sillywoman

Well yes, except that 50% of the admissions to the DVInfants are non-foundation (not church) places, and the criteria for those places is very similar (if not the same?) as the criteria for DHJS, i.e siblings, special needs, distance lived from school etc etc. Personally I really fail to see why children allocated those non-foundation (they used to be called 'community') places can't have automatic entry to the school next door? Yes, parents know the system & the risks when they apply for the (simply lovely) Infant school, but it doesn't make it any less heart-rending when the gamble doesn't pay off & it's your child being told they can't go to school with their friends anymore. I was told that if the Governors of both schools agreed, then it would be possible for there to be some kind of admission connection between the two? But maybe that's just playground gossip? Incidentally I did read somewhere that the schools were linked way back in the dim & distant past when they were first built, but at some point along the way the church took over the Infant school whilst the Juniors stayed with the state. So I'm not sure it's right that there has "has never been an automatic right of entry to the Junior School for children at the Infant School" Growlybear? Maybe just not in your time? P.S. I would echo what others have said; there's always a significant number of children from other schools starting in year 3, within a week or so you couldn't tell, or remember who was from where.

The Lanes, Oakwood & Brierly are midwives who specialise in homebirth. Because of this their transfer rates, even for 1st time Mums are significantly lower than those quoted in the 'place of birth' study. Ask 'em. :D I'd have to add my voice to the myriad of fans for them on here. They are definitely exceptional. FWIW Kings & Tommies are very similar, but to my mind, Tommies labour ward ethos is that little bit more interventionist. This might be a good thing to you, or not? From a purely personal perspective I'd always go for Kings over Tommies - less chance of an emergency (unplanned) caesarean, less chance of forceps birth, and it's closer - a no-brainer for me, given the choice (2011 stats, taken from www.birthchoiceuk.com). But purely personal, as I said. Best wishes to you & your baby wherever you chose.

Have you considered hypnobirthing? It can be extremely effective as a way of managing labour in all it's many forms. Hollie runs classes locally and seems to be very well thought of. See http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?25,1077190. You don't get the practical postnatal, looking after baby angle, but you can get some of that from the NHS classes (which are also very good).

I hesitate to give it away cos a it's a well kept secret, but - if you can get in then Elm Lodge - the Burbage Road Surgery has been brilliant for the last 20 years.

The colourful ones look great, but I would buy from a shop local to her & give it with the receipt in a separate sealed envelope & the understanding that she's free to change it if she wants to. Teenagers eh? A nightmare to shop for :)

It's definitely not just used by staff so you wouldn't be unusual or alone if you want to use it, but if it makes you feel funny then you could get a normal bus from Borough high street (3 mins walk from Guys) - I just can't remember what number. Or there's the river walk :D

There's a shuttle bus that goes from just outside Guys. It takes about 10 minutes & I think it may even be free (might want to check that - maybe only free to staff/ students)? It's walkable in about 20 minutes, quite a nice walk too along the river front, but given the bitter weather maybe not?

I have my sling consultant friend sat next to me & have just shown her this thread http://www.birthsupportandmore.com/ she says that both slings are good. but be wary of buying either online as there's a lot of counterfeiting going on (particularly with Ergo) and the fakes just don't have the safety features in them. So best to steer clear of ebay for this purchase.

Lady Delilah, it looks like she's ahead of you; 'It's a cultural thing. It's a general feeling that we are starting to get from the Government. People now feel they can say ?why should I pay for you to stay at home?" clearly you're buying the governments message & feel you can say that. :D

Will be at Tommies for a lecture 9.30 Thursday morning. I can give you a lift on my scooter, but it might be a bit cramped with three of us ;) SWx

Nope, if you're with Oakwood then you're booked at Kings. Might as well stick with Lewisham Midwives(who will look after Tommies Mums antenatally) or the traipse to Tommies/ Albany estate if it's Tommies you've set your heart on. Sorry.

Old thread in a similar vein here http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,946681,946913#msg-946913 We're a bit tighter than mrs TP, we give 10p per week/ per year of life up until secondary school. Thereafter they get ?10 a month in lower school, ?20 in upper school & onward. If that's not enough then we're happy to help them get jobs (though they do seem harder to come by than when I was Saturday job age). We buy all essential clothes/ books/ toiletries etc. etc. and we pay a set amount for their mobiles each month (older kids obviously!), so this money is an added extra for them. They are expected to use it to save for any toys or special sweeties or whatever when younger & for paying for coffees/chips/ icecream etc when out with their mates when they're older. If they want more there are jobs they can do around the house, over & above their usual chores, to earn extra bits. On second reflection, perhaps I'm not the best person to ask actually as I've just worked out that madmum's 7 year old is given the same amount as my 13 year old, and Mrs TP's 8 year old gets 25% more! I'm clearly very behind the times (or tight as a tick's bum ;) ) and am definitely NOT going to show this thread to my children.

