Gussy

Renata, thanks for your reply. The newsletter has been sitting in the 1 o clock club for some time it would seem - its dated May 2011. I think its only recently been put in a more prominent position for parents to pick up. I will try to scan a copy so that people can read it, but curlykaren got it right, it says - "The 2010-11 budget is to be cut by approximately a third in 2011-12 and the remaining budget is to be removed from 2012-13." also: "...the council will no longer be the direct provider of the services you currently receive, we are actively seeking discussions with alternative providers who will be able to offer a similar service" I understand that budgets have to be cut, but I am annoyed that nobody asked us - the users of the service - before approving the cuts. They are also going ahead with seeking alternative providers. Again, this is something that would surely benefit from input from the users themselves. Why is there no public consultation/involvement? For example, similar to the library consultations currently underway? I for one would be interested to be involved and will seriously consider giving my time to help run the club. But I have no way of communicating this with anyone from the council. I can of course email them, but that's not the point. This is a vital service for many many families and carers and it deserves to be handled sensitively and openly with the many mums/dads that use it. As for the playground, its seems a fair way off completion, but I don't really care, its lovely to see improvements but I can go to other parks for some water, I can't go anywhere within walking distance to another 1 o clock club. How does it fit with the existing club? Nobody seems to know! There must be someone in the council who could come on here and enlighten us!! As for a rebuild, it seems crazy to think about if the clubs future 'provider' doesn't even exist yet. What if no alternative is found?! (rant over, sorry folks)

I believe the new playground was paid/signed off with last years budget, while the budget for 2012 has been cut, meaning closure if no 'alternative' can be found. Again, not sure on details and would be very keen to hear more information.

I have just heard that a newsletter has come out announcing the CLOSURE of the PR 1 o clock club. I'm going down there today to get a copy of this newsletter, but if this is the case then I'm really angry and disappointed. Especially after so called 'reassurances' on this board that this would not be the case, at least without consultation first - unless this has already taken place without public knowledge? Renata would you like to comment?

I think its a great idea. I use WG quite a lot and while my children are still young and still enjoy the use of the current equipment, they also love Goose Green and all the new wood-type equipment there. I have to say I think a lot of space in WG is underused! Whenever I go the top playground it is usually busy - if a little too busy when school kicks out (but aren't they all?), other than that I occasionally see some youngsters playing basket ball down the bottom, but generally, not a lot else. Especially in the lovely big grassy area.

Ruth sorry no advice about Jogger, but just to say don't fold away your maclaren just yet! I have a P&T Sport but my newborn wouldn't sleep in it, so I used a sling for baby and the maclaren for toddler for about 3-4 months. Also meant arms free for toddler if they fall over/jump off a cliff etc. Plus no probs on the bus. I found the P&T came into its own once baby could sit up and went in the bottom (around 6 months), with toddler in top..... The bottom line is there is no ideal pram out there for baby/toddler combo! Well, I haven't found it. There's compromises with all of them. I wish I could design one cos I found it frustrating like you finding something to suit. So, like you we've ended up with 4 prams.....none of which are the magic answer. Hurry up and walk you kids would you? xx

Did you go F? What time session? I was there today x

Thanks srisky I survived! *pictures self sitting on sofa with smoke and soot coming out of ears* As for 60MM its a terrible terrible show - like you say, they do the same awful wallpaper time and time again. They totally ruin peoples house, but I can't help watching it. As for temperatures, just got baby from nap and bust open windows and its now gone down to 23 degrees......toddlers room with closed door and tiny bit open window is still 28 degrees....sure it will be fine tonight. Yay.

Can you still get lightening coming down your TV ariel and blowing things up? :) I remember as a kid my mum made us turn off the tele and stand away from the windows! Not even sure we use a TV ariel these days, now its all digital, like. Sod it I'm keeping 60 minute make over on.

Yippee RAIN! :)

ooo it's getting darker!

Getting annoyed with the inaccurate weather forecast. It was supposed to rain/storm last night at 7pm....10pm, nothing. Was hoping it would do something overnight to break this heat, but up this morning and nothing......then the local forecast said rain by lunchtime. Looking out the window.....just grey, no impending storm that's for sure. Poor kiddies rooms are still up near the 30 degrees. They are both knackered and sweaty and eggy! Come on RAIN!

