Pickle

Thanks both of you, will check out Photobox.

I'm guessing this would be lounged as not ED specific, so here I am (not a very frequent lounge poster, be nice!) I've recently had some photos taken of my family and am planning to use them as gifts to keep grandparents who live overseas happy. Thinking of some photo books and maybe calendars, as well as a canvas for ourselves. Any recommendations as to which online provider are best to use? Have previously used Truprint and Kodak Gallery, but only for ordering prints, not for photo gifts/canvasses etc. Want something that's going to be decent quality, but don't want to spend an absolute fortune! Thanks!

Agree with Trinity that she is getting quite a variety in the foods you mention. At 9.5 months you don't need to worry too much, as gradually her eating will improve, and she won't starve herself. My son was a model eater, whereas I have the opposite with my daughter who would happily live on a diet of yoghurt, raisins and cat biscuits if given the chance. I don't prepare separate food for her anymore (stopped when she was about 10 months) as found it was stressing me out more to be preparing special food for her only to have it thrown round the room. She will now happily tuck into a plate full of roast lamb with the trimmings, and is happiest with "adult" food. You may also find that when she starts with the childminder she starts eating more/a wider variety as a lot of kids I know acted completely differently with regards to food when they were out of their home environment. Good luck x

Keef - they're Colin & Justin - they're both Scottish!

Hi, There are lots of playgroups, I'm sure others will add to this, but the ones I have attended (some in SE15) are: Leapers - Rye Oak primary school (SE15) Tues & Wed from 9am (free) Bookstart - Bew Court (LL estate) Wed 10am (free) Goose Green centre - Thurs 10am (?1 for one child, ?1.50 for two) Dulwich Library baby & toddler group - Thurs 10.30am (free) Babble & Squeak (new playgroup advertised on the forum) - Fri mornings at the Magnolia pub (?3/?5 I think) Bumps & Babes NCT teagroup - bottom of Red Post Hill Fri mornings from 9:30am There are also baby groups at both the Magnolia and the Plough pubs (I think the Plough one is still going, I haven't been for a very long time). Hope that helps. P x

Sorry to hear that, but hope it was nice once you were there? It will get easier once the baby is older, honest!

Agree, has to be a time share. And so many people in your situation go along saying "I'd never buy a time share" yet get subjected to some kind of brainwashing and end up with one!

My Dad uses a plumber with surname Mains, and a carpet fitter with surname Pile. I wonder if they felt they just didn't have any other option when it came to career choice? My favourite "Dulwich" name is Milo (which in NZ is a type of malty bedtime drink, but here seems to be the choice of name for the nouveau rich).

Ryedalema - how I laughed - my Dad has a pair of mocassins that he's owned for as long as I can remember, I honestly think they must be about 30 years old... and my Mum has fought for years to replace them to no avail. She even threw them out one day only to have him rummage through the bin and rescue them! Must be an antipodean male thing!

Mmmmmm, OK that does sound good!

In NZ (where I grew up) everyone had electric blankets due to lack of central heating - an absolute essential in winter! The best ones were dual control, but were built into a fab sheepskin blanket, so it was all cozy and soft under the sheet. Warm in winter, cool in summer - I miss my electric blanket! And ladies, I fear a discussion about electric blankets takes us out of "middle age" and plonks us firmly in "old" ;-)

I would say pie, but only because I don't know what a "pudding" is that involves meat?! Some weird English thing? Pudding to me is something best served with icecream!

My dear old Nana lived to the grand age of 92, so I guess technically (based on family history - her brother is still alive aged 97) I've still got a way to go!

My dear old Nana lived to the grand age of 92, so I guess technically (based on family history - her brother is still alive aged 97) I've still got a way to go!

Ever have one of those weeks where "middle age" stands up and smacks you in the face? After a rehearsal on Wednesday night I gave a young guy a lift to Lewisham station - first year at uni (so I guess that makes him 18/19ish?), who upon getting into my car made a comment along the lines of "ooooh, your car has satnav built in, my Mum's car isn't as flash as yours". A harmless comment from him, but suddenly I saw myself through his eyes, and it's been haunting me ever since! A middle aged lady, driving an estate car, with a buggy in the boot, two car seats in the back... I started by thinking how ridiculous it was for him to be comparing me to his Mum, but quickly realised that yes, it's feasible (just, based on the legal age of consent!). He was heading back to his flat to meet up with his mates and go out (10pm on a Wednesday night). I was dreaming of getting home to my slippers, having a cup of tea, and watching that night's episode of "I'm a Celebrity" before climbing into bed and praying for an unbroken night's sleep. *sigh* Anyway, back to my cup of tea and tonight's episode of "I'm a Celebrity". Raging Friday night in the Pickle household!

