JessicaCT

A shout out for Mark, owner of Pure Plumbers. 07970 971510 They're well established in the Sevenoaks area, but have recently started doing more work in SE London. Did some v quick and efficient bathroom and boiler fixes for me; have also seen some of the bathrooms he's built, which have a nice attention to detail. Jessica

A quick plug (excuse the pun) for David from Down the Drain who has very swiftly and efficiently unblocked a fatberg from our kitchen drain within an hour of me calling them. https://down-the-drain.co.uk/ Dulwich born and bred, now based in Forest Hill. [email protected] 020 8314 5244

Our highly professional cleaner Polly (Pretty Kitty on here) has had some availability open up. She's impressively thorough and efficient - and lovely to have around. It's no coincidence that she already cleans for several houses in our road! She's also a member of the local community. Contact her on 07727 042636. Jessica

Likewise. You set a benchmark for working hard and engaging with the people you represented. I hope the new councillors follow your example.You will be missed.

Both my children loved going to AVP (held at Dulwich Prep) so much that one of them now works there http://www.avpsports.co.uk/wp/ It's fun and very friendly. But if anyone knows of any activities for children from 11-16 in the area, I'd love to know about them as all the organised clubs seem to stop at age 11.

We're enjoying training at Peckham Town: http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/peckhamtownfootballclub/

Have just sent stiffly worded email to school suggesting they clarify (ie actually tell parents rather than children) and mentioning that I won't be forking out for new uniform till my son's grown out of the old lot. Suspect I may not be the only one. Oh, and if you're after cheap Heber sweatshirts, the school's second-hand uniform stall (run by Sol and Louise - yr 5)has loads and only charges ?1 a pop. Not so good for the polos though as white tops don't really survive one owner.

There are lots of local people on twitter, which makes for a nice community of people working from home or in local businesses. @DamonGreenITV is always entertaining, especially if you know him (unless you are Mrs Green) I also follow far too many local food people (which is why I'm always starving by 11am). @sathlondonshona @EatsDulwich @GingerGourmand @M_HammertonChef @FranklinsSE22 @JacksSE22 @victoriainnse15 @PeckhamRyeEats @TheRoseDulwich @Pubhobbit @thepubgeek @BlacksKitchen @TheGowlettArms @gandbwines @ThePalmerston @TheHerne @LittleCoffeeVan @theactressse22 And some non-foodies @SouthEast_Zine @SEMags @RoullierWhite @MrsRobinsonSE22 @Rye_Books @freefilmfest And not technically SE22, but spiritually: @thelidocafe @brixcornercopia @theoldnunshead @andersonandco @BambuniNunhead @BrockleyMarket @thepaxtonpub @SthLambethMkt @ryelanebrewery @PersiainPeckham @ivyhouselondon @KINDRED_BAKERY @CrookedWell @Brixton_Bugle @BrixtonBlog @PeckhamLitFest @PTOOcomedy Have fun! P.S. You can find me at @jctblog

I hope everyone's going to get cross about this: http://www.southlondon-today.co.uk/news.cfm?id=39647&headline=%E2%80%98Rent%20hike%20will%20be%20a%20disaster%E2%80%99 Apparently landlords of Brixton Village (one of the best things to happen to South London for some time) want to hike the rents already. It was probably inevitable it would turn into Borough Market, but surely not this fast?

It has been brought to my attention that while we were away last weekend avoiding the Royal Wedding in a nice Republican country, there was a gale and lots of boxes from our skip blew all over the road. So I just wanted to apologise to my neighbours/passing motorists and say that a) I hope they didn't cause any accidents b) thanks to whoever did clear them up c) if we had been around we would have cleared them up. but we weren't there. honest. we weren't just being lazy d) we have mentioned to our builders that a tarpaulin over the skip might have been a good idea. (other than that, I will actually be recommending our builders in the appropriate strand of the forum) Thanks

