sillywoman

Thanks peristalsis, that's really useful. Particularly as I'm a parent of 3 at the Charter and could have contributed, however as the OP has withdrawn her post It feel inappropriate somehow to PM her. It's not clear to me whether she'd still value user opinion?

A two pronged approach seems reasonable enough - user review and all that, so I wonder why the OP deleted her post completely and hasn't come back to explain that? That's the mystery .... :D

No, it didn't come across as a criticism to me newboots, I didn't read it that way at all. Maybe scarlettilly2 realised that it was a little ....umm, dubious to do her research that way and so withdrew her post for that reason? Like you I've never read one of those books, but I can't imagine the publisher would be too thrilled with their researchers if it got out that they were asking for personal opinions on a public forum - or maybe they would & it's all ok, I dunno? I guess we'll never know - until scarlettilly2 comes back to tell us why she removed the post it will remain an EDF mystery! :D

He can opt out for year 10.

NewWave, where's 'London Road'? Am usually pretty good with East Dulwich geography, but that's a new one on me?

I don't really understand the OP? Are you asking whether you can get a private room on the Nightingale ward? If so then the answer is a resounding 'yes, of course. Everyone (with the odd speedy labour/overfull-bedshiortage situation aside)does. You don't have to pay, it's courtesy of the NHS. Or, are you asking if you can pay for a private room for your post birth care on William Gilliat ward. I would have said 'no' as that's always been my understanding, but the above posts seem to suggest that there may the possibility of this now. Though the private room Lochie's friend used sounds like the ones they keep for women in special circumstances. What are you asking ukdealguide?

How strange? newboots, what was the gist of the original post? Very odd to just remove it completely, and you were quite polite with your questions too. From what you've replied it sounds like the OP could have sparked an interesting debate had it been allowed to stand :)

What's 'the grid'?

Aren't you supposed to wait until your exit route is clear before you enter the box though - i.e. don't enter the box at all unless you can see there's a space for you to get out on the other side? I can't see how the speed of the traffic would make any difference to this? However I do have sympathy for the dismay at the greed and lazy approach to road traffic management that TFL & local authorities take.

My husband born and bred in Camberwell was given a scholarship to Alleyns on academic merit and says it was pretty horrible always being the poor boy. He never wanted to invite friends home. Interestingly he's not in touch with any of his friends from his school days now. Also, his scholarship was in the days when Alleyns had to provide a certain number of full scholarships for local children - so it could did something for it's local community. That's not been the case for many a year now.

My son's best friend went to Elmwood and was very happy there indeed.

Signed. Ridiculous plan. Schools like buses - Wait an age to get one then two are proposed at once? Utterly stupid and badly thought through for all the reasons mentioned above.

A second for Merrell coats, or Wolfskin - both excellent, but I do love my Merrell Ellenwood coat, withstands anything British weather (or my children/pets) can throw at it. http://www.gearforgirls.co.uk/merrell-ellenwood-insulated-coat-womens/?gclid=COChxNGqosECFQQIwwodZKgAwQ

South London Press says the ED safer neighbourhood team has some ground anchors to help those with bikes keep them safe. Any idea's how to request one?

I loved your writing 'Raider. Made me laugh a lot and pretty much summed up how I feel about LL too. Thanks for the link, & will we ever get to know whether the sideboard got onto the night bus?

Ok, Gin AND books. Surely the secret to a happy student life? ;)

LOL at 'declutter their rooms' - you speak my language WOD...

