simonethebeaver

I've no idea how many people I know who have got ill from drinking contaminated cans. Who knows how many mysterious tummy bugs have been down to drinking rat pee?

Here is Southwark's own website on TMOs: http://www.southwark.gov.uk/info/200083/streets_and_highways/1957/traffic_management_orders This project is not listed as a current consultation. Nor does any consultation appear to have been carried out, nor the necessary publication of the proposal. You have six weeks to object to this scheme. I would suggest that, should this go ahead, you have a case to complain to the Local Government Ombudsman as Southwark do not appear to have followed their own processes.

Not really. I'm fairly relaxed about stuff, but drinking directly from cans that rats and mice in warehouse may have run over, with their leaky little bladders, is a bit grim.

It sounds like a lovely playgroup but it is a bit expensive. ?2 for my six month old, who is likely to sleep through most of the session as it's his nap time, is the same amount that I pay for both my kids at another playgroup. Obviously you have to cover your costs - I totally get that - but is there any latitude on prices at all?

I'd be very interested in throwing ideas around to see what sort of group would work! But Tuesdays are a bad day for me unfortunately.

If you're going to Whitstable, you must go to Seasalter (just outside) and have lunch at the Sportsman. They have a Michelin star but are no more expensive than Franklins (well a bit now, but still not awful for the quality), and quite happy to provide children's portions. Our favourite place to eat in the world. You need to book in advance.

Kathryn, she's not real. That offer was never going to happen and no one has bought the stuff. Be cross at the waste of your time but no one else has got the stuff.

So now I wonder if another brand new poster will appear offering the exact same list of items at a much higher price? They can be safely ignored of course. The most charitable possible explanation is that this was a very badly thought through attempt by someone to stir up interest in their stuff. Given that the items were marked gone at 1.30pm on Sunday, Melissa, it was a very persistent buyer who bought it all last night. And how lucky that you read their PM!

Indeed. I feel very foolish not to have raised an eyebrow and ignored it. Peekaboo, you must be feeling very riled, and I think your offer of a refund is very noble indeed. I hope this doesn't affect you again.

Actually, a quick way of seeing how genuine this is would be for people to say what 'she' had reserved for you. My guess is the same stuff will come up again and again.

I also gave up my only chance of a vague lie in, which with a teething six month old is very precious! While we waited to go in, the organiser was telling us that 'Melissa' and her friend, with whom she apparently planned to run the sale, were ill. Since I was already there and had reorganised things, I went in anyway, but in no real frame of mind to buy things. There was an empty table, and the name attached to it was not Melissa Smith, but still giving the benefit of the doubt, I thought it might be her friend. I PMed saying how frustrating it must be and to let me know if she planned to attend a different sale or sell direct. I then saw the message on here.

If I were them, I'd be very cross as that list of stuff with prices made their stuff seem more expensive than it actually was. When you've been promised, for example, an Ergo for ?10, then a Manduca for ?40 (actually a really decent price) looks far dearer.

Me too. Sad for genuine sellers but this was obviously a stunt. I actually reorganised a family event to attend the sale as I was so keen to get one of the items. I won't be going again.

Not only will you not get on other waiting lists but you stand no chance of being offered a place. You get a place at the highest placed school on your list for which you qualify, so if you qualify for your number one school, none of the others can offer you a place, even if you prefer them. So regardless of any other factors, put your schools in the order you like them!

Goodrich fair is 7 December?

The possible reason for Bessemer saying that is that too many people think you need to be tactical with your list, whereas in fact you really should put them in the order you like them! You will still get a place at your nearest school (assuming you're not in a trouble zone) if you put them 6th if no other schools you prefer can offer you a place. If you liked Bessemer more than your nearest school but put it second because you were worried about not getting anything and thought your nearest school would reject you if not first, leaving you with nothing (still with me?!), then you wouldn't get into Bessemer even though you preferred it. That makes sense in my head but might not on paper.

As Colin himself said to me, there is no such thing as 'a mouse'.

Lovely to hear this, and welcome to your new baby!

There's a cafe on Charing Cross Road between Leicester Square and the NPG that does astonishing looking ice cream creations - food shaped for example. No idea how good a place to eat it is - standard sort of old-style Italian cafe from memory - but it would probably be a laugh. NPG cafe is Peyton and Byrne so decent food for kids. There are chain places on Haymarket.

Not true that this didn't happen a few years ago. I bought in 2006 and people were making offers without even viewing back then. After losing out repeatedly, I finally got my flat by being the first to view, being lucky to be shown round by the owner and form a bit of rapport, and then sitting on the phone next morning to make an offer first thing. It took months to get anything.

Are they definitely too small for a small adult size? Our 11 year old more or less fits a small adult size in some things, and dressing gowns are not exactly fitted. Adult ones would be easy to find.

The Sue Ryder shop in Forest Hill is selling them, and not very expensive. Wooden ones.

How about at Sure Start centres? Good luck. I have a friend in Croydon who is involved and I think it's such a lovely idea.

Water! Your baby doesn't need anything else right now. We didn't use anything but water for the first six months with my daughter and only started when weaning caused MESS.

I looked into this for a potential nanny share for two sets of siblings 3 and 1. The feedback I got was that some nannies would consider it but they would be at the most experienced end of things, and would provably have worked with multiples. The difference between families of four and nanny shares are that you may not get the age spread of a family, twins etc aside, and that the children won't be used to the arrangement and be less clear about their role within it than a child with a larger family is. We have three, and would like four, and I would recruit a nanny to look after them, but all four would not be around all day.