tiddles

the voyage of the artic tern by Hugh Montgomery and Nick Poullis. we LOVED this - altho probably better for 10 year old. Magical rhyming (don't be put off!!) saga about sailing, adventure, regenge etc. We all looked forward to bedtime so as to get another helping!!

sorted!! good old poundstretcher on bellenden road (I'm afraid it has to be cadbury's in our house)

ok, I completely forgot to get them - anyone seen any cadbury's chocolate calendars for sale anywhere?

oh yes Mrs TP, I know exactly what you mean. My children have been known to call for me to help them when their father is in the same room!! grrr

Ah I was wondering how you had got on = delighted to hear it went so well!! Sounds lovely!!

yes wasn't this development the one that initiated the CPZ consultation - 20 new properties probably with no parking provision made.

This is for the mother of a little girl who was having a TOTAL meltdown in the co-op this afternoon around 4pm. Well done!! You were amazing - completely calm and collected and in control the whole time. I salute you!!!

I have two teenagers and still don't feel I have cracked it!!

yes definitely weaker the last few days

The key is that everyone is considerate - unfortunately not always the case. As a dog owner it does nark me rather that despite the polite notice, there are loads of dogs off leads outside the cafe!! Also as first mate has mentioned there are a few cyclists who gun around the outside track - let alone dozy dogs, what on earth would they do if a toddler got in their path?

no I have just had another look and it says school tables for 2012, no other date is given (I have scrolled up and down that page!!) so I think it is for the main summer results.

was that the last episode? it seemed a bit sudden

which is part of the fun!!

I am so angry about this - I loved his programme! what a bunch of wallies. I actually phoned to complain and the response was marvellous "we will log you complaint and it will be made available to the customer response team and you will be contacted within ten days" how? I asked, "by email or letter which would you prefer?" actually I want a phone call. I'm afraid that is not available the complaint is passed to Capita (heart sinks) who will log blah blah blah" Capita, the same wallies who deal with alot of southwark misinformation!!! anyway, am going to start listening to radio 5 live now. grrrr

these are absolutely cracking!! well done for channelling your creativity in such a way. There are so many mums who are thrashing around trying to work out what to do now they are at home with the kids! sorry if it is pigeon holing you but they are very 'living etc' - there must be an article in groovy kids artwork here!

they sound fab, out of interest what are they laid onto - if you have underfloor you must have a concrete base?

Ha, I want something that hoovers and mops at the same time!!

not sure whether this should be in this section or the main, but I need some inspiration for my hallway floor - which accomodates the busy traffic of a family, bikes, pets etc - so that completely rules out carpet!! We have horrible mismatched floorboards which even if sanded down are going to be rubbish. what do other people have that can deal with the heavy traffic that a hallway endures?? all suggestions gratefully received. while I am here, I am quite keen on a household tips and advice section (the sort of things your granny or capable aunt would know!), but I am not sure whether the family section is the right place, or the main board which seems to be more wide ranging.

Gosh how horrendous for you, and made worse by the idiotic reaction of the owners!!! Sounds to me like they know exactly what the problem is but won't address it. Really hope Tilly is ok and I reiterate what first mate says. Re the off lead area, I thought that the main tarmac ring was ok, as is the outer wild footpath, but the inner areas around the ponds were on lead (there are usually notices on the entrance to paths where a dog has to be on lead) interested to know if this is correct or not!

hi there - just a note to say that Lidl still have loads of pumpkins for ?1 if you need one (and no I don't have shares in the company)

interesting points all round. London mix, I find your input interesting, and whilst understanding your point, I have a real problem with the traditional grammar school system that was the norm in the uk. Children were separated out at age 11 as to what their academic path would be. Pass the exam, and you get onto the escalator of opportunity - yes brilliant if you pass the exam (esp if you are from a deprived background) however, fail, and you were pretty much cut off from alot of opportunities and probably given second class teaching. I feel that most people flourish, acadmically, at different times - some at age 5, some 8, others 10, others 14, 16 and so on. There are thankfully lots of stories of people overcoming the odds and doing fantastically well - brilliant. However there are loads of people who, I expect, have always felt cheated because they 'failed' at 11 for whatever reason. I am all for streaming, but within comprehensive schools so all children are challenged to their ability, but I like the idea that that brilliant maths teacher mr smith gets the best out of his brilliant pupils, and gets the best out of his less able pupils also!! Let's give all children the best facilities, and let them all rise to the challenge. The grammar school argument always seems to be to let the best children flourish. However everyone thinks their child will, of course, pass the exam. If everyone moved to the areas that have grammar entrance exams then the schools cannot just soak them all up like a sponge - the numbers will be limited and the pass grades will be increased leading to alot of disappointment and consignment to the scrapheap of lots of able children. So then this leads to lots of extra tutoring by those parents on the ball(or can afford it) , and those bright kids whose parent don't know how to play the system lose out - so the social mobility thing falls on its face. I say this as an eleven plus failure who was supposed to pass (oh the emotional baggage) who through luck and circumstance went on to get a good degree etc. Lots of people like me would not have had that second chance. I feel passionately about good education for all. Also, I think if your child is really super bright, make those flipping private schools on our doorstep give your child a place for free and make them justify their non VAT charitable status!! There was an interesting piece about grammar schools on the vanessa feltz programme a week or so ago, and many of the secondary modern pupils were phoning in to say how poor their teachers were. This is exactly my problem with idea of a first and second class system. apologies for hijacking this thread to go off road!!

I am tempted to write via the email links given above but am concerned about being labelled difficult or worse, struck off their list (I should hasten to add I have no previous 'history' ) which I believe makes it tricky to be taken on elsewhere.

I must admit I too am getting sick of the hoops one has to jump thro to see a doctor. When I mentioned to the receptionist that how tricky it is, I was told it was a nationwide problem and the phone was put down on me. Once one has an appt, the doctors are great but this queing outside in the morning lark is just not on (an not always practical with small children and school run) I am seriously thinking about changing now even though we have been with them for sixteen years.

yes tread very carefully with anything to do with southwark - they are an absolute nightmare. all contact is via a call centre, there is no continuity so, as we have found, things drag on for months (currently six) and there is no one answerable. Emails are not replied to and everytime you contact the call centre, nothing has happened, and the poor minion logs everything on the system to absolutely no avail. next time you call, there is no record of your many frequent calls. The only human I did manage to talk to re costs, told me that they cannot tell you how much any work will cost ( this is for a privately owned but southwark leasehold flat) until the end of next year when they send the bills out, but they cannot tell you what they have been quoted. Sorry to be so pessimistic, but it is only when you realise the enormity of their incompetance that you realise it might be worth thinking about a bit more. best of luck

Yes as a parent of two children there I watched this with great interest. I am certainly not defending any cheating practices. I think the pressure schools are under to 'perform' can only be to blame. No doubt after all this, ALL schools are going to be on their best behaviour as westof points out. I too was cheesed off with Tessa Jowell - Kingsdale did not want to become an academy and did so very reluctantly since there was no information available from the powers that be as to what the alternative would if they did not. Lastly, my children are incredibly happy and motivated. I really do not want any upheaval at the school or politically motivated intervention for the sake of scoring points.