simonethebeaver

My daughter is obsessed with dolls, of all types. Head and shoulders above the others so far is this one, which she got for Christmas: http://www.elc.co.uk/on/demandware.store/Sites-ELCENGB-Site/default/mProduct-Show?pid=138659 She loves giving her a bottle, and pressing her tummy to get a laugh. She is soft bodied, unlike the Baby Annabel we bought her, which has been rather ignored. She is already naked but all our dolls are naked!

The whole area is the same unfortunately. By area, I mean every neighbouring bit of East Dulwich and some beyond.

Day Lewis on Forest Hill Road does definitely have them.

It is for anyone, those expecting first, second, whatever babies, and those who'd like to discuss their experiences after the event. With respect, Otta, I don't think you can have any idea how you'd feel after giving birth - some women end up with PTSD after birth, others think it's the most empowering thing they ever do. Both may have their own reasons for wanting a peer group to discuss their experience.

The Kinder Hotel we visit is this one: http://www.sporthotel-achensee.com/en/ It's right by a cable car lift up, and has a decent selection of slopes. Ski lessons and up to 80 hours childcare a week are included in the price and the owners are lovely. We've had amazing holidays there.

If Warren Street works, how about walking up to the South Circular for the P4 to Brixton tube, then up on the Victoria?

I'd say the exact opposite. I've lived here for almost 15 years and find the description of ED as 'rough' 8 years ago laughable. It was less chichi than now - no pop up shops for example - but it was a lovely place to live with decent shops and a neighbourhood feel. It makes me wonder what sort of people would have considered it rough. It was already unrecognisable from the Easy Dulwich I first moved to.

Resuscitating for help. A staple of 'im indoors' Christmas stocking has been a bottle of Durham Brewery Temptation from Green and Blue. Does anyone know of other local stockists now G&B are no more? I'd forgotten about it till now. Online delivery prices are punishing for a single bottle.

I wouldn't call that rough. I'd call it less poncey!

We had Sara-Jane round to our hideously cluttered home and she effortlessly turned our double bed into a 'studio' - you would never know to look at the photos that they were taken there!

When they came here eight years ago it was very obviously to clean up on the aspirational types knocking around. ED wasn't remotely rough then and they knew it.

Ignore your health visitor. She is talking utter rubbish. Short post as am dashing out, but honestly, this stuff makes me so cross. At the HV, not you.

I struggled to find one locally when pregnant. The aqua aerobics at JAGS are suitable for pregnant women - the instructor will tell you what exercises, if any, to avoid. But not specifically targeted for pregnancy.

I second this. We recently did our second photo shoot with Sara-Jane and have some really lovely photos to give the grandparents this Christmas! She got the best out of an 11 year old, a 2 year old and a 6 month old. Her rates really are very reasonable indeed. http://www.shutterbaby.co.uk

I think the proposed Harris primary will use nodal points for its catchment rather than purely distance from its site. Presumably the same system could operate here, in areas identified as being under provisioned? I guess the complicating factor is that, unlike the areas that very obviously are falling between primary catchments, secondary is more nuanced and about choice? Most of us at least have access to a secondary school at present - there would be a need to identify where the shortfall in secondary places would emerge. The nodal points could always be movable I suppose. Sorry, thinking aloud.

My understanding, as a parent who has just done the round of open evenings, is that Kingsdale admits 240 pupils a year, and teaches this cohort in small groups. I do think that its lottery system disadvantages the local kids, although selfishly it does at least give us a chance of a coed school. Maybe it could restrict its lottery area, like Harris Crystal Palace does, which would increase the odds of local kids. Take the SW London contingent out of it.

Bornagain, I lived next to Alleyns School for six years so I know the area very well. Forgive me, but your post did read as if you considered the three schools to offer provision. I agree that it's not ideal given the proximity to other schools, and as someone on the Southwark/Lewisham border, it's likely that we would have no chance of using the school if it was sited there, but I can imagine that there aren't too many options out there.

Is that a serious post, bornahead? Alleyns and JAGS are private school so don't serve the local community.

Is this going to be another Harris school? I don't disagree at all that another school is needed but I am deeply alarmed at the creeping Harris domination of SE London secondaries.

Eliot Bank in Sydenham has one between 3.30 and 6pm on Friday.

I assume Terry Jones is joking. He's a film producer with a very successful production company. Ditto Gilliam. And Eric Idle has raked it in from Spamalot. Cleese must be the only pauper.

I've been told that Goodrich definitely isn't. I don't know how likely that could be to change though!

Yes, financially obviously an issue. I just meant that there is clearly a need for that sort of figure, hence the use of doulas by some. Incidentally, I've been on a doula course and there should not necessarily be an exclusively natural birth focus. One woman I met had had very satisfying jobs supporting woman before and after C sections. One of the most positive birth stories I've ever been told by a friend is about her C section, and it wasn't a planned one. I don't see that positive birth needs to be against medicine, even if some think of it like that.

I'm going along on Friday - not pregnant but very interested in promoting positive thinking around birth, whatever kind of birth it is. Saffron, it strikes me that women hire doulas for a good number of the reasons you list.

Hi Annabelle Please whatever you do, don't feel stupid. Good for you for starting something up and having the energy and enthusiasm to keep it going. Are there any ways to cut your costs at all? Could you use a cheaper venue maybe? Or provide cheaper refreshments? (Cakes are great but not essential!) You have a group of parents keen to find activities and I'm sure there are ways to tinker that might help.