sillywoman

Aha, found it - DVI Newsletter: June 17th; "We have no current plans to take more than 1 extra intake, i.e. this is a one off for 2011." That clarifies it a bit hopefully. edited to make me sound less bossy :))

Err, the extension wasn't created to house an extra 3 classes of 30, or a definite move to a 4 form intake, it was developed with quite other plans in mind. My impression is that DVI will see how it goes but doesn't want to commit themselves (quite rightly IMO) to a permanent intake of 120. That's an awful lot for a small school to deal with. They'd also have to discuss with The Hamlet as their primary feeder school & I'm certain that the Hamlet can't take the extra 120 kids in their playground that a permanent four form intake would create. For these reasons I suspect that the bulge at DVI will be temporary, although maybe for a couple of years rather than just one.

Seems like some community brownie points could be scored by Alleyns by opening their exclusive CCF to include admission from the not-exclusive local comps - if they were bothered -which I doubt. And indeed why ever should they?

When they were little & sleep was a big issue - I did the nights & anything after 6.30am was his. Those two hours between 6.30-8.30am when he left for work were some of the deepest & best sleep I remember getting (this when son 1 was at his horrendous worst). He was very good at nappies too. Also nail cutting has always been MrS's job, only now 15 years on are the boundaries beginning to blur and he's made plain that I also could cut finger nails - something I've reluctantly admitted he's right about. MrS is also King of 'lets go to the Park' something I've never been so good at. Now we only have 1 son left who actually wants to go to the Park - and not even that always - poor MrS is feeling a little left behind I think :(

ooh, some lovely ideas for gifts here - thank you so much forumites, I just knew you'd come up trumps. I do like the pretty Tiffany bracelet, & you're right SC - she would really go for the whole blue box thing! I'll check out Nina Christie too NM, Thankyou, also the astley clarke stuff is just so pretty. I think I'll definitely go for jewelry. The day/meal out ideas are lovely, but she lives some distance away in the Midlands so very complex for me to organise. Her Mum & I are taking her out to a posh London hotel for lunch on her actual birthday though.

Mondays @ 4.30pm, & Thursdays at 6/6.30(?) pm. Waterbirth tours were 1st & 3rd wednesdays of the month at 6/6.30(pm).

Am completely at a loss. Budget of around ?100. She's lovely, but, it must be said, fairly shallow. Her hobbies are shopping, handbags and 'being seen', she lives with her Dad (parents separated). Mum earns a good salary so is able to treat her to nice jewelry & bits - has bought her a cartier watch for her birthday. So she already has a good collection of pearls (I understand they're the traditional 21st gift). Any idea's? At all?

I certainly prayed like billy-o for my youngest childs' community place - seems like someone out there was listening ;-)

If you're close to DVI you could always apply for a place at St J's and a community place at DVI - you might have more chance of getting in. It might be worth seeing if you can find out what this years community catchment was.

Is it that if they don't fill their community allocation (and certainly there have been several years when this was the case - though things are changing and this scenario is now much less likely) then they'll allocate any 'spare' places to those who weren't successful under the faith criteria?

Trainee's are cheaper and, IMO just as good. There's no medical decisions that a Doula needs to take on your behalf so your only risk with using a trainee is that the likelihood of a situation arising that she hasn't encountered before is higher. And of course there are trainee's and trainee's, a woman 'training' to be a doula, may well be a woman with a children of her own & an already wide experience of helping others through labour and birth, but if her help wasn't offered under the umbrella of an accredited training course then it won't be counted, so she'd still be classed as a trainee. I'd say, if no-one else comes forward, go with your instincts & if she has the space then grab her with both hands. It's probably a foolish question, but have you checked the Doula Uk website for details of all their local Doula's?

Because it's Herne Hill's best kept secret & those in the know want to keep it that way!

DHJS - all kids doing an 'art project' day, & DVI, AFAIK.

With many many thanks to all for the very useful tips on here, all so helpful - particularly the Aloe Vera plant from lovely pebbles (Thankyou). Red-head went to school today & though is still sore & tender no sign of dread bubbling skin or peeling as yet. We're keeping on moisturising & AV-ing 'til it's all gone - hopefully by the time she has to shoulder a 70l rucksack full of kit for her DofE this coming weekend. Ah, life with teens!

Thanks all (and for the very helpful PM's too). Yes Molly I am annoyed and sympathetic in equal measure - she is the very picture of dejection currently :). Sunburn is its own punishment - I doubt she really needs any more lectures from me now, but still it's so tempting to slip in an "I told you so'. Will try and restrain myself. Sainsb's drew a blank on Aloe Vera, so it's off to Health matters for me. Might investigate the 'ultrasun' suncream for future use. Any idea's where I might get it Carrie? The ibupfofen is a top tip too - I didn't know it could be used for sunburn. Not sure I could convince her of the tomato thing, but that's the kind of girl-scout information I love to have filed away ready to use at the perfect moment - like tomato ketchup for skunk spray. Oh yes, I'm prepared for that little eventuality!

