Emily

Was pretty shocked to see Head standing in front of presentation which was headlined, in giant letters, 'Headmaster's Academic Honour Role'.

Today I was told the problem with results at Habs was in maths, which was put down to the entire maths dept leaving or becoming pregnant and leaving, so no continuity of teaching. The senior person I talked to said they expected results to rise again next year, and for retakes to improve this year's results. Also they said results on other subjects were the same or up. Obviously the proof will be in next year's pudding.

this one had a surname that began with M and ended in O. So you were impressed by the school?

thinking of it for my oldest daughter

Huggers, do your children enjoy school there? I had it down as a potential school for my kids, but was a bit worried when she said her son found it 'too crowded' and didn't enjoy himself (he got a music place). Do you think the 'new' intake is very different from the old intake? Are the children from the primary school feeder well behaved? I thought the primary was in trouble so the kids were not from the usual ambitious, middle-class, education-focussed families that used to predominate at Haberdashers.

Would parents with children at secondaries in Lewisham and Southwark be prepared to share their thoughts on the schools - strengths and weaknesses? It would be useful for the rest of us!

Would parents with children at secondaries in Lewisham and Southwark be prepared to share their thoughts on the schools - strengths and weaknesses? It would be useful for the rest of us!

I bet I'm not!

Surely I can't be the only person who thinks the school building is a total eyesore? It looks like a shabby office block with the (bad) Christmas lights up. Totally out of place in East Dulwich and a blot upon the beautiful park. And I bet it doesn't last long before bits start falling off it, unlike the beautiful Victorian building torn down to make way for it.

Yup, she is GOOD at this. Mind you, she's had years of practise! She's probably loaded, frankly. And yes, she does look the part. Sober, smiley, apparently embarrassed... Of course you think you might be being scammed, you also think, 'what if she's in trouble...' and that little bit of doubt and human kindness is exactly what she exploits.

sorry I missed these threads - would have saved me ?6. She arrived on my doorstep last week, and even though I was 90% sure I was being scammed she got money out of me. I still think I'm the better person though! She is personable and clearly well practised at her spiel. Black, thirties, slimmish, medium height, tidy looking. And a thief. Sadly, I'll never give money again.

It was good, the dogs were cute and the tea-ladies in particular delightful....but the NOISE! The PA was way over-amplified and the music made it impossible to talk to or hear your kids or friends or hear the punch and judy. Deafening and oppressive.

I pick my children up every day and have never seen anything untoward at all.

I think it's just awful to scream abuse at families in the street.

This forum is fantastic for finding cats. My little cat was found via the forum, for which we are very grateful.

Yes, of course I'm for real. Why wouldn't I be? I made a deliberate decision to donate my unwanted clothes to a really good cause instead of ebaying them because I read an article by Mary Portas in Grazia encouraging people to donate decent stuff not ratty old toot to charity shops (linked to some programme she's making). I washed everything, checked it for marks etc, ironed it. And yes, I do hate ironing, and so no, I wasn't thrilled to see it literally thrown on the floor and then not even put out for sale.The rails in that shop are nearly empty by the way, so I know it's not for lack of space. I mention the brands because I am pointing out that this was not just worn out Primark tat, as obviously that isn't very saleable. My view is that it's pretty pointless getting annoyed at people picking through stuff on the doorstep if the shops don't actually bother selling the donations they receive. I was very surprised and disappointed. I have donated stuff to a woman's refuge in the past and I might do that instead.

Yes, Celia Hammond. we are hoping to get him snipped asap in the hope he won't go off chasing female felines. He has been asleep for HOURS in my daughter's doll's pram this afternoon; I think he wore himself out with his wanderings.

Huge thanks to lovely Sammyg who looked after him (spoilt him rotten!) while he was lost and made contact via the forum. What a fantastic resource! He is bigger than he was two weeks ago, so has clearly not been starving - he has been living on his wits and his charm. Children absolutely thrilled by his return and he seems to be settling in well. Little does he know he's going for the snip on Monday!

I am the world's worst housewife and absolutely hate ironing - I rarely do it for me or mine so I have to admit I did have a special sense of anguish to see my carefully checked (no holes, no stains, no bobbly bits), painstakingly ironed (with my new, bought-nearly-specially-for-the-purpose iron!) and neatly folded pile gaily hurled to the floor. I did plan to Ebay the lot but then felt a pang of guilt and thought it would be better to donate to a local charity. I have to admit I wish I hadn't bothered when I realised most of it was clearly chucked out. What a waste! I'd really rather someone picked through it on the doorstep - at least it would get a second life. Actually, next time I'll freecycle. Anyone want a few Ghost long dresses and tops?

hmmm....wonder where the nice freshly laundered Kew while linen skirt is then? It was a complete BUGGER to iron. And the pretty floral Zara tunic, and the White Stuff t-shirts (unworn!) "Everything's ironed" I said brightly as I delivered my donations in a neatly folded pile. 'hmmph' says the volunteer, literally throwing (yes, chucking it with some vigour) in onto the floor. I know I am whinging a bit, but I am most disillusioned!

Just remembered three Zara sweater dresses - each worn no more than twice, to my shame! (and yes, this is part of rationalising my ridiculous shopping habits) Suffice to say my nice Zara/Monsoon/Petit Bateau/Rachel Riley children's clothes will be going to acquaintances rather than the charity shop. Maybe I could find a nice Dulwich mum with a 4x4 who is in need!

I am almost certain this hospice doesn't have any other branches (unless someone knows different) and I was informed - huffily - that they don't iron anything. The shop wasn't overstocked at all - and most of the stuff out was complete toot - aka bobbly Primark tops.

Well, after a second trip to the Hospice shop in Lordship Lane this morning to drop off more stuff, only to discover that nearly everything I donated seems to have vanished, I think in future I will simply leave things in the street - someone might benefit from them. I gave some nice stuff - eg a Betty Jackson wrap dress, summer resses from Toast, Great Plains etc a brand new men's cashmere black jumper, children's fairy dresses etc, and I made the deliberate decision not to Ebay as I wanted to give something to charity. Now, either bar a trenchcoat and a petit bateau babygrow sold between yesterday lunchtime and 10.30 am or it it went in a skip! Today I delivered a load more stuff (before clocking that almost none of my donations from yesterday were out) and I almost demanded the lot back. And it was nice things, mostly almost unworn/completely unworn ironed, good condition, Kew/Gap/Boden/Saltwater etc. I feel quite affronted!

I LOVEe the croques with the salad and dressing! The coffee is also excellent and I like the free papers, the staff and the friendly owner. But the chairs are uncomfortable and it feels poky and officey - not relaxing. I only go there on my own, if I have hte kids with me I go to Jacks which is much more family-friendly and cosy. THe seats outside are great - keep them for sure.

You lot do make me laugh! It's all very Private Fraser (we're all DOOMED!) but of course you could be right. All I know is the market appears to be quite perky unless you have your house on for a silly price.