alfie

Just adding my support for the great service provided by Dave from Down the Drain -- he's super helpful and efficient and has sorted out a number of issues for us over the past few years.

Adding a recommendation for Rob Mills. Not only does he do a great job and is prompt and reliable, but he's also honest enough to advise another course of action if that's best. He recently came to look at a blocked drain issue and ended up sending me to another tradesperson to resolve, which I greatly appreciated. He's top of my list to call next time I need a plumber.

Alleyns have tweeted to say that their top field is open for responsible use for daily fresh air

I?ve used Rafal for a couple of carpentry jobs and support the recommendations above. I?m not a first time poster! There are many other recommendations for him if you search the site.

We had the same issue and went the echo dot route (bought with a black friday discount). The kids listen to audible and also can stream music through our family spotify account. I'm not massively keen on alexa devices but would rather manage that than constantly fight about screen usage.

We have a nanny who works different hours in the school holidays compared with during term time. The payroll company I use were completely un-phased by this so it can?t be that unusual. The part I found most complicated was working out holiday allowance - prorata-ing the bank holidays etc - but again my payroll co advised on that. I suspect the harder part is finding someone who?s willing to work in a variable pattern which matches yours. Hope you get lucky!

I struggle to get my ten year old off the Percy Jacksons... but he is currently working his way through the Bartimaeus (sp?) books - plenty to keep him busy over the summer. Has he read the Chronicles of Ancient Darkness series by Michelle Paver? Or, more classically, the Lord of the Rings?

http://www.kmptennisacademy.co.uk/dulwich_ltc.html

Elizabeth at ekyoga.co.uk is great!

Hamish and his team recently completed some work on oak and magnolia trees in our back garden. I would highly recommend them - the work was very professional, the trees appear much better shaped now and they barely left a trace of their work. We're very happy and would certainly use them again! A

Jumping in on this thread to offer another recommendation for Rafal, who trades as RWL Carpentry. Rafal recently completed work in my kitchen to refit and improve some existing cupboards, instal a bespoke shelf and construct a pocket door to a specific design. The work is of a really high standard - I am particularly pleased with the sliding door which matches the original Edwardian fittings on one side and a more modern style on the kitchen side. Rafal was incredibly tidy and polite throughout the work. I would definitely use him again! AJ

North Dulwich meet at 6pm on a Monday and I think they're all that sort of time. From experience the waiting lists tend to move fairly quickly - we were told it was 18 months but it ended up being more like 3!

Second the Wolseley and, from the same stable I think, the Delaunay on Aldwych is also great plus you can combine it with a trip along the Southbank / skating at Somerset house etc

Very good news. And it's already on the school website.

I've used Fernando twice in the past month to sort out a horribly overgrown front garden and can highly recommend him. He worked incredibly hard, is a pleasure to deal with and left the garden looking better than it had for a couple of years! Will certainly have him back.

You need the Hopscotch newsletter... http://thehopscotchnewsletter.com/

Just to add that I think you can book tables on Fri and Sat eves at Khao Sarn (the very excellent Thai place) which makes it a bit easier if you're going to a film. Definitely need more than one trip to make the most of Brixton Village though!

There's a marvelously named website: tattoos4kids.co.uk - I bought a load for my daughter's party last year and they were reasonably priced with a wide selection. The quality seemed fine (they stayed on for a bit but were eventually removeable and I didn't get any complaints from other parents!).

Not sure about books for you, but we had the following books for a toddler when number two was on the way: - There's a house inside my mummy (funny, rhyming verse, lovely pictures) - I want a sister (she got a brother, as did my daughter) - Topsy and Tim and the new baby

In a similar situation I used Joanna Wade who was brilliant but, rather unhelpfully, now turns out to have left practice to be a judge! However, you could try her old firm - Leigh Day - and see if anyone else there can help. One of her colleagues acted for a friend of mine who had a particularly horrible departure from a firm while on ML and I seem to recall she got some good advice from them and wasn't billed for unecessary work. Hope that helps.

I've used PAYE for nannies for years, as have a number of friends. Cost ?115 (?135 for premium service). No complaints!

We took my dad to Trinity in Clapham for his 60th lunch when my kids were 2 weeks old and 2 years old - can highly recommend it. We had the chefs table which gave us a bit of privacy and ordered a Sunday roast for the whole table which meant that my 2 yo daughter could pick at roasties and bits of veg. The staff were great with the kids - eg. said daughter's ice cream came decorated as a mouse - but it was special enough to feel like a proper occasion. Worth a look at their website. Plus the Common is across the road if your toddler needs a run around!

I had it with my first pregnancy... It was a bit uncomfortable but not painful, although I did feel a little battered the next day. The consultant was very clear about stopping any time that it hurt and did it quite slowly and carefully (not that it worked!). As someone said above, it has more success with subsequent pregnancies and there seem to be people who have a skill for it and others with much less luck. Hope the baby does a flip of his own accord soon.

How about the Papered Parlour in Clapham?