simonethebeaver

My stepdaughter is in Yr7 at another secondary school with a very good reputation and we've experienced similar frustrations. I do think it's down to the primary to secondary switch in most respects. There is though a real issue about getting hold of teachers sometimes - the head of year is definitely a good conduit on this - and on relying on a non-particularly communicative 11 year old for information. Hopefully we'll get used to it...

If you're booked to have your baby at King's, you can use Lewisham Birth Centre. We were told that last week at a parentcraft class at King's. BUT if you need to be moved out of the birth centre, you will then of course be at Lewisham Hospital, not King's.

Thanks loads, all. A friend told me about the Pelvic Partnership so I'd had a read up. Fuchsia, apparently only about 10% of pelvic pain is actually caused by hormones and midwives can delay sending you off for physio until it's harder to relieve any physical causes. Mine was talking about something that happens around the start of the last trimester and self-resolves rather than ongoing pelvic pain, and she may well be right, but I thought it was worth asking on here for more information in case I needed it. I'm really grateful as there seems to be a lot of options around.

Oh, also, if you don't have to go next weekend, you'd probably get a far better deal outside half term!

We went about a year ago to Longleat on a special deal. Good things: Grounds are lovely. We stayed in an Exec lodge thing which was rather nice and had a cleaner. The activities did seem pretty good. The pool was fab. Cycling looked fun. Big free adventure playgrounds everywhere. Bad things: The restaurants were either meh, high street usuals, or overpriced rubbish, which really surprised us for a company that markets itself on having places to eat with organic, good quality produce. Lots of the activities on the website didn't run in January, and we didn't know that till we'd booked as you don't get access to the booking till then - you could always call them to find out what they run. Cleaner wasn't very good! The kids loved it and was quite relaxing to be away from cars etc. Overall, we had a good time, and with a toddler, you'd be less hoping for lots of activities anyway.

I'm having quite a bit of pelvic pain (am 28 weeks) which is making walking quite tricky. I don't think it's SPD as I have no trouble opening my legs (hmm) but I think from internet research it may be pelvic girdle pain. My midwife says it's hormones but it's getting worse 2 weeks in. I'm going to call her and ask for a physio referral but in case she keeps to the hormone theory, or it's a long wait for the appointment, does anyone know of any phsyios or other practioners round here that know what they're doing with pelvic pain?

Hi I'm expecting my first baby at the start of May. Still working full time, but would love to come to a future meet. I'll keep an eye on this thread!

Simon did a kids party at our wedding and was absolutely fantastic. We have had nothing but rave reviews from the parents whose kids attended. And the adults that watched too.

Such an interesting thread! I have a brother, to whom I have never been close, and our relationship was very bad at points. We are now both in our 30s. He lives abroad. We are friendly enough when we meet but this is very rarely. I am grateful someone else is there to cope with my elderly dad though, especially as my brother has a far better relationship with him than I do, and so my father and I don't have to suffer too much in each other's company! But I longed to be an only child growing up. We're expecting our first child together, but my husband's two children from his first marriage live with us, so it becomes immediately a third child. I'm hoping to have at least one more, possibly two, and as I'm in my mid-30s, probably quite soon together if we can. We're prepared to be quite poor, although the kids are at state schools, we're quite happy driving to France for a holiday, and we both have decent public sector jobs that pay the bills. We need to buy a house and know that we'll all be cramped, as we may only be able to afford 3 bedrooms. I think we've made the decision that we want the big family that may not have lots of money. I wouldn't criticise anyone who makes the opposite decision AT ALL - in a way, going straight to three makes it an easier decision because we never COULD have had just the one, and I really, really wanted a child of my own so sticking at two wasn't an option.

My husband's family always has prawn cocktail! We had some friends round last weekend for a pre-Christmas roast goose and made brussel sprouts soup... It was made with caramelised onions, and we sprinkled pancetta and stir-fried chesnuts in. Really yummy but it was a bit of an experiment.

