katgod

We did both. Did not bond especially with nct bunch, but found the local tea group invaluable. The nhs ones at dulwich hospital were factual and practical. The midwife was great. There were lots of people and so there was not much interaction in the classes. But, it is what you make it. Someone suggested a quick drink after the hospital tour session and about 8 couples went along to the pub at denmark hill station. We swapped numbers. I went into labour the next day, so missed the rest of the classes, but we started meeting up and still do. Nhs don't have to be unsocial, but you have to make the effort to get numbers and break the barrier coz the teacher does not do it for you how nct do. Good luck.

Pretty sure there will only be September intake in 2011, and no January. Had a letter about it from school I think. Maybe Southwark website will help?

just to pick up the grammar/comp point, these seems the opposite of how a good comp should work. It is more like grammar and secondary modern. I went to a school just like this with a grammar stream and a secondary modern or 'non selective' stream. The grammar girls did O levels and the rest did CSEs. But when GSCEs came along the system really struggled. At the 'proper' comprehensive schools where I grew up there were sets for every subject and you could be top set for maths and bottom set for biology and the system was flexiblle. Am a bit worried that Harris are going back 25 years.

i think it's fair enough to ask her if not sure. We went for mixture of small gift to show some effort had gone into it - necklace or bracelet or scarf etc, home made card from children and cash so she could get what she really wanted... Ps sillywoman causes all sorts of problems that one of the grandnmothers is also called Nanny. My son has self sorted it and refers to the paid child carer one as his childminder, as he seems to know it causes problems, not least to my mum who is the Nanny and is not that keen on sharing her job title. It is indeed a cultural thing!!

Thanks PRD for defending my comment! My comment was indeed based on HH and DCPS children I know.

and don't forget the holidays are several weeks longer at private school so you will need to factor in the extra child care costs for 3 weeks at Easter and 10 or 12 weeks over the summer, compared top 2 weeks and 6 weeks in state sector.

Yes is hanging on the bike stand outside the crystal palace tavern, or was this morning at 11 ish. Hope still there.

Feel very fortunate that a very close friend described them as the worst three months of her life and gave me such dire warnings that I had really really low expectations. In fact they were so low that I was pleasantly surprised by how it went. My baby did not have colic or any of the things that seem to make it difficult. There were odd days that were tough. I recall a friend cancelling lunch and it seeming like the end of the world, it was vital to have something to look forward to each day, no matter how small. I made sure I went out everyday whatever the weather, and took the view that if this was my new job it was important to take pride in the job and do my very best. The friends I made through hospital ante natal and NCT helped a great deal to make it fun. The kindness and friendliness of neighbours/old ladies on the bus/in shops amazed me-and I liked the slower pace of life. I guess it was a babymoon for me too-weaning and potty training were my dark days.And now with a newborn and older children I don't have time to think about whether it is hard work or not, I just know I am already not looking forward to weaning!!

Wow Molly please tell me more about these mittens! Husband has them for his Vespa but never seen buggy version.....

Merlin shoe shop in crystal palace deals with unusual feet I am told and stocks a wide variety of brands.

A cooked shepherds pie that I could just pop in the oven to feed us all. Absolutely brilliant, kind and much appreciated gift for those early days with baby 3.

Those 3.5 weeks before first babay born were bliss - house cleaned, household admin up to date, I had not bought anything due to feeling quite superstitious so plenty of time on the number 12 up to Oxford Streeet John Lewis to investigate sheets and changing bags, lunches with friends, visits to galleries and cinema. I have found fellow commuters very kind re offering seats, in the most recent one I think I stood twice and that was when I was wedged in the part of the train where those around me were not close to seats either. I have had passengers on the tube when I had my bottom perched on the ledge at the end of the carriage on the Jubillee line and been quite comfy go down the main part of the carriage to demand that someone seated stand up for me. I have never needed to wear a badge. Materity leave is good for doing filing, sorting photo albums, and being by yourself for a while as you will never get those jobs done or that time again. (Or maybe i am just too disorganised, and everyone else manages to maiantain order once babay comes along!) Really it is pointless trying to plan when the baby will come, someone said there should be best before dates rather than due dates as they rarely come when you think. I've had one early and 2 "late". If in later pregnancy you get symphusis pubic disorder or a particularly large bump the physical aspect of commuting - walking to the station, stepping up on to the train, up and down escalators can be exhausting, and I did get a seat on pretty much every journey. Or you may be blessed with good health. The important thing is to learn that you can't plan it all out! I'd say 38 weeks is def time enough to stop work, and personally have always gone for 36.

butcher and fishmonger closed on Mondays if that is a consideration for you at all, I prefer midweek or Friday day off as often more of a relaxed, less serious mood in offices on Friday so feels less like you are a slacker!

