RuthN

WOW! Time to change career then.

Hi, What is the going rate per hour for a cleaner? My cleaner has left to have a baby and i'm sure the ? p/h has probably gone up but i've only had one quote so far and it's 30% more....! Thanks Ruth

Thanks but i'm looking for the same regular cleaner rather than a company. I've used Fantastic Cleaners (i.e. Cleaners East Dulwich) before, they did an ok job when i moved out of my flat and needed a one off clean. However, when we arrived at our new home it was dirty and i was heavily pregnant the quote from them to clean was very expensive and we felt we had little choice at last minute to go with them and it has left a bitter taste. I also had a quote for window cleaning which was extortionate and they were very rude when i decided not to go with them. Sorry not what i'm looking for. PS do you work for them....

Hi, Unfortunately my lovely cleaner who i found 2 years ago on this forum is leaving to have a baby so i'm hoping i can get another recommendation. I would appreciate a recommendation from someone who employs the cleaner rather than the cleaner themselves looking for work. I am looking for someone who will give my house a proper clean, maybe not everything every time but ensure that the sofas are vacuumed behind every so often and the inside of the windows cleaned every few months. Someone who doesn't come in and robotically do the same thing every time but notices that the skirting boards need wiping or the doors have grubby finger prints on. Someone who will move light furniture like laundry baskets to vacuum behind, and can ask to do more hours if needed rather than doing half a job in the time. I have two young children with with lots of toys so i'd like someone who is happy to throw the toys into the toy box and tidy as i usually don't have time to tidy up before rushing off to work in the morning. I'd like someone who speaks and reads English so that i can let them know if there's something i particulary want doing one week. Ideally I'd also like someone trust worthy, reliable, friendly, good with children, who doesn't become complacent over time. Can you help? Ruth

I recently came on to the forum to look for a new regular gardener and found Mehmet who has came round last week and we were very impressed with him. He was punctual, knowledgeable about the plants in the garden and offered suggestions on how to make improvements. We asked him to suggest a few plants to fill the gaps in our borders and he has come back to us quickly with suggestions and sourced them online for us to find a good price. He worked solidly for three hours for a reasonable price and we were happy that the garden looked tidy afterwards depite the heavy rains a few days before having encouraged an abundance of weeks. We hope he will be our regular fortnightly gardener. Please pm me with any Qs. Ruth

Does anyone know whether all in one Fridays is on tomorrow? Thanks

We moved on Friday and used Arnold and Self. They were fantastic. http://arnoldself.com/

Hi, Would be great to catch up again. I'm off on teh occasional Friday, 28th being one of them so let me know if anything is arranged and i'll try to come along. We're moving house next month and it's likely to be weekend of 20/21 or 27/28. If i'm not moving then i'd love to come along on 21st. I'll keep an eye on the forum. x

I think that's pretty high. We pay approx the same for a nursery and although it's closed on bank holidays we never have to find alternative childcare for sickness, which would ultimately mean you are paying twice these days. I was under the impression that a childminder would be cheaper than nursery....

Ditto all that Lue Lue said. My son goes to Dulwich Nursery 3 days a week and loves it. He was rather dissappointed when we went on holiday for a couple of weeks recently and the first thing he asked every morning was whether he could go to nursery and see his friends (staff included in the list)... Charming! The waiting list is very very long though. I put our name down when i was still pregnant and only got offered a place 2 weeks before i was due to go back to work. Good luck with your search.

