Tanza

I have a lovely female friend (41), very good looking, slim (not that these things matter, but it helps) who would like to meet a local chap for an entertaining, low-pressured drink in East Dulwich. Own hair negotiable but own teeth a must. My friend is interested in books (high and low brow), sports, food, travel, music and the theatre. She can't face the hideousness of a dating website and our circle is only smug-marrieds with kids, I recommend her highly but have no one suitable or unsuitable to introduce her to. She's upbeat, sociable and thinks that even if Mr Right doesn't materialise it would be good to expand her circle of friends locally. If you have a friend you could recommend or if you think you might be the very man to put a spring in her step then please step forward.

I can vouch for the fact that work has been progressing at a cracking pace at our end of Melbourne Grove (the Lordship Lane/Police station end). I wonder if the fact they've downed tools in your bit of the road and moved on to my bit (where it looks amazing and done in double-quick time too) might be anything to do with the house that's got scaffolding on the pavement - perhaps they've given up on that stretch for now?

thank you, that's really helpful. Appreciated

Can anyone recommend any software programmes that would prevent a small child stumbling into unsuitable websites? I do keep an eye on what he's doing online, but I was briefly out of the room and he was on Club Penguin when I left and he was on Youtube when I got back, fortunately only looking at Club Penguin related areas. But he's realised you can tap a word in eg his surname and find interesting things, so I imagine it won't be long until he thinks of putting rude words in. Any suggestions?

Boris waging war on South London Evening Standard article Just spotted this in the Standard.

According to a story in the Mirror. Mirror story on jogger

(from my scottish Grandmother to my mum) "Are you sure you're not passing by the bunnets for the hats" (translation - are you sure you aren't letting perfectly nice, humble chaps slip through your fingers becuase you're holding out for a rich toff.) I presume a bunnet is a flat cap/beannie?

My son also loves the Dragon Detective Agency series by Gareth P Jones. The first one is 'The Case of the Missing Cats'. I'd say this one is equally good for girls and boys, stars a girl but that didn't seem to put my son off.

Those are great, thank you - hadn't heard of most of these books. I'm just sorry books like the fantastic 'Wolves of Willoughby Chase series that I loved as a child are almost certainly going to be deemed too 'girly'.

What are boys aged 8-10 reading in East Dulwich? Any recommendations post Harry Potter and Roald Dahl? Charlie Bone series is going down well with my son. Any other thoughts welcomed.

Thank you for all the replies and messages. It's very good to hear some positive stories.

Just wondered if anyone reading this forum has had their gall bladder removed and if they could tell me (perhaps via private message) the honest lowdown on this. I have googled the subject but it seems only people unhappy with the procedure bother to post online about their experience. I am supposed to have this op this week and am wondering if I'm making a mistake and would be better simply to carry on as I am, simply eating a low fat diet.

We were just thinking of switching to virgin as our bt broadband hub is just a nightmare, the picture keeps breaking up. Argghh

guardian article Thoughts on this campaign? I'm getting irritated by it already.

So....do tell us... why was it hidden under your car in Melbourne Grove??

We've got friends coming for New Year's Eve whose kids have expressed an interest in seeing the central London fireworks. Rather than heading into the crush in central London can anyone recommend any local vantage points? I wondered if somewhere near the Horniman might have a good view? Or if there are any local displays happening - Burbage road perhaps??

Some good friends have given my 5 year old a Worm World kit. You have to supply your own worms.....

You could try cutting the lunchtime nap down a bit. But just wondered if he might be suddenly afraid of the dark? My son suddenly took a dislike to being in a dark room at about this age. We put a night light in his room and left his bedroom door ajar with the landing light on and all was fine.

More details on the "Beast of Sydenham Wood" in another news report. beast of sydenham wood

Loz Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I am afraid this is true, well there is certainly > some kind of wild big cat around. Had it in my > garden once, about 4 years ago! > > So what did the big cat in your garden look like? Did it look like a lynx?

...well according to a report in the Daily Star.panther on loose in dulwich wood

Do kids still collect stamps these days? Seems to be very hard to find a common-or-garden stamp album. Nothing fancy just the sort of thing everyone had as a child. I have just shown my five year old the art of ripping stamps off envelopes, soaking them and he's quite taken by it. I have trawled Amazon but nothing suitable comes up - they are all either for professionals (ie expensive) or ones that are supposedly for beginners but have a different page dedicated to each country - and as our post is pretty much UK only this will be disappointing.

My five year old loves 'The Secret Show' on CBBC. It's a cartoon (but don't let that put you off), funny and good graphics. It's about secret agents. We record it so not sure when it's on. I had high hopes that my son would take to Blue Peter - but I had to agree with my son - the two most recent episodes were really boring. The Guardian ran an item the other day saying that Blue Peter is suffering its lowest viewing figures ever. I loved this show as a child so hope that this is just a blip and perhaps we've just been unlucky with recent episodes. A great show is Sam and Mark's Guide to Dodging Disasters on CBBC. Very funny, educational too. We've seen them dodging danger in episodes about volcanos, bison, vampire bats,hyena etc. Oh and must agree with the previous poster about how funny 'I'm sorry I've lost my head' is - but my 5 year old has sat completely stoney faced as I've laughed my head off. So not sure what age this show really suits.

I agree with all the moisturising advice. We have recently have had quite a (touch wood it continues) miraculous recovery from eczema with our five year old son, we cut out giving him eggs and it's almost all gone, it was quite a dramatic change. I suffered with it as a child with the odd flair up even now as an adult and it seems to be dust that triggers mine. Good luck

headlice article in Guardian Hello - think the professional service you mention was written about in the Guardian recently.