Gubodge

I'd agree not to write Langbourne off. My eldest started school (goodrich)in 2009, when there were lots of very disappointed parents, even after the first bulge classes were decided 3 weeks before the start of term. Everything being said about Langbourne now was being said about Bessemer and Goose Green then, and I know a lot of parents were in tears. None of us had even heard of Bessemer until the allocations were made! Both are now among the best schools in the area. With a new head, new investment in buildings and a new influx of commited East Dulwich parents, I fully expect people to be fighting to get into Langbourne in a few years.

The Herne's my local, and for me the loss of the play area reduces the list of positives about the pub to zero. We used to drink there under the previous management before we had kids, when it was a perfectly nice, proper boozer with decent beer and a nice beer garden (with a kids play area). We had two smalls when we heard it was going to be turned into a properly family friendly pub, so were very excited, but it didn't live up to expectations. I do have one fond memory as it was the first place we were ever able to eat an entire 2 course meal, with coffee, without the risk of indigestion because the toddler and baby were bored and fractious. But mostly when I think of the place I think of over priced food, extremely long waits for meals, beer flies, the filthy, stinking sofa they had in the conservatory and just general grubbyness and poor service. I probably have only been there twice in the last year, each time because my daughters have particularly begged.

We held our reception in a marquee in my parents garden and it was fantastic (And, unless they're all very convincing liars, the guests all thought it was great, too.) It was a very relaxed wedding, so a buffet and then relaxing and messing about in the garden. (Spacehopper polo, anyone?). It might have been disastrous if it had poured with rain all day, but I guess a lot of venues limit the reception to one room, so it doesn't really make any difference whether that's an inside room, or a marquee. And if the weather's good and all the sides can be opened up then it beats indoors anytime. I've also often helped out with the catering at weddings, and more formal events seem to work just as well in a marquee.

My daughter is allergic to dairy and the dietitian recommended that we stop feeding her my beautiful homebaked bread and start buying sliced white. Hovis Best of Both is calcium fortified. Also the fortified tropicana. Which she doesn't drink. She's not keen on drinking any form of milk substitute either, but with her Alpro yoghurt habit (at least one a day), couple of slices of fortified bread and a daily bowl of porridge made with soy milk she was was within her recommended limits. I'd occasionally even get some leafy greens down her, too. Daily hot chocolates/strawberry milks were also advised. Your daughter may be keener than mine.

My priority is always a leisurely breakfast with the newspaper spread out over the table. I actually get to eat an entire piece of toast and drink the whole cup of (still hot) coffee without having to get up from my seat. (Sometimes if I wake up really early and can't get back to sleep I sneak down to do this, but invariably the toast has just popped when I hear little footsteps on the stairs.)

Getting on for 21 months for my younger daughter. I seem to recall that it's only at around 22 months that it starts being viewed as something that might be worth worrying about. With A, I think it was partly down to hypermobility, and just general lack of strength. She's never going to be quite as physically capable as her (walking at 9 months) sister, but then, if I'm honest, most children aren't! She's absolutely average compared to her peers. And she's far far better than her sister at football/tennis/anything requiring hand eye coordination.

I find a heavily packed basket unbalances me more than any lopsided amount on the back of the bike. I've never tried front panniers, but I would assume that the lower centre of gravity would affect the balance less. But I would have thought you could fit a hamax style rear seat and rear panniers at the same time.

We've had family membership for a few years. It's pretty easy to go to the three of four properties a year that make the membership worthwhile. My daughters particularly like Chartwell and Ightham Mote. The both have lovely grounds for charging around, Ightham has a great activity treasure hunt around the house and Chartwell has a little wendy house in the corner of the kitchen garden that the kids could spend hours in (if it weren't for the fact that the loo is the other side of the grounds). And as others have said, NT properties are a great alternative to service stations when you're on a long drive.

You will find parents with negative experiences of every school in the country but I have children in years 2 and 3 and my experience of the school has only been good. Both my children are happy and their very different needs are being met. I had similar qualms to you. My eldest child in particular was very reserved and shy and she entered the school in the bulge year, so her reception class had 120 pupils. My own primary school had around half that number in the entire school, so I was faintly terrified about how she'd ever manage. But she loved it from the start, and the confidence she has now has to be at least in part down to the lovely teachers she's had throughout her time at the school.

