Jo'sEnglish

I'm also not far away, in Hither Green. Ladywell fields is great. It is easy to get to the Horniman too. Check out the new Catford Constitutional Club pub (not baby related but nice!) and the market on the Broadway once a month. Often kids shows on at Catford Broadway theatre too.

Just to add that you can change your mind so don't let anyone think that once you have made a decision you have to stick with it if you decide that it is not for you after all. It's worth choosing the most convenient hospital for now and then spending some time visiting other hospitals and doing some research. Check out http://aims.org.uk/ and make sure you know your rights.

Look up jelly belly personal training. They do post-natal pilates at the goose green centre on a Wednesday morning and I found them great.

Hi, I'm also 31 weeks pregnant and just sorting out my form for Maternity Allowance. I'm a freelance writer so kind of a similar thing to you I suppose. I read that they count any part of a day that you work as one of your ten days but I wonder how they would know? I normally just do a few hours here and there when I get the chance. It's all a bit vague. Sorry, I'm no help at all! But if you do find out more info I'd be interested to know!

I've always just used normal low salt stock cubes...

I'm in the same situation. 2nd baby due end of April. I'm planning on having a few friends on a list for standby babysitting so hopefully someone will be available. Don't have anyone I'm close to living that close to me though so I'm hoping to ask my next door neighbours if they would be happy to have him for an hour or so until someone else gets there. It is the thing I'm most stressed about at the moment. My parents offered to come over from Spain to be on standby but I really don't think I can cope with them here for up to a month waiting for me to pop! Can't imagine trying to give birth with my hyperactive 2.5 year old around...

just heard about this place opening in West Norwood and thought of this thread: www.theshala.co.uk

Also recommend Gently Elephant in Brockley. They have a great range and seem knowledgeable. If you are quick, I think their sale is still on too!

I'm the same, it's hideous! Agree, mine is worse when overtired (I'm guessing having a small baby doesn't help with this!) Quinnine (sp?) found in tonic water is supposed to help. I find massaging my calves only help when I'm actually doing it. Sometimes having a walk around and really stretching them helps... Or some leg cooling massage gel stuff can relieve temporarily (long enough to go to sleep maybe?)

Agree with the timings. I would have been very grateful for something like this after the birth of my son but wouldn't have wanted to come on a Friday evening and would have appreciated something during the day I could have brought him too. Definitely try letting HVs and community midwifes know. A leaflet popped into all the other stuff you get given would be great. Incidentally, I got seen by the women's health counsellor at Lewisham after having my son within about 2 weeks of calling them and I think you can self-refer (although it took me quite a long time to be told such a person existed!) They have been brilliant too, both talking to me after the birth of my son and helping me now I am pregnant again.

We've got this one: http://www.bambinomioshop.co.uk/new-fitted-mattress-protector-591-p.asp It's nice and soft, no rustling at all. The cot bed one is the same size as my little boys toddler bed.

Thanks so much everyone - I'm off to look up books!

I'm expecting a baby the end of April when my little boy will be 2 years and 8 months. I thought it would be nice to get him a couple of books about what to expect for Christmas, does anybody have any they would recommend? Also, for those with a similar age gap, when did you start to talk to your toddler about having a new baby brother or sister? Thanks!

I've been to the Saturday morning one too and definitely more of a mix there too with more older siblings.

I take my 26 month old and have found that the Friday afternoon one tends to have more toddlers. He loves it!

I've got some from the Oxfam shop in the past and also seen it in paperchase. Although I do my own form of recycling by saving any paper that is any good from the year before, then I hardly need to buy any (and just save new stuff for other people, my toddler, husband and myself don't mind if it's a bit creased!) Together with cutting up old Christmas cards for tags I hardly spend a penny on wrap.

Thanks for the tip simonethebeaver! I'm off to look it up now... And thank you, intexasatthemoment, I'm excited about it!

Thanks so much for all the suggestions! Canela - I love the look of the yurts and was very tempted as I know my husband would love to stay in one but have decided to save them for a future date when night time dashes to the bathroom might not be so cold! (I'm pregnant so there could well be several of those ;) ) I've ended up booking 2 nights in a fisherman hut at Whistable as we've never been to the part of the world and I think my husband would love the quirkiness of them. So thank you very much for recommending them gebbjane!

Agree with getting a second hand one as it really is something you will probably only use for a few months. We had one as my little boy started crawling the week we were moving house and what with builders, painting, boxes everywhere it was a godsend as a safety device! Used it mostly for when I was having a shower or cooking dinner as I knew he was safe and he never seemed to mind being in there and was quite happy with his toys. I did have reservations about caging him in but weighing things up it was much safer for him.

Thanks for the suggestions!! Particularly like the look of the huts in Whitstable, although I didn't really want to spend that much.... hmmm, very tempted though!

Ah, that looks lovely (if a bit expensive!)Gooders79 but they seem to be only booking for a minimum of a week in January and I only need 2 nights...

I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions for me? I'm trying to find somewhere to book for a couple of nights away for my husbands birthday in January. I'd like somewhere out of the city but only want to drive a couple of hours or so. My 2 year old would be coming with us and I have a tight budget. You'd think mid-week in Jan there would be lots of bargains to be found but I'm struggling to find anything. Does anyone have any ideas of a nice b&b, country hotel/pub, self-catering cottage that I could try? Or even any good websites to search on? Thank you!

In English sometimes the 'h' is silent too (an hour for example). It's not to do with spelling, rather with the pronunciation of the word that comes after the article.

well, you could argue that both are correct but really 'an' would be a very archaic form as nowadays we pronounce 'horrific' with the 'h' pronounced. So, yes, either a bit pompous/old-fashioned or you are pronouncing it 'orrific. I refer you to the OED: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/words/a-historic-event-or-an-historic-event So, I think in modern usage 'an horrific' is not really correct.

northlondoner Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > spark67 Wrote: > -------------------------------------------------- > ----- > > My bed linen was flapping in an horrific way > > earlier, the fire brigade have been alerted. > > > Refreshingly correct use of "an". > I have to disagree here. An horrific would only be correct if you were pronouncing it 'orrific (not sounding the 'h') which you well maybe be - so don't drop your h's please. If you are pronouncing the 'h' it should be a horrific. Thank you. As you were.