Belle

We got some for our bedroom which is at the front of the house. Wanted solid but opted for slatted for various reasons, which doesn't block light out completely - solid would do a much better job for this. They really do look great in my opinion and amazingly don't seem to gather dust which was something we'd expected. We went with Shutters Up, who were fantastic to deal with, and though not cheapest, not the dearest eitehr (plus with a fairly big/important purchase like this I was wary of deals sounding too good to be true, and had read good recommendations for them here) http://www.shuttersup.co.uk/ - they'll come and do a consultation free, and won't give it the hard sell either.

Kuki on Bellenden Rd is much more reasonable than GMs, if you want to go to a salon. Or Carly, a mobile hairdresser who is great and much used by forumites - if you do a search her number will come up, I've used her for brazilian blowdry, cut and colour and been very happy with all 3. She's very reasonable.

Think it'll be closed now but shd open fairly early tomorrow? There weren't loads so don't want to get your hopes up (we went on a similar trek, for boys' shorts and I found 2 pairs but frustratingly nowhere near the right size!) - the checked dresses were stuffed in between the girls' winter stuff and boys' winter stuff in the school uniform aisle. My son is going to school in trousers due to my general disorganisation, I had this vision of him in little shorts on his first day!

I was in Sainsburys earlier (DKH) and noticed a few of the gingham dresses still there? think they may have been green though so maybe not suitable depending which school. Also the huge sainsburys in sydenham might be worth a try?

Can also recommend Nicola watson, she offers a wide range of techniques, the one we went for involved no crying at all (though I would have been prepared to do a bit of th at if necessary, by that point) - and made a massive difference within just 2-3 nights.

I only ever made it a handful of times but those visits stand out as being wonderful little pockets of respite and calm! bumped into alice many times and have always thought she's such a great, supportive lady, this area is lucky to have her as an NCT teacher and leader of this much-loved group. Very sorry to hear of the group's demise!

James and Renata, I think you're both great the way you come and inform us/respond on here but it's hard when you engage in(what comes across as) political point scoring! The only way it's workable for politicians to engage on a forum like this is when they play it very straight, and I know you do both do that a fair bit - but it's quite off-putting to see the snidey comments on here, and doesn't do either of you any favours. Hope that doesn't put you off posting as I think it's laudable that you do it. Back on the schools point, I'd also be interested to know what the projected situation is for secondary given we know there is going to be a shortage in 6/7 years time (if there's not already, haven't got to that stage yet).

Meant to post last night, to say the same thing as tarafitness - Maiza at Dulwich Ironing is amazing, brilliant service - they pick up and drop back off within 48 hours, quite often it's actually within 24 hours. And it's reasonable and they offer dry cleaning too. The delivery man is so lovely and friendly too. Can't recommend them enough.

had a look at the edtots website, it's ?7 plus ?3 for siblings/under 1s! Can't see if it's back on, sorry.

I'll have 2 crazy boys, 4 & almost 2, the latter with a LOT of curls. Bringing a friend who's also got a child going to Goodrich.

yes works for me, realised it's 9.30-10.50 in case anyone was thinking of going earlier!

Soft play first session is at 9-10.50 I think, shall we aim for 10?

Love the hatch thing! I need a non-plumbed one though. Gwod...good idea but we're tight on space in our kitchen/dining area, would be too big I think. It's a bit of a conundrum. Current fridge/freezer nowhere big enough, we get through a lot of food plus do tend to freeze a lot. New one would need to go in dining space of open plan which is why I was trying to think of a way of making it vaguely aesthetically pleasing. Did see a thing online where someone painted theirs in blackboard paint, seems a bit ambitious/drastic though!

Chuff - what's a bar hatch opening? Like stable door type thing?

I especially love "I can?t remember whose idea it was that we just not go home, but it was a damn good one.? ha ha ha!

I have a condenser after much consulting on this forum and it's brilliant - got a Beko one quite cheaply and it's in our basement, agree it's a life changer! I have actually had washer driers in the past that have worked and my mother in law swears by hers so maybe as per my thread on fridges it's worth a subscription to Which to find out more??

We could do Weds am - have teacher visit in the afternoon. Not ED but soft play in Peckham is great for a rainy day, with added bonuses of containment and chance to chat a little.

Copying PollyD on the utility thread front... Any recommendations on good American style (double) fridges? I know they go up to crazy prices, we can't afford those! But don't want to get a cheapie and find out it's a false economy. Also aesthetics are important...are the only options basically stainless steel/white/black?? I love the Smeg styles/colours but they don't seem to do actual double fridges. Advice welcome!

ps the new montessori on Barry Road has places I think, if you'd rather somewhere close to home.

A friend of mine used Bright HOrizons at Spittalfields and rated it v highly, I believe there's also one at London Bridge?

both good, picnic area marginally better for purposes of containment (see my thread re high energy ch ildren ;) but I can find ways to bribe the smaller one if need be. btw has anyone heard re school dinners? I haven't had any notification from Southwark so wondering what'll happen on my son's first day, in fact haven't actually heard if he's supposed to stay for lunch or not (doing 10-1 so cd go either way).

Hi - we'd love to meet up too - can do Fri 6 too.

I didn't do mine in the end, so interested in alternatives, time permitting! Will check that link out espelli.

Saw that post - great idea, will def do that! And yes maybe I should get one of those back carrier things. I wouldn't use it much other than for this kind of thing, hence selling my last one (which technically could still carry my toddler but I just never used it).

I'm keen to try but work on Thursdays, and not quite sure how we'd get up there - I'm a v nervous London driver so avoid if we can, but just sold my last sling, so buggy would be a necessity! Think will try the woods one weekend when my husband is around to chauffeur :) When my first was little, we only found one class that worked for us. Bizarrely, it was sing and sign - he never mastered a single sign but it was more about the music and the teacher (Sabine - don't know if she's still teaching but highly recommend her for those with younger little ones looking for a class with an understanding leader!) just totally 'got' my son, let him roam and never made me feel bad about it. It was the one hour each week when I felt I could just relax and not stress about what he was doing. Makes me feel a bit sad now that with the beneit of hindsight, I can see I was wasting energy trying to get my first to conform, when i should just have looked for ways I could help/let him be himself. I was also lucky though to find a good nursery for him to attend 2 mornings a week when he was 2, where they always just said 'well he's 2, we don't expect him to sit still for long' and importantly I got a break! Sorry, I seem to be monopolising this thread - I could go on about this topic infinitely!