Pugwash

It was some time ago the youngest daughter went to St Anthony's( she is now 27 so things obviously had changed. In those days for a church school you had to get child onto 'waiting lists' these lists held all children who would need entry in such and such term and year. You could not just go in to register an interest/apply a couple of terms before starting as all applicants were taken from an approved list and connection with the church re checked

Like most RC schools - a letter from the priest is essential and you and child must be a regular mass attender. Hubby is RC and I have no religion and our daughter went to St. Anthony's at rising 5. She was christened in St Thomas more when she was about 16 months old and her name was put on the waiting list when she was 2. Hubby went to Mass most weeks (except when ill) and Father o Connor got to know him well so there was no problem in getting a recommendation. daughter attended mass at odd times but was really too young to sit through a service.Hubby still attends Mass at least once a month. Friends who have Cof E faith - also state that they had been attending church each week for 2- 3 years before child of school age to also get a recommendation from priest. They also had to keep up attendance (although not every week) at the church to prove their 'religious observance'.

Eldest daughter just finished a degree in Occupational Therapy. She is 40 with 2 kids 9 and 14, her partner is self employed with an income which varies each week. Her tuition fees were paid by the NHS and she got a bursary (which was based on her partner's income which for the first year covered her child care fees). Our 16 year old grandson wants to study history and has already approached us to letting him live with us if he went to a london University as does not want to live at home in Harlow He reckons he will get free lodging but we are going to charge him a a few quid and he will have to cook and pay for all his food - he might change his mind when he hears that!. Youngest daughter did 4 years at Brighton Uni and was one of the last students to get a grant - we used to top it up by about ?200 a month. came out with debts around ?8.000.

Just an advance notice ( awaiting further details from organiser) A reminder to all previous users of the play scheme that once again Dave Small and his team will be at the East Dulwich Community Centre centre for 4 weeks with the holiday play scheme for primary age pupils. Just waiting for Dave to get back to me with exact dates and times etc and will post them on here

New criteria now for getting a Blue Badge - previously you had to be unable to walk more than x yards, they have now increased the distance. My Mum had a Blue Badge - she was on dialysis CAPD, which meant that she had to dialyise every so many hours. She could not have a day out shopping without taking all the dialysis stuff with her. This was too heavy to carry and also she had poor mobility. The Blue Badge allowed myself ot my daughter to take her shopping in the car and carry all the equipment - the Kidney Association gave her a list of shops etc who would allow her to use their premises to do the dialysis. Always remember one was Marks and Spencers. We would be able to park the car near to where she could dialyise

My grandaughter now aged 14 went to Kumon maths for about a year when in primary school. She enjoyed it and her maths work went up considerably. She decided when she wanted to leave - the exercise was that she was ( and still is) a shy child and needed her confidence boosted. At her secondary school she is in the 'superleague' students performing far above their peers - she and others are working at Maths levels 2 years above their chronological age. Many of her classmates in this section having done the Kumon classes.

Adrian Lester ( Hustle) lived in Dulwich not sure if still does. Nicola McAulliffe, Trevor and ? Old time children's TV presenters ( catch phrase ' we don't do duvets')

First pregnancy could not eat first thing in morning due to sickness, a colleague at work brought me in lightly toasted white bread to have an hour or so after I arrived at work. My craving was for fish and chips. 2nd pregnancy - all day sickness and nausea, hubby made ne toast in motning before i got up as had an hour journey into work by bus. Work - I lived on a wholemeal roll, Bovril crisps, cube of chedder cheese and a bovril drink for months. Actually lost weight whilst pregnant and after birth was back to my pre pregnancy weight

I do not think they are too worried about the grey chairs as they are old but the red chairs are 2/3 years old and mainly used by the the various groups meeting at the centre. The black fold up chairs are more recent and are quite expensive to purchase.

it would be upto the funding social services departments to find alternative placements for the residents there, but they will not give information about individual residents. As for the staff - they may have been re employed by the company who owns Cherry Croft. generally happens if a care home company has other homes in the area. Southern Cross staff were sent to other care homes or re employed by the new company. Odd that CQC could not comment. If there are considerable safeguarding concerns CQS work with Social Services/ NHS and Police to sort out everything. I wonder if there were strong signs that the owners were going bust and residents were moved out. It could be that the building itself did not meet current building regs for care homes. The place was built in either the 1960s or 70s - definately the 70s as I found a resident from there wandering in the street and took her back there.

