Daisyonok

Could anyone help me with the following: we found the wrought iron gate that clearly used to be at the front of our house at the back of the garden when we moved in, and are keen to refit it to the gate posts at the front. We literally just have the gate - no fittings remain on the brick pillars. Additionally we would be interested in having it self-closing (spring loaded?) since we are getting a dog soon and don't want it running on to the road when people come to the door! We are in Herne Hill. Many thanks.

Ps we're supplying all the paints...

Wow, well that sounds impressive (and is a helpful reference), KidKruger! Thank you all so much for taking the trouble to give me these responses, which are really useful. The price was a bit of a shock, and I had no frame of reference for it, as we haven't had any painters quote independently for this job. The loft company's painter paints the new stairs and rooms they have built for us as part of the build cost, but, as our downstairs hall and up the stairs need doing too (we had to have a dampproof course installed, and then replaster that part), it made sense to get them to do that too, so we've only asked them what the cost of that additional work would be. I'll definitely get them to break the cost down for me. If it really is the doors bumping the costs up I'll do them myself! I did the other side of half of them anyway, and didn't find that too onerous; it was the stairwell I was most apprehensive about doing ourselves. There's only one guy working on it, and they are expecting to have it all done in a few days, so ?2k still feels expensive to me. A lot of it is painting over brand new plaster... I guess I'll just have to get them to crack on with the 'free' bit (painting the loft stairs etc.), and get some separate quotes for downstairs (any recommendations gratefully received!). Thanks again everyone.

Hi, has anyone had decorators to paint their hall and staircase? We've just had a quote from the painter from our loft company to do that for us too while they paint the new bit, and the quote is ?2000 for the downstairs hall, staircase and landing, and one side of 7 doors. Sounds loads to me, as we've always done our own painting before so I've no idea, but can anyone offer any advice as to whether it sounds reasonable?? Thank you!

I'd really appreciate it! Please feel free to PM me. Many thanks.

We need someone to help us remove a couple of layers of a short length of brick wall (to make it the same height as the adjoining bit), and help us prepare the ground behind (currently soil) for the erection of a shed. If you could recommend anyone/could help yourself, we would love to hear from you. Ideally we would get started this Saturday/Sunday. We are around ourselves to help, but don't have the equipment/know how to do the whole job! We are in Herne Hill/North Dulwich. Thank you.

I would like to offer a very positive recommendation for Craig. I saw a mouse in our kitchen last week and Craig responded to my (panicked) email very quickly, and was thankfully able to come round the following day (Saturday). I found him incredibly reassuring (I had proved a complete wuss on appearance of mouse around my feet and was on the verge of abandoning the room for good till Craig came round..!) as he was clearly very experienced and capable and considered it possible to get on top of the problem we had, and duly filled in all possible mouse entry points he could find in our kitchen. There was a missing floorboard he found in one of our cupboards which he advised us to get filled as this was clearly a weak point, but we felt confident Craig had done his job as thoroughly as possible, and we have now followed up on his advice. In any case he is at the end of the phone and was again very helpful when I had another wobble about the mice and needed some advice the other evening. Thank you Craig.

I too would like to give another heartfelt recommendation for Aston. I was able to get hold of him immediately, and he fitted me in very quickly (luckily he had a window at the end of the day sufficient for what we needed). It was a very challenging job at the end of a long, hot day (filling in a missing floorboard at the back of a cupboard in our kitchen, where a mouse had found an entry point this week, and making it accommodate the many cables coming up from underneath...), and he managed it all very skilfully and with total good grace. It was so nice to have someone so genuinely nice but unobtrusive in the house (it was a busy time when he came, with kids' teatime going on in the same room, but he was very relaxed, considerate and friendly and they loved him!). We're delighted to have found him, and hope to be able to use him again in the future.

