Pamela78

Pretty sure all sessions are off this week for half term. Back on from Monday :-)

I've been keeping a blog for nearly three years now - since becoming a mum! My parents and most of my family live abroad or in distant parts of the country so I mainly keep the blog so they can feel part of the children's lives and development. I love keeping it as its such fun looking back! It can be pretty time consuming and sometimes I really have to force myself to keep it up to date. Not sure the children will appreciate it when they are older though (especially when I read about "sharenting" this week! http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2013/may/18/pros-cons-of-sharenting) - would probably consider a more anonymous approach if I had my time again. But I'm glad I'm keeping the record of our experiences, and hope to keep doing so until they force me to stop sharing! http://agarunderconstruction.wordpress.com/

Andy just completed a bunch of small jobs for me, including putting up blinds and mirrors. He was able to quote and complete the work really quickly. Will definitely be using him again.

If you're looking for a break yoruself - this new place in Brixton offering childcare is open on Saturdays - http://www.treehouseworkandplay.com/index.html I've not used it, but heard positive things

Wanted to share details of a science festival happening on 3/4 May where I work (when not on maternity leave!) - in case you're looking for something different to do or have any future scientists in your family! * * * * * If you?ve ever wondered what life?s like on the surface of Mars, why babies kick in the womb or how your brain understands and reacts to music, the wait is over. Imperial Festival is back. Join us as Imperial springs to life this May bank holiday weekend with hands-on science demonstrations, music, comedy, dance and art for all ages. Events and activities run from 16:00-22:00 on Friday 3 May and from 12:00-18:00 on Saturday 4 May. The Festival is open to audiences of all ages and interests. Food and drink will be available throughout. All activities are free ? just drop in any time. For the full programme, timings and location, visit http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/festival This year?s Festival programme builds on the best science and arts on offer from Imperial staff, students and alumni with a packed schedule of talks, performances and activities for all ages to enjoy. * Chat with more than 200 scientists: find out what they think about and what they do * Peek behind the usually closed doors of some of our research facilities * Enjoy music, dance, science comedy and busking performances * Test your nerves with our pop-up surgery. Do you have what it takes to be a surgeon? * Take part in over 40 hands-on science demonstrations * Get up to speed on the latest research by taking your pick from the Festival talk programme

National Trust one at Morden Hall Park http://www.viewlondon.co.uk/whatson/easter-at-morden-hall-park-article-9401.html

Power Pramming is a great class - I made a couple of really good friends there after the birth of my son a couple of years ago. I should really get back to that now I'm back on maternity leave! I now have a 13 week old daughter and have just started taking her to Gymboree in Herne Hill. It is pricey, but one of the few groups I've tried that is really focussed on little babies of this age - she seems really engaged and interested by it. And I've met some lovely mums at the Cheeky Cs playgroup where my eldest can run around, and I can spend time in the baby corner with my daughter. Hummy Mummies is great fun too and a good place to meet people.

Thought this unusual evening event next Thursday at Imperial College London (where I work) might be of interest to families with older teenagers maybe considering studying science at uni? Or a quirky date night for grown ups?! * * * * "The science behind our fears" From mad scientists to brain-eating zombies, Halloween is steeped in the weird and wonderful world of science. Join the first Imperial College London Fringe event, where we take a lighthearted look at the science behind our fears, from brains to pandemics via sleep research and a zombie apocalypse. The Imperial Fringe is a series of monthly evening public events exploring the unexpected side of science. All events are free and open to all. Prepare to think in new dimensions as you join us on a voyage of discovery and debate, inspired by Imperial?s groundbreaking research. Date: Thursday 25 October 2012 Time: 18.00 ? 21.00 Venue: Main Entrance, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ Activities include: * Can we die of fright? Look at how hearts cope with stress, and even touch one if you?re brave! With cardiologist Sian Harding * Take a tour of a real human brain with neuropathologist Steve Gentleman * How would zombies, vampires and werewolves measure up in the world of infectious disease? Become infected, and learn about your new contagion with epidemiologist Deirdre Hollingsworth * Join our resident soapbox scientist Leon Vanstone as he gears up the Imperial tricycle to take you on a journey to the ends of the Earth. Where will you go and will you survive? * Catch a glimpse of our sleeping brain waves and find out what happens while we snooze with sleep and respiratory physiologist Mary Morrell * Meet some of the robots made by the Imperial College Robotics Society, and find out whether we should fear the future of AI? * Create an illustrated comic book of your fears with Neurocomic * Enjoy drinks or nibbles at our pay bar, open throughout Don?t miss three talks by Frank Swain, science writer and broadcaster, who is currently writing How to make a Zombie, The real life (and death) of reanimation and mind control. Talk 1: 18.15 ? 18.45 ? The search for zombie poison Talk 2: 19.15 ? 19.45 ? Reanimation: the two hundred year long quest to raise the dead Talk 3: 20.15 ? 20.45 ? Parasitic mind control: are you already a zombie? Full details at http://www3.imperial.ac.uk/newsandeventspggrp/imperialcollege/eventssummary/event_20-8-2012-10-33-31

Possibly too far for you, but we've done a couple of fabulous family walks up Box Hill - http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/box-hill/ - gorgeous views and easy routes from the car park at the top. There are plenty of other nice places for a walk around the Surrey Hills - http://www.surreyhills.org/. Or closer to home Morden Hall Park is nice - less rural / views of course, but close and easy. Hope the weather is kind to you!

