ClareC

What is the chocolate game? Traditional birthday parties are the best :)

Or a treehouse - there are some really luxurious ones

I would like an ABS Backpack. Liking the LED running jacket too :)

As far as I am aware its a "job" as in you have to give up your day job. Although it's something I would consider and think is worthwhile (my Aunt and Uncle fostered once my cousins left home), it's not something I would be willing to give up my career for albeit we could provide a child / children with a foster home alongside our own children and still work - I am part time just two days a week mostly from home and my husband has his own business so is also a homeworker. My friend has recently given up her business to foster, the process took one year which seems a long time.

I let mine lapse, when you have the pass you stop receiving the offers! As mentioned above, there are plenty of cheap slots available. Waitrose are good but in my experience the choice is more limited and there are more substitutions. This is due to it being limited to the current stock of the local store whereas Ocado have a huge warehouse near Dartford stocking everything. Deleting cookies will prevent Ocado recognising you.

I suspect this is down to the individual school policy / procedures. Both of my two are at pre school nursery. We moved out to Kent where the places are available the September after they are 2 rather than 3 hence both being there the same time. My youngest is a May birthday so not that long out of nappies when he started in September. He has had an accident since starting and the staff were fine, I was just given a bag with soiled pants / trousers to take home. Some children are still in nappies, their parents just send nappies etc with them each day.

Nice idea to keep them in a cot as long as possible.... Sadly for me my son was able to climb out (wearing a grobag) from 18mths!!! Had to change the cot to a bed for fear he would hurt himself. He was oddly good in the bed and didn't get up in the night at all, even now at 2 1/2 he only gets up in the night to use the toilet. Mornings are something else sadly, generally he comes in between 530 and 630. Bunny clock doesn't work as he just changes the setting until the eyes open grrrr

We have a TP one, very safe as impossible to fall down springs (springs on outside of enclosure) Other than the fact it went walkies in the wind last night which I'm amazed at given its large size and weight, it's been no trouble at all. Despite getting stuck in a hedge it's been rescued and found to be intact:)

I had no idea people spent a lot on christenings..... I thought having caterers provide the cake and sarnies was extravagant! Can't remember what we spent but suspect ?400 tops with the biggest expense being the over purchase of alcohol on the basis you don't want to run out! What do people do to spend ?2000?

Totally agree with your mother (and Pebbles)! I've 15mths between my two and did buy a second cot bed (both were in cots at the time)- total waste of money!! Although they allegedly are big enough to last until age 5 they really are not that big!! We ended up buying the eldest a big girls bed and will shortly be doing the same for number two at the grand age of 2 1/2! I did use the cotbed mattress on the floor incase of falls at first (there were none) and the wrong way round tucked in duvet works a treat! 2 cotbeds anyone? ;)

Why would anyone vacuum ladybirds? Unbelievably cruel and totally unnecessary. I'm shocked tbh Just move them carefully as per above, it's probably less effort than getting the Hoover out!

That's awful, sorry to hear this. Hope your OK. Which stretch of Goodrich was this?

Yes, I was not impressed either. Tbh I really didn't enjoy my antenatal care second time around as I felt I was put under constant pressure to have a VBAC - the suggestion was made in answer to me stating water was the only pain relief and you can't guarantee getting a room with a pool at Kings (or even a room for that matter;)). I was also given totally incorrect stats re risk of rupture, 1 in 4000 rather than 400 - which the consultant later confirmed to actually be more like 1 in 280 but confirmed there were no stats re how a small gap between pregnancies increased thus (or even if it did). It was a relief seeing the consultant obstetrician and being recommended no water, in hospital and constantly monitored - made the ultimate decision v easy! She had no issue whatsoever with my decision for Elective C Section. Everyone's different and what's right for one isn't for another. I'm not a risk taker and with all the information I had to hand it was the safest option for me. It's not easy deciding though so I sympathise with the OP

There is no right answer, you need to do what feels right for you! My midwife wanted me to go for a VBAC at home. My concerns lay with the risk of rupture and pain management. My daughter was back to back which led to a long painful labour without much progress. My daughter became distressed hence the ECS. I was just relieved it was over and wanted her out and healthy so it wasn't a bad experience. I then fell pregnant 6 mths later (unplanned). Having read up on ruptures (lancet and BMJ) I realised they were more common than I had been advised. Having had an extremely painful labour first time round I wasn't sure I would be able to tell the difference between what was normal and what was a rupture. I also was unable to find the stats re increased risk (if any) given the short period between pregnancies. Although my midwife encouraged a home water birth, the consultant obstetrician recommended VBAC definitely not at home and most definitely not in water - water was the only effective pain relief first time round. On a balance I decided elective was the safest option. It is a hard decision though.