Surprised that Paul Yarrow the News Raider was not around to get in the background!

Bath Oliver Biscuits. The large arrowroot biscuits you used to buy in pubs ( my dog used to eat these) Petite Beurre biscuits ( I think that is how you spell them.) Everlasting strips from the sweet shop the old fashioned ironmongers where you could find anything. Saturday Morning Kids pictures ( showing my age 6d in old money, and a few pence for sweets)

Thanks Dan. Hubby is talking about going to his Bipolar Club on Weds Evening in Beckenham. He was actually up and dressed when I got home from work at 7.45. he had changed and washed the bed linen and taken a walk in Dulwich Park - fingers crossed he will get up tomorrow. I do alot of voluntary work in the East Dulwich Community Centre - do you think there would be enough people who would wish to get together one evening to talk about their experiences. Maybe a one off mini social?. As part of my professional training I was on placement at a counselling agency and dealt with many people with various degrees of mental ill health from anxiety to suicide prevention so I have a good understanding of most things and I believe that this gives me the strength to weather the depression storm. I am considered quite 'extrovert' at work and most colleagues who know me well can judge my husband's state of mind by my behaviour. My workaholic attitude is usually associated with his depression and so is my desire to keep on working until well past retirement age.

Your best bet is to call the Care Quality Commission.

I am not a vegetarian but if there is a good veggie option on the menu I usually go for it. Having had an operation a couple of years ago, I find it difficult at times to eat meat as this frequently makes me sick, as do pasta and bread dishes. I tend to go for fish and vegetarian dishes and I love experimenting with vegetarian receipes. At one time in my office, half of the staff were vegetarian and we had one vegan, so all shared staff lunches and teas, had to cover a wide base. I too would prefer a wider choice of veggie options other than egg based dishes. At work lunches, colleagues usually rely on me to bring the veggie option in as most of our office are now meat eaters. Indian Mischief is a great place to go as is the Blue Brick Cafe. Even the smallest of 'cafes' should be able to offer at least 4/5 veggie options if you base this around. eggs, cheese, fruit and veg and pasta - all which could be made in a few minutes

All I know that it was going to be or has been deregisterd as a care home with nursing for older people. I have not been to that home for 2 years or more so do not know any of the staff

All of the streets are subject to residents only parking with traffic wardens several times a day checking out . OK if you have not got a car or motor bike

Having lived with someone with bipolar since 1980. I have become accustomed to the highs and lows. The highs where hubby becomes hyperactive, 3- 5 hours sleep at night, swimming early hours of the morning followed by bike rides, breakfast, vulunteering for loads voluntary work, visiting friends, spending and giving away money. Hypersensitive to any form of rebuff - constantly picking arguements including with strangers, getting angry, having no social awareness or grace, saying wrong things to people resulting in loss of friendships.Endless phone calls and enormous bills, alternately not eating and over eating. Hubby currently in a depression since end of February - all day in bed, rarely eating, when does so - its fridge raiding, cheese, cold meats, bread, cereal. Refusing to answer telephone, reluctant to see childen and grandchildren. Constantly breaking previously booked social events ( we have lost a fair bit through cancelled theatre tickets - always at last moment so cannot find a replacement friend) Will not allow me to change bed linen as refuses to get out of bed. Speech is mumbled and incoherant and lacking volume, when up wanders around the house in nightwear, reluctant to wash and shave, walks out in to the front garden ( we are on a main road and bus route) in nightwear. Takes all appropraite medicines, and will attend GP appointments (Dr. Cliff at The Gardens) This week he has been up for a few hours in the evening, undressed, managed to go out all day to Essex on Thursday by himself to meet daughter and grandchildren, but since then has stayed in bed. Will reluctantly wash up and put washing in machine and hang up other wise will not do anything around the house or garden, (Grass is about 4 foot high - so having to get in our gardener who does a twice yearly pruning/cutting etc job). It is surprising how many people have bipolar. When well hubby attends a monthly bipolar group in Beckenham. We have a life, his, mine and ours. To stop me going mental - i have my own friends and social activities, I have always been open about his illness, as he himself does, people who know us well take it for granted that he will either pester them or ignore them.I have a very interesting job which is very demanding, so I often go to work at weekends and do 10 hour days just to keep me out of the house and getting depressed. My stepdaughter is also bipolar but refuses to seek medical help. Our other 2 daughter have a great understanding of mental health issues. One daughter recently had to do a presentation to a college for a job and did it on depression and how to help young people with this in an educational setting. (got the job). The other is an OT specialiising and working within the NHS with people with learning disabilities and with mental health issues