I've been pleased with the Ecozone Moonlight you can get on Amazon - plugs into a regular socket and emits a subtle greenish light. Found it invaluable for night feeds with my baby - emits enough light to see what you're doing.

My 2 year old son enjoys baby booters at JAGS, although it can get very busy and noisy and sometimes he struggles to stay interested for the full hour. He loves Bea's Baby Bop at 10.30am at The Plough on a Saturday morning (although she's away till 11 October I think). We're thinking of trying toddler trampolining also at JAGS which I think is on a Saturday morning.

Agree about Godstone Farn - my 22 month old adores it there. We've also had great days at Hever Castle and Leeds Castle.

My 2 year old loves SoundTouch, Bubbles (by Hog Bay), Magic Piano and FunKey Rhymes. Lots of nice books too.

We used the Francis Peek Centre in Dulwich Park - it was v relaxed, good value and we could do everything ourselves.

I'm quite a fan of Next for babygrows - they've generally been a great fit for my son and I like how easy they are to get on him! Also get mothercare ones sometimes - personally they seem to be a slightly larger fit which is handy when he is growing quickly.

The Wire? Takes a while to get into but worth the effort. My husband is now watching 24, but I can't bear it!

Just thought I'd share details of a science festival happening this weekend where I work - in case you're looking for something different to do or have any future scientists in your family! * * * * * Join us at Imperial College London's first public Festival, on Friday 11 ? Saturday 12 May, to celebrate the work and life of the College and discover what goes on behind the scenes. Bring your friends and family to enjoy hands-on research demonstrations, talks, music, comedy, dancing and art. The Festival is open to audiences of all ages and interests. Food and drink will be available throughout. All activities are free ? just drop in any time. For the full programme, timings and location, visit www.imperial.ac.uk/festival From forensics to robots, artwork to enterprise, the Festival has something for everyone, with a huge mix of performances, exhibitions, interactive exhibits, events and talks. Explore the best on offer from Imperial staff and students today ? immerse yourself in a surgical experience, meet soapbox scientists, analyse your fingerprints, and listen to live music. Highlights include: * Queen's Lawn Marquee: Explore the Festival hub, which includes hands-on activities and research demonstrations featuring Imperial's departments, institutes and innovations. Displays include space missions, lasers and earthworms. * SAF Building: Get up close and personal with the inside of an operating theatre, and try your hand at surgery with a pop-up anatomy lesson. * Dancing in the street: Join Imperial student societies for everything from belly dancing to tango, throw some shapes at the silent disco, and keep your eyes peeled for a skateboarding Isaac Newton and mechanical dragon. * Queen's Tower Music Stage: From acappella to a gramophone DJ, tap your toe to some of the best music from Imperial and beyond.

ED tots is a great local resource for classes etc in the area - http://www.edtots.co.uk/. Or you could visit the local parks, Horniman Museum aquarium or local softplays. Further afield, my son adores the Science Museum basement kids area, the National Army Museum soft play and London zoo. Have a great holiday!

You could try The Rosendale - if the weather is better, they have a nice garden kids area.

Hi We sometimes take our v active 17 month old to Bea's Baby Music or Baby Booters (at JAGs) on a Saturday morning. Or for something less structured, we go to soft play at Brixton rec, Beckenham Spa or National Army Museum. He also loves the basement of the Science Museum. Or there's family swimming at Crystal Palace? P

So pleased you're starting a Monday afternoon group - will definitely be there :-)

It was a long time ago - but I used to love a series of ballet books which started with "Ballet for Drina".

Have you tried the Baby Friendly Boltholes website - lots of nice things on there. We've had lovely breaks with our 1 year old at: The Cowshed in Dorset - http://www.dorsetcowshed.co.uk/index.html By the Byre in Somerset - http://www.bythebyrecottages.co.uk/

Hi My childminder is away for a couple of weeks during August, so I'll be trying to find ways to keep my very active 1 year old amused during the week. Most classes and drop ins seem to break up for the Summer and don't start again until September/October. Does anyone know of anything running throughout August? I suspect we'll spend most of the time in the local parks, but would love to find a couple of drop in music/play classes that we could go to together. Thanks!

We had the same problem with our son. I tried everything - different bottles, expressed milk, different formulas, different temperatures, different people offering the bottle! I got so frustrated, I gave up trying for a while. I didn't think he'd ever take a bottle - but suddenly, after a bit of a break, he began taking formula from the MAM self sterilising bottles. Now he's 8 months old and he happily takes all his milk from the MAM bottles - what a relief! I've heard good things about the nuk latext teat from others with a similar issue. So keep trying, but if you or she are getting stressed about it, take a break for a while and then try again. Good luck!