Pugwash

Does she have a keysafe? These are essential for those living alone and require carers/DNs regularly. If someone has a pendant alarm - the alarm scheme likes to have 2 or more key holders who live ideally within walking distance who will be able to respond to being called out. If no keyholders available or live too far away, the alarm scheme insists on key safes and their PIN number will be given to ambulance crews or police to attend. GP can make contact with the Rapid Response Team which consists of nurses, OT, Physio and carers to go into the home for a few days to prevent hospitalisation.

Various approaches have been made by Southwark councillors past and present to TFL ( and also by MPs) but TFL will not budge.

I am a trustee of a small South London Charity and like most the voluntary sector, we are experiencing funding cut backs from our sponsors. In the need to maintain a service and to retain staff - other budgets have been severely restricted. Talking with staff the other day - it would appear that stationery supplies have been cut back to the bare minimum with staff expected to supply their own pens, notebooks, ring folders and other basic office supplies. Does anyone know a firm that needs to off load some discontinued stock. Also some firms are happy to give away computers /laptops . There was a south London organisation that dealt with surplus office supplies but I cannot remember their details - can anyone recall this organisation?

We sold most of my in laws bits and pieces via Roseberry's. Some were not in good condition but we had a few very good pieces.

My grandson has a tall bed with desk underneath, unfortunately he has had a massive growth spurt which means he cannot sit up to read in bed as his head touches the ceiling. His room is too small to house a single bed, desk and wardrobe. Is waiting for his big sister (18) to leave home or go to uni so that he can use her room.

Ghinns - my mum worked there and during the school holidays if she could not get any child care the manager allowed her to take me and I spent the day in the stock room writing out price labels and sticking/tying onto clothes etc. This was in the late 50s. I think there was a Freeman Hardy Willis shoe shop as well. I got my first ever pair of Chelsea boots in one of the shoe shops (The Beatles made them a fashion item) - paid 21 shillings for them. Also in Rye Lane you could get pale blue Levi jeans for a few pounds.

Be warned re purchasing a ex local authority property as you will be liable for any work undertaken by the council and their contractors to the block - even if your flat does not need work done to it. You could be left with having to pay thousands out towards cost of work.

Sunrise House had fees of around ?1000 pw when I last applied there for someone. From experience in trying to find a care home for someone with dementia between Southwark and Hastings including Kent and Sussex - of the 39 homes I contacted, the few that had vacancies were charging ?900 - ?1400 per week. It is very rare to find a home which has 2 vacancies. There is an extreme shortage of care homes in the SE of England and this has been raised by many local authorities with NHS England. From professional experience - where there is a vacancy in a care home you usually find that at least 15 others are chasing it. You may be better off leaving your parents in their current home as moving could have a detrimental affect of their well being ( obviously if you are moving them because of poor care that is a different matter). Care Homes contracts normally state that the need a minimum of 4 weeks notice of any move and/or fees in lieu of notice. The new care home is unlikely to hold a place for 4 weeks plus unless full fees paid in advance.

The CASSEL Centre in Forest Hill has CBT therapists on their books. Check out their website for more details.

When we went many years ago only the pool was free, everything else was extra so unless you are budgeting for the extras I would look at Haven or even Butlins.

Great watching this - the new girls school I assume was the old Peckham Girls which opened in 1960/61 ( I applied to go there but ED was outside it's catchment area).

After getting my kitchen and bathroom painted by Brad and his team - he came back in July/August and did the external painting of the front and back of house. Great team of fellows - friendly, tidy, nothing too much trouble and quoted a reasonable price. In fact my next door neighbour paid more as a leaseholder to Southwark Council for his upper floor flat and within weeks the paint started peeling.

