Pickle

Our 3 kids all learn at Crystal Palace, all started at 3.5ish (when they can go in for a lesson without a parent going in too).

Thinking about it more - if one of my kids did this, I'd be making them buy a replacement from their own money. Maybe I'm a mean Mum, but I think it's important that they know it's wrong to take things from other people. At what age do you stop waving it off as "normal"?

Tricky. In my opinion, it's very naughty and an 8 year old should know better - my eldest is 8.5 and I am confident he wouldn't do something like that. But I fully appreciate that every family has different boundaries and parenting styles.

Once again a good experience to report, Brad has completed work on the exterior of our property over the past few weeks (stripped and repainted windows and side return door and masonry sills at the front and rear of our house). A great job done, with high attention to the preparation phase of the job which results in an excellent finish. As the work meant we needed to leave doors and windows open through the afternoon and evening, he was great at communicating times and dates so that I could plan to be home. He understands and works around family life, which is brilliant. We have used All-Round Renovation a number of times now, a great local firm, highly recommended.

I play in an orchestra that might be of interest to you: http://www.harmonysinfonia.co.uk

Definitely - specify that you pay her for time spent, not work done. Have a list of additional jobs that you leave for her if she needs to fill in time. If you get a negative response, get rid!

I pay ?35 a week for a cleaner. For that, she cleans my house from top to bottom (3 bedrooms used all the time, plus two bedrooms in a loft conversion which just need a light dusting/hoover every couple of weeks). Two bathrooms get a proper clean, bed linen in the master bedroom changed, and five shirts ironed. That's done in 3.5 hours. I'm fussy, and I think they do a really good job - so no, you're not expecting too much!

Decide you're going to do it, and don't waver. The worst thing you can do is put them back in a pull-up or similar after a couple,of accidents - persevere and you will be fine.

Fuzzy felts have been a hit with my 3.5 year old, and play dough is a current favourite.

Ours was out this morning, but a reset seems to have fixed it.

http://www.renegademothering.com/2015/07/21/dickinrestaurants/ This sums up how I feel on the kids/pubs/restaurants debate

curiousgeorge11 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi, > Sorry to gatecrash this thread, but I am currently > considering a trip to London zoo via tube. Does > anyone know if this is possible with a buggy > (Step-free) at London Bridge and Baker St? Thanks, > and sorry Dibden! I'm sure it's possible, but have a look here for more details: https://tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/step-free-tube-guide-map.pdf

We had a fun day out today - cable car from Royal Victoria to the O2, a play in the fountains there followed by lunch, then a boat to London Bridge. My parents are visiting from NZ and it made for a relatively inexpensive way to see London from a different perspective. Kids (8.5, 7 and 3.5) loved it.

Otta, I love you :) It's been a while since a proper family room bust up, could this be the red flag we've been waiting for?

The butterfly gardens are brilliant, really fascinating for kids and parents alike! Fuzzy felts Little live pets (drive me mad, but my daughter loves her budgie!) Origami, friendship bracelet kits etc

Discover is brilliant, well worth a visit. We have a car, but I never use it for days out in the holidays, as it's so easy to jump on a bus and head to fun parts of London. Covent Garden, for the street performers and Transport Museum (combined with lunch makes a nice full day out without having to travel far) South Bank - there's always something fun. We loved the "beach" near the Southbank Centre last summer, great fun for the kids, especially little ones. Tate good for a run around in the Turbine Hall and some of the rooms are really interesting for young children. There used to be a kids play area up on (I think) the 3rd floor, it overlooks the turbine hall, you can eat a packed lunch there. Great for a bit of a rest and to get out of the sun if necessary. Museum of London The fountains leading from the City Hall area to London Bridge, hours of splashy fun :)

We had to do this when building work overran, at the time had two preschoolers. We have a double reception room, which became kitchen/living, and had use of bedrooms and bathroom. Prepare to need to completely renovate the rooms you live in while the work happens, they take a hammering. Washing dishes in the bath is fun for one night, then a COMPLETE pain, paper plates become your best friend. Dust is constant, and very draining. I also found it very difficult to get washing dry (it just got dirty!) so had to resort to using a laundrette a few times a week. Also, mentally prepare for the fact that when a builder says 6 months, it will take 9. With kids, the winter months living in a building site are even harder, as you can't escape outside as easily. Good luck - personally I wouldn't do it again, I found it very stressful!

Logistical nightmare, I feel for you. At least they went away reassured that Goodrich parents are friendly, just in case it all goes wrong at Heber ;)

There was one family there, but they were welcomed into the Goodrich year 3 picnic instead and sat having a lovely chat :)

This has potential to go round in circles. My opinion (3 kids under 9) is that if I'm going out, I don't want them anywhere near me. Love them, obviously, but not so much after 7pm when I've clocked off for the day. On the few occasions we've ventured to the Herne during the day with the kids, I've hated every minute of it, as find myself stressed out by the kids who are left to run wild by parents lacking any kind of common sense. We regularly eat at Si Mangia as a family, it's our standard "go to" for birthdays etc. We eat early, take pens/paper/phones, and leave at the first sign of the kids loosing the ability to sit quietly and respect the fact not everyone loves kids. It's not rocket science :)

I am 100% pro-vaccination, but did research on the BCG and decided against it for my kids. As Etta says, if you lived just a few miles down the road it wouldn't have even been mentioned. Do some reading about TB, and the people considered to be at risk, and weigh up whether you deem it necessary. Congratulations on your new baby :)

DMC = Dulwich Medical Centre on Crystal Palace Rd. The Lanes are an amazing group of midwives who have worked out of the doctors surgery for about 7 years now - they were just setting up when I had my 2nd child. Prior to that, Erika was (I think) the only midwife connected to the surgery. SW, does this mean they are being disbanded, or just relocated/open to anyone?

In the meantime the Upland/Crebor street block is being hammered by drivers acting as if they're on the M1. My neighbour's car was side swiped this afternoon (about 2:45pm if anyone happened to witness it? It was a hit and run). I do agree (as a runner who goes up and down Underhill a lot) that it's much more peaceful at the moment, although maybe not for the people with the big hole outside of their houses.

That's very kind, thank you. Maybe once your daughter has worked her way through a few let me know. Happy to return them to you if she decides to collect them.