EDmummy

Fantastic idea! Although to make it popular with young teens etc., would have to have high quality 3D (ie., better than the Plex!). We tend to go all the way to Surrey Quays Odeon for good picture quality (don't tend to go to Ritzy because of parking issues). Wasn't the Thomas More Hall up for sale? That would be the most fantastic site!

I played on one of these a lot when I was a kid (in my friend's garden). I've seen plenty of broken arms, legs! In my opinion, the above ground ones with a safety net are much, much safer because when the child mis-bounces sideways they fall into the next instead of the hard ground around the side of the trampoline. Worth having a second thought about.

Another huge fan of the programme and the staff. I always make a point of emailing them when I've had a positive experience as I understand the messages get passed to the staff and they all get a boost knowing what a great job they have done. I occasionally see one of the special care nurses on the bus in the morning and it brings me to tears when I remember her kindness in the early hours of the morning when my youngest was in their care (now a strapping 6 year old).

I would encourage all those who have great things to say about Nurse Jenny also contact the hospital to compliment her (there is a form on the website)! It will give her some formal recognition.

A way to try and resolve the mum size hole in your CV is to do some volunteering. There are lots of charities (small, medium and large professional ones) that would be incredibly grateful for your help a few days a week. Its a win/win in that you get to refresh your admin skills and get to give something back to the community/society. If not already, you should also add your profile to Linkedin and make all the connections you had before you gave up work. If you're interested in job share you might want to find a job share partner, that way you can apply for full time positions together. There is quite a lot of work that needs to be done to find the right partner and build the right approach to work but I've seen some fantastic job shares work incredibly well.

What is the best way to get to Stansted airport with children in tow? We've driven and parked in the past but is there a reasonably easy way on public transport?

Pugwash Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Break in - they arrested a man in my house who had > broken in through 2 lots of doors and calmly > walked into the kitchen where my husband was. He > had broken in to hid from the police who were > searching in the street. Police and SOCOs very > good - lots of fingerprints everywhere Oh gosh! Sorry to hear about your husband's terrible experience. Must have been frightening. Glad to hear police response was good.

@Emilydrab, have you seen where you are on the waiting list for HBED? There is still a lot of movement to happen. We were lucky to get the school, are 5 mins walk away and our son is in the top set (if he performed in NVR test in line with grades) but I do know people who are also top set and are hoping to be near top of waiting lists for other schools. I'm sure the office at the school will tell you where you are on the waiting list so you can rule it out completely or not.

Good post Sunbob. I'm a little confused as to how you would receive benefits unless you were a single parent. Having no experience of the system am I correct in understanding that if the wife in a couple where the husband is earning a good salary gives up her job that you would be entitled to benefits?!

Is this a first? By the way, helicopter hovering low enough over Heber Road/Barry Rd around 5pm to see the eyes of the crew.

Just wanted to revive this thread to get views from parents who have boys at this school, year 7 in particular. We've just been offered a place here and like pretty much all we've seen and heard (mainly from teachers) but would love a parental view. Do you have a son in the top stream? Do they expand your child beyond the curriculum? Did they go into the school knowing other boys there or did they make new friends? So many questions!

MGolden, we will get offered them if we are on the waiting list and near the top following the shakedown. Acceptance is automatic this year for your first offered place.

Emilydrab, acceptance is automatic this year unless you tell them otherwise. Advice is to not reject the school offered before the 'shakedown'. We got our third choice - Harris ED which is only 3 streets away but son wants Kingsdale or Charter (for social reasons). I think he is lucky and has a great school - what do we do if we are offered either of these schools in the next round?!

I highly doubt that this is an indication that the school may be put into special measures!! We are particularly gutted we didn't get this school today and know several kids who already go there. They are all incredibly happy and achieving beyond their parent's expectations. A good/outstanding school is only half of the equation. The other half is parental support. That is not influenced by OFSTED!

As far as I'm aware (12 years in ED) this has always been the case. Nothing new.

Best line ever from the expectant grandfather 'make sure you have plenty of wine'!

Oops double post.

I know this from many years past and thought I would show my then 10 year old as an introduction to Tim Minchin (my son wants to be a stand up comedian when he 'grows up'). I completely forgot about the language factor!! My son loved it, I cringed.

I'm afraid not any advice but a great deal of sympathy. We also had this problem with my youngest. It started around the age of 12 months. We moved him to a front facing seat as soon as was safe, always had a little cool air on him during journeys and found some music which soothed him (a bit of Royksopp and Air worked for us (and bag for throwing up in, towel, change of clothes etc). Even at 6 years he is not the best traveller in cars or planes but we make sure he has a bit of fresh air and something to distract him like eye spy games and spot the 'whatever' game. Do you have an air freshner in the car? That may set them off. Good luck.

As far as I remember, Harris boys should have some kids sitting GCSEs this year. As someone that always knew we wouldn't get into Charter in the first round I'd never set my heart on it but do truly sympathise withou parents who assumed they would get in because of past decisions. The retrospectivity of this will be challenged probably with a 'custom and practice' defence but my assumption would be this would have to be done on a case by case basis. What would be fairer is if Charter and/or Southwark decided to honour the current applications based on the assumptions made by parents for 2012 intake. Legally this is a mess and there are no winners.

Yum! Lamb is my favourite food. Buy necks of lamb and marinate (lemon, garlic, fresh herbs) and grill, slice thinly. Serve with a tomatoe sauce with black olives, peppers and courgette with cous cous.

How did they get in? There were plenty of people in the street at that time. I'll ask my friend who arrived at 6pm. There was also a couple and an estate agent at No. 68 who might have seen something.

Not ED but wondered if anyone had advice. I parked in Vestry Rd, Camberwell, today and used the phone payment system. On the machine it said it would cost ?2.40/hour - cheaper than if you pay in the machine (which I think is ?2.70/hour). I only wanted to pay for 1 1/2 hours but it only offered me to chose the number of hours rather than the number of minutes (which has been my experience when using the phone system in Denmark Hill). So, after having to already pay an extra ?1.20 for half an hour more than I wanted, it then charged me ?5.00 instead of ?4.80. We're only talking small change here but this is an almighty money making scam! Who should I take this up with - directly with the Council or get our local Councillor involved before I make a formal complaint?

Not sure that is the only case, dollydaydream. I heard of a child in another suburb who has already been told he has a place at a grammar school in Kent. Also, private schools announce places in February I think.

Nero Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > About three weeks ago I had very bad smelling > wind, a poisoned feeling with pains in my joints, > including fingers, sinus woes and a general > lethargy but no vomiting or cold symptoms. It was > very unpleasant but I don't think it fits the > norovirus pattern of symptoms. Could it have been > something like giardia? I did feel dizzy and had > very vivid and hyper-real dreams. Hmm. Anyone > else? Sounds nothing like Giardia - you'd definitely know if you had that! You are also unlikely to have been infected with it in ED.