dulwichgirl2

As far as I can see there are: 1. Gambado - great, quite dear, also dodgems and carousel 2. Various council facilities - very cheap, but not massive "systems" like Gambado. Specific pieces of gym equipment 3. Little Rascals - no idea 4. Crystal Palace - Toddlers' World - no idea 5. Beckenham Spa - Buzz Zone 6. Tumble tots (sp?)- book for 10 weeks, specific pieces of equipment, not cheap Can anyone enlighten me re Rascals and T World in terms of age group suitability? Lastly I am coming from the perspective that Gambado is best, Buzz at the Spa is a bit limited and sweaty, while I really do not like those drop through holes. I tihnk they're dangerous. Does anyone agree?

Agree with NHGirl above but, equally, we have to realise all families are different and this variation results in a stronger species and a more interesting one. I find it astonishing, for example, when I hear of gps who consider babysitting their gchildren a chore or a favour as opposed to an honour. I find it astonishing when gps blow their savings on mega cruises rather than saving it for their gchildren's school fees, that sort of weird priority. BUT, I can also see that my views are not mainstream on this - my husband's family expect to give and take from their children whereas mine expect and see it as their duty always to give to the next generation. I think either works as long as you don't get out of sync!!

(THe first time I typed the heading, my predictive text phone changed it to "nubile" which is funny but absolutely NOT what I am looking for!!) Searching for good mobile beautician who can do basic stuff in your home - waxing, manicures etc. Can you recommend anyone? Mnay thanks

Actually in a civilised society this should be the norm so it feels weird to say well done for not stealing. I think the op would probably agree as his or her immediate instinct was to do the only possible right thing. well done for stating you will hand it in on Monday however. There are far too many of these posts on edf where the finder pretends probably to himself or herself more than anyone else that he or she is being honest by posting on the forum, thereby "entitling" him or her to think that the due diligence has been done and that he or she can "fail to return" the cash the following Monday. So I guess that, ultimately, I too say "well done" OP!

The poster above on social mobility hit it. It is not a question of intellect but family support and interest, ditto teachers, social expectations, fear of the stigma of unemployment - none these days, and teaching that mirrors what private schools are offering. Instead we have parents who have seen three generations of utter non achievers, teachers who weirdly weirdly weirdly sometimes do not care for social mobility, social expectations holding back children, welfare state encouraging dependency and a pathetic "modern" approach to manners, respect, learning and competition in some state schools the methods of which do a severe disservice to the very children they think they are helping. Re where Ed is going- it is moving towards Sw6 in about 1998. If you think prices are high now, just wait....

Pickle, that is really bad. When you were shattered probably as well from nightfeeds. And to clear away your plate etc and not offer anything further is plain inhospitable. It used to make me mad that I was always expected to leave the table etc with children even though my husband did more than his share off his own bat. I found it sort of deliberately dimishing of me and almost adult bullying, if that isn't making too much of it.

I'd say ED is increasingly like Fulham actually. It has few similarities with NH in my view but the types of houses, family occupancy, earning power, interests and ability to sustain scented candle shops are all reminiscent of early days sw6.

Or at least offer parents that option. Completely ridiculous. We have weird priorities as a country - what would hapen in other more competitive economies?

If they just replied to a question about what they would like, it is one thing. Asking for something is ill-mannered though. I have the same issues with informing people about wedding lists if they didnt ask. We had one obviously but only told those who asked. Otoh, my husband thought this silly of me. They will be hosting the lunch so obviously you would normally want to take a present. Often something red or to do with forty?

Madmum, thank you for that quite extraordinary vignette. I could feel the tension rising as it continued. I expected someone to throw a pot of paint over the teacher at some stage. I especially loved the bit about the ballet teacher standing in first position the entire time. Of course she did and would! A perfect character detail. Whartonesque.

The club is open 930a.m. to 1230p.m. and 1p.m. to 345pm. and costs ?4, which anyone who attends can "feel" is not covering costs. There is a large outside space in addition to it being located right inside the park. There is a free car park 15 seconds away. The ladies running it do very well - they change around activities and interact extremely well in my view with the mixture of ages of children who attend. If you haven't been, it's well worth coming along and giving it a go.

