BikeChick

Can anyone recommend a clothing alterations service in the area that will come to your home? I have a number of items that need alterating and very small children - I want to find a service that can come to me. Thanks!

Chicken pox vaccine is for 12 months plus - I thin you just need to wait a couple of weeks after MMR (or get it done before). Mine got their chicken pox vaccinations at http://www.ja-medical.co.uk/ it is right next to Bromley South station and very handy. Also cheaper than the places on Harley St. They are a private medical clinic.

Can anyone recommend a business to clean and reseal tile flooring (natural stone in a kitchen/diner and hall)? I have cream stone tiles and grout and they are filthy - need a professional deep clean. Thank you

As above, really. I want a minor scratch and dent on the door of my car repaired (caused by me) and would prefer not to have to take my car anywhere. I think there are lots of mobile car body shop type services but if anyone has a recommendation that would be great. Thank you

I think the reason I did not understand the problem is that Southwark's approach is ENTIRELY different to Lambeth's! Sorry.

I am not sure if this is any help but we live in West Dulwich, so Lambeth. We just had a dropped kerb done last week. It was a simple process, cost ?1700. The council were very efficient and we didn't even have to have a line painted on the road if we didn't want to. We did (this cost ?100) and it just covers our dropped kerb area plus a very small distance either side. Southwark's approach sounds very odd. I don't understand why people think creating a driveway and dropped kerb creates parking problems for others. It simply takes a car off the road and onto a driveway, so the net result is the same as the car being parked on the road! I also think it makes crossing residential streets a lot safer if there are large gaps to cross in. I can't tell you how many times I have been crossing our road with a buggy and 3 year old walking next to me and not been able to see cars coming up and down the street as I edged out between parked cars.

I spoke with the new owners and also heard from others who had similar problems. They are having trouble transitioning the business but I think it should all be sorted with time. Just wanted to make people aware in case they have similar issues to me.

I wanted to post some information about www.simplychildcare.com because I have recently had problems with them - I signed up, created an advert, paid a ?35 subscription but even though my money was taken, my ad never went live. I tried contacting them by phone but the number is disconnected, and there are no replies to emails. Anyway, I eventually found (via BT phonebook) the home phone number of the owner of the company, and after ringing it I found out that, very sadly, the owner has recently passed away and sold the business. Clearly there should be information notifying potential customers of this on the website, but there is not. The new owners are Eden Private Staffing and you can find the right phone number by googling them. They were helpful when I eventually got hold of them.

Hi there I have a sizeable lot of office workwear (women's) to donate. Good condition suits, skirts, dresses, nearly new shirts - had a major wardrobe clear out. Aside from charity shops, does anyone know of any specific charities that collect office attire and that are in the South London area (or able to collect from me)? Thank you!

I just wanted to recommend Darren's Decorating Services based in SE London (see contact details here: http://www.yell.com/biz/darrens-decorating-service-london-901378269/) Darren recently painted a bedroom and a large kitchen/dining room for us (working at the same time as a plasterer fixing the ceiling - also brilliant, Aaron, found on this forum too). His work is outstanding - we are really pleased. He has real attention to detail and did lots of preparatory work which meant the finished work was first class. Darren is also friendly and trustworthy to have in your home - we had one room painted whilst we were on holiday. He has since given us good advice about exterior painting work we need doing, and we hope to book him in for that work in the spring. He is also knowledgable and helpful in other areas - I had a fridge delivered when he was here and was struggling to connect the filtered water hose to the mains, I popped out and he did it for me! Fantastic job.

We got ours within the last year and went through ShuttersUp. They were excellent and the shutters are great quality. In our previous property we had bought them through JL, Hilary's and Thomas Sanderson. ShuttersUp were by far the best and very reasonable price. Excellent to deal with, efficient, friendly and beautifully fitted.

