sillywoman

I could have written Pickle's post some years ago. I agree with everything she said, except we didn't have a cleaner (let alone an ironer or gardener!). Routine and lowering expectations of what's achievable in a day made it a time I now look back on with fondness (and somehow the cleaning, ironing & gardening got done. We and our house are still standing :D ). Playgroups are also key.

Reviving this thread as middle son has (finally) expressed an interest in a sport - and it's boxing. Any current recommendations for classes for young teens? The closer the better as he would have to get himself there.

Hollie is a local young Mum who runs fab hypnobirthing classes. I third those recommendations. If you do a search on this forum her details will come up. In fact here ya go . .. http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?25,1127475,1127475#msg-1127475 You know me - I like to keep it local if I can ;)

Thats odd, they're not really new are they? To the best of my knowledge they've been around for at least a decade or more. Maybe the 'older people' just saw a crying baby on a hot, crowded bus who's Mum isn't picking them up to comfort them? It normally takes a lot for people to speak out en masse, so to speak. But I wasn't there and you were lulu so maybe you're right and those 'older people' just didn't get your 'new fangled' bit of equipment. I'm sorry you - and they - had such a stressful journey. :(

reren we have discussed that with her, but currently she wants to do Uni and then maybe a gap year. I'm more of your frame of thought but, we'll see. . . after all - what do I know? ;) Pugwash, Thanks for your potted family Uni history - that was lovely. Sadly her bent isn't anything that the NHS offer a degree in (I'm currently doing an NHS degree myself, complete with 4 kids at the grand old age of 46 so I do have a bit of an inside track on them - not that the knowledge is much use to us currently. But if anyone wants any inside info on Midwifery degrees I'm happy to share/discuss :) ). Interestingly I went to on information evening tonight at her school and they recommended this website for more information about all things Uni http://university.which.co.uk/ Might be worth a look? Am slowly resigning myself to the reality that most kids will be carrying a load of debt by the time they come out and there's not always a helluva lot that can be done about it. :( It does seem that in the coming years it will only be kids from wealthier families who can afford to go to Uni and study without the burden of debt. Sad state of affairs :(

They don't teach the degree she wants to do in English, much to my disappointment. I checked it out & got all excited about Leiden. Ho-hum

Thanks everyone. Saffron I think you're right about career guidance, right now she doesn't really have much of a clue what direction she wants to go in after Uni, maybe a few pointers might help? I like the tip about pointing her north too. She's keen on Manchester, Leeds, Nottingham & York so all good there. Don't know about cardiff & Swansea Townleygreen, she hasn't mentioned them? Maybe they don't do the course she wants? I'll ask . . . I know that she doesn't pay the debt back until she starts paid work, but it really does seem like such a huge amount. Her school has done some work on Uni finances with them and when I spoke to her yesterday she had calculated that a 3 year degree will incur her a total debt of ?55k, gulp. Personally I think it could be even higher depending on rent costs. I was sort of resigned to it until her brother (18 months younger) announced that he wanted to go too - I had him down for a job/apprenticeship. I think the thought of them both being there at the same time, building debt, is what has tipped me over the edge :D Student loans advisor sounds like a plan, I will seek one out. Thankyou everyone. I feel woefully unprepared for all this. maybe the schools should run sessions for the parents, particularly in the light of the recent report about not enough state school kids getting into Russell Group Uni's - maybe it's cos their parents are freaking out like me?!

Thanks for your replies everyone, I might well encourage her to look at companies. She doesn't really have any sense of what she wants to do as yet, and I have a feeling will be a little resistant to 'tying herself down'. Sigh. Both she and my eldest boy seem quite blase about the amount of debt they will be coming out with. They say "but we don't have to repay it until we can Mum - stop worrying", but I can remember feeling that 'tomorrow never comes' feeling myself at 16 or so, and of course it does come, but try explaining that to teenagers!

Yes, we have discussed the possibility of a London Uni & living at home, but she is quite desperate to spread he wings and live outside London. I think she's looking at doing Politics (awaiting AS results before final decisions), and she doesn't want to go the Oxbridge route though would prefer Russell group if she can get a place (who wouldn't!). She seems resigned to the debt, but I am freaking out a bit because a) I was brought up to believe the only debt you should have is a mortgage, and b) I was speaking to some KCL students last week who have just moved into a flat in Lewisham, they were telling me that the rent they paid for halls was ?1k a month - A MONTH!!!! Holy cow, how on earth will she/we manage that.

Given that our eldest is now facing this as an imminent life option I was wondering whether those of you who are in it, and doing it can give me any sense of the true costs involved. We will not be able to contribute a penny toward this enterprise, and I am beginning to wonder whether this will mean that University will remain an impossible dream for her? Is it possible to get a university education now with little or no financial help from your parents?