Cherrycroft has always had a difficult existance. Orginally known as Wilkinson House and then Cherry Croft. When through a series of owners ( small and large care home providers). Had a brillant manager at one time but when new company took over, they removed manager and put in one of their own staff. Standards gradually declined and with frequent changes of staff and ownrs, high quality care was not consistent. Was placed under 'guidance' via NHS/Southwark Social Services/Care Quality Commission who had regualr meetings to try and increase the standard of care. When this failed - it was agreed that residents moved elsewhere and the home deregistered and closed. Some one I knew who lived there was transferred to a home in West Norwood.

Long walk from the station at Brighton and part of the high street is hilly. Bournmouth is not bad if you have a hotel nerar the park and town centre.

Gumboots after school club will be holding their usual 4 weeks holiday play scheme in July/August for details call Dave either at the Goodrich School after school branch or staff at the East Dulwich Community Centre branch

Is the tabernacle the one near Underhill Road? If that is the one - they are very strict Baptist and I have never been to a 'happy clappy' service there. Admittedly only went once - it was very dull, long and miserable hymns. If it is the one in Upland Road - that was a noisy one

Went to the library for the 3rd time since it reopened, used the scanner ok for all books bar one which would not take, one of the staff came over and I explained the problem, she tried = still nothing. She opened the book and said did you know that this is not a library book! Like a pratt I had picked up one of my own books by mistake. I apologised feeling a right idiot, but she laughed and told me not to worry. Only complaint I have is that where the computors are you cannot get to some of the book shelves. last week an adult and teenage were using one computor but the teenage was in a chair blocking a whole selection of books. Stood by and 'accidently' knocked her chair legs with my stick and said excuse me - neither of them bothered to look up.

In order to have a carer to provide or heat up meal at lunch time, your mother would need to be assessed and only those who meet the substancial criteria will get a carer. Gateway to obtaining services services is the need to have help with personal care. From what you have indicated is that Mum would have difficulty in cattying meal to table - she may benefit an occupational therapist assessment and the provision of a tolley or other aids. When she had a stroke, did the OT in the Stroke Rehab Team or ward do an assessment for aids and adaptations. You could also contact the Stroke Association for ideas. Your mum should be getting attendance allowance if she is pension age or DLA care componant if under pension age. If awarded either of the above - the money is given to allow people to purchase/pay for additional care. Has she a neighbour or a friend living by who would pop in for 20/ 30 mins each day to heat up the food? Your mum could pay a small fee to them. Rough costs of carers are around ?13 per hour from an agency but if she 'employed' someone locally she could pay them say ?20 - ?30 pw. Recently several cafes have been plating up hot food and taking them to their disabled customers. A cousin worked in Ozzie's cafe in Rye Lane some years ago before his death and one of his duties was to take a hot plated meal to a resident in Heaton Road who could not get out. With regards tot he Southwark MOW I should submit a written complaint re quality. If the Commissioning Section receives many similair complaints they then have to investigate further and quality and quantity control will be part of the contract they have entered into with Appetito. Better still if you can photo the meals as well to show how aweful they look. The problem is where there is a genuine complaint - people are afraid to write in so nothing gets done. (There will always be people who complain about everything).

In the 1990s, as part of my degree, I studied in Holland. There they divided the country up into 3 and had staggered holidays. This was more noticeable during the summer as obviously longer holidays. It was done, I was told,to prevent most of the country shutting down whilst families took their holidays. For instance Zone 1 summer holiday may be from 16th June to 16th August Zone 2 could be from 30th June - 28th August Zone 3 from 14th July - 16th Septemer. Each zone got their required number of weeks there was abviously some overlap but far more sensible that everyone jostling for end of July/August. My friend is a lab technician in a Kent school and 2/3 years ago they trialled a 2 week whitsun break and a one week October half term break, and cut down the summer hols by one week. There was talk about cutting down the summer hols again and having 2 weeks whitsun and 2 weeks October half terms, but this did not happen. From what I gathered from my friend was that the teaching staff liked the 2 weeks whitsun break - I think the problem was the exam timetables. Personally - I favour a 4 term academic year. Many Unis now are doing October - December, Jan - end of February, and April - June.