Fidgetsmum

BRILLIANT!!!!!!! Many hours over the years wasted ringing (and never getting through) to classes to try to find out when they're on. I Love it! Thank you so much.

I found I didn't have time to follow diets or do 'exercise' and certainly not DVDs as I always ended up being disturbed in the middle by one child or another. But I did do the following and am now size 10 (I started as a size 14). It took 3 months in total, but I haven't put any of it back on : 1) When serving up my food, I'd just serve up a slightly smaller portion - not so much that I'd think 'God, that's never going to fill me up' but enough to know it was a tiny bit less than I had been eating before. It works accumulatively. 2) EVERY time I thought oooh I could just have a biscuit, cake, finish that mouthful off my kids' plates, etc, I'd down a tumbler of water - that a) makes your tummy think it's got something and b) keeps you nicely hydrated - amazing how often we think we're hungry and in fact, we're just thirsty - particularly relevant when breastfeeding. My brain then forgot after a week or so that it thought it wanted food, and started to tell me I was thirsty instead - effectively I tried to retrain my brain, and it worked. 3) Every time I was walking anywhere, I just walked faster. Literally, rushed as if I was late. No running, no power plate-ing, no gym. Just walking fast - with buggy, or baby in sling or whatever. 4) As much as I could remember, I held my core muscles nice and firm whatever I was doing. My muscles were shot to pieces after second baby, so I knew that tightening up my core was important. But no sit ups or anything, just a constant tightness for a good hour or so throughout the day (did at the same time as pelvic floors!) generally when washing up, waiting for dd to have a wee, on the phone, etc I found prior to doing the above, that the more complicated I made it for myself, the less likely I was to do it. Hence not doing diets etc. I Wrote on the fridge: More Water Less Food Pelvic Floor And that was enough to remind me of the above. Good luck - it's great when it's done!

Thanks Ratty - bloody horrible process though. I'd heard there were thoughts that the siblings would be high this year at DKH but I couldn't remember where I heard it from and therefore whether it was just hearsay or not. Anyway, it's in the lap of the Gods (or rather Southwark) now. Best of luck to you too.

My daughter's been there since she was 2.5 and has absolutely thrived. She completely loves it. And my son is down on the waiting list too (he's 1 at the moment). The staff are incredibly warm and attentive and loving, but there is also great discipline and learning. The kids all seem to care about each other. Most importantly their staff turnover is very very low indeed and I think this has led to their success. I couldn't care less if it's in a church hall vs purpose built building. The children couldn't give a stuff about the building, but the teaching would affect them, and I have to say that that aspect has been exemplary.

Does the school have full time music or art teachers?

Hello all I've got in touch with the OP but no response yet and time is running out. We're in exactly the same position and location I think. My husband and I can't decide - one of us likes GG the other likes DKH. Would any of you mind resending your original PM's to me? I'd really appreciate some other opinions. Our other options are St Johns, Bellenden, Lyndhurst and we can't find a 6th we'd be happy with... so worried all round. Thank very much in advance

Contact Environmental Health immediately and report suspicious liquids being dumped. They should be all over it asap. Doesn't matter if it ends up being harmless, but it should be reported and checked. If it was something like lucozade or something equally harmless, why is the person not just pouring it down the drain and recycling the bottles? Environmental Health are the guys for the job I think.

I haven't done ours yet, but I think I'll be sticking it in a cold wash with some napisan, vanish, or something similar and seeing how it goes. By cold, I mean literally cold. If that doesn't work, I'd try it at a 30 degree. I stress, I haven't actually done it yet, but this is my plan. Good luck - let me know how it goes!

Yes! There's a fault on the line for anyone else wanting to get through to them. BT are on their way.

I need to contact Half Moon (my daughter's there) but I can't get through on the phone. I've always managed to get through before for the last 1.5years ... does anyone know if there's a fault on their line? Or have they changed there number (and I didn't notice!). Thanks

Please please please get a referral to see a specialist at Kings. My daughter was terribly ill after any ingestion of anything dairy and it took the GP many many 'diagnoses' and associated 'treatments/prescriptions' before we persuaded them to give us a referral. At which point, the specialist at Kings almost immediately confirmed exactly what it definitely was (not what it might or probably was) and we could then work from there with a treatment and a regular slot with the amazing dietician at Kings. At just before 2yrs old, she went for her Milk Challenge Day at Kings, and the allergy had passed, thank God. Please, see a specialist. GP's are great at 'general' practitioning, but this from my experience, requires the knowledge that only a specialist can bring. Good luck.