Hi there Does anyone have a recommendation for a landscaper/builder for turning their front garden into a driveway and garden? I know all about the dropped curb application process, etc, but am looking for someone who can advise on design and do the work - has anyone done such a thing in East/West Dulwich? Thanks

I would like to recommend a local handyman, Terry (terry027). Terry has been to my house twice now to do a number of jobs I don't have the time or the skill to do myself - including: 1. fixing a lot of loose and creaky floorboards 2. putting up blinds 3. stripping and treating exterior window sills 4. stripping and re-treating summer house roof 5. putting up shelf Terry is very hard working, prompt, reliable, responsive and his charges are very reasonable. He is also very efficient and doesn't waste any time! His number is 07717572036

Yes my understanding is similar to renrens. In addition, I understand an economic decision was taken by the nhs that the cost to the economy of parental time off work is less than the cost of vaccinating all children against a disease that is non fatal. I am definitely getting my kids done.

I tried asking and got "why bother, all mine have had it, it isn't that bad". Actually, it can be - there is a reason it is part of the routine immunisation schedule in USA, Canada, Australia... Happy to go private and avoid idiotic conversations like that. Which GP practice are you with, out of interest?

Does anyone know of anywhere in London (ideally easily accessible from Dulwich train) that administers the children?s chicken pox vaccines, ideally on weekdays? Obviously I realise this is a private treatment as it is not part of the UK?s immunisation program. Medicentre in Victoria no longer treat children at all, and the Children?s Immunisation Centre on Harley Street only do Saturday appointments and charge a hefty ?50 ?registration fee? in addition to the cost of the vaccine. Thank you!

We are unfortunately very time-poor and have a number of jobs we need doing around our house in West Dulwich that we are never getting round to doing. At the moment, we are looking for a quality handy-person to carry out the following jobs: 1. install 3 roller blinds in one of our bedrooms (removing the 3 existing roller blinds) 2. Treat and carry out minor repair to our wooden summer house roof 3. Paint some of our exterior window sills (upstairs and downstairs so ladder required). 4. Fix some squeaky floorboards in one of our bedrooms. Can anyone help/recommend anyone to help with the above? we have the paint/wood treatment required for 2 and 3 above, so only tools/ladders are required. Thank you!

I know this subject has come up a few times on WDF, but quite some time ago.. I have posted on WDF and had no replies since my post a couple of weeks ago, so I am going to see if any ED'ers have any insight to offer me! I was hoping to hear from some parents with recent experience of Asquiths (Dulwich Day Nursery) and Rainbow Smiles. We are moving into the area and will be looking for 4-5 mornings a week nursery care (full time not just term time), as our nanny only works afternoons. Our son will be coming up to two years and is well used to nursery having been attending the one near our home elsewhere in London for a year. I visited Asquith and Rainbow Smiles and I have to say I got a slightly better impression from Asquiths. I thought the space available at RS was quite small - although I have to say the garden area was nice and the children seemed very engaged with various activities. I liked the layout at Asquith and the variety of areas/ activities on the go when I visited. However I really would love to hear some feedback from other local parents. Please feel free to PM me if you prefer. Thank you so much. I know Nelly's is excellent but we can't get a place, unfortunately.

I know this subject has come up a few times on WDF, but quite some time ago.. I have posted on WDF and had no replies since my post a couple of weeks ago, so I am going to see if any ED'ers have any insight to offer me! I was hoping to hear from some parents with recent experience of Asquiths (Dulwich Day Nursery) and Rainbow Smiles. We are moving into the area and will be looking for 4-5 mornings a week nursery care (full time not just term time), as our nanny only works afternoons. Our son will be coming up to two years and is well used to nursery having been attending the one near our home elsewhere in London for a year. I visited Asquith and Rainbow Smiles and I have to say I got a slightly better impression from Asquiths. I thought the space available at RS was quite small - although I have to say the garden area was nice and the children seemed very engaged with various activities. I liked the layout at Asquith and the variety of areas/ activities on the go when I visited. However I really would love to hear some feedback from other local parents. Please feel free to PM me if you prefer. Thank you so much. I know Nelly's is excellent but we can't get a place, unfortunately.