Think ELC has one if its 50% off sales at the moment. My daughter is 3, 4 in January. She loves dolls, dressing them etc, any doll accessories (buggies etc), home things (tea sets /food / kitchen appliances etc) and is mad on pink and princesses?!?!? Nothing to do with me!! She also loves the learning games / making things sets you can buy.

I've had an emergency CSection (non crash) and an elective - the elective was a much better experience and I had less pain / faster healing afterwards. That said, I thought the emergency one was good - my judgement May gave been rose tinted given the labour running up to it ;) I was only in for one night with both (technically two with the emergency if you include being in the post op recovery room). The elective was wonderful!! I had two Lanes midwives plus two hospital midwives for my son, everything was calm and everyone happy and joking. It was a boiling hot sunny day in early May (random) and the theatre was full of sunshine! I was up and walking and showering within 6 hours and genuinely didn't have any pain or discomfort with the elective. Good luck, whatever you choose it will be what's right for you x

Otta Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Think a big part of it is whether you are from > London origionally, and whether you have extended > family here. > > Both my wife and I were born and brought up in ED > / Forest Hill, and as such, I feel a sense of > roots in the area (we live in Sydenham which I > love, but we rent). Next year we are hoping to get > a finger nail grip on the bottom rung of the > property ladder, and common sense is telling us to > move away and get something decent for our limited > budget. I can handle leaving, I've left before. > BUT, my parents (ED) and my wife's dad (Sydenham) > are close by and see a lot of our daughters. I > love that they have this relationship (having only > ever known one of my grandparents, who lived in > Devon so I saw her once a year), not to mention > the free childcare two days a week! I also get > free transport in London because I've got crap > eyes, and that would make a huge difference if I > moved outside of zone 6 and lost that. > > I just wish I'd been sensible as a younger guy, > but I basically pissed all my wages up the wall > throughout my twenties. House prices in London are > nothing short of crazy. Totally agree! I think if you grew up in London / have family there then it's a much bigger decision. I grew up in Kent although not the part we live in now My family are a similar distance away as when we were in ED but it takes 30 mins not an hour plus.

rahrahrah Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > ClareC - Where is it you have moved to? A village @ 5 miles from Ashford in Kent. It's a high speed line into St Pancras stopping only at Stratford.

If your careful where you go the commute can be good.... I used to walk to the station, board a packed train and stand like a sardine, and then the same on the tube. Door to door was 1 hour. I now have a 35 min train journey on a clean air conditioned train where I always get a seat. I get to read books/ listen to music/ read the metro etc which are all things I could never do before. The worst part of the journey is the couple of stops on the tube but I often avoid that and walk. Door to door is now 1hour 10. I only do it 3 days but it is a pleasant journey which could not be said for my previous pre move commute.

We left 18mths ago, haven't regretted it at all. Commute only 10 mins longer despite being 70 miles out! Contrary to popular belief we have great restaurants, pubs, food etc too. Kids are in a fantastic nursery which is half the price.... No brainer IMO. Think it all depends on where you place your values/ priorities. The kids love the freedom and open space they now have and have made lovely friends who they will end up going to school with up to at least senior school. There are a few ex ED'ers in these parts funnily enough!

I'm 5 pages in, it's hilarious! Surely has to be a wind up?

Sue Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Have belatedly decided I've answered my own > question ...... > > Shutters make your home look like a fortress from > the outside, and probably make it feel as if you > are in a prison from the inside, when they're > pulled across the window, even if (or maybe > especially if) the slats are "open". > > Walking round East Dulwich these days, it feels > like a place where everybody just wants to shut > everybody else out. Maybe that's one reason why > they're called shutters :) > > I once briefly (very very briefly) went out with > somebody who got really twitchy because I always > left my front gate open. Shutters feel a bit like > a closed gate. Unwelcoming. > > So I don't think I'll be going for shutters. Oh > dear, not on trend then. That'll make a change > :)) > > And in making that decision I've probably halved > the potential value of my house. Bother :)) I read somewhere that burglars tend to be more attracted to properties with open gates. The thinking being that if you don't shut your gate your security elsewhere more likely to be poor...... No idea if its true!

Looks like a mouse to me. Rats are much bigger and have droppings the size of chicken pellets (if she has found any droppings). Different varieties of mouse are different sizes.

There is a company that do Rib rides on the Thames from Blackfriars that is great fun - you get to see quite a few sights too. Could do that and the Eye, maybe Madam Tussauds.

Thank you that would be great. I will PM you Albert.