sarahew

I get a bit lonely some days, and wonder if making contact with others doing the same job from home as me might help keep the old spirits up. Plus it would be nice to get to know some new writers / media bods.

That's what I'm worried about. We're having a real job getting the 18m old to sleep at the mo, and i can't face having to deal with the 3.5yr old too. that's why i'm desperate for help to find other meal options that go down well. I am a totally rubbish cook, and just lack confidence in this area.

This is totally what i aspire to and what my sister did. Her children were amazing eaters. It feels like I've trapped myself now. We don't eat together because husband's working hours don't allow it, and I'm not a confident cook either. I think I relent too much on snacks, and somehow have let eldest rule to roost for fear of him starving. Gah. How come you get to eat with the children?

Hey y'all. What do your pre-schoolers eat? I know they're all different, and one size doesn't fit all, but I am bored to tears with the menu that my 3.5 year old will eat. I'm finding that my 18m old is having to put up with the same things, or I'm making two different meals each time. The only meals I can reliably get down him involve fishfingers, pasta pesto (god forbid it's not pesto), potato waffles, cold ham, the odd cheese sandwich. Fortunately he will at least eat brocoli, most fruit, and tomato with the skin peeled off. Yes, I am peeling skin off cherry tomatoes. He ate brilliantly as a tiny child, and I Annabel Karmel'd with the best of them. But, jeez, I don't know what's happened. What does everyone else feed their kids, and successfully get from plate to tummy? Sarah

WOuld like to say a big thank you to everyone for posting. The info has been invaluable. There's nothing like real experiences to get a picture of something. Thanks y'all!

Hi everyone. I'm considering taking on a commute to a job in Kentish Town, and was wondering if anyone regularly uses the Southeastern service that runs from Nunhead / Peckham Rye to Kentish Town (stops at Kx on the way I think)? If so, is it painful having so few trains an hour? Does it get very busy? Run reliably? Am I mad to even think of trying it, or is it a stroke of genius? I'm very Tube-phobic (haven't been on one for 12 years!) so I'm rather hoping this would be an ok alternative. But, as I need to get reliably to and from ED to pick up children etc, I need a route I can rely on. Any thoughts gratefully received!

We went to kaleidoscope in lewisham, referred by health visitor. His nursery could also have referred. Good luck.

Hi everyone. Does anyone know where Sam from little clipper hairdressers on northcross road has gone to? I don't mean to be precious, but she's the only hairdresser who has cut my little boy's rather wild hair into a shape that doesn't make him look like a loon. Much obliged for any tip-offs.

Thank you everybody for the tips. I've cancelled the ?80 eye exam! Very helpful advice. Good old forumites! :-)

Hi all. This is a desperate plea for advice on contact lenses. Can anyone tell me if they have improved over the last ten years and if any are particular good for ultra-sensitive eyes? I tried them out 10 years ago, seem to remember trying six or so different types, and all of them burned my eyes after a few hours, and the whole thing was an expensive failure. I'm about to go to optician for an eye and contact lens exam, which is ?80!!! They only stock two brands, which makes me nervous (should I be expecting more varieties? What are the big brands?), and I'm also not sure what I should be asking / hoping for. Have they really changed, or will it be burning eyes again and a whole load more money wasted???! I know it's not the most exciting topic of conversation, but I'd love to know if anyone out there has sensitive eyes and has found a contact lens that is wearable for a full day. Or, am I wasting my time trying??! If it matters, my prescription is only something like -1.5. Many thanks! Sarah

Generally, when you switch from breast to formula, in my experience the gaps between feeds will get a little longer because formula can fill them up for longer. With your baby being so young, it's hard to predict a pattern. I would suggest that you still feed on demand for now, offering a bottle each time she seems hungry whether that is an hour or four hours or whatever. She will eventually find her own pattern, which you can expect to be approx three hourly intervals or four. Be careful not to confuse other needs with hungry. Crying might be windy, nappy, tired, hugs needed, too hot / cold, bright lights, noise. But baby will be able to push out bottle if not hungry, so doesn't hurt to try. Eventually, prob about 3-4 months, if you want a pattern, you could aim for 7,11,3,7,11,3am. That's pretty manageable, if your baby will settle to that. I'd say it's early days yet, maybe. Btw, I have two boys, and went from boob to bottle at 3 months with first boy and at 5 months with second (two weeks ago). The second son will still cluster feed, at the moment, in early evening and wants a feed at 4.30/5ish and 7pm. He will slowly move into a more evenly spaced routine, I predict! Oh, and a rough quantity guide should be on the box of formula. Be aware that every baby is different and don't worry too much about it. Babies self-regulate pretty well.

Hi mima. It does sound like a good idea. Thanks for suggesting it. I'm not back at work until September, but I'll definitely be keen to see how it goes, and maybe I can join in come the time. Perhaps leave another post when you've all tried it out??