My children have all been through DVI & DHJS, but I would say go with Heber. Not because I haven't been happy with the village schools, far from it - but because I'm a big believer that, with the proviso of your child being happy there, a school you live near and can walk to makes a big difference to the childs' perceptions of their world. Walking there each day makes them confident in their community, they see people that they know each day and have friends who live near to them. As they get older they can be trusted to walk to their friends houses on their own, and this gives them confidence and a geographic knowledge of their environment. If your daughter is already happy at Heber then stick with it. DVI is just lovely, but the transfer is absolute hell and, as far as I can see DHJS is great, but no better or worse than Heber. I'd say stick with Heber.

I agree with what's already been posted. They really are excellent photographers (and a luuurverly house too) :D

A quick forum search come up with this fairly recent thread on this very topic. http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,1116007,1116366#msg-1116366

Children in year 3 & 4 re released into the care of a parent/carer. The teacher likes to physically eyeball you as you collect your child - or maybe that's just us ;) Our eldest walked to & fro with friends from summer term year 5. Our others from the start of year 5. Our current year 4 boy is most put out that he has to wait until year 5 to be allowed to do it.

I really wasn't happy with it at all for a number of reasons, but my children went there a hundred years ago (13) :) Though some of the reasons I pulled them out were still in evidence 6 years ago when I was last looking for nurseries. I'm happy to explain further but would rather do it offlist as I feel it's only fair to the nursery - it only being my opinion after all, based on events that happened to me a while ago. Feel free to PM me for my experience if you'd like.

Pretty much every family I know on Glengarry & surrounding streets sends their children to DVI & DHJS at primary level (this year there was a week or so wait for places at DHJS)- apart from a Catholic family & a couple of private ed families. Dunno about Heber - lived here nearly 20 years & haven't known any family send their children there from this enclave in that time - could be that they do though (someone's neighbour's children further up the thread?)just that I don't know any? Mine started at school 15 years ago & the DV schools were just considered our local primaries then, no problems getting in at all, we never even considered that there would be. We went on community places - not church - and it was just where everyone here sent their children. My observation is that there's a lot of scare-mongering about the tightness of DV school catchments, but every year I've lived here (bar one) children from Glengarry/Tarbert/Trossachs/Hillsborough roads have got into those schools without too much fuss. Local secondary is The Charter. Can't comment on Melbourne Grove though. Sorry.

Miss P Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I think you might find bumper cars are made for > bumping, but I don't agree that the purpose of car > bumpers is for people who can't be arsed to take a > bit of care to merrily bang into when parking > their vehicle. Well you can't be sure it was someone who couldn't be arsed though can you? That's just your guess. There's all sorts of reasons why someone might have bumped into your car & scratched the bumper, one of which is 'can't be arsed'. Unless you saw it happen you'll never know. I feel a bit sorry for you, but also that this is the reality of car ownership in London (and some other large cities too). Like macutd said - best to get it out the way. Unless you park your car off road, in London you'll doubtless have more bumps & scratches to come. On our overcrowded streets in our overcrowded city it's sure to happen.

I think you're jumping to huge conclusions here MirandaAshby - addding 2 + 2 to make 5. Whilst I appreciate that you may think you're defending your friend or acquaintance, you seem to have missed the OP's preposition that the group were 'possible' travellers. The OP may not be an English national themselves, or they may have hearing issues, they may not be able to distinguish an Irish accent from a Scottish or Welsh or Cockney one? As you have yourself pointed out it's dangerous to make assumptions. It's ironic that you are doing exactly that which you accuse the OP of.

search dannyleedixon on this forum. He's a local chap who fixes them as a hobby. He was helpful, polite prompt and very, very reasonable (I can't recall the exact cost & wouldn't want to mislead, but I recall the great relief at not being charged silly-money).

But you have to cross your fingers that any state school will have a place free for your child in year 3 (or whatever year you're applying for). Essentially you're hoping that a child at your chosen school will leave at the end of year 2 (or whichever year) so your child can have their place. Whilst there is some movement at the end of infants, given the increasing press for primary places for children in this area there's no guarantee there will be a place available. It's a gamble - DKH, Lyndhurst, GG - pretty much any school you can name in the area now will be over subscribed I think?

By a local author Linda Geddes. Does anyone have a copy they'd be happy to lend (can pay rental in wine :D )? http://www.amazon.co.uk/Bumpology-myth-busting-pregnancy-parents---be/dp/059306996X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1367602439&sr=8-1&keywords=bumpology

Thanks BST, It does have something about it doesn't it? I must try & use it more often . . .

but you sacrifice your place at the school.So you have to hope that a place comes available in year 1 at the school of your choice (I use "choice" with full awareness of the irony here in ED).

Oh my goodness, what a beautiful piece. I've come over all unnecessary, as my Nana used to say.

Another Honda Riders fan. Thank Goodness they didn't get your scooter LV.