Sounds great, Pamela. mrG is an alumnus of imperial so would love the chance to show the place off to the kids. That's this weekend planned!

They sell various coloured melts at Hobby Craft. There's one on Purley Way just past Ikea, but it's a bit of a hike. Australian Women's Weekely Great Kid's Cakes?

Thanks for this, Peckhamoldboy. Husband and 7 year old daughter have just come back from the Oval. She'd taken her DS, prepared to be bored, but had a great time. We wouldn't have bothered with a limited overs game if it hadn't been for the free tickets but it was the perfect introduction to the game. Yay! Another cricket fan in the family. My turn next time.

Sorry! To be honest I thought it had died years ago, it was only about a month back that I discovered it was still in circulation. It's all yours next time, if it's not more patches than not by then.

I hadn't realised C was another of A's pool twins, Molly. I wonder how many of them there are altogether. I wore a long t-shirt in the pool as far as I remember, but stripped off for skin to skin at the end anyway. By that point you really don't care.

I had a home waterbirth and shared the cost of a pool in a box with a friend who was due a month or so after me. Our two water babies are now 5 1/2 and the pool continues to be passed on to other pregnant women as they need it. (They do get a new liner each time!) I knew I'd love a water birth as I always retreat to a bath if in pain, discomfort or distress. I did find it very strange for the first ten minutes or so as my usual favoured birthing position was braced, head down in a dark corner, so to go from that to face up in a sunny kitchen was a bit of a shock. Once I'd got used to the exposure it was lovely though. I loved the freedom of movement. If I wanted to alter my position or move from front to back I didn't have to heave myself round, but could spin and writhe as much as I liked. It was a completely different experience, and to me far preferable to a birth on dry land.

Get the best pump you can afford. While you get to cuddle up in bed with your new baby, your partner will be bailing out. A really powerful pump can make all the difference. We had the birth pool in a box and I loved it, but giving birth on the hottest weekend of the year meant heaters weren't really a concern of mine.

I got a couple of hessian and one original cloth SNUB bags back in 2008. The lining has started to go from the hessian, but I still use them regularly, not just for shopping but for swimming, picnics, ballet...all sorts. I don't get nearly so much use out of the cotton, so a vote for more hessian ones, please!

I'm late to the thread, but I'm with Growlybear. I really don't like the name at all and wouldn't want to associate myself with it. But I am superficial. I sing with another local choir and I don't like their name either, but I'd already joined when the new name was decided on. If not I think the name would have given me the wrong impression and I'd probably have not thought the choir was for me. It's not as bad as Hummy Mummies though.

Jasmina, Goats milk formula is not fortified like other infant formulas, so should not be used other than as a follow on milk. I would certainly ask again for a referral, and would be wary about making any substitues for standard formula without advice from a dietician. Did your GP offer any help (creams/steroids/emolients) with the eczema itself?

As well as massaging the lump towards the nipple with your fingers, try using a comb to stroke down the breast towards the nipple. Also, a baby's strongest suck is by it's lower jaw, so try to feed with his/her chin pinting towards the lump. It can make for some interesting feeding positions (I remember having to crouch on all fours over my daughter once) but can really make a difference.

Ooh, I know her! Lovely lady.

Sanne Panne, you really need to visit all the schools to get a feel for them. There will be very few people on the forum who have personal experience of more than one, so it's impossible to give a balanced picture. Personally, my two are at Goodrich and we think it's a fantastic school. My children are happy and have had some brilliant teachers and a great group of friends. It is big but that has its advantages, such as the biggest range of after school activities in Southwark, and despite its size it is a very warm community. We currently have a new interim head who is focussing very much on increasing attainment and the senior leadership team seems very responsive to any parental concerns. I e-mailed the office with a minor issue and was very surprised to get a phone call from the associate head, completely on top of the issue, within a couple of hours.

My 78 year old father has been crushing cans and bottles to fit in the bin for decades. Be reassured that the weight of even a fairly frail pensioner should be sufficient to squeeze all but the most robust cans flat.

The weaning/sleeping through thing is a bit of an old wives tale and it's just as likely to disturb their sleep. The unaccustomed digestive action can feel a bit odd and rouse them. It will pass though. If he's slept through before, he can do it again.

I'm reading that to my two tomorrow. Spot on.