Heber's great ? there are even working class people as well as one or two who are properly posh. But there are lots of lovely schools round here so you'll be fine. You might be interested in Heber's Open Day next Thursday, 26 November. From 9.30am to 11am. Refreshments provided by Parents & Friends of Heber Primary School. Or the Heber Christmas Fair, Sat 4 December, 12-3pm. Entry's free and everyone's welcome. It's a good way to get a feel for the school community. (and in reference to a different thread, Santa will also be there in his grotto)

My daughter is also v happy at Kingsdale, the children are genuinely lovely, there is a huge energy about the place, the facilities are amazing, the music incredible, the standards high, and the staff seem to be on call 24/7. Do put it down. re banding, yes they band from day 1 but this can actually be a drawback as they don't know the children yet. The criteria for banding do seem rather haphazard as to who gets put where and is not based on either SATs results or school reports. And even though they are selling themselves on offering two languages (french, german, spanish and/or Latin from yr 7) this is only on offer to higher bands so even if you have got straight Level 5s and have studied certain subjects at your previous school, you could have a fight to be allowed to continue.

Does your daughter's school have a book stall at its Christmas fair? (Heber does, btw) Or is it doing a school jumble sale this term? If you can bear to hang on to them till then, you could donate them to that, then your daughter will, in a round about way, benefit too. http://midlifemanual.wordpress.com/

My daughter is going in September too, and keeps coming across lots of other bright, lively, musical, creative, sporty, hard-working, fun, caring children from East Dulwich, Dulwich Village, Nunhead, Peckham and beyond who will also be starting in September. Not to mention the ones on this thread. Lots of high-achieving professional parents too (not me) who will make sure the school is up to scratch. Whatever happens, it sounds like it's going to be a really good bunch of children next year (are we still allowed to call them that when they are at big school?) Hope to see you there in September. How To Be Unemployed ? the white collar way

Toaster? We found one in the bottom of our wine cooler - fell in and couldn't climb out. Considered marketing it as the ultimate in middle-class pest control. And btw we had two cats and it just meant they carried the mice upstairs then chased them round our bedroom. In the middle of the night. The old fashioned traps seem to be doing the job for now but it's an ongoing battle. I say we set the foxes on them. How to Be Unemployed ? the White Collar Way

Does anyone know of any day-long activity groups running this half term? In Easter and Summer we use the fantastic Activenture/AVP Sports at Dulwich College but I can't seem to find anything similar for half term. And it's getting close! Thanks How to Be Unemployed - the White Collar Way

Silverfin (young Bond - Charlie Higson); Skellig; Goodnight Mr Tom; Artemis Fowl; Michael Morpurgo (though quite heavy on animals) and I will second Lemony Snicket and Mr Gum. Both have very distinctive prose styles. Recently revisited my childhood fondness for Blackhearts in Battersea (sequal to WofWC)with my daughter and realised the language was really hard. A sort of cockney/Restoration mash up. Is the Ogre Downstairs by Diana Wynne Jones still in print? Two groups of step siblings given chemistry kits which turn out to be magic. I used to love that one. How To Be Unemployed - the White Collar Way

I notice the last post on Kingsdale was back in July. I just wondered how parents of children who started in Sept 2009 were finding it? Or anyone else who is there. And ? sorry to get all pushy and middle class about it ? but how are the GCSE results looking these days?

Already rang school first thing. bookbag now in school office.

Found on the 176 this evening after school: bookbag belonging to Taylor Woodbourne of St Bartholomew's School. We can drop it at your school tomorrow, but not until after school. Or ring us on 07961 113 039. Or reply to this thread. Didn't want it to get lost in the London Transport lost property.

Who has the best mince pies in East Dulwich? Some research on this blog: 'How to be Unemployed - the white collar way'. http://jctblog.wordpress.com/

Since Woolies closed, where are people getting their cheap toys? I know we now have the excellent Just Williams in East Dulwich, and Greens in Dulwich Village, but what about cheap basics like paddling pools, rackets & balls, board games, annoying things like Bratz dolls, etc? Sainsburys? ELC? Toys R Us? Thanks