kemurf

Ooh and Bermondsey!

Loved the Deptford High St programme and like The Nappy Lady, my family lived in that area at one point, although they are from Bermondsey. Makes me think about how and why they got moved to the Pepys Estate, and now I'm wondering why my parents also got a council flat in a New Cross high rise so easily in the early 70's...maybe because the locals just would not take them (and why would they?). Berwick Tower in New Cross is now demolished - it didn't last long. Meanwhile Victorian properties are still around and sell for a song. Looking forward to watching the recording of Camberwell Grove. WELL DONE!

Got to say that this was really good! Sun came out! I tried the Devon Mist cider - it was very drinkable....

We love Swanage! Dorset is beautiful and Swanage is very family friendly, lots of b&bs, caravan parks /campsites. When the weather is good the beach is fab; very calm water, very clean. There is lots to do nearby and it is right by the beautiful Studland Bay.

I got the pheromone moth traps from Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/CLOTHES-MOTH-TRAPS-x-10/dp/B003LQ4FVU/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1339234739&sr=8-3

Thanks everyone for your tips and recommendations, I'll investigate Skoda and Nissan to start with!

Thinking about budget; did you buy these cars for under ?6k (2nd hand)? Any tips of where to buy from? I'm an absolute novice (can you tell?!)

Looking to buy a 2nd hand family car; we have 2 kids aged 4 and 2. Husband is very tall and our 13 year old VW Golf has been fab but needs some work doing to it. What would you recommend that is economical & inexpensive? Where to buy from? Thank you!

Looking to buy a 2nd hand family car; we have 2 kids aged 4 and 2. Husband is very tall and our 13 year old VW Golf has been fab but needs some work doing to it. What would you recommend that is economical & inexpensive? Thank you!

Another thumbs up for the Birth Centre at Lewisham! I had my second daughter in Sept 2010, and I cannot praise the care and professionalism from the staff. The unit is fab, like everyone is saying, it does not feel like a hospital. Little things like how they welcome you to the Birth Centre, the waiting area, the way they talk to you, the facilities, the John Lewis wooden cradles in each room (not the hospital transparent cots!) it all feels like you, your labour and the birth are the most important things. I had a water birth, well I just about made it in, and I felt like I was in the safest of hands; non-invasive, supportive care and I left 6 hours after the birth - I never felt so good. I had my first baby in the labour ward in 2008 and I think huge improvements have been made since then. I am so glad feedback is still so positive - well done Lewisham Birth Centre!

I think Crystal Palace National Sports Centre offer classes - look on the GLL website, as they run the centre

Willis I think still are statutory, and Marsh are probably similar. Look up Sunday Times Top 500 companies as there is a mid size broker firm in there, can't remember who, top 50 i think if not in the top 10, and it will list the maternity policy. But I'm sure they will all be pretty crap.

I used to work for a big American insurer and it was 10 weeks full pay, 16 weeks 1/2 pay. Broker firms were worse and offered the statutory. I think there was a similar thread a few months back so it might be worth doing a search. Most companies over a certain size are supposed to have consultation groups. Maybe they could help? Or could just infuriate your company... http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/employment/employeeinformationandconsultation/dg_10028095

I agree Saffron that volunteering might not be an option due to childcare costs - and that's another huge issue, but it is such a competitive jobs market, that if you can do it, it might just give you the edge.

Does Southwark operate a scheme? I know Lambeth does.

Is your background PA/admin? Sorry if it's an obvious question, but if it isn't, why are you applying for these roles? The reason I ask is because PA/admin is a common area for mums returning to work to apply for, rather than something similar to what they did pre kids. I used to work in HR /recruitment until very recently (to be a stay at home mum!) and I have seen this on so many CVs. Companies get a bit nervous not because you're a mum, but because this isn't the background /skillset you used to do, if you see what I mean, so they view it as a 'foot in the door' approach rather than 'I want this job and I will be good at it' approach. Last year I attended a seminar on going back to work run by Women Like Us - or another similar part time working mums website, and this was a massive issue, because mums thought this was a good or easy way to get back into the job market - effectively mums it seems, lose confidence in their abilities as a job applicant and undersell themselves and their abilities when they go back to work. However, that said, if this is your background (sorry to go on) then I imagine you are in a similar boat to many other mums and women - it's a really tough job market and I'm sure it will be for a while yet. So like someone said earlier, go that extra mile and volunteer in a similar role in a charity or school, to get your skills brushed up and show you are different. Carry on networking - word of mouth counts for so much. Try the women/part time jobs websites to see what articles they have produced about going back to work. There is also a business networking event on 9th May in Forest Hill - I wonder if this is a good networking event? See here; http://sydenham.org.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=7709 Good luck!