Haha mine always involves a tube of cream (normally one of my nice one's that I'm saving for a day when I don't have kids) and it gets either ground into the carpet, sofa, or both.

supergolden88 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > cot is propped up anyway at a rather dangerous > angle so the pillow stops him sliding down. I > sound like an awful mother dont I? > > In my desperation with his constant blocked nose I > wondered why someone hasn't invented a sort of gro > bag that is kind of harnessed to the bed so that > they can sleep vertically if need be > > pay me no mind I have had less than 5 hours sleep > this past week... Hi SG, babyreflux (like this) do some crazy/novel sleep aids. There's also a special wedge thing for the mattress if you're not comfortable with a pillow. Although not sure if you're just paying extra for stuff you can get away with improvising yourself?? I didn't use a pillow with my daughter until she was 18 months, but now she has 2 pillows (and cot raised!) as she gets a lot of colds and suffers with post-nasal drip x

Daughter dropped hers at 13 months (was fairly quick to do so by herself - took about a week, but I had to move lunch and lunch naps forwards for months as she was knackered by 11.30am!). My son is 14 months and still very much in need of his.....not sure when its going to go yet! I'm going to wait and see and let him drop it by himself - he is also an early waker so needs his bed by 9am.

Attack of the trees

Oh and Goose Green playgroup, yes in the church hall (10-12). All saints church group is Weds 10-12 (opp peckham rye station), Copp playgroup in the church on Coppleston rd (tues 10-12)

Clare you're cheating, you have to spend months finding all this info out :) only joking and happy to share - all the listings can be found in these leaflets - download the peckham and dulwich ones: here x

PR 1 o clock club, All Saints playgroup, Coppleston playgroup, Rye Oak bookstart (if you can get in), libraries (when toddler wants to read rather than trash the place), Goose Green playgroup (thurs am) again get there early, music class with stay and play afterwards on Mon am at All Fired Up. did all these with my 2 - V. active toddler and breastfeeding baby. TBH nothing is going to be easy but at least they are contained and there's always people in the same boat x

I'm not having anymore, but if I was to :)) I'm going to lie from the start about the due date and put it 2 weeks late, thereby avoiding all that pesky questioning. My friend did it and I thought it was a great idea.

Collect recycling fortnightly? No, no, no! I have 3 recycling boxes that are full to bursting every week. If I have to wait another week for collection where's it gonna go? I already have a full green bin (2 babies in nappies). The only way we could cope is if we had blue (or whatever colour) large bins for recycling. Otherwise its just going to have to spill onto the street or I'll chuck it in the brown bin! Sorry but its gonna have to go somewhere.

oh its definitely open I go several times a week. Just have half of the outside space instead, still all the toys and inside is open as usual. Finished by the end of May? Wow, it looks like its many months off being anywhere near to ready. I've never seen a single workman there in all the days I go, although I did speak to one of the ladies who works there and she says they are not allowed to work when its open. Doesn't leave much time then does it! Really hope it gets finished soon. Its a shame these things always happen during spring/summer rather than winter. Well, shouldn't moan I suppose, at least it is getting done up rather than shut down. Looking forward to any updates coming through

Shoot me now, but I have to say I'm passionate about waiting for baby to come when they are ready. Due dates are only estimates at the end of the day. I had a horrid birth and labour with sweeps and inductions with my first but I didn't know all the information or all of my choices. For my second I held off induction for 13 days, and instead opted for continual monitoring (went to hospital each day for bp, bloods and scan). This is your right and is in the NICE guidelines but you won't be told this by the health professionals! Found this website very interesting too: 10 month mamas Of course there are risks in going 'overdue' but as long as you are informed and make the decision that is right for you along with your doctor then that's fine too!

BTW reflexologist was a lady called Susy Ray website here Did have to travel to Covent Garden to see her though (a very uncomfortable taxi journey!!).

Hi I went nearly 2 weeks overdue and I tried everything going!!! I think in the end it was about letting go (I was very anxious about the birth) but also I swear that the reflexology I had 2 days before the birth helped. I actually had a contraction while the reflexologist was pressing on a certain point on my foot! Spooky! x

I'm going through a very difficult period with my 2.5 year old and her naps or lack of. She's just dropped her lunchtime nap, but as of yesterday I have started them again! I don't think she could cope without it. She got through the day just about, but was completely shattered by 6pm and sound asleep by 6.30pm. Bliss I thought, but the nights have been awful, lots of waking up and sometimes waking at 1am and staying awake for 3 hours! Also early waking as well. I found it very hard to believe she could go from needing around 15 hrs in 24hrs, suddenly down to 10hrs or less..... The difficulty is every day is slightly different and trying to balance the sleep/vs activity is very difficult. My friend told me that from around 2.5-3.5yrs, managing their changing sleep needs is very tricky, and she was right! So, for the moment I have decided that I am going to try to get her to nap again (although she took ages to settle today) and if that doesn't work, just insist on naps 3-4 times a week and see how it goes. The trouble was when she was napping in the day she was taking 2 hrs plus to settle at bedtime. That seems to have stopped for the time being..... Another friend told me about her little girl stopping naps around 2.5 years, but then a month or two later, she needed to go back to having them again. And she is still napping now at 3 years and settling well at night. It seems like this is a phase full of changes and demands for our little ones (and US!). I've found it really hard to cope with the lack of sleep again as its been like having a newborn again (argggg!).