns freak me out!

Hi - I just wanted to let you know that the one Saila is talking about is Mother Goose on Greendale - it's right behind Sainsburys up a cycle path - not Bright Horizons which is in Sainsburys car park. Our eldest daughter (2 3/4) is there and our newest (4 months) will be starting there next month. They are fab and a couple of other parents on here feel the same. When I looked for nurseries though I factored quite a lot into my choice, which may narrow things down for you: - location - being near a city bound train station (Denmark Hill and East Dulwich) was important for my work commute - opening hours (i needed 8am-6pm) - price (obv.) - ages of kids accepted (I need one place for both children) Those were the basics and after that I looked at stuff like management policy, standard of care, facilities (indoor and outdoor), diet, hygiene, visiting entertainers/educators, frequency of day trips etc. I think I started my research with the Sure start website (but it was a while back now). Yell.com is useful too as you can map them out to your home or work address. A good friend advised me to base the childcare nearer to work rather than home, as in an emergency (and there can be a fair few especially when they are little) you can get there much quicker than if you base them nearer to home. I hope this helps x

Hi again - do you fancy going to the Mag or trying this supper club thing? I must admit to living in a hole in the ground - what is a supper club exactly? Is it like Come Dine with Me?

I just took our 3 month old to my Dad's in deepest darkest Somerset - she slept all the way! My tips - Milton sterilising tablets - 1.5 outfits for the number od days you'll be there (if you have use of a washing machine) 2 x number of days if not. - Invest in a car charging bottle warmer - i got one from Kiddicare.com and it's fab. - Don't forget to pack for yourself - I only packed two outfits for four days and forgot shampoo, moisturiser - the works. I came back covered in sick-up, with crunchy hair (in desperation i used the baby shampoo, but no conditioner) and feeling like my face was going to fall off (as no moisturiser). - Conversely - remember that you are not going to the desert. There will be shops if you forget stuff! Good luck x

I'm in the process of making our daughter's 'child-made' easter bonnet competition entry. Sticky backed plastic anyone?

Oh boy -I have soooo many slummy mummy confessions. I do the competitive 'worst day' stuff, the 'gin addiction' stuff...but the Lazy Town and Something Special guys? Eeewwwww no thanks! Hasn't anyone mentioned the CBeebies presenters yet? Esp. the black guy and the Vernon Kay lookalike? Yummmmm.

Ha ha - we call them her' squeaky bits'. A while back it was hard to get her to play nicely in the bath and allow me to soap her up. So I used to do some sound effects when cleaning 'down there'. The name's stuck somehow...

Sounds good to me (day after pay day is always good!) Anyone else?

I've never been :-$ ..the Herne is our nearest. Did you book a room/table last time or did you leave it to chance on the night?

Indeed - does a Friday night seem the easiest for all? I'm guessing we should avoid Good Friday...and Pickle, when are you back (and are you up for this)? Have had a couple of mentions of The Mag - does that suit you all?

Hi Anna and Molly - I had an unplanned home birth with our first (she was a bit anxious to see the world!) and a planned home birth that ended up in a v. quick blue light dash to Kings. I have to say that the midwives, ambulance men and all at Kings were totally marvellous in our little drama - and I felt in such good hands (literally as it was very icy that day). Don't worry if you end up having the hundred yard dash in the back of the ambulance. They are very capable and professional. And they do it (make the hospital decision) for all the right reasons. The main thing is a happy healthy bub (obv.) - so it's all good.

I've mentioned this before but please contact Victim Support too. My OH was attacked at Denmark Hill before Christmas and they've been totally brilliant - helping us with the Police process (accompanying us to station meetings at their suggestion) - providing us with personal alarms (although mine keeps going off in my bag at v. embarrassiing moments) - giving v good (non-patronising) guidance and support - from a trained psychotherapist no less. My OH is not one to ask for help - but he's found them wonderful. Sorry to hear all your awful stories. We live around the corner too - shudder.

Molly of course - just let me get the stale spew smell off first.. MMMmmmmm...

Ah great - having just wiped a very scuzzy 'cheese ring' from her neck, I'm off upstairs for a proper wash,wax and dry.

Oh ps - i meant this to be a forum-wide swapping intel thing. I'm deffo not trying to sey myself up as some sort of parenting expert or Dalai Mama (ha ha Molly!)

I wonder whether anyone else thinks this would be useful? There's a fair few things I've either forgotten from first time around, or was just plain too embarrassed to ask with #1 child. I'm hoping that some kind forumites will be able to answer my idiot-qs...and also that others have some that I can answer (to make me feel a little less daft) :-$ So here goes with question #1: At what age can you introduce soap/shampoo/bubble bath to your newbie's bath? A the moment it's just water and Apricot oil - but I could do with something suddsy to get her a little fresher.... Can I swap with anyone?

;-) Have to admit I'm probably not as discreet as those examples (don't care that much who sees what!) I agree though - it kinda says it all!

I'm sure you can have a belated Mother's day when you get back Pickle - every Mum deserves this deffo! Says me up before 7am with the girls while OH has a lie-in...hmmmmmm (Mind you he was up all night with littlest, and there's a mysterious bowl of pancake batter in the fridge - so it's all good!) Happy Mother's day everyone! And to my old Ma who's 'up there somewhere' - I still think about you Mum!

Ooh cripes Linzkg - you sound more adventurous than I was thinking (my fault i guess for saying i was up for anything!). I was thinking of something fairly local - and yes involving food. Any more thoughts? As L'oreal repeatedly tells us - we're worth it!!

I hope I'm not the only one that wants to celebrate the (hopeful) passing of winter with a night out with some EDF buddies? Does anyone fancy a child-free night out in April? If so, any suggestions on locations and dates would be very welcome! I'm open to pretty much anything...'cept Ministry of Sound (not really into the 'shaking my tail feathers thing' right now - too much wobbles when I do that!);-) What think you all?