EmilyE

Another vote of confidence. He turned up pretty quickly. Quoted a price, did it, no fuss, clean and tidy.

Another recommendation. He came quickly to measure up for a radiator and returned the next day to fit it. I'd been waiting for someone else for months so was particularly pleased.

A few weeks ago, I mentioned to the builders that is was due to open by Christmas. They just laughed.

OH is coeliac and at home we're not entirely, but pretty much. It really is ok, and is getting easier and easier as more places do more stuff. He says for being out Leon is all gf, pod is easy, even m and s now do gf sandwiches. Ocado has a gf meal deal at the mo. We do mostly eat at home- cornflour/ doves farm gf flour mixes for flour replacement, and otherwise just normal! Good luck.

MU rates are ?31/hr I think, though you'd be lucky to find that for half an hour. ?40/hr is probably realistic.

Plan on nothing extra, and I reckon that includes weekends. And don't be horrified if behaviour becomes diabolical. My angel daughter became devil child for a couple of weeks before the first half term, though luckily I reclaimed her after the first half term! I think it can just be an awful lot to take on, clearly not for all children, but for many, and especially the younger ones.

This petition was started by a local teacher, after a bad experience with his class. He explains in more detail, but is petitioning Boris Johnson to make public toilets in London free for children on school trips. Please do show your support. http://www.change.org/en-GB/petitions/boris-johnson-to-make-public-toilets-free-for-children-on-school-trips

For what it's worth, my son had speech therapy at a similar age and was mostly incomprehensible to other people. The kind of things she did with him and asked us to do at home were to repeat a short text with endless repetitions of a certain sound.( the king who lost his key, looked in the cookie jar but couldn't find his key etc etc) Also games identifying sound. So do little cards with a violin or fire on, for example and see if she can identify the appropriate sounds. Post them into a letter box. Or have to run across the room to put them somewhere, anything that makes it fun. Also lots of rhymes and singing and reading stories. I'm sure you've thought of lots of these, but what I found useful was the idea that endless repetition from me was helpful, even if he did nothing but listen. I was really worried about him starting school but in fact they said they could offer him some therapy in school if necessary, and it seemed that the repetition of phonic sounds in school was also very useful and his speech improved massively very quickly. I know not all children are the same, but I hope that provides some reassurance.

For all those who have had bad experiences, I feel for you, really; I know that kind of thing can really ruin a trip, if not a day. But I am really surprised. I hAve had nothing but good experiences at the picture gallery with small children in tow, who have not always been perfectly behaved. So much so that for a bit it was a real place of sanctuary; somewhere to go when I was feeling a bit desperate. So I don't want to invalidate other people's experiences, but to try not to put everyone with children off, it can be great!

My son appears to have swapped scooters with someone at goose green on Tuesday 20th. His( and the one he has) is a light blue base, pink and orange handles and a yellow brake. If you might have his I'd love to hear from you as at the moment he won't scoot anywhere - 'but that's not my scooter, I don't want to go on it'... Thanks.

We too used back to wood, and they were great. They came when they said they would, did a great job and our floor looks lovely. They even had to change a date (because of our builders) and be entertained by a three year old at points and were still cheery throughout.

My children have gone there, and I've been really happy with it. As have they!

I find it difficult to imagine giving a child back to a situation that was presumably less than ideal to begin with. I know that's kind of messed up, because it must be better to provide them with a good patch, but I also don't know how I'd do that.

They've just done our bathroom too, and it's great. Robert had lots of helpful ideas and the team were very easy to have around. They were reliable, friendly and hard-working. We're really pleased with the result. I have no hesitation in recommending them.

I recommend Darren too. We found him on the forum. He's just decorated our outside windows and front door and has done a great job. He's a really lovely guy, reliable, trustworthy, easy to deal with. I'm sure we'll use him again.

Never tried headbandz but there are various other ear plugs that you can put in under a swim hat. Maybe the swimming pool would have some. I have also been recommended cotton wool wiped in vaseline and used as an ear plug under a hat. I have the adult equivalent of grommets, and I have to say i don't use anything at all, but then I don't often go under water. There is a risk of infection, but I have never had any problems.

When I've got a hassly week I cook a few things at a time one evening or at the weekend- e.g. make a basic tomato sauce (chop onion and garlic finely, cook over very slow heat for 10mins-ish add tinned toms, cook for at least 30mins - maybe with a bit of sugar if the tomatoes aren't great,) then with the tomato sauce take some and add a tin of beans, maybe cannellini and a tin of tuna and, say, oregano to have with rice take some more basic tomato sauce and add cooked lentils and add basil, for a veg bolognese some more and boil with soup pasta, and veg stock and a tin of mixed beans for a soup-y stew thing more tomato sauce and add cooked carrots (and blend for fussy 3 yr old!) for a sweet pasta sauce Obviously quantities will vary according to quite how many meals you're planning to get out of it, but you get the idea.

There's one on the corner of Melbourne Grove and Tell Grove, I think.

I had guy from Kings. Raising money for children/liver services/technology. He managed to irritate me, but I'm pretty sure it was genuine. The scheme is called 'together we can'. If you google it you get through to official looking info.

Dance direct is the cheapest I've found. And they tend to deliver pretty quickly. I've used them for everything for a few years now.

I have two children there and am very happy with it. I think that most parents (that I spoke to at least) were surprised by the satisfactory rating. Whilst I am not saying there is no room for improvement, I wonder if in part the Ofsted criticized things that the parents don't mind. For example, they wanted more adult intervention in play in reception which in fact, I don't really want. The school has also made/are making changes to the curriculum and how things are run. Why don't you make an appointment to look around and to meet the head and ask her about the Ofsted? I think you would be reassured, and it's always good to have a look round if you are considering it. If you have any other questions do ask/pm me.

That's what I did. (checked the hose attachments, that it reached etc, but didn't actually fill up) We had a pump thing that you submerged in the water and attached hose to empty it which my husband used and said was really straightforward - he watered the garden with it - I'm sure the flowers enjoyed the extra nutrients. I don't think they all have the same system, but sounds as though you might. (if you think you don't you're very welcome to borrow ours).

The nutcracker is brilliant, and quite a bit of noise in the family-friendly one, which is not so good if you were hoping for peace and quiet, but brilliant if your child is also whispering not particularly quietly from time to time. BUT there is a bit of a scary bit with the king rat fighting the soldier. I took my then 3 1/2 year old who was easily frightened, and he was pretty scared, not so much that we had to go out, but so the next year he took some persuading to go again...

You could try oak tree on tell grove as well. They're just about to start having babies (under 2s) so probably have some spaces.