Pickle

I wouldn't put it off any longer Saila, tske him to A&E or Seldoc in the morning. I'd be happy to entertain your 3 year old for you, my older two (6 and 4.8) are great with younger kids, and hubby is around too. One extra honestly wouldn't be a bother for us. P x

Regarding the word "new" - you won't see it in your own posts, but your post will show as new to others. The toolbar for putting pictures in your posts etc. was removed a while ago now, but I believe you can embed pictures using code if you know how.

Thanks all. My parents met with a lawyer yesterday who was very positive that they have a strong case, so fingers crossed.

I've used them with 3 babies - from 10 months with my first, and birth with the other two. I had a period of a year where I had 2 kids in them. I find them easy, much more reliable than disposables and no bother at all. I have my favourite brands, but they don't suit all babies. Of all the newborn ones I've used I found "Easy Peasy" nappies brilliant. I have enough that I only wash them every 2nd/3rd day, and we don't have a tumble drier - in winter I put the radiators to good use, and as soon as the sun shines I hang them outside. I use one disposable a day, just for nighttime (have never tried nighttime reusables, but I think they are good if you find the right one for your baby). Good luck.

Just watched the final episode (didn't look at this thread until now in case you gave it away). Decent ending, enjoyable series. Not sure about a 2nd series though.

I would - as you say, he will be with his grandparents, it will be a lovely time for both them and him.

Thank you all for your messages and PMs. Unfortunately my brother was not of the electronic age, so no emails or anything we can check up, and writing things down wasn't his strong point. The house had been cleared out by his ex-wife, so we didn't get a chance to look through his personal things (another source of much anguish for my parents, who would really like the watch they gave him for his 21st, but have been denied by ex-wife and her family - you just couldn't make people like this up!). I'm enroute to London now (in LA filling in time in transit), but my parents had made an appointment with their lawyer which they should be at as I type. I've kept the text message he sent me, it's about the only written proof we have. P

We took our kids out of school for a week before the Christmas holidays started as we were flying to NZ for Christmas with my family. We wrote a letter asking permission (Goodrich), explaining that it was only every 2nd year etc, and it was granted with no problems.

Yes, understand that completely KK - the difference in this case being that he hadn't got round to changing it and everyone knowing he no longer wanted his ex to be a beneficiary. If he had just waited another hour and put his signature to the new will there wouldn't be a problem. He had even sent me a text (in the UK) the day before telling me she was shafting him in the divorce settlement (which also wasn't signed and finalised, so now not relevant) and he was seeing a lawyer to change his will. I guess he didn't think through the implications of his actions and the mess that would be left behind for everyone to deal with :-(

Anyone got experience of this? Very sadly my younger brother has passed away - he and his wife had separated late last year, she had changed her name, they had sold their house, and were in the process of working out the divorce settlement. Thankfully they had no children. As far as we know, his will leaves everything to his now ex-wife, and she is the executor. On the day he died, he had an appointment with his lawyer to change his will and his life insurance beneficiary - he was planning to put our parents as the beneficiaries. Sadly he never made it to that appointment. His ex-wife's family are the lowest of the low, driven by money at every opportunity, and have already caused problems by claiming they had sole right to arrange his funeral (thankfully my Dad managed to persuade them that this was our role!). We know they will fight tooth and nail to retain everything he had. As a family we don't care about the money, but hate the thought that the family that drove him to his grave end up with everything he worked hard for. Horrible situation. Do we stand a chance? This is all happening in New Zealand, but I'm assuming legally it will be similar in the UK.

... and my cynicism stems from such useful advice with my son (now nearly 6.5) as "make sure you give him food containing fat... Like chips" (he was 7 months old), and "are you worried about the fact that he is 25th centile for weight but only 9th (or something like that) for height?". Aaaah, can't say I'd ever thought about it. Should I stretch him? ;-)

I have a 6 year old who often breaks down in tears remembering a conversation he had with my Mum about having his own house when he's a grown up. He declares, often, that he is getting married, having one baby, and staying at home with us. Given my experience, he may have difficulties convincing his lucky wife-to-be that it's a good plan.