Browncoffee, don't be silly - the judge had to enforce a clearly existing covenant. The issue here is that the owners should have consulted widely in advance as I think they did actually. They should have got councillors and the MP on board and they should have had petitions, organised articles and photos in local press etc. They should remind the objectors even now that it is in their financial interests to drop it. It is all a great shame. Actually some ofthe se23 posts were so evil and cold it frightened me for the children.

Did anyone explain to the residents the vast increase in the value of their houses that could result from FH becoming an increasingly desirable area to exactly the people who would use the nursery - respectable, dual income families wishing to send their children to a quality nursery? It seems to me that, rather than attacking the legality etc., the answer here was to explain to the residents that the nursery was in their own interests(!). This area lives or dies by the families who are attracted to it. The quality of school provision is extremely important and we need to continue to attract families even earlier, ideally at baby stage when they are not thinking about schools. THis nursery, and other similar quality ones, was part of the attraction. The residents have rather foolishly shot themselves in the foot by failing to understand the shifting dynamics of the local housing market. Btw, I am not interested in day-care or Piplings nursery in any way. (I am interested in the value of my house, though!)

Why on earth did their lawyers not point out the restrictive covenant before they bought the place?

Super. Things have moved on since our first baby and this will save a lot of time catching up. Thanks so much. Maybe local businesses would advertise on it?

I see it as extremely easy and extremely hard at the same time. I had no problem with the main essential though - giving up everything and becoming an unpaid servant of small demanding bosses. Weirdly, that suits me ok!

Quick poll - what do your children address grownups as? Eg Mr Smith, Freddie's daddy, Tom, Uncle Tom etc.? And do they refer to the adult in the same way?

You are entitled to your view of how toddlers should be. Does it occur to you that others might have differing views and might have brought up their children differently?

Kes., you are so right. This is the mature approach and the approach of someone who understands how the world works. It isn't fair to give a child the idea that the world revolves around his or her way of doing things, if that way is extreme. It isn't fair to disrupt the majority of children for the selfish requirements of one, either at classes (disruptive child) or at the top of slide (contemplative introspective child). It all boils down to there being a time and place for different actions and it is our job as parents to teach our children what is appropriate and when. Telling them their way is acceptable at all times is not doing them any favours. So glad to read someone writing sense and not getting on the "out of control is so great and expressive" bandwagon. Edited for clarity

Could you get a massive piece of paper/cardboard and they cut round a huge "100" which you've drawn for them obviously? Then decorate with their usual flair and taste - in our house that would involve a great deal of glitter and lurid colour. Maybe attach some seeds for her to plant from the ch? eg sunflowers which they would see easily and quickly and could know were theirs? Congrats to your Grandma, to be 100 and in her shape is quite amazing. Good genes hopefully!

Sanne Panne, I am worried I have toddler logic - the mermaid's need for batteries makes perfect sense to me. Occasionally, we have the little one yelling the house down and screaming as if she is seriously ill - you go up and she tells you in an outraged voice with wild gesticulation that light is getting in througha crack in the door. "my eyes keep opening" is hilarious, Madmum.

Hello, where do you get work suits these days, please? I used to go to Joseph in my affluent single days, then it became Lewin when we had children. I would get a job lot of black and charcoal suits, buying exactly like a man I am sorry to say. ("Three of those, please" sort of attitude.) Lewin's website indicates they have next to nothing left so I am totally stumped and need to stock up. Can anyone recommend anywhere? Many thanks

Agggghh! it is really good fun and good value...what can we do? Speak to the councillors?

Many thanks again. Also, I found a voucher on the internet that worked last night to get 10 pounds off Tesco. Pm me if you want it.

This is incredibly helpful, thank you all so much. I will give it a go via Tesco at the weekend, and if they let me down, I will go for Ocado. (The black pudding substitution finished off any interest in Sainsburys.) Probably this is a silly question but....do you tip the delivery guy? My husband always tips eg pizza guys a few pounds which I find different somehow from the Tesco chap, but maybe the guy would expect it?