lorraineliyanage

Does anyone know where I can buy some felt fabric locally? Tried the haberdasher in Peckham but they don't have anything suitable. I don't really want to end up with metres of it as I'm after smallish pieces in an assortment of colours. If anyone has any they don't want, I'd be happy to take it off your hands in return for some wine! Thanks

No, the seats don't bother me at all. I do hate that uphill journey back up Barry Road!

Now you mention it, Bombi always has a little tear streaming down her face when we come back from a bike ride from the cold!

Polly, I've got a wee-ride, you are welcome to try out my bike with it if you like. I'm 5'9' and do have to ride it a bit like Charlie Chaplin but you get used to it after a while. The baby doesn't get in the way at all, but the wee-ride seat does look pretty tiny, not sure if it would accomodate a 3 or 4 year old, unless they were quite slim. Having said that, I love having my baby at the front and being able to see her at all time, plus she always falls asleep on the board at the front that is made for snoozing. I've also still got my much-needed basket on the front of my bike despite having the wee ride on it as well.

starter

Yep I was about to post Davina but I wasn't sure as it's not dance-based but it's really good!

Sounds yummy, will be stopping by soon for some paella!

I wonder if I'd want a male midwife. I like the "motherly" approach of midwives, not sure how I'd feel about a man doing the same job. I also had one really young midwife as I didn't really feel that at ease with her for some reason.

how exciting, iain!

I was a bit hesitant about crashing forum drinks seeing as most forumites outside of the family room seem to be child and mum-haters :P

I've seen them in Tesco a while ago when I was looking for cakes for my daughter.

We could always hint at our daughters to become midwifes and live vicariously through their experiences! Just out of interest, is the job only open to women? I know male nurses are common but I've never come across a "midhusband"

Peckham Jelly Babies is best but sometimes it's worth buying tickets in advance as it can get sold out. You can buy tickets up to 6 days in advance. My daughter just used to wear a Huggie swim nappy without a costume. If you drive, Beckenham Spa pool is quite nice but quite a bit further.

I regularly use the 37 bus and it must be the most infrequent bus ever, at best there are 3 an hour, usually only 2. Earplugs are the way to go, I live on Barry Road, with the very frequent 12 and not so frequent 197 charging up and down 24 hours a day, it's the only way to get some sleep!

A Gregg's restaurant, imagine that?! Eat-in pastie and chips on Lordship Lane...

alethea, i had a c-section with my first and would like to avoid that with the second (when the time is right) but i too had to look away around 8 minutes into it. good luck with the birth :)

only saw these when i got home but we went to chapters and it was great, thanks for the suggestions agathoise - am a bit bored of pizza express, usually end up there as it's guaranteed to have high chairs but I feel I've eaten my way through their entire menu since having a baby!

Just off to Blackheath, can anyone recommend a child-friendly cafe or restaurant for lunch?

Sponge and custard - that is brilliant!

If I have another baby, I'm going to tell people that the baby is due at least a month after the due date to avoid all the annoying phone calls that I got last time when over 2 weeks late. Heidi - know what you mean about the flaky skin, my baby was all scaly and my placenta was all gritty and shrivelled up, bleurgh!

How has the vacant shop been bad for the area? All the shops should be fine, there is stuff that you can't buy in Sainsbury's that you can buy in Val's and vice versa, plus Nisha has her loyal customers who will hopefully continue to support her.

Molly, I think you if your two pick up illnesses quite easily, then maybe it's something to consider. Iris has only really picked up bugs when I've taken her on the tube lately as that's a hothouse for germs and nasties. Other than that, she's perma-snotty from nursery colds but not in any discomfort. I keep her topped up daily with multivitamins and echinacea (I buy kiddies' liquids from Healthmatters) and try to give her a reasonably healthy diet and so far it works as, touch wood, she's never really been ill. When she's had a temperature, she always sleeps it off and is fine by the morning. My mum also used to say "never sleep with the central heating on" as that makes you ill and I think that works for us. I just wrap her up super warm at night like a little eskimo baby!

That's very surprising, usually the merest hint of snow and the schools shut down!

I just googled it and you are right, Keef!

The epidural was my saviour! Although I did mean I wasn't able to figure out what was going on in the pushing stage.