My youngest daughter went to a work place nursery from 5 months until 4 years - I took her each morning on my way to work and hubby collected her. Same daughter now has an almost 3 year old and is returning to work next week following the birth of baby No 2 a year ago. No 1 baby went to child minder - as daughter works 3 days a week term time only and found not many child minders in Sussex would be willing to take a child part time. Daughter has to travel around 18 miles each way to work so was important that child minder was on way to work. No 1 child his now at a Montessori Pre school 3 days a week and her brother will attend the original child minder 3 days a week term time only. It all depends on what time you need to leave for work - my daughter found that having to leave home at 7.30 am - there were no nurseries open that time hence the child minder as by time got near to child minder it was nearly 8.30 am. The Pre school opens 8 am so Dad will take the older one on his way to work and my daughter will collect. I9 believe it is consistency of care rather than type of care that is most important in the early stages. Regardless of type of care - you will need to budget that the majority of your wages will go towards child care.

My insurance with the Halifax increased greatly this year - trebled the amount. I queried why and was informed that SE22 and 21 was classed as a high risk area but they guy could not tell me why. I had been with Halifax ever since we had a mortgage with them in 1975 and continued to use their insurance company as was worried about not getting cover as area was known for subsidence. When I stated that I would have to look for a cheaper quote the insurance guy stated that it was cheaper to start from scratch with a new insurance from another company that Halifax now used - this was still high but no where near the amount originally quoted.

We have an electric double oven installed at eye level to avoid bending (also if young children to prevent them opening doors and burning themselves). We have a separate gas hob - so if there is a power strike we have alternative cooking source. Washing machine absolute essential - the best you can afford i.e. in 20 plus years we have only had a Zanussi and Miele and use machine at least 5 times a week. Never bothered about tumble dryer or dishwasher (unless you entertain a lot of have a large family - at the most there are 13 of us). What I regret is having light grey floor tiles which show up every mark - should have gone for something darker.

I have used Lidls in Peckham, Sydenham, Southend Lane, Beckenham, Catford, and further afield. I rarely see out of date or rotting food ( seen more out of date/rotting food in our local independent shops).I think it depends on the time of day you visit as to how busy they are and how many tills open.

See previous message - the group is active and meets at Christ Church - they were involved in a small concert just before Christmas along with some singers. Still looking for people to join them.

Recently had Carl to do some minor electrical work - as usual very efficient .

All the Lidls I have been in usually have a very large number of customers behind me and they can get very impatient. Also the speed that the cashier goes at is treble the speed I can pack. If I have only a small amount - no problem or if the items are approximately the same weight and size, I pack myself. However if I have large cartons of fruit juice plus cakes and more 'fragile' items I like to pack in separate bags - so putting everything in the trolley is better for me. Also I frequently have to shop for others and their goods need separate bags so much easier to do this in the car.

The Sainsburys at Bell Green used to have loads of recycling bins - not sure if they are still there.

When I go to Lidl - they scan items so quickly that even with 2 of you packing is not easy. I now put every thing in the trolley and pack into bags in the car boot which saves lifting heavy bags from trolley into boot and I can segregate items as I wish in terms of weight etc.

Most of the primary schools serving E Dulwich are over subscribed and you will take pot luck as to which one is offered. Haberdashers Aske secondary - may require an entry exam ( or they did when my daughter applied for there - 1000 applicants for 100 places) I have heard that Harris in Crystal Palace is good - but the friends who have daughters there both live in the Crystal Palace area so not sure of catchment area.

Many of the churches have a box which you can place stuff for food banks. Christ Church in Barry Road has one

With all the voluntary redundancies in Southwark, a large number of staff have left and many departments are going through a reorganisation. In order to find the correct RO and their manager - you will need to give your street/estate etc. There is no central office but the switchboard may be able to help. All the Southwark RO have both mobiles and landlines. I do know a couple of ED ROs as I dealt with them professionally before I retired. Do you have a Residents' Association covering your area>

have been with The Gardens for years - never had any problem with reception staff, nurses or GPs. I do not go to them for trivial illnesses - i.e. colds, coughs etc. I am diabetic and have regular checks with practice nurse. Hubby has a severe medical condition - and GPs have been really good with him. If I think he is unwell and is not willing to go to GP - I make contact with his named GP and she rings him up (or gets the receptionist to do so) with an urgent appointment