jcw

Sorry, play co-ordinator!

Hi I started a thread on this in the family room. The lion children's ward at Kings was delighted to receive new presents that they can wrap for Father Christmas to give out (FAO Kelly, the play co-ordinated).

Thanks all. I called Kings and the Lion children's ward was delighted to accept them (FAO: Kelly the play co-ordinator in case anyone else has anything they want to take in).

Hi I have a few duplicate unopened kids presents from birthdays etc and wondered if anyone knew of any local charities that were specifically looking for brand new Christmas presents that they would give to children? Thanks!

We've received a letter dropped through the letterbox from Roy Brooks estate agents saying they will match public pledges up to the value of ?500, you need to add "Roy brooks" in the comment box.

Hi there Is there a meet up tomorrow? If so where and when? Thanks

Very sorry to hear this. The description you have given sounds similar to one that was on the Forest Hill forum in January (post 12): http://www.se23.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=5703 Not sure if the link will work, you may have to cut and paste...

I wondered whether anyone had any views on St Dunstans? I am thinking primarily of the prep section but views on the senior school are most welcome too. I haven't seen much info on here about it whereas there have been threads on Rosemead, Oakfield etc. I get the impression that lots of children from these schools transfer to St Dunstans for the senior school and I wondered why they didn't start off in the prep (do you think it's too far from ED? Or something else...?). Also for anyone in the know, do the children come from a large area? Do lots of children come from ED and surrounds or more from say Greenwich, Lewisham, Bromley areas? (I'm thinking about the feasibility of arranging playdates etc). Finally, does anyone have a feeling for how difficult it is to get in? (to the prep bit initially). I know it's selective but I'm imagining nowhere near JAGS/Alleyns and DC, or am I wrong? Any help would be much appreciated - PM me if you'd prefer. Thanks

also a recent article from the Guardian... http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/nov/14/only-children-happier-competition-bullying (hope the link works!) I am a (very happy!) only child and it never ceases to amaze me the stigma that seems to be attached to being an only child or having just one child. My parents decided to have just one child as they decided they couldn't "afford" more ("afford" being very subjective - they wanted me to be able to have nice holidays etc). I will probably have a similar view. I know lots of people who are very close to their siblings but I also know a similar number who although they haven't fallen out or anything, aren't that close and just see them a couple of times a year. Just to bring another viewpoint to the table...!

ED is a lovely place to live esp when you have really young children - everywhere you go there are people with buggies which makes you feel quite at home and as if everyone is in the same boat. There don't seem to be that many children who are older though (maybe they aren't in the parks?!) and I wondered whether there is some kind of mass exodus when people with children of a certain age leave and live elsewhere. I just wondered whether you have found this to be true and whether people found that maybe the friends people met when their kids were babies found that 3/4/7(?) years later they moved on elsewhere due to space/schools etc. Is that just my impression or do lots of people move on (if so where to?!) when their children get a bit older?