Slightly off the scheduling topic, but... If you ever wonder about measles and the effect it could have on your child (and I mean could, it might not of course) then read this by Roald Dahl. Roald Dahl - measles There is NOT a link between the MMR jab and autism - no peer reviewed research suggests there is. Andrew Wakefield is a fraud: Andrew Wakefield and note his 'abuse of developmentally challenged children' in his 'research' and the link between his future business venture and the paper he was fraudulently creating. The guy had applied for a 'single vaccination patent' just before embarking on this 'research'. Measles is a terrible illness that our brilliant society had nearly managed to wipe out. Also, the second dose is not a booster; it is a dose to produce immunity in the small number of persons (2?5%) who fail to develop measles immunity after the first dose. Personally, although I absolutely hate my children having the MMR, I wouldn't have them NOT have it. I know too many people with small babies for a start... imagine my daughter caught it then passed it on to a small baby pre-immunisation, with all the potential implications? I couldn't bare it. It's not an easy decision at all. Good luck.

Nitty gritty comb is excellent. Best advice I was given is comb comb comb as often as you can. I also used the standard lyclear. But I literally spent over an hour every night combing her hair. They were gone within a fortnight. SO horrible though. I also used the 'electric' comb from boots... makes a satisfying buzzing sound when it gets one!

You're not supposed to use it before 37weeks - I can't remember why, but I remember thinking 'oh, yes, of course, that makes sense' for whatever their reason is. By the way, it's not a new thing. In Switzerland, a high majority of women planning home births use it - my midwife was Swiss and thinks it's crazy that more women over here don't use it. I read somewhere that in more primitive and ancient communities, women used gourds for the precise same purpose. Makes sense.

YES YES YES YES YESSSSSS. It will not only prepare you physically, but psychologically, I believe it stops you panicking as the baby crowns as you 'know' the feeling from 'birthing' the epi-no in practice. It's absolutely worth every penny. But DO practice as much as you can. I did it every night (bar two or three) in the 3 weeks leading up to my second birth (first birth I was damaged badly - this birth, no tear, 9lb14 baby with 38cm head). Very good luck. x

Well. I'm in to week two and wanted to thank you so much for all your advice. I'm so far enjoying the opportunity of drinking a cup of tea. And I'm missing the kids terribly but making the most of the glancing moments at breakfast or before bedtime. And BOY do I want to make the most of weekends now - but that's great - never a moment wasted which can only be a good thing. Thanks again Ladies of EDF. I salute you.

Thanks for the responses so far on PM... any more opinions?

We live on Bellenden Road so a bit of a black hole and we're struggling to find a 6th school to apply to. Anyone like to PM me with their opinions? Thanks

Ha ha!

Wondering if I've got time to get there.

I salute the ladies of EDF. Thank you. I went into work this morning for a pre-start planning meeting and came away more excited about the prospect of starting than I'd anticipated. But the getting two kids up (including bf the baby first thing), dressed, breakfasted and then the drive to the nanny share, the drive to get closer to the station, the train, then the next train and then finally the tube was highly unpleasant. I'm sure it'll get better. But I have to say, you're all right about the quality time thing - I found when I picked them up this evening I was much more tolerant than I usually am and able to relax about the routine as I knew I only had an hour or so before they'd be in bed. I'm going to advertise for a cleaner - we have one that comes once a fortnight at the moment, but on Sundays and only for a couple of hours and she doesn't do the ironing so we need someone new from the new year. Thank you for all the hints and tips.

I've never lifted my daughter. I just waited until her nappies were dry from the night for a reasonable stretch and then one day just said 'oh, I don't think we need to put you in this tonight... what do you think?' and she said 'no', and that was that. If she had started to wet, I would have asked her what her thoughts were on it (go back to nappies?). I think if they think it's their solution it's a lot easier to deal with self-esteem if they do have to go back to nappies. I have a son now, and I have no expectations that he will be in any way similar to my daughter! I will be found lifting at night, pull ups and all sorts no doubt!

I tried so many with my daughter (bjorns to hippy ones which are just one massive piece of material) and never got on with any of them. Kept them for my second child and still didn't like them. Bought an ergo-baby and haven't looked back - love it for NOT being a baby-bjorn, but it's just as comfortable and I think more comfortable for the baby. Very easy to put on and take off without help. You're best to try them out with your baby if you can - it's like a house or a wedding dress, you'll just know when you find the right one for you.

Except for a short one year period of two days a week work, mostly from home, I've been a full time mum for four years. Needs must and I'm returning to work in a new company, new job, four days a week from next Monday. Childcare is all sorted and brilliant (baby is 11 months and off to nanny share we've been in for over 2 years that we love, and daughter is just extending her time at her nursery which she loves) so no worries there. But what challenges am I going to face other than walking into work looking like Alice Cooper because I can't stop crying at leaving my babies? Seriously though, any good coping strategies out there? Any nice positive stories from women that have taken extended maternity leave and returned to work and it's all been hunky dory, or at least, ok? Am I doomed to feel horrendously guilty forever? That, or just bloody exhausted? It's so close now, I can't see out from my panic. I feel a little better for just typing this though!

Back end issues can certainly kick off labour (hence the use of caster oil etc for some). Just make sure you're not getting dehydrated. And there is certainly a bug going around - my daughter got it 3am this morning, and I'm starting to feel a little peeky. It's that time of year sadly. Good luck with the birth, whenever it happens!