Oh Buggie, I was a little tongue in cheek - admittedly I don't take my youngest to see the HV very often, but the couple of times I've been in the last 15 months I have seen lovely ladies full of sensible advice. My comment was meant more in a "you weren't worried about it, so don't let a HV make you worried about it" way. :-)

In my 6.5 years of parenting, here's my top tip: 1. Never listen to health visitors ;-) My 15 month old used to always fall asleep while I fed her, but in the last few weeks she has finished feeding while awake and gets put down awake (she chats for a bit then falls asleep). Do what's best for you. If putting the baby down awake means he is upset, don't do it.

You need the full birth certificate, which from memory you have to request when you register the birth and pay extra for. The short form one isn't acceptable for passports.

I sold a phone a year or so ago, and when the person who bought it contacted me regarding collection he asked where East Dulwich was! He came to collect it (eventually) and had travelled for 2 hours to get here. I guess the ED Forum pops up pretty high in Google searches these days which is part of the reason. And also that we are brilliant ;-)

I have a 15 month old bottom shuffler - even trickier than a crawler as she can't climb or pull herself up, so it's very hard work at playgrounds as she wants to get involved but needs help every step of the way. Horniman is another good place to let them explore, the room with all the eerie stuffed animals is a favourite of ours, as is patting the poor old stuffed fox in the interactive kids room.

Thanks all for your advice and support x

Emski, the distance figure will (I think) include offers made to siblings - some of whom will live further away than "new" applicants through having moved house since other family members started at the school, or simply because the catchment used to be wider. In my children's classes at the school there are kids who live near ED station, and others that are on the Forest Hill side of the Horniman.

Hmmmm, not sure how that would go down in small town NZ womanofdulwich!

You'd think that after 3 children I would have thought about that option. My brain isn't working at full speed today sadly. I will dig out my old pump and give it a try (I haven't expressed since I had my 1st baby, as no 2 refused a bottle and I never found the time with my 3rd). Thank you.

Some sad news from home means I'm having to dash to NZ on Monday, and will be away for a week. Logistics mean that, after much soul searching, I'm leaving my youngest at home (obviously I'm sad to be leaving the other 2 as well, but they're a bit more independent) She is 15 months old, and I still breastfeed her, just one feed at bedtime. She drinks a mix of toddler and cows milk at breakfast time and never asks for more during the day, so my nighttime feed is quite precious and I'm not quite ready to give it up. Is a week away going to mean the end of my milk? Anyone experienced a similar situation? I wonder whether something like fenugreek (?) would help? Obviously on my return I will go straight back to trying to feed her at bedtime, but as she's not a tiny baby the standard Google answers like "take a nursing holiday, go to bed with your baby for 2 days" aren't really practical. Many thanks Advice welcomed.

Just to add - for my 1st two babies Lanes were only just being set up, so I went to them at DMC for my appointments. For #3, having the midwife visit me at home felt like absolute luxury, and they really went the extra mile for me when I needed weekly blood tests, doing them all at home for me rather than me having to go to Kings or Dulwich hospital. Erika, in particular, was brilliant when it came to helping me through a pregnancy related illness, and really helped me to manage the condition and avoid spending too much time in hospital. Through an induction process which drew out for days (and days and days... Never believe anyone who tells you 3rd babies just fall out!) both she and the other Lanes midwives were never far away, popping in to say hello anytime they were in the ward. Through an extremely stressful time she really helped make the birth experience (when it finally happened) a positive one. We are very lucky to have this resource on our doorstep. My friends in the US and NZ can't believe I got it for free!

This thread happens every year, and while I completely understand how stressful it is at the time, generally things get resolved and the majority of people will end up with a school place they are happy with. It's early days, lots will happen between now and September. Good luck everyone x

Lanes midwives are fantastic, I had wonderful care from them and Kings for my 3 pregnancies. Personally I would always opt for the closer hospital, as in the event you have to attend lots of appointments (as I ended up doing), or having an extended stay, it's a lot easier if you don't have far to travel.