Ever have one of those weeks where "middle age" stands up and smacks you in the face? After a rehearsal on Wednesday night I gave a young guy a lift to Lewisham station - first year at uni (so I guess that makes him 18/19ish?), who upon getting into my car made a comment along the lines of "ooooh, your car has satnav built in, my Mum's car isn't as flash as yours". A harmless comment from him, but suddenly I saw myself through his eyes, and it's been haunting me ever since! A middle aged lady, driving an estate car, with a buggy in the boot, two car seats in the back... I started by thinking how ridiculous it was for him to be comparing me to his Mum, but quickly realised that yes, it's feasible (just, based on the legal age of consent!). He was heading back to his flat to meet up with his mates and go out (10pm on a Wednesday night). I was dreaming of getting home to my slippers, having a cup of tea, and watching that night's episode of "I'm a Celebrity" before climbing into bed and praying for an unbroken night's sleep. *sigh* Anyway, back to my cup of tea and tonight's episode of "I'm a Celebrity". Raging Friday night in the Pickle household!

Probably better to live near ex drug users rather than current ones? I've always thought that big house was simply a large privately owned place with lucky kids?! Has had quite a lot of work done to it recently (seem to remember various advertising boards up for tilers etc.), have never noticed anything untoward. Good luck with the purchase of your first flat! Exciting times!

I've seen him outside William Rose a few times, but not sure if he's there particular days/times... might be worth asking in the shop?

NZ is relatively evil bug free, thank goodness. I blame my Nana for my disproportionate fear of anything with eight legs! Will be brave at lunchtime and investigate the buggy snuggle (need to get it washed anyway as about to sell the beloved Bugaboo).

Due to a puncture in my Phil 'n' Teds I used my old Bugaboo the other day with a buggyboard, and when walking down the street folded down the hood only to find a HUGE scary spider complete with funnel type web hiding in there. It has a cosy toes which has been on there for 2 years, I'm too scared now to open it up just in case the spider's family are living in there! Had to put on my best brave Mummy act to avoid traumatising the kids, and typically the one time a stick as a "present" from my son would have been useful he couldn't find one! Horrible.

My daughter (1) did that to my laptop and it took me HOURS to figure out what on earth the combination of keys was that she'd hit... think I eventually found something in control panel but wasn't impressed! If only I'd known that shortcut it would have made life a lot easier!

I honestly think that long haul plane journeys are easier than car journeys - we've done the trip to and from New Zealand 4 times now (3 times with just 1 child, and once since I had my daughter) and I find it a lot easier to entertain them on planes. At least with long haul flights you can get up and walk around, there are little spaces on the plane where you can put him down and let him move around etc (granted these spaces are generally by the toilets, but generally you give up caring about the germ factor by that stage in the flight!). And there are always people who seem to love kids (try to suss out the grandparent types, they're great for entertaining little ones!) and are happy to help out. Saying that, I'm quite worried about our next trip in February due to hyperactive monster of a toddler who refuses to be held! Will be fine once we're in the air, it's the take off and landing where she has to be restrained that will be hard!

Molly, most come with the car adapters, our included - it's plane journeys that we struggle with as you can't plug them in on a plane (although last trip to NZ we managed with a combination of in-flight entertainment system which showed Thomas, and the DVD player - C was in 7th heaven!).

p.s... you're welcome to borrow it for the weekend if you want to try it? Worth a go! We've got a couple of CBB's "mixed" DVDs. P x

We've got a portable DVD player for our older boy (nearly 3), keeps him really happy in cars and on planes, but it doesn't yet hold the attention of our 17 month old for longer than 5 minutes, so might not work for a baby? They are great though, worth spending extra money to get one with a decent battery life as there's nothing worse than it running out half way through the trip!