The front wheel came off our Mamas and Papas Sola pushchair at the weekend (not in a way we can put it back on securely -- something has snapped), and I called them today to try and book it in at their repairs centre, only to be told they won't repair anything (even if you pay them) older than 3 years (which strikes me as pretty poor, since it suggests they only expect them to be useable for one child... we are using it with our second, but it was expensive enough, and I expected it to last the course)... Seems ridiculous to write it off when it is otherwise in excellent nick and really comfy for our little boy. Has anyone had a buggy repaired anywhere/by anyone (I did call Tommmy's in Peckham today that I had seen mentioned on here but they said they only mend ones they sell)? We're really missing our buggy... Many thanks.

Hi everyone, congratulations to all you new/expectant mothers! Hope this doesn't seem opportunistic, but I just wanted to let you know that I have just posted for sale in the Family Room Classifieds section various bits of baby kit that we genuinely found essential with both our babies, but particularly our first (for whom we had a bit more time to sit still and play with things..!) -- Bouncy Chair, Jumperoo, Jungle Gym playmat -- and we also have a door bouncer, Baby Bjorn and feeding pillows I will be adding later. PM me if you're interested in anything, and good luck with it all! Daisy x

Fernando came round last week to sort out some very overgrown borders and beds for us that we have neglected for a while but now want to plant some flowers and veg in. He was very punctual and worked extremely hard, and we are delighted with what he achieved, which has inspired us to take care of our garden again (although we would certainly like him to come back and help us with that again soon, as there are still areas that are a bit much for us to tackle!). As others have said, he is extremely nice and courteous, and my baby loved being near him while he worked (on one of those gorgeous sunny days last week!). Thank you Fernando.

Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any experience of the tongue tie clinic at St Thomas's? Recently attended the one at King's, but was put off by the description of the procedure and, specifically, the post-procedure wound management they advise. I gather Tommy's has a slightly different approach, and wondered if anyone had taken their baby for tongue tie division there? Had been hopeful we'd get by without, but still in a lot of pain breastfeeding (baby 5 weeks today)... Many thanks for any thoughts.

Well done and Congratulations, Ruth! And mooncake - I am in exactly the same position (inc. due roughly the same time by the sounds of it)! Taking SO much longer to get baby things ready this time around when they have to be dug out of the loft and thoroughly cleaned and laundered again! Praying for some sunnier weather to help me out drying and airing things outside when I get the chance! Hope to meet up with some mums and bumps/babies/toddlers soon. Obviously happy to go East Dulwich-wards (being always happy to align myself with the goings on on the brilliant EDF!), but if there are any others who, like me, are in fact based more Herne Hill/North Dulwich way please shout if you would like a meet-up in any of our local haunts! Daisy x

I'm not sure we can do 30th sadly, but hopeful for the evening of the 18th! Also, thought I'd mention, as it may be helpful for other second time mums who, like me, haven't done NCT or anything this time and feel a bit fuzzy-headed about the details of labour, that there is a really good (depending on your working days/maternity leave start date) drop-in antenatal class run by a lovely midwife from King's, Nicky Harris, every Tuesday morning at the Bessemer Grange Children's Centre from 11-12. I went for the first time yesterday, when in fact I was the only one to drop in, but it only started after half term, and she is expecting more mums in the coming weeks. In any case, it meant that I had the luxury of an hour long one-to-one refresher course on childbirth (slightly terrifying!), and the chance to ask as many questions and talk about anything I wanted for as long as I liked - a luxury the NHS isn't usually in a position to give! So I'd really recommend it if you get the chance to go, even if just to complement what you're getting from your routine antenatal appointments with your own midwife. I was really hoping it would be another avenue to meet other mums too, and get the kind of community spirit going that NCT did for us last time, and that may come if more people start to go too. Daisy x

I couldn't recommend the Half Moon Montessori Nursery, where our daughter goes, highly enough - but that would be for a little further down the line, as they need to be two to start there. Keep it in mind though - we're thrilled with the care she receives there.

