Grotty

Hindmans Road - standard 3 bed terrace, which needs total renovation and apparently a new roof. Has an amazing garden, but needs a huge amount of work just to bring it up to a normal liveable in 3-bed terrace standard. It was on for ?650,000 and offers have already gone over ?700,000 (when we first saw it we assumed it was overpriced and would go in with a much lower offer than the asking price - Ha!)

I second Orchard Toys, though they seem hard to come by in ED. Online is a better bet. Anything to do with role play: toy babies fancy dress costumes doctors bags kitchen equipment/fake food tea set The toy shop on the corner of Goose Green has lots and lots of stuff like this. We've been given wooden models with magnetic clothes/shoes which have been very successful (also lots of things like this at the toyshop opposite EDT) Books, books and books on any subject, Sticker books seem to be a big hit - particularly the Dress-up ones with particular themes (dancers, world costumes, jobs) - Chener books on Lordship Lane has some, WHsmith's always have lots. Colouring books and pens - you can never have enough. And if my daughter received anything pink or to do with princesses she would be in heaven...

Just wondered if anyone else is experiencing ridiculous things whilst in the process of trying to buy a house around here. We can afford very little in this area, so have decided to try and find a wreck to do up. Seems like we're not the only ones. A run-down house that appears to need everything doing to it came onto the market on Saturday. Yesterday (Monday) I rang up to book a viewing to be told there had already been 40 viewings, 12 offers and the highest offer so far was already way past ?50,000 above asking price. Nothing seems to be coming on and those properties that do disappear almost immediately at prices above asking price. Grrr...

i*rate you're so right. We are trying to move house to get something a little bigger but can afford practically nothing in ED/Peckham/Nunhead/Camberwell. A run-down house that needs everything doing to it came on the market on saturday at the top of our budget. I rang up yesterday (i.e. 2 days later) and was told that there had already been 40 viewings, 12 offers and the highest offer, so far, was over ?50,000 above asking price. They were still accepting viewings and offers! Rental and sales in property in London have gone nuts recently. Grrr...

Very excited about this meeting this week. I walk past the school every day and wish it would open as a primary sooner rather than later. Know of lots of local families who are also very interested. Hope it works out...

From over a year ago, but only just seen this. Interesting... http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01ljk4r (last 10 minutes) http://www.rc21.org/conferences/amsterdam2011/edocs2/Session%2010/10-2-Jackson.pdf

The published catchment areas are usually the catchment areas for the last year or previous years, but they change each year, and can change dramatically based on bulge years, increased or decreased numbers of siblings. So, if she got in just based on distance alone, it means the catchment area this year is bigger than it was last year.

us too

We had our first child at Asquiths (?78/day) and then she moved to The Villa (?55/day). Our second goes to My Favourite Nursery (?46/day). I would say completely honestly that we get much more in terms of both care and her development at both The Villa and My Favourite Nursery than we did at Asquiths, so yes I think it is far too high to pay

Thanks EGL x

Does anyone know when the next couple of school tours are please?

Hooray, thats just what I need. thank you!

its very lovely but don't think its a pop-up. Pretty sure its here to stay.....

I was also going to say Theatre Peckham - lots to choose from: ballet, tap, musical theatre for 3 year olds with street dance and drama for older kids. My 3 year old started ballet with them in April and loves it! http://courses.theatrepeckham.co.uk/

hooray

toys r us do a beautiful wooden georgian house dolls house: http://www.toysrus.co.uk/Toys-R-Us/Toys/Dolls-and-Accessories/Dolls-Houses-and-Accessories/Doll-House-with-50-Pieces(0025587)?searchPosition=7 AND ITS HALF PRICE AT THE MOMENT!

There's lots of information on the Peckham Vision website about the plans, but not necessarily about the timeline: http://www.peckhamvision.org/wiki/Main_Page

We have just started lessons here. I remember trying to book onto lessons when our kids were babies, and despite turing up at 8am on a specific Monday morning, as I had been told I had to do, by the time I got to the front of the queue the lessons were booked up. This happened twice so we gave up. Then 2 weeks ago, we were there swimming and I happened to ask about classes and they happened to have a space. It seems to be a mix of chaos and chance! That said, our 3 year old had her first class last Saturday and absolutely loved it so its definitely worth the hassle. I agree though that they are useless on the phone so best to go in and speak to someone.

Caesi01 we ended up paying ?400+ to get the golf fixed, not necessarily the best option but the cheapest for us at the time. We are still debating what car to get. My current favourite is a volvo v70 which has the potential of 2 further seats in the back...

However, Kings has no helipad so all air ambulances have to land in nearby Ruskin Park where they are met by a road ambulance which then drives the patient round to A&E, so its unlikely this air ambulance was there to speed things up or avoid bumps. More likely to bring doctor/trauma team/urgent care to the patient.

My 3 and a half year old has just finished her first term doing ballet with theatre Peckham. It's at Harris Boys on Pechkam High St. She loves it. If you google theatre Peckham and sign up for "preparation for ballet" they will send you an email when the booking opens in a few weeks time. It's first come first served.

Do whatever feels right for you and follow your intuition. In the early months this is generally taking the easier option But as the babies get bigger you understandably start wondering if you need to change tactic and/or when. I sometimes found the decision making about anything baby-related a little overwhelming, but particularly when it came to sleep. I was in a similar situation to you with both my kids. Both pretty rubbish sleepers at the best of times, but neither enjoyed buggies or car seats for the first few months. As a result we had constant angst about the fact that what was obviously the easiest thing for us was not necessarily the most helpful in terms of encouraging good sleep behaviour. With our first, for the first 6 months, naps/bedtime took up to 3 hours with us taking it in turns to rock/ssh/sing to/sit with etc and then again if she woke at any point in the night. We found it difficult and frustrating and obviously exhausting. In the end we called a halt to it, took some action and after trying several things, we eventually sorted it and she became a good sleeper. Our second followed the same pattern and for the first 3 months we went along with it, for the same reasons people mention above - you want to do it, the cuddles are great, its not habit forming, and it provided an easier life. But at 3 months, and expecting this would continue indefinitely as it did with our first, we followed the same tactics and again eventually got a baby who learnt how to fall asleep on their own. I think if, when or why you do it is different for everyone. For us, the exhaustion and stress was too much, so we had to change the pattern. See where you are in a few weeks.

The boys did the right thing. Maybe they are easy targets but they were sensible and got away with no injury. I spent a whole shift last weekend with a stab victim who was stabbed for fighting back. He is young and currently fighting for his life. Give your phone up without a fight. Its a no brainer.

Thank you everyone. Ladyruskin we have booked at the cookery school which does a pastry course on my Dads actual birthday! perfect! Loving the forum today...

Hello, I'm just wanting to tap into the knowledge of the forum... My dad is retiring this August and also has a birthday, for which he has hinted that he would like to do a pastry making/cooking course - just a day course. I just looked at Leiths and they don't seem to have anything and thats as far as my cooking course knowledge goes. Can anyone tell me anywhere else I might look? Thanks