Thank you everyone who has taken the time to reply to my post. I've loved hearing how it is for you all. I can see that there are a few common feelings, and generally it seems the at home benefits beat the office working, at least for this group. I think I agree, and know that I am afforded quite a few luxuries working from home. I should say that I have my own small business, so I also have the worry of trying to find work again after being out of it, and losing pretty much all of my clients. Really interested to hear about the groups that are already set up for working parents / freelancers. I think I'll definitely try one or two. And thanks to the three mums who have invited me out for coffee, either here or on private message. That would be lovely. Maybe we should all meet?? I have to break now (dinner has arrived), but will keep checking in on this thread. Thanks again everyone. I'm not sure I've really nailed the best way forward yet, but hopefully I'll get to meet some of you as I work it out...

Are there any working mums in East Dulwich (and nearby) who work from home since having children and wish they still had the company of work colleagues? I have a 4m baby and a 2.5yr old, and I'm beginning to feel that when I start work again I would prefer not to spend so many hours on my own. I love my work, but can feel quite isolated at home. I'm even contemplating looking for a job in town again, just for the company and support of other professional working women (and men!). It's quite hard going from being at home with small children, to being at home working alone - I gain in lots of ways that I don't really want to give up, such as flexible hours around the children, no commute and always being here in emergencies etc, but I miss the stimulating chat and other people to bounce ideas off. I also miss learning from how other people do things - I'd love to know how other mums run their businesses for example. Is it just me? Does anyone else feel like that? I'm wondering if it might be possible to get a little network together. I've also thought of local desk share, or something, with other freelancers / self-employed mums (and dads). Anyway, it might just be me!

Hi all, I'm contemplating buying a sheepskin liner, to use in both my Phil&Ted's and the Bugaboo Bee. They're expensive and I don't want to make a wrong choice. Just wondering if anyone uses a sheepskin with the bugaboo bee, and can tell me if it is still easy to fold down, or if you have to take the liner off every time you fold the buggy down. Help would be welcomed! Any tips on sheepskins and phil & ted's, or sheepskins generally, would be great. Any one really happy with theirs, and not had to take a mortgage out to buy it? Are they really cool in summer, as claimed? Do they just get mangy and covered in baby sick? Thank you :-). Sarah

Hi Jill. W are going to be away for jubilee, and with a very new baby I think I might feel overwhelmed trying to organise anything if we were here. Bad timing for us! But, I love your sense of community spirit, so thanks for putting the thought out there. I'm sure a jubilee celebration can be enjoyed,, for its gathering of community, regardless of how one feels about the monarchy.

I recently put a note on here about getting wood vale residents together somehow. I have had lovely messages from some, and we are starting to meet, but I do wonder whether there is more merit in a residents group now. We could perhaps start talking to the horniman about improving security on the nature trail, and working together on improved fencing etc. The police will also visit to advise on specific security issues. And if any opportunistic burgulars are reading this for ideas, this road and the trail is now being closely watched by the police. You are more likely to get caught now than ever. so do us a favour, and don't steal our children's toys and bikes.

Fromtheteys Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We're on Wood Vale. A concern we have is the > impact of the 480 lorries loaded with soil going > in and out of the cemetery for four weeks in > June/July. I think it's about 3 an hour Monday to > Saturday 7:30am - 4:30pm. We've heard nothing more > since the letter came through the door a few weeks > ago: > http://moderngov.southwarksites.com/mgConvert2PDF. > aspx?ID=27177 > > As the road surface regularly subsides already, I > wondered if Wood Valers should compile a group > request for a re-surfacing provision, if > necessary, as part of the original contract? Also > - does anyone know if the hose pipe ban would > apply to these type of works - as that could make > the dust and dirt levels fairly unpleasant. Hi there, I think a group request for a re-surfacing provision sounds a good idea. I'm not sure the works would affect my end of Wood Vale, but nonetheless I would be happy to sign a group letter etc. It's interesting that you suggest group action. I was speaking with the head of marketing at the Horniman this week, and he told me that they had tried to get in touch with a residents association for Wood Vale to discuss the proposed license change, but none was in existence. On the other side of the museum there is a residents association, which they were able to work with. So far, it doesn't look much like there is support from residents for a formal residents group, but maybe in the future the need might arise. Maybe numbers 48 and 50, which posted the recent flyer through our doors about the Hornimann might want to get behind one? Does anyone know them?

Al&Em Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hi Sarah, > > We're on Wood Vale, LL end and also push a buggy - > a 1 year old. We'd love to meet other > WoodValers. > > Em Hi Em. Have PM'd you.

That's fine. I'm sure it won't need a Facebook group, but there does seem to be a few mums happy to meet. Not imagining it will be exclusively about sharing concerns so much as getting to know neighbours. That's not everyone's cup of tea I realise. No worries.

Hi everyone, I'm sounding out fellow Wood vale neighbours to see if anyone would be interested in joining a facebook group, or such like, if I were to start one, to share thoughts, ideas, questions, concerns etc with immediate neighbours. And maybe even make some new friends? I'm a mum of two under three, and often see other mums nearby and am too shy to say hello! Maybe this thread will be enough, instead of a group? If you live on Wood Vale, and have an opinion either way, please do post. Sarah

Hello everyone. I'm new to the group too. It's great to find you. We had a lovely nct group for firstborn, and it would be nice for secondborn (born feb 2, a week old now) to have a little community of his own too. Is there a core group that has been meeting for a while? Will take a look through the messages. Sarah (and laurie)

Hi all. Just about to buy a potty for ds, but not sure where to start. Any recommendations would be great! What has worked well for others please?