Yes, congratulations, DandySandy! Hope you're all settling in well with one another. And good luck, Emily... We're about to embark on a similar painting mission. Have you both seen the 'Second time round spring babies' thread on here by the way? There's been one meet-up so far with first children in tow, and another one being planned too. Also, thought I'd mention, as we haven't done NCT this time either, that there is a really good (depending on your working days/maternity leave start date) drop-in antenatal class run by a lovely midwife from King's, Nicky Harris, every Tuesday morning at the Bessemer Grange Children's Centre from 11-12. I went for the first time yesterday, when in fact I was the only one to drop in, but it only started after half term, and she is expecting more mums in the coming weeks. In any case, it meant that I had the luxury of an hour long one-to-one refresher course on childbirth (slightly terrifying!), and the chance to ask as many questions and talk about anything I wanted for as long as I liked - a luxury the NHS isn't usually in a position to give! So I'd really recommend it if you get the chance to go, even if just to complement what you're getting from your routine antenatal appointments with your own midwife. Daisy x

Hi, I'm afraid we're not coming this afternoon after all - H has been complaining of a tummy ache since nursery and, even in light of my suggestion of going to soft play with a bouncy castle (surely irresistible!?) she still maintains her tummy doesn't feel right, and she doesn't want to go out :( so I'd better take her word for it! Hopefully catch you there/elsewhere another time soon. Dx

Great - well if she's not too pooped after all the excitement of World Book Day this morning (I know I am..!), we'll definitely try to make it. I'm on 07733 270836 if you wanted to try and coordinate. Daisy x

Does sound fun (I've often meant to try it, but haven't managed to yet)! What time were you thinking of though? My daughter's at nursery till lunchtime tomorrow. Dx

Sorry we missed you all this time, but would also be very keen for another daytime meet soon. Daisy x

Sorry we won't be able to make it (we were only ever going to be able to do later on as have a class at 10.30), but hope there's another chance before too long. Daisy (and Henrietta) x

Hi, 2nd March works for me and my daughter, who will be a month off turning four when number 2 arrives in April. Can't do between 10.15 - 11.30 that day, but any time from then. Thanks Daisy x

I would be very grateful for any recommendations of a builder who could help us with the refurbishment of our bedroom: before we get started, there is a newish damp patch we need to address in the corner of the ceiling, as well as some very damp cupboards, so we need someone with roofing expertise as we believe the cause probably lies up there. There are also a couple of electrical jobs involved, and a bit of carpentry too. I've had a look through previous recommendations for specialists in each of those areas individually, but if we could get someone who could come round and have a look at the job as a whole for us that would be preferable for us. Many thanks in advance, Daisy (in Herne Hill/North Dulwich)

mrs-blue-squirrel Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Thanks again to Ginny for organising, and what a > turn out! > > The 18th works for me, however given the large > numbers, I wondered if it might be more manageable > for the second timers to organise a separate meet > up so we can include our toddlers? (I?m guessing > the first timers will be more than happy to miss > this!) Also, I didn't really get a chance to talk > to many people given the numbers which was a > shame. > Could I suggest maybe a day meet up with the > toddlers? If anyone fancies it I can start a new > thread ?second time round spring babies? to > organise? > > Hx Hi, yes I definitely would vote in favour of this! Also really appreciated the last meet-up, and chatted to some lovely people, but I would really love a second timers meet-up with first babies in tow (or indeed without if it proves too complicated whilst people are still at work etc.). My daughter is 3 and a half, and I would love, for her sake and mine, to see if there are any others out there with a similar age gap (all the lovely second timers I met last week had managed to be a lot quicker off the mark than we did with creating #2!). And even if there weren't, would still be great to narrow it down a bit to meet people with shared experiences, past and to come, with having another one. Daisy x

Hi everyone Expecting my second on April 11th (my daughter is 3), and would love to join in with the meet-up on 21st if there's space for another bump?! Would love to meet everyone, and hopefully establish little social circle for #2 like we had for our first one (through NCT that time), so many thanks for getting everyone together! Daisy x