The Gardens Surgery is only the best GP's if you're not planning to have children. If you are, register at DMC CPR so that you can have The Lanes Midwives care for you/your partner, or Forest Hill Rd GP's to get the Oakwood. These Midwife teams offer a service that is unparalleled and internationally admired. Once you've done having babies move GP from DMC as it IS impossible to get an appointment and you won't want to be messing about with that kind of stress with a sick baby or toddler on your hands.

I wish there was a 'like' button for some of these posts, as on Facebook.

A lie in with my book (bliss), breakfast in bed (bacon sarnie & cuppa tea), tulips, chocs, and handmade cards from 2 out of the 4. PLus, a lovely lunch down at Dulwich Tandoori Buffet - brilliant, I can't believe we've never been. Highly recommend. Very lovely Mother day. Thanks my Gang:D

Umza, just being nosey so feel free not to answer, but why won't granny be taking her to playgroups - I know a few local Grannies who do exactly that?

Oh my goodness Midivydale, that's just shocking. I'd like to hope that at some point in the intervening years someone wil have pointed out to him how outrageously offensive that statement is - more likely they've 'retired' him off. Carbonara, your suggestion is so wickedly funny that I laughed out loud. I'd love to do that, sadly I'm not really a PTA type and not around enough to go to any of the meetings. I might see if I can find a class rep with a wicked sense of humor and strong sense of justice to do it for me though ;)

Definitely apply, and if you don't get in on the first round of places don't lose heart, there's a lot of shakedown & places come up all the time as people move in & out of the area.

ANother Mummy laid an Egg fan here :D

I will email you but agree about survey monkey.

Mrs TP, I know I feel the same, & have a sense of desperation that not only is that attitude coming from a woman, but that she clearly felt confident enough in her view to voice it publicly, seemingly with the expectation of general agreement? Hence my confusion & this post. It's an interesting question - the 'can I be a feminist and a stay at home Mum' one. For many years I considered myself to be both, but other people's attitudes could be very different, with some seeing me as some kind of 1950's throwback. The truth is that whilst I felt I needed to be at home for my children I made the worlds worst housewife, and actually often wasn't that great as a Mum, but I was lucky enough to have sufficient income (with me working part time from home), and a supportive partner to be free to make the choice for myself and I felt a huge debt of gratitude to feminism for enabling me to have that choice. I see no reason why choosing to stay home (if you can chose) means you have to subsume your feminist instincts? That's different to what playground lady is saying though. I have sons and a daughter, they will have the same chances in education as each other & we'll do the best for each of them according to their talents and opportunities. When my daughter has her own children who's to say that she & her partner won't chose for her to be the breadwinner & the other to stay home? Or for them both to be equal breadwinners and to organise another caregiver for their child(ren)? As long as their choices are made with love and care I won't have a view either way, but the thought that I would prioritise her brothers education and life chances over hers is just downright anathema to me.

. . . at a local primary; a high profile PTA Mum stated that she thought it was more important to invest in her son's education than her daughters, as men are the main breadwinners! Lets face it women just do little jobs to fit in, as she does with her small, from home business. Is this really the prevailing attitude out there? SW POsted in concern and curiosity as I'm no longer in the playground enough to have a 'finger on the pulse'. Frankly I think it's a shockingly patriarchal & archaic viewpoint, but it might be me that's out of sync?

No, sorry working mummy, I didn't mean it (or in fact say it) like that. What I meant was, harking back to your comment that you knew of several families with Au Pairs & no one had ever mentioned the no sole charge of under two's issue to you, is it possible that the rule was mentioned but because you had already decided on your own way of doing things & were happy with it, you just sort of didn't hear it? That's what I meant by hear-no-evil. It's a saying, I didn't actually mean that you were allowing evil anywhere near your babies. I think you've both misread, & misunderstood my meaning? The dangers of Internet communication - no nonverbal cues to convey tone & clarify meaning.

Top hat, colourful cravat-y type thing, dark formal trousers and jacket, & a cane, all a la the classic film. DOn't know whether the book description is anything like this though? Good luck with gathering those props :D

Nice carpets:)