Grotty

we have a captain hook type costume. You're welcome to come and see if it fits/borrow it?

That would be amazing...

We've had our kids at 3 different nurseries in the area over the last 4 years. All prices rise each year and all vary depending on what hours you want. Asquiths Peckham Rye - at the time we were there it was ?78 for a full day, but have since gone up. (They start at 7.30 which was a bonus for us at the time, though we pulled our daughter out as soon as we could as we weren't happy with it) http://www.asquithnurseries.co.uk/nurseries/18/43/Peckham-Rye-Day-Nursery/ My Favourite nursery - ?42-50ish for a full day depending on age (very lovely nursery) http://www.myfavouritenursery.org.uk/the-nursery/nursery-fees/ The Villa nursery, Peckham - up to ?62.50 (easily the best - we now have 2 kids here and they love it and are thriving but sadly only starts at 2, so we had to have other places before then) http://thevillaschoolandnursery.co.uk/the-nursery/admissions-fees-term-dates/ This is the price for kids until they are 3. Once 3 they are eligible for the government's free 15 hours of childcare. Most nurseries round here sign up to it. It counts for 15 hours/week per term time. My daughter does 30 hours at nursery a week, so in term time (as in state school terms), we pay half the amount - in holiday time we pay 30 hours. Get on lists as soon as you can! Some nurseries won't let you sign up until the baby is born, but worth doing as soon as they are here as seriously if you don't, you may lose out on a place. For example, The Villa nursery starts at 2 and is great, and even though that is a long way off for you, if you don't put a name on the waiting list just after birth you may struggle to get in there 2 years later! Another well subsidised and therefore good value nursery is Camberwell Early Years on Camberwell Grove. Hope that helps

Also agree with above: 1) Hatcham is terrible 2) Don't need the "East" 3) Don't need the "College" "Haberdashers' Aske's Dulwich" is great

not cheap but lovely... http://www.nubie.co.uk/content/white-rounded-edge-bunk-bed-oliver-furniture or http://www.nubie.co.uk/content/oeuf-nyc-perch-bunk-bed-walnut

We are about to do our bathroom. Have you ventured onto pinterest Polly D? I'm a little obssessed and have found it invaluable for working out what I do/don't like. We're ending up going to bathstore for bath (cheap basic roll-top), and then sink from http://www.baileyshome.com/baileys-big-sinks.html (pricier but i love!). Ebay is great for taps etc - have just bought an old brass shower head/shower hose/tap mixer for the bath, and a simple brass mixer tap for the sink. Just floors and toilet to work out now. Considering tiles from http://www.contemporarytiles.se/collection-2012.html?app=2&product=dandelion---milkmarine-46764 but husband worried it will look too busy so pushing for big plain dark grey tiles. Not convinced...

Hi Lochie, we were having the same dilemma as you. We took nighttime nappies off in September last year, had 2 weeks of dry nights, then wet beds at least every other night turning into every night. So we started lifting. Every time we stopped she would wet the bed. We were despairing that we had got her into a habit/expectation of weeing at that time and had no idea how to break it. Speaking to a friend her daughter just got up one night to go to the loo by herself and just carried on doing that if she needed a wee. So we decided to wait it out. We were thinking it was never going to happen when suddenly 2 months ago, we were downstairs and heard noises upstairs and found her on the toilet. Amazing. We eased off the lifting over 2 weeks during which time she did it again a few times. We stopped lifting and she hasn't wet the bed since. She also rarely now gets up in the night. I know its just our own personal experience but hope that helps x

Belle I think you're right. Love does trump logic. Like you I hate pregnancy. We spent a good year saying DEFINTELY no to a third and feeling happy with the decision. We are totally over the baby bit and would love to jump to 2 years old. However, suddenly we find ourselves with a 4 year old and a 2.5 year saying probably yes. Again. Hmmmm

Half-moon i love your post - pretty much what we agree it will be like. Hard to say no to...

one of ours did this too, but it turned out to be a one off. We perservered as we weren't quite mentally prepared for no cot, and she hasn't climbed out since. Worth giving it another chance before you abandon cot completely. He may well do it again, but worth trying?

Can I resurrect this thread to get more thoughts on whether no.3 is a good or bad idea!?

we hired JAGS last month - we were given a choice about where to have food, either upstairs or tables set up in the same big hall downstairs which we did. Its for an hour and a half, so kids get an hour of mental running around/bouncing which they love and then half an hour for tea. Pretty easy and over before you know it!

Another thumbs up from me. Very lovely nursery, very happy place and staff that genuinely cared! We had tears all round when we left.

Radhabee thats a great idea. Thanks for posting. Count me in!

James, the interview with the DfE was scheduled in March. Do you know if this went ahead or how it went? Or when a decision is likely to be made? Thanks

Has there been any progress with this application?

Both of mine went through this as have the kids of many friends. It seems to be a totally normal milestone and nothing to worry about. Its not fun but is likely to pass soon xx

We just went to a brilliant party at a very small private cinema under the arches in Loughborough Junction. The space was hired for 3 hours. You can play a film of your choice, and there is a bar at the back for adults to sit at. Pizza's were ordered in for food. The kids loved it. http://www.whirledart.co.uk/

I'm following this thread with interest as my 2 year old daughter has had recurrent ear infections since October, has had burst eardrums 5 times, and again this morning has awoken with pus streaming out of her ears. Initially she definitely had some hearing difficulty, but currently seems ok. We have been referred to ENT and are now awaiting an appointment to discuss grommets...

I'm an anaesthetist so regularly see children just before they have an operation. How much I discuss with the children varies massively and depends entirely on how much the kids already know and what kind of mood they are in. The first thing I do when I arrive at the bedside is say hello to the children and ask why they are there. Some kids know a lot and some know nothing. You can read quite quickly whether the kid is nervous/excited etc. Some 2 year olds are well informed, excited, inquisitive whereas some 10 year olds look panicked, know nothing and parents are standing behind mouthing "don't say anything". I think an element of preparation is definitely important, but in order to get through the experience smoothly and not be put off doctors/health professionals its important to keep the child calm/happy. Maybe start out one day by saying matter of factly "did you know that you're going to have an operation soon" and just see what the reaction is. Don't push information unless asked for and just bring it up every now and then so by the time it happens its not a surprise. Keep explanations simple and try and it make it sound exciting!

Ok so I started this thread and here we are still in March, still looking, and even less likely to be able to buy round here than a mere 5 months ago. There is very little coming on to the market, so little in fact that with each new 3-4bed house that comes on the market, you can visibly see a hike in price.

Interesting thread on what is important when buying a house. We (2 adults & 2 girls) are trying to buy round here at the moment. We love the area but for our budget we can't tick all the boxes so have to compromise on something. We have seen 2 houses we like but each has something lacking. 1) nice road, love love the house, its small but has the space we need inside for now and a loft that can be converted. However, there is literally no garden - a tiny yard at the back 10ft at its deepest. 2) big house with lots of space and still more room for growing in sideways and upwards, large garden, but very VERY busy road - traffic/buses etc. Which would you choose?

Good to see that the support is increasing towards the 180...

just been to us on Bellenden Rd. I was being nice and letting him do his initial spiel and then he winked at me so the door was closed pretty quick sharp...

This is seriously excellent news...