LSB

Hi - if you are looking for someone to make curtains, blinds or cushions for your home, I can highly recommend Ina. She made some beautiful roman blinds for a couple of rooms in our house, as well as some cushions and they are really beautiful. She was also really helpful in helping me choose fabrics and very friendly, accommodating and easy to work with. Highly recommended! Her mobile number is 07818 061644

Hello nylonmeals : ) I suspect that the guys who organise the junior park run in Brockwell park (which is great fun btw) might know of other running/athletics clubs. Worth asking them maybe?

My daughter didn't get into Alleyn's at 4+ but did at 7+ for what it's worth. Good luck!

I think Southwark offer a childcare permit, which given that we are literally the other side of the road is a bit irritating. Fortunately, I think a very kind neighbour is going to let us use their drive.

Thanks HerneHillmum - so do you have to get a residents' permit for the car that your nanny uses? All these options seem so expensive! I'm thinking that we might letter drop our neighbours and see if anyone wants to rent out their drive. They seem to go for about ?70h a month for a 5 day week (so maybe a bit less for 4 days and paying in advance), which seems the cheapest option I've identified. Our nanny says that Southwark do a childcare parking permit for just under ?200 a year, which seems like a much better option!

Hi - I was wondering if anyone has dealt with this issue and could advise? Basically, we live in Lambeth (Herne Hill) in a controlled parking zone where you need a permit or to pay from 12-2 every day. Our nanny drives in and I'm not sure what to do re her parking. We don't get enough parking permits per year to cover all her days (and it would be expensive), the pay per day option is a bit awkward (means she needs to get to the machines by 12) and is also expensive. Both options will end up adding about ?1k pa to an already expensive arrangement. Has anyone been in a similar situation and what did they do? Does anyone have a drive in Herne Hill that they would like to rent out four days a week? Thanks in advance! L

We are going to go to Oman in Feb with our three kids. Muscat is a lovely city and there are some great hotels - flights not too expensive at the moment.

We pay our nanny ?11.50 per hour net to look after our three children (eldest two in full time school, youngest at home).

Thank you ludoscotts!

We found our last nanny - who was absolutely wonderful and stayed with us for three years - through gumtree. This time round I'm not having much luck with gumtree but have registered with a few agencies instead (imperial, kensington and the london nanny company - kensington have been the most proactive so far). They have sent me details of some lovely nannnies and I think we're almost there with one of them. Happy to answer any more questions by PM.

Hi all - wondering if anyone could recommend an entertainer for an eight year old girl's birthday party (have already got details for Amigos Magic, but wondering if he might be a bit "young" for that age group)? Many thanks!

I would also like to add my recommendation to those above! I saw Dr Langhoff after I developed post natal depression following the birth of my baby earlier this year. I thought she was great and extremely helpful - she was also happy to have my baby come along to the sessions, which was a great help given how little he was at the time. With Dr Langhoff's support, I am relieved to say that the PND passed and I am now able to fully enjoy my time with my little boy.

Thanks for all the helpful comments and PMs - it's great to know that it gets easier (quickly! although time does NOT seem to be flying at the moment). To complicate matters I haven't been able to bfeed number 3 despite the first two being quite straightforward feeders, which means that it's more difficult to do top up feeds before school runs and feed to settle him etc. But means that feeds are very quick, so some pros I guess.

We've very recently had our third after a long(ish) gap - having a new born again is quite a shock. I was wondering if anyone with three had any good tips to pass on - like how to do drop off and pick up with an unpredictable new born who could be asleep (great) or awake and drizzling (not so great) or needing a feed (very un-great)? Or bath/bed time? Or after school activities? Or anything, really! Also, if anyone in a similar situation wants to meet up and compare notes/have a moan, do PM me. Thanks!

Or in East Dulwich? Thanks