JL Dulwich

I can highly recommend Colin from CHS Pest Control - Tel: 020 8778 1557. He's knowledgable, polite, shows up on time and does what he says he's going to do (got rid of the rats too!).

Nick Arbin at Embrace Financial Consulting - [email protected]. He lives in ED, so is happy to meet locally or in town.

I do this journey at least once a week, though generally not in rush hour. There's a direct train from East Dulwich which takes about 25mins. It's pretty reliable and I've never seen the trains packed going that direction in the morning. If there's an issue with trains (usually only happens on a weekend), there's always the option of getting the bus to Forest Hill and the overground from Forest Hill to West Croydon, which is about 15-20mins. My friend regularly caught the bus the other way (from East Croydon to East Dulwich) and it took anywhere from 1.5 - 2hrs. Personally I'd avoid that option, if you can.

Hi I used a private midwife ([email protected]) as I found the NHS service to be severely lacking. It was fantastic having an advocate when I needed to go to hospital as well, as I didn't want to be bullied into doing things that weren't right for me. I would urge you to consider all possibilities and write down what you would like to happen in an ideal world, and what you are happy to accept if things don't go to plan. Best of luck! Kind Regards Johanna

Hi I'm a local resident and upholsterer with a workshop in East London (The Upholstery Stable). In addition to upholstery and reupholstery, I make indoor and outdoor cushions in bespoke sizes. I would be delighted to provide a quote, if you can let me know a few more details about what you need e.g. how many cushions need re-covering, what size are they, do you need the cover only, or the filling as well; and, last but not least, have you chosen a fabric, or have one in mind? Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you. Kind Regards Johanna ([email protected])

I just had Stefan from Oven Rescue clean 2 ovens, replace a broken oven light and clean the pan rests on the hob. He scrubbed for 4 hours and did a fantastic job. Totally worth the money! https://www.ovenrescue.co.uk/oven-cleaning/south-east-london-east-dulwich.html

Ikea sell cushioned high chair covers and inserts to go with their high chairs, so you may find that does the job. Alternatively, would a fabric travel chair like this one help: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Totseat-Washable-Squashable-Highchair-Circles/dp/B001QC77W0 Not sure if it would work in addition to the safety strap the high chair has, but I've got one that's nearly brand new (only used it once), if you'd like it.

I've travelled during the week and weekends at various times (ED / PR to London Bridge, ED to Streatham and further on that line and PR to Blackfriars and Kings Cross) and found the trains blissfully quiet. Rarely more than a handful of people per carriage - they're likely to be emptier towards the back of the train.

Hi I'm an upholsterer looking for new workshop space to rent in / reasonably near ED. Min. 150 square feet, on the ground floor (or with access to a lift), with electricity and access to toilet facilities. Please PM if you know of any spaces available. Thanks Kind Regards Johanna

Honestly, I'd get an Ikea highchair with tray and soft seat insert. They're cheap, sturdy and easy to clean. Doesn't the safety strap hold your baby safely in the high chair? If not, and if you feel it's safe, just roll up a bath towel to provide some extra padding around him while he's in the chair. We did this with our chap. There used to be a baby shop in the retail park opposite Ikea in Croydon, but I'm not sure if it's still open (might have been Mothercare, but I can't remember) - might be worth a google search.

I had extremely poor experiences with 3 of the GPs at The Gardens (specifically around maternity and infant care). However, my other half only ever saw Dr Stephens (only a few times over about a 3 year period) and felt she gave the help he needed.

I think there's still confusion over what Government guidance is. The helpful 'What constitutes a reasonable excuse' doc produced by the CPS (and I'm pretty sure published on this forum) gives guidance to police on what may constitute a reasonable excuse to leave one's home. This includes "...the purchase of snacks and luxuries." The guidance goes on to state, "If a person is already out of the address with good reason, then it would not be proportionate to prevent the person from buying non- essential items." So, if you've gone out for your exercise, and you fancy an ice-cream on the way home, that's perfectly reasonable. If you, as an individual, feel that puts you at extra risk, it's your choice not to do so, but I think it's unreasonable to condemn others for doing so. There is also guidance on Gov.uk regarding which businesses have been required to close. This states that restaurants / pubs / wine bars / cafes / supermarkets and "other food and drink establishments" can remain open for "the provision of hot or cold food that has been prepared for consumers for collection or delivery to be consumed, reheated or cooked by consumers off the premises." So, I think Oddons is operating within the guidance, and the original poster was a perhaps a bit quick off the mark to assume they were bending rules.

DF, you're lucky you haven't had measles or chicken pox more than once. One certainly can get both of these - severely - more than once, which I know from personal experience.

Ask your GP for guidance / go to a registered dietician: https://www.bda.uk.com/about-dietetics/find-a-dietitian-near-me.html

M&S near East Dulwich station counts people in and out and have red tape marking how far to stand apart if you have to queue for a register. They have a small selection of pet food.