No Kindle (maybe Father Christmas might bring one?) so all hardcopy. Yes to Maya Angelou. Yes yes. And 'The Colour Purple', have also added 'The Help' (Kathryn Stockett) as it has personal resonance as well as being (to me) a very powerful book. All together those three should be quite thought provoking I think (hope)? Not sure about Jane Eyre yet, might add it in later. It's definitely a 'must read' at some point though and Wide Sargasso should go with I think. Haven't read any Katherine Mansfield or Sarah Waters. I'll add them to my reading list and go from there - just out of interest, & because I don't really know Mansfield or Waters, what is it about them that made you suggest them (honest question)? In fact, open question to all - what did these particular books do for you? I'll start the ball rolling: Caitlin Moran just sums up for me all the joy and confusion that is being a woman in this society at this time; 'Emma' has been with me since I left home, my Mum said I reminded her of Emma (I'm thinking over bossy and something of a know-all, but essentially well meaning).Atwood's 'Handmaid's tale' opened my eyes to the strange ways that societies can organise themselves, and how clever women have to be, how vigilant, and how hard they have to fight ALL THE TIME to ensure that they do not become subjugated by their societies decision makers. Ooh, I've just thought of another - Angela Carter's 'The Bloody Chamber'. Made me think hard about how folk history is presented to us, and what our social tales really mean, where are they coming from and do they mean different things to different genders?

Sol Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thank you. We are considering all the options: > What's the charter like .... do > kids go to university after they finish secondary > school? Is this actually a serious question Sol? If it is then it's surely a little insulting? The answer is of course they do!

Cheeky boy!! I'll be watching this thread with interest. I'm training for a new career so don't have much spare time, but in my mind I'm saying 'yes! That would be great!'. The reality is I'm unlikely to make any get togethers, but if I know when & where then I might get lucky and be able to come. I think the FREEE Party is a more appropriate moniker!

And please feel free to add to the list: Any book that you feel has changed the way you view the world or given you a better insight. I've three years of Birthdays & Christmases to plan for too :)

Ooh, Margaret Atwood, Id forgotten about her! Handmaid's Tale's now on the list. Can't remember Alias Grace? Which one did you find dark Otta? I like the idea of Biogs - would never have thought about them. The Poisonwood Bible I loved, but I think she'll get more out of it when she's a little older - might save that one for her 'now-you've-graduated' list (please God we get that far!). Love the Maeve Binchy book - it's on the list for comfort reading. I might throw Hideous Kinky in there too just for the lovely sense of the world as a big adventure. Bell Jar is too bleak - I can't do it to her. I'm wavering over the 'Ginny Woolfs, but I don't know why? She's a seminal British female writer, but I just don't feel sillygirl's ready for her yet - though can't quite articulate why??? Maybe I'll save la Woolf until she's done a year or so of Uni ... Safe sex smiler?!! No need - obviously my Darling will not be having sex until she's 30. And married. So no to 'Kevin'. ;) Isabelle Allende - yeeees, buuut, well I've never got on with her (hangs head in shame), but friends whose literary opinion I respect rave about her, so 'yes' to Allende. Is 'Portrait in Sepia' your recommendation for a young woman starting out? Don't know Joseph O'Connor - going to look him up. Same with Tina Fey. Mary MCCarthy I have bought her, but I'm going to read it myself first. I'm giving her a copy of Caz Clarke's 'Grub on a Grant' for cooking (saved my life a few times). Jacbuc, 'Our bodies ourselves'. Have just looked at it on Amazon - is it a 'how women's bodies work' kinda book? Thankyou so much for these great recommendations, some of them I'm inspired to be re-read or read for the first time myself before passing them on to her. I feel quite envious that she has all these amazing books to look forward to for the first time, and I can't quite believe that after all these years together suddenly the time to let my girl go away from me and into the world is here. At least with these books I feel she'll be carrying a little bit of the spirit of the women (& Otta :))from her home town with her to guide and help her. Thankyou.

So lovely Sillygirl (or not so silly as it turns out) is off to Uni. I would like to compile a starter 'library' of essential books for a young woman for her to take with her, and I wondered if you had any idea's? Which books most influenced you/your thinking about the world & women's place in it? So far I've got: Caitlin Moran's 'How to be a woman' Simone de Beavior's 'Second sex' Jane Austen 'Emma' Any other suggestions?

Hunger games was the book that finally got my reluctant reader son reading enthusiastically at 10or 11. There's no sexy stuff, so to my mind it's absolutely appropriate. No wore than most of the Harry Potter books. Twighlight saga? Hmm, not so sure - a bit adult in it's themes for primary to my mind.

They're all good in ED. We're very lucky here.