My stepdaughter is 11 and is occasionally left alone for short periods. She is at secondary school and too 'old' for childminders/afterschool clubs - there's a big gap here for working parents. She mostly spends her time after school in the library doing her homework and gets picked up there with her younger brother who is at an afterschool club nearby, but she has keys to the house and as it gets colder and darker, we are encouraging her to go home before we can pick her up if she wants to. By the way, the school said that she should go home on her own, and it's clearly what most of her classmates do (as did I at her age).

Help! I'm bewildered by the different types and makes of pregnancy pillow out there, and they're quite expensive. What have you all used and where did you get them? What do you recommend?

I can see the logic in waiting, but the forecast is also for the snow to keep coming, and things are getting icier. Sydenham Hill is one of the highest hills in London, so the Horniman is sort of high ground, being halfway up it.

Depends where in Forest Hill. Definitely on side roads.

Neither the top of Lordship Lane to the South Circular, nor Forest Hill Road are remotely gritted. Both major roads and bus routes with schools off them. Surely there was enough notice to get these gritted? I don't usually complain about non-gritting because there are clearly times when snow is unexpected or grit has to be used tactically, but have just driven from Kirkdale to Marmora Road and it took an hour - black ice all the way and cars skidding everywhere.

I've always had good treatment and advice from Dr Graham at FHR, and Dr Haldane was very good at Melbourne Grove - haven't seen her since the move across. I actually had a cheery receptionist the other day too!

I'm expecting my first baby but have two stepchildren who are 8 and 11. We would really struggle without the car for them. As Molly outlines, life is quite hectic with them! Coralling more than one child on public transport can be fine, but on crowded buses/trains it's not always easy, and public transport often takes a lot, lot longer than a car journey - no fun when you have a tired child on your hands. I can see that managing with a baby wouldn't be too bad, and it does depend on how close everything is, but we'd spend most of our weekends on public transport rather than the odd car journey. On the flipside, we also visit family in the NE fairly often. It's a constant decision for us at the moment - Friends and Family railcard make the journey on the train usually much cheaper than by car, with the 63 straight to King's Cross, although at certain times it's still better to use the car - but once we have the baby, I think the train will become much more of a nightmare given the amount of stuff we'll need in addition to everything we already take!

Honestly, going from Forest Hill to E Croydon, and sometimes changing at Norwood Junction which is very easy, is FAR less faff than LB. Also cheaper-you pay more to go from central London.

I've seen a couple of great GPs at the surgery but there are also definitely meh ones.

The Oakwood midwives at Forest Hill Road are proving so far (still only 16 weeks) to be brilliant. Comparing my experiences to other pregnant woman I know, they are head and shoulders above others. (Not a comment on Brierley or The Lanes as I don't know anyone with them - they also seem to be fantastic judging by comments on here!).

Hi - wondered if you lot could provide advice? My midwives mentioned that there is an aquanatal class 'near Goose Green' - is this at East Dulwich baths? Although the website gives a price for aquanatal classes, I can't see any of their autumn timetable. Does anyone know whether they're running? If not, where else might I find them? And for those who've done aquanatal, I can do aqua-aerobics for free at my gym. Is aquanatal different enough to justify paying to go somewhere else? Grateful for information/opinions!

We love Ocado. We gave up on Tesco after a string of missing items/substitutions/late deliveries, culminating in the day when they had 'no bread' - no substitution offered, just 'no bread'.

Thanks, and thanks for the PMs too on this. I'm hoping to take a year out so won't need to find something till spring 2012, so I may leave it until the New Year at least. We're also thinking of childminders so plenty to find out about.

Hi I'm due in May next year. I've just been looking on Mumsnet and people are booking nursery places already, for 18 months ahead! Is this necessary around here? And if it is, where should I be looking? I have to confess, I hadn't even thought about it yet. Help!

We got fed up of no swimming pool and finally took the advice of friends and joined JAGS. It's wonderful there and I would recommend it to everyone. They have a phone and online sign up for swimming lessons, nice warm water and long opening hours. The only inconvenience is not being able to use it in the day, but that's rarely an issue for us as we're out at work/school in those times. No sauna/jacuzzi etc., but a lovely pool, good gym (with an overspill area and a power plate machine) and a few decent classes. No connection, I promise, other than being a happy member.