Palooza - a good way to check a company's key details is via Companies House. Of course, only certain types of companies (e.g. Ltd, LLP) are required to register, but it's free and easy to check. Smith & Brock is registered and you can see a list of their key people online. https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09999330/officers From the messages above,it sounds like what they're doing is a win/win: keeping themselves in business and supporting the local community.

Aneto on East Dulwich Road have adapted their cafe in line with guidance on social distancing (i.e. they've moved the tables further apart) and are still serving in-house meals / drinks, as well as take-away. They have also set up the front of the cafe to be a community store, offering basics like fruit and veg, home-made pasta, toiletries etc; and are offering free local delivery for the elderly / vulnerable. The shop part seemed well-stocked when I went in this morning. Tel: 07979879616 Email: [email protected] https://www.facebook.com/Anetocafedulwich

It was still open two days ago.

Did anyone else hear the drumming on Oakhurst Grove late last night, that started again at 6:50AM? Does anyone know where, exactly, it was coming from?

Hi Deborah at DH Restoration (https://www.dhrestoration.co.uk/) is a fantastic restorer with years of experience. She's based is Streatham.

Seriously, Nina?! Thanks so much for highlighting my rights to what you think my feelings are. And "got in the way of..."???? No, that wasn't what happened at all; but I shan't go into it again. I don't consider the above post mum shaming, though you are, of course, free to view it as you wish.

Thanks to those who commented and sent kind wishes. Nina - perspective is not the issue at all. The mother looked to be about my age, so a difference in generational attitudes isn't what I was suggesting. It's irrelevant whether the mother was having a bad day or not - we are all responsible for our own children. If you take your child out, you are responsible for making sure they are safe and letting them know what the correct response to a situation is e.g. point out that a specific behaviour is dangerous, has hurt someone and, therefore, change your behaviour and apologise.

Hi Jules I saw two guys laying cement outside Oliver Bonas at about 8:45 yesterday morning. Perhaps they were fixing reported damage in several places that day? Agree it wasn't the weather for it to set well. Sorry to hear your buggy got stuck, but glad the chaps in the car wash were kind and helped you out.

Thanks, Ginster; I really appreciate your response.

I am so angry and upset, I don't know where to begin. I have just got home from what should have been a nice, treat day - taking my elderly, ill mum into town. At Charing Cross station, a child of about 8 was running from side to side of the platform, then started swinging a balloon weighted with a heavy piece of plastic around wildly. We stood well back of the family and stopped to avoid the running child twice when he suddenly ran in front of my mum and swung his balloon around, causing the hard plastic end (not insignificant in size) to hit my mum in her eye. Mum had a stroke 2 months ago, which has caused blindness in one eye, and the medication she is on causes instant and severe bruising - potentially internal bleeding - when she is injured. Mum called out in shock and pain, which is the only reason the child's mother turned around. My mum said she'd just been hit in the eye by the lady's son, and all she said in response was a casual, 'oh, sorry' (in a completely indifferent, I don't give a sh*t tone) and carried on. She didn't ask her son to stop messing around or ask him to apologise. Mum said that wasn't good enough and the lady said, 'i've said sorry, what more do you want? He's just been at a protest, he's excited.' (As if that somehow cancels out his bad behaviour and the mother's lack of supervision?) I explained mum had just had a stroke, was blind in one eye, and her son had injured my mother's good eye. Yet still, the woman didn't seem to understand why we were upset and what we wanted her to do. I wish I had been able to get across what we wanted: 1. Admonish your child 2. Ask your child to apologise 3. Remove the item that caused the injury until you are in a place where it's safe for your child to play with it I have a young child myself and, with the best will in the world, sometimes one's attention slips for a minute and they do something they shouldn't. As the adult, I take responsibility for my child's actions. I wasn't expecting - nor did I want - the mother to shout at or embarrass her child, just to tell him not to run on a station platform (it's dangerous for them), to be careful of those around them, and to say sorry when they hurt someone. 1 simple (sincere) sentence would have done it. "Please walk on the platform and please say sorry for hurting the lady." Is that too much to ask? I don't expect strangers without personal experience to know that 72 year olds who have just had a stroke can have severe reactions to what younger people may consider trivial. I don't expect that mother to realise that in the 1 minute it took us to get from the platform down to the escalators, my mum's eye had visibly swelled and bruised. I don't expect her to get how shaken such an incident can leave someone. I didn't expect her to notice that my mum was visibly shaking and nearly in tears over the unexpected shock and pain of it. But I did expect some courtesy, some basic manners and just a little bit of imagination (i.e. putting herself in my mum's shoes). I don't know what I want from posting this here...I suppose just to vent. And to ask all parents to please be aware - and teach your kids to be aware - of their surroundings (i.e. recognise where it is safe to run or swing toys around) and to do the right thing: say sorry when you hurt someone.