Sayroo

Spa at the Sofitel (St James) is fabulous - try ukspabreaks for deals.

Ruxley Manor - massive garden centre near Sidcup.

Come over to St Faith's Community Centre tomorrow - Saturday 14th October 2017 Time: 10:30am - 12:15pm (NCT member entry @ 10:15am, general public @ 10:30am) Venue: St Faith's Community Centre, Red Post Hill, North Dulwich (SE24 9JQ) Entry: ?1.50 Plenty bargains to pick up for autumn - clothes, books, equipment, toys and many many more. Email: [email protected] for any further details

So glad I've found this thread - loads of top advice. Thank you!

It's a bit of a journey, but your post did make me think of this... http://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/its-what-christmas-is-all-about-wimbledon-pub-offers-free-dinner-and-beer-to-anyone-alone-on-the-a3415846.html

Couldn't agree more with the comments above. I sent Seema a text last week and she came to my home to cut & blow dry my hair. She's polite, professional and prompt - but most of all really listened to what I wanted then made a few constructive suggestions as to what might work for me. She worked quickly and I've been impressed with her results. In short, I really I hadn't appreciate that the results you achieve in the salon can actually be recreated at home! Seema has a facebook page: facebook.com/chopchophairlondon and instagram account: @chopchophairlondon

Yes I was going to say Shiply - If it's not urgent, see what the quote looks like. My Father in law uses it quite a lot for getting things to and from Spain.

Hi, I've been struck down (yet again) with a ghastly cough that's developed over the last 24 hours. Seem to be overly susceptible to bugs like this during pregnancy. However, the pharmacist in Boots recommended their 'cold & flu defence nasal spray' that women can take when pregnant or breast feeding. So relieved there's an alternative to paracetamol and it seems to be helping so far (even if just psychologically!) Rather than bring my germs to the pub I'll catch up next time. Hopefully another session can be organised. Enjoy yourselves ladies, really sorry I can't be there.

Really looking forward to Wednesday night and a bit more mingling with springtime mums to be. Helen - Best of luck! Sounds like you're the first off the blocks here so hope all goes really well. Catch up soon ladies. Sarah

If you're really looking for a class she can attend, I recently spent the evening at the Konditor and Cook Cake School and they mentioned they are running cookery courses now too. I see they do private sessions, maybe worth exploring? http://shop.konditorandcook.com/collections/cake-school

Hi Happy weekend everybody - Just a quick post to say thanks again Ginny for speaking to the EDT about Wednesday night. Will be coming straight from work (so will most likely order some food at the pub too) but I'm looking forward to meeting you all. Should be a great evening! See you soon. Sayroo

Hi, Looks like there's going to be a good group of us to get together then on Wednesday 21st January at 19:00. Venue likely to be the EDT but tbc by Ginster if that's OK? Lucy - we will try and fix a date that will suit you in future too. Perhaps the last week in February to catch up again before these Spring babies start making an appearance? Take care ladies and happy 2015 x

Wednesday 21st works well for me. Thanks for the suggesting Mo!

Hi Everyone, I'm expecting my first baby mid-May. From the above, it sounds like we've a good mix of people who are looking forward to baby no. 2 making an appearance next Spring along with a handful of first-timers like me! I'm sure that January will be here before we know it. Do you think a meet up one evening (?) of the week starting 19th January might work? Ginny suggested the EDT which might work. I'll leave it to a second time Mum to propose a reasonable time and / or day that might be convenient for us. Really looking forward to meeting you all. In the meantime, enjoy this special Christmas and see you in 2015 S x

It's a mission to get to Bathrooms Direct in Richmond but well well worth it if you can face the drive...

Hi Rachael (& other posters) I really appreciated you putting me in touch with your cleaner last week. The help she provided at the weekend was great. Nothing was too much trouble - from tackling the dust that had accumulated around my radiators to tackling a mountain of ironing. Thanks again.

Friends of fabric - bellenden road. Very good dry cleaning and outstanding clothes repairs. Fair, Honest and reliable.

Hi sue, I'm sure you're right and yes, boots appliances online is excellent for doing just this. The Old Kent Road Currys does seem to be some sort of superstore and did help us discount what we don't want, but we were struggling last night to think of anywhere else to go and have a good look, touch and feel before we buy!! I'm not too keen on the Purley Way at the best of times and if Currys is all there is these days (with Comet and Dixons gone) don't want to drive out there to only realise there's a hobbycraft and a pets at home (!!) rather than a competitor to Currys. My other thought was a giant Tesco or sainsburys and whether they have an 'upstairs' of double ovens somewhere....

Hi You should try bloomandwild.com I've had brilliant service, they are very good value and well packed, considerately and literally fit through the letterbox!! (Honestly - an amazing idea!) I've received then sent many times.

Hi All, On a related point, we are putting in a new kitchen at the moment and have been to Currys on Old Kent Road tonight to get a good idea of appliances and brands we'd like to go for (or avoid) we'd looked in John Lewis too, but the range there was small and expensive in comparison. These have been a good start, but I just wondered where else there are showrooms these days to actually compare and contrast dishwashers, (gas) hobs & double ovens etc under one roof. Any good leads from your experience ladies? Thanks in advance.

Again, Friends of Fabric on Bellenden Road is the best dry cleaners and alterations I've ever come across. They are brilliant, accommodating and the repairs they did on a couple of my work skirts (and those for a colleague at work) have been the talk of my office!! Would def recommend them. They've been great.

Opps. Just seen this thread after writing a post about them on the 'any mums got an awesome kitchen' thread. I may have bought one too early (4/5 years ago) and now some of the early issues may have been addressed but afraid I'll never have another...

Given we're about to start a similar project this is so helpful. A quick one on Hobs though, my very wise (& safety conscious) sister in law found a gas hob which had dials / knobs that ran from the front to the back of her countertop (rather than along the front edge) and chose this to avoid little hands reaching up and turning them on! However, I must admit - having fitted an induction hob in my last kitchen about 4 years ago, I was thrilled to move here and back to cooking with gas! I found the beeping of the induction hob (when the smallest splash of water hit it or even at a spray of kitchen anti-bac spray) completely insufferable and at times (as another uncontrollable 'safety feature') if a pan even slightly boiled over (think pasta!) it would turn itself off! I'm not a sloppy cook who is out of control in the kitchen, but when multitasking at meal times you don't need appliances conspiring against you. Ha - I'm getting tense just typing this again. Also, once a little water got under the seal on one ring, that was that one knackered!! So proceed with caution. Do ask around if you're considering one. My aunt and my mother also have a slight regret with their induction hobs too despite them looking swish.

Depending on how desperate you are, Boots at Beckenham but I'm also hoping there's somewhere closer...!!

Over the last few months I've not just had a number of items cleaned at Friends of Fabric on Bellenden Road, but clothes repaired too. The speed and quality of the work's been terrific and it's been reasonable too compared to other dry cleaners in the city. I work in an office where smart business dress is required and not only have they been able to remove permanent red marker pen from one of my Hobbs suits, but I have even taken items (badly split skirts!) in there for colleagues and they've been delighted too. I even trusted them with my wedding dress and have been delighted with both the value and quality of the clean. As for service, I was even sent a text when my dress was ready for collection. A hidden gem and a brilliant small business. I would def trust and recommend them.