Done

Hi, Sorry i missed the 11th, it sounded fun. I can make the 6th (subject to husband's plans.... but should be fine!) I'll probably be there 7-7.30 due to son's bed time. See you there Ruth

I'm on holiday in Majorca so won't be able to make 11th, but hope to make the next one. x

Hi, I'm due to have my second in early October. Very excited but also very very aprehensive as i know kind of what to expect..... But how am i going to do it all with a two year old in tow?? Be lovely to meet up with other mum's who'll be on maternity leave at the same time. My NCT group are all at various stages of having second babies. x

yes, i have a few, i can drop them round to you tomorrow if that helps. Ruth

Sounds good Milsa, i'll also PM you once we have moved. x

Hi, I'll be following this thread with interest as we're thinking of moving to Beckenham in the summer. Let me know what you find to do!! In the search for a new, affordable, place to live we've been popping over at weekends and have found a lovely cafe opposite the church on the high street with a great play area out the back for children, it only opened around Christmas. It's a bit like the Dish and Spoon in Nunhead but bigger - just what ED is missing!!

Clothes you can wear in pregnancy AND breast feed in would be good.

I've just found out i'm pregnant with number 2 and wondered what my options are in terms of midwives. I was with the Lanes with number 1 and thought they were really lovely, got on well with my midwife and had a great service. Unfortnuately i've heard there's been a lot of staff turnover and a friend of mine with them at the moment isn't impressed. I've heard the Oakwood midwives are good but i don't know how/if i'd get to see them. Of if it's necessary - are the Lanes really that bad now? Any advice would be great. I'm only 4 weeks so hopefully that will count in my favour in terms of choice!!? Thanks

Hi, I've been thinking of taking my son along to watch a game for a while. Neither my son nor myself have ever been to a live football game before so that'll be really fun. Do we have to buy tickets beforehand? or turn up ont he day? and how much does it cost? Thanks Ruth

I weaned by baby off breast feeding gradually between 12 and 13 months by reducing the time on the breast by a few minutes every few days and giving a bottle straight after to top up. This had the effect (i think) of reducing my milk supply so that he couldn't smell my milk in the end and therefore didn't want. There were a few nights of bottle rejection and i worried that he wouldn't be full enought to last through the night. At the same time though I had just gone back to work, LO had started nursery and was very tired by bedtime which helped A LOT! We also introduced a story and teeth brushing and more of a structured routine. I used to breast feed to sleep but that didn't work so well on the bottle so, when he had had enough bottle, or refused i lay him in his cot, said nighty night, love you (same every night) turned off the light and left him awake. For quite a while i could hear him crying/moaning and i'd leave it 5-10 mins before going in comforting, extending time gradually but i've stuck with it and now he's a dream. He is 16 months old now, has his milk from a bottle then a story and then goes down awake (sometimes when he's really tired he asks for bunny cuddles which means bed). I listen to him talking away or singing to himself for a while then it's all quiet until about 5.30am. Sometimes i feel it's all happened by accident though as it's a lot to do with them being ready and being tired at the end of the day. Good luck

Exactly! I do not even want to be barked at by a dog... let alone bitten! I'm not anti-dog, I was in Regents Park on Friday morning and saw a woman with four dogs, off lead, walking in a perfect line side by side next to her. She seems to have absolute control over those dogs and their behavour was impeccable. I wasn't at all anxious walking past those dogs!

Oh my goodness, i do not own a dog as i'm pretty terrified of them and if i had seen two biggish dogs, regardless of breed, walking down the middle of a road not on a lead i would have FREAKED OUT! I find the arrogance of some dog owners unbelievable. I am trying to bring my son up without a fear of dogs but we often go to goose green for a play/run around as it's so close to our house and we cut through on the way to the play ground. If this dog is attacking other dogs - are children safe. This is disgusting!

We used paspics.com which is similar to photobox but paspics guarantee it will meet the passport guidelines and will email you if the photo is unacceptable, then you can just upload another photo.

Thanks all for your comments - they are really really helpful. I'm definately coming down in favour of the city mini. My only doubt is the size when in use. I went to mothercare and it measured 4cm wider than my current pram and now i'm worried it will struggle to fit in through the front door as we have a kind of chicane into the kitchen. Bit cheeky, but does anyone with a city mini fancy popping round to mine for a cuppa so i can test the fit before i order? I live near the roundabout on goose green at the end of lordship lane...