LondonMix

There aren't that many cash buyers. If the agents are saying that I wouldn't believe them.

http://www.freemaptools.com/distance-between-uk-postcodes.htm this will tell as your distance as the crow flies http://www.southwark.gov.uk/downloads/download/2483/primary_school_admissions brochure will give you last years furthest place offered on the distance criteria for most schools in Southwark. DulwichBorn&Bred Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Slightly off topic but is there a tool to measure > the distance to the schools? And how do you know > the catchment areas ? Preparing myself for when > its my turn next year .

Oh I agree with that-- a lot of Rye Lane is dirty and smelly. I know quite a few people who were born and bread in Peckham and almost all of them hate that aspect of it. It seems primarily newcomers to the area that find the filth charming in someway! As useful (for the affordability) as some of the traders might be, it would be good to have things more tidy!

Don't be strategic. Ignore the asking price and don't try to anticipate what someone else will offer. Offer the maximum you are willing to pay for the house. You are in a strong position but if you are being beaten by just a few thousand each time, I'd suggest if you really see something you want, go for it.

How many bulges are there this year Renata? 96% of applicants getting one of the 6 choices and 82.2% getting their first choice with 100% being allocated a school is pretty impressive but how much bulging is being done to achieve this? Also, where do things stand regarding the funding for expanding Dulwich Hamlet and the other 2 Southwark schools you've mentioned in the past. I feel terrible for the 4% who didn't get any of their 6 choices...

That's really helpful. If you don't mind me asking, how big is big? The difference between the two gardens we are considering is 20ft vs 45ft. While 20ft is really just a city garden for BBQ's I wonder if 45ft is actually big enough to get some of the benefits you guys are mentioning.

Oh, I see. Sorry Gina that's a tough one as that area is a bit of a blackhole. Unfortunately, except in a bulge year quite a few of those schools would be out of reach in that location. Did you look at Bessmer? Not sure what its situation is this year but its a good school that historically has been undersubcribed given its a little tough to get too. It might be a better option that what you've been offered though. Good luck sorting it out.

Where is the Grove? All those schools have rather tight catchments and all of those schools are quite some distance from each other (Fairlawn and Heber). GinaG3 Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > We didn't get any of our preferred 6 either, have > been offered Langbourne (2.4 miles away). What do > I do now if I don't want to accept a place unless > its in my top 6?! I did pick Horniman, Fairlawn, > Eliot Bank, Goodrich, Heber and Dulwich Village. > All perfectly reasonable if at the Grove, no? > > In a daze today, just returned from surgery and > spaced out on Morphine. Will figure it all out > tomorrow, struggling to even type. All advice > welcome though. :-)

One of my friends went to an elite private school in South America mostly filled with diplomat kids. One of her friends was the child of a school teacher there and according to my friend had a complex about it. Others didn't ostracize her but it seemed like she made a point of trying to prove she could keep up with their spending habits when she couldn't etc. This was at secondary school though. At primary school I don?t think it would be such a problem as kids are still rather oblivious to such things. With that said, rich people aren?t aliens. Those saying they wouldn?t want their kids mixing with ?that crowd? sound just as backward as elitists who wouldn?t want their children to know anyone from a humble background. There might very well be issues (particularly if they continue on to a private secondary) but the truth is that it can only enrich you to be exposed to people of differing backgrounds to your own. If your children for any reason end up going into a profession where they have to interact with a high concentration of the ?privileged? they will certainly be less intimidated by the social aspects of the role. Personally, I went to a very economically mixed school and have friends that are very affluent and friends that are very poor. I value that tremendously. At the end of the day, you should make the decision based on your kids as there is no right or wrong answer. If you feel this school is better for them either because they?d thrive by being pushed more or there are more enriching extracurricular activities or it will open up more opportunities for them later on, then I would say go for it! Don?t let class intimidate you or them.

Sometimes I wonder what people are on about. Rye lane has more chains that Lordship Lane. Lots of fact food chains (McDonald?s, KFC, Subway, etc) , pharmacy chains (Superdrug etc), and retail (Primark / Clarks / Argos)? Brixton is an example of how restoration can work. There are a lot of chains in Brixton (including M&S / H&M) and a thriving independent scene as well as ?ethnic? grocers as some have called them.

Haha! Sneaky poos in the ensuite eh? What everyone is saying who has boys is exactly my husband's argument-- we need a football net etc. I don't remember playing in the back yard growing up (we had a pool which might be why as it took up most of the backyard). We tended to play out the front of the house (in America that was very normal) or in the cul-de-sac with the other neighborhood kids. Its funny, but I never see kids playing in the street like I did (here or back home). We used to play kickball in the middle of the street.

I've always understood that the shops and 20th century buildings would be cleared out to restore the Victorian square. I understand that for the businesses affected it must be galling. However, on balance restoring the square and improving the built environment is worth doing in my view. A beautiful built environment has a positive psychological impact on the community that should not be underestimated and has to be weighed up against the loss of amenity.

Thanks, that's really helpful. It seems boys and girls tend to use outside space differently which explains why my husband and I disagree on this one! To throw another spanner in the works- if you have an ensuite, how much do you value it-- in addition better rooms upstairs, the house with a small garden has a great ensuite in addition to lots of storage. Given the weather we have, I wonder how much we'll use the garden but I supposed kids of a certain age need to run off excess energy...

Its a restoration. They are just putting it back to how it was supposed to look when it was built in Victorian times. This has been in the works for a couple of years (there have been threads on the EDF about it ages ago) so I'm surprised there are people just finding out about it now.

Sounds like you might need a nanny-house keeper in the evenings. If you could make the position live-in it will be easier for you to find someone who can be flexible (if you have the room and are comfortable with that). Good luck!

For all of you mums and dads with older children (5+), I was wondering what you would priortise in a family home: a large garden vs. a garden only large enough for a small BBQ's and a small swing OR larger bedrooms / bigger bathrooms and more storage? Right now, outside space isn't so much of a concern but I wonder, in hindsight, what the forum thinks makes for more comfortable family life particularly as kids get older!

Indeed. Bribing with a bottle of wine is usually enough :)

Bribed with what?

It's hard to say... Language is a very fluid thing and is meant to evolve. Meanings change which is fair enough. Presenlty is a good example of that. I only learned that historically it only used to mean "soon" after reading a book as a teenager. El Pibe Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Which neatly brings us back to my question, when > does common usage overrule incorrect usage? > > All dictionaries now acknowledge the common usage > of enormity, there's a quite clear etymological > path for one to segue to the other for instance, > and I'm already prepared to accept defeat on trope > even though that's a very recent import from the > states. > > Ooh there's another, I'm seeing segway instead of > segue a fair bit recently, that really bring on > the wet clowns mantra

Agree. What was the point of that shirl?

Ambivalent means torn rather than indifferent Enormity is (as already said) is extreme wickedness not large / significant

Agree. Most people understand this. It?s ridiculous that people are getting their backs up over the title instead of focusing on the horrible crime that's taken place. To the OP: I hope you partner is recovering and that this thread and you reporting the attack to the police ultimately lead to these two violent men being apprehended

I thought womanofdulwich meant a pretty good example of the media coverage criticising her for not being maternal. Could be wrong though as I don't know her politics!

Yes, fair enough. I think it ties in though. Those who celebrate her do it because she exudes certain traits often not associated with being maternal. A public woman being assessed by aspects of herself other than her role as mother was actually part of the legacy that I thought was positive. However, I have to think if that's really true given how much press coverage WomanofDulwich has seen on the subject.

I see. I think its always funny how this discussion is always framed. Successful men make just as many personal sacrifices as concerns family life etc. Many are very torn about it. Marriages fall apart because of it. However, no one ever seems to find it relevant when it comes to men...