fapl

NCT Lewisham Branch volunteer get together this Saturday 20th April.

The branch needs more volunteers to provide services for local parents. YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO VOLUNTEER, and it is a great way to meet new people. Could you help run a play group, edit a newsletter, run a nearly new sale, or host a coffee morning?

At the Honor Oak Pub, 3-5pm

1 St German?s Road, Forest Hill, SE23 1RH

If you are interested in more information and are unable to make it you can contact Jessica Figueras - [email protected]

If you live in Lewisham borough, Lewisham toy library is fantastic, you can hire lots of stuff for little ones' birthday parties :-)

www.lewishamtoylibrary.org.uk/

Same when we were there. Really sad as it deserves more visitors. And it is school holidays!

It will only get worse when Lewisham closes :(

Just to let people know a new exhibition opened at Hall Place in Bexley, the exhibition is called Beastly Hall...

http://www.bexleyheritagetrust.org.uk/hallplace/whats-on/

There is lots of crazy taxidermy and stuff, my 3 year old liked it, so did we and the parents in law, older kids and teenagers I expect would like it too, so it really is one for the whole family. They also have an Easter garden trail on during the school holidays (?2), we didn't do it though as we were only at Hall Place for a couple of hours and weren't interested in rushing.

?7 entry for adults into the house, but if you giftaid you can visit for 12 months, I am not sure what age kids start paying, maybe 16?

They are still talking on the ticket counter about all the people from Dulwich that went to their Fairytale exhibition after somebody wrote about it on the forum :-D

If you have under 12s and the weather picks up, if you make the trek over you can also stop at Danson Park where there is a fab playground and a small splash park. I have now planned a whole day out for you :-)

My first walked at 11 months, he threw himself into everything, and took lots of knocks and tumbles. My 14 month old is not walking at the moment, but he has a different personality and I know that when he does start walking he will not have nearly as many tumbles as his big brother did, he is waiting till he is really confident before he tries walking on his own.

We had our family picture taken by Elle last year at the pop up studio. We have had many compliments on the picture. This is great value for money, and also an excellent cause.

The Telegraph Hill festival had loads of lovely hand crafted pieces last year, so if you need to buy any gifts turn up with a few pounds in your pocket, you will not be able to resist. So many talented crafty people living in our community.

I hope you reach your fundraising target Elle, good luck!

I use an old volo and think it is great. If I am going out by myself on public transport, especially when i know there will be steps, I take the volo without extras eg. no hood/raincover (weather permitting), so I can sling it over one shoulder and carry baby in the other arm, or if the child is slightly older you could get them to walk the steps holding their hand. Also, on Southeastern trains the volo fits on the overhead luggage rack. Without extras attached it is just 3.6kg I think. It is a great buggy, I am sure the truimph is too, just depends if you really want the recline.

Renata, yes, this is Judith Kerr Primary School.

This is going to be a great sale on Saturday, 50 sellers are registered so there will literally be thousands of items for sale. The Facebook page is here http://www.facebook.com/LewishamNearlyNewSales

My oldest is still only 3 and not asking questions yet, so I won't be too helpful (will keep a close eye on other responses), but when I was pregnant with his baby brother I bought a picture book called Hello Baby, which was about a home birth and had in graphic but tasteful illustrations of the baby coming out (although side on, so my son thought it was coming out the back bum), the baby and umbilical chord, and also the placenta.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hello-Baby-Jenni-Overend/dp/1845071107/ref=pd_sim_b_18

Ages 3 and over for the creche, not sure what the oldest age is, maybe 10? Go to the counter as soon as you arrive as there are limited numbers in at any one time and you might have a book a slot for a bit later on if they full when you arrive. You have to sign them in and out, I am not worried at all about security and my 3 year old loves it. I think they are even inspected by OFSTED.

That is not quite true about not taking any food. If it is commercially prepared and sealed it should be fine, chocolates, biscuits (not sure if there is anything about being in a tin that might be a problem going through a scanning machine or having an issue with the seal?), sweets are all ok. Homemade would be a problem though, and YOU MUST DECLARE. You will cause a problem for yourself if you don't as they scan most bags on the way into the country. They check wood items, I would think most children's toys sold in the UK would be fine, especially if they are brand new with all labels on them, once again you have to declare (a homemade wooden carved toy might be a problem as they would not know the provenance).

