Fudge

Had a baby 10 days ago at Kings and when I rang to say that I was coming in I informed them on the phone that I was interested in having a pool. They advised that this was noted but had to wait to see once I got there as to whether available or not. I was lucky one of the inflatable pools was available. But a word of warning as soon as you get a room ask the midwife to start filling the pool up. It took a long time to fill (over an hour) and I was beginning to climb the walls ! Excellent experience and would defo recommend but don't have you heart set toooo much on it, my first labour I wanted a pool which again was available but unfortunately the baby had to be monitored so I never got to use the pool. best of luck and hope that you get what you want.

The Big Sheep is a fun day out - not sure if it might be a little far though - worth checking

my daughter who is 3.5 years old went with her Granny. They had a lovely day by all accounts except they did mention the long queues! Granny did say that the queues werent too much of a problem if there had been with another adult with them as then one person could have queued whilst the others explored.

As with the comments above - good route but unreliable. I find that if I need to go to Herne Hill I am usually better off walking rather than waiting for the bus. I get annoyed when walking if a bus passes as I think that I should have waited for it...but have to say that this is rare - I usually beat the bus ! For my own achievement this is great but not good from a bus service point of view or if one is going a longer distance

thanks for all the details. I will defo call before I make my way there.

Does anyone know what days and times the tours are on ? and also when the waterbirth tours take place ? Had a look on the internet and can not find any recent info on this. thanks

Agree with Loz, the high speed car surely was a one off extreme incident. Road calming measures I wouldn't have thought would stop someone flying down the hill and losing control of their car.... I have just come back from having lunch outside the bakery - during the 30 mins I was there, there were a number of times when the traffic came to a complete standstill. The bus stopping at the bus stop, cars trying to overtake with buses coming towards them from the opposite direction, along with a large lorry delivering to the garden centre and a large lorry trying to get to the building yard at the back of the garden centre. Any narrowing of the road would surely add to these problems causing more problems.....this seems a daft ill thought out plan

Further to the review of Martinhal - yes there are some water parks along that coastline.(towards Faro). Also there is a place called Zoo Marine at Guia. Think the website is www.zoomarine.com (sorry typing quickly so haven't had a chance to check). Zoo Marine is a great day out with the kids with rides, dolphin shows etc and there is also a large swimming pool. Good to get there when it opens as does get busier in the afternoon. From memory the food was a bit poor there though - so would recommend taking your own picnic if you can be bothered with some pennies for an ice-cream. Salema is also a nice place on that coastline not far from Martinhal - small fishing village. There is a good beach there with lots of families and some nice places to eat. One restaurant (can't remember the name at the mo) is literally on the beach. Larger town of Lagos is good - can take a boat trip out to sea to spot Dolphins. We were unlucky the day we choose and didn't see anything, but I think that some of the companies who offer trips guarantee to see them, i.e. if you don't find them you can go out again with them another day for free. Have fun deciding. Another great benefit of this area of the Algrave is that it is in the western corner, which most "Brits abroad - full English" etc don't get to. The really british resorts are in and around Faro airport - so worth travelling this little extra distance if you want to escape from this type of resort. Hence why the waterparks/zoo Marine are back nearer to Faro.

not sure whether you went last night or not....but I did both and I think the first Kings one my husband came along too (except I recall very few partners/husbands were present), the second Kings one I went by myself and the 3rd one I missed....information overload. Depends really how much you know about the whole birthing thing / want to know. As mentioned above I would give it a go and see whether its for you or not. I found the NCT ones good and excellent for making a frined/baby network three years later we are still in touch &I see them all annually at the babies joint birthday party and see two of the others regularly. Shame not more but people move away, have more babies, go back to work etc etc

ah such a dilemna and personal decision. I think not to find out as it is a nice surprise at the end of the hopefully short and easy labour :)) (we wish !) and as mentioned above they can be wrong. It happened to a friend of mine after they had been preparing for their daughter to arrive for it to be a son.... My scan is a couple of weeks away (second time round) and we wont find out again. The only word of warning though is have names prepared for boys and girls. We werent last time as had the idea it was going to be a boy and due to the very long labour I allowed my husband to choose the name for the girl - obviously then it is my choice this time ...yeah ...Hurrah ! either way, as long as they are healthy etc and mum and baby are ok - what does it matter....

the gro clock with a sun and stars works well if you are wanting to teach them when its morning time and when its night time. You set the time for the sun to come up. I find it useful as it is not just Mummy and Daddy saying its not time to get up - the clock shows that it isnt time too..... You can also set the light on the clock as to how bright the display is - so depending on whether you want to use it as a night light as well good luck

don't know if related but I know that one of the estate agents on Lordship Lane - there lines have been down from about 11am

I had the operation to cut mine (about 20 odd years ago) when I was in my early teens. I had completely forgotten about it until I saw your post - don't think that I have ever come across a fellow "frenulumian" Don't remember much about the operation - which is a good sign.... Had it done at Kings. I had to have the stitches removed a few days later which was a bit uncomfortable but I expect the procedure may of changed in the years that have gone by. I was a breastfed baby and my mother has never mentioned any problems she had feeding me nor any speach problems. good luck with whatever you decide to do

Sounds a great idea. I remember when Charles and Diana & Andrew & Fergie got married, Burbage Road (Dulwich Village) held great street parties for both. Good fun and lots going on involving everyone - young and old.

I went to Sylvester Road sorting office today to pick up a parcel and spoke to a postie who told me that they doubt that the backlog will be cleared prior to Christmas. The snow has been an added problem for them but it is basically sheer volume of stuff....they seem to be trying their hardest.......