damzel

We used Outlook Lofts and they were like a well oiled machine. The "team" that you get only work on your loft until they are finished, so they are not disappearing to other projects in the middle of yours, really frustrates me when builders do that. I couldn't recommend them highly enough to be honest.

http://www.itv.com/news/2014-12-23/the-iss-or-santas-sleigh-a-clear-night-on-christmas-eve-means-ideal-conditions-for-star-gazing/ WSW to SE

Does anyone know who the developer is? I'm bored at work and wanted to have a nosey at it as the illustrations on the boards out the front look interesting. If anyone is nearby, perhaps you could get the website address for me... I've been googling to no avail and am now on a mission!

I was self employed when we had my daughter and was the chief wage earner at the time, so we were very worried about how we were going to make ends meet, with no maternity pay etc. However, we were amazed at how little money it all cost particularly in the first year. You can spend a fortune if you want to, but you really don't need to. After the first year, it all sort of slots together. If you are currently a "going out" type of person, you will be amazed how much money you save because you don't do that so much. Best of luck, you won't regret it.

You sound like me, LouieM! I use Olay because my mum did and she has always looked very young for her age with great skin. From time to time, I'd try another brand but always ended up back with Olay. At around your age, I moved to the version for older skin - Total Effects - 7 Signs of Aging (factor 15!), but 10 years on and now I use the Olay Regenerist range which is lighter. My mum however, is still using the original ?6.00 product and looks fantastic at 76, go figure! Northdulmum - would you still recommended baby oil for slightly oily skin?

Maybe we got lucky and it wasn't too busy when we went, but both last years and this years experience (yesterday) at Whippersnappers was great!

Our roof was very shallow so we didn't have any choice about lowering the ceiling. It was lowered around 400mm so quite a bit. Our head height in the loft is 2000mm I think so sounds like our loft pitch was the same as yours. Half our street has now had the same company convert their lofts, all with differing arrangements with regards to lowering the ceiling but all had to have it in one form or another. It looks fine though and you don't notice it. The main issue were the existing sash windows which were higher than the new ceiling height. We have a box arrangement around ours which looks fine. Some neighbours installed shorter windows instead which is arguably the better option.

He serviced my bike a couple of weeks ago and did a great job. Nice fella, would definitely recommend him.

We are a few years away from secondary schools yet but I would be very interested in the responses you have been PM'd. I wonder if you would be happy to summarise them at some point. I'll keep a watch on the thread - thanks.

We bought ours direct from Velux - couldn't find a better deal anywhere else

I used to live in Brixton and their forum was busier than this one I think when I moved here 8 years ago. Not surprisingly, the discussions were very different though - in fact, there was a bit of p-taking about the EDF back then (not by me)

How fantastic to have the courage to create something so unique. I like it. I wonder how noisy it is when it rains though?!

I saw 2 film crews on my way home this afternoon, one on the Canal Path, under the bridge and the other on Hindmans Road. Coincidence or some sort of documentary?

Have you checked your schools after school clubs? My daughter goes to a drama club run at her school which she loves. Lots of pretending to be animals from what I gather although she doesn't tell me much. Low key and fun.

The Bridge at Sydenham do one to one and the teachers are really good and caring, however there is a long waiting list. We managed to get some one to ones during a half term once and I think you can book a block of sessions through school holidays as they are less busy.

This is what happens on Trip Advisor too - my friend built a Riad in Marrakesh and is frequently threatened with bad reviews unless they throw in freebies and discounts. It's disgusting. I'm not sure what the answer is but agree with you as once you give in to blackmail, it won't stop. If it was me, I'd turn down the business (assuming I wasn't desperate for it).

I've used Whitten Timber and they are great, but was hoping for somewhere nearer though (I live near the other end of ED and it will cut into too much of the little time I have after work tomorrow, to drive there and back).

Is there anywhere in ED that will sell exterior grade wood at 2.4m or under? (40x100mm ideally or decking timber). The 2 timber merchants near the station have been unwilling to cut it for me in the past and I need to be able to fit it in my car. Wondering if the DIY shop near White Stuff might have some out the back?

Any live music locally this evening?

Isn't there one next door already?

When is it on this year?

actually, ignore me. Seems there are only 2 local opticians anyway so I'll book the LL one. Thanks

Can anyone recommend a good local optician for a child?

There's a shop called Fabric on LL near The Patch (the old Mag)

I'm not sure you can talk about odds in that context. You have to put down 6 schools on your application in order of preference, so if you put Goodrich first and Heber second and they both had space for you, Southwark would offer you a place at Goodrich. The pecking order is:- special needs; fostered(?); siblings; other, and is done on distance as the crow flies. So if the number of SEN/siblings etc. use up all or most of the spaces, there may not be any space left for "other". Although to put it into perspective, our closest school is also St A's and we live c400m from both Goodrich and Heber with Heber being slightly closer. 2 years ago we put Heber first, Goodrich second and got offered a place at Goodrich.