DVnewbie

Try advertising on here - a couple of v nice Charter sixth formers replied to an advert I placed a while ago for an after school nanny. Suppose you need to pay for an hour an a half's childcare per day (3.20 - 4.30, rounded up!). It would suit a sixth former (with younger siblings or babysitting experience) as they could still have plenty of time for studying etc. as well as getting some cash. The after school club at DVIS is brilliant but pretty sure you have to pay for the whole session and collect whenever you like (even though it finishes at 6.15).

Thanks for all the recommendations! I have been to see Alsion who is an osteopath based at Dulwich Natural Therapy Rooms and it seems to be helping... I was on crutches before I went (and still use them if I need to venture more than about 50m!) but it's definitely helped. I've resigned myself to being mostly housebound until the baby arrives - fingers crossed it goes away after that.... Thanks again!

Brilliant - thanks for the recommendations! I can't even hobble to the loo without yelping in pain at the moment...

Thanks LI. I'll try to make an appointment.

Hi - can anybody recommend a good local physio who can help with PGP (pelvic girdle pain)? I'm 32 weeks pregnant and now struggling to walk without pretty severe pain. I've been waiting nearly 5 weeks for physio on the NHS and have had enough now! (And so have my children and work...) Thank you!

Seasalt ones are good. Not particularly gorgeous but waterproof and not hideous...

Dulwich Village Infants school (C of E) (as well as Dulwich Hamlet) manages its own waiting list too if you are still thinking of moving into the village. The schools themselves will know much more than the LA. Give the school offices a ring and ask how far away the next people on the waiting lists live. They might be able to tell you. Then you can work out what waiting list position you'd go in at (roughly) when you're considering offering on a house. People move from the private schools too - and if you can get one child in, they'll probably look sympathetically at trying to get the sibling in as soon as they can. Pretty sure Herne Hill only goes up to Year 2 though, unless it's no longer just a nursery and pre-prep?

Thanks but I've found somebody else now. I can't see a PM but maybe it's slow coming through. I PMed you on the 19th saying "I'd love it if you could start next Friday". You PMed me on Saturday 20th saying that was fine. I think that was clearly the 26th. We didn't say in two weeks time. I accept you may have misunderstood though . I found it frustrating to waste my time (particularly as I had the day off work) and could have arranged for somebody else to come.

This is the first time I have posted a negative comment about somebody advertising their services on here but I think I'd like to know both positive and negative experiences if I was looking for a recommendation so I am posting this now. I'm not sure what the cleaning is like but Danielle didn't show up on the day we arranged, did not reply to a PM I sent her and did not reply to a text. I waited for an hour after the time we arranged (and cancelled something else), in case she had had a problem. I totally understand if she couldn't make it for some reason (or even if she just changed her mind) but it would have been courteous to let me know. I've even checked the PM wording we exchanged in detail to make sure there was no ambiguity but the time and place were very clear. So, I don't think "reliable" is a good adjective. As I say, her cleaning may well be excellent - I don't know! But I did turn down a lot of other offers and recommendations for a cleaner because I was relying on her.

Hello - nearly all the "good" schools will be full in every year as there is nearly always an in-year waiting list. I agree with scareyt - if I were you, I'd move as close as possible to a school or schools you are keen on and then you'll get to the top end of the waiting list (depending where other people live). But people living really close will have got in earlier, unless they have just moved to the area too, so you stand a good chance of getting a place quite quickly. There is a bit of movement - people move out of the area or some choose to move to private schools at "funny" entry points (i.e. not just at 7+, Year 3, and 11+). I know of a couple of children moving mid-way through the Hamlet (which is a junior school, so Years 3-6) (in Years 4 and 5) to go to private schools.

That's the one I am thinking of! Thanks all!

Thanks all! I'll have a look around at all those options. Beckenham might be a bit far. Have a lovely after school nanny but she doesn't drive.

http://southwarkgymnastics.co.uk/ That's the website. I'm not sure about waiting lists etc yet as I think there is one at the Charter after school on Wednesdays/Thursdays too that might be more convenient for us. I'll let you know when I find out!

Thanks! Yes, just googled them...

Hi - I'm trying to find some gymnastics classes for my children in years 1 and 2 (ages 5 and 6). Does anybody have any recommendations/know of any with spaces? I've heard a lot about Charisma but am pretty sure there is a long waiting list for that. Plus we have ballet and football on Saturday mornings, when I think the Charisma classes are held, so would preferably need another time slot - after school is a possibility if it's not too late!

Thanks for everybody's replies - I've found somebody now though so am no longer looking.

Hello - I'm looking for a reliable and thorough cleaner to come once a week for 3 hours on a Friday. If you have references and are available on Fridays please let me know. Nearest station is North Dulwich. We have a 5 bed house but it is cleaned thoroughly on Tuesdays so we're looking for a Hoover/mop where needed, beds changed and kitchen plus bathrooms cleaned on a Friday. Please PM me if you can help. Sorry but I'm only looking for a cleaner with references (or numbers of other clients I can call). Thanks very much.

Hi - I'm looking for a cleaner who is available this Friday for a one-off clean as or regular cleaner is on holiday. We'd need 5/6 hours. Can you send me a PM if you can recommend your cleaner (if they are able to do it)? I'm also considering asking a cleaner to do a regular 3 hour slot on Fridays (as our cleaner is too busy and can't fit any more hours in) if I can find somebody suitable. Thanks

A lovely child from Ruskin walk got in in 2014 but they were quite far down the waiting list (20-something). There is often quite a lot of 'movement' but not always.

Hi - can anybody let us know where Roksana is based? I'd love some lessons - used to be quite good as a child, have an unloved piano and get deeply frustrated trying to play as I'm soooo bad now. Thanks!

Hi - both my children spent a year in Blue class. My youngest has an August birthday so she started when she was just 3. They both totally loved it. I could have started my youngest in Red Class but decided that as she was only having a year there before school, I wanted her to stay in one class for the whole year. The teachers are fantastic. They all get a chance to go to "Forest School" too, which is what they are doing in the local park (out in all weathers)! (They get hot chocolate in the winter.)

Hello, Good luck with the move! We live in the village and totally love it. Moved here just over 2 years ago for schools. Both my children go to Dulwich Village Infants (DVI) and I cannot rate it highly enough. We're close enough that we should be easily able to get into the Hamlet for year 3. We tend to go 'out' in the evenings more in East Dulwich/Peckham Rye but the village is really leafy and family-friendly for daytime. If you decide to move to Dulwich Village, Bessemer Grange is supposed to be really good now and definitely consider Judith Kerr. There are a large number of children there who have no German family members but the parents have decided it's great to be able to offer them the chance to learn another language well while young. However, places do come up in Reception/at the start of year 1 at DVI. People do move (over the summer holidays especially)... Good luck with the move!

Hi - Fernando came and did some gardening for me yesterday and did a great job. He worked very hard (on an extremely hot and muggy day!) and cleared a remarkable amount. If you need some help in your garden, you can PM him - his user name is 'Fernando Pinto'.

Thanks BigED. Yup, I have been reading books and having a go anyway. I'm just not working at the moment (and only have a few months before I need to again!) so I'm trying to maximise the opportunities to learn about stuff I've always wanted to while I have some spare time! Books etc. it is! (I have emailed Jane though and may well sign up for the Feb course anyway - especially as it's on a Saturday...)

Thank you! Sadly the next course Jane has starts in February!