I always find the gift shops at places like Tate Modern or Transport Museum have tasteful things that could only be from London.

I am a member, but never attend meetings as they don't suit me time wise and I don' feel the need as such to attend, already busy enough! I do love receiving breastfeeding matters magazine and the membership is worth it for that alone. It gives me a little boost and makes me feel good about continuing to breastfeed my son when I sometimes get down and question myself, I realise I am not the only one that feels that way and it reminds me about all the great things about breastfeeding.

Back on topic, what I assume is the Catford group, usually meets at the house of a woman that lives near Blythe Hill Fields. I think it is probably not a huge group, but I have heard 2nd hand the woman that runs the group is lovely.

Sadly the man that did donkey rides on Blackheath passed away late last year. He had to move form his pitch for the Olympics, and I am not sure whether he was allowed back after or if somebody else will take over.

I am one of the 89 families that have supported this school, and based on both locations would not fall into what would ultimately become a very small catchment area if it indeed becomes a good school. I am sure most of the parents that supported the initial application would not as, publicly at least, no site was known when the proposal was made. The people behind Judith Kerr sought support from parents right across Lambeth, Southwark and Lewisham Boroughs.

James I really do understand your desire to have more local primary school places available, but you should be encouraging even more new initiatives, rather than suggesting Judith Kerr offer 100% of places based on distance. What you would end up with is a school that is set up to be bilingual that has very few if any students starting in reception with the minority language, or a German enclave as parents with German heritage try and move into a small catchment area. I think it would be a lesser school than it aims to be if there are no native German speaking students.

I would not have supported the JK prposal if it had been based 100% on distance from the hospital site, as it would not have been a relevant community school to me.(BTW, not a German speaking or even bilingual family here, I just really believe in the benefits of languages. Also, both proposed locations equally inconvenient for my family and may not accept a place if offered, but still support JK as hopefully, like WIX in Clapham, they will go on to be a model bilingual school for others to follow).

Not exactly ED, and I have no experience of any of these, they are just a few I am aware of from driving past or hearing about:

Mudchute City Farm if you can get to the DLR, but it says from 7 years http://www.mudchute.org/equestrian-centre

http://www.mudchute.org/equestrian-centre opposite Eltham College looks really nice

www.willowtreeridinglondon.co.uk/ in Lee takes children from 4 years old.

Crafty Cooks are now at The Dish and the Spoon...

http://www.craftycooks.co.uk/classes/south-london/

Talking of design flaws, since having had my children I am convinced modern western toilets were not the greatest invention. I always have my feet up on my kids stool in the bathroom so my knees are higher than my hips when doing a number 2. (also, wiping a 3 year olds bottom with dry paper makes you realise it is not the most efficient way to get things properly clean down there.

How weird would it be if I installed a squat toilet and a hose in my bathroom (kids would love the hose) :)

Back the original topic, as you can see you are not the only one, but if you have not seen a physio, PLEASE DO. I presonally would make sure I have tried everything before surgery, as from all accounts it is a fairly major operation.

There is quite a supportive (international) forum on http://prolapsehealth.com/forums/ But bear in mind you may hear more horror stories about surgery than positive results because people turn to these sorts of things for support before hand, but have no need to hang around if surgery is successful, only if the result is not as good as hoped.

You are not alone.

I don't know where you live, it might be a bit far, Lewisham Opportunity Preschool (behind Ladywell Leisure Centre on Lewisham High Street) has drop in sessions on Friday mornings http://lops.org.uk/about/what-does-lops-offer for children with special needs. They have been around for a while so probably know about a lot of other services that are offered in South East London. They are really friendly, give them a call and they will be able to talk to you.

With liquids, we had no problems with a big aluminium water bottle at the equestrian and one time at the main olympic park. I breatfeed but didn't want the hassle of queing to fill a water bottle with 2 little ones in tow. However today there was a military woman who gave us grief and wanted us to empty it, but said if milk had been inside (a large aluminium drink bottle? obviously never had a baby) it would have been ok. Her friendly colleages told us to put it back in our bag when she wasn't looking and told her we had emptied it :)

For train carriage, can park by wavelengths pool :)

And why not make it a gastronomic transport themed double and head to the Deptford Project train carriage for coffee and cake after :)

http://www.thedeptfordproject.com/

BFeeding Essentials have sent you a private message, a bit of a long convoluted answer.