pigglemarex

Hello Holwil86 - welcome to ED and congratulations! ED is a GREAT place to have maternity leave - I am sure Andypops will agree. I have made some really good friends from a previous EDF group and hope to make some more through this group. Shall we start up a whatsapp and facebook group now there are 3 of us? If people PM with their mobile numbers me we can add people who want to join, when they find this thread. I recommend this class http://bumpandbabyclub.com/antenatal-classes/east-dulwich/ Book soon though. Its also significantly cheaper than the NCT classes and covers a lot more. I found NCT focused far more on just the birth and not the after bits - like keeping the tiny human alive! Catherine x

Hello! I am due on the 8th - this is my 2nd and finding it much harder this time round! xx

What about the 37 to Brixton and then the Victoria line all the way to Euston? Victoria line is really quick and the trains are new so easy with a buggy. A bit of a walk but step free all the way! 29 min walk or you can grab a black cab. It's 7 minutes. I can't drive either and can second that Denmark hill way would be easy as well. Step free etc. X

Have you tried city mapper app. It's awesome. There is also one called mumerground - that tells you number of stairs on a route so you can decide if it will be easy to bump your buggy down or up them. X

Another recommendation for Hamish and his team. It took them most of the day to take down and grind the stump of a large sycamore. They were tidy, very communicative (they were doing a neighbors tree at the same time so were letting me know when they would be coming back etc) and very respectful of noise while coming through the house. He and his team were also very careful not to barge in to the room I was in so as not to disturb me breastfeeding my daughter. I did not tell them I was but they just assumed - I was rather impressed at that attention to detail. In general very friendly, professional and highly respectful of clients and their houses. They also worked very very hard on what was the hottest day of the year. Will definitely use them again.

Hi James Can you help with the following:- I am sure you have noticed that there are a lot of little poeple in East dulwich! My 3 month old daughter is a patient at the Gardens. They have recently changed their baby clinic policy (you can take them to get weighed, seak advice and get jabs). It used to be a drop in which had its benefits and negatives. However now it is by appointment only. I was supposed to get my daughter weighed at the beginning of June but can only get an appointment on the 21st July. I should have just booked an appointment at the end of June she offered but I decided to take their advice and call every Thursday the baby clinic is open and try and get a cancellation - no joy! Annoyingly people boom appointments and just don't show up. The health visitors work out of Townley Road. Other surgery patients are allowed to drop in their but we are not allowed. The Gardens have asked if we can go but the health visitors are yet to confirm / allow us to attend. Is this something you can help with or point me in the right direction? My daughter needs to be weighed regularly as they are concerned about her growth. I realise part of this problem is due to forgetful sleep deprived parents but it's proving difficult to get an appointment. I hope the above makes sense! Thanks, Catherine

Having spent some of my teens in the 'sticks' and some in London - I can safely say that London is an awesome place to grow up. Admittedly I went to secondary school in Croydon but I was so independent. I could get public transport whenever I wanted. SO did not have to rely on lifts from parents or unrealiable bus service or infrequent trains. I could navigate the tube network with ease from 12 - some of my uni friends still struggle / find it scary. I was exposed to different cultures and backgrounds - It made me a much more open and accepting person I think. It was bit of a culture shock going to uni in another City. I had always considered that my parents had kept me quite sheltered and to some extent they did, but people who I met at uni had really not had the opportunities I had. I love London! I still get a kick out of going home late at night on the 176 and going over Waterloo bridge admiring the view!

Addison Lee kept their prices the same this Chrimbo - was great, esp on the way home after a big Christmas Dinner. It meant we could just sleep off our food babies.

South Africa - the flights are pricey but weather is lovely. Food and drink is v cheap once you are out there. Cape Tape, Constantia, Franchoek, Stellenbosch all lovely - not sure how family friendly but you can fly overnight on A Friday and be there Sat morning and fly back on a Sat evening and have the Sunday to recover... Its very chilled out.

We had an awesome band called the road runners - they are more rocky (not so much rubbish cheese) 60s - to current. Everyone young and old loved them. They are about 1,250 for the night (there are 5 of them) which seemed cheaper in comparison to some. They played at our wedding and a friends. At one point we were all 'moshing' to Nivarna including my parents friends and aunts and uncles! My husband used to be in a band and they did let them have a little reunion on stage - nice guys! We also had a Piano man - he played whatever you wanted on request - he had an AMAZING repertoire - he played everything from memory. He was about 300 quid - so a cheaper alternative - but still live music and interactive!

They only have a life of 5 years apparently.

Hi Looking at NCT classes and I came across Bump and Baby Club which is run out of ESPH - does anyone have any experience of this? I like the idea of NCT but also like that this course prepares you for changing nappies etc! If anyone has any other suggestions /recommendations it would be much appreciated. Can anyone recommend hypno-birthing course that they were happy with as well - willing to try anything to keep me calm! Thanks everyone x

They have a 3 year warranty- you should contact bugaboo if its within that period. They are actually very good and usually replace the broken/faulty bit rather than trying to fix it.

OH - the bare minerals ladies in CW are lovely! Its great for a shop at the weekend and the big boots on the otherside of the shopping complex to Bare Minerals has loads of counters. They have a bobby brown and Space NK shop there as well - I love the bobbi brown shimmer brick as I sometimes use the lighter colours on my eyes. I do recommend smashbox (at the back in the larger boots at CW) - they have a great primer (I use the light one) and eye primer (keeps eye shadow in place and stops it going in creases) for when you want to look especially glam x

Ok - I have called 6 times to enquire if there is any chance the joining fee can be reduced or taken off. But no one has picked up - I ring and ring until their system hangs up. NOT acceptable for somewhere that charges the same as privately run gym companies...

I was thinking about joining but with a 37 joining fee - for what - it takes seconds to take down an address and key in a direct debit - I am not sure I want to. I thought this was supposed to be a council Gym. ?49.00 a month plus a ?37 joining fee is quite a lot of money for normal folk.

Oooooh I am getting married in Dec - shall we do it together?