Thanks everyone; I've found www.etsy.com thanks to Princess, what a fab site, loads of patterns for beginners and upwards. I have just bought a pattern for about ?3.70! I've seen Scarlet Peacock posts and have just joined their newsletter - thanks Molly. Here it goes...!

I am a sewing novice, with a sewing machine which is never used and I'd like to try to make a summer dress for my daughters. Bearing in mind I can just about get the bobbin into the machine, any tips/ patterns / links to show me how to make an easy dress would be gratefully accepted! Thank you.

http://www.forestholidays.co.uk/cabins.aspx?gclid=CMmfoPLx0q8CFUsMtAodyiIzbg Never used them but they look like nice places. Try Hoseasons /Haven holidays too - they are holiday parks so you get loads of kids hanging out and playing together. Or Eurocamp, Canvas, Keycamp for camping abroad?

Both mudchute and Surrey docks farms have fantastic cafes, mudchute's is bigger so make sure you treat yourselves there!

Hi We went to a Hoseasons place I think, Broadlands, near Lowestoft and Southwold when our first was a similar age. Not guaranteed sunshine but Norfolk/Suffolk borders are beautiful. We stayed in a chalet on a little holiday park, with an indoor pool, by the Broads and lovely beaches and countryside. Hot tub out the back too! Or look up Forest HolidAys for a log cabin somewhere? Or google self catering places? Personally I can recommend Swanage in Dorset - bit of tat and quaint at the same time, great beach, beautiful countryside. My kids love it and so do we. Dorset is just fab and easy to get to by car or train. Enjoy!

Oh and I have that Everybody Poos book and maybe some others if you want to borrow them!

Hi My daughter was weeing on the loo from 2.5 yrs, took to the toilet no probs except for poos. She only began pooing on the toilet a year later. We went though something similar to you, from only ever pooing in a nappy, and only ever at home (never at nursery), to withholding poos, becoming horribly constipated and miserable etc and it affected us all. she was prescribed Lactulose I think first time. A few months later it was Movicol, and she knew why she was having it, and over time it kind of worked, she became less anxious, we calmed down, she got confident, lots of praise from us and grandparents. No amount of poo goes to Pooland or other books on pooing actually helped, it was telling her something she already knew and reinforcing the problem I think. I don't really know what made it work in the end, but over Christmas, just the family (and the Movicol,) together, she made progress and now 4 or 5 months later she is using the toilet for wees and poos no problem, fingers crossed it lasts. Pm me if you would like to talk or email to discuss. Kate

Hi I'm sorry to hear this and hope you get the support you need. Have you seen your GP? Perhaps they can offer counselling or something similar. Or, do you work or know someone who works for a company with an Employee Assistance Programme, which offers free counselling? Lots of companies offer EAP's which offer support on all kinds of levels and you often do not have to be an employee of the organisation offering it (as lots do not or cannot check up on who calls for data protection or confidentiality reasons). An EAP is basically a confidential advice service; you call up, speak to an operator and they put you through to a trained person who takes your details, listens to you, and then can put you in touch with a specialist within that particular field; in your case perhaps a relationship counsellor, in your area. I recently left my job in HR and we had an EAP at the company. Typically an EAP will offer up to 6 free sessions. The EAP should have checked the counsellors credentials and ensure they are trained in relationship counselling, but it is worth checking yourself. Alternatively I think if you look up BACP (British Association of Counselling something - I think this is still the body but have not checked for a few years), some members will offer reductions or free sessions based on income etc. Perhaps someone on the forum can give you details of their EAP to use? Good luck.

There is a campervan company in forest hill, just off stanstead road - can't remember what they are called, google them?