Any recommendations, she managed to spend the whole of yesterday in the sun at the lido, & though she swaers she applied sunscreen regularly today she's is so sore that I've kept her home today because she can't wear clothes comfortably. Am thinking calendular cream - anyone got any other top tips? She's 15 and old enough to know better, but that's a whole other thread. Kids, pah!

Ah lillyandginger - you may still be in 'goldentime'. There is a golden age of joy and gorgeousness between the ages of about 5 and 11. You're doing marvellously if your 13year old hasn't entered the grunt tunnel yet - most boys seem to enter it about age 13 or so. Hats off to you & long may it last!

If you leave a message they're usually very good at getting back to you. They're a man down in the admin office though (or they were) so that may be why you haven't managed to speak to them yet. It's a beautiful hall - perfect for a party, definitely worth persevering.

lillyanginger Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Hang on > in there, there is light at the end of the > tunnel...or is that grapejuice at wine o'clock? Umm, just how long is this tunnel - my house seems to degenerate further into anarchy with every year that passes? I can manage a hot cup of tea most of the time now but have exchanged that for a constantly ringing telephone or doorbell that is never for me . And the furtive goings on are now things that I really don't want to investigate further. Will I ever regain a civilised house before my children leave home?

srisky Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > I was fortunate enough to be with community > midwives . . . The main advantages > of being under them is that you can have a home > birth(!) and that they assess you at home rather > than to-ing and fro-ing from King's. Your post read to me as very black & white srisky. Clearly you felt those were the main advantage for you, but there are many, many more & by stating your opinion as fact you gave no space for them to be aired. If it reads that way to me it may read the same way to someone who doesn't have an in depth knowledge of the what it means to be looked after by community midwives. My post was intended to clarify some of the many advantages of the service - nothing else.

srisky Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > The main advantages > of being under them is that you can have a home > birth(!) and that they assess you at home rather > than to-ing and fro-ing from King's. I'm afraid I think that this comment is too simplistic. Each of the local community midwifery teams operates under their own set of criteria. So for you srisky with whichever team you were with the assessing at home may have been the 'main advantage' whilst for someone else with another local team who does things differently the main advantage might be building a relationship through the antenatal period with the midwife pair that attends your birth; or not having to chose where to have your baby (home or hospital) until you're in labour and can see how you feel; or having a midwife with a specialism in PN depression; or your partner being able to build a relationship with those who will be helping the two of you through the crucible; or having someone who already knows you overseeing your health & the babies health in the first few days and weeks postbirth. Some of the teams can commit to being with you all through labour whether at home or in hospital, some can't - sometimes it depends on whether their team is at full complement or not. The 'main advantages' are as different and distinct as are the teams themselves & the women that they care for. Moos :-$ about the 'NCT pushed birth plan' - I hope it wasn't me, but if it was let me know. I'm fairly 'positive' about the advantages of having a birth plan, but also know that they can just go right out the window depending on the scenario. I'd hate to feel I'd 'pushed' anyone & would clearly need to rethink my approach if that's the case :(. MM: If you're set on a hospital birth then I'm not sure The Brierly Team will be the best ones for you. I'm very glad to hear that you're on the waiting list for Oakwood/Lanes as one of them might suit you better. Having said that if you're in labour with a community midwife in attendance & you want to go to hospital she might not stay with you. If she's got another Mum who's also in labour & who needs her at home she'll take you in & hand you over to the labour ward MW's before going to her homebirth woman. For the community MW's homebirths will always take priority. However, even if you do have your baby with unknown labour ward midwives, the relationship you've built with your community midwife can stand you in very good stead in the tricky first week after birth.

Sudocrem - a whole tub - 'nuff said. Aaaargh!!

new mother - I don't believe what you say is true, rather I think it's just your own opinion - which of course you're entitled to but you really can't present it as fact. If you do have a compelling piece of research or evidence base could you kindly link us to it. Otherewise I'll be left to form the opinion that the reason your statement "frankly, "in the best hands" for most women will be next to proven hospital care" may be 'unpopular' on this forum is that, frankly, it's b*ll*cks. Sorry OP - I couldn't leave such a dangerously misleading & inaccurate comment unchallenged. edited for emphasis.

0208 3299 3833 The sessions are very useful as a basic background to breastfeeding & some of the issues that breastfeeding women might encounter, but I hear good things of a number of locally based 'lactation consultants' if things do go awry again - if you do a search on this forum a number of threads with contact details come up. Otherwise I recommend you get hold of details of all the local breastfeeding cafe's & drop in clinics - there's somewhere to go for help every week day.

Yes, http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-practice/clinical-specialisms/midwifery/midwife-shortage-at-croydon-hospital-highlighted-by-regulator/5029228.article They will improve I'm sure, but given that the issues are so recent I personally wouldn't chose to have a baby there any time soon - if I had a choice. Seeing as you're asking. Lovely to hear that you had such good treatment there a few years ago growlybear. Always good to hear good reports of hospital care. Seems like the general feel on the forum since your friends had their babies is that Kings has upped their game somewhat - http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,689431,689677#msg-689677.