Coach Beth

I find having the Atlantic ocean between myself and my family of origin a wonderful thing indeed! By the end of the two weeks visit, we start getting abit irritable but then, knowing we only see each other once a year keeps things sweet.

Just got back from sledging on Peckham Rye on the slope opposite Harris Boys school - lots of fun! And thanks to the two Dads making the igloo - my son had fun helping out and the final creation was impressive!

Ahhhh... now it's making sense! I did open the oven door to check them and also because I use an American receipe ( I am from North America myself)they didn't have the translation to the gas mark and I hadn't checked it again on google & assumed my memory from last time was correct. So I checked them half way through and realising they weren't baking well, I just bunged the temp up to what it should be! It sounds silly but it didn't occur to me it would matter but now you point out about the need for a consistent and even temp it's no wonder they sunk!!! They still were tasty though! Thanks for the advice!! And in case anyone wonders the secret to gooey moist brownies is 1/4 cup golden syrup and 1/4 cup aPplesauce.

Yes, he loves to bake!!!! Have googled this question and it looks like the oven temp might have been too high. I also might have put the tray to high in the oven. I guess I'll try again this weekend and see what comes out of the oven - perfect brownie or sunken brownie! Whatever happens, there will be more gooey brownies to make and consume!!

Ok - I'm not a natural domestic goddess (this is an understatement!). But in an effort to make a plate of gooey, moist, yummy brownies that I can be proud to plonk on the PTA cake sale table (as opposed to sneak on the table without anyone seeing!), I have been experimenting with different receipes with my son (who have been inspired by the Junior Bakeoff series on CBBC). I have found the perfect brownie receipe (in the Moosewood Cookbook (American) if you'd like to try it) which ensures brownies are properly gooey and moist! The first time I made it, it was perfect! But last weekend, it sunk significantly in the middle! Any ideas why? I think maybe I put in too much vegetable oil (this receipe we don't use butter) Or could it be something to do with the oven?

Sorry everyone - I noticed in another thread someone commented that the school website was down. However, if you had clicked on the link I gave the other day, I typed it in incorrectly and therefore, you would have been re-directed to a page that said there was a problem with the link. I have corrected it now. To see the video, simply go to latest news and then click on the headline with the Jo Brand video. Thank you for your compassion!

The Hornimann had lots to occupy an active 2 year old - used to spend hours there when my boy was two roaming round all the exhibition rooms!

I think one thing everyone can agree on is the the whole admissions procedure is a nightmare for all concerned!

And people can always encourage their child to meet up with friends before and walk together along the path. When I was growing up, I had to cross an isolated field to get to school and would arrange to meet a small group of friends to walk together across the field.

And a video of the launch event is now on the school website! http://www.goosegreenprimaryschool.org - go to latest news to see the video. *edited because I put an incorrect website link to the website - sorry!

Jags sport clubs - my son loves their holiday clubs.

Yes, it's at the East Dulwich Leisure Centre.

I just asked about private lessons at East Dulwich and it is ?14.50 per 30 minutes. I believe they have availability on Thursday evenings for 1:1 lessons around 5pm ish. They also do group lessons in the evenings after school and on the weekend. My son has been doing these and has been progressing well and is now at Stage 3 but I'm thinking about booking in for some 1:1 lessons in the spring as he is not the most confident swimmer.

Agree with BB100. If you like the school and think there are signs of improvements, I would go with it. There is an energy about being part of a school that is 'on-the-up' and also, improving schools are more keen to get interested and concerned parents involved. Personally, I value being part of my local school and the immediate community we live in. It's not about the walking distance , we walk everywhere as we don't drive. But, I will say that if you have to deal with a stubborn child (or two) in the morning who are being unwilling to get into your school uniform, don't underestimate the value of being under 10 minutes walk to your local school. It's not like nursery where you can pitch up 5 or more minutes late with no consquence. At our school anyway, they are very strict about timekeeping and the whistle will blow 5 minutes before 9am and the children will go in. If they are late, then their names go on a list and you will get spoken to if it happens repeatedly! If you drive (which we don't) you'll find that it's impossible to park near a school anyway so even if you have a car, it's not much help sometimes.

You automatically go on the waiting lists of schools higher up the list and stay on those waiting lists even after you accept a place. I'm not sure whether you automatically go on the list for schools lower down the list - I don't think you do. However, I do know that you can definately ring up and get put on the waiting list for any schoolin Southwark after the offers of school places have been made - even if it is a school that wasn't on your orginial list at all.

Criteria is based on distance. Therefore you can find yourself going up and down the list as people who move into the area and live closer to the school will move ahead of you. You could stay on a waiting list as long as you like but as Fushia points out as the children (and parents) settle into a school they are less likely to accept a waiting list place as the year goes on. This means if you are really unhappy with a school or really wanting to get your child in to a specfic school your chances will go up as people above you are less likely to take up a place when offered one.

And the first class of the new term is on Tuesday 10th January! If you have a boy or girl interested in learning street dance, come along and check it out! Kids have lots of fun learning the latest moves and the teachers are all professional street dancers!

Hi Milsa, I've posted my opinions on the school before - in this thread for example http://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/forum/read.php?29,793812,793812#msg-793812 so do go there to find out what I like about the school. When we applied just over 3 years ago, the school was my number 2 choice - if I was applying now, it would be number 1. Good luck!

Hello all! My son has been taking part in the Tuesday early evening street dance class run by Get D'an Dance - it was a boys only class but has now been open to girls too! It's a fantastic class so I really want it to keep running in East Dulwich! The 'crew' did a great performance at Alleyn's Theatre at the end of term and mu son really loves the teachers! It will start again on Tuesday 10th January and runs from 5pm - 6pm. It costs ?34.00 (?2.00 fee for cheques) for each half term. Email Danni at [email protected] for more info or just turn up on Tuesday at the Goose Green Centre at 5pm to register. Cheers, Beth

Quakers aren't homophobic and support gay marriage. http://www.quaker.org.uk/samesexbriefing

A technique that I read about that worked well for me when my son was this age was to gradually each night (or every severAl nights depending on the stage)move further and further away. So we woukd start out patting and shushing beside the cot, then shushing sitting near cot, then sitting further away, then out the door with door open, then in the hall with door open. Good luck!

Thank you Monkey! Yes, as a Goose Green parent I am pleased to see how well Goose Green Primary School has done. Other schools in the area have done well too of course! Goose Green School - 80% of students reached the expected level in English & Maths, 83% in English and 87% in Maths. Bessemer Grange - 82% reached the expected level in English & Maths, 87% in English and 95% in Maths (wow - well done!) St. John's - 64% reached expected level in English & Maths, 76% in English and 65% in Maths Goodrich - 72% reached the expected level in both English & maths, 87 in English and 72% in Maths Heber - 77% reached the expected level in both English & Maths, 87% in English and 85% in Maths Bellenden - 100% reached expected level in English & Maths 100% in English 100% in Maths (WOW - BIG CONGRATS!) Dog Kennell Hill - 72% reached expected level in English&Maths 84% in English 76% Maths *edited to include Bellenden's very inspiring results too and to correct my typos!

We used Dan of Nutty's Children's Parties when my son turned five - it was an excellent party which kept the kids throughougly engaged and entertained!!

Our school doesn't charge entry for the navity play but takes collection for the local hospice (children's school council picked this charity to support this year) which I think is a nice way to celebrate the spirit of giving to others at Christmas. And yes, we can also pay ?1 to buy a DVD of the play which I think is a nice thing to have!

Other ideas could be: Art (Art Pepper - jazz musician) is a sort of unusual name over here in the UK and goes nicely with Archie. A friends grandchild is called Che if you'd like that revolutionary feel. Django (Django Rienhart) for a cool jazz effect? Woody (Woodie Guthrie - folk hero, Woody Shaw - jazz trumpeter) is a jazz/arty name too. Grayson (Grayson Perry - artist) has a distinguished feel - Gray would be a nice nickname.