Agree that proper maternity pads much better thqan always tytpe- your poor sore bits appreciate the extra padding too. And I'd stick with newborn size unless you are expecting a giant baby. My nearly 10 pounder was fine in newborn for a few days at least. I packed the baby clothes in a see through plastic zip up bag so it would be totally obvious what was for baby- remember seeing the poor husband of Joy in One Born every Minute struggling over baby clothes and tried to make as easy as poss for my husband! Discharged myself from labour wardand so never made it to post natal this time,but previously have not used half the stuff I have packed. Less is more especially as we are so close to Kings here.

Over in SE22 she pays ?2 for that precious first tooth, and ?1 thereafter, except when she finds the tooth has not been looked after properly, in which case the rate drops to 50p. This is apparently a good way to keep 'em brushing. Has worked so far for us!

thanks all. will try moltex. am trying to avoid the gel and chlorine as much as the landfill really. she is really much more explosive than her siblings were, but not quite as talented as baby littleEDfamily (yet). used moltex fot the others when they were older. thinking Bellenden Bear may be onto somthing tho. then if i decide to try fully eco i will have half the kit already. but if Molly is not the nappy lady anymore, do i need to start a whole new thread on wraps?? ( ps - i know, search the archives, is all there no doubt!) thanks ladies pps am in awe of the nct group with nappy testing rota. back when i had my first my nct group was very much all about the cakes!

My new born is exploding poo out of the Nature Boy nappies I have bought. I am trying to be eco friendly, would rather not use Pampers etc, but surely every poo should not be leaking out? Is there another more reliable eco disposable, or do I need mainstream nappies to stem the leaks? PS I alreday face a mountain of washing form older children and cannot really face any more, so while I am full of admiration for you reusable nappy users, I am not convinced that is for me. I'd like to use a more eco friendly disposable if such a thing exists. Thanks for any recommenedations.

Echoing what Fuschia says - i think my son is the year below hers, and i can only think of 2 children in his class driven to school. So as time goes on there should be less cars. The issue of parents sitting on Princess's wall - sadly there will be inconsiderate people in any group. Some of the houses are real sun traps at pick up time, which no doubt makes it appealing to wait there. I am not one of those sitting on your wall Princess.

And that they weon't be able to meet the OFSTED guidelines for Reception children having direct access to outside space.

I am loving it, especially the fact that small children do not wake up at 4.20 at the moment. I am amazed that the media coverage is all so negative, have not heard or read a single item about the benefits of there being a no fly zone. I know it is unrealistic to have it permanently, but having one Sunday a month flight free would be lovely.

we had our 'visit' at 1.20 last night - but she went back to sleep and 4.20 came and went in a lovely sleepy haze. I think it is the planes. I don't hear them, but maybe I am just tune it out after 15 or so years in London. Agree with wood pigeon point tho - not sure I like them any better.

My 3 year old regulalarly wakes at 4.20 and comes in to our bedroom - usually pretty quickly settles back so not a big issue for us. I often wonder if the planes flying over are the issue. Is it a fluke that last night was one of the nights she slept through? Anyone else have a great nights sleep due to the no fly zone? I'm a big fan of the Iceland volcano if it means another few good nights!

Another Maclaren vote here. A trip to any airport and a wait by the "buggy chute" will confirm taht it ios far and away the most popular stroller about, at least in the UK. Ours is 6 years old (Quest) done 2 children and will, I hope, be upercedede by a lovely new XT once new babay out grows our big carry cot type pram. Have sometimes been lucky and allowed in the plane, more often allowed to wheel it up to the door and then had it stowed away. At smaller European airports it is often waiting on the tarmac for us, but on the return to Uk more often have to traipse through the airport to baggage reclaim, no doubt because of the tunnel thing you walk along instead of going down the steps.

Oaktree is good too if you don't need full day care.

Narnia - 599 people have read your post, and no doubt as I did applied the information you provided to their own children and those in their circle and decided that it did not appear to be children they knew, so there was not much more to say or be done. No doubt a few au pairs/nannies and mothers will have been reminded about/ spoken to/thought about their actions when crossing the road. You did a good thing highlighting the case. But your comment that there had not been much reaction, and subsequent post about being left out in the cold is bewildering and leaves the impression that rather than seeking to do some good (which you did, no arguments), you were maybe looking for praise and applause. **Pins big badge on Narnia for doing a good turn** I and others did not think your post out or order (you surely would have got a massive response if that were the case). It just didn't seem like a point for debate. It was a 'no-brainer' for most parents, yes we would want to know, yes the children's safety was at risk, no it wasn't out of order to post. This isn't the Lounge. We are too busy looking after small children to engage in long debates unless there